The City of Pallas Athena: Athens

The City of Pallas Athena: Athens

Situated on the Attic Peninsula, Athens was one of the most important city states of ancient Greece. Archaeological evidence shows that the area was inhabited as early as the 3rd millennium BC. The Golden Age of Athenian polis dates back to the 5th century BC. Following the defeat of the Persians, the city state, which can be considered the cradle of democracy, became a great economic and political power. The Golden Age of Pericles was also Athen’s highest point of cultural development. This is when the wonderful buildings of the citadel were built.

The Acropolis

Acropolises (citadels) were building complexes, used primarily for religious purposes, in ancient Greece. They were generally located in the city centres,
on top of hills.

The most famous example is in Athens, atop a blue-grey limestone rock
that rises 150 m above sea level.

In the golden age of Athenian democracy, in the 5th century BC, Pericles commissioned one of the most famous artists of ancient times, Pheidias to draw up the plans. The constructions were managed by Ictinus and Kallikrates.

The patron of the city

City patron Pallas Athena became an Olympian
as the child of Zeus
and Metis. She was worshipped by the ancient Greeks as the goddess
of wisdom, justice,
crafts and arts.

Parthenon

The Parthenon was the most impressive, central building of the Acropolis. One of
the largest temples of the antique world, it was built between 447 and 432 BC, based on the plans of Pheidias. The const­ructions were managed by Ictinus and Kallikrates.
It was named after one of the epithets of goddess Athena, patron of the city:
Athena Parthenos or Virgin Athena.

Caryatids

The plateau of the Acropolis is dominated
by two temples: the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. The latter one was built in Ionian style. The specialty of this temple is the six female figures carved from stone holding the terrace-like hall (Erechtheion). Caryatids are female statues used as columns (the male counterparts are called atlas figures).

Temple of Athena Nike

The shrine was built
in the Ionian order for
the worship of Athena (‘Athena the victorious’).

Chalkotheke

A hall created for the storage of ritual gifts dedicated to Pallas Athena (‘bronze store’).