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600-480 B.C.
THE
ACROPOLIS
During this period the first
monumental temples were built. The first,
was constructed at around 560 B.C. in the place were
Parthenon stands today. This temple was dedicated to godess Athena, protector of
the city and the pediments were decorated with statues depicting lions and other
mythical creatures.
The second big temple was built around 520
B.C and is also known as "the ancient temple" (Archaios
Neos - áñ÷áßïò íåþò) and was
dedicated to Athena Poliás. The pediments were decorated with
marble
statues depicting the Gigantomachy.
To see the
images in full screen, just click on them!
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The
Acropolis at around 520 B.C. with the two temples of Athena from
the northwest. The temple on the right is the oldest monumental
one, built in 560 B.C. The other one with the marble roof is the
Archaios Neos (520 B.C.) |
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The
first big temple of Athena that was built on the spot where
Parthenon was later constructed. On the pediment there are
pieces of its sculptures that today are kept in the Acropolis
Museum. |
The two
temples from the west. The evolution of the Doric Order is
visible since the two temples were constructed 40 years apart. |
After the foundation of Democracy and the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. the
construction of the first marble temple begun. This temple is known as
Proparthenon or "Hekatompedon". This temple was completed as the
second phase of the Greco-Persian Wars
begun. On its place (on the same
foundations and with many of its parts) will later be built the Parthenon.
At the same time the first archaic Propylaea
were built with the first temple of Athena Nike, the
foundations of which still exist under today's classical temple. Also the
Pelasgian wall was repaired. Unfortunately, all these buildings, along with the
city, were burned to the ground by the Persian general Mardonius in 480 B.C.
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General
view of the Acropolis' monuments in 480 B.C. slightly before the
Persian invasion. |
At the front, the
Proparthenon under construction. By its side, the archaic temple
of Athena (Árchaios Íeos).
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The archaic temple of
Athena (Árchaios Íeos)
520 B.C., the foundations of which can
still
be seen today near the
Erechtheion.
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The ancient propylaia. On
the left is the small temple of Athena Nike with the altar. |
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A north view. The archaic
temple with the ionic column (probably a trophy
from the Persian Wars). The smaller temples were probably
dedicated to lesser deities or mythical heroes and kings, which
during the classical period were worshiped in the Erechtheion,
build on the same spot. |
For other monuments of
Archaic Athens click below:
THE AGORA
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