Greek for “High Place”, the Acropolis is the heart of ancient Athens and home to the Parthenon, perhaps the most famous of all ancient Greek temples. Built in the 5th century B.C., it was dedicated to the goddess Athena.
That’s it there rising above the walls. Note the gap in the side. Remarkably, the temple was largely intact until 1687 when, during a war between the Ottoman Empire and the Venetians, an ammunition dump inside the building was detonated during a bombardment!
Later, around 1800, the so-called “Elgin Marbles”, a frieze around the temple, were removed by the British and are now in the British Museum. Greece wants them back.
Greek for “High Place”, the Acropolis is the heart of ancient Athens and home to the Parthenon, perhaps the most famous of all ancient Greek temples. Built in the 5th century B.C., it was dedicated to the goddess Athena.
That’s it there rising above the walls. Note the gap in the side. Remarkably, the temple was largely intact until 1687 when, during a war between the Ottoman Empire and the Venetians, an ammunition dump inside the building was detonated during a bombardment!
Later, around 1800, the so-called “Elgin Marbles”, a frieze around the temple, were removed by the British and are now in the British Museum. Greece wants them back.