It is no coincidence that the Acropolis in Greece was one of the first to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is difficult for tourists to resist visiting the Acropolis in Athens, and for first-time visitors it is as inevitable as the sun rising. The Acropolis has become a kind of symbol of ancient grandeur, towering above the modern city filled with bustle. Thanks to this unique structure, everyone who visits the Greek capital will be able to feel the breath of that era and become at least a little familiar with the culture of Ancient Hellas.

How to get to the Acropolis in Athens

“Acropolis” translated from ancient Greek means “upper city”. Being in, it is impossible not to notice it - the Acropolis is located in the very heart of the city and is clearly visible from the entire center of Athens, as well as from the surrounding hills.

Moreover, most of the city is very flat, and it is dominated by only two rocks, on one of which the Acropolis is located.

The Acropolis metro station is located on the red line and is next after Syntagma - the main square of Athens

The easiest way to get to the Acropolis, no matter what part of the city you are in, is by metro (Athens metro map). The station of the same name is located on the red line and is next after Syntagma, the main square of Athens.

You can also get to the Acropolis from the city center on foot. To do this, choose as a landmark the large pedestrian street - Dionysiou Areopagitou.

At the same time, you can walk along it straight and not turn anywhere, gradually climbing up the mountain until you come to the main Greek landmark.

Acropolis on the Map of Athens

To make it easier for you to find your way to the Acropolis, we have prepared a useful map.

A Brief History of the Acropolis

On the site where the current Acropolis of Athens stands, in the Mycenaean period (XV-VIII centuries BC) there was a royal palace. Later, in the 7th-6th centuries. BC, grandiose construction began on this site. Under the tyrant Pisistratus, instead of the royal residence, a temple of the goddess Athena a hundred steps long arose.

The Hellenes themselves called this temple Hekatompedon. But in 480 BC. it was destroyed to the ground by the Persian army, which captured the city. Then the Greeks vowed to rebuild the shrines when they drove the invaders from their land.

View of the Propylaea of ​​the Acropolis from the Areopagus Hill

All the main buildings of the Acropolis, the remains of which have survived to this day, were built under Pericles in the 5th century. BC.

The best architects, sculptors and other craftsmen of that time were involved in the construction of the Complex. Among the decorations of the Complex, everyone especially admired the huge statue of the goddess Athena, whose authorship is attributed to Phidias.

The Parthenon is the main temple of the Acropolis in honor of the goddess Athena

After its construction, the Acropolis has already survived several millennia and many wars; additions were added to it Christian churches and Muslim mosques, and individual buildings were simply dismantled for materials for other buildings.

Athens Acropolis It even managed to serve as an ammunition depot during the Turkish occupation, the explosion of which caused the greatest damage to the Acropolis.

Archaeological complex of the Acropolis

In total, 21 structures and a majestic statue of Athena the Warrior were erected on the top of the Acropolis in Ancient times. In this article we will mention only the most notable of them, as well as what you can see in the neighborhood.

Standing at the entrance to the Acropolis of Athens - the famous Propylaea, created from white Pentelic and gray Eleusinian marble - you should look to the right - you will see a Hellenistic pedestal and a small temple of Nike Apteros.

This temple is located on a hill from which in clear weather there is a beautiful view of the Saronic Gulf. There was also a large statue of the victorious goddess here, but in 1686 the Turks dismantled the “pagan temple” to build their cannon bastion.

Over time, the Greeks recreated the temple of Nike from the found blocks. In the center of the site is the famous Parthenon - the temple of Athena, erected in honor of the victory of the Greeks over the Persians, and other architectural monuments.

Below the Acropolis is the superbly preserved odeon of Herodes Atticus, and to the south you can see the ruins of an ancient open theater built in honor of the god Dionysus.

The Acropolis Museum is located very close to the sacred hill

Nearby is the Hill of Ares, where meetings of the Areopagus, the supreme power of Ancient Athens, were held.

The New Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 and is entirely dedicated to the main Athens attraction, is also worth special attention.

Opening hours

The opening hours of the Acropolis in Athens depend on the season and can vary greatly depending on the month. So in summer season The Acropolis is open to visitors from 8:00 to 19:30 in the evening, but starting in September, as the daylight hours, working hours are also reduced.

At the same time, working hours are being reduced gradually. For example, from September 1 to 15, the Acropolis is still open on a summer schedule; from September 16 to September 30 - until 19:00; from 1 to 15 October - until 18:30, and from 16 to 31 October - until 18:00.

During the winter months, the Acropolis may close at 15:00, so it is better to plan your visit for the first half of the day.

In addition, the Acropolis is usually closed on the following days: January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter (Sunday), December 25 and 26.

Tickets and price

Full price single ticket to the Acropolis- 20 Euros, preferential - 10 Euros. Moreover, the ticket applies not only to the Acropolis itself, but also to attractions located on its slopes.

It is noteworthy that during the period from November 1 to March 31, the discounted price is valid for all categories of visitors.

In addition, in Athens there is a so-called Specail ticket package, which is valid for 5 days and allows you to visit not only the Acropolis, but also other attractions of Athens, including the Ancient Athenian Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library and others.

The full price of a package ticket is 30 Euros, the reduced price is 15 Euros.

For residents of non-EU countries, the broadest category covered by the discounted ticket is university students. To purchase a discounted ticket, you must present your student ID at the box office.

In addition, persons under 18 years of age can visit the Acropolis in Athens for free. To do this, you need to present a document confirming your age.

For other visitors who do not qualify for benefits, there are bonuses in the form days when visiting is free for everyone. These dates are:

• March 6 (in memory of Melina Mercuri)
• April 18 - International Monument Day
• May 18 - International Museum Day
• Last weekend of September – European Heritage Days
• October 28 - Okha Day
• Every first Sunday of the month from November 1 to March 31

Excursions and Audio guide in Athens in Russian

You can visit the Acropolis in Athens as part of an organized individual excursion in Russian together with our familiar guide Kostas. Kostas is a licensed tour guide and has been introducing Athens to Russian-speaking travelers for many years.

ACROPOLIS (GREECE)

Today we will take an excursion to the Acropolis of Athens.

Translated from Greek as “upper city”. In the ancient Greek city-polises, the acropolis was the name given to the elevated and fortified part. This fortified part of the city, located on an elevated place, served as protection in times of danger. Therefore, it was on the acropolis that temples were erected to the gods, the patrons of the city, and the treasury and weapons of the city were stored. There were such acropolises in many ancient cities. For example, the oldest acropolises in Mycenae and Tiryns are known. But the most famous is, of course, the Acropolis of Athens!

