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Nowhere else in the world can be found a stone of splendor and historical significance corresponds to that of the Acropolis of Athens. In the middle stood the Attic plain surrounded by mountains, these hills form a pedestal decorated worthy of the immortal monuments to the summit. The Acropolis of Athens is the altar, the noblest of the human spirit always set the beauty and the ideal before, which was to overthrow all the nations of the earth.
The rock of the Acropolis is aMass of blue-gray limestone, rising 156 m. above sea level and 70 m. over the northern part of the city, with its tip an uneven plateau forms, such as oval, 150 by 350 m. to its maximum width and length. Eroded because of its steep slopes, in a series of cult caves in which the first gods were worshiped in Attica, it is inaccessible except for a narrow winding path along its western slope.
In prehistoric times, the Acropolis was surrounded by a massiveWall of huge stone blocks, behind which the inhabitants of the surrounding country of refuge against the attacks by pirates and other intruders. This was the Cyclopean wall of the Pelasgians, were built by the first inhabitants of Attica.
During the Mycenaean period) (1700-1100 BC, this huge wall was at the summit of the Acropolis, which was reached from the west by a winding processional route through several similar Propylaea were conducted at Tiryns and Mycenae, leadingto a fixed input in the second wall. This was the Pelasgicum or Pelargicum that may be confused with the former city wall built by the Pelasgians. Built around the foot of the castle, was this wall with nine gates, from which they derived the names of established Enneapylon. The combined Pelasgicum protected the houses around the foot of the Acropolis, and the sources, while opening the gates in different directions will have access to the surroundingCountry.
In addition to the sanctuary was the palace of the king, the Mycenaean megaton, probably, where now stands the Erechtheion, and the residences of court officials. As in the seventh century BC, the royal power of the nobility, the palace was no longer used and the Acropolis was passed only a sanctuary.
Built in the sixth century BC Pisistratus a temple, the Hecatompedon, of Athena, protector of the city, and a monumental gate, dedicated to the Propylon,inclusion in the sacred precincts existed. Traces of this old building, by the Persians, when they set fire to the Acropolis destroyed in 480, it can behind the wall south-east of the present Propylaea.
After the crushing defeats at Salamis and Plataea, the Persians were forced to evacuate Attica, but when they feared they would any other invasion, it became imperative to try to re-attach Athens. Themistocles returned to the western and northern walls, useHurry whatever material was available. Drums from broken or unfinished columns, beams and even grave monuments were built into the masonry and can be seen behind the Erechtheion.
The walls, which were to bear his name, built around the southern and eastern edges of the Acropolis of Kimon. Built Fine Poros, was destroying their surface beauty, as the Venetians established a system of defensive fortifications. Under the Kimono's successor, Pericles, the peak ofAcropolis was leveled and covered with magnificent monuments and statues.
Between July and August, an annual Panathenaic procession was held in honor of Athena instead, divine patroness of the city, every fourth year of this festival, which had included a procession, sacrifices and competitions, as the Great Panathenaic and with even greater glory. Foster son of King Erechtheus, Athena, who founded this ancient festival, initially Athenaea to the worship of his foster mother to use the Goddess of the city. When Theseus, King of Athens, led the independent municipalities of Attica to unite under his rule and see Athens as their joint capital, he ordered that the Athenaea be for ever celebrated by the people all of Attica as Panathenaic (the party of the united Athens ).
One of the most important ceremonies was the presentation of a saffron and purple peplos (like a scarf-dress worn by women), the statue of Athena. This costly clothes, a cloth of greatEmbroidered "beauty with scenes from the battles between gods and giants, like a sail on the mast of a vessel propelled on wheels worn. All the beauty and majesty of Athens were in this great procession, assembled at the Kerameikos, the cemetery of ancient Athens and then climbed the Acropolis by a winding processional path to represent the Propylaea.
The procession of the Panathenaic procession, in such a vivid way, the famous frieze represented theParthenon, including priests and their companions, which adorned a long train of animals for sacrifice festive, matrons and girls wreathed with the consecrated sacrificial instruments in baskets on their heads, old men with branches in their hands, a wonderful selection of warrior with spear and a shield, men in armor, mounted knight, the winners of previous competitions, the festive embassies of other countries, especially the colonies and eventually the foreigners residing inAthens.
Passing the bastion of the Temple of Athena Nike, the train turned north-east, where is the base of the monument of Agrippa now. This mass of gray marble previously supported a bronze quadriga (four-horse chariot) on which was Marcus Agrippa (63-12 BC), son of Augustus and a great benefactor of Athens. The procession, flanked on both sides with votive pillars, wound upward from northwest to southeast through the central gateway of thePropylaea. Bypassed on the right side of the road a staircase led directly to the Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike.
