Turkey/Greece Trip -May 28, 2025 - Athens Acropolis
Most of what can be seen on the acropolis today is from the 500’s - 400’s BC and illustrates the Greek culture of pagan gods and mystic practices.
The first structure one passes through is the Propylaea - a grand pillared gate at the top of the acropolis. Ceremonial processions in Ancient Greece processed up the acropolis slope and through these gates to the temples on top. The Panathenaic procession would start from the Dipylon gate and go up to the acropolis, passing through what we call the Karameikos cemetery today.
The Erechtheum (Temple of Athena Polias) was constructed in the 5th c BC. The most iconic part of this temple is the porch of maidens with the Caryatid support columns (columns shaped like maidens). Some of the original Caryatids are in the Acropolis Museum.
The Parthenon is the most imposing structure on the acropolis. Always under restoration. It is a 5th c BC structure. The columns are all early doric style with ingenious construction: the corner columns are larger in diameter than the rest (69 columns). There is a slight inward curvature to the columns which makes everything perfectly straight as you gaze upward. A very little bit of the massive amounts of sculpture remain intact on site. Some sculptures are in the acropolis museum and of course there are the infamous Elgin Marbles in the British Museum.
We took a few minutes to watch the Evzone soldiers changing of the guard at Syntagma Square and then spent a little time at the Archeological Museum.
Looking forward to visiting Corinth and surrounding area tomorrow! God bless and good night, PB, Margery and Jacob
Athens Acropolis