This slender ensemble outstanding works architecture and sculpture are considered a masterpiece not only of Greek, but also of world art, a kind of symbol of the greatness of classical Greece. The Acropolis of Athens is listed as a World Heritage Site. Therefore, it is probably unnecessary to say that if you come to Athens, even for a very short period of time, you should definitely visit the Acropolis and see, as they say, all this splendor with your own eyes.

In this regard, we decided today to invite you on a fascinating walk around the majestic and ancient Acropolis. This miracle of antiquity is located on a cliff 156 meters above sea level. This rock is of natural origin and has a flat top. It is noteworthy that the entire complex architectural and spatial complex of the Athens Acropolis takes into account as much as possible surrounding nature. Let's take a walk around this ancient fortress.

Approaching the Acropolis, in the area of ​​the southern wall we will see that the rock on which the Acropolis is built is fortified with stone walls. These walls are huge, their thickness is five meters! Such walls were around the entire complex, but only a fragment of them has survived to this day, which we see.

These are very ancient walls! They were erected in the 13th century BC. e. According to legend, these majestic walls were erected by creatures of supernatural strength - the Cyclopes. The ancient Greeks believed this. And today, looking even at a fragment of these gigantic walls, we are also ready to believe that walls of such dimensions could only be built by mythical strong creatures!

In general, it should be noted that the first fortifications on the rocky spur of this rock appeared long before the onset of the classical period. In those distant times, the Acropolis was the center of the political and military life of the city: first of all, it was the residence of the ruler. But at the end of the second millennium BC, the Acropolis acquired exclusively cult significance!

According to myths, the wooden image of the goddess Athena, the patroness of the forces of the earth and the warlike defender of the city, was cast down to Earth by Zeus and fell straight onto the Acropolis! Therefore, it was here that temples were erected in honor of the goddess! But, unfortunately, almost all of them were destroyed by the Persian king Xerxes, who captured Athens in 480 - 479 BC. e. The “father of history” Herodotus himself even testifies to this in his notes.

The Acropolis was rebuilt only during the so-called golden age of Pericles. This Athenian strategist, having concluded a truce with Sparta, was given the opportunity to begin developing the capital. Under the leadership of the greatest of Greek sculptors, Phidias, by the end of the 5th century BC. The Acropolis was rebuilt. Moreover, the new Acropolis was incredibly beautiful and grandiose!

Let's come closer. The Propylaea appears before us from the western part of the complex.

This is the main, ceremonial entrance to the Acropolis! This gate was built in 437-432 BC. Let's mentally transport ourselves to the distant 5th century BC. and let’s see what the Propylaea was like at that time, and at the same time we’ll see what happened here. So, we are in the distant past! In front of us, the Athenians are slowly ascending the wide stone stairs to the Propylaea. Look, citizens on foot are walking along the side passages, and horsemen and chariots are passing along the central one! The sacrificial animals are also brought in.

Pay attention to the Propylaea itself! They are made of Pentelicon marble. You see what a beautiful material this is. Today this marble does not look the same. But nothing can be done, time takes its toll. And in those days the gates simply amazed with their magnificence! You will notice that the Propylaea consists of two Doric porticoes, one of which faces the city, the other faces the top of the Acropolis. Raise your head and look at the ceilings of the porticos. See those square indentations? These are caissons! They are painted with gold stars on a blue background! Very beautiful, isn't it! And you see, where the hillside rises sharply, a transverse wall with five passages has been built. So the central one of these passages is intended only for ceremonial processions! During normal times it is closed by bronze gates. By the way, these gates are the boundaries of the sanctuary. It’s a pity that much has not survived to this day!

Yes, the Propylaea is simply magnificent! Have you forgotten that we are in the distant past? Do you remember? Then look to the left. Do you see this rather large building that adjoins the Propylaea? This is the Pinakothek, an art gallery. Portraits of the heroes of Attica are exhibited here! Now look to the right. Do you see a ledge on the rock? You know, this is the same ledge from which, according to legend, the Athenian king Aegeus back in the 13th century BC. rushed down when he saw the ship of his son Theseus entering the harbor with black sails, symbolizing the failure of his voyage to the island of Crete! Remember the legend? And remember that this was a mistake, and Theseus was actually alive! Yes, fate sometimes plays cruel jokes on people! On the ledge there is a small rectangular temple of Nike Apteros, dedicated to the goddess Nike wins. Translated, its name sounds like “Wingless Victory.”

Do you know why “Wingless Victory”? The fact is that, under the conditions of a truce in the protracted Peloponnesian War, the Athenians thereby expressed the hope that victory would not “fly away” from them now! Just look at what an unusually elegant marble temple this is! Standing on a three-stage pedestal, this temple is surrounded on all sides by a sculptural band of frieze, which depicted episodes of the struggle of the Greeks with the Persians, olympian gods(Athena, Zeus, Poseidon). But we can only see this sculptural ribbon of the frieze when we are transported in our imagination to those distant times. As you understand, it has not survived to this day. If we, all in the same past, go inside the temple, we will see a beautiful sculpture of Athena Nike! The majestic goddess holds a helmet in one hand, and in the other - a pomegranate fruit, a symbol of victorious peace! It’s a pity, but today this magnificent statue can no longer be seen. Unfortunately, it was also destroyed.

But let's continue our journey back in time to the Acropolis. Let's follow the Athenians into the Propylaea. Having passed them, we found ourselves at the very top of the cliff. Look, right in front of us rises a huge bronze statue of Athena Promachos, that is, Athena the Warrior. Do you see the gilded tip of her spear? The Athenians are sure that on clear days it serves as a landmark for ships approaching the city. Immediately behind the statue, please note, in the open area there is an altar, and on the left there is a small temple where priests perform rites of worship to the patroness of the city - the goddess Athena. If we approach one of the residents and ask about this place, they will tell us ancient myth about the dispute between Athena and the god Poseidon for the possession of the largest of the Greek city policies.

We learn that, according to myth, the winner in this dispute was supposed to be the one whose gift would have a benefit for the city higher value. Then Poseidon threw his trident at the Acropolis and at the place of his impact began to beat a source of sea water. He also promised the Athenians success in maritime trade. But Athena still won this dispute! She struck with a spear, and in this place an olive tree grew, which became the symbol of Athens. Therefore, this is where the altar is located. By the way, please note that one of the parts of the temple is dedicated to the legendary king of Athens Erechtheus. This part is called the Erechtheion. Don't be surprised that it's only part of the temple. Then there was only a part, but later this name passed to the entire temple. And today we know this structure as the Erechtheion.

