III. Athens. Guest, you will be fine here! – Athens, Greece – Tourist Blog

Majestic ruins of majestic temples. Acropolis. From this mountain, it was visible, as came and left the Romans, as Christianity preached, followers of the teachings of the Apostle Paul and as the Turks sought to world domination. Acropolis. Inhaling warm autumn air, I climb into his heart – the abode of the great gods. In the rays of the morning, not very active sun walls of the temples look especially bright. The first excursion buses are just starting to approach the foot of the hill. So I have a little time to find a successful angle and capture my story.

Church of Nicky Aptereros (Nickname obscure)

It is no secret that the temple of Nicky is considered the most mysterious structure on the Acropolis: elegant, sophisticated, almost aerial and very feminine. He is not at all similar to the remaining buildings of the Acropolis. And the main difference from other temples is the location. The temple is located on a high protrusion of the fortress wall, in front of the gates of the ancient city, at the same time breaking and without destroying the harmony of the images of all ******** the structures conceived by pericles. It is from here that a stunning view of Athens and it is here, at this place, as the legend says, Tsar Aegea, peering into the distance, in the endless sea expanses, I expected the return of my son Teane with a victory.

The ancient temple of nickname, decorated with columns only in the front and rear facades, was built in the middle of the V century BC.NS. and stands at a slight angle to the facade of propylene. Not to notice it is impossible, but also difficult to take a picture. Once from all sides, the temple of the sculpture tape of the frieze, at which episodes of the fighting of Greeks with Persians and Olympic gods were depicted. And inside the temple was the sculpture of Athena-Niki, depicted with a helmet in one hand and a grenade fruit, a symbol of fertility and peace, in another. Undoubtedly, the temple of Nicky Bloan was one of the best creatures of the ancient Greek masters, as, in fact, and everything, what did their hands touched.

Raise to the front entrance. Once upon these stairs, diplomats, kings, specially invited foreign guests went. I go through the giant gate – a unique monument of the ancient Greek architecture of the high classic era – propylene, according to the modern wooden creaking flooring.

Propilelia (or the front entrance) served, above all, for executive purposes. Guests took and treated here. The front entrance consisted of the central main part and two adjacent wings in which the canteens were arranged. Once upon aversion, a wonderful view of Athens. In the usual time, the central entrance was closed by a bronze gate. But the adjacent "premises" also did not let. The northern wing of propylene was used as an art gallery (Pinakotheki), and the Western Library. Surprise learned that in those distant times of propylene were incredibly famous and mentioned about them even more often than about Parthenon itself.

Having passed propilenes and enhancing the territory of the Acropolis, I finally saw that I had no rest for several decades. And if you are accurate: "The portico of the temple on the Athens Acropolis" is just a picture from the history textbook for grade 5. Now I know what the temple "in color" looks like. But first things first.

Statue of Athena Promakhos (Athens Warfish)

No, Athena Prosakhos, I naturally did not see. And even with difficulty "found" the place where, presumably, a pedestal with Sememetrova could be (?) Statue. The bronze figure of Athens, created specifically for the Acropolis, the creative genius of his time by the Athenian Fid, was divine patronage, glorifying the power and greatness of the most beautiful city of Eldla – Athens. Defender of the cities, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, invincible Warring Athena, was clearly visible not only from all over the city. Her gold-plated helmet and spears sailors saw long before landing off the shores of Piraea.

It is a pity, it is a pity that most of the works of Fididia did not live to the present day, and we can judge about them only on the descriptions of the ancient authors and the preserved copies.

Parthenon

"In the solemn sound of Forms of Parfenon, the unlawful feelings of Ellinov …".

The history of Parfenon is the story of one person. If the pericles did not come to power, the temple was unlikely to be built. Wanting to perpetuate their accomplishments, the pericles, literally, dismantled its right to build this object. The best sculptors and artists of that time were invited to build facades.

Unfortunately, to the present day from Parfenon – the magnificent creation of architects of Yktin and Kallikrat – only the core is preserved. After conquering Attika, Romans were taken out of here all the most valuable masterpieces. And when an ancient Greek religion gave way to Christianity, the miners of the latter were thrown out of the Pufenon beautiful statues of the ancient Greek gods. The very sanctuary of the Virgin Athens has become the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later, Turkish conquerors turned Parfenon in a mosque. Finally, during the siege of Acropolis, the bomb broke through his marble roof and hit the ammunition in Parfenon then. The explosion was crossed by the building beyond recognition. Miraculously survived after "farms" in Parfenone Romans, Christians and Muslims. It is difficult to even imagine how much the invaluable creations of the human genius destroyed, struggling for the "true faith," for example, the same Christian church, not to mention the Muslim invasion. But, no matter how it was, Parfenon, as a symbol of ancient Greek civilization and today remains one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

Hecatompedon

Between Parfenon and Erehechteion for the rope fence – the "garden of stones" – peacefully resting, chaotic scattered monumental past. And only the information shield makes clarity in the apparent chaos. In the past, it is hecatompedon – the temple of Athens. Once he occupied the central place and was considered one of their oldest temples of the Athenian Acropolis, the predecessor of Parfenon. During the Greek-Persian wars, hecatompedon was looted, as, in fact, all the other temples of the Upper City, and burned. Until our days from the ancient temple, only the "Garden of Stones" has been preserved: small remains of the foundation, and a part of the sculpture of the frontal composition.

