The Acropolis

When visiting Athens, Greece the main attraction is the Acropolis and all that it has to offer. The Acropolis is home to one of the most famous temples in the world - the Parthenon. Also located at the Acropolis is the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, Nike's Temple, Beule's Gate, and the Erechtheion comeplete with the beautiful Caryatids. No trip to Athens would be complete without a trip to the Acropolis. There is a small bookstore on the way up to the Acropolis that sells information for self guided tours or you may join one of the numerous guided tours of the Acropolis as well.



The Parthenon is the temple dedicated by the Greeks to the goddess Athena. Once a huge golden statue of Athena stood in the middle of the Parthenon but has been destroyed. The Parthenon has served many functions over the thousands of years that it has been in existence. It has been a church, temple and even a mosque. Its major source of destruction came when it was bombed by the Venetians as the Parthenon was being used to store ammunition by the Turks, who occupied the Parthenon at that time. Most of the orginal frieze and pediment sculpturs are housed in the Natioanl Archaeological Museum with some on display in Britan after being stolen by Lord Elgin in the 19th century.

You will enter the Acroplois thru Beule's Gate with Nike's temple to your right. Up the small hill the Parthenon will rise before you and to your left will be the Erechtheion which was built as a tomb to honor the king of Athens, Erechtheus. A hole in the celing and floor remain where Posideon struck with his trident in a contest with Athena to have the city named in their honor. Athena countered with the olive tree and won the contest - hense Athens.

Acropolis literally translates to the upper part of a town. Acropolis is legendary fun for the entire family. The Acropolis of Athens is the best known acropolis (high city, The "Sacred Rock") in Greece and in the world. The Acropolis is the one historical site you can't miss. Getting to the Acropolis is easy and more pleasant than ever because the large avenues which border the south and west of the site (Apostolou Pavlou in Thission and Dionissiou Areopagitou in Makrianni) have been turned into giant pedestrian streets with cafes and restaurants and the walk is quite pleasant. The most impressive and characteristic building on the Acropolis is dedicated to the patron goddess of Athens: Pallas Athena. The Persians destroyed the first Parthenon while it was being constructed, but under Pericles it was rebuild and became the jewel of the Acropolis. Parthenon The temple of Athena, the Virgin ("parthenos" in Greek) Goddess, protector of Athens, at the top of the Acropolis. The Parthenon is the dominant temple on the Acropolis in Athens. Explore the setting of the Acropolis in the city of Athens, Greece Explore the Acropolis and the Panathenaic Procession Explore the Parthenon as it exists today in Athens, Greece Explore the Replica of the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee Explore a Plan of the Parthenon that combines views from the Athenian Parthenon and views from the Nashville Parthenon Acknowledgements and Credits. Unlike the buildings of the Acropolis, this temple took hundreds of years to build. Every visitor should visit the Acropolis Museum, even if he is in a hurry.

Acropolis Museum

The new Acropolis Museum represents a notably fine and acclaimed design, destined to become world-famous on its completion in 2004. The new Acropolis Museum, a three-story glass structure mounted on pillars, is intended not only as an upgrade but also as an enticement. For more information visit www.acropolis.com.

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