Step 1 - Acropolis
The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous ancient archaeological sites in the world. Located on a limestone hill high above Athens, Greece, the Acropolis has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Over the centuries, the Acropolis was many things: a home to kings, a citadel, a mythical home of the gods, a religious center and a tourist attraction.. We will start from the Theatre of Dionysus and we will go up to the top of the Sacred Rock where the Parthenon is located.
Step 2 – Theatre of Dionysus
The theater of Dionysus is considered to be the world’s oldest theatre. It was home to the annual spring drama festival where the ancient playwrights—among them Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes—presented their works in competition.
Step 3 – The Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Constructed in 161 AD by Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Roman philosopher and teacher, the Odeon originally served as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000. It showcases the classic elements of Roman theatre architecture, with a semi-circular orchestra and a two-story façade made of marble.
Step 4 – Temple of Athena Nike
The Temple of Athena Nike, on the southwest bastion of the Acropolis, is smaller than the other buildings behind it but no less impressive. It was completed in 420 BCE during the restoration of Athens after the Persian invasion of 480 BCE and was designed to greet those visiting Athena’s complex.
Step 5 – Propylea
The Propylaia, the monumental gateway to the Acropolis sanctuary, designed by the architect Mnesikles, was erected between 437 and 431 BC on the site of an earlier gate. It was never completed, however, as construction stopped on the eve of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC.
Step 6 – Parthenon
The Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens is a Doric-style ancient temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos. Constructed between 447 BC and 432 BC, the Parthenon temple is more than 2,400 years old and an important landmark in Athens. Built using gorgeous white marble, it was the most lavish and biggest temple that the Greek mainland had ever seen.
Step 7 – Erechtheion
The Erechtheion temple stands as an eternal testament to the unparalleled artistry and architectural prowess of classical Greece. Constructed in the latter half of the 5th century BCE during the Golden Age of Athens, the iconic temple is enshrouded in myth, history and legend.
Step 8 – Areopagus hill
This rocky outcrop below the Acropolis has great views over the Ancient Agora. According to mythology, it was here that Ares was tried by the council of the gods for the murder of Halirrhothios, son of Poseidon. The council accepted his defence of justifiable homicide on the grounds that he was protecting his daughter, Alcippe, from unwanted advances.
