The Acropolis

In spring semester of freshman year, I registered for Classical Greek Archaeology as one of my electives. Twice a week, I’d spend 1.5 hours sitting in a rather dank, windowless basement classroom of the library, poring over pictures of sarcophagus, koroi and various ruins, learning the architectural and design period they belonged to, and wondering what I’d ever do with this information in my head.

10 years later, I stood before the Parthenon on the famed Acropolis. Vague memories of time spent studying pillars and carvings suddenly came to life as I slowly tried to pull out the differentiation between Doric, Ionic and Corinthian pillars from the dark recesses of my ageing mind.

The Parthenon was exactly how I imagined it would be, from the days that I had spent staring it from a glossy coffee-table book that doubled up as my textbook. You know how some legendary must-see-before-you-die sites in the world end up being disappointing compared to the reputation that they’ve acquired (eg. Mona Lisa in the Louvre)? Not the Parthenon. The grandeur of those white pillars that have weathered thousands of years, standing tall and proud on the top of the rock overlooking the rest of Athens...it deserved the fame that surrounded it. We were even lucky enough to get free entrance without planning for it! It was likely due to the Easter open house special or something like that since we went on Holy Saturday. Not complaining!  

Built in 5^th century BC (before Christ!!) during the Golden Age of Athens, the temples on the Acropolis Rock were built to honour Athena – the Goddess after whom Athens was named.

Pity the Ottomans and Venetians destroyed parts of the Parthenon during various stages in history, ending with Lord Elgin sneaking off a whole load of the metopes, friezes and sculptures to England in the late 19th century.

Greece is now making it a political stand, cloaked in cultural and historical claim to identity, to demand the return of the stolen marbles known as the Elgin marbles (now housed in the British Museum in London).

The Parthenon on the Acropolis Rock - view from the roof of our Herodian Hotel at night. Too bad didn't have a tripod to get a sharper shot.

 

Hand painted sign pointing the way to the Acropolis amongst the winding roads in Athens neighbourhood.



Herodes Atticus Theatre - a later addition to the Acropolis structures in 161 AD.

View of Athens from the Rock

Incessant tourists making their way up to the Propylaia - the grand entrance through which all visitors must pass through to reach the inner temples.

The Parthenon - the epitome of classical Greek architecture and the finest Doric order temple in its day. The name is dervied from Greek referring to the temple of the virgin Athena, who was represented by a giant gold and ivory sculputre inside. All that remains now of the north facade are 17 columns and some surviving metopes and friezes.

The famous caryatids guarding the Erechtheion. Legend has it that Athena and Poseidon battled for the patronage of Athens at the very spot where the Erechtheion is built. No prizes on who won that battle!
The Erechtheion 's design actually unites 2 separate temples to each of the 2 gods.

Proof of presence! In front of the East pediment of the Parthenon.

Addii and her nike shoe below the Temple of Athena Nike. Gettit??
The temple represents victory and sits next to the Propylaia, perched on the Rock most vulnerable to attack.



The Theatre of Dionysus - or what's left of it. Site of competitions of Greek tragedies and comedies in ancient Greece.

Advice: go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and also a sunburn!

Visit the New Acropolis Museum after for interesting information on the history of the Acropolis, the restoration efforts and the political and cultural efforts to retrieve the missing bits of Greek history from the British.