{"id":3009,"date":"2016-08-09T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2016-08-09T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=3009"},"modified":"2016-08-11T10:00:49","modified_gmt":"2016-08-11T14:00:49","slug":"the-amazing-acropolis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=3009","title":{"rendered":"The Amazing Acropolis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

High above Athens, the Acropolis keeps watch over the city.<\/p>\n

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The flat topped, steep and rocky hill is the home to the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia and the temple of Athena Nike. \u00a0The Acropolis’ monuments have survived for almost twenty-five centuries through wars, explosions, bombardments, fires, earthquakes, sackings, interventions and altercations and still they stand after the multitude of changes that\u00a0Greece has seen over time. \u00a0The heart of the city,\u00a0it still represents what it originally stood for, Democracy, Philosophy, Freedom of Expression and Speech and\u00a0a place where people from all continents converge.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a>Having visited the Acropolis on many occasions, my original intent was to visit the Acropolis museum. \u00a0After finding that photography is not allowed within the building, I decided to head to the Acropolis first, saving the museum for later when I would need a place to cool off from the heat of the day.<\/p>\n

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The line for entry was quite long, encompassing tourists from many countries, however the major shock was the difference in price from my last visit. \u00a0Two years ago, the admission price was only 12\u20ac…today, the entry fee has jumped to\u00a020\u20ac. \u00a0Additionally, the price from two years ago, included all of the ancient sites, Dionussus Theater and the Southern slope, Temple of Zeus, Agora and Agora Museum, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos and Roman Agora and was valid for four days. \u00a0Today, you must purchase a Multi-site\u00a0ticket which covers the above attractions and costs 30\u20ac.<\/p>\n

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Making my way thru\u00a0the gates, I headed up the winding path among the ruins that line the pathway, with a stop to rest and admire\u00a0the theater of Herod Atticus, built by the Romans in 161 AD. \u00a0The theater is still used today for classical concerts, ballet and performances of high cultural value. \u00a0Further on is the Theater of Dionysious, the first stone theater and home to Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes. \u00a0Rebuilt around 342 BC it was then enlarged by the Romans for gladiator flights.<\/p>\n

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After the remaining climb, I found myself at the entrance, the Propylaea, dating back to 432 BC. \u00a0A magnificent first view of your destination, it is also the point where the most excited tourists, stop to take group pictures and selfies. \u00a0Navigating your way around these individuals proves to be challenging, especially on the smooth marble steps.<\/p>\n

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On your left is the Pinacotheca and a Hellenistic pedestal and on the right, the tiny temple to Nike Athena. \u00a0The temple commemorates the Athenians victory over the Persians and sits on a platform overlooking the islands of the Saronic Gulf.<\/p>\n

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Walking out onto the plateau, that is the Acropolis, your first views are of the Parthenon on your right and the Erecthion on your left. \u00a0The buildings of the Acropolis were built by Pericles in the fifth century BC and were considered the most sacred buildings and the safest part of the city. \u00a0As little as 150 years ago, there were still dwellings on the Acropolis.<\/p>\n

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The Erecthion, my favorite part of the Acropolis, contains the porch of the maidens or Caryatids. \u00a0These statues are copies as four of the\u00a0original statues reside in the Acropolis museum and the fifth, in the British museum. \u00a0The building sits on the most sacred site of the Acropolis where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city. \u00a0Athena, declared the victor, had the great city named for her. The building itself is the real religious temple of the Acropolis, sitting on what was the northeast corner of what was the original temple. \u00a0This temple was burned and destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC.<\/p>\n

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Take the time to walk around the Erecthion and inspect all side of this structure\u00a0before continuing to the Parthenon. You can get some really nice photos when the sun is behind the building in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

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\"image\"<\/a>The Parthenon, still being taken apart and being put together from the wear and tear of centuries of exposure to the elements is encased in scaffolding, taking away from the full beauty of the building. \u00a0Restoration\u00a0has been going on for the past thirty years and will probably continue onward for an equal amount of time. \u00a0That being said, impressive in scale and that which we associate the Acropolis with, it is\u00a0an architectural marvel. \u00a0Designed by Kallikrates and Iktinos as a tribute to the past and the achievements of the Ancient Athenians it was also erected to house a giant statue of Athena. \u00a0It was also not a temple or place or worship as most people assume and\u00a0used as a treasury to store the tribute paid by the other Greek city-states and a storage facility for Turkish gunpowder.<\/p>\n

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\"image\"<\/a>After making your way around the Parthenon, move over to the northeast corner of the Acropolis to where the mighty Greek flag flies high. \u00a0Standing in this location\u00a0you can see many landmarks including Mount Lycabettos, the National Gardens, the Plaka, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Zeus and the Olympic stadium. \u00a0On a clear day, you can also see the port of Pireaus and some of the islands beyond.<\/p>\n

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\"image\"<\/a>After making your way back to the Propylaea, consider an exit to the right to visit the rock of Areopagos. \u00a0The location where St. Paul spoke to the people of Athens in AD 51, there is a tablet embedded in the stone that contains his words. \u00a0Despite a very slippery climb, it offers a superb view of the Agora, the Plaka, Monastiraki, Omonia and much of Athens as well as a great place to watch the sunset. \u00a0Continue onward down the hill toward the Agora and other parts of this fabulous, historic city.<\/p>\n

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\"image\"<\/a>Because I have visited the rock of Areopagos on a few other occasions, I decided to make my way back the way I had come and toward the Acropolis museum, my original destination. \u00a0Passing the many artists that line Dioysiou Aeropagitou street, one caught my eye. \u00a0Purchasing two paintings, it suddenly dawned on me that I would have to carry my prizes with me for the rest of the night. \u00a0So…the museum or my hotel?<\/p>\n

Big decision…the Acropolis museum would have to wait until another day…again.<\/p>\n

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.<\/p>\n

Acropolis<\/strong><\/p>\n