Athens - Iconic Acropolis, the Evocative Ruins

Standing magnificently above the city these iconic remains are a spectacular sight, offering an in-depth insight into ancient Athens. It is the very symbol of Athenian democracy and the pinnacle of artistic supremacy achieved by Athens in the 5th century BC. Today Acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site comprising of several highly distinguished ruins that were built over different historical periods. (Evidence suggests that Acropolis was inhabited from as early as the Neolithic period. Over the centuries, it was continuously used as a cult place or as a residential area or both). The ruins of interest in this archaeological site are:

1. Beule Gate: In the middle of the third century AD the Romans built a more dramatic ramp that guided the visitors towards the entrance of the Acropolis by first passing the arched Roman entrance, in a zigzag fashion. This still remains the access point for the modern world and is named Beule Gate after the French archaeologist who investigated this area in 1852.
2. Temple of Athena Nike: The Classical temple, dedicated to the goddess of victorywas designed by architect Kallikrates and built in 426-421 BC.
3. Propylaia: The monumental gateway leading to the entrance of the Acropolis was designed by the architect Mnesikles and constructed in 437-432 B.C. In ancient times one approached it through an inclining ramp that led visitors straight through the steps in front of the Propylaia. Later, the Romans built a more dramatic ramp that guided the visitors up towards the entrance of the Acropolis in a zigzag fashion.
4. Sanctuary of Brauronian Artemis: Located south of the Propylaia inside the Acropolis and was a shrine dedicated to, Brauronian Artemis, protector of women about to give birth, and who had just given birth. It was founded in the mid-sixth century BC.
5. Statue of Athena Promachos: A gigantic statue of Athena, created by Pheidias, placed strategically so as to be encountered first, as one entered through the Propylaia. The colossal bronze statue is lost, but parts of the marble base remain. According to the preserved inscription, it measured about 30 feet (9 m) high. It depicted Athena standing with her shield, resting upright against her leg, and a spear in her right hand. Historical documentation suggests that it was so gigantic that ships approaching the coast of Attica could see Athena’s spear.
6. Old Temple of Athena: An Archaic temple, often dated to 510/500 BC, was the shrine of Athena Polias, the patron deity of the city of Athens. It was located at the centre of the Acropolis plateau, between the Erechtheion and the Parthenon.
7. The Parthenon: Dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, is the most evocative of all the ruins in Acropolis. It is the one of the finest surviving monuments of ancient Greece, in terms of both conception and execution. Constructed at the initiative of Pericles, it has stood atop the Acropolis for nearly 2,500 yrs and has functioned not only as a Greek temple, but also has been a treasury, a fortress, a church, and a mosque. Today, it is an icon of ancient Greek architectural brilliance and Athenian democracy.
8. Erechtheion: It is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis is notable for it’s elegant and unusual design.
9. Temple of Rome & Augustus: It was erected in the late first century BC east of the Parthenon.
10. The Acropolis Museum: It is an archaeological museum located in the archeological site of Acropolis and houses all the portable objects removed from the Acropolis since 1834. Due to its limited size, the Greek Government decided in the late 1980s to build a new museum.The major finds housed in the museum includes: Parthenon Frieze, Kritios Boy, Caryatids, Blond Kouros's Head of the Acropolis, Kriophoros, Kouros and Kore, Athena Nike Adjusting Her Sandal, Temple of Athena Nike frieze, Metopes of the Parthenon
11. The Belvedere Terrace: At the northeast corner of the Acropolis was laid out for the royal family in the 19th century, and affords a good view of the city looking towards Syantagma Square and the OldPalace.
12. Odeon of Herodes Atticus: Located on the south slope of the Acropolis this stone theatre with a 5,000 spectator capacity, was built in 161AD by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife and was used for staging music concerts.
13. Stoa of Eumenes: It is attributed to Eumenes II (197-159 BC.) and was constructed between the theatre of Dionysos and the Odeion of Herodes Atticus and it ran along the "peripatos", (the ancient road around the Acropolis).
14. Sanctuary of Asclepius or Asclepieion: A healing temple, were pilgrims flocked in the hope of being healed. The Asclepieion located on the southern slopes of the Acropolis of Athens dates to around 420 BC.
15. Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus: Dedicated to Dionysus, (the god of plays & wine) it is the birthplace of Greek tragedy. In Classical Athens, it was the venue for the Greater Dionysia, competitions were held between Greek dramatists as part of the occasion. Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes and Aeschylus had staged their plays as part of the competitions here. An open air theatre with a seating capacity of 17,000 people, built at the foot of the Acropolis of Athens, it surely is much grander than the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The remains of a restored and redesigned Roman version can still be seen at the site today.
16. Odeon of Pericles: Although no longer standing, recent excavations have revealed that it was situated next to the Theatre of Dionysus, on the south slope of the Athenian Acropolis and was constructed between 446-442 BC. The Odeon was used for theatrical performances and poetry readings, and might have accommodated political and philosophical lectures.

For a detailed map of the ruins visit the link: http://www.athensguide.gr/pop/acropolis.html
For more information visit the following link(s): Hellenic Ministry of Culture/ Acropolis; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acropolis_of_Athens