The greatest interest in the Erechtheion is the Portico of the Daughters - six sculptures of the most beautiful girls support the roof of the temple extension instead of columns. In Byzantine times, they began to be called Caryatids, which meant women from the small town of Caria, famous for their exceptional beauty. At the beginning of the 19th century, one of the Caryatids (along with the friezes and pediments of the Parthenon) was taken to England by the ambassador of that country in Constantinople, Lord Elgin, with permission from the Turkish government. Elgin's act so excited the Athenians that a legend was soon born about the sounds heard in the night - the crying of the five Daughters remaining on the temple for their kidnapped sister. And Lord Byron “dedicated” his poem “The Curse of Athens” to the robber of these immortal treasures. The famous Elga marbles are still in the British Museum, and the statue on the temple has been replaced by a copy.

Look at the Erechtheion carefully. A special feature of the temple is its unusual asymmetrical layout, taking into account the unevenness of the soil. Such an interior, marble relief friezes, original porticoes, the most famous of which is the portico of the caryatids, can only be seen in the past, since they have not survived to this day: the marble relief friezes are completely destroyed, and the porticoes are very damaged. But, you must admit that even today, even with damaged porticoes, the Erechtheion is still beautiful! This is a pearl of ancient Greek architecture!

The temple consists of two, located on different levels, premises. The eastern part of the temple is located higher than the western. By the way, remember the legend told to us by the inhabitants of Athens about the dispute between Athena and Poseidon?

According to legend, two powerful deities - Poseidon and Athena - fought for the right to patronize the city and its inhabitants. To resolve this dispute, the Olympian gods suggested that the rivals make a gift to the city. Poseidon hit the rock with his trident and sea water poured out of it - a symbol of the sea power of the city, which was given to him by the god of the sea, and from the place where Athena struck with her spear, an olive tree sprang up. The gods recognized Athena's gift as much more valuable and placed the people under her protection, and the city was named after her.

Now look at the floor in the temple, do you see these irregularities? These are traces of a blow from Poseidon's trident! Do you see the well inside the temple? This well contains salty sea water. This is the source that, according to legend, Poseidon gave to the city! Yes, after everything you have seen, you are now unlikely to say that myths are fiction! On the western side, close to the Erechtheion, is the sanctuary of the nymph Pandrosa. It is there, inside the open courtyard, that you can see the sacred olive tree, the same one that Athena, according to legend, gave to the inhabitants of the city.

We hope you haven't forgotten that we are still in the past? Then we will continue our journey around the Acropolis. Do you see the solemn procession heading towards the most majestic temple of the Acropolis, the Parthenon?

This is the holiday of the Great Pan-finya! The climax of this celebration takes place at the altar in front of the eastern façade of the Parthenon, where the priests are given new clothes for the statue of Athena. Yes, the Parthenon is the most important and most iconic place in the Acropolis. This temple is also dedicated to the goddess Athena. But this time she performed in the guise of Athena Parthenos or Athena the Virgin. Hence the name of the temple.

Look how beautiful this temple is!

It has amazing harmony! Its steps, external colonnade, pediments, friezes and metopes are all immaculate and magnificent! The entire building was constructed from local white marble. The Parthenon is a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture and a symbol of the Greek genius! Let's climb its marble steps. By the way, pay attention to the columns of the temple. You see, the columns taper towards the top. This is not an optical illusion, it really is. This architectural technique helps to visually increase the height of the columns, and it seems that they rush high into the sky and almost touch the heavens!

As we said, all the structural elements of the Parthenon, including the roof tiles and steps, were hewn from local Pentelic marble, almost white, but over time acquiring a warm yellowish tint. Therefore, today the Parthenon no longer looks snow-white. But, nevertheless, even today it is called the “anthem” Ancient Greece and the “beauty of simplicity”!

Let's enter the Parthenon. Look, in the space limited by the inner colonnade, there is a colossal, gold and ivory cult statue of Athena! Today it has not survived, but in the past we can see it. You see, the goddess's clothes and helmet are made of pure gold, and her hair and shield are made of gold plates. Look at her eyes! They are made from precious sapphires! On right hand Athena holds a figure of the goddess of victory Nike, and a spear at her left shoulder. Luxurious robes, a helmet, a shield and an aegis decorated with the mask of the Gorgon Medusa give the statue a majestic solemnity. Yes, this is a real goddess! Here she is - the great patroness of the great city!

Athena Parthenos statue

Sculptural groups on the pediments of the temple depict the deeds of this goddess. In the east - the birth of Athena, who, fully armed, jumped out of the head of Zeus after the blacksmith god Hephaestus cut his head with an ax. In the west, there is a dispute between Athena and Poseidon, already known to us, when the olive tree donated by the goddess was considered a more valuable gift than the source of salt water discovered in the rock by Poseidon. Yes, unfortunately, not everything that was created by the ancient masters, and that the Athenians of distant times could see, has survived to this day. Let's now return from our time travel. Let's look at the great Acropolis today. Agree that anyway, what remains and has been preserved is also simply magnificent! Yes, the Acropolis is truly a standard of harmony, naturalness and beauty!

Here are a couple more photos from the Acropolis:

At the entrance to the Acropolis there is also Theater of Herod Attica. Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus was one of the wealthiest Athenian citizens and also the Roman governor of the province of Asia. Among other things, he was a famous philosopher and was the teacher of Marcus Aurelius.
In 161 AD. in memory of his wife, he built the Odeon (theater) in Athens. This is a perfectly preserved example of Roman architecture in Athens.
The theater had a stage 35.4 meters long, built on two floors and was covered with white and black marble slabs from the Karista quarries. The theater's capacity was up to 5,000 people. The roof of the theater was made of cedar wood.
The theater premises were rebuilt and today the theater hosts the Athens Festival, where the best theaters in the world present their art to the audience.

In the 6th century BC. The tyrant Pisistratus, who ruled in Athens, instilled the cult of Dionysus in Athens and organized the Great Dionysia, which was held during March - April. Around the same time, the poet Thespis, a native of the demos of Icarius, appeared in Athens. He introduced the first actor to Dionysia and began to write the texts himself, which the actor and the choir members had to read. Before Thespis, these texts were pure improvisation of the choristers. Thespis also began to devote texts not only to events from the life of Dionysus, but also to other heroes Greek mythology and real historical characters. Acting masks were also invented and introduced, since the same actor had to play many roles.

In the 4th century BC, during the reign of Lycurgus, the wooden spectator rows were replaced with stone ones and have not changed since then. The stage of the theater was reconstructed many times.

