is the heart and main tourist attraction of Athens and Greece. Clearly visible from all sides (construction is prohibited
high-rise buildings so as not to block the view of Acropolis) it serves as an excellent landmark for moving around the city.

Annually Acropolis of Athens visited by millions of tourists and travelers from all over the world.

Acropolis With ancient Greek language translated as a fortified place in the city.
The Acropolis is the oldest inhabited place in Athens. Already during the Archaic period, there were majestic temples and sculptures here, which later generations of Greeks considered the heritage of the Cyclops. IN Mycenaean period(15 -13 century BC) Acropolis was the royal residence.

It was here that the residence of the legendary Theseus(the conqueror of the Minotaur), unless, of course, his personality was mythical.

During the Greco-Persian Wars Acropolis was completely destroyed by the Persians. The inhabitants of Athens swore an oath to restore the shrines only after the victory over the Persians and the expulsion of enemies from Hellas. In 447 BC. under the direction of the famous sculptor Acropolis new construction has begun. , the Temple of Nike, the Erechtheion - these are the masterpieces that we enjoy to this day.

Bule Gate

This gate is named after the French architect Ernest Bühle, who excavated the Acropolis in 1825. This is one of the two Acropolis gates that were built into the fortress walls after the Heruli raid in 267.

Sanctuary of Aphrodite Pandemos

To the right of the Bule Gate are ruins of the temple of Aphrodite. At present, all that remains of the temple is the architrave decorated with garlands and doves.

Sanctuary of Artemis Bravronia

This temple was located in eastern part of the Acropolis, not far from the ruins of the Mycenaean walls. The temple was a Dorian colonnade with two wings in the shape of a “U”. The creation of the temple is attributed to Pisistratus, who came from the region of Brauronia,
Where cult of Artemis was widespread. In the side wings of the temple colonnade were kept two statues of the goddess: the first was an ancient wooden statue depicting the goddess sitting on a throne, and the second, which was a creation sculptor Praxiteles.

Chalkoteca

East of the Temple of Artemis was Chalkoteca, a building that was used to store metal objects related to the cult goddess Athena. The building was built in the mid-5th century BC, and reconstruction of the building was carried out during the Roman period.

On the southern slope of the Acropolis is the oldest known theater, - Theater of Dionysus(god of winemaking). According to legend, the inhabitants of Athens killed Dionysus when he arrived in Attica and gave wine to people for the first time, thinking that Dionysus was trying to poison them. Then they came to their senses and began to celebrate Dionysia very vigorously - festivals in
the honor of the god they killed. In the end, this all led to the creation of the theater. It was in this theater that masterpieces were first shown Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes.

In the 6th century BC. ruler of Athens tyrant Peisistratus introduced the cult of Dionysus into Athens and organized the Great Dionysia, which was held during March–April. Around the same time in Athens a poet appeared Thespis, a native of the demos of Ikaria. He introduced the first actor to Dionysia and began to write the texts that he should
was read by the actor and choir members. Before Thespis, these texts were pure improvisation of the choristers. Thespis also began to devote texts not only to life events Dionysus, but also to other heroes of Greek mythology and real historical characters. Acting masks were also invented and introduced, since one and the same
the actor had to play many roles.

In the 4th century BC, during the reign of Lycurgus, the wooden spectator rows were replaced with stone ones and have not changed since then. The stage of the theater was reconstructed many times.

The theater has 78 rows of spectators, which are divided by a passage into two zones. The passage is also part of the Peripata - the path that surrounds the sacred rock Acropolis.

The front rows of marble spectators, 67 seats, were intended in ancient times for rulers, archons and priests. In the center of the front rows is the throne of the chief priest of the temple of Dionysus Eleftheria.

Romans The theater was changed twice. Once during the reign of Emperor Nero, in the 1st century AD, and again during the reign of Phaedrus, in the 3rd century AD.

The friezes that can be seen today on the proscenium of the theater depict scenes from the myths of Dionysus. The first frieze depicts the birth of the god: seated Zeus, and in front of him Hermes with the baby Dionysus in their arms, along the edges of Kurita they dance a war dance with weapons in their hands. Then depicted Icarus, sacrificing a goat to Dionysus, and
on the right is Dionysus alone with his friend Satyr.

