GREECE
thens, having been inhabited since the Neolithic age, is considered Europe’s historical capital. During its long, Aeverlasting and fascinating history the city reached its zenith in the 5th century B.C (the “Golden Age of Pericles”), when its values and civilisation acquired a universal significance and glory. Political thought, theatre, the arts, philosophy, science, architecture, among other forms of intellectual thought, reached an epic acme, in a period of intellectual consummation unique in world history. Therefore, Athens constituted the cradle of western civilisation. A host of Greek words and ideas, such as democracy, harmony, music, mathematics, art, gastronomy, architecture, logic, Eros, eu- phoria and many others, enriched a multitude of lan- guages, and inspired civilisations. Over the years, a multitude of conque - rors occupied the city and erected splendid monuments of great signifi- cance, thus creating a rare historical palimpsest. Driven by the echo of its classical past, in 1834 the city became the capital of the modern Greek state. During the two centuries that elapsed however, it developed into an attractive, modern metropolis with unrivalled charm and great interest. Today, it offers visitors a unique experience. A “journey” in its 6,000-year history, including the chance to see renowned monu- ments and masterpieces of art of the antiquity and the Middle Ages, and the architectural heritage of the 19th and 20th cen- turies. You get an uplifting, embracing feeling in the brilliant light of the attic sky, surveying the charming landscape in the environs of the city (the indented coastline, beaches and mountains), and enjoying the modern infrastructure of the city and unique verve of the Athenians. Year-round visitors are fascinated by Athens, one of the most at- 1. A section of the pediment tractive and charming capitals of Europe. of the Athens Academy building. TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 1 ANTIQUITIES IN ATHENS
Tour of Athens, stage 1: 1 ΟLYMPIEION AD by the Roman Empe ror he Olympieion includes the Hadrian. It is of Corinthian sanctuary (temple) of Α NTIQUITIES T order (110m in length and Olympian Zeus, Roman baths, approximately 44m in width), 15 IN Α THENS classical houses as well as a sec- three rows of eight columns at tion of the ancient city’s fortifi- the narrow sides and two rows cation wall. According to the of twenty columns at its long geographer Pausanias, the tem- sides. Inside the temple there ple of Olympian Zeus was 14 was a gold and ivory statue of founded by Deukalionas, Zeus which does not exist a mythical ancestor of the today. Greeks. In the age of tyrrany, circa 515 BC, Peisistratos the • Ilissos Valley. The surviv- Ilissos river 13 younger grandson of the tyrant ing section of the Peisistratos, attempted to re- valley (right behind the temple place the old temple with a of Olympian Zeus) is worth a new, more impressive temple. visit. In antiquity the Ilissos riv- The tyranny, however, was er was known as the sacred riv- abolished and construction er of the Muses. Scattered re- work was terminated. The con- mains of ancient sanctuaries struction of the new temple are located in the valley. You was later assigned to the will find nearby the rock of the Kalliroi spring 4 Roman architect Decimus – which was fa- 5 Cossutius by the king of Syria mous in antiquity – and the Antiochus IV Epiphanes. church of Ayia Fotini, which Antiochus died in 163 BC and was built in 1872 at the site of the construction of the temple an ancient temple, on the foun- was once again abandoned. dation of the sacred sanctuary The structure did not have a of Ekati. You will find nearby, roof and pediment. The con- the preserved monuments of struction of the temple, which the Classical, Roman, and ranks among the biggest in an- Byzantine age, among others, tiquity, was completed in 131 (the Temple of Apollo Delphinios,
3-kilometre pedestrian zone (the biggest in Europe) has been established in central roads A(Vas. Olgas Str, D. Areopagitou Str, Ap. Pavlou Str, Adrianou Str. and a section of Ermou Str) leading to the major archaeological sites of Athens (archaeological park). Visitors to the section from Dionyssiou Aeropagitou 2. Temple of (opposite Hadrian’s Arch) to the crossroads Olympian Zeus: 16 of a total of Ermou Str and Piraeus Str (in the Kerameikos area) of 104 columns may enjoy the ancient landscape in a tranquil (with a height of 17 metres) setting of the city. have been The archaeological tour is an unforgettable experience. preserved. TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 1 ANTIQUITIES IN ATHENS
