Acropolis of Athens

An ancient citadel on a rocky hill in Athens, Greece, crowned by the Parthenon and other monuments of classical Greek architecture.

Parthenon: A fifth-century BCE temple on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena Parthenos. Its commanding position and sculptural decoration define the Acropolis’s best-known image.
Persian destruction of Athens: The destruction of Athens by Persian forces during the invasion of Greece in 480 BCE. The damage created the historical setting for the later monumental rebuilding.
Acropolis of Athens topography: The steep, rocky terrain and elevated summit that define the Acropolis of Athens. Its cliffs and uneven summit determined where buildings and entrances could stand.
Parthenon conversion to a church: The medieval adaptation of the Parthenon from a pagan temple into a Christian church. It shows how the Acropolis’s principal building acquired new religious functions.
Erechtheion: An Ionic temple on the Acropolis, associated with Athena and Poseidon and known for its Porch of the Caryatids. Its complex sacred associations complement the Parthenon’s monumental design.
Pericles: An Athenian statesman who led the city during much of its fifth-century BCE Golden Age. His political leadership supported the Acropolis building program.
Ancient Greek temple: A sanctuary building designed to house a deity’s image and receive offerings in ancient Greece. The Acropolis’s major monuments belong to the Greek temple tradition.
Parthenon conversion to a mosque: The Ottoman-era adaptation of the Parthenon into a mosque, including the addition of a minaret. It records a later transformation of the monument’s use and appearance.
Propylaea: The monumental gateway built at the western entrance to the Acropolis of Athens. Its passage organized the ceremonial approach to the summit.
Delian League: An alliance of Greek states led by Athens after the Persian Wars. Athenian control of its resources helped finance major public works.

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