Temple of Augustus

Not far from the eastern entrance to the Parthenon was Temple of Roma andAugusta. The temple was built in 27 BC. when Octavian received the title of Augustus. It was a small round temple with a diameter of 8.50 meters and 9 Ionic columns. At the foot of the columns there was an inscription that said that the temple was dedicated to Roma and
Augustus from the grateful Athenians.

Sanctuary of Zeus Polyaeus

To the northeast of the Parthenon are ruins of the Temple of Zeus. It consisted of a quadrangular fence, inside of which there was a separate fenced area with a small temple and a hall of gifts. In the temple in honor Zeus The ritual of Diipoly was carried out.

At the entrance to Acropolis There is also the Theater of Herod Attica. Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus was one of the wealthiest Athenian citizens and also the Roman governor of the province of Asia. Besides everything else, he was famous philosopher and was a teacher Marcus Aurelius.

In 161 AD. in memory of his wife he built Odeon(theater) in
Athens. This is a perfectly preserved example of Roman architecture in Athens.
The theater had a stage 35.4 meters long, built on two floors and was
covered with white and black marble slabs from the Karista quarries.
The theater's capacity was up to 5,000 people. The roof of the theater was made of cedar wood.

The theater premises were rebuilt and today the theater hosts Athens Festival, where the best theaters in the world present their art to the audience.

Copper statue of Athena

On the territory of the Acropolis there were many gifts and offerings from various cities and ordinary residents. Was especially valuable statueAthens. The statue was installed between Erechtheion and Propylaea and was 9 meters high. According to Pausanias, the spearhead of the statue and the shine of its helmet were visible to ships that sailed from Cape Sounion to Piraeus.

Odeon of Pericles

East of the Theater of Dionysus was the famous Odeon of Pericles, built in 447 BC. and intended for music competitions. The Odeon was destroyed during the storming of the Acropolis by Sulla's legions in 86 BC. and restored by the king of Capadocia, Ariobarzanes II. Finally Pericles Theater was destroyed by the Heruls in 267 BC.

Between the Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herod of Attica there is a colonnade
Euminius II(king of Pergamon), which was built in the 2nd century BC. as a gift to the Athenians. In ancient times, the colonnade had a roof and was used by residents as a promenade for walking.

In the 5th century, with the advent of Christianity, it became the Church of Our Lady. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks, the temple was turned into a mosque, and then into an arsenal.

In 1687, after a cannonball hit a Venetian ship, an explosion destroyed almost the entire central part, and in addition, during an unsuccessful attempt by the Venetians to remove the Parthenon sculptures, several statues were broken.

In the 19th century, the friezes and remaining Parthenon statues were taken to England, where they can be seen in British Museum.

Acropolis Museum

Museum Acropolis was opened in 1878. Initially, the museum building was located in a small room immediately behind the Parthenon.

The museum's collection consists of exhibits that were found during archaeological excavations Acropolis.

Its treasures include surviving parts of the Parthenon friezes as well as sculptures by Greek masters from the 5th century BC.

Museum exhibits displayed in chronological order. These are pediment sculptures of temples Acropolis with images of the battle of gods with giants, scenes of the struggle of Hercules with various mythical creatures, as well as a sculpture of Moschophoros, or young man carrying a calf on his shoulders (570 BC)

Among the museum's exhibits is a well-preserved metope from the southern facade of the Parthenon, depicting the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs. The pearls of the museum are originals of the Caryatids from the southern portico of the Erechtheion. The statues are stored in a room with a special temperature regime.

Reminder for tourists

Acropolis Open daily from 8am to 6:30pm.

Acropolis opening hours may vary slightly depending on
season. On Acropolis It is forbidden to bring any bags (they can be left at the entrance to the Acropolis)

The entrance ticket costs 12 euros, but with this ticket you can also visit Agora and Temple of Zeus.

Acropolis on the map of Athens

Acropolis is the name of the hill and the outstanding architectural ensemble located on it. In Greek, the spelling of "Acropolis" is "Ακρόπολη". This word is usually translated as "upper city", "fortified city" or simply "fortress". At first the mountain was used as a refuge. Subsequently, there was a royal palace here and even, if you believe the myths, the residence of Theseus, the conqueror of the Cretan monster the Minotaur.

