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Acropolis
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The symbol of Athens
Glimpsed between the forests of antennae on Athens apartment blocks, towering majestically at the end of central streets, glowing in the summer sunshine, the Acropolis is omnipresent. But nothing prepares the viewer for the breathtaking magnificence of this monument when seen up close.
The awe it inspires comes from more than sheer beauty: the Acropolis temples are the greatest achievement of classical Greece, combining mathematical proportion with a glorious aesthetic to create an effect both human and sublime.
The Acropolis was a seat of royalty and a focus of religion as far back as Neolithic times. After the 11th century BC, however, Athena became the focus. Most of the myths surrounding the Acropolis are associated with the goddess of wisdom: it was on this rock that she battled Poseidon for control of Attica’s greatest city.
The god of the sea struck the rock with his trident and out gushed a spring, his offering to the people. Athena offered the olive tree (providing food, oil and shelter), and the citizens awarded her patronage of the city that still bears her name.
Acropolis
Dionysiou Areopagitou, Athens
Area: Acropolis
Phone: 210 321 0219
Website: http://www.culture.gr
Open Hours: Apr-Dec 8am-7pm daily. Jan-Mar 8.30am-2.30pm daily
Categories: Tours and Sightseeing, Historic site, Ancient ruins, Landmark, Religious site
Price: Cost money
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