Antiquity 82 Issue 317 September 2008 Supplementary information: field guide to geology and botany of temples in Greece and Cyprus Gregory J. Retallack* * Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 974034- 1272, USA (Email:
[email protected]) Acropolis, Athens. The principal temple of Athena in the ancient world was the Parthenon (N37.971233o E23.726017o) on the cliff-girt rocky hill within the city of Athens (modern Athinai), Attica (Stillwell et al., 1976; Hurwit, 1999; Olalla, 2002). It faces northeast, and has a commanding view on all sides of the lower city, and of ridgelines and the coastal plain south to the ancient port of Piraeus. The measured soil profile (Figure 1A) is at the foot of the southwestern corner of the Parthenon (N37.971233o E23.726017o), in rubble over limestone bedrock. Bedrock of the Acropolis here is Late Cretaceous limestone within the Athens “Schist” of the Sub-Pelagonian terrane (Higgins and Higgins, 1996). The shales here are not sufficiently deformed or metamorphosed to be regarded as schist. The limestone and associated marl shows gypsum pseudomorphs, ferruginized clastic dikes, spar-filled stromatactis, tepee structures and fossil scleractinian corals suggestive of a fossil reef and lagoon. Vegetation of the Acropolis is primarily gardens and weeds. The following list of plants supplements that of Thompson (1963), with my own observations Acanthus mollis (bear’s breech, Acanthaceae, indigenous weed) Acanthus spinosus (spiny bear’s breech, Acanthaceae, indigenous weed)