Since the first temple of Athena appeared on the mountain, it began to be considered sacred. Around this narrow rock with three sheer walls has grown the city of Athens, whose heart and soul are located on the Holy Acropolis. From the top of the mountain the capital of Greece is clearly visible. Just like from the city, the buildings of the Acropolis are clearly visible from everywhere, next to which tall buildings are prohibited.

In 1987, the Acropolis of Athens was included in the UNESCO list as a site world heritage. This organization uses the image of the Parthenon as its emblem.

Even those who have never seen it in person will recognize the image of the Athenian Acropolis. The greatest achievement of the ancient Greeks has deservedly become the hallmark of Greece. There were settlements on the high, rocky, flat-topped hill already around 4000 BC. The architectural and historical ensemble of the Acropolis, the ruins of which we see now, was created mainly in the 5th century BC. under the commander and great Greek statesman Pericles. It included:

• Parthenon - main temple. Built in honor of the patroness of the polis, goddess Athena.
• Propylaea - the main entrance to the Acropolis
• wide marble staircase
• Pinakothek - located to the left of the Propylaea
• 12-meter statue of Athena the Warrior, created by the sculptor Phidias from ivory and gold
• Nikou-Apteros is the temple of the wingless Athena the Victorious with an altar in front of it. The altar was dismantled by the Turks at the end of the 18th century, but in 1935 - 1936 it was recreated
• The Erechtheion is a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. On one of its porticos, instead of columns, the famous caryatids are installed.
• sanctuary of Zeus Polyeus and others.

Location of buildings on the Acropolis

The facade of the Propylaea, the wide marble staircase leading to it and the adjacent buildings

In the 2nd century AD e. Herodes Atticus built the grandiose Odion Theater at the foot of the Acropolis.

The main architects of the Acropolis are Ictinus and Callicrates, who built the Parthenon, and Mnesicles, the creator of the Propylaea. The sculptor Phidias was involved in finishing and supervising the construction together with Pericles.

L. Alma-Tadema (1836–1912). Phidias shows his friends, including Pericles and his lover Aspasia, the Parthenon Frieze, 1868.

The Parthenon is translated as “room for maidens.” According to one of the assumptions, in it selected girls wove light fabric for peplos - sleeveless women's clothing with many folds. A special peplos, embroidered with a pattern, was presented to the goddess Athena during the Panathenaea - solemn ceremonies in her honor.

Athena Parthenos

Destruction of the Acropolis

The centuries-old Acropolis has undergone repeated conquests by other peoples and the influence of other cultures. This reflected on his appearance most often not in the best way. The Parthenon had to visit a Catholic temple and a Muslim mosque. It was also a Turkish gunpowder warehouse, which played a tragic role in its fate.

During the Turkish-Venitian War, the Turks, hoping that a Christian would not shoot at the structure, which had been a Christian temple for several centuries, placed weapons reserves in the Parthenon and hid children and women. However, on September 26, 1687, the commander of the Venetian army ordered cannons to be fired at the Acropolis. The explosion thoroughly destroyed the central part of the monument.

Engraving depicting the explosion of the Parthenon

James Skene.The destroyed Parthenon with the remains of the cathedral-mosque, 1838

The Acropolis suffered seriously due to vandalism and unceremonious looting. So, during 1801-1811, the British ambassador to Ottoman Empire Lord Thomas Elgin took a significant part of the ancient Greek statues and frieze from the Parthenon to England, and then sold it to the British Museum.

Restoration of the Acropolis

Since 1834, research and restoration work has been carried out on the territory of the Acropolis. They have been produced especially actively since the end of the 20th century. A new, modern, spacious museum has been built in Athens. Its halls display archaeological finds discovered in the Acropolis. Among them are fragments of the Parthenon frieze, sculptures, figures of caryatids, statues of kors, kouros and Moschophorus (Taurus Bearer).

New Acropolis Museum in Athens

Moschophorus (Taurus Bearer) and the “boy Critias”, discovered during excavations of the Athenian Acropolis. Around 1865

It is impossible to completely restore the monument, but with the help of modern digital technologies you can see its grandeur with the help of 3D reconstruction. During its heyday, the Acropolis' structures, from buildings to statues, were decorated with colorful decorations. The “Interactive Tour of the Athenian Acropolis” allows you to immerse yourself in the new and at the same time old colorful reality of Ancient Greece, which is open to the public from March 24, 2018 in “Θόλος”.

