Floodlit by night, the Acropolis is a rocky mound rising above Plaka. It is the birthplace of Athens, and crowned by three ancient temples, the best known being the Parthenon. Its towering columns have withstood the elements for over 2500 years.
The word Acropolis derives from the Ancient Greek words for "high city", and this monument is one of the world's most famous ruins. The sacred rock on which the famous landmark perches is over 500 feet high.
The various monuments of the Acropolis complex reflect the successive waves of occupation which Athens has endured. But despite the demise of the Ancient Greek civilisation more than 2000 years ago, it is their architectural remains that capture the imagination and continue to pull millions from all over the world.
Of all the precious monuments which litter the rocky plateau above the bustling modern city of Athens, it is the Parthenon which remains the international symbol of Ancient Greek architecture. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the protectress of Athens and the guardian of civilised life, and built between 447 and 438 BC. Sculptural reliefs on all sides of the building include figures of gods, beasts and some 360 humans depicted in the Procession of the Panathenaea, the most formal religious festival of ancient Athens.
The whitened stone of the remains may appear authentic, but in actual fact during the Golden Age of Pericles (~450-330BC), when the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion were added, the columns themselves were probably painted in bright, even gaudy colours.