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Acropolis (Athens, 5th century BC)
The world's most famous citadel, the Acropolis of Athens was built in the 5th century BC, during the Age of Pericles.
Grades 1 – 12
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Questions
- What was the serving time of officers in the Athenian democracy?
- Who/what held the most power in the Athenian democracy?
- When was the last Athenian tyrant expelled?
- Who was a tyrant?
- Which one of the following was not an Athenian statesman?
- Which building of the Acropolis of Athens is the 'bronze store'?
- In which building of the Acropolis of Athens are the caryatids?
- How do we call a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support, taking the place of a column?
- What is the name of the largest temple of the Acropolis of Athens?
- In which Greek architectural style was the Temple of Athena Nike built?
- What is the name of the gateway of the Acropolis of Athens?
- Which goddess was worshipped in the temple built next to the gateway?
- Who was the chief god in the Greek religion?
- Who was the goddess of science and crafts, according to Greek mythology?
- How was Pallas Athena born, according to Greek mythology?
- Who was the patron goddess of Athens?
- What is the last letter in the Greek alphabet?
- What is the first letter in the Greek alphabet?
- Who was the chief designer of the religious works of the Athenian citadel?
- When was the citadel of Athens built?
- Which of these was a function of the Acropolis?
- Which of these was a function of the Acropolis?
- Which of these is the synonym of city-state?
- In which part of the Greek city-states were the acropolises usually located?
Scenes
Acropolis
- Parthenon - The largest, Doric style temple of the ancient world, the central building of the Acropolis.
- Erechtheion - Ionian style temple, with female figures serving as columns (Caryatids) on its side.
- Chalkotheke - A hall created for the storage of ritual gifts dedicated to Pallas Athena ('bronze store').
- statue of Athena Promachos - Goddess of science and wisdom who protected the city, which was named after her ('Athena who fights in the front line').
- Brauroneion - A temple erected as a place of worship of Artemis, the virgin goddess of hunting.
- Propylaia - Ancient Greek gate building. In the Acropolis it consisted of two halls and five passageways.
- Temple of Athena Nike - The temple was built in the Ionian order for the worship of Athena ('Athena the victorious').
- Athens - The centre of one of the most important poleis of ancient Greece. It was named after the goddess Athena.
- Aegean Sea - It is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea. It has a surface area of 214,000 km2.
- Piraeus - A town on the Aegean coast, lying southwest of Athens. It was the port of ancient Athens.
- road - A road bordered by walls connecting Athens to Piraeus. Most of the merchandise was transported from the port to the city on this road.
The citadel of Athens
Acropolises (citadels) were building complexes, used primarily for religious purposes, in ancient Greece. They were generally located in the city centres, on top of hills. The most famous example is in Athens, atop a blue-grey limestone rock that rises 150 m above sea level.
In the golden age of Athenian democracy, in the 5th century BC, Pericles commissioned one of the most famous artists of the ancient times, Pheidias to draw up the plans. The constructions were managed by Ictinus and Kallikrates. Magnificent buildings were constructed one after the other on the infertile rock.
The Archaeological Society organised large-scale excavations at the Acropolis in the second half of the 19th century, but the restoration is still not over. The Acropolis became a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site in 1987.
Bust of Pheidias
Propylaia
The gateway
The term Propylaea generally refers to ancient Greek gateway. The gateway of the Acropolis of Athens was built between 437 and 432 BC, based on the plans by Mnesicles. (The original plans have never been totally implemented, for several reasons.)
The gateway was composed of a central hall and side wings. The central hall was carried by columns; the six Doric columns of the façade formed five passageways.
The grandiose stairs leading to the gate were only constructed later, during the Roman era.
Out of the five gates and two halls of Propylaia, today only remnants of the boarded ceiling and the outer columns are still standing.
The gateway today
Parthenon
Temple of the virgin goddess
The Parthenon was the most impressive, central building of the Acropolis. One of the largest temples of the antique world, it was built between 447 and 432 BC, based on the plans of Pheidias. The constructions were managed by Ictinus and Kallikrates. It was named after the epithet of the patron of the city, Pallas Athena (Athena Parthenos, Virgin Athena).
The temple was built in the Doric order. A staged substructure holds the outer columns (altogether 46) and the walls. The saddle roof and the two triangular pediments (tympanum) ornamented with reliefs were held by the columns. The central cella of the temple was divided into two parts by a wall. The 11–12 m tall ivory-and-gold sculpture of Athena, designed by Pheidias stood in the larger part of the cella, while the smaller part was used as a treasury.
The Parthenon today
Erechteion
The building of the Caryatids
The plateau of the Acropolis is dominated by two temples: the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. The latter one was built in Ionian style. The specialty of this temple is the six female figures carved from stone holding the terrace-like hall (Erechtheion).
Caryatids are female statues used as columns (the male counterparts are called atlas figures). Caryatids were not only used by the ancient Greek architecture later styles also used them. The column hall of Erechtheion is an outstanding example even among other antique Caryatids.