the Temple of Cronos and Rhea, a Byzantine quarter with workshops, 4. Famous sights and Leonidis Church). of Athens: the rock of the Acropolis, 2 HADRIAN’S ΑRCH the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, ollowing the con- the Temple Fstruction of the of Athena temple of Zeus, the Victory and the Propylaea. Athenians, in 131 In the AD, in honour of foreground, Emperor Hadrian, the Roman built an arch on the Odeion northwestern perime- of Herodes ter of the temple. The Atticus and in the background monument is 18m tall and 13m Lycabettus Hill. 3. Hadrian’s wide while the arch, built of arch, Pentelic marble, bears two in- the symbolic scriptions on the architrave gate of the city over the arch. One inscription, of Athens. facing the Acropolis and the old town (facing west), says: “This is Athens, the city of 6 ΔΕΙΤΕ: 7 Theseus.” The other inscription, facing the sanctuary and an ex- tension of Athens constructed by Hadrian, (facing east), says: “This is the city of Hadrian, not Theseus.” 3 DIONYSSIOU 4 THE ANCIENT ΑREOPAGITOU THEATRE Areopagitou Str ), and descend. STR OF DIONYSOS On the slope to your right is ionyssiou Aeropagitou Str irections: Enter the ar- the most ancient theatre of the Dis one of the most impres- Dchaeological area on the world, the Theatre of Dionysos. sive streets of Athens, offering southern slope of the Acropolis In this theatre, the most famous an extraordinary view of the (entrance at Dionyssiou ancient Greek poets, Aeschylus, southern slope of the Acropolis, where some of the city’s most significant monuments stand, and the Parthenon. Most of the buildings on one side of the 5. View of the road facing south were con- pedestrianized structed in the late 19th centu- Dionyssiou ry and the early 20th century Areopagitou in the neoclassical or mod- Str., centerpiece of the “grand ernist style, reflecting the bour- promenade” geois style of the street. in the archaeological sites of Athens. TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 1 ANTIQUITIES IN ATHENS
5 THE STOA 8. Fireworks OF EUMENES over the Acropolis during bove the theatre is the Stoa the millennium Aof Eumenes, which was festivities. built by the King of Pergamum, Eumenes II in the 2nd century BC. The arch provided shelter to theatregoers in case of bad weather or shade from the sun. Nearby are the ruins of the Asklepeion of Athens, which was built in 429 BC, following the plague, which decimated the population.
6. The Theatre Aristophanes, Euripides, and of Dionysos. 6 THE ODEION Sophocles saw premiere per- OF HERODES formances of their plays in the TTICUS 5th century BC. The auditorium A and the proscenium were made he Odeion of Herodes of wood. In the 4th century BC TAtticus was built in 161 AD 8 they were reconstructed using by the wealthy Herodes 9 marble. Sections of the stone Tiberius Claudius Atticus, a auditorium survive. According teacher and philosopher, who to experts, the theatre had a ca- inherited a fortune from his fa- pacity of 17,000. On the slope ther. Herodes Atticus construct- overlooking the theatre, sculpt- ed the covered Odeion in ed on the rock of the memory of his wife Regilla. Acropolis, is the choregic Ancient Greeks organised Monument of Thasyllus (319 BC) events in the Odeion. and two choregic Corinthian Nowadays, the 5,000-seat the- columns. atre is a venue for concerts of the Athens Festival ( page ancient civilisation with the 136). You may enjoy the modern city. beauty and charm of The monuments on the Odeion in a the Sacred Rock morning stroll on date back to the the way to the prehistoric era 9. The performance Acropolis. and antiquity. of a ballet The grandeur on the stage and beauty of 7 THE at the Odeion of the Sacred Rock Herodes Atticus. ΑCROPO- attract Greek LIS and foreign visitors. 7. The Roman he Acropolis is the A visit to the Odeion of Tsymbol of Athens, the sa- Acropolis is a unique ex- Herodes Atticus. cred rock, linking the fabulous perience. TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 1 ANTIQUITIES IN ATHENS
