Ancient Destinations Greece

 

Ancient Greece is a great place to explore some of the world's best preserved ruins. The country itself is very rich in archaeology and natural beauty. From frescoed Minoan palaces to the majestic Parthenon, Greece is an archaeological paradise!


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Ancient Greece - The Parthenon

The Parthenon is situated on a hill known called the Acropolis and it overlooks the city of Athens. This beautiful temple was dedicated to the Greek Goddess Athena (Goddess of Wisdom). The temple was built by Ictinus and Callicrates between 447 - 432 BC and it was designed by a Greek sculptor named Phidias. In ancient times the temple housed the famous gold and ivory statue of Athena.

The Parthenon is a perfect example of Doric style architecture. The temple measures 111 feet by 228 feet and has eight columns on its ends and seventeen columns on its sides. One key feature to look for is the large Parthenon frieze depicting the "Panathenaic procession". In this procession, visitors will see a long continuous line of low relief sculptures. The reliefs cover the exterior wall of the cella and measures 1 meter in height and 160 meters in length. There are two processions that are depicted on there and both begin on the southwestern corner of the temple. Both processions show people from Athens marching along in opposite directions till both groups meet at the eastern end over the Parthenon's cella. (More Photos)



Ancient Greece - Theatre of Dionysus

The Theatre of Dionysus was a popular open air theatre in ancient times and is a must see when visiting Greece. The theatre is believed to be the first ever stone theatre built for its time. The entire structure was cut into the southern cliff of the Acropolis. Archaeologists date the site to the 6th century BC. In its day, the theatre was dedicated to Dionysus (God of Plays and Wine) and is considered the birthplace where all classical greek plays were first presented. Scholars believe in ancient times the theatre could have held as many as 17,000 people! (More Photos)



Ancient Greece - The Propylaia

The ancient Greeks also built a monumental gateway known as the Propylaia. This ancient structure takes visitors to the heart of the Athenian Acropolis. Construction on the gateway began in 437 BC and was designed by a Greek architect called Mnesicles. The Propylaia was built of white Pentelic and gray Eleusinian marble. Its purpose was to serve as a grand entrance to the Parthenon and its neighboring temples. Further archaeological excavations has led to the discovery of another building that once stood in its place before the Propylaia was even built. (More Photos)


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Ancient Greece - Erechtheum Temple

The Erechtheum temple is another architectural marvel. It too is located on the Acropolis. Scholars believe it was built between 421 BC and 405 BC. An earlier temple once stood in its place but unfortunately it was burnt down by the Persians. The Erechtheum was dedicated to the Greek gods Athena and Poseidon Erechtheus. (More Photos)

The most famous feature of the temple is its porch. Its called the Caryatid Porch and is located on the south side of the temple. Caryatid, refers to a sculpted female figure who served as an architectural support that replaced the traditional column. The Erechtheum has a total of six beautiful caryatids. The temple is believed to have the best examples of the Greek Ionic order ever produced in ancient Greece.

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