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The Propylaea

By early afternoon we were back in back in Athens from our trip to Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, and soon we were atop the hill that is home to the Acropolis of Athens. And just as the Temple of Poseidon would not exist without Pericles, the same is true of the most monumental buildings located here. This includes the Propylaea of Athenian Acropolis.

Pedestal of Agrippa (left) and the Propylaea

A propylaea serves as a monumental gateway, and the Propylaea here is certainly monumental as the gateway to the Acropolis.

The Propylaea

Columns of the Propylaea

Below the Propylaea is one of two amphitheaters located on the Acropolis. The smaller of the two is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, built by Herodes Atticus some three hundred years after Pericles.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

At the south end of the Odeon stands a rather elaborate three-story masonry wall sporting some impressive arches.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Acropolis does not, however, offer the only views around. Below the Acropolis is another remnant of the rule of Pericles, the Temple of Hephaestos.

Temple of Hephaestos

Don’t just look around the Acropolis for sights. Scan around and you’ll see the National Observatory of Athens  and the Church of St. Marina in Thissio to the west.

National Observatory of Athens

Church of St. Marina in Thissio

But Acropolis is primarily about the building legacy of Pericles, and we haven’t even looked at the most important structure atop this hill overlooking modern day Athens. Here is the structure synonymous with the Acropolis, the magnificent Parthenon:

Parthenon

We’ll be discussing this temple to Athena on Wednesday. Until then, one last image:

Ursula and Doug atop the Acropolis