7.2 THE TEMPLE OF of the architect Kallikrates. 12. The northern THE ATHENA VICTORY The site was the location of wing of (Wingless Victory) a sancturary in the prehistoric the Propylaea, south of the Propylaea, was era. To the left of the temple known you will find the Erechtheion. as the Gallery, built circa 420 BC in commem- was decorated oration of the victory of the Facing the temple is the with paintings. Greeks against the Persians. Parthenon. The temple was the work 7.3 THE PARTHENON is an architectural masterpiece of great renown. You will ap- preciate its splendour if you visit, and learn about the history and the se- crets of the construc- 7.4 tion of the Parthenon. This THE SIGHTS: 7 unique temple, dedicated to the 7.1 7.1 goddess Athena, THE PROPYLAEA 7.3 was built of adorned with monuments, 7.2 Pentelic marble. 10 11 is the grand entrance of the The Parthenon of Acropolis. The Propylaea, the classical era 10. built by Pericles in 437-432 was built on the The Parthenon, BC, were the work of the remains of the the most famous Athenian archi- monumental splendid tect, Mnesikles. They 6 earlier architectural were incorporated in the Parthenon, an ar- achievement of classical wall which has been pre- 5 chaic temple Greece. served until today and was built in the late 4 6th century BC.
built during the first half of the 5th century B.C., in place of the older destroyed Cyclopean wall. Before reaching the Propylaea, you will pass 11. The western through the Beuleέ gate, part of side of the tower the Roman fortifications of the of the Temple Acropolis. Right after that you of Athena will encounter a 13 m. high Victory. In the pedestal, known as the “monu- lower section ment of Agrippa”, on which the is a small sanctuary Athenians in 27 B.C. erected a shaped as statue of the Roman Marcus a double niche. Agrippa, benefactor of the city. TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 1 ANTIQUITIES IN ATHENS
The architects of the classical 7.4 THE temple, which was constructed ΕRECHTHEION and decorated from 447-432BC Take note of the following: was built from 420-406 BC at (in the golden century of Please be patient when you ascend columns, which appear the most holy site Pericles), were Iktinos and of the Acropolis, the holy rock. You will be to bulge. Kallikrates. It is a Doric peri - where goddess rewarded by the spectacular view • The Erechtheion is a unique pteral temple with 8 columns Athena planted the temple constructed on the front and the back and at the top. olive tree, her sa- 17 columns on each side. In • You will pass through the according to the style cred symbol. The the Parthenon stood the chry- Propylaea before you arrive of ancient Athens. It is tree was later de- selephantine statue of Athena, at the Parthenon. constructed on two levels. stroyed by Persian the work of the famous sculp- It is asymmetrical and has invaders. According • The view from the temple tor Pheidias, who was also in two balconies, which are to mythology, fol- charge of the overall construc- of the Athena Victory is not thematically connected lowing the expul- tion. The statue was the desti- spectacular. to each other. The small sion of the nation of the great procession • The slight bulge of the Persians, the tree of the Panathenaea, depicted balcony on the south side is columns of the Parthenon better known, mainly due miraculously on the frieze of the temple. sprouted again. gives the impression that to the six Caryatids that The chryselephantine statue they are bending support the roof. The Caryatids: of Athena: under the weight differences between the The figures of the According to of the roof. sections of the temple may maidens support- mythology, the 12 • The secret of the be due to the fact that the ing the roof of the southern 13 name of the city balcony of the temple are harmony of the various parts are dedicated is connected copies. Five of the six Maidens 14. Parthenon is that to various gods. The eastern with a rivalry be- that once adorned the temple Varvakeios there is not a tween Poseidon section was dedicated to are displayed in the Acropolis Athena, a copy of Pheidias’s and Athena for straight line in the Athena Poliada, and the Museum, while the sixth is dis- gold and ivory the guardianship of the city. design. Don’t be deceived by western section to Poseidon played in the British Museum. Poseidon offered the Athenians statue (National