To enter the Acropolis, you go through the majestic gateway, the Propylaea. Here you will find a main building with two adjoining wings. The Propylaea was the central point through which people entered the Acropolis. Although not a true barrier gate, sentries stood by the gate so that runaway slaves and criminals could not pass into the sanctuary and seek protection from the gods.
Atop the Acropolis sits the majestic white Parthenon, made almost entirely of marble and breathtaking to come upon. The Parthenon, a temple of the Goddess Athena, was built in the fifth century B.C. Athena was believed to be the protector of the citizens of Athens. The Parthenon is considered the most important and long-lasting symbol of Greece, and the decorative and intricate stonework of the grand columns, sculptures and frieze are a reflection of the appreciation for artistic simplicity characteristic of the times.
The Temple of Athena Nike, begun in 427 B.C., was the first of the iconic temples to be built on the Acropolis. The Goddess Athena Nike was the Goddess of Victory and Wisdom. At this small temple, the people of Athens worshipped her, hoping she'd grant them victory in their war against the Spartans.
Built to house the sacred shrines of Athens, the Erechtheion is most famous for its six monolithic female statues, the Caryatids, which seem to literally be resting the porch atop their heads. According to Ancient-Greece.org, the current statues are exact replicas, but five of the originals are protected and can be viewed in the Acropolis Museum. One of the original Caryatids is the subject of much controversy, having been taken by Lord Elgin of England and sold to the British Museum, where it still remains (see Reference 1). There has been continued effort to have the sixth Caryatid returned to Athens, but as of 2009, those efforts have not proved fruitful.
At the base of the Acropolis sits the Dionysus Theatre. Built in fourth century B.C., it was designed to be a grand open-air theatre, where works by playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides were performed. Unfortunately, much of it has been destroyed. Nearby you will find the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a small amphitheater that has been restored and currently hosts summer festivals.
More than 4,000 of the remaining sculptures, friezes and temple artifacts are now housed in the stunning Acropolis Museum, and any trip to the Acropolis would not be complete without paying it a visit. Here you will get a true sense of what the Parthenon and the other temples originally looked like before the affects of time, weather, war, ravage and pollution took their toll.
