Parthenon
Construction of the Parthenon began in 447 BCE and was completed in 438 BCE, but the addition of exterior decorations continued until 432 BCE. It is made of marble and features architectural elements of the Doric order on the exterior and Ionic on the interior. True to the Doric order, the columns are fluted and baseless. The capital contains the square abacus, disk-shaped echinus, and simple necking. The frieze alternates between triglyphs and metopes. True to the Ionic order, there is a continuous frieze on the walls surrounding the cella, which is the main room. There is a slight curvature to the floor and columns to counter the optical illusion created when viewing straight lines from a distance, where they appear to bend and sag.
The sculptures on the metopes depict four battle scenes. The east metopes portray the Gigantomachy, a battle between the Giants and Olympian gods. Heracles, son of Zeus, aided the gods, and they emerged victorious. The west metopes portray the Amazonomachy, a battle between the Greeks and Amazons, in which the Greeks won. The south metopes portray the Centauromachy, a battle between the Lapiths and Centaurs in which the Lapiths won. The north metopes portray The Sack of Troy.
The interior Ionic frieze depicts the Panathenaic procession, an annual parade through the city held by Athenians to honor Athena. This procession is unique in that it depicts humans on a temple rather than entirely gods and goddesses.
In the Middle Ages, the Parthenon was converted into a church. When the Ottomans took over Greece, the Parthenon was converted into a mosque. In 1687 CE, the Parthenon was used by the Turks to store gunpowder, and when the Venetians attacked, the gunpowder exploded, and the middle was blown up. In 1801-1803 CE, Lord Elgin, British ambassador to the Ottoman court that ruled Athens at the time, received permission from the Turks to dismantle the sculptures. He brought them to the British Museum, where they have resided ever since.
Erechtheion
The Erechtheion was built between 421 BCE and 405 BCE, and like the Parthenon, it was dedicated to the goddess Athena. However, unlike the Parthenon, it features entirely Ionic elements, including fluted columns with bases and capitals with swirls called volutes. The Erechtheion is home to six statues in Contrapposto pose, called the “Porch of the Maidens.” These figures replace typical columns and act as architectural support for the building.
On the side of the Erechtheion, there is a sacred olive tree. In Greek mythology, it is said that Athena and Poseidon fought over the control of Athens, and Zeus proposed a contest to decide the victor. Athenians gathered around, Poseidon struck the earth with his trident, and a saltwater spring emerged. However, Athenians were not overly thrilled, as they already had plenty of access to water. Next, Athena produced an olive tree. Athenians were enthusiastic about the olive tree, which could be used in several ways. Athena was announced the winner, and Athens subsequently received its name.
Temple of Athena Nike
The Temple of Athena Nike was built in 420 BCE and was dedicated to Athena Nike, where Athena is represented as the goddess of victory. It is the earliest temple on the Acropolis that was made entirely in Ionic order and is located to the right of the entrance, called the Propylaia. The Temple of Athena Nike also represents amphiprostyle, with four columns on the front and back but none on the sides. Inside the temple would be the statue of Athena Nike, but only priestesses had the privilege of entering. Others would pray in front of the temple and catch a glimpse of the statue from between the columns. Although Nike was typically depicted with wings, according to Greek author Pausanias, this statue of Athena Nike was wingless so that she could never leave the city of Athens.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was a Roman theater completed between 160 CE and 174 CE. Herodes Atticus built it as a memorial to his wife, Regilla. The theater was largely destroyed about 100 years after it was completed and remained destroyed during occupation by the Ottomans, but restoration eventually began in 1898. This marvelous open-air theater seats approximately 5,000 people and is the venue of the annual Athens Epidaurus festival. It hosts countless world-class performances each year.
Theater of Dionysus
The Theater of Dionysus was built around the 6th century BCE and was expanded in the 4th century BCE, at which time it seated approximately 25,000 people. It remained hidden and unidentified until the 19th century. The theater was dedicated to Dionysus, god of wine and the arts, and is situated on the southern slope of the Acropolis. The semi-circular arrangement of stone seats, much like the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, creates a perfect acoustic environment, ensuring that the voices from the stage reach each audience member. The front row seats were elaborate thrones inscribed with the name of the person it was reserved for. The Theater of Dionysus hosted tragedy and comedy competitions during the Dionysia festivals, where the performances celebrated of creativity, exploring profound themes of human existence, morality, and the divine. Ancient playwrights such as Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes presented their works on this stage.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Construction of the Temple of Olympian Zeus began in the 6th century BC by the tyrant Peisistratus and his sons but remained unfinished at the end of their rule until it was completed by the Roman emperor Hadrian in 132 AD. The temple initially featured 104 colossal columns and was known as the largest temple in Greece. Unfortunately, it was left in ruins one century after its completion following a barbarian invasion in 267 AD. It was also quarried for building materials to aid other building projects throughout Athens.