Illustrations

Reconstruction options in color

The Acropolis in Athens is the hallmark of Greece; tourists from all over the world come here. In terms of ticket sales and attendance, it is not inferior to the Colosseum in Rome.

Despite past wars and natural disasters, it stood for two thousand years (and will stand for the same amount of time) and still amazes the imagination with its majesty and perfection of forms.

Similar structures were built not only in, but also on the territory of Asia Minor (), in and Ancient Rome. The Acropolis is the elevated part of the city (built on a hill). It served as a refuge for the nobility in case of war. Palaces, government buildings, and temples of patron deities were built on its territory. Despite the cataclysms suffered, the Athenian Acropolis has been preserved better than any of those currently existing. To this day, active work is underway on its restoration.

Story

Back in archaic times, the first temples were founded. In VII-VI BC. active development of the hill began. It served as the royal residence. In 447 BC. The reconstruction of the complex began by the famous sculptor of that time, Phidias. The complex received the architectural appearance that we know now. Gradually, the greatest cultural monument fell into disrepair, Athens turned into a provincial city of the Roman Empire.

A panoramic walk along the street near the Acropolis is many times more interesting than the ruins themselves (:

During the Byzantine period, the temple of the goddess Athena, the patroness of the city (Parthenon) became Christian Church. With the advance of the Turks in the 15th century, the entire temple complex was converted into a mosque, and then into an ammunition depot and arsenal. In the 19th century, Greece became an independent country, and from that moment the ancient appearance of the Acropolis began to be actively restored. The construction carried out on the territory in the Middle Ages and Modern Times was eliminated.

All sculptures that are located on the territory of the Acropolis in Athens have been replaced with copies, the originals are kept in the Acropolis Museum.

What does the Acropolis look like?

Unfortunately, at the moment it is ruins. Yes, major work is underway to restore its individual objects, but the work is very far from being completed.

The height of the hill on which the monument is built is 300 meters. Climbing onto it, you will see beautiful view to Athens. The Acropolis consists of 21 elements that are interconnected into one architectural ensemble.

Parthenon Temple in Athens

The Parthenon, the key temple of the Acropolis, is the best preserved. Made from white marble, it turned yellow over time. It is considered the oldest building in the world, because it is two thousand years old! Its history is the history and culture of all Greece.

Until recently, the Theater of Dionysus staged ancient Greek comedies and tragedies, but now it is partially closed for reconstruction (due to be completed in 2015).

The architecture of the Erechtheion Temple has an unusual asymmetrical layout, and a lot of relics were found in it, which are kept in museums around the world.

Photos

Helpful information

Arrive at opening time or a few hours before closing to avoid standing in a long line for a ticket and to walk around the complex without extreme heat. Stock up on water; you will have to climb a 300-meter hill. On the way up you will find a fairly steep staircase, so be careful.

The entrance ticket costs 12 euros and can be purchased on site. Discounts for students and pensioners. The queue is long, but it moves very quickly. The ticket is valid for four days. If you don’t have the strength to watch everything at once, you can always come back. During winter, admission is free on Sundays.

Opening hours: from 8:00 to 20:00, closed on Monday.

The fastest way to get there is by metro. Get to the Acropolis station, from there follow the signs at every step.

Acropolis on the map

Acropolis of Athens, Athens 105 58, Greece

In distant, legendary times, when the Achaean kings erected “fortified” palaces made of huge blocks of stone, and their squads attacked Crete and the coast Aegean Sea, in Attica, on the Acropolis - a rocky hill 156 m high, located in the center of a plain irrigated by the Ilissus River and its tributary Eridanus - the city of Cecropia, the future world-famous Athens, arose...
The best time to view the ruins of the Acropolis is in the early summer morning or evening. At dawn, the first rays of the sun, sliding along the slopes of the Parneta and Aigaleia mountains, paint the rocks of Salamis pinkish-violet, run along the peaks of the Pnyx and Areopagus and linger for a long time on the Acropolis. The evening sun gilds and ignites the Parthenon; the clear air gives lively movement to the shadows, and it seems that the ruins are as beautiful as the newly built temples were once beautiful. In the middle of the day, the Acropolis is flooded with bright light, lengthening the black shadows of the capitals and ceilings of the columns. At this hour the sun burns like molten metal, blinding the eyes. And on those rare days in Athens, when the sky darkens, as before a storm, the temples on the mountain become dull and gray, like the ashes of bygone centuries...

