About
The Acropolis of Athens is a rocky outcrop rising 150 meters above the city, crowned by the Parthenon and other ancient temples. Built during the Golden Age of Athens in the 5th century BCE under the leadership of Pericles, the complex represents the height of ancient Greek architecture and art.
The Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena, was completed in 432 BCE and originally housed a 12-meter gold and ivory statue of Athena. The Acropolis has served as a temple, treasury, Christian church, and Ottoman mosque over its 2,500-year history. The Elgin Marbles — sculptures removed by Lord Elgin in 1801 — remain in the British Museum, a source of ongoing diplomatic tension.
# Top 10 Acropolis of Athens facts
- 1The Parthenon was used as a gunpowder store by the Ottomans — a Venetian shell detonated it in 1687
- 2Lord Elgin removed 75 meters of the Parthenon's frieze in 1801
- 3Greece has been demanding their return ever since
- 4The Acropolis was first inhabited as far back as 4000 BCE
Fascinating Facts
- ◆The Parthenon was used as a gunpowder store by the Ottomans — a Venetian shell detonated it in 1687
- ◆Lord Elgin removed 75 meters of the Parthenon's frieze in 1801; Greece has been demanding their return ever since
- ◆The Acropolis was first inhabited as far back as 4000 BCE
More in Places4 related
7
Places
Great Wall of China
The greatest architectural achievement in human history — 21,000 km of stone and history.
Interest91/100
33
Places
The Great Pyramid of Giza
Built 4,500 years ago — still one of the largest structures ever constructed.
Interest85/100
38
Places
Taj Mahal
A monument to love — the world's most beautiful building took 22 years to build.
Interest84/100
17
Places
Machu Picchu
The lost city of the Incas — a masterpiece of engineering above the clouds.
Interest82/100