Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Propylaia formed the monumental entrance to the Acropolis. Built by Mnesicles
between 437 BC and 432 BC, its architectural brilliance ranks with that of the Parthenon.
It consists of a central hall with two wings on either side. Each section had a gate, and in
ancient times these five gates were the only entrances to the 'upper city'. The middle
gate (which was the largest) opened onto the
Panathenaic Way
. The imposing
western
portico
of the Propylaia consisted of six double columns, Doric on the outside and Ionic
on the inside. The fourth column along has been restored. The ceiling of the
central hall
was painted with gold stars on a dark-blue background. The
northern wing
was used as
a
pinakothiki
(art gallery) and the southern wing was the antechamber to the Temple of
Athena Nike.
The Propylaia is aligned with the Parthenon - the earliest example of a building de-
signed in relation to another. It remained intact until the 13th century, when various occu-
piers started adding to it. It was badly damaged in the 17th century when a lightning
strike set off an explosion in another Turkish gunpowder store. Archaeologist Heinrich
Schliemann paid for the removal of one of its appendages - a Frankish tower - in the
19th century. Reconstruction took place between 1909 and 1917, and again after WWII.
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Temple of Athena Nike
The exquisitely proportioned small Temple of Athena Nike stands on a platform perched
atop the steep southwest edge of the Acropolis, to the right of the Propylaia. The temple
was dismantled piece by piece in 2003 in a controversial move to restore it offsite and is
now resplendent after its painstaking reassembly. The Turks also took it apart in 1686
and put a huge cannon on the platform. It was carefully reconstructed between 1836 and
1842, but was taken apart again 60 years later because the platform was crumbling.
Designed by Kallicrates, the temple was built of Pentelic marble between 427 BC and
424 BC. The building is almost square, with four graceful Ionic columns at either end.
Only fragments remain of the frieze, which had scenes from mythology, the Battle of
Plataea (479 BC) and Athenians fighting Boeotians and Persians. Parts of the frieze are
in the Acropolis Museum, as are some relief sculptures, including the beautiful depiction
of Athena Nike fastening her sandal. The temple housed a wooden statue of Athena.
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Statue of Athena Promachos
Continuing ahead along the Panathenaic Way you will see, to your left, the foundations
of pedestals for the statues that once lined the path, including one that held Pheidias' 9m-
high statue of Athena Promachos (
promachos
means 'champion'). Symbolising Athenian
invincibility against the Persians, the helmeted goddess held a shield in her left hand and
a spear in her right. The statue was carted off to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius
in AD 426. By 1204 it had lost its spear, so the hand appeared to be gesturing. This led