According to legend, Athens was founded by the legendary king Kekrop. The Greeks attributed to him the establishment of monogamous marriage, the founding of 12 cities, the prohibition of human sacrifices and the establishment of the cult of Zeus the Thunderer, Olympian Zeus. The name of another legendary king, Erichthonius (or Erechtheus, although there is great confusion in the identification of these two names), the son of the blacksmith god Hephaestus and the Earth goddess Gaia, is associated with the establishment of the cult of the goddess Athena in Attica and the renaming of Cecropia in her honor, the beginning of coinage, introduction of chariot racing. A descendant of Erichthonius was King Aegeus, whose son. Theseus killed the Minotaur and freed Athens from heavy tribute to Crete. Theseus, who became king of Athens after his return from Crete, is considered the founder of Athenian democracy.
Legends about how it arose take us to distant legendary times.
...the magnificent city of Athens,
The region of King Erechtheus, whom Mother Earth gave birth to in ancient times, was raised by Pallas Athena.
And she brought her to Athens, and installed her in her brilliant temple. Homer. Iliad

Back in the 2nd millennium BC. the territory of the Acropolis coincided with the original territory of Athens and was surrounded by defensive walls. Particularly powerful fortifications were built on the western, flat side of the hill. Enneapylon, the “Nine Gates”, a bastion with nine gates, was erected here. Behind the walls was the ancient palace of the Athenian kings - the “Palace of Erechtheus”. Later, the sanctuary of the goddess Athena appeared in this palace, and even later, all the buildings of a secular nature found other places, and the Acropolis turned into the center of the religious life of ancient Athens. The name of the Sacred Rock was assigned to it - there were numerous sanctuaries dedicated to the goddess Athena, the patroness of the city.
Athens, named after the daughter of Zeus Athena, served as the main center of the cult of this goddess. According to Greek mythology, Athena emerged fully armed from the head of Zeus. This was the beloved daughter of the thunder god, whom he could not refuse anything. The eternally virgin goddess of the sky, she, along with Zeus, sent thunder and lightning, but also warmth and light. Athena is a warrior goddess who repels the blows of enemies; patroness of agriculture, national civic assemblies; the embodiment of pure reason, highest wisdom; goddess of science and art. Climbing the hill of the Acropolis, the ancient Hellene seemed to enter the kingdom of this many-faced goddess.

The creation of the majestic ensemble of the Acropolis is associated with the victory of the Greeks in the Greco-Persian wars. Representatives from all Greek cities, meeting in 449 BC, accepted the plan for the development of the Sacred Rock proposed by Pericles. The grandiose architectural and artistic ensemble was supposed to become a worthy monument to the great victory. The wealth of Athens and its dominant position provided Pericles with ample opportunities in the construction he planned. To decorate the famous city, he drew funds at his own discretion from the temple treasuries, and even from the general treasury of the states of the Athenian Maritime League.
Whole mountains of snow-white marble, mined nearby, were delivered to the foot of the Acropolis. The best Greek architects, sculptors and painters considered it an honor to work for the glory of the generally recognized capital of Hellenic art. Several architects participated in the construction of the Acropolis. But, according to Plutarch, Phidias was in charge of everything. In the entire ensemble one can feel the unity of its concept and a single principle, which left its stamp on the details of all the main monuments.
The hill on which the monuments of the Acropolis were erected is uneven in its outline. The builders did not come into conflict with nature, but, accepting it as it is, they ennobled it with their art, creating an ensemble that was more perfect in its harmony than nature. The harmonious buildings of the Acropolis reign over the shapeless block of rock, as if symbolizing the victory of reason over chaos. On an uneven hill, the ensemble is perceived gradually. Each monument lives its own life in it, each is deeply individual, and its beauty is revealed to the eye in parts, without violating the unity of the impression.

