The acropolis overview

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THE ACROPOLIS

Transcript of The acropolis overview

THE ACROPOLIS

A Quick History• Circa 7000 – 5000 BCE

Earliest known human habitation around the Acropolis

• 490 – 480 BCE A sculpture of Nike erected on Acropolis in memory of the battle of Marathon and construction of ‘Older

Parthenon’ began.

• 480 BCE ‘Older Parthenon’ destroyed by Persian invaders

• 28 July 447 BCE Construction of the Acropolis begins under Pericles’ leadership

• Circa 437 – 431 BCE Propylaea constructed under supervision of Mnesicles

• Circa 425 BCE – 420 BCE Erechtheion constructed

• Circa 421 – 406 BCE Temple of Athena Nike constructed

• 404 BCE onwards (end of Peloponnesian War) No other important structures were built as Spartans overthrew Athenian government

THE ACROPOLIS• Acropolis in Greek literally means “the highest point of the town”.

• Every poleis would have an acropolis but ‘The Acropolis’ generally refers to the Athenian Acropolis

• Social Functions: Began as an the hub of monarchy and power with all governmental

administration taking place there.

A symbol of domination, power and empire

The Acropolis later became exclusively a place of worship and never hosted rulers partly because the new realities of city administration made it inconvenient, and partly because the Athenians wanted to eliminate all references to a monarchy.

THE ACROPOLIS:A CENTRE OF RELIGON

• Legend recounts that in the year 510 B.C.E. an oracle from the priestess of Delphi decreed that the Acropolis should no longer be inhabited by man and should remain the province of the gods forever more.

• Taxes from all the other city states of Ancient Greece created a monumental home of the gods, including exquisite marble temples, which were embellished through the use of rich paintings, precious jewels, huge statues, and elaborate friezes.

• Many temples were situated on the Acropolis and it was the centre of the majority of religious festivals

Athena Parthenos - Reconstruction

References http://ancient-greece.org/history/acropolis.html

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Acropolis