Cultural monuments of ancient Greece. Architectural monuments of Greece
Perhaps in no other country in the world will you find as many ancient monuments as in Greece: the famous Acropolis of Athens and the rotating Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Theater of Dionysus and the Temple of Zeus, the Tower of the Winds, the Perama Cave and much more...
The white stone ruins here have preserved the memory of the birth of civilization for centuries, turning legends and myths into history. RT has compiled a list of the most interesting attractions that are worth visiting for everyone who decides to travel to this amazing country.
Download:
Preview:
A unique architectural monument, the palace of King Minos, is located on the island of Crete. Legends about this palace have been circulating since ancient times. Visitors have the opportunity to observe a labyrinth of more than a thousand rooms, the walls of which are decorated with frescoes and drawings.
The Athenian Acropolis is an incredibly beautiful hillside building in the center of Athens. It is known that the first temples and buildings appeared in archaic period. The Greek government has repeatedly carried out restorations to return the place to its original appearance.
The Theater of Dionysus, located on the Acropolis hill, is one of the oldest theaters in the world. It was here that the works of the greatest representatives of ancient Greek literature and drama were first presented to the audience: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes.
The Temple of Nike Apteros is a striking example of classical Greek architectural art. From the site on which the temple is located, you can enjoy a beautiful and impressive panorama of Athens.
The city of Delphi is located in the region of Phocea, on the southwestern slope of the famous Mount Parnassus, near the Gulf of Corinth. In Ancient Greece, the city was a major trade and financial center.
Olympion, or the Temple of Olympian Zeus, is the largest temple in Greece. Its construction began from the 6th century BC. e. until the 2nd century AD e. This monument of ancient Greek architecture is located in Athens, near the Acropolis and the city center. If you believe the legends, the temple was built on the site of the sanctuary of the mythical Deucalion, considered the forefather of the entire people of Greece.
Hadrian's Arch was built in the 2nd century AD. in honor of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Ancient architects placed it on the line of the road that connected the Acropolis area and Olympion and went in a south-easterly direction.
The uniqueness of the Panathenaic Stadium lies in the fact that it is the only stadium in the world whose walls are made of white marble. It was here that the first Olympic Games took place in 1896.
The Temple of Hephaestus in Athens is one of the best preserved ancient temples in the world. All columns, pediments, as well as most roofs.
In ancient times the temple of Apollo had great importance for the culture of Ancient Greece. It was here that the Delphic Oracle was located - a great oracle, where even Alexander the Great himself came to ask for a prophecy.
The Temple of Hephaestus (Hephaestion), or Thesseion, gave rise to many legends associated with its name. According to one version, the temple was dedicated to the son of Zeus and the god of fire Hephaestus, the patron of blacksmithing. According to another version, the temple was named Tesseion - in honor of Theseus, the famous hero of ancient Greek mythology.
Delphi is the most popular among the sacred sites of Ancient Greece. The town is located at the foot of Mount Parnassus - the place where Apollo lived surrounded by muses. Since ancient times, many people specially traveled here from afar to find out the predictions of the famous oracle of Apollo and look into the future.
The huge book depository, built in 132 AD, is impressive in its size. Having built the library, Emperor Hadrian gave the Athenians a new cultural center with lecture halls and lush gardens.
The Tower of the Winds is the oldest meteorological monument, its height is 12 meters and its diameter is about 8 meters.
How different are children's impressions from the impressions of an adult? When I first time school age I was in Athens, it seemed to me that the Acropolis was huge and endless, that you could walk around it forever, and that you would never see such a number of ruins of ancient buildings concentrated in one place anywhere else. But when I arrived there as an adult, I realized that either I travel so often that it’s getting harder and harder for me to be impressed, or the Acropolis really isn’t that big, and I should be surprised that something like this happened in such a small place huge amount important historical events that influenced the course of world history.