The caryatids
Athena Promachos
The patron
City patron Athena became an Olympian as the child of Zeus and Metis. She was worshipped by the ancient Greeks as the goddess of wisdom, justice, crafts and arts. (Although she was born out of Zeus' head as a result of a hit by Hephaestus' hammer, she was still the favourite child of her father.)
Athena was also the protector of cities. She had to compete with Poseidon for a city in Attica. The competition was won by the goddess, so the city was named Athens after her. Naturally the most important buildings of the Acropolis were constructed in honor of the protector goddess (Athena Polias). However, Pheidias expressed his honour for Athena with another grand work as well. He made a colossal bronze statue, standing at an open part of the citadel, this way being visible from far in clear weather.
City patron Pallas Athena
Time travel
Parthenon (cutaway)
- pediment
- cornice
- tympanum - A semi-circular or triangular area within the pediment, defined by the horizontal cornice along the bottom and the raking (sloping) cornice along the sides. It was commonly decorated with reliefs and statues.
- pedestal
- 31 m
- opisthonaos - Rear portico.
- 70 m
- opisthodomos - The word originally referred to a chamber in the temple that had no connection with the cella.
- external portico
- Doric column - Eight columns stood at the front and back, and seventeen along the sides.
- metope - A rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze.
- acroterion - Architectural ornament.
- Parthenon - The largest temple on the Acropolis of Athens that was dedicated to the goddess Pallas Athena. Based on designs by Phidias, Iktinos and Kallikrates led the construction work, which lasted 10 years. The building was completed by 438 BC.
- roof structure
- cella (naos) - The inner chamber of Greek and Roman temples, enclosed with walls, where the cult statue stood.
- Ionic column - The parthenon was decorated with four of them. This was the first time that Doric and Ionic elements were blended to decorate the interior of a building.
- west pediment detail - It depicts the fight between Pallas Athena and Poseidon for the land of Attica.
Athena Parthenos
- statue of Athena Parthenos - The 12-m-tall sculpture was designed by Phidias. Ivory was used to represent the fair complexion of the goddess ('Athena the virgin').
- helmet - It was adorned with a sphinx flanked by two winged horses.
- goddess of victory - Pallas Athena holds the statue of Nike in her right hand.
- Doric column - Inside the cella ten of them stood along the longer side walls and five along the rear wall.
- shield - It is decorated with scenes of the battle between the Greeks and the Amazons.
- cella (naos) - The inner chamber of Greek and Roman temples, enclosed with walls, where the cult statue stood.
Athens
- agricultural area
- city gate
- city wall
- Acropolis - A citadel built on an easily defendable high hill. It was the religious centre of ancient Greek poleis.
- Hill of Ares - Areopagus. It is a hill located northwest of the Acropolis, which used to be the meeting place of the Areopagite Council.
- agora - Marketplace and sanctuary. One of the main commercial, political and religious centres of ancient Greek cities.
- residential buildings
Narration
The Acropolises occupied a significant position in the Antique Greek city-states. These citadels were constructed in the centre of the polis at a location that could be easily defended. Apart from serving defence purposes, they were also religious centres.
The citadel of Athens has a special place among the many acropolises. It is not only its size and the quality of its design and construction that raise it above similar buildings of Ancient Greece, but also its historical significance.
Located on a limestone rock on the Attica plateau, the Acropolis was built in the 5th century BC, during the peaceful Age of Pericles. The main designer of the religious art here was Phidias, one of the most famous Hellenistic sculptors in this area.
A complex, monumental gateway, the Propylaea, served as an entrance to the sacred area. The grand marble gate was designed by Mnesicles.
In the Roman era, a staircase was added to it, next to which stood one of the finest examples of Ionic architecture, the Temple of Athena Nike.
Most of the buildings located on the rock promontory above the city were erected in honour of Athena, the goddess that protected the city named after her. The magnificent bronze statue of Athena stood in the central, open-air space of the acropolis, safeguarding the city she favoured above others.
The Chalkotheke (or 'bronze store') was the site for collecting ritual presents dedicated to the goddess.
Among the buildings of the Acropolis stands one of the largest, most famous and most significant temples of the antique world, the Parthenon. Based on designs by Phidias, Iktinos and Kallikrates led the construction of this work of art that blends a Doric architectural order with Ionic elements. The larger cella of the temple housed the handiwork of the most famous Hellenistic sculptor: the 12-metre-tall sculpture of Athena.
Apart from the treasured daughter of Zeus, other gods also occupied a place on the Acropolis. The Erechteion was also one of the religious temples of the Acropolis. It became famous for its caryatids, the maiden figures that served as supporting columns. Unfortunately, only the ruins have remained from the sanctuary of Artemis (the Brauroneion).
The Acropolis of Athens, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, received its well-deserved place on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987.
