Spending the day at the Acropolis in Athens went by way faster than expected. That’s to be expected when visiting on a cruise, though.
The history behind the city is extravagant, and especially weird to relate back to my sixth grade mythology classes (which I hated with a passion). Being in the actual city where much of the mythology takes place was a completely different story. Fascinating, to say the least.
Again, being on a cruise didn’t give us much time to explore, so we chose the Acropolis as our one and only destination while in Athens.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis means “high city” and stands on a hill that is 156 meters above sea level. Its structure serves as a natural fortress because it is inaccessible from all sides, except for the west side where the entrance is located. Temples were built on the Acropolis to honor the goddess Athena. There are many other spectacular monuments such as the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, the Caryatides, and the Parthenon.
The Propylaea served as a gate to the Acropolis, but was never completed due to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian war.
The Erchtheion is near the area where the most precious and ancient relics of Athens stand. The marks of Poseidon’s trident and the sacred olive tree of Athena are just two of the many.
The olive tree is located on the left side of the picture and the Caryatides are the six women in the center of the structure.
The Caryatides are connected to the Erchtheion and consists of six women statues. There are four in the front and two behind to support the structure.
The Parthenon
The Parthenon is the most important creation of the ancient Greek architecture built during the period 447-438 B.C. It is a symbol of aesthetic perfection that marked the classical spirit of the Pericles age. This marble temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena.
Visiting the Acropolis in Athens
If you decide to spend your time in Athens visiting the Acropolis, you’ll learn a ton of history. Before visiting, make sure you are prepared with a backpack full of water and sunscreen!