In general, even cities as huge by ancient standards as Athens or Rome now seem almost tiny. I mean the historical part of modern cities, of course. Almost all the most important things are within easy walking distance of each other, very convenient for tourists. On the other hand, if you think that the ancient Greeks once walked on these very stones, that Socrates, Plato, Plutarch were here... - you feel a little uneasy.
From the modern, lively area of Monastiraki, the road to the Acropolis takes only 15-20 minutes, and even then at a leisurely pace. True, you have to walk uphill all the time, because the Acropolis is located on a hill. The higher you go, the better you can see the ancient buildings preserved in the area: 
The first stop on the way is the Hill of Ares, or Areopagus. Among the ancient Greeks, this place was known as the meeting place of the council of elders who ruled the city in ancient times. From here you can see some of the most beautiful views to Athens. View from the Areopagus towards the Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus: 
Towards Pnyx Hill: 
Modern Athens is a fairly large city. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that life here was once concentrated in a much smaller space. In the very distance you can see Lycabettus Hill - this is another quite popular place for tourists with cameras. Below are paths among numerous ancient stones: it’s even a shame that so many buildings from those times have not survived: 
Traditional view from the Areopagus to the Acropolis, or more precisely, to the Propylaea - the main gate of the Acropolis: 
And this is the view from the Acropolis to the Areopagus. That same small and uneven stone hill is the Areopagus, the place where important political and judicial decisions were once made. By the way, it is about the same size as the famous stones lying in Central Park in New York. But the historical significance cannot be compared. 
The Parthenon is undergoing chronic restoration. They are trying to piece together the ancient stones scattered throughout the Acropolis and restore the building from them as much as possible. It’s difficult to say what will come of this idea, especially considering how much of everything was taken from the Acropolis from Greece back in the Middle Ages. Elements of the Parthenon are now stored in Paris, the Vatican, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen... And, of course, no one is going to return them to the Greeks. 
But for some reason the Erechtheion is not being restored. Although, maybe they will reach it over time: 
The famous portico of the caryatids: 
The Acropolis is always quite crowded. This is understandable, because this is the most famous place in Athens. On the scale of the modern world, the Acropolis seems quite small. From this angle, almost the entire hill is visible: 
Meanwhile, even now a construction of such a scale seems grandiose: 
The rise and fall of civilizations is generally an interesting thing: what was once one of the greatest nations in Europe suddenly disappears. On rare paintings Greek artists of the Middle Ages can see images of shepherds herding goats on the top of the Acropolis: several centuries have passed since the collapse of Athens - and there seems to be no trace left of the ancient Greeks. The medieval inhabitants of Greece probably did not even know what kind of buildings they were there on the hill. 
Traditional view of the city from the Acropolis: 
Below you can see the temple of Zeus: 
Herod's Odeon is a huge beautiful amphitheater built in the 2nd century AD, already under the Romans. An absolutely colossal project by those standards: this musical theater can accommodate up to six thousand people at a time. The Greeks recently renovated the Herodeon, and now concerts are held there from time to time: 
Nearby is the Theater of Dionysus, it is 5-6 centuries older than Herod’s odeon, and was built in typical greek style: the Greeks always chose natural hills to build amphitheaters. 
Behind the Theater of Dionysus you can see an ultra-modern building - this modern museum Acropolis, opened a couple of years ago: 
Let's go down to the Theater of Dionysus: 
View from the theater to the Acropolis: 
Already somewhere at the exit from the territory of the Acropolis: 
The new modern Acropolis Museum is really good. True, at the time I was there, it was not yet fully open. But even the part that was publicly available was impressive: 
According to the plan, sculptures from the temples of the Acropolis, everything found on the hill, preserved fragments of the Parthenon, as well as copies of ancient works of art associated with the Acropolis taken from Greece should be stored here. 
The opening of the museum was planned to coincide with the 2004 Olympic Games, but the Greeks, in their traditional manner, delayed all the deadlines, did not deliver the project on time, and the construction of the museum building was completed only by the end of 2007, and the final transportation of all exhibits was completed only in the summer 2009, i.e. 5 years later than planned. 
