The Acropolis, Athens’ impressive fortress, is not just a simple group of buildings. This cultural heritage is a beautiful artistic and historical treasure that is a must-see when visiting Athens!
The Acropolis is one of the most significant monuments of the ancient Greek world, rising impressively on the heights of ancient Athens. This stunning architectural masterpiece and historical site symbolizes the outstanding culture of ancient Greece and democracy.
It was not only a religious sanctuary but also the pinnacle of ancient Greek art and architecture, decorated with works by famous sculptors and architects.
The Acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Millions of visitors arrive here every year to admire the legacy of ancient Greek art and culture.
I was here on a Saturday in the autumn of 2023. There was a huge crowd everywhere! Expect a queue at the entrance. Afterwards you’d think everything was ok, but no! There will be another queue before the road to the top, then a trudge up the narrow road. And on the way down, there’s also a long queue, because in some places you can only go slowly in single file. It took me about 40 minutes to get out of the area.
Preferably go in the early morning, as queuing in the heat can be very stressful for many!
You can read a photo report of my trip to Athens here!
Table of Contents
History of the Acropolis
Construction work began in the 5th century BC to transform the Acropolis into a citadel after the Persians were defeated by the Athenians led by Pericles in 452 BC. In their victorious mood, the Greeks began massive construction projects. The costs were covered by tribute from the Delian League, which sparked fierce protests in the assembly. The assembly chose Pericles as the leader of the planned construction, manager and supervisor of all work, while Pheidias became the director of artistic execution — Pericles placed the Acropolis at the center of the city’s reconstruction, but only the Propylaea and the Parthenon were completed during his lifetime. The latter’s construction began between 447 and 438 BC.
It remained relatively intact until the end of the 18th century, despite the fact that from the 4th century the Parthenon was used as a Christian church, and from 1458 the Turks used it as a mosque. In 1687, Venice besieged the Turks, and on September 26, General Francesco Morosini’s cannonball hit the powder magazine placed in the Parthenon, causing the stored gunpowder to explode. Three hundred women and children died in the explosion. The explosion blew apart the long sides of the Parthenon, and after the subsequent two-day fire, the building remained in the skeletal state visible today.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Lord Elgin, the British ambassador, with Turkish permission, removed several statues and reliefs from the building and transported them to London, where they can still be seen in the British Museum today. The restoration of the Acropolis began in the 19th century after Greece’s liberation.
Major excavations took place between 1876-1885 commissioned by the Greek Archaeological Society, but the restoration and examination of the buildings has not been completed to this day.
Buildings of the Acropolis
The complex consists of more than 20 parts, some of which are now only remains.
Parthenon
The Parthenon is the most famous and prominent building on the Acropolis. This Doric-style temple was built in the 5th century BC in honor of goddess Athena. In 1209 it was converted into a Christian church, and in the 15th century into a mosque. Later it was used as a powder magazine.
The temple is Doric in style from the outside, made of yellowish, veined Pentelic marble. The precision of classical era architecture can be observed in every detail of its design. The building’s 70-meter-long and 31-meter-wide foundation is not perfectly square, but slightly curved toward the corners, the columns lean inward, while the pediment slightly leans outward. The temple has eight Doric columns on its shorter sides and seventeen on its longer sides.
Erechtheion
The Erechtheion is another important temple of the Acropolis, built in the 5th century. The building uses a mixture of Doric and Ionic columns and was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon.
This extremely graceful Attic Ionic style building was constructed between 421 and 406 BC, though it was never completed due to Athens’ defeat by Sparta. Its designer is unknown. It was probably the site of legendary King Erechtheus’s tomb, after whom the building was named.
The Erechtheion consists of several parts. Its center is a temple that housed the wooden statue of the goddess. Two porches are attached to this central building on both sides. The most famous of these is the southern porch, whose columns are in the form of draped maidens.
Propylaea
The Propylaea is the entrance hall at the main entrance of the Acropolis. It was built between 437 and 432 BC based on plans by Mnesicles.
Its style, conforming to the Parthenon, shows the form of a Doric temple from the outside with its column row crowned by a tympanum. On the western facade, there are two protruding wings on either side of the entrance, making the Propylaea look more like a palace than a gate. Its representative nature is evidenced by the fact that it was built from valuable building materials, white Pentelic and bluish-black Eleusinian marble.
Nike Apteros
Located at the corner of the Acropolis. This building symbolizes victory and triumph. It served as a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Nike and once housed the statue of the goddess. Today, a copy of the original statue stands in its place.
Theater of Dionysus
It could accommodate about 17,000 spectators. The theater was built into the hillside, and thanks to its unique acoustics, sounds carried well throughout the auditorium.
The Theater of Dionysus was a prominent venue for ancient Greek drama performances, where works by famous playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides were presented. It has been renovated and modified several times over the centuries.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
The building was constructed by a wealthy Greek-Roman citizen and patron named Herodes Atticus in 161 AD in honor of his wife at the time, Regilla.
The theater is a semicircular amphitheater that can accommodate about 5,000 spectators. The theater buildings were partly made of marble, and the Doric columns on its side and the high walls were built in beautiful Roman style.
It is famous for its excellent acoustics. It is still regularly used as a venue for cultural events, concerts, and performances, especially during the summer months.
Additional parts
- foundations of the old Temple of Athena
- foundations of the statue of Athena Promachos
- remains of the sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia
- Chalkotheke: „bronze storage,” ruins of a hall and armory for storing votive offerings to the goddess
- Pandrosion: sanctuary of Pandrosus (daughter of Cecrops)
- altar of Athena Polias (City-protecting Athena)
- sanctuary of Zeus Polieus (Zeus, patron of the city)
- sanctuary of King Pandion
- sanctuary of Aegeus
- remains of the Stoa of Eumenes on the lower terrace
- sanctuary of Asclepius
- Theater of Pericles
- Temple of Dionysus Eleuthereus
- Aglaureion: remains of the temple of Aglaurus (another daughter of Cecrops)
- Beule Gate: was part of a city wall
- sanctuary of Athena Ergane (Athena, goddess of crafts/arts)
- Pelasgic wall
Visiting the Acropolis
It’s essential to buy tickets online, as it’s almost impossible to do so on site. Do this on the official website!
You need to select a one-hour time slot within the day. Entry is possible 15 minutes before and after the start and end times. So, for example, if we bought a ticket for the 10:00-11:00 time slot, we can enter between 9:45 and 11:15!
In extreme weather conditions, extraordinary closures may be ordered, which has already happened during summer heat waves! It’s advisable not to plan Athens trips during the summer months.
The Acropolis is the most visited site in Athens, so it’s not surprising that large crowds can be expected during certain periods. Generally, the highest visitor numbers are experienced during the following periods:
- Summer season (June-August): this is when most people visit, as many tourists travel during this period. During this time, longer queues and crowding may occur.
- Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October): these periods are attractive to visitors due to the milder weather. Spring and autumn can be cooler than summer, and fewer tourists are at the Acropolis, which can make for a more pleasant experience for visitors.
- Around Easter: during this time, popular celebrations and events take place around Athens and the Acropolis. Many local and foreign visitors come to the Acropolis during this time to participate in the celebrations and other cultural events.
- Weekends and holidays: Athenians also frequently visit the Acropolis on weekends and holidays. Visitor numbers may increase during these times, especially around holidays such as the Athens Festival, named after the city of Athens.