Above the steep slope of the sacred hill, the architect Mnesicles erected the famous white marble buildings of the Propylaea - the ceremonial entrance to the Acropolis, with located on different levels Doric porticoes connected by an Ionic colonnade. Amazing the imagination, the majestic harmony of the Propylaea immediately introduced the visitor to the world of beauty affirmed by human genius. On the other side of the Propylaea stood a giant bronze statue of Athena Promachos, the warrior Athena, sculpted by Phidias, standing on the Acropolis square. The fearless daughter of Zeus personified the military power and glory of her city. From the foot of the statue, vast distances opened up to the eye, and sailors rounding the southern tip of Attica clearly saw the high helmet and spear of the warrior goddess sparkling in the sun.
Beyond the square rose the columns of the Parthenon, the great temple, under the shadow of which once stood another statue of Athena, also sculpted by Phidias: the statue of the Virgin Athena, Athena Parthenos. Like Olympian Zeus, it was a chrysoelephantine statue, that is, made of gold and ivory. About 1200 kg of precious metal were used to make it. Today, only the evidence of ancient authors, a reduced copy that has survived to this day, and coins and medallions with the image of Athena give us an idea of ​​this masterpiece of Phidias.

Over the past centuries, the columns of the Parthenon, which once shone with the whiteness of Pentelicon marble, seem to have been covered with a noble patina. Painted in brownish-golden tones, they stand out in relief against the blue sky. The Parthenon was the temple of Athena Polias (City Guardian) and was usually called simply the "Temple" or "Great Temple".
The Parthenon was built in 447-438. BC. architects Ictinus and Callicrates under the general direction of Phidias. In agreement with Pericles, he wished to embody the idea of ​​triumphant democracy in this most important monument of the Acropolis. The design of the temple was carefully thought out. The book about the work of Ictinus and his assistant Catlicrates is unfortunately lost, but the very fact of its existence indicates a lot of preliminary theoretical work. This largely explains the speed of construction, which, according to Plutarch, bordered on a miracle: the temple was built in just 9 years. Finishing work continued until 432 BC.
The pinnacle of ancient architecture, the Parthenon was already recognized in ancient times as the most remarkable monument of the Doric style. It is almost impossible to notice with the naked eye that in its appearance... there are practically no straight lines. The Parthenon columns (eight on the facades and seventeen on the sides) are slightly inclined inward with a slight convex curvature of the horizontals of the base and ceiling. These subtle deviations from the canon are of decisive importance. Without changing its basic laws, the heavy Doric order here acquires a relaxed grace, which creates a powerful architectural image of impeccable clarity and purity.