The museum, however, turned out to be very good, and now, perhaps, it can easily compete even with the National Archaeological Museum, which was until now considered the main museum of the city. 
And to top it off - a short run towards the Temple of Zeus, which was visible from the Acropolis in the photographs above.
View from it towards the Acropolis: 
The Temple of Zeus itself was once the largest temple in all of Greece. It was built over four centuries and was completed only in the 2nd century. BC Now all that remains of the temple is one single corner and a pair of columns at the other end of the temple. 
The most beautiful elements of the temple were taken from Athens to Rome by the ancient Romans. 
But even from these few columns you can quite imagine the scale of the building: 
How different are children's impressions from the impressions of an adult? When I was in Athens for the first time at school age, it seemed to me that the Acropolis was huge and endless, that you could walk around it forever, and that you would never see such a number of ruins of ancient buildings concentrated in one place anywhere else. But when I arrived there as an adult, I realized that either I travel so often that it’s getting harder and harder for me to be impressed, or the Acropolis really isn’t that big, and I should be surprised that such a huge thing happened in such a small place. the number of important historical events that influenced the course of world history.
In general, even cities as huge by ancient standards as Athens or Rome now seem almost tiny. I mean the historical part of modern cities, of course. Almost all the most important things are within easy walking distance of each other, very convenient for tourists. On the other hand, if you think that the ancient Greeks once walked on these very stones, that Socrates, Plato, Plutarch were here... - you feel a little uneasy.
From the modern, lively area of Monastiraki, the road to the Acropolis takes only 15-20 minutes, and even then at a leisurely pace. True, you have to walk uphill all the time, because the Acropolis is located on a hill. The higher you go, the better you can see the ancient buildings preserved in the area: 
The first stop on the way is the Hill of Ares, or Areopagus. Among the ancient Greeks, this place was known as the meeting place of the council of elders who ruled the city in ancient times. It offers some of the most beautiful views of Athens. View from the Areopagus towards the Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus: 
Towards Pnyx Hill: 
Modern Athens is a fairly large city. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that life here was once concentrated in a much smaller space. In the very distance you can see Lycabettus Hill - this is another quite popular place for tourists with cameras. Below are paths among numerous ancient stones: it’s even a shame that so many buildings from those times have not survived: 
Traditional view from the Areopagus to the Acropolis, or more precisely, to the Propylaea - the main gate of the Acropolis: 
And this is the view from the Acropolis to the Areopagus. That same small and uneven stone hill is the Areopagus, the place where important political and judicial decisions were once made. By the way, it is about the same size as the famous stones lying in Central Park in New York. But the historical significance cannot be compared. 
The Parthenon is undergoing chronic restoration. They are trying to piece together the ancient stones scattered throughout the Acropolis and restore the building from them as much as possible. It’s difficult to say what will come of this idea, especially considering how much of everything was taken from the Acropolis from Greece back in the Middle Ages. Elements of the Parthenon are now stored in Paris, the Vatican, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen... And, of course, no one is going to return them to the Greeks. 
But for some reason the Erechtheion is not being restored. Although, maybe they will reach it over time: 
The famous portico of the caryatids: 
The Acropolis is always quite crowded. This is understandable, because this is the most famous place in Athens. On the scale of the modern world, the Acropolis seems quite small. From this angle, almost the entire hill is visible: 
Meanwhile, even now a construction of such a scale seems grandiose: 
The rise and fall of civilizations is generally an interesting thing: what was once one of the greatest nations in Europe suddenly disappears. In rare paintings by Greek artists of the Middle Ages, you can see images of shepherds herding goats on the top of the Acropolis: several centuries have passed since the collapse of Athens - and there seems to be no trace left of the ancient Greeks. The medieval inhabitants of Greece probably did not even know what kind of buildings they were there on the hill. 
