As we continue our exploration of the ancient sites of Europe we will visit the capital city of Greece to explore the Parthenon.
Located high over the city of Athens on the Acropolis, this marble temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was built between 447 and 432 BC during the height of the ancient Greek Empire. Not only was it the centre of religious life, it was also the symbol of wealth, power and culture. Stunning design made use of over 60 Doric columns on a rectangular floor plan with a 23,000 square foot base. The frieze (horizontal band running along the top of the chamber) were sculpted with scenes of great battles and Greek gods and goddesses. Although dazzling white marble today it was originally painted in brilliant colour.
In the sixth century the Christian Byzantines conquered Greece and the Parthenon remained a Christian church from then until 1458 AD when the Muslim Ottoman Empire seized Athens. In 1687 the Ottomans converted it to an ammunitions depot and during a battle it was bombarded causing the ammunition to explode causing many deaths and massive structural damage.
In ruins and at the mercy of looters, it was not until the late 19th century that the Earl of Elgin removed the marble friezes and several other sculptures and shipped them to London, England where they remain on display to this date at the British Museum. History remains vague as to whether the Earl had permission to remove the sculptures and the Greek government has asked for their return. To better understand the Parthenon you need to include a trip to London to see the remnants in the British Museum.
The Greek government seriously began restoration of the Parthenon in the 1970’s and it remains under renovation today. It will never be restored to it original condition but will stay a partial ruin reflecting its diverse history.
No matter how you arrive in the capital of Greece there are numerous ways to visit the Parthenon. Whether you hire a taxi tour, are part of a bus tour or find a way there on your own, this is a very popular site. The cost to visit the Acropolis area is about €20 and may or may not be included in your transportation fees. As it is located on the top of a hill there is a climb and due to its popularity it can be very crowded.
If you are on a cruise that lands in the port of Piraeus you will be best served on a ship excursion due to the distance into Athens. We have also used a taxi tour (enjoy the negotiations over the price) and a private tour. We highly recommend the Katakolon Express for a comprehensive and economical tour of the city of Athens which includes plenty of time at the Acropolis (https://www.katakolon-express.com/).
If you have the time you should also visit the Acropolis Museum to see more of the artifacts and art from this era of civilization. For more information on times and cost please visit https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en.
For more detail on the Parthenon and other ancient sites of Europe check out the History Channel Online at www.history.com.