Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis of Athens is a rocky hill that rises about 156 metres above the city and has been an important fortified and religious site for thousands of years. Its earliest known fortifications date to the 13th century BCE, when a Mycenaean settlement occupied the summit. From the 8th century BCE onward, the Acropolis gradually became a major sanctuary dedicated to Athena, the city’s patron goddess.

Most of the monuments visible today were built in the 5th century BCE, during Athens’ period of political and cultural influence under Pericles. The best known is the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena and constructed between 447 and 432 BCE. Other major buildings include the Propylaea, the monumental entrance, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion. The Acropolis was not preserved unchanged.

Over the centuries, its buildings were affected by wars, fires, earthquakes, looting, religious transformations, and later alterations. The Parthenon, for example, was used at different times as a temple, a Christian church, and a mosque. In 1687, an explosion caused severe damage when ammunition stored inside the building was ignited during a Venetian attack.

Archaeological research and conservation have since helped protect and restore the monuments while preserving their ancient remains. The Acropolis became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Today, it is an important source of information about ancient Greek architecture, religion, art, and society, as well as one of the best-known archaeological sites in the world.