Family Travelogue: Acropolis of Athens, Greece/ Family Travelogue 04 June 2016

The word Acropolis comes from the Greek which means the highest point or extremity. There are many acropolis in Greece, the Acropolis of Athens is the most well known around the world. Acropolis of Athens is on the rocky top hill, overlooking the beautiful city of Athens. It contains the ruins of the ancient buildings of incomparable architectural designs and of significant history such as the Parthenon (the most famous), Erechtheion, Propylaia and the Temple of Athena Nike.

Acropolis of Athen, Greece, view from the rooftop of Hotel Attalos

Acropolis of Athens, view from the Temple of Olympian Zeus

Acropolis of Athens with the view of Parthenon on the left
and the Erechtheion on the right

overlooking the beauty of the city of Athens
at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Acropolis of Athens, Greece with the view of Parthenon on the left and the Erechtheion on the right

steps to Propylaea, gateway to Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Propylaea, gateway to the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

The entrance to the Acropolis is the gateway called the Propylaea. I have a separate post for this historical building. The Propylaea is a building of the Doric order with few ionic columns supporting the roof of the central wing. Once you reached the six massive Doric columns, you are then at the Acropolis of Athens.

Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

At the centre of the Acropolis is the Parthenon or Temple of Athena Parthenos. I have also a separate post of this famous temple, Parthenon. Parthenon is know and regarded of its extraordinary architechture. It is made of Pentelic marbles from Mount Pentelicus or Petelikon, a mountain range in Attica, Greece. Pentelic marble is flawless white with faint yellow tint which shines under sunlight. Quarry of this material is protected by law and used exclusively for the restoration of the Acropolis.

Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

north side of the Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

The North side of the Parthenon has 17 columns

Erectheion at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Erechtheion at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

East of the entrance and north of the Parthenon is the temple known as the Erechtheion. Erectheion is a classical building dedicated to Poseidon and Athena. The caryatids sculptures are replicas. The originals are in the Acropolis Museum. One of the Caryatids is in the British Museum. I have yet started a separate post about Erechtheion. There is so much about this building.

Erechtheion at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Erectheion at the Acropolis of Athens, Greece

South of the platform that forms the top of the Acropolis there are also the remains of an outdoor theatre called Theatre of Dionysus.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Not so far away, a partially restored Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

view from Acropolis: unfinished Odeon of Herodes Atticus and on the left side, Philpappos Monument on top of Mouseion Hill (known also as Philopappos Hill)

Philopappos Monument on top of Mouseion Hill (known also as Philopappos Hill), view from Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Philopappos Monument was erected on Mouseion Hill, southwest of the Acropolis of Athens, by the citizen of Athens in memory of Philopappos who died in 116. The built of the marbele tomb was initiated by Philpappos then grieving sister, Julia Balbilla. Mouseion Hill is presently known as Philopappos Hill.

It has been a tradition for locals to fly kite on clean Monday every year. It is suppose to help you wash away your sins. The higher the kite goes, the more sins are washed away.
People fly kites at Hill of Philippapos on clean Monday.

Ruins of Temple of Rome and Augustus, few meters away from Parthenon

One of the monuments left almost nothing is the temple dedicated to the first emperor of the Roman Empire, Augustus. It was a small and circular building located few meters from the Parthenon called the The Temple of Roma and Augustus. This temple was constructed coincides with the second visit of the emperor to soften his anger due to past Athenian opposition to Rome or personally to Augustus evident by Athenian support of Anthony.

Given a time, I would love to watch the historical movies in regard to Greece and Egypt seeing these buildings, temples and monuments standing. Wandering in the Acropolis of Athens could tell you how marvelous the place was. It was in the 17th century an Ottoman ammunition was dump inside the Parthenon damaging severely the temple and its extraordinary sculptures.

In the early years of 19th century, British Earl of Elgin took most of the sculptures in the Acropolis of Athens, most especially in the Parthenon, allegedly with Ottoman empire;s permission and sold to the British Museum in London. To date, the said original sculptures are displayed in London. It's like seeing Acropolis of Athens not in Athens.There is now an on going petition for the British to return these controversial Elgin marbles/sculptures to where they belong, which is in Athens, Greece.

Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian gate, view from Acropolis of Athens, Greece

I have more photos to share of the ruins of Temple of Olympian Zeus on a separate post.

Acropolis Museum, view from Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Acropolis museum was built to house every artifact found at the Acropolis of Athens. It was opened in 20 June 2009. Aside from the original marbles displayed in the museum, they put also the replicas of the Elgin Marbles, purposely in different colour, to show that they are replicas. More so, said is to show the British that Greece has provided a place for the marbles should they be returned. As mentioned earlier, the originals were taken by Lord Elgin to Britain and sold to British Museum.

Greek flag on the northeast corner of Acropolis of Athens

There was an elevated spot on the northeast corner of the Acropolis of Athens with a Greece flag standing. From up there, you could see the panoramic view of the city of Athens

During the German invasion in 1941, the Germans ascended to the Acropolis of Athens and ordered the young Evzone (greek army), Konstantinos Koukidis, to take down the greek flag and replace with the swastika flag. The young soldier calmly did it but did not hand over to the Germans. He wrapped instead himself in it and fell off the Acropolis to his death.

There is a plaque by the flag dedicated to Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas. They bravely took down the Swastika flag stood at the Acropolis of Athens. The Nazis sentenced them to death in absentia (their identities were unknown until much later). Their acts inspired the Greeks to resist against the occupation.

Ancient Agora and the view of Hephaestus temple from Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Areopagus hill (known also as Mars Hill)

Areopagus is a bare marble hill, steps can be slippery. It is located across the entrance to the Acropolis. In the earlier years, the hill functioned as the chief Homicide court of Athens.

According to Greek mythology, Ares (god of war, known to the Romans as Mars) was tried here by the gods for the murder of Poseidon's son Alirrothios. Another legend, Orestes was tried on this site for killing his stepmother and her lover, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.

Beule gate to the steps to Propylaea; further right, the Areopagus hill

Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, Greece

The Temple of Hephaestus (know also as Theseion in the much earlier years) is a well preserved Greek temple and remains standing as per history it has been used for varied purposes. It is a Doric design and is located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. From the 7th century until 1834, it served as the Greek Orthodox church of Saint George Akamates. It was believed to have been constructed from 449 BCE to 415 BCE.

Hephaestus was the patron god of metal working, craftsmanship and fire.

view of Mount Lycabetoos and the Kolonaki neighborhood

Mount Lycabettus is a limestone hill in Athens, Greece at 300 meters above sea level. It can be ascended by a funicular.

As per Greek Mythology, Athena created Mount Lycabettus when she dropped a limestone mountain she had been carrying from the Pallene Peniusula for the construction of Acropolis after the box holding Erichthonius was opened.

night view of the Parthenon on Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Parthenon is made of Pentelic marbles. Pentelic marbles are flawless white with yellow tint, which makes it shine under the sunlight and marvelous golden view at night.