Just like Mycenae and Tyrins, the Acropolis of Athens had its own underground water supply in the form of a deep well, dug at the north end of the rock, which could be used by the defenders during a siege. While all other Mycenaean centers, including mighty Mycenae, were deserted during this period, Athens was the only town to remain inhabited and active.
According to tradition, the city owes its survival to the heroic personal sacrifice of king Kordos. In subsequent years Athens was ruled not by one king but by a group of men, the Aristocrats. Administrative functions moved away from the Acropolis towards other parts of the city where later the Agora developed. The Acropolis then became exclusively a place of worship and never hosted another ruler, partly because the new realities of city administration made it inconvenient, and partly because the Athenians wanted to eliminate all references to a monarchy.
History of the Acropolis Geography The Acropolis rock is part of a Late Cretaceous limestone ridge Higgins that cuts through the Attica plateau in the northeast to the southwest axis and includes the Likavitos hill, the Philopappos Museum hill, the hill of the Nymphs, and the Pnyx. Prehistoric Era While the area around Attica was inhabited during the Upper Paleolithic period — BCE , archaeological evidence suggests that the small caves around the Acropolis rock and the Klepsythra spring were in use during the Neolithic Period BCE.
It is situated on a hill of average height m that rises in the basin of Athens. Its overall dimensions are approximately by m. The hill is rocky and steep on all sides except for the western side, and has an extensive, nearly flat top. Strong fortification walls have surrounded the summit of the Acropolis for more than 3, years. The first fortification wall was built during the 13th century BC, and surrounded the residence of the local Mycenaean ruler.
The sanctuary reached its peak in the archaic period mid-6th century to early 5th century BC. In the 5th century BC, the Athenians, empowered from their victory over the Persians, carried out an ambitious building programme under the leadership of the great statesman Perikles, comprising a large number of monuments including the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia and the temple of Athena Nike.
The monuments were developed by an exceptional group of architects such as Iktinos, Kallikrates, Mnesikles and sculptors such as Pheidias, Alkamenes, Agorakritos , who transformed the rocky hill into a unique complex, which heralded the emergence of classical Greek thought and art. On this hill were born Democracy, Philosophy, Theatre, Freedom of Expression and Speech, which provide to this day the intellectual and spiritual foundation for the contemporary world and its values.
Criterion i : The Athenian Acropolis is the supreme expression of the adaptation of architecture to a natural site. This grand composition of perfectly balanced massive structures creates a monumental landscape of unique beauty, consisting of a complete series of architectural masterpieces of the 5th century BC: the Parthenon by Iktinos and Kallikrates with the collaboration of the sculptor Pheidias ; the Propylaia by Mnesikles ; the Temple of Athena Nike by Mnesikles and Kallikrates ; and Erechtheion Criterion ii : The monuments of the Athenian Acropolis have exerted an exceptional influence, not only in Greco-Roman antiquity, during which they were considered exemplary models, but also in contemporary times.
Throughout the world, Neo-Classical monuments have been inspired by all the Acropolis monuments. Criterion iii : From myth to institutionalized cult, the Athenian Acropolis, by its precision and diversity, bears a unique testimony to the religions of ancient Greece. It is the sacred temple from which sprung fundamental legends about the city. Beginning in the 6th century BC, myths and beliefs gave rise to temples, altars and votives corresponding to an extreme diversity of cults, which have brought us the Athenian religion in all its richness and complexity.
Athena was venerated as the goddess of the city Athena Polias ; as the goddess of war Athena Promachos ; as the goddess of victory Athena Nike ; as the protective goddess of crafts Athena Ergane , etc. Most of her identities are glorified at the main temple dedicated to her, the Parthenon, the temple of the patron-goddess.
Criterion iv : The Athenian Acropolis is an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble illustrating significant historical phases since the 16th century BC. Firstly, it was the Mycenaean Acropolis Late Helladic civilization, BC which included the royal residence and was protected by the characteristic Mycenaean fortification.
The monuments of the Acropolis are distinctly unique structures that evoke the ideals of the Classical 5th century BC and represent the apex of ancient Greek architectural development. Criterion vi : The Acropolis is directly and tangibly associated with events and ideas that have never faded over the course of history. Its monuments are still living testimonies of the achievements of Classical Greek politicians e.
Themistokles, Perikles who lead the city to the establishment of Democracy; the thought of Athenian philosophers e. Socrates, Plato, Demosthenes ;and the works of architects e. Iktinos, Kallikrates, Mnesikles and artists e. Pheidias, Agorakritus, Alkamenes. Lord Elgin, who brought many of the Parthenon's sculptures to London, wanted to bring this structure as well, but was denied. After a recent restoration, it opened to the public for the first time in nearly two centuries in Pagan temples at the Acropolis date back to the 6th century BCE.
At some point before CE the Parthenon was converted into a Byzantine cathedral. The occupying Franks transformed the Parthenon once again in , this time into a Catholic cathedral. Under the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century , it was reborn again as a Muslim mosque, with a minaret added on its southwest corner.
The Acropolis of today is the result of centuries of construction and destruction. Although the main group of structures date to the 5th century BCE, others followed later, such as a Roman era temple erected by Augustus, and a large staircase built under Claudius. Small houses were also built around the Acropolis during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The Parthenon was damaged, but its sculptures were still in situ, at least until What exactly that deal entailed is still debated, but it led to Elgin removing the marbles.
Now the majority of the sculptures from the Parthenon frieze are in the British Museum in London. Only in , during the Greek War of Independence, did the Greeks again resume control of the Acropolis. A German War Flag emblazoned with a swastika was raised over the Acropolis that month , replacing the Greek flag.
Then, on the night of May 30 , , two young Athenians—Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas, carrying a knife and a lantern between them—climbed to the top of the limestone hill. They pulled down the German flag, and slashed it to pieces. The defiant act was a visible statement of Greek pride against fascism, and inspired the country's resistance during occupation.
A major restoration of the Acropolis started in , under the new Committee for the Conservation of the Monuments on the Acropolis, which meticulously examined the state of the hilltop and began work to return it to its ancient condition.
Marble from the exact mountain where the original stone was quarried is used for structural interventions, and conservators employ similar tools to those employed by ancient artisans.
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