Akropolis and Perthanon, Athens
The greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens, dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the centre of the modern city from the rocky crag known as the Acropolis. The most celebrated myths of ancient Athens, its greatest religious festivals, earliest cults and several decisive events in the city’s history are all connected to this sacred precinct. The monuments of the Acropolis stand in harmony with their natural setting. These unique masterpieces of ancient architecture combine different orders and styles of Classical art in a most innovative manner and have influenced art and culture for many centuries. The Acropolis of the fifth century BC is the most accurate reflection of the splendour, power and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak, the golden age of Perikles.
The heart of ancient Athens was centred around the dome of the Akropolis, the most important ancient monument in the Western world, with sacred temples atop the rock and the town built on its undulating flanks. Crowned by the Parthenon, Akropolis stood sentinel over Athens, visible almost eveywhere within the city of Athena.
Every four years the Athenians held a festival called the Panathenaea that rivalled the Olympic Games in popularity. During the festival, a procession moved through Athens up to the Acropolis and into the Parthenon (as depicted in the frieze on the inside of the Parthenon). There, a vast robe of woven wool (peplos) was ceremoniously placed on Phidias’ massive ivory and gold statue of Athena.
Today this district is still replete with Greek and Roman remains, though these are interspersed with later roads and buildings, a fascinating mixture of Neo Classical mansions and terraced cottages. This area, known as Plaka, is now perhaps the most charming, joyful and colourful in Athens and acts as a strong magnet to many visitors from around the world.
PARTHENON: Designed by architects Callicrates and Iktinus, in 447 BC,under the surveillance of Phidias, Parthenon is the best example of the Doric style and “the most faultless in design and execution of all buildings erected by man”.
Eight Doric columns at either end and 17 on each side marked the exterior. There were 44 statues, 92 metopes and a frieze which went all the way around the temple.
The Parthenon entrance opened into the cella inner room, which was divided into a nave and side aisles by two rows of columns that supported the pitch of the roof. The cella was occupied by the statue of Athena Polias, Athena of the City, 12 m hight, one of the most renowed works of Phidias, completed in 432 BC.
The draped figure of the goddess was represented standing, armed with helmet, spear and shield. In the right hand she held a Nike statuette, the goddess of Victory, and in her left
a spear. The draperies and accessories were of gold plates, the flesh parts ivory, with precious stones inserted in the eyes. Behind the statue was the entrance to a small room, the Virgin’s Chamber, which have been used as a treasury. Its ceiling was supported by four Ionic columns.
After the establishment of Christianity and especially in the sixth century AD the temples were converted into Christian churches. Throughout history the monuments of the Acropolis suffered from both natural causes and human intervention.
After the liberation of Greece, the monuments of the Acropolis came under the care of the newly founded Greek state. Limited investigation took place in 1835 and 1837, while in 1885-1890 the site was systematically excavated under P. Kavvadias. In the early twentieth century N. Balanos headed the first large-scale restoration project. A Committee for the Conservation of the Monuments on the Acropolis was created in 1975 with the aim to plan and undertake large-scale conservation and restoration on the Acropolis. The project, conducted by the Service of Restoration of the Monuments of the Acropolis in collaboration with the First Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is still in progress
For more detailed info click below links
http://www.akropol.net/places_to_go/athens_places_to_go.htm
http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2384
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