The Erechtheion is the second most important monument of the Acropolis. In ancient times it was the main temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. And if the Parthenon was assigned the role of a public temple, then the Erechtheion is more of a priestly temple. The main sacraments associated with the worship of Athena were performed here, and an ancient statue of this goddess was kept here.
All the main shrines of Athens were concentrated within the walls of the Erechtheion. The temple itself was built on the site of the legendary dispute between Athena and Poseidon for power over Athens. According to legend, the gods gave the right to resolve this dispute to the elders of Athens. The judges decided to give victory to the god whose gift would be more valuable to the city. Poseidon struck with his trident and a salt spring gushed out of the slopes of the Acropolis. Athena struck with her spear and an olive tree grew on the Acropolis. This gift seemed more useful to the Athenians. Thus, Athena emerged victorious in the dispute, and the olive tree became the symbol of the city.
In one of the halls of the Erechtheion one could see the mark left by Poseidon's trident on the rock during his dispute with Athena. Since this shrine was always supposed to be in the open air, holes were made in the ceiling of the portico, which have survived to this day. Nearby was the entrance to the cave located under the temple, where the sacred snake of the goddess Athena lived, which was considered the personification of the legendary king and hero, patron of Athens Erechtheus (or Erichthonius - these two mythological heroes are sometimes separated, sometimes identified), after whom the temple received its name.
Under the northern portico of the temple, the tomb of Erechtheus was preserved, and in the western part there was a well with salt water. It was considered the very source that Poseidon created, and... According to legend, it communicated with the sea. In front of the Erechtheion, since ancient times, there has been a sacred olive tree, which grew from the blow of the spear of the goddess Athena, and in the corner of the western facade of the temple was the Kekropion - the grave and sanctuary of the legendary Kekrops, the first king of Attica. Above it today rises the world-famous portico of the caryatids - the architectural symbol of the Erechtheion. There is an assumption that the prototypes of the caryatids of the Erechtheion were the arrephors - ministers of the cult of Athena, elected from best families Athens. Their functions included the production of the sacred peplos, with which the ancient statue of Athena, kept in the Erechtheion, was annually decorated.
The goddess Athena appears on the Acropolis and in another of her incarnations - Athena Nike, the goddess of victory. The first sanctuary of Nike on the Acropolis was destroyed by the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars. In 448 BC, on the occasion of peace ending the war with the Persians. It was decided to build a new temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis, or, as it was also called, the temple of “Wingless Victory”: although the goddess of victory Nike was always depicted as winged, Athena the Victorious could not, and should not have had wings.
The nearby Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike complemented each other. Their architectural connection created a unique ensemble of the entrance to the sacred rock of the Acropolis. The temple was built by the architect Callicrates in 427-424. BC. This elegant small structure, built of marble, measures 5.6 x 8.3 m. In front of the Temple of Athena Nike there was an open-air altar intended for sacrifices.
During Turkish rule, the Nika Temple was dismantled and used to build fortifications. In the 1830s, after Greece gained independence, the Turkish fortification was carefully dismantled and the Nika Temple was rebuilt. In 1935-1940 it was reconstructed again, and now it appears in all its glory - of course, adjusted for the destructive effects of time. And, as we know, it is inexorable, and today the monuments of the Acropolis, which have survived wars, perestroikas and human vandalism, are exposed to man-made dangers: for several decades, acid rain and toxic smog have been corroding the white marble of ancient temples. There are many plans to save the Acropolis, but so far none of them have been implemented, so restorers will probably not be out of work for a long time.

The Acropolis of Athens, which is a 156-meter-high rocky hill with a gentle peak (approx. 300 m long and 170 m wide), is the site of the oldest settlement in Attica. During the Mycenaean period (15-13 centuries BC) it was a fortified royal residence. In the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. There was a lot of construction going on on the Acropolis. Under the tyrant Pisistratus (560-527), on the site of the royal palace, the temple of the goddess Athena Hekatompedon was built (that is, a temple one hundred steps long; fragments of pediment sculptures have been preserved, and the foundation has been identified). In 480, during the Greco-Persian Wars, the temples of the Acropolis were destroyed by the Persians. The inhabitants of Athens swore an oath to restore the shrines only after the expulsion of enemies from Hellas. In 447, at the initiative of Pericles, new construction began on the Acropolis; the supervision of all the work was entrusted to the famous sculptor Phidias, who, apparently, was the author of the artistic program that formed the basis of the entire complex, its architectural and sculptural appearance.

The sacred road, along which the procession of Athenians moved from the agora to the temple of the patron goddess during the main festival of the Great Panathenaia, leads to the Propylaea, which has 5 passages and in ancient times was flanked by two equestrian statues of the Dioscuri. In the left, protruding wing, there was a Pinakothek (a collection of pinak paintings donated to the goddess Athena), in the right there was a storage room for manuscripts and a room for the gatekeeper and guards. To the right of the Propylaea, on a pyrgos (an outcrop of a fortified rock), stands a small, light and graceful Ionic temple dedicated to Athena Nike, known as the Temple of Nike Apteros (Wingless Victory; 443-420, architect Kallicrates).

After the participants of the procession passed the Propylaea and entered the sacred territory, a panorama of the central part of the complex opened before them. In the foreground, just to the left of the road, stood a colossal bronze statue of Athena Promachos (Warrior), cast by Phidias. Behind it in the distance was the Erechtheion (architect unknown), the temple of Athena and Poseidon at the site of the dispute between these gods for the possession of Attica. The temple has an asymmetrical plan unique in Greek architecture; its three porticos are located at different levels: on the western side there is a portico leading to the temple of Athena Polyada (City), on the northern side there is the entrance to the sanctuary of Poseidon-Erechtheus, at the southern wall of the temple there is the famous portico of the caryatids; the entire building was surrounded by a frieze with overhead white figures (not preserved). In the Erechtheion, the oldest sanctuary of Athens, there was the sacred xoan of Athena (a wooden statue), which according to legend fell from the sky, the altars of Hephaestus and the hero But, the tomb of the legendary Athenian king Kekrops, and the sanctuary of the Attic dew goddess Pandrosa adjoined to the west. In the courtyard of the Erechtheion there grew a sacred olive tree, donated to the city by Athena, and a salt spring flowed, which Poseidon carved with his trident.