Traditional view of the city from the Acropolis: 
Below you can see the Temple of Zeus: 
Herod's Odeon is a huge beautiful amphitheater built in the 2nd century AD, already under the Romans. An absolutely colossal project by those standards: this musical theater can accommodate up to six thousand people at a time. The Greeks recently renovated the Herodeon, and now concerts are held there from time to time: 
Nearby is the Theater of Dionysus, it is 5-6 centuries older than Herod’s Odeon, and was built in a typical Greek style: the Greeks always chose a natural hill to build amphitheaters. 
Behind the Theater of Dionysus you can see an ultra-modern building - this is the modern Acropolis Museum, which opened a couple of years ago: 
Let's go down to the Theater of Dionysus: 
View from the theater to the Acropolis: 
Already somewhere at the exit from the territory of the Acropolis: 
The new modern Acropolis Museum is really good. True, at the time I was there, it was not yet fully open. But even the part that was publicly available was impressive: 
According to the plan, sculptures from the temples of the Acropolis, everything found on the hill, preserved fragments of the Parthenon, as well as copies of ancient works of art associated with the Acropolis taken from Greece should be stored here. 
The opening of the museum was planned to coincide with the 2004 Olympic Games, but the Greeks, in their traditional manner, delayed all the deadlines, did not deliver the project on time, and the construction of the museum building was completed only by the end of 2007, and the final transportation of all exhibits was completed only in the summer 2009, i.e. 5 years later than planned. 
The museum, however, turned out to be very good, and now, perhaps, it can easily compete even with the National Archaeological Museum, which was still considered the main museum of the city. 
And to top it off - a short run towards the Temple of Zeus, which was visible from the Acropolis in the photographs above.
View from it towards the Acropolis: 
The Temple of Zeus itself was once the largest temple in all of Greece. It was built over four centuries and was completed only in the 2nd century. BC Now all that remains of the temple is one single corner and a pair of columns at the other end of the temple. 
The most beautiful elements of the temple were taken from Athens to Rome by the ancient Romans. 
But even from these few columns you can quite imagine the scale of the building: 
Cities ancient world usually appeared near a high rock, on which a citadel was erected so that there would be somewhere to hide if the enemy penetrated the city. Such a citadel was called an acropolis. In the same way, on a rock that towered almost 150 meters above Athens and had long served as a natural defensive structure, an upper city gradually formed in the form of a fortress (acropolis) with various defensive, public and religious structures.
The Athenian Acropolis began to be built up in the 2nd millennium BC. During Greco-Persian wars(480-479 BC) it was completely destroyed; later, under the leadership of the sculptor and architect Phidias, its restoration and reconstruction began.
The Acropolis is one of those places “about which everyone insists that they are magnificent and unique. But don't ask why. No one can answer you...” It can be measured, even all its stones can be counted. It's not that big of a deal to get through it from end to end - it only takes a few minutes. The walls of the Acropolis are steep and precipitous. Four great creations still stand on this rocky hill. A wide zigzag road runs from the bottom of the hill to the only entrance. This is the Propylaea - a monumental gate with Doric style columns and a wide staircase. They were built by the architect Mnesicles in 437-432 BC. But before entering these majestic marble gates, everyone involuntarily turned to the right. There, on the high pedestal of the bastion that once guarded the entrance to the acropolis, stands the temple of the goddess of victory Nike Apteros, decorated with Ionic columns. This is the work of the architect Callicrates (second half of the 5th century BC). The temple - light, airy, unusually beautiful - stood out with its whiteness against the blue background of the sky. This fragile building, looking like an elegant marble toy, seems to smile itself and makes passers-by smile affectionately.
The restless, ardent and active gods of Greece resembled the Greeks themselves. True, they were taller, could fly through the air, take on any form, and turn into animals and plants. But in everything else they behaved like ordinary people: got married, deceived each other, quarreled, made peace, punished children...