The theater has 78 rows of spectators, which are divided by a passage into two zones. The passage is also part of the Peripata - the path that surrounds the sacred rock of the Acropolis.

The front rows of marble spectators, 67 seats, were intended in ancient times for rulers, archons and priests. In the center of the front rows is the throne of the chief priest of the temple, Dionysus Eleftherius.

The Romans changed the theater twice. Once during the reign of Emperor Nero, in the 1st century AD, and again during the reign of Phaedrus, in the 3rd century AD.

The friezes that can be seen today on the proscenium of the theater depict scenes from the myths of Dionysus. The first frieze depicts the birth of a god: a seated Zeus, and in front of him Hermes with the baby Dionysus in his arms, along the edges of the Kurita they dance a battle dance with weapons in their hands. Then Icarus is shown sacrificing a goat to Dionysus, and on the right is Dionysus alone with his friend Satyr.

Among the museum's exhibits is a well-preserved metope from the southern facade of the Parthenon, depicting the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs. The pearls of the museum are the originals of the Caryatids from the southern portico of the Erechtheion. The statues are stored in a room with a special temperature regime.

is the heart and main tourist attraction of Athens and Greece. Clearly visible from all sides (construction is prohibited
high-rise buildings so as not to block the view of Acropolis) it serves as an excellent landmark for moving around the city.

Annually Acropolis of Athens visited by millions of tourists and travelers from all over the world.

Acropolis translated from ancient Greek as a fortified place in the city.
The Acropolis is the oldest inhabited place in Athens. Already during the Archaic period, there were majestic temples and sculptures here, which later generations of Greeks considered the heritage of the Cyclops. IN Mycenaean period(15 -13 century BC) Acropolis was the royal residence.

It was here that the residence of the legendary Theseus(the conqueror of the Minotaur), unless, of course, his personality was mythical.

During the Greco-Persian Wars Acropolis was completely destroyed by the Persians. The inhabitants of Athens swore an oath to restore the shrines only after the victory over the Persians and the expulsion of enemies from Hellas. In 447 BC. under the direction of the famous sculptor Acropolis new construction has begun. , the Temple of Nike, the Erechtheion - these are the masterpieces that we enjoy to this day.

Bule Gate

This gate is named after the French architect Ernest Bühle, who excavated the Acropolis in 1825. This is one of the two Acropolis gates that were built into the fortress walls after the Heruli raid in 267.

Sanctuary of Aphrodite Pandemos

To the right of the Bule Gate are ruins of the temple of Aphrodite. At present, all that remains of the temple is the architrave decorated with garlands and doves.

Sanctuary of Artemis Bravronia

This temple was located in eastern part of the Acropolis, not far from the ruins of the Mycenaean walls. The temple was a Dorian colonnade with two wings in the shape of a “U”. The creation of the temple is attributed to Pisistratus, who came from the region of Brauronia,
Where cult of Artemis was widespread. In the side wings of the temple colonnade were kept two statues of the goddess: the first was an ancient wooden statue depicting the goddess sitting on a throne, and the second, which was a creation sculptor Praxiteles.

Chalkoteka

East of the Temple of Artemis was Chalkoteka, a building that was used for storage metal objects related to the cult goddess Athena. The building was built in the mid-5th century BC, and reconstruction of the building was carried out during the Roman period.

On the southern slope of the Acropolis is the oldest known theater, - Theater of Dionysus(god of winemaking). According to legend, the inhabitants of Athens killed Dionysus when he arrived in Attica and gave wine to people for the first time, thinking that Dionysus was trying to poison them. Then they came to their senses and began to celebrate Dionysia very vigorously - festivals in
the honor of the god they killed. In the end, this all led to the creation of the theater. It was in this theater that masterpieces were first shown Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes.

In the 6th century BC. ruler of Athens tyrant Peisistratus introduced the cult of Dionysus into Athens and organized the Great Dionysia, which was held during March–April. Around the same time in Athens a poet appeared Thespis, a native of the demos of Ikaria. He introduced the first actor to Dionysia and began to write the texts that he should
was read by the actor and choir members. Before Thespis, these texts were pure improvisation of the choristers. Thespis also began to devote texts not only to life events Dionysus, but also to other heroes of Greek mythology and real historical characters. Acting masks were also invented and introduced, since one and the same
the actor had to play many roles.

In the 4th century BC, during the reign of Lycurgus, the wooden spectator rows were replaced with stone ones and have not changed since then. The stage of the theater was reconstructed many times.

The theater has 78 rows of spectators, which are divided by a passage into two zones. The passage is also part of the Peripata - the path that surrounds the sacred rock Acropolis.

The front rows of marble spectators, 67 seats, were intended in ancient times for rulers, archons and priests. In the center of the front rows is the throne of the chief priest of the temple of Dionysus Eleftheria.

Romans The theater was changed twice. Once during the reign of Emperor Nero, in the 1st century AD, and again during the reign of Phaedrus, in the 3rd century AD.

The friezes that can be seen today on the proscenium of the theater depict scenes from the myths of Dionysus. The first frieze depicts the birth of the god: seated Zeus, and in front of him Hermes with the baby Dionysus in their arms, along the edges of Kurita they dance a war dance with weapons in their hands. Then depicted Icarus, sacrificing a goat to Dionysus, and
on the right is Dionysus alone with his friend Satyr.

Temple of Augustus

Not far from the eastern entrance to the Parthenon was Temple of Roma andAugusta. The temple was built in 27 BC. when Octavian received the title of Augustus. It was a small round temple with a diameter of 8.50 meters and 9 Ionic columns. At the foot of the columns there was an inscription that said that the temple was dedicated to Roma and
Augustus from the grateful Athenians.

Sanctuary of Zeus Polyaeus

To the northeast of the Parthenon are ruins of the Temple of Zeus. It consisted of a quadrangular fence, inside of which there was a separate fenced area with a small temple and a hall of gifts. In the temple in honor Zeus The ritual of Diipoly was carried out.

At the entrance to Acropolis There is also the Theater of Herod Attica. Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus was one of the wealthiest Athenian citizens and also the Roman governor of the province of Asia. Among other things, he was a famous philosopher and a teacher Marcus Aurelius.

In 161 AD. in memory of his wife he built Odeon(theater) in
Athens. This is a perfectly preserved example of Roman architecture in Athens.
The theater had a stage 35.4 meters long, built on two floors and was
covered with white and black marble slabs from the Karista quarries.
The theater's capacity was up to 5,000 people. The roof of the theater was made of cedar wood.

The theater premises were rebuilt and today the theater hosts Athens Festival, where the best theaters in the world present their art to the audience.

