July 6 About Athens’ Acropolis

Just going into my need-to-understand-everything mode – firstly there are many other acropoleis in Greece but we always just think Athens. The word simply means the highest point (akron) of the city (polis). As a small soupcon, during ancient times the Acropolis of Athens was known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man Cecrops, the supposed first Athenian king – Greek myth and history are so entangled that they are difficult to separate, and the Greeks admit to this.  History tells it that ‘the hill’ was occupied back to the time of Pericles in C5 BC who reportedly coordinated the construction of the buildings - what remains are the site's most important ones, including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion (the old temple of Athena named for the mythical king of Athens Erechtheus) and the Temple of Athena Nike.  We saw them all. 

Why are they so damaged? Apart from earthquakes etc, the normal invader-looter behaviour of early times and more recent greed by a number of nations including the British and French, the Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians during the Morean War when gunpowder being stored in the Parthenon by the Turks, who were the rulers at the time, was hit by a Venetian bombardment and exploded.

We climbed up to the ticket office only to have to go downhill to join the end of the queue and then slowly climb up again. People were agitated of course and there were the queue jumpers but we got there in the end

The Odeon of Herodes Attica

Climbing up to the entrance through Propylaea - it was a bit squishy

On the right is the small Temple of Athena Nike - Goddess of Victory

The size and the steps were a little overwhelming

Looking back to Propylaea - a monumental gateway 

The exposed marble rocks were very slippery and a few people went over

And there we were!

Now and then!

We saw lots of evidence of reconstruction work

Rails for moving heavy blocks

A little hotter by this time!

Erechtheion - the old temple of Athena Polias, named for the mythical king of Athens Erechtheus

Rebuilding some of the original ancient wall 

Great views from the 'watch tower' with Lycabettus Hill in the distance

View from inside the lift - unique experience dropping down the side of the Acropolis

The red arrow shows the lift clinging to the side of the Acropolis

After this amazing morning we needed some light, slightly cooler, relief so we hopped on a bus and went to Piraeus for lunch - why not!