Temple of Demeter, builders unknown, 6th century. BC Olympia
Temple of Nike Apteros, architect Kallikrates, 449-421 BC. Athens
Propylaea, architect Mnesical, 437-432 BC. Athens
The goddess of victory Nike was depicted beautiful woman with large wings: victory is fickle and flies from one opponent to another. The Athenians depicted her as wingless so that she would not leave the city that had recently won a great victory over the Persians. Deprived of wings, the goddess could no longer fly and had to remain in Athens forever.
The Nika Temple stands on a rock ledge. It is slightly turned towards the Propylaea and plays the role of a beacon for processions going around the rock.
Immediately beyond the Propylaea, Athena the Warrior stood proudly, whose spear greeted the traveler from afar and served as a beacon for sailors. The inscription on the stone pedestal read: “The Athenians dedicated from the victory over the Persians.” This meant that the statue was cast from bronze weapons taken from the Persians as a result of their victories.
The Erechtheion temple ensemble was also located on the Acropolis, which (according to the plan of its creators) was supposed to link together several sanctuaries located on different levels, - the rock here is very uneven. The northern portico of the Erechtheion led to the sanctuary of Athena, where wooden statue goddess who supposedly fell from the sky. The door from the sanctuary opened into a small courtyard where the only sacred olive tree on the entire Acropolis grew, which rose when Athena touched the rock with her sword in this place. Through the eastern portico one could get into the sanctuary of Poseidon, where he, having struck the rock with his trident, left three furrows with gurgling water. Here was also the sanctuary of Erechtheus, revered on a par with Poseidon.
The central part of the temple is a rectangular room (24.1x13.1 meters). The temple also contained the tomb and sanctuary of the first legendary king of Attica, Cecrops. On the south side of the Erechtheion is the famous portico of the caryatids: at the edge of the wall, six girls carved from marble support the ceiling. Some scholars suggest that the portico served as a tribune for respectable citizens or that priests gathered here for religious ceremonies. But the exact purpose of the portico is still unclear, because “portico” means vestibule, and in this case the portico did not have doors and from here it is impossible to get inside the temple. The figures of the portico of the caryatids are essentially supports that replace a pillar or column; they also perfectly convey the lightness and flexibility of the girlish figures. The Turks, who at one time captured Athens and, due to their Muslim beliefs, did not allow images of humans, did not, however, destroy these statues. They limited themselves to only cutting off the girls' faces.
Erechtheion, builders unknown, 421-407 BC. Athens
Parthenon, architects Ictinus, Callicrates, 447-432 BC. Athens
In 1803, Lord Elgin, the English ambassador to Constantinople and a collector, using the permission of the Turkish Sultan, broke out one of the caryatids in the temple and took it to England, where he offered it to the British Museum. Interpreting the firman of the Turkish Sultan too broadly, he also took with him many of the sculptures of Phidias and sold them for 35,000 pounds sterling. Firman stated that “no one should prevent him from taking away a few stones with inscriptions or figures from the Acropolis.” Elgin filled 201 boxes with such “stones”. As he himself stated, he took only those sculptures that had already fallen or were in danger of falling, ostensibly in order to save them from final destruction. But Byron also called him a thief. Later (during the restoration of the portico of the caryatids in 1845-1847), the British Museum sent to Athens a plaster cast of the statue taken away by Lord Elgin. The cast was subsequently replaced by a more durable copy made of artificial stone, made in England.
At the end of the last century, the Greek government demanded that England return its treasures, but received the answer that the London climate was more favorable for them.
At the beginning of our millennium, when Greece was transferred to Byzantium during the division of the Roman Empire, the Erechtheion was turned into a Christian temple. Later, the crusaders, who captured Athens, made the temple a ducal palace, and during the Turkish conquest of Athens in 1458, a harem of the commandant of the fortress was installed in the Erechtheion. During the liberation war of 1821-1827, the Greeks and Turks took turns besieging the Acropolis, bombarding its structures, including the Erechtheion.
