The Acropolis in Athens introduces you to the Parthenon, the most famous site in Acropolis, and Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheon, and Caryatid Porch.
Acropolis is a democracy place where the Persians burned down the Old Parthenon and the temple of Athena.
The place was built in honor of the Athenian victory and goddess Athena in the Temple of Athena Nike.
Propylaea was the sacred entrance to the temple with some restrictions and you could find the paintings of Greek battles there.
The sacred Erectheon with ionic columns was made with honor to goddess Athena and several other gods and heroes in Athens. The history showed how Poseidon's strike created a salt water spring for the Athenians. Athena, on the other hand, produced an olive tree with its rich fruits dangling from the branches. The Athenians then chose Athena's gift and the olive tree as an important part of their religious and cultural lives. The olive leaves have been used to crown the heads of victorious athletes and kings. The olive woods were used to construct houses and boats. The olive oil was used to give fuels to the lamps and it was rubbed on athletes.
Within the Erectheon was the Caryatid Porch with six of the Caryatid maiden statues. The women had different facial expression, body gestures, heavy clothing, one leg bearing and the other bending forward, showing their nobility and roles in Athens.
Lastly, the famous Parthenon will show you the home of the gods and goddess Athena with the frieze on the top filled with carvings of young Athenian women and men, telling you the different myths of Peplos, Sacrifice of Daughter of King Erechtheus, Parthenon procession (the celebrated festivals on Athena's birthday to honor her). In 480 BC, the Persians attacked and burned the Old Parthenon; the Athenians then rebuilt a New Parthenon with the remnants of the Old Parthenon in the walls. Besides, when you visit Acropolis, you will notice that the Parthenon looks straight to you. But in reality, the method called entasis was used to make some slight curves on the columns. And because of entasis, the Parthenon columns appeared straight to our eyes. The Athenians used their architecture skills to measure closely on the diameter and density of each column so it appeared perfect to you.
Statue of Athena Promachos was a colossal bronze statue of Athena sculpted by Pheidias. It stood between the Propylea and the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens. Athena was a goddess of wisdom and warriors with honor in Athens.
In the sixth century A.D, after Rome converted to Christianity, many temples at the Acropolis became Christian churches. The Parthenon was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Erechtheion was turned into a chapel.
Here is the map within the Acropolis of Athens, Greece
Below is the statue of Athena Promachos in the Acropolis as the Athenians honored her as their guide to wisdom and victory.
British Museum's object:
This is the marble sculpture of the doric column in the Parthenon of the Acropolis in Athens. Its production date was from 447 BC to 432 BC.
It is interesting to me to see how only the top part of the Parthenon column was shown in the sculpture. I think that it seems like an enlarged doric column of the Parthenon and this important spot of the basic Greek column could help us recognize that it was the Parthenon in Greece within the British Museum.
Reflection:
The Acropolis is an interesting site to me because of how sacred it is at the entrance and how the site commemorates Athenians' role in the Persian wars. It is like you look at the frieze and metope on the Parthenon and you can learn about the people, their values, and myths in the city. The spectacular carvings catch my attention because they really show you the delicate beauty of the Athenians in their expression and the 'manly' and 'feminine' features in doric and ionic columns. Moreover, the entasis of columns makes me think of how thoughtful the Athenians came up with the idea to correct our illusions without us noticing the curves. I feel amazed at how wonderful the Acropolis site was built with careful demonstration of history and abstract art. I love how the Athenians honored goddess Athena every where they went as they worshiped her in the procession from the Panathenaic Stadium and the olive tree. I like how they used the olive tree to make olive crowns for the athletes as it represented victory and honor to goddess Athena in their competitions. As I travel through the Acropolis, I would like to know more about how the Athenians chose columns for their buildings and where their ideas came from.
Source:
History.com Editors. “Acropolis.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 31 Jan. 2018, www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/acropolis.
“Sacred Olives: Athena's Tree on the Acropolis.” Olive Oil Times, 23 Dec. 2019, www.oliveoiltimes.com/world/sacred-olives-athenas-tree-acropolis/46895.
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