479-323 B.C.

THE ACROPOLIS

A new grandiose building programme begins on the Acropolis during the Classical times. The south side is filled with the ruins of destroyed temples, broken statues, inscriptions and tons of earth in order to flatten the surface and make it ready to accept the huge foundations of the Parthenon. A new wall is constructed and the entrance is radically redesigned with the new Propylaea. Some years later the Erechteum is built and some other auxiliary buildings many of which will remain unfinished due to the Peloponnesian War. The ruins of the older temple of Athena are still visible as a reminder of the Persian Wars. The eastern part of them is converted to a smaller temple. According to Xenophon, the temple was set on fire in 405 B.C. but possibly was repaired and continued to exist, perhaps even until the Roman period.

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Panoramic view of the Acropolis. On the bottom right, the Propylaea. On the top of them, the stoa of Braubronia Artemis in "Π" shape, the Chalkotheke and the Parthenon. On the left are the ruins of the older temple of Athena and next to them, the Erechteum.

PARTHENON (447-438 B.C.)

The Parthenon was a temple dedicated to Godess Athena Parthenos (Virgin). The construction begun in 447 B.C. after the orders of Pericles. The architects were Iktinus and Kallikrates. The chief supervisor of the project and especially of the sculptures and the decoration, was the sculptor and Pericles' friend, Pheidias. The Parthenon is a unique Doric building that successfully combines also the Ionic order. The lack of an altar in the east, and the inner arrangement of the cella show that the building was not only used for religious purposes. It is known that in the west room (opisthodomos) was kept all the wealth of the Delian League. Furthermore, the gold and ivory statue of Athena that stood inside the main temple, was covered with the gold of Athens' allies. This proves that the Parthenon actually was the treasury of the Delian League, containing wealth that Athens had misappropriated from the allies.

The Parthenon from the West. On the right is the Chalkotheke, while on the far left is the sanctuary of Zeus Polieus.

A south view of the Parthenon. On the far right is the entrance to the sanctuary of Pandion.

The Parthenon from the grounds of Chalkotheke.

The west facade of the temple.

PROPYLAEA (437-432 B.C.)

The construction of Propylaea was assigned to architect Mnesicles in 437 B.C. The original design (symmetry between the north and south side) was never completed due to the Peloponnesian War. The central building of the Propylaea is composed by two parts. The eastern one is a little higher. It is notable that besides the clear Doric outside impression, six Ionic columns exist in the interior. In front of the south wing is the small Ionic temple of Athena Nike (427/6-424/3 B.C.). The north wing is occupied by a square building, the Pinakotheke where according to Pausanias many paintings were on display (including works of the most famous Polygnotos) that today are, unfortunately, lost.


View from the west. On the right is the temple of Athena Nike.	The Propylaea from southwest. The Pinakotheke is on the left.	A north view.

The east facade of the Propylaea. The building on the left is the stoa of Artemis Brauronia.	Another view of the east facade.	In this east view, the 5 doors that divide the interior of the central building, are visible.

ERECHTHEUM (421-407 B.C)

The Erechteum was the most sacred place in Athens. In there were worshiped the gods: Athena, Poseidon, Hephaestus, and the mythical heroes and kings: Kekrops, Boutis and Erechteus. The whole history of the city could be found in this very place. Traces of the quarrel between Athena and Poseidon in order to become protectors of the city can be found here. Athena offered the olive tree and Poseidon used his trident to brake the rock from where salty water came out. The "marks" of his trident are still visible. Under the north wing of the building can be found the hole where lived the sacred snake of Erichthonius. In one of the rooms was kept the ancient (even for the time) wooden statue of Athena. According to the myth and to show its age, the Athenians used to say that it fell from the sky.

The spot where Erechtheum was built was not chose by chance. It was there that the Mycenaean palace wit all of its sanctuaries stood, nearly a thousand years before. The main characteristic of Erechtheum is the south wing with the woman-shaped columns, the Caryatides. In this place, was believed to be the tomb of Kekrops. West of the building was a small stoa dedicated to the nymph Pandrosos, daughter of Kekrops, the Pandroseion.


The west side. In the middle is the sacred olive tree of Athena while on the right are the Caryatides. On the bottom can be seen the Pandroseion.	View from the northwest. On the right exactly behind the wall is the the Pandroseion. .	An east view of the Erechtheum. The rightmost column as well one of the Caryatides were taken by Lord Elgin and today can be found in the British Museum. Today in their place are copies.	The archaic temple of Athena that was destroyed by the Persians. The worship in this place was continued after the repair of a part of the cella.

THE ARREPHORION

The Arrephorion was a square building in the northwest side of the Acropolis. It was the residence of the two "Arrephorai", girl of 7-11 years that were chosen each year to sew the peplos of Athena. With this peplos was covered the wooden statue of the goddess during the Panathenaia feast. The girls also carried the Sacred Relics during the feast of Arrephoria (άρρητα-φέρειν). It had four sides measuring12,5m each. The south facade, where the entrancevwas, there were two -or four- doric columns. In the west, there was a courtyard where the girls used to play which was named "Σφαιρίστρα των Αρρηφόρων". The small rock carved stairrcaise in the courtyard that connected the Acropolis with the city beyond, was very important during the Arrephoria. There was performed the "Descending of the Arrephoroi".

The Arrephorion from the southwest. In the courtyard is the small staircase leading to the city beneath.

OTHER BUILDINGS

Also some other buildings, sanctuaries and altars were on the Acropolis. The most important were: The stoa of Brauronia Artemis, the Chalkotheke and the sanctuary of Zeus Polieus and Pandion.


The Stoa of Artemis Brauronia. A sanctuary to the goddess, protector of the women who gave birth. It was "Π" shaped and inside the adjacent wings were kept the numerous offerings.	The Chalkotheke (=the Bronze Gallery) was the place where the hundreds of the bronze offerings to goddess Athena were kept. These offerings consisted mostly of bronze statues, weapons and metal utensils.	The sanctuary of Zeus Polieus (=protector of the city). In there, during the feast of Diipoleia many sacrifices of oxen were taking place.	The sanctuary of Pandion. Dedicated to the mythical hero and king Pandion, son of Kekrops or Erichthonius. The Pandionis tribe (one of the 10 tribes of Athens) were practising their sacrifices. This is where the old museum of Acropolis is now days situated.

For other monuments of Classic Athens click below:

THE AGORA

SOUTH SLOPE OF ACROPOLIS

KERAMEIKOS