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Acropolis

Acropolis
The Acropolis, Athens holds a group of monuments that have been influential from Antiquity to Neo-Classicism.

Acropolis means Upper City, although it hasn't been a city where people live since the 6th century BC. The monuments are situated on a 60 meter high rock that dominates Athens. Since the 5th century the Acropolis has city walls, turning it into a strong fortification.

On top of the rock, some of the best monuments of Classical Greece can be found. The much-photographed Parthenon for example. The current remains date from the 5th century BC, though 2 earlier temples have been discovered on the site. The Parthenon was built to honour Athena Parthenos (or Pallas). It's a Doric temple, with 8 columns at the narrow sides and 17 columns along the length of each of the two long sides. Inside there was a statue of Athena, made of gold and ivory by Pheidias. Unfortunately, this hasn't survived the ages.

Year Decision Comments
1987 Inscribed Reasons for inscription



Visit December 2001

The first glimpse of the Acropolis shows merely its high walls. The old city is built on top of a big mountain, that overshadows modern Athens. Both mountain and walls are more prominent than I had imagined.

I visited the site on an early Sunday morning. Entrance was free. The main gate was guarded by two stray dogs, who tried to scare the occasional visitor away by showing their teeth. Having decided to be brave, I walked past them, into the large complex of ancient buildings. To emphasize this once more: the Acropolis was a city, not one building or a temple complex. It doesn't really look that way anymore. Only 3 landmarks remain: the Propylae (at the entrance), the famous Parthenon and last (and best) the magnificent Erechteion. I wonder why the Parthenon is so much better known than its neighbour, the Erechteion. It's the last building I marvelled at, at its unique shape and its pillars made out of women's statues. Wow, I hope my pictures will live up to the sight in reality. line

Reviews

Laura Barber (USA):
When we arrived in Greece, we were informed that we had to see the Acropolis right away because they were going to close it for several days for repair. Despite being very tired after a long flight, and hot since it was in August and we didn't have time to change into cooler clothes; we were excited to see these incredible ruins! The Parthenon was laced with ladders and supports but it was still awesome. To imagine how old it is and how long it has survived, was amazing. Much of the deterioration you see is a result of different countries taking pieces of the monuments years ago. this pilfering was apparently common long ago. The area is large and spread about. There is a lot to take in and the time passed quickly before closing. We were able in the following days, to visit the Ancient Agora and the Theatre of Dionysius , the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Poseidon. There were so many old structures that I wasn't sure why more were not included as World Heritage sites.
Athens held a wealth of history and old architecture. It is a place where you can easily spend several days exploring.
Date posted: November 2011
pearl anne logan ((philippines but currently in denmark)):
ACROPOLIS... a must to see. although it is under renovation at this time. nevertheless, it is an amazing place! You could see the whole athens on top of this old city rock. It is quite an experience to visit the place.
Date posted: December 2008
IOM (Ireland):
We visited in June 2008. We were there around 08:30 and it was already hot and busy! Fantastic site, but didn't expect all the building work. The new museum was in soft-opening mode and should be amazing when fully open.
Date posted: August 2008
Douglas Scully (USA):
In 1975 I was able to visit the acropolis as a tourist. This was long before there were so many restrictions as to where you could go and before the removal of the original chariotids from the Erechthion. After having read so much about this place it was a most memorable visit. I had a college friend that was Greek and living in her home in Athens. One night she took me to the acropolis, at least as far as we could get, in the moonlight. An unforgetable experience. Besides the Parthenon there are remains of the more ancient temple to Athena and of the Myceneion period to see. I wonder how many people care or notice. This place was important to Greek life for a thousand years before what you see remaining now.
 
Lauren Malkovsky (Senegal):
I really enjoyed the Acropolis when i visited it this past winter. This site, out of all of them, helped me incredibly. I made sure I got a tour guide, and got up to the top early in the morning. Thanks to Eric for that!

I suggest everyone visits this world heritage site, and sees what exploration is all about. I love my life, and now that I am exploring the world, I have a purpose.

Thanks again!
Date posted: September 2006
theo (america):
i think the Acropolis is an excellent world heritage to go and have a holiday with your family and freinds, because it involves histerical veiws, and not only of all the acropolis's but of the whole of Athens, it is a beautiful place and i reccomend it to all ages, even fro honeymoons and even just a family vacation for the children and the parents, or even a school trip. that is why i reccomend the Acropolis in Athens, and why i enjoyed as much as i did.
Date posted: May 2006
Jstein (Nigeria):
Hey guys, thanks for creating such a wonderful site. Eric Hamblett, you are the best. I mean the BEST. The Acropolis was such an amazing place, and you and your comments are amazing as well. Lots of Luck. ENCHALA.
Date posted: March 2006
Emilia Bautista King (U.S.A.):
I felt a bit sentimental walking through the Acropolis, as my dad had been there when he served in the US Navy some 30 years before I went. I looked through some of his old photos and saw one of him squatting in front of the Parthenon. I copied his pose and had a photo taken of me in front of the Parthenon. I was also enchanted by the caryatids (pictured above), which I studied in my high school humanities class.

