Page 456 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

454  IT AL Y AND GREECE

4 Acropolis Plateía Omonoías
ACROPOLIS
In the mid-5th century BC, Perikles persuaded the AREIOS
PAGOS
Athenians to begin a grand program of new building
PNYX
work. The resulting transformation has come to Plateía
embody the political and cultural achievements of HILL OF Syntágmatos
THE
ancient Greece. Three contrasting temples were built NYMPHS FILOPAPPOS
on the Acropolis, together with a monumental HILL
gateway. The Theater of Dionysos and the Theater
of Herodes Atticus were added later, in the 4th
century BC and the 2nd century AD respectively. Locator Map
. Porch of the Caryatids
These statues of women
were used in place of
columns on the south
porch of the Erechtheion.
The originals, four of
which can be seen in the
Acropolis Museum, have
been replaced by casts.

. Temple of Athena Nike
This temple to Athena of Victory is
on the west side of the Propylaia.
It was built in 426–421 BC.
KEY
1 Theater of Herodes Atticus, 6 Two Corinthian columns are
was originally built in AD 161. the remains of choregic monuments
Restored in 1955, it is now used erected by sponsors of successful
for outdoor concerts. dramatic performances.
2 Pathway to Acropolis from 7 Panagía Spiliótissa is a
ticket office chapel set up in a cave in the
3 The Beulé Gate was the first Acropolis rock.
entrance to the Acropolis. 8 Shrine of Asklepios
4 The Propylaia was built in 9 Stoa of Eumenes
437–432 BC to form a new entrance 0 The Acropolis rock was an
to the Acropolis. easily defended site. It has been
5 An olive tree now grows where in use for nearly 5,000 years.
Athena first planted her tree in a
competition against Poseidon.
For hotels and restaurants see pp484–6 and pp487–9

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