Erehechteyon

Magic "Temple Portico on Athenian Acropolis" Black and White Photos from the textbook of ancient history still made me get to Athens. By this time, I knew that this pearl was completed after the death of Pericla. I knew that the architect, who erected Erehechyon, opposed this temple with laconic parfenon. He clearly and consistently conducted the principle of contrast, in everything, in every significant part, in every significant element, making them original and unique: light columns and massive bases, Figures of the Caryatide and a smooth wall, various shades of marble, large stroits and stylish profiling of the base Columns and much, much more.

The Temple of Erehechtein was a kind of storage for especially valuable items and buildings: Wooden Statue of Goddess Warring, Sacred Peplos, Altari of Ifesta and Erechtea. The structure united several shrines, the main religious rites were made here.

According to legend, inside Erehechteion was a pad of Poseidon with salted water, which arose immediately after the Lord of the Seas hit the trident in the rock of the Acropolis. And the sacred Olive grew in the courtyard, which Athena gave the residents of the city.

Quickly looking at the other, open to view the facade of the building, returning to the portico with the Caryatids, or rather to the point with which it is best to consider. Of course, the portico stands out against the background of the remaining forms of Erehechtione. Caryatids – sculptures depicting beautiful young priestesses, beyond any doubt, are the main decoration of the temple, the impressive of his frank cheerfulness. None of the girls looks like another in the images or in the performance of hairstyles, nor in clothing models. Even the folds on their chitons are draped in different ways: frozen in the moment of rest, it seems they will begin to move from the slightest blow of the breeze. Once again, mentally applauding the sculptor, admiring the ideas in shape and striking on the wealth of the priestess, their restrained and complete dignity of the dance.

In all this with the originality of tastes, architects can only be compared only the sense of measure, which was able to combine as if mutually exclosing each other, properties: extraordinary luxury and extraordinary moderation, turning the temples and their sacred sites in peculiar museums of elegant arts.

Unfortunately, not all temples and sanctoes lived to this day. Land and burned, destroyed in the centuries, they left us a legacy only piles of stones, chaotic scattered around the ancient city.

On the "backyards" of Erehechteion was once the sanctuary of Pandros – Pandrosaion, One of the daughters of the first king Attili Kekrops. The goddess of dew protected the Ellini from drought and was very revered in Athens.

Not far from the sanctuary Pandaros, on the northern slope, was located small in size by the residential house – Arreforion. Amountors of the cult of Athena included arrephors (custodians of secrets) – girls of about seven-eleven years, who settled from the best Athenian families for a period of one year. They took part in the manufacture of the Holy Peplos, which annually on the holiday of Panafine dressed up an ancient statue of Athens, participating also in mysterious rites related to its cult. Arreforion was their home.

In the open area in front of Hecatompedon and Ereheheton was Athenian Altar, And next to a small temple, where the priests made rites of worship by the patroness of the city – the goddess of Athena.

At the highest point, there was no less significant sanctuary of ancient Acropolis – the sanctuary Zeus polyurea. It is here, in the days of solemn rituals, a bull was sacrificed to God. Today, a modern Belvedere was built next to the ruins of Zeus sanctuary, with a platform of which overlooks the modern city.

Foundation Sanctuary of Pandion was found during excavations during the construction of a museum on the territory of the Acropolis.

All invaluable treasures found during excavations are stored in the new Archaeological Museum located at the foot of the Acropolis. But Museum Ancient City (Old Museum) is no less fascinating: the statues of young graceful girls and beautiful young athletes, fragments of the sculptural frieze from the "outfit" of Parfenon and much, much more. Rather, then a little, which remained from the once solemn beauty, the great feat and the great work of the brilliant people of their time, the fact that today helps to study the story of the Acropolis as the main cultural and religious center of Athens.

"Tired wanderer, rest in the shade of my branches of singer …" Already fifteen minutes resting from impressions on a cool uncomfortable stone bench, standing in the shadow of the old Olive: On the left of the museum with its values ​​of spiritual and material culture, ahead is a majestic Parthenon, a little on the side, which remains from the Temple of Roma and August, to the right … And right … Thousands of tourists occupied not only having free space, but also all stones that do not represent much value for the complex. At the highest pedestal of stones, local schoolchildren sitting, trying to "capture" on paper of the Acropolis wall and the lower city, ineptly making sketches with a pencil. Almost to the tears were destroyed by tourists from China: a small group of tourists, choosing a background for his photo, prepared for the shooting, their friend, choosing the right angle, slightly distinguished himself from the place of the alleged shooting and lost those who had to photograph. Spinning, "The photographer" begins to rush, not seeing that friends who have lost the "surrounding" of another numerous tourist group are strongly mastered by his hands, throwing a cap in the air. After caught by a confused "photographer" by me, we turn him towards the "Losses", to convey this emotion with words difficult, but my legs ottopanted by his joyful feelings for such a turn of events were not ready. In compensation – photo for memory, under the Senius of Oliv, with a dozen tourists’ lens.

Majestic ruins of majestic temples. Ancient city Even in the remnants and ruins causes deep respect and admiration.