The lightness of its forms, the special sophistication of decorative decoration and the complexity of the composition of the small-sized Erechtheion contrasts with the strict and majestic, emphatically monumental Parthenon (Temple of the Virgin Athena; 69.5 m in length and 30.9 m in width, the height of the columns is 10.5 m ; built in 447 - consecrated in 438; architect Ictinus with the participation of Callicrates), representing a Doric peripter. The building is perceived from the Propylaea in three quarters - viewers saw not one of its facades, but the entire volume of the structure, got an idea of ​​​​its appearance as a whole, and before seeing the main, eastern facade, they had to walk around the temple from the outside.

In the temple itself, in the naos, there was a chrysoelephantine statue of Athena Parthenos (Virgin) by Phidias; the sacred money of the goddess and the treasury of the Athenian Maritime League were kept in the opisthodome. In the pediments there were sculptural groups depicting the most significant events in the cult of Athena - her birth and the dispute with the sea god Poseidon for the possession of Attica. The metope reliefs along the perimeter of the building depicted scenes of mythological battles. Architectural details, sculpture and reliefs were brightly painted. The plan and order of the Parthenon also differ from the traditional ones in a number of features: in front of the naos there was a hall - the maiden's chamber (the Parthenon, which gave the name to the entire temple), along the wall of the naos there was an Ionic frieze depicting the Panathenaic procession.

In front of the Parthenon, by right side from the Propylaea, there were also sanctuaries of Artemis Bravronia and Athena Ergana (Craftswoman), a repository of weapons and sacred armor - Chalkoteka (450). The open area of ​​the Acropolis was occupied by numerous altars and gifts to the gods - statues, steles. Adjacent to the northwestern slope of the Acropolis was the temple and theater of Dionysus (6th century BC - rebuilt in 326), the Odeon of Pericles (a covered round building for musical competitions) (2nd half of the 5th century BC) .), Theater of Herodes Atticus (2nd century AD), Sanctuary of Asclepius, Stoa (Porticus) of Eumenes.

Parthenon

In ancient times, the Parthenon rising above the hill could be seen from any part of Attica and even from the islands of Salamis and Aegina; The sailors approaching the shore could already see from afar the shine of the spear and helmet of Athena the Warrior. In ancient times, the sanctuary was known not only as a cult center, but also as a monument of art, confirming the glory of Athens as the “school of Hellas” and beautiful city. The thoughtful composition of the entire ensemble, perfectly found general proportions, a flexible combination of various orders, the finest modeling of architectural details and their unusually accurate drawing, the close relationship between architecture and sculptural decoration - make the buildings of the Acropolis the highest achievement of ancient Greek architecture and one of the most outstanding monuments of world art.

In the 5th century, the Parthenon became the Church of Our Lady, and the statue of Athena Parthenos was transported to Constantinople. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks (in the 15th century), the temple was turned into a mosque, to which minarets were added, then into an arsenal; The Erechtheion became the harem of the Turkish pasha, the temple of Nike Apteros was dismantled, and the bastion wall was built from its blocks. In 1687, after a cannonball hit a Venetian ship, an explosion destroyed almost the entire central part of the Temple of Athena the Virgin; during an unsuccessful attempt by the Venetians to remove the Parthenon sculptures, several statues were broken. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Englishman Lord Elgin tore out a number of metopes, tens of meters of frieze and almost all the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon pediments, and a caryatid from the portico of the Erechtheion.

After the proclamation of Greek independence, during restoration work (mainly at the end of the 19th century), the ancient appearance of the Acropolis was restored as much as possible: all late buildings on its territory were eliminated, and the Temple of Nike Apteros was rebuilt. Reliefs and sculptures of the Acropolis temples are in the British Museum (London), the Louvre (Paris) and the Acropolis Museum. The sculptures that remained in the open air have now been replaced by copies.