Copper statue of Athena

On the territory of the Acropolis there were many gifts and offerings from various cities and ordinary residents. Was especially valuable statueAthens. The statue was installed between Erechtheion and Propylaea and was 9 meters high. According to Pausanias, the spearhead of the statue and the shine of its helmet were visible to ships that sailed from Cape Sounion to Piraeus.

Odeon of Pericles

East of the Theater of Dionysus was the famous Odeon of Pericles, built in 447 BC. and intended for music competitions. The Odeon was destroyed during the storming of the Acropolis by Sulla's legions in 86 BC. and restored by the king of Capadocia, Ariobarzanes II. Finally Pericles Theater was destroyed by the Heruls in 267 BC.

Between the Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herod of Attica there is a colonnade
Euminius II(king of Pergamon), which was built in the 2nd century BC. as a gift to the Athenians. In ancient times, the colonnade had a roof and was used by residents as a promenade for walking.

In the 5th century, with the advent of Christianity, it became the Church of Our Lady. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks, the temple was turned into a mosque, and then into an arsenal. was dismantled.

In 1687, after a cannonball hit a Venetian ship, the explosion destroyed almost all central part, and in addition, during the unsuccessful attempt of the Venetians to remove the Parthenon sculptures, several statues were broken.

In the 19th century, the friezes and remaining Parthenon statues were taken to England, where they can be seen in British Museum.

Acropolis Museum

Museum Acropolis was opened in 1878. Initially, the museum building was located in a small room immediately behind the Parthenon.

The museum's collection consists of exhibits that were found during archaeological excavations Acropolis.

Its treasures include surviving parts of the Parthenon friezes as well as sculptures by Greek masters from the 5th century BC.

Museum exhibits exhibited in chronological order. These are pediment sculptures of temples Acropolis with images of the battle of gods with giants, scenes of Hercules fighting with various mythical creatures, as well as a sculpture of Moschophoros, or a young man carrying a calf on his shoulders (570 BC)

Among the museum's exhibits is a well-preserved metope from the southern facade of the Parthenon, depicting the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs. The pearls of the museum are originals of the Caryatids from the southern portico of the Erechtheion. The statues are stored in a room with a special temperature regime.

Reminder for tourists

Acropolis Open daily from 8am to 6:30pm.

Acropolis opening hours may vary slightly depending on
season. On Acropolis It is forbidden to bring any bags (they can be left at the entrance to the Acropolis)

The entrance ticket costs 12 euros, but with this ticket you can also visit Agora and Temple of Zeus.

Acropolis on the map of Athens

The Athenian Acropolis, crowned with the ruins of the Parthenon, is one of the archetypal images of world culture. Even the first glance at these ancient ruins over roads filled with cars gives an unusual experience: something unusual and at the same time extremely familiar, almost familiar. The Parthenon is a symbol of the power of the Athenian polis, and as such it was known to everyone Ancient world. But it is unlikely that the creators of the temple foresaw that its ruins would symbolize the emergence and formation of world civilization - not to mention the fact that two and a half thousand years later the Parthenon would attract a huge number of tourists (about two million annually).

The Acropolis of Athens is a rock. Almost no ancient Greek city could do without its acropolis (the word itself means upper city), but the Athenian “upper city” is the Acropolis with a capital A, and in mentioning it there is no need to go into further explanation. The Acropolis is a block of limestone with steeply plunging slopes and a flat top rising a hundred meters high. The Acropolis was easy to defend, drinking water there has never been a shortage, so the allure of owning the rock is obvious. Even today it remains the heart of the city. On the flat top of the Acropolis, not only the Parthenon was erected, but also the Erechtheion, the temple of Nike Apteros and the Propylaea, the remains of many less significant ancient structures were preserved, and there is the current museum.

All this is surrounded by a fence and forms a single museum complex. The southern slope of the Acropolis, with two large theaters and several smaller temples, is accessed through a different gate and with separate tickets. Now the streets surrounding the Acropolis of Athens are pedestrianized, and you can walk around the hill and the ancient Agora, admiring these monuments. To the west, Thisio has many cafes where you can relax with a cup of coffee on the terrace. At the opposite end is , in the labyrinth of streets of which you can get lost, but the Acropolis can always serve as a guide for you.

You can only get to the top of the Acropolis from the west, from the side where there is a large bus depot at the foot of the hill. The usual pedestrian road to the entrance starts in the northwestern area of ​​Plaka and follows a path that runs above Odos Dioskouros where this street joins Theorios. You can approach the Acropolis from the south, along the pedestrian street Dionisiou-Areopaitou (Acropolis metro), past the Theater of Dionysus and the Theater of Herodes Atticus, or from the north: through the ancient Agora (entrance from Adriano; Monastiraki metro), or a more authentic route, but this pays off with magnificent views of both the Acropolis and the Acropolis - from Thisio, along the traffic-free Apostolou Pavlou Street (Thisio metro).

There are no shops or restaurants on the Acropolis, although there are a couple of counters at the main ticket office selling water and sandwiches, as well as guidebooks, postcards and so on. Opposite the Akropoli metro station (on the corner of Makriyanni and Diakou) there is a cafe of the Everest chain, and there are plenty of other similar establishments nearby. And if you don’t want to have a quick snack, but rather eat properly, then, going in any direction, you will very soon find a cafe or tavern: in Plaka, Monastiraki, Makriyanni or Thissio.

A Brief History of the Acropolis of Athens (Greece)

In the 2nd millennium BC, the Neolithic settlement on the Acropolis gives way to a Bronze Age settlement. It was a fairly significant fortified settlement, reminiscent of Mycenaean centers. The Acropolis was surrounded by a wall, modeled after the Cyclopean walls and. The remains of these walls can still be seen today. On the territory of the Acropolis there was the king's palace - the basileia. The palace, the remains of which have been preserved, is mentioned in the Iliad and Odyssey.

At the foot of the Acropolis, on the territory of the later Agora (market square), the inhabitants of the Mycenaean-era settlement buried their dead. Like all of Mycenaean Greece, it did not escape the turmoil caused by the invasion of the northern Greek tribes of the Dorians, who moved in several waves starting around 1200 BC. The Acropolis at that time was the place of worship of the goddess Athena - the patroness of the city - and the seat of the rulers of Athens, the Eupatrides, who replaced the king, Basileus. Public meetings took place at the Propylaea of ​​the Acropolis. To the west rose the rocky hill of the Areopagus, named after the god of war Ares. Here, on the leveled peak, the Council of Elders of noble families gathered.

