The Acropolis – continuing the journey

I am now ready to tackle the south side of the Parthenon – but first – a little history refresher.

The celebrated Greek statesman Pericles is credited with ordering the design and construction of the Parthenon as a temple for Athena – the goddess of wisdom, arts, literature and war – but it may not have been the first attempt to house the deity.

An earlier structure known as the Older Parthenon or Pre-Parthenon once existed on the site of the current Parthenon. Many historians believe the Older Parthenon was under construction in 480 B.C. when the Persian Empire attacked Athens and destroyed the Acropolis although some experts dispute this theory.

In 477 B.C., some 33 years after the Persian invasion, Pericles commenced building the Parthenon to replace the earlier temple. Construction of the massive structure continued for almost four decades, until it was dedicated in 438 B.C.

Sculpting and decorative work at the Parthenon continued until 432 B.C.

Along the south side are 17 columns – including the corner columns.  Four of the columns in the centre are missing but it still looks amazing.

The metopes above these columns show the Thessalian Centauromachy – battle of the Lapiths aided by Theseus against the half-man, half-horse Centaurs. Most of the metopes reside in the British Museum and some are missing.

Walking along this side I wish that I could wander inside the columns, but alas, no-one is allowed.  I will just have to admire from a distance.

At the end of the south side is the former Acropolis Museum.

This was still in operation in 1998 when I was last here and I remember it as cramped and crowded. In 2000, the Organization for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum announced an invitation to a new tender, and finally the construction was completed in 2007.

Mr E told me that if I had already visited the old museum then I have seen everything that is currently in the new one.  The best thing about the new one is that there is room to grow as more excavation on the Acropolis unearths new discoveries.

Near here are the amenities and a water fountain that has cool, crystal clear water which is safe to drink.  I need both so a short intermission will now take place.

Sitting in the much sought after shade, I grit my teeth and venture into the sun so that I can now look at the East end.

At this end was the entrance to the Parthenon.

The East Pediment represents the birth of Athena. Unfortunately the middle section was destroyed and only some of the figures on the corners of the pediment remain.  These are copies with the originals in – yep you guessed it – the British Museum.

They depict the passage of time over the course of the full day. On the left is Tethrippa of Helios. The horses are shown with livid expressions as they ascend into the sky at the start of the day; on the right corner is Selene’s horses that struggle to stay on the pediment scene as the day comes to an end.

Like the horses, my imagination is galloping just imagining what the full pediment was like,  and remembering that all these figures and the buildings were brightly painted, but time to drag myself away.  At the far east end of the Acropolis is a raised area that houses the Greek National Flag.  This area is chock full of tourists so I think I will give it a miss.

Walking to the North edge I can look down and see the Roman Forum and the Temple of the Winds. Hopefully I will visit this area during my time in Athens.

Situated in the historic Athenian neighbourhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki, the Roman Forum was built under the emperor Augustus between 19 and 11 BC, as the city’s trade centre. Later, under Hadrian, the Forum was restructured and expanded, with its main yard being paved.

Major landmarks in the area include the Horologion, built by Andronicus of Cyrrhus (also known as Tower of the Winds), and the Forum’s well-preserved western gate.

Isn’t it amazing how modern Athens is just built around these historic remnants? If only the ancients could return and see what things are like now.

I am still on the East End where the Temple of Rome and Augustus lies in ruins.  This temple is the sole Roman temple on the Acropolis and the only Athenian temple dedicated to the cult of the Emperor. The people of Athens constructed it in order to please Octavian Augustus because during the Roman civil wars, the city of Athens had supported his opponent, Marcus Antonius.

The temple is dated after 27 B.C., when Octavian was proclaimed Augustus – most probably between 19 and 17 B.C.  Several architectural elements of the building were found east of the Parthenon and many more were brought here after their discovery elsewhere.

A small, round edifice, about 23 meters from the Parthenon, was to be the last significant ancient construction on the summit of the rock.  The inscription on the temple’s architrave tells us the building was dedicated by the city of Athens to the goddess Rome and to Octavian Augustus.

I still have the North side of The Parthenon, The Erechtheion etc. etc. etc so time for a break or this post will continue on for ages.