Travel

Ancient City Of Athens

Tourist Attractions Of Athens:
The historical city of Athens offers a taste of history in the form of architectural wonders, a taste of culture at its various beaches, Shopping and much more. One of the oldest cities in the world, Athens has a historical record which dates back to more than 3000 years.

Acropolis : The Erechtheion Propylaea and Athena Nike:
Acropolis is also known as Kecropia (also spelt Cecropia), named after Kecrops, the king who was believed to have the lower body of a dragon or serpent, the first Athenian king. The are many Acropoleis in Greece however The Acropolis stands out for historical reasons and myths attached to it as well. Geographically the Acropolis is a rock of a Late Cretaceous limestone ridge that passes through the Attica plateau. The Lykavittos hills are a part of Acropolis along with the the Philopappos Museum situated on the Philopappos hills; the hill of the Nymphs, and the Pnyx. The Acropolis is basically a rock that is 150ft above sea level. The top of Acropolis is flat, however it was low lying and got covered or filled gradually for the purpose construction of structures and temples since the Mycenaean era. The Acropolis contains many shallow caves, water springs and sharp slopes. During the Neolithic period the Acropolis was a prime location for habitation and worship. Today it stands proudly on the mountain in Athens. The word Acropolis in Greek means “on top”. The Acropolis is a prominent landmark for important fortifications such as temples, meeting rooms for important personalities and events that also included the Panathenaic festival dedicated to the goddess Athena. The Acropolis today is a symbol of classic architecture and one of the greatest Greek antiquities in the world. It was a rocky hill that underwent a major metamorphosis by a group of artists under the guidance of a sculptor named Pheidias, as it was so planned by Athenian statesman Pericles. The monuments on the Acropolis were built by different people such as the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles; the Parthenon, built by Ictinus ( in the mid 5th century BC. ); the Erechtheion and Propylaea. Historically speaking the Acropolis was a fortified citadel and state sanctuary of the ancient city of Athens. There were a series of building curriculum during the 5th century B.C which have wiped out the traces of the monuments that have been built much earlier; however there is some evidence to prove the architectural achievements of the bronze age such as a massive fortification wall which served the Acropolis long after the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization, it was somewhere in the middle of the 8th century; the Acropolis was developed into the Doric ( Greek ) sanctuary of goddess Athena. A monumental temple was built at the end of the 6th century, along with another after the victory of Athens over the Persians at Marathon in 490 B.C, but Acropolis was captured and destroyed by the Persians 10 years later in 480 B.C. However the Athenians stood the ultimate over their Persian enemies, even though the Acropolis lay in ruins; the Acropolis was rebuilt in the 5th century, during the second half like the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the temple of Athena Nike. Many structures were later constructed and dedicated to foreign rulers, generals, and statesmen, during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. There were some invasions that took place in 267 AD, that sabotaged the status of the Acropolis nevertheless years after the invasions; the Acropolis gained its importance as citadel, and the western circle of Acropolis produced a new gateway called Beule Gate, named after an archaeologist. A new water source was found , within the fortifications of the Acropolis throughout the Middle Age up until the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century. Hence acropolis was a well constructed fortification and remains one until now. Archaeological excavations, study, conservation, and publication of the monuments, started in the 1830's after Greek independence.

Acropolis - The Erecththeion or Erechtheum Temple:
The Erechtheion or Erechtheum Temple is located on the northern part of Acropolis dedicated to Athena Polias and Poseidon Erechtheus. The Erecththeion Temple that we see today was built between 421 BC and 407 BC, but it is believed by historians and archaeologists to be a replacement for an older temple, such as the Palladion, which was a xoanon ( a cult image of ancient Greece) a wooden representation of Athena Polias the guardian of the City of Athens. It is believed according to popular myth that the Palladion fell from heaven; the tomb of Cecrops, the tomb of Erechtheus; the marks of Poseidon's trident and the salt water well that resulted from Poseidon's strike from the trident , and theprecincts of Herse, Pandrosus and Aglaurus or Agravlos who were the three daughters of Kecrops and the precincts of the tribal heroes Pandion and Boutes.

Acropolis - Propylaea :
Propylaea literally means a huge cavity or entrance to a temple area or other enclosure, and usually the term is used for an elaborate structure of architectural importance. Propylaea is a plural word as it is not one single gate but rather a series of gateways . However the Propylae of acropolis is the monumental gateway to the temple of Athena Nike in the south; the Palladion and other monumental structures in acropolis. The Propylaea was constructed between in 437-432 B.C as a means of protection and the present day Propylaea was restored in the previous century.

Acropolis - Athena Nike:
The Athena Nike Temple lies right next to the Propylaea, it is an important fortification of monumental importance with a prominent sanctuary location dating back to the Mycenaean era; it is in the southwest of the Acropolis plateau. The temple is a tall mass of rock that projects outwards and is tactfully located in a way that protects the south wing, which is a way to the citadel and is a weakest point. Excavations have exposed that an open pit existed on this location; Greeks from the Bronze Age used to pour drinks in honour of the deities and place other deities that were worshipped long before their time. The Athena Nike temple is smaller compared the other temples of the Acropolis. Nevertheless it is prominent because it is the first fortification that prepares the visitors for a monumental extravaganza. Athena Nike faces to the east and its entrance is lined with four monolithic columns that around a a small porch. The western end of the temple is similarly but the only difference is that it contains a wall as well. After the completion of the temple the people of Athens added a protective parapet to the structure.

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More Tourist Attractions - Athens