The beginning of the 6th century BC is the time of the reforms of Solon, the wise Athenian legislator. In 594 BC he was elected archon. Solon's reforms laid the foundation for the formation of a democratic city-state in Athens - a polis. A new center of public and social life is emerging in Athens. political life on the Agora, located northwest of the Acropolis. Intensive construction in Athens began during the period of tyranny of Pisistratus, who made a lot of efforts to decorate and improve the city. New buildings were erected on the Agora: temples of Apollo and Zeus, an altar of the twelve gods.

On the Acropolis, Peisistratus and his sons also undertook great construction.” The old temple of Athena was surrounded on all sides by a colonnade. New Propylaea were built, and an altar dedicated to Athena Nike was erected. Big number statues brought by Athenian citizens as a gift to the patron goddess of the city adorned the Athenian Acropolis. After some time, the Athenians achieved military superiority, and after the defeat of the Persians, in which they played a significant role, the period of greatest prosperity of the Athenian state began. It was headed by Pericles, whose reign (444/43-429 BC) is rightfully considered the golden age of Athens.

They not only became one of the strongest and most influential states in Greece, but also became the center of cultural and artistic life the entire ancient world. Athens headed the Maritime League (Delian League), which united many policies of Northern Greece and the islands Aegean Sea. The treasury of the union was kept in Athens, which could dispose of it. This circumstance, as well as the rich booty received by the Athenians after their victory over the Persians, made it possible to carry out an extensive building program in the city. The grandiose plan of creating a new ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis was brought to life.

At the head of this colossal work was the greatest sculptor of Greece, Phidias, who created two statues of Athena - Promachos (Warrior) and Parthenos (Virgin) - to decorate the Acropolis. A whole galaxy of outstanding architects and sculptors worked under the leadership of Phidias. One after another, monuments were erected that became the best examples of classical Greek architecture: the majestic Parthenon, the light and graceful temple of Nike Apteros, the ceremonial Propylaea, the second largest temple of the Athenian Acropolis - the Erechtheion. The Acropolis of Athens fully expressed the greatness of the city, which, according to the testimony of the ancient Greeks, was recognized as the capital of Hellas.

And, indeed, the following centuries, until the Byzantine era, left almost no traces on the Acropolis. The Peloponnesian War lost by Athens put an end to the prosperity of Athens, which lost its primacy among Greek cities in the 4th century BC. The political decline of Athens was completed by the subjugation of Greece to the rule of the Macedonian kings. In the middle of the 2nd century BC, the Roman Republic subjugated Greece. At the beginning of the 1st century BC, Athens tried to overthrow the power of Rome. In 87 BC, the Roman commander Sulla, after a long siege, took the city and brutally plundered it. The first place among his spoils was occupied by works of Greek art.

In 267 AD the city was subjected to a devastating raid by the Goths and Heruli. With the spread of Christianity, Athens increasingly lost its significance as the center of Hellenic culture. Philosophical schools were closed, and in 529, by decree of Emperor Justinian, the last philosophers and rhetoricians were expelled from Athens. Ancient temples were converted into Christian churches. After this, temples were used for both secular and religious purposes. The interior of these temples has undergone a radical alteration. New stage The history of the city begins with the Crusades. After the Fourth Crusade and the capture of Constantinople, it became part of the Latin Empire.

Athens became the capital of the Duchy of Athens, which over the 250 years of its existence (1205-1456) saw a number of rulers change. The Propylaea was turned into a palace, and in 1456, when Athens was captured by the Turks and the Acropolis became Turkish fortress, The Propylaea became barracks and a gunpowder warehouse. In 1656, an accidental explosion at this warehouse destroyed almost the entire central part of the building. The Parthenon turned from a Greek temple into a Roman one, then from a Byzantine church into a Frankish cathedral, and subsequently existed for several centuries as a Turkish mosque. And the Erechtheion, apparently, because it was decorated female figures, at one time served as a harem.

The Venetian diplomat Hugo Favoli wrote in 1563 that the Acropolis was “rising with glittering golden crescents”, and a tall and thin minaret tower rose in the southwestern part of the Parthenon. But, despite all this, the buildings on the rock still resembled, and probably much more than the current ruins, the original Acropolis: ancient, filled with sculptures painted in bright colors. Sadly, all these magnificent examples of architecture were preserved only in engravings and drawings of the time: the buildings were destroyed during the Venetian siege. The Turks dismantled the temple of Nike Apteros, and used the material to build a bastion.

Later, the Venetians, keeping the Turkish garrison under siege, cannonball They blew up the Parthenon, which was turned into a gunpowder warehouse. The entire cella of the temple was destroyed, and the fire raged for two days and two nights. The destruction of the Parthenon and the capture of the Acropolis was meaningless: the Venetians soon left Athens, and the Turks returned to the Acropolis. For some time, the period of wars, but not destruction, ended for Athens. Lovers of antiquities who entered here not only admired them, but also tried to steal them.

Top of the Acropolis of Athens (Greece)

Today, like two thousand and a half years ago, only one road leads to the top of the Acropolis. In the time of Pericles, a paved road led to the Acropolis of Athens, climbing its gentle slope. The Propylaea rises above the large platform. A gate framed by two pylons opens onto the site. In 1853 they were discovered by the archaeologist Beile - after his name they are called the Beile Gate. From here the road went up to the Propylaea.

The top of the Acropolis is open to the public daily April-September 8:00-19:30; October-March 8:00-16:30, entrance costs 12 €, free on days public holidays and Sundays November-March. By purchasing a ticket, you pay for admission to the Theater of Dionysus, the ancient Agora, the Roman Forum, Kerameikos and the Temple of Zeus, and you can visit any of these before the Acropolis, but make sure that you are not sold a separate ticket instead of a general one (the ticket is valid for 4 days ).

Backpacks and big bags Carrying in is prohibited - luggage can be checked into a storage room at the main ticket office. The crowds on the Acropolis can be terrifying - don't want to be trampled by the crowd? Get out early in the morning or in the evening; most people are here late in the morning, when there are a lot of buses with tourists who will soon go for lunch.

The Propylaea was built by Mnesicles in 437-432 BC; the proportions of the structure were in harmony with the recently completed Parthenon. The lateral wings are adjacent to the central part of the Propylaea. They were erected from the same Pentelic marble (mined on Mount Pentelikon, northeast of the city) as the temple, and in grandeur and architectural perfection, as well as in the impression they make, the Propylaea is almost comparable to the Parthenon. Mnesicles was the first to combine in one design ordinary Doric columns with columns of the Ionic order, which are taller and more graceful.

