Parthenon Photographs
Parqenon Foto
This page looks best with 1024x768 or higher resolution.
Parthenon Photos Parthenon Info

Click on the title or thumbnail to view the larger picture


South Eastern Face
Western Face
North Side

View of inner wall
View of Inner columns
Corner View

View of Inner columns

Options

The Erechtheion Other Acropolis Photos More Athens Photos
Return to my Home Page Return to my Photo Gallery
Greece Travel Faq More Greek Photos Greece Travel Guides
Sign Guestbook More Photos from Europe Photos for Sale
All photos by John L. Polos
Copyright September 21, 1997, September 23, 2003 		     Welcome to my photos of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Acropolis means upper town, and I assume it gets this name from being 156 meters above Pláka and the surrounding city. The Acropolis has been built at various times dating back to the Mycenaean period. Most of the "famous" buildings were built during the 5th century B.C. However, there has been evidence of human settlement since 2800 B.C.

    The main buildings of this site are the temple of Athena Nike (Athena of the Winged Victory), The Erechtheion, and the Parthenon(Pictured left, info below), but the site also has the remains of several other buildings. The people of Athens would come here to worship the patron of their city as well as well as make offerings to the gods.

Alas the Acropolis did not survive the scourge of invaders the city has seen. Various invaders plundered the statues and the buildings (Two very famous lions that once adorned the Acropolis are in a museum in Venice, A 200 ft. tall statue of Athena that could be seen from the sea was taken by the Byzantine empire and latter destroyed by invading crusaders.)

     The Parthenon (pictured above) is a Doric Temple dedicated to Athena; The goddess of wisdom and skill as well as the patron goddess of Athens. The Parthenon is so named because it is in fact dedicated to Athena Partheosos; the maiden goddess or the eternally young. The temple was built around the 4th century B.C. as a tribute to Athena. The idea was to show admiration for Athena by building one of the grandest buildings of all time. A title which the Parthenon still holds. The modern skyline of Athens is still dominated by this Doric masterpiece. The Parthenon was built in typical Doric style with a set of outer columns holding up a covered walk way between the columns and the inner wall. Both ends contained a double set of columns. around the outside. A wall then separated the outer walkway with the sanctum and treasury. In the center of the Parthenon was a gigantic statue of Athena. It was said boats were able to see the statue's helm and spear from the sea it. The Parthenon was decorated with several friezes depicting the gods and mythological events across the top. They were taken by Lord Elgin to "preserve and keep for posterity." The Parthenon friezes can now be seen in the British Museum in London, a sore point the people of Greece.

     The Acropolis was the primary sanctuary for the goddess Athena in the Greek world. Every four years the major Partheonic celebration was held with two weeks of celebration. It was capped of by a procession going from the port to the acropolis, baring gifts to adorn Athena with. The processional would go up the sacred way, make a stop at the Parthenon before going to the Erechtheion.

     Often, people mistake the Parthenon with the Acropolis. The acropolis is a complex of temples in the high city. The Parthenon was the crowning bit of this complex. The other major buildings are The Erechtheion, and the temple of Athena Nike. On my first trip (1997), all of the interior was of the Parthenon was being restored so it was hard to get a sense for its design or its grandeur. I saw columns and what was left of the roof supports but I had no reference points to go by as to what the temple really looked like 2000 years ago. However, after seeing the temples of Aphnia, and Posiden (when combined with the Parthenon form the three points of an equilateral triangle) I had a good sense of what the temple looked like. Then upon my return in 2003, having the other two temples as reference points, I was finally able to appreciate the size and magnitude of this great temple.

    Over time, the Parthenon was converted to an Orthodox church and then a Mosque. It was partially damaged when the Erechtheion exploded and the pollution of Athens has eaten away at the limestone that makes up the columns. (I did see an great sunset one night from a boat leaving Athens.) Right now work is being done to restore/replace the temple. (Talking, in Greek my third language, to a guard he said they are repairing it, though a lot of "fresh" limestone appears to be around.

I hope you enjoy the photos. Any comments, please E-mail me, .