the optical illusion of the Erechtheus. Archaeological 13. The a horse, while Athena, struck THE new ΑCROPOLIS Museum). Erechtheion the rock of the Acropolis with ΜUSEUM on the northern her spear, and an olive tree ( pages 45, 90-91) side of the rock sprouted. The Athenians pre- ferred the olive tree, which and the analytical descriptions of the Acropolis. symbolised peace and prosperi- of Pausanias ty. The city was named after (2nd century Athena. The 12-metre high stat- AD), testify to ue stood in the Parthenon. The the existence interior of the statue was made of the statue. of wood, while the nude parts Archaeo logists were made of ivory. The re- have derived movable robe and the helmet information were coated with gold plating. about the statue The statue, which represented from copies. the goddess Athena bearing The most fa- 15. The southern arms, and on her right hand a mous copy balcony of 2-metre high ivory statue of is the the Erechtheion victory, was lost in the early Varvakeios with the famous Byzantine era. Ancient sources, Athena. Caryatids. TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 1 ANTIQUITIES IN ATHENS
Orestes for the murder of his 10 THE PNYX the National Observatory, 19. Pnyx: mother Clytemnaestra, and her page 47). The semicircular the speaker’s lover Aegisthus. Apostle Paul he Pnyx is situated between square was after 6th century BC podium, facing spoke to the Athenians at the Tthe Hill of the Muses (the lo- the location of the assembly the rock cation of Philopappus’ of the Acropolis. Areios Pagos in 51 AD. of the people of Athens. They A bronze plaque on the base Monument) and the Hill of the gathered here to hear orators of the hill commemorates his Nymphs, (the location of the speak from a rock platform in sermons. Sanctuary of the Nymphs and the centre of the Pnyx, and par- ticipate in the democratic 9 polity. The assembly is thought PHILOPAPPOU to have a capacity of 10,000. HILL ell worth a visit any time 11 THE ΑNCIENT Wof the year. A walk at ΑGORA Philopappou Hill is a fascinat- he archaeological area of 16. The hill ing experience: you will find of Areios Pagos 8 THE ΑREIOS here a magnificent park, im- Tthe ancient Agora is located commanding PAGOS portant monuments such as the on the foothills of the an impressive alleged “Prisons of Socrates,” the Acropolis, near metro stop view of the he Areios Pagos, venerated “Tombs of Kimon,” the ancient “Thission.” In antiquity, the Acropolis Tin antiquity, is the most an- Koilis street, which was a mer- Agora was not solely a com- cient law court of the world. It cantile boulevard with shops mercial centre. It was also an 14 was the seat of the first aristo- and houses, the “Iroo important political, cultural and 15 cratic assembly of ancient Mousaiou,” the Philopappus religious centre. In the area of monuments Athens. The assembly gradually Monument and the spectacular the agora were located admin- and the present- lost political influence and in view of the Parthenon and the istrative buildings, temples, day city. the latter half of the 5th centu- Acropolis. public services and courts. The ry, it retained solely its func- Athenians gathered here every 17. Philopappus tion as a court, mostly hearing day to buy and sell their goods, Hill: the cobbled murder cases. The Oresteia de- learn the current news, criticise footpaths scribes the trial at this court of THE SIGHTS: of D. Pikionis. the government, exchange 18. The funerary monument of Philopappus (with a height • Philopappus Monument of 12 metres), decorated with sculpted was built by Athenians in the depictions of Philopappus 2nd century BC in honour of and his family. the benefactor, ruler of Syria, Gaius Julius Antiochus. Gaius Prolylaea of the Acropolis and Julius was also known as Philopappou Hill. Take note of Philopappus, which roughly the hand made cobbled roads translated means “one who leading to the monuments, loves his grandfather.” His the church of Ayios Demetrios grandfather was the last King of Loumbardiaris ( page 25) Kommagini Antiochus IV. and the refreshment room. • Cobbled road. In the The area has been designated 1950’s the Greek architect D. a Scheduled and Protected Pikionis developed the design Monument of the Global of the area encompassing the Cultural Heritage. TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 1 ANTIQUITIES IN ATHENS