A Quick Trip to Athens to visit the Archaeological Sites
I’m so excited to say that we finally made it to Athens to visit the Acropolis. Yes!!! I’ve been fascinated with Greek mythology for some time, and we’ve been trying to do a bit of travel around Greece for several years to see the famous sites. We finally made it to north mainland, with an unplanned drive south to Athens and Delhi for a few days.
We purchased the Combo Ticket. This gives you access to multiple sites throughout Athens, including the Acropolis, the North and South Slopes, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, the Archaeological Site and Museum of Kerameikos, Lykeion, Hadrian’s Library, and Olympieion. The ticket is valid for five days, we only had one day to explore Athens, but the combo ticket was still worth the cost even though we didn’t get to see everything. The Acropolis Museum is not included in the combo ticket so you will have to purchase your entry separately.
Olympieion – Temple of Olympian Zeus
The Temple of Olympian Zeus, or Columns of the Olympian Zeus is dedicated to Zeus. Constrution of the temple began in the 6th century BC but wasn’t completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. There are still a few columns standing that are amazing to see.
Roman Agora
The Roman Agora was constructed in the 1st century BC. There is an inscription on site that says the construction was funded by Julius Ceasar and Augustus. At one end of the area, you can view the Tower of the Winds. This is a building that was used to predict the weather. Inside you can see the markings from the equipment along with a small hint of coloured paint from the old murals that covered the walls and ceilings.
Ancient Agora
The Ancient Agora is located on the northeast of the Acropolis. You can actually see some of the structures when looking down from the Acropolis. In the 6th century BC the Agora was reorganized and made into the center of the Athenian government. The site contains temples to Hephaestus, Zeus, and Apollo. The temple of Hephaestus is one of the most important monuments of the Ancient Agora as it is the best-preserved ancient temple in Greece. It is amazing to see.
Hadrian’s Library
We wondered around the streets near Monastiraki Square to check out the shops (and grab a cold drink!). We then made our way to Hadrian’s Library. It was created in 132 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian. On the eastern side “books” were kept, and nearby there were reading rooms and lecture halls. During the Byzantine times, three churches were built on site. You can see the remains of these churches, including fragments of beautiful floor mosaics.
And for the main attractions…
Acropolis
Of course, the day of our visit it was extremely hot, but we slowly made our way up the hill to the top. There was quite a bit of shade along the path, so we were able to stop and get out of the sun to cool down along the way to the top.
There are several things to see on the hillside as you make your way to the Acropolis. You can see the theatre of Dionysus, the Stoa of Eumenes, along with several temples, and building foundations. It’s a great lead up to the main attraction.
As you go around the final curve you are presented with the grand site of the Peisistratus Portico. There is a staircase leading to the columns and archway. As you continue up the stairs and through the archway you start to see the Parthenon and the Erechtheion in the distance.
It’s amazing and wonderful to see these monuments of ancient Greek civilisation. There’s so much history on this hilltop that symbolises the beginning of Western civilisation. It’s an amazing site to see.
We spent some time taking in the amazing ruins, along with the views over Athens.
Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum was amazing. There are so many things to see and learn about.
One of my favorite sections was the Archaic Acropolis Gallery. On display are a number of Korai – these are offerings of statues of young women made of marble. They are from the 6th century BC. Many of these offerings were destroyed in 480 BC when Persians invaded and burned the Acropolis. The statues on display were preserved because they were buried in large pits prior to the attack. They remained buried until the 19th century when they were discovered during excavations on the Acropolis. They are amazing – so beautiful and many still have large portions of their original colourful paint. Unfortunately, they ask that you don’t take pictures in that gallery, so I am unable to share these amazing statues.
The other highlight is obviously the Parthenon Gallery. There’s a great video (that plays in English and Greek) to explain the history and details of the different parts of Parthenon. Around the outer part of the floor you will find the sculptures of the Parthenon. All of the remaining pieces are displayed as they would be if they were on the Parthenon. It’s incredible to see these amazing works of art up close. The detail on both the front and the back are stunning. Nothing too good for the gods and goddesses.
Although our time in Athens was short, we made it to all the main attractions. There is a huge amount of history and famous sites to see. There are still things I want to see, but they will have to wait until next time!