Can you imagine Athens without the Akropoli? It is almost impossible. The Akropoli is more than just a collection of ancient buildings. It is a symbol of Athens, a testament to its rich history and a cultural beacon that has shone for millennia.
The word Akropoli itself comes from the Greek words “akron” meaning highest point and “polis” meaning city. It truly is the highest point of the city. But this is not the only Akropoli in Greece. In ancient times, it was known as Cecropia, named after the mythical serpent-man Cecrops. He was believed to be the first Athenian king.
While evidence suggests the hill was inhabited as early as the 4th millennium BC, the Akropoli’s golden age began in the 5th century BC. Pericles, a visionary Athenian statesman, coordinated the construction of the iconic structures whose remains still grace the site today. These include the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike.
Imagine this: the Akropoli rising 150 meters above the city, its flattish top covering about 3 hectares. The earliest artifacts found here date back to the Middle Neolithic era. There is little doubt that a Mycenaean megaron palace stood here during the late Bronze Age.
A massive Cyclopean wall once encircled the Akropoli. It stretched 760 meters in length, stood up to 10 meters high and ranged from 3.5 to 6 meters in thickness. This wall served as the main defense for the Akropoli until the 5th century.
Let us talk about the temples. A temple to Athena Polias, the city’s tutelary deity, was erected between 570 and 550 BC. This Doric limestone building is known as the Hekatompedon. It means hundred-footed. It was also called Ur-Parthenon or Bluebeard Temple. The name Bluebeard Temple came from the pedimental three-bodied man-serpent sculpture. Its beards were painted dark blue.
Around 500 BC, the Hekatompedon was dismantled. It made way for a grander building. This was the Older Parthenon. However, construction stalled when Xerxes became king of Persia. War seemed imminent. The Persians invaded and sacked the city in 480 BC. The Older Parthenon was burned and looted.
After the Persian crisis, the Athenians incorporated architectural parts of the unfinished temple into the newly built northern curtain wall of the Akropoli. It served as a war memorial. Statues, cult objects and religious offerings were buried in pits on the hill. This “Persian debris” became the richest archaeological deposit excavated on the Akropoli by 1890.
The Acropolis Restoration Project began in 1975. It aimed to reverse centuries of decay, pollution, destruction from military actions and misguided past restorations. The project included collecting and identifying all stone fragments and restoring as much as possible using original material. New marble from Mount Pentelicus was used sparingly.
The Parthenon colonnades were largely destroyed by Venetian bombardment during the 17th century. They have now been restored. The roof and floor of the Propylaea have been partly restored.
Every four years, the Athenians held the Great Panathenaea. This festival rivaled the Olympic Games in popularity. A procession traveled through the city via the Panathenaic Way and culminated on the Akropoli. A new robe of woven wool was placed on the statue of Athena Polias or Athena Parthenos.
Today, most of the artifacts from the temple are housed in the Acropolis Museum. It sits at the foot of the ancient rock. The Akropoli is a symbol of Greece. Its legacy continues to inspire and captivate visitors from around the world. As you stand here, take a moment to appreciate the centuries of history beneath your feet and the enduring spirit of Athens that rises above.