The story of the Acropolis begins in 490 BC when the Athenians beat the Persians at the battle of Marathon. It was after this victory that the Athenians began to build the Parthenon on the Acropolis. However, when the Persians came for vengeance, they burned the Parthenon down, even though the Athenians won again. From 480 to 450 BC, the Acropolis remained barren. Now, there are 4 structures on the Acropolis: the Propylaea; the Temple of Athena Nike (which we didn’t discuss in depth); the Erectheion; and the Parthenon.
The Propylaea, serves as the entrance to the Acropolis as it does at every other temple we saw after this. It is a hexastyle doric temple with a double pediment, ionic columns on the interior, an inclined plane entrance for bringing in animals, and five doors that could be opened or closed depending on the ritual taking place.
The Erectheion was a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. It features six caryatids (columns shaped as women) at one of the entrances. These are thought to either represent slavery or the daughters of a mythical king who are guarding his grave here. This is where the Megaron was and where Poseidon and Athena are said to have fought. It has several entrances, which is architecturally odd and confusing. It was the last building on the Acropolis to be completed.
The Parthenon is by far the most famous building on the Acropolis. It was not actually built for religious reasons, but as a civic building that served as a major repository of Athenian wealth. Iktinos and Kalikatis were the architects, but the impressive aspect of the massive structure is its sculptural qualities. Each piece is unique and everything is curved. The columns bulge to represent the bulging of muscles (“entasis”) and the top of each column is smaller to represent the redaction of muscles (“meisis”). One pediment displays the birth of Athena, and the other depicts the battle between Athena and Poseidon that took place at the Erectheion.
The Propylaea, serves as the entrance to the Acropolis as it does at every other temple we saw after this. It is a hexastyle doric temple with a double pediment, ionic columns on the interior, an inclined plane entrance for bringing in animals, and five doors that could be opened or closed depending on the ritual taking place.
The Erectheion was a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. It features six caryatids (columns shaped as women) at one of the entrances. These are thought to either represent slavery or the daughters of a mythical king who are guarding his grave here. This is where the Megaron was and where Poseidon and Athena are said to have fought. It has several entrances, which is architecturally odd and confusing. It was the last building on the Acropolis to be completed.
The Parthenon is by far the most famous building on the Acropolis. It was not actually built for religious reasons, but as a civic building that served as a major repository of Athenian wealth. Iktinos and Kalikatis were the architects, but the impressive aspect of the massive structure is its sculptural qualities. Each piece is unique and everything is curved. The columns bulge to represent the bulging of muscles (“entasis”) and the top of each column is smaller to represent the redaction of muscles (“meisis”). One pediment displays the birth of Athena, and the other depicts the battle between Athena and Poseidon that took place at the Erectheion.