The columns, as it were, prepare with their solemn rhythm the reverent mood that was supposed to cover the ancient Athenians who entered the territory of the sanctuary of the goddess - the patroness of the city. The Propylaea became the most revered monument of Athens. The northern wing of the Propylaea consists of an outer portico and a vast rectangular hall behind it. In ancient times, the famous Pinakothek was located here - the world's first art gallery. Works by the greatest Greek artists of the classical era, including Polygnotus, were kept here. He worked in the second quarter of the 5th century BC, and six centuries later, already in the Roman era, his works were described by Pausanias in his guidebook “Description of Hellas.” The northern wing of the Propylaea corresponds to the southern one, but it is smaller.

It is believed that Mnesicles deliberately reduced the size of the southern wing because he took into account the presence of the temple of Nike Apteros (Athena the Victorious). One cannot help but be surprised at the skill with which Mnesicles and the author of the temple project, Niki Apteros Kallikrates, solved the difficult task of combining these two buildings in one ensemble. Behind the gates one can see one of the best preserved sections of the Panathenaic Way - the Sacred Road, which was followed by the participants of the Panathenaic festivals held every four years in honor of the divine patroness of the polis (images of these processions adorned the frieze of the Parthenon).

The procession began in the city, at the main cemetery of Keramikos, and, passing through the Propylaea, headed to the Parthenon and then to the Erechtheion. On weekdays, most of the Sacred Way was used as a regular road. In ancient times, processions passed by the ten-meter bronze statue of Athena Promachos, that is, Athena the Warrior, and recently the exact place where the sculpture’s pedestal stood was established. The statue was sculpted by Phidias, who symbolically depicted in the sculpture the resistance of the Athenians to the Persians. In the Byzantine era, the sculpture was transported to Constantinople (present-day), where it was destroyed by an angry crowd who believed in the rumor that the pointing hand of the goddess had guided the Crusaders to the city in 1204.

It was decided to build a simple and elegant temple of Nike Apteros in honor of the victorious end of the war with the Persians in 449 BC. But construction was completed only in 427-424 BC. It stands on a three-step pedestal. Its monolithic columns are similar to the Ionian columns of the Propylaea. Now the temple has reappeared renewed: it was dismantled, and the fragments were taken away to be cleaned and restored. It's funny, but this is not the first time this has happened: the Turks dismantled the building in 1685 to make room for the battery.

Two hundred years later, restorers collected the scattered parts and recreated the original appearance of the temple. No less impressive is the restoration of the reliefs of the frieze of the temple from fragments. You will see the most remarkable example of art, both by ancient artists and restorers of the century before last, in the Acropolis Museum, this is “Nike Trying on Sandals.” The frieze of the temple very realistically depicts the victory of the Athenians over the Persians at the Battle of Plataea.

From the pyrgos site of the temple of Nike Apteros there is a beautiful view of the entire city and the Saronic Gulf, the waters of which wash the coast of Attica. One of the poetic myths of Ancient Athens, which Pausanias retold, is connected with this. The myth tells the story of King Aegeus, who was waiting for the white sails to appear and mark the return of his son Theseus, who went to kill the Minotaur. Theseus, who was returning victorious, forgot about his promise to change the black sails to white ones. The father, seeing black sails in the distance, decided that his son was dead, in despair he threw himself down onto the rocks and crashed.

It is probably best to look at the temple if you go through the Propylaea and stand a little to the right. From there you can see nearby what remains of the sanctuary of Artemis of Bravrona. Although its purpose is not very clear, it is known that it once housed Trojan horse, made in bronze. The section of the Mycenaean rampart (parallel to the Propylaea), included by the architects of Pericles in the general one, is very striking. construction plan classical period.

• Antique monument Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens (Greece)

The Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena-Parthenos (Virgin), was built as part of the Pericles program. The temple was intended as a new sanctuary for Athena. Inside, the temple was divided into two unequal parts. In the main, eastern one, there was the famous statue of Athena, made of gold and ivory. The statue's eye sockets were inserted gems, and on the chest in the center of the shell loomed the deadly head of the Gorgon Medusa, made of ivory. The statue carved by Phidias was installed in the twilight of the hall intended for it - the cella, and it remained there until the 5th century BC. The statue has not survived to this day, but numerous later copies have survived, including a remarkable Roman copy exhibited in.

The Parthenon, like other classical temples, stood on a stylobate, each of the steps of which had a height of 0.55-0.59 meters. But its grandeur does not overwhelm the viewer; this is a feature of Greek architecture, its deep humanism. The Parthenon is a classic example of a Greek temple of the Doric order, but at the same time its architecture is distinguished by a number of unique individual features. The proportions of the columns and entablature, the ratio of the number of columns on the sides of the temple (the number of columns on the longitudinal side is one more than twice the number of columns of the facade, that is, 8 and 17) strictly correspond to the standards developed by classical Greek architecture. Techniques such as slight thickening and inclination of the corner columns towards the center, entasis - swelling of the column trunk, and slight bending of the stylobate step were skillfully used.

All these features were supposed to compensate for errors visual perception, since absolutely straight lines are perceived at a distance by the human eye as slightly concave. As a result, the Parthenon appears before your eyes as an ideal building with clear, harmonious lines and proportions. The Parthenon once looked festive and elegant with its white marble columns and walls, topped with sculptural friezes and pediments, in which polychrome was widely used: the background of the pediments and markers was painted dark red, the frieze - blue. Against this colored background, the figures stood out especially clearly, retaining the color of marble. Their parts were also painted or gilded. All the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon was subordinated to one goal - glorification hometown, its gods and heroes, its people.

The temple was decorated with a frieze of fine workmanship. The theme of the frieze is the glorification of the Athenian people on the day of the celebration of the Great Panathenaia. The main, eastern pediment of the Parthenon was decorated with a composition depicting the myth of the birth of the goddess Athena. The western pediment depicts an Attic legend - about the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for power over Attica. Most of the pediment, central columns and cella were destroyed in 1687, when the Acropolis of Athens was besieged by the Venetians. The best examples of surviving sculpture are now found in the so-called Elgin Marbles. Several original sculptures and fragments, along with a model of the temple, can be seen in the Acropolis Museum, and the Acropolis metro station is decorated with very good reproductions of the temple.

• Ancient temple Erechtheion in the Acropolis of Athens (Greece)

North of the Parthenon rises the Erechtheion. The myth tells that when Athena hit the ground with her spear, an olive tree grew from it, and sea water began to flow from the ground. The Olympian gods declared Athena the winner. Pausanias writes that he saw both an olive tree and sea ​​water, and adds: “What’s extraordinary about this well is that when the wind blows, it’s as if the sea is splashing in it.” The Erechtheion is a completely unique monument. The originality of its asymmetrical plan is explained by the fact that this temple united a number of different sanctuaries. Most of them existed in this place before the construction of the Erechtheion. The construction of the Erechtheion was provided for by the grandiose construction plan on the Acropolis, developed under Pericles.

