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The
Acropolis
Visible from almost every quarter of the city, this towering mass of
rock is the crowning symbol of Athens and testament to a golden era in
Greece’s history. Literally meaning ‘high city’, the Acropolis was at
the centre of civic life as long ago as the 13th century BC. But it
was not until the Classical period that its most famous monuments were
erected. At the instigation of Pericles, a prominent citizen and then
general of Athens, a major civic building project commenced in the
440s and 430s BC. Its focus was to celebrate the Athenian victory over
the Persians, who had sacked the Acropolis - the principal sanctuary
of Athena, patron goddess of the city – just a few decades earlier.
Under the direction of
the celebrated sculptor Phidias, first the glorious Parthenon, then
the Propylaia and next the Erectheion were constructed, with
renovations made to the smaller Temple of Athena Nike. A magnificent
city of temples was created which was a potent symbol of Athenian
wealth, power and achievement. Only a few buildings would be added to
the Acropolis in later times, and these, such as the Temple of Rome
and Augustus, attest primarily to the Roman presence in Athens.
Today, over 2000 years
on, the Acropolis has suffered centuries of looting, earthquakes,
pollution and even an explosion. The lavish decoration of its colossal
monuments has faded, its marble and bronze statues either destroyed or
salvaged for display in museums, leaving just a relic of its ancient
incarnation. But with its grandiose situation, monumental proportions
and elegant Classical design outlined in the gleaming white marble of
its construction, it is still a sight that is guaranteed to inspire
awe and wonder. Don’t miss the Acropolis Museum on the south-east
corner, which houses a collection of sculptures and relief recovered
from the site.
Tel: 210 321 0219
Open:8am-7pm daily (summer); 8.30am-3pm daily (winter)
Metro Station:
Akropoli
South Slope of the Acropolis
The numerous sanctuaries and public buildings which once clustered the
base of the Acropolis bear witness to the varied cultural and
religious activities of ancient Athens. To the north were the cult
centers of Persephone, Pan, Eros and Demeter, to the east those of the
Dioscuri and Theseus and in the south Asclepios, Dionysos and the
Nymphs were honored. Today, only the remains of the southern slope
have been unearthed, and can be accessed near the Theatre of Dionysos.
This impressive structure was reconstructed in stone and marble in the
4th century BC, on the site of the original wooden theatre that served
the city in its theatrical heyday more than a century earlier. To the
east there are the remains of the Odeion of Pericles (c.443 BC), used
for recitals and meetings of citizens, whilst to the west is the long
line of the Stoa of Eumenes, constructed in the 2nd century BC to
shelter the crowds of theatre-goers.
Dionyssiou Areopagitou
Tel: 210 322 4625
Open: 8am-7pm daily (summer); 8.30am-3pm daily (winter)
Metro Station: Akropoli
Ancient Agora
The agora, or "market", was the busy hub of commercial and social life
in ancient Athens, the place where citizens would meet to sell their
produce and discuss issues of the day. Today, this expansive and
remarkably green site is dominated by the Temple of Hephaistos. Dating
to the 5th century BC, it is the best preserved Doric temple in Greece
and a wonderful sight to behold. Nearby, the Stoa of Attalos (2nd
century BC) houses a museum displaying objects recovered from the site
along with a scale model of the Agora – a useful navigational
reference for visitors. There are three entrances to the Agora, of
which the entrances on Adrianou or Polygnotou streets in the north and
west are most convenient if visiting from Plaka. At the southern
entrance, the 11th century AD Church of the Holy Apostles, with its
lovely Byzantine frescoes, is something of a surprise, albeit a
welcome one.
Tel: 210 321 0185
Open: 8am-7pm daily (summer ); 8.30am-3pm daily (winter)
Metro Station: Monastiraki
Keramikos
The Keramikos served as Athens’ cemetery for over 1000 years. Entering
at the western end, visitors first encounter part of the
Themistokleian Wall, built in the 5th century BC to protect passage to
the city’s port, Piraeus. The remains of the Dipylon Gate, which
marked the beginning of the Panathenaic Way, and of the Sacred Gate,
through which initiates of the mysteries at Eleusis would have passed,
break the wall in two places on the site. Located between the two, the
spacious Pompeion housed sacred items used at the Panathenaia, the
city’s most important religious and dramatic festival. But the
Keramikos’ main attraction is the Street of Tombs, which is lined with
the funerary monuments of the ancient city’s most prominent citizens.
The original steal are on display at the National Archaeological
Museum and at Keramikos’ Oberlaender Museum, but a wander around the
site itself provides the most engaging glimpse of ancient life and
death.
Ermou 148
Tel: 210 346 3552
Open: 8am–7pm daily (summer); 8.30am-3pm daily (winter)
Metro Station: Thissio
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