Acropolis In Athens

History of Acropolis

Usually called as ‘The Acropolis’, it was called ‘Cecropia’ after its completion in the 5th century B.C. the Athenian Acropolis is the most significant one of all acropolis built throughout Greece. The main attraction of the Acropolis is the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike all of which were damaged during the Venetian siege of 1687 during the Korean war significantly damaging the structures.

If one wants to really go through the ancient Greek history and look into the past of the historic city of Athens itself, the Acropolis Museum is the best place to visit. The museum exclusively houses the archaeological artifacts found in the Acropolis of Athens and was built in 2003 but was opened to the public in 2009. The museum houses artifacts ranging from the Greek Bronze Age to the Roman and Byzantine Greece time periods. The museum itself is built over the ruins of Roman and Byzantine Athens and has been a centre of controversy because of its location being so close to the Parthenon.

Structure of Acropolis

The Acropolis in Athens is an ancient citadel that contains ancient monuments of universal importance and is famous for its artistic and architectural characteristics. Parthenon is the most famous structure of Acropolis among all the structures and monuments. An entry gate to the Acropolis called Propylaea was built by the Peisistratos. At the northwestern foot is the biggest water spring called Clepsydra around which a nine-gate wall called Enneapylon was built. The whole structure and construction of the Acropolis was done under the guidance and supervision of Pericles of Athens. During the Panathenaic festival on 28th July 447 BCE, the first stone of Acropolis was laid. Many skilled craftsmen, laborers, architects were hired by the Pericles for the construction of the Acropolis in order to make this a glory of Athens and also to honor the Goddess Athena.