The Erechtheion was the main place of worship of the goddess Athena, where her ancient statue was kept. The temple was named after one of the most ancient legendary kings and heroes of Athens - Erechtheus. The author of the project of this temple is unknown. Some scientists, finding analogies in the layout of the Erechtheion and the Propylaea, believe that it could be Mnesicles. Once upon a time there was one of the sacred places here, where on the rock one could see the mark left by the trident of Poseidon during his dispute with Athena. Kekropion was also located here - the grave and sanctuary of the first legendary king of Attica - Kekron. The famous portico of the caryatids rises above it. On a high plinth there are six statues of girls supporting the ceiling of the portico.

These majestic and strong figures stand calmly. The folds of long Doric peplos falling vertically downward resemble the flutes of columns. Who were these girls portraying? There is a plausible assumption: the number of servants of the cult of Athena included arrephoros, young girls chosen from the best Athenian families for a period of one year. They took part in the production of the sacred peplos, with which the ancient statue of Athena was annually dressed. Time and people have not been kind to the caryatid statues. Five original statues are in the Acropolis Museum. One of them was broken by Lord Elgin. It has been replaced by a copy.

Southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens (Greece)

You can get to the southern slope of the Acropolis (daily summer 8:00-19:00; winter: 8:30-15:00; 2 € or with a single ticket to the Acropolis of Athens) from the place where the main ticket office, or from the pedestrian avenue Leoforos Dyonisiou Areopayitou, - this is where the Acropolis metro station is. Dominating the southern slope of the Acropolis hill is the Roman theater (odeon) of Herodes Atticus, built in the 2nd century, which has been restored and currently hosts musical performances and productions of ancient Greek drama during the summer festivals. Unfortunately, visitors are only allowed inside for performances; access is closed at other times.

But there is also the Theater of Dionysus, which is also located on the southern slope of the Acropolis. This is one of those places in the city that encourages memories of the past: it was here that the masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first staged. Tragedies were staged here every year - and every Athenian could take part in the production and in the choir. In the 4th century BC, the theater was rebuilt, and it began to accommodate about 17 thousand spectators; 20 of the 64 tiers of the ancient theater have survived to this day. Here you can see large marble chairs in the first row, which were intended for priests and high officials, as evidenced by the inscriptions on the chairs.

In the center there is a chair for the priest of the god Dionysus, next to it is a chair for the representative of the Delphic oracle. The semicircular orchestra of the theater is paved with stone slabs that form a pattern in the center. The orchestra is closed by a low skena, the front side of which is decorated with reliefs depicting various episodes from the myths of Dionysus. In the middle of the frieze there is an expressive figure of Silenus, a companion of the god Dionysus: bent over, he seems to be holding the pavement of the skene floor on his shoulders. There is a bustle around the theater and construction equipment– archaeological excavations are underway, promising to yield interesting results.

The cliffs of the Acropolis rise above the theater. They are crowned by a powerful defensive wall. Two Corinthian columns are visible near the wall - the remains of a Roman-era structure. Below them the entrance to the chapel in the rock, fenced with ropes, darkens. It was once dedicated to Dionysus, now the chapel of Our Lady is Panagia Spiliotis. To the west of the theater are the ruins of the Asklepion, a sanctuary where the god of healing Asclepius was worshiped, built around a sacred spring. In the Byzantine era, the church of the holy healers Cosmas and Damian was erected, of which only ruins remain. Next to the road stretched the foundations of the Roman Stoa of Eumenes, the rows of columns of which stretched to the theater of Herodes Atticus.

• Museum of the Acropolis of Athens (Greece)

After decades of delays, by the time you read this article, the new Acropolis Museum (opened June 20, 2009) on the southern slope of the Acropolis, Acropolis metro station, will definitely be finally opened. He looks great. Architectural highlights on the top floor, in glass cases and with views straight to the Parthenon. Here, it is hoped, the Parthenon marbles (those currently in the Acropolis Museum and those that may be returned, the Elgin Marbles) will be reunited. To speed up and facilitate the return of these sculptures, the Greeks agree that they should simply be given them for display, or that part of the museum should be the "British Museum at Athens", in which case the owner will not change.

So far, he has ignored all the proposals, but many continue to believe that the complete set of the new museum - with gaps in place of missing exhibits - will finally force the British Museum in London to take steps forward. Among the exhibits from the old collection, most of which you can see in new places, are sculptures that decorated the frieze of the Old Temple of Athena (VII-VI centuries BC), which partially retained their rich coloring. A little further on is the Moschophorus marble statue (570 BC) - one of the earliest marble statues found on the Acropolis. The sculptor sculpted a young man carrying a sacrificial calf on his shoulders. One of the most precious treasures of the museum is also on display - a collection of statues of the Cor.

The statues depicted priestesses of the goddess Athena and stood near her temple. There is also an interesting statue of a finely crafted horseman. Most of the statues date back to the second half of the 6th century BC, when Ionian sculptors worked in Attica. They created a new type of bark, perhaps less expressive, but more elegant. Here you can also see a charming sculpture that the Greeks call Sandalizussa: Athena Nike (Victorious) trying on sandals. Finally, five authentic caryatids from the Erechtheion are on display. On the lowest floor there is a glass mezzanine containing exhibits from early Christian Athens discovered during construction work.

• Areopagus Hill of the Acropolis of Athens (Greece)

Just below the entrance to the Acropolis of Athens you will see tall, awkward rock-cut steps leading to the Areopagus. On this “Hill of Ares”, during the reign of the Basilean kings, the Court of Elders, the highest body of the Athenian state, met. The court tried murder cases. And the first whom they judged were, according to myth, the god Apec, who killed Allirotheus, the son of Poseidon, and Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who, avenging his father, killed his mother. The victory of democracy took away power from the Court of Elders and transferred it to the People's Assembly (which met on the Pnyx).

The Persians, besieging the Acropolis of Athens in 480 BC, set up their camp here, and in Roman times the Apostle Paul preached. Evidence of ancient greatness has not survived to this day; the hill is littered with cigarette butts and empty beer cans - both remain from tourists relaxing here after excursions around the Acropolis and enjoying the views along the way. And the views here are good - down to the Agora and forward to the ancient cemetery at Keramikos.

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