The Acropolis in Athens

The Acropolis is literally a giant rock upon which is built one of the most famous buildings of all time...the Parthenon. But it is not the only building atop the outcrop which sits at the southernmost part of Athens, Greece. All that remains are three contrasting temples and a unique gateway that leads to the Acropolis.

In the center is the Parthenon, although few sculptures remain on this temple to Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. Only the outside columns remain. The new Acropolis Museum located to the southeast of the Parthenon near the Theatre of Dionysius contains many of the original sculptures from the buildings on the Acropolis.

Also atop the Acropolis is the Erechtheion famous for its Caryatids, or the statues of women used as columns on the south porch. The original statues are now in the Acropolis Museum while casts are now on the Erechtheion. An olive tree now grows beside the Porch of Caryatids where Athena first planted her tree in a competition against Poseidon.

The massive Propylaia gateway was built in 437-432 B.C. as a "new" entrance to the Acropolis and beside it is the tiny Temple of Athena Nike, built to honor Athena of Victory. At the base of the Propylaia is the Beule Gate, the original gateway to the Acropolis.

Two theatres lie at the base of the Acropolis. The larger of the two, the Theatre of Herodes Atticus, also known as the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, was built in A.D. 161 and lies near the Propylaia. It is still used today for outdoor concerts.

The smaller theatre is also the older . The Theatre of Dionysos was built in 333-330 B.C.

Located just west of the Acropolis is Areopagos Hill, or Mars Hill, where St. Paul delivered his sermon in A.D. 51. Greeks called their god of war "Ares," while he was called "Mars" by the Romans. While on the Areopagus, in the shadow of the Acropolis, Paul preached one of the most memorable sermons recorded in the Bible (Acts 17:22-31).