Acropolis
The Acropolis hill, so called the
"Sacred Rock"
of Athens, is the most important site of the city. During Perikles'
Golden
Age, ancient Greek civilization was represented in an ideal way on the
hill
and some of the architectural masterpieces of the period were erected
on
its ground.
Acropolis
The first habitation remains on the
Acropolis
date from the Neolithic period. Over the centuries, the rocky hill was
continuously
used either as a cult place or as a residential area or both. The
inscriptions
on the numerous and precious offerings to the sanctuary of Athena
(marble
korai, bronze and clay statuettes and vases) indicate that the cult of
the
city's patron goddess was established as early as the Archaic period
(650-480
B.C.).
Acropolis
During the Classical period (450-330 B.C.) three important temples were
erected
on the ruins of earlier ones: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the
Temple
of Nike, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, Athena Polias, and
Athena-Apteros
Nike, respectively. The Propylaea, (
next)
the monumental entrance to the sacred area was also constructed in the
same
period.
