The Acropolis of Athens is not only the main attraction of the Greek capital, but also the largest archaeological site of UNESCO world heritage. It has been under restoration for a long time, now the historical monument has been updated and is looking forward to guests from all over the world. In 2009, the Acropolis Museum was officially opened.
The cultural jewel of Athens is the Acropolis of Athens, which is described in the article.
This historical monument consists of a group of unique structures erected in the 5th century BC. at the initiative of the ruler of Pericles. A beautiful architectural ensemble was built under the guidance of the most talented architects of that era - Mnezikla, Phidias and others. The Acropolis was built with the purpose of worship.
The Acropolis of Athens is spread over an area of 3 hectares at an altitude of 156 meters above sea level. It includes the majestic temples of Athena the Victorious, Athena of the Virgin, Nika, Poseidon, the Erechtheion temple, the magnificent Parthenon and many other buildings. Enter the Acropolis only through the gate - Propylaea.
The ancient Greeks admired the monumental Propyleon and called this magnificent gate "the brilliant face of the Acropolis." Propyleyon was badly damaged by the explosion of gunpowder, which was organized by Turkish soldiers in this place.
To the right of the entrance to the Acropolis of Athens is the temple of Niki Apteros. This small building looks elegant and solemn. A sculpture of the goddess Nika was erected in the temple. According to legend, at first the goddess Nick was with wings, but then the locals cut them off so that Victory was always with them. During the occupation of the Turkish conquerors, the temple was destroyed, and a fortification bastion was built from its materials. Later, from the blocks that miraculously survived, they restored the new temple of the goddess Nika.
In the northern part of the Acropolis stands out a marble structure - a unique architectural monument, a work of classical art - Erechtheion. In ancient times, there was a place of worship of the gods. The Athenians erected two temples under one roof, which were dedicated to the gods Athena and Poseidon.
This building became known as the Erechtheion. On the east side was the temple of Athena, where an ancient wooden sculpture of the goddess stood, which, according to legend, fell from the sky. A little lower was the temple of Poseidon.
In Erechtheion, tourists admire the Portico of the Daughters. These are six lovely sculptures of beautiful girls who support the roof of the temple. Later they were called Caryatids, so they called women from the small city of Kariya, who were famous for their unearthly beauty, exceptional proportions. One sculpture from the Caryatids in the 19th century, with the permission of the Turkish Sultan, was moved to England by Lord Elgin. Famous Elgin marble sculptures can now be seen in the British Museum.
The most elevated place of the rocky hill is crowned by the Parthenon. This unique structure has a length of 69.5 m and a width of 30.9 m. The building is surrounded by 46 ten-meter columns. The interior of the temple is not rich, since in ancient times people worshiped God near the temple without going inside. Only a sculpture of a deity was installed in the temple. In the magnificent Parthenon was a sculpture of Athena - a twelve-meter statue that Phidias sculpted from delicate ivory and gold. Later, this sculpture was taken by the conquerors to Constantinople.
The strict and monumental Parthenon is a unique building in terms of geometry. All columns of the Parthenon are installed under a slight slope inward. Modern seismologists have established that this trick gives the building unusual stability during earthquakes. The Parthenon columns differ in size - the corners of the columns are more voluminous in relation to the others. Corner columns are beautifully lit from all sides, which visually reduces their volume.
Come to sunny Greece. Your vacation will be filled with a variety of fascinating excursions that will allow you to get in touch with the main attractions of the country. Among them, the Athens Acropolis stands out as a bright pearl. A photo on its background will allow you to stop time for a moment: bright modernity and hoary antiquity will merge together.