It was stinking hot when I went so if you are going in the summer, be sure to have a hat and sunglasses; you'll need them! I also recommend the nearby Dora Stratou Theatre to watch some traditional Greek dancing!
Date posted: March 2006
Caroline Kordahl (Cambodia):
HEY, i loved all your useful tips. Thanks Eric Hamblett, the tour guide really helped. I travel the world quite a bit, and I have developed a large passion for World Heritage Sites. Nothing pleases me more than to have ancient ruins to visit, and cherish. Evermore, my passion grows to this day. My advice would be to stay in the city, where there is more going on.
Date posted: December 2005
Alex Brigmann (Vatican City):
Thanks for creating such a wonderful site. My religous courses and your guidance helped to achieve perfect satisfication. Athens is an amazing city and I hope to one day visit again. The Acropolis is beautiful especially the great views from above. During the summer months, Whenever I travel, I make sure I check your site to see if there are any World Heritage Sites around the area.
Thanks Again!
Date posted: November 2005
Ben Pastore (USA):
The Acropolis is one of the best cityscape vantage points I've ever seen. Looking down on Mars Hill, a.k.a. the Areopagus, I could just image the apostle Paul addressing the gathered Athenian intellectual community. As the seat of an influential world empire, this site in the heart of Athens gives one real perspective and meaning behind the Greek contributions to the world.
Date posted: June 2005
Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
Athens is an interesting city and much less dirty, crowded, and noisy than most people seem to believe, but its attractions are few and far between (great archaeological museum, though). The one exception, though, is of course the Acropolis. It can be seen from almost everywhere in the city and is probably the greatest surviving ancient monument anywhere. Its WH listing says that it symbolizes the idea of world heritage, and that´s certainly true. Not only its architectural, cultural, and historical significance is enormous, but it can also be considered to be the birthplace of democracy. So walk up the hill (not very strenuous), enjoy the view, see the temples and the museum, and be aware that everything that makes Western civilization unique started from here. An unmissable and unforgettable experience.
 
Eric Hamblett (Morocco):
The Acropolis was one of the most wonderous places I have visited in a long time. The site is being preserved, and you cant go into the parthenon. But, nonetheless, all the other amazing attractions still captivated my attention. Traffic can be a problem, so I reccomend hiring a guide, or a tour which will take you on the bus.
 
Christer Sundberg (Sweden):
Visiting the classical of all classical World Heritage Sites – The Acropolis of Athens - could not have been a better for me. Having got up early on a bright and sunny Saturday morning in July, I was rewarded with an almost empty town - still in its morning slumber yet to wake up to a new busy day. From my hotel near the Omonia square I walked pass the fish market, where the smell of fresh fish told that new day of commerce was just about to begin, down to the Monastraki square where only one or two of the many souvenir shops had yet opened their doors.

Before walking up the Acropolis hill I sat myself down on one of the many outdoor cafes in Plaka and ordered a cold cappuccino, a quite a popular drink all around Greece I later found out. But I guess anything that is COLD in a country where it’s usually +35 half of the year is highly appreciated.

Walking up the hill did not prove to be as exhausting as many of my friends had told me. The recommendation to be early proved to be hundred percent correct though. Even if I arrived at the entrance at quarter passed eight in the morning on a Saturday, it was still quite a number of tourists already in place. To avoid them as much as possible I quickly walked up the last bit to the magnificent entrance of the Acropolis - the Propylaia - and soon found myself looking at the magnificent Parthenon, the largest Doric temple ever built in Greece, completed in 438 BC. Together with the small Erechtheion temple where the four Caryatids (the four women statues) are holding up the temple is an absolute classic place and a visit that every man and women ought to do once in their life.

The Parthenon is currently undergoing some extensive repair and refurbishing and considering that it’s actually not time and age who has eroded the temple, but rather a large explosion back in the 17th century, it’s quite OK in my opinion. But other attempts, trying to enhance or re-construct ancient temples, is quite a nuisance and should in my opinion be forbidden and just turns historic sites into Disneylands. But on the hot issue of whether Parthenon’s famous frieze should be returned by the British Museum to Athens, the answer is quite obvious when you stand in front of this enormous and beautiful temple - there is no museum in the world that could do justice to the original site, specially not the Acropolis of Athens.

After having walked round the temple hill for an hour I descended back down to the Plaka district and continued my walk to the ancient Agora, the cemetery Keramikos, the Roman theatre of Herodes Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysos, all located at the foot of the Acropolis hill and part of the Acropolis World Heritage Site. Having finalised my walk I found that it was just about 2 in the afternoon and with not a cloud in the sky it was just getting hotter and hotter….high time to reward myself with a Greek lunch and maybe a siesta…
 
Susan Smith (Turkey):
It was so exciting. I loved Athens. I will definitely visit again! Your website made it possible for me to find info before I left which was extremely helpful.
 


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