In 1830 (after the proclamation of Greek independence), only foundations could be found at the site of the Erechtheion, as well as architectural decorations lying on the ground. Funds for the restoration of this temple ensemble (as well as for the restoration of many other structures of the Acropolis) were given by Heinrich Schliemann. His closest associate V. Derpfeld carefully measured and compared the ancient fragments; by the end of the 70s of the last century he was already planning to restore the Erechtheion. But this reconstruction was subjected to severe criticism, and the temple was dismantled. The building was rebuilt under the leadership of the famous Greek scientist P. Kavadias in 1906 and finally restored in 1922.
"Venus de Milo" Agessander(?), 120 BC. Louvre, Paris
"Laocoon" Agessander, Polydorus, Athenodorus, c.40 BC. Greece, Olympia
"Hercules of Farnese" ca. 200 BC e., Nat. museum, Naples
"Wounded Amazon" Polykleitos, 440 BC. National museum rome
The Parthenon - the temple of the goddess Athena - is the largest structure on the Acropolis and the most beautiful creation of Greek architecture. It stands not in the center of the square, but somewhat to the side, so you can immediately take in the front and side facades and understand the beauty of the temple as a whole. The ancient Greeks believed that the temple with the main cult statue in the center represented the house of the deity. The Parthenon is the temple of Athena the Virgin (Parthenos), and therefore in its center there was a chrysoelephantine (made of ivory and gold plates on a wooden base) statue of the goddess.
The Parthenon was erected in 447-432 BC. architects Ictinus and Callicrates from Pentelic marble. It was located on a four-level terrace, the size of its base was 69.5 x 30.9 meters. The Parthenon is surrounded on four sides by slender colonnades; gaps of blue sky are visible between their white marble trunks. Entirely permeated with light, it seems airy and light. There are no bright designs on the white columns, as is found in Egyptian temples. Only longitudinal grooves (flutes) cover them from top to bottom, making the temple seem taller and even slimmer. The columns owe their slenderness and lightness to the fact that they taper slightly towards the top. In the middle part of the trunk, not at all noticeable to the eye, they thicken and this makes them seem elastic, more able to withstand the weight of stone blocks. Ictinus and Callicrates, having thought through each the smallest detail, created a building that amazes with its amazing proportionality, extreme simplicity and purity of all lines. Placed on the upper platform of the Acropolis, at an altitude of about 150 meters above sea level, the Parthenon was visible not only from anywhere in the city, but also from numerous ships sailing to Athens. The temple was a Doric perimeter surrounded by a colonnade of 46 columns.
"Aphrodite and Pan" 100 BC, Delphi, Greece
"Diana the Huntress" Leochard, c.340 BC, Louvre, Paris, France
"Resting Hermes" Lysippos, IV century. BC BC, National Museum, Naples
"Hercules Fighting the Lion" Lysippos, c. 330 BC Hermitage, St. Petersburg
"Atlas Farnese" c.200 BC, Nat. museum, Naples
The most famous masters participated in the sculptural design of the Parthenon. Artistic director construction and design of the Parthenon was Phidias, one of greatest sculptors of all times. He owns general composition and the design of all the sculptural decoration, some of which he executed himself. The organizational side of the construction was handled by Pericles, the largest statesman of Athens.
The entire sculptural design of the Parthenon was intended to glorify the goddess Athena and her city - Athens. The theme of the eastern pediment is the birth of Zeus's beloved daughter. On west gable the master depicted a scene of a dispute between Athena and Poseidon for dominance over Attica. According to the myth, Athena won the dispute and gave the inhabitants of this country an olive tree.
The gods of Greece gathered on the pediments of the Parthenon: the thunderer Zeus, the mighty ruler of the seas Poseidon, the wise warrior Athena, winged Nike. The sculptural decoration of the Parthenon was completed by a frieze, which depicted a solemn procession during the festival of the Great Panathenaia. This frieze is considered one of the peaks classical art. Despite all its compositional unity, it amazed with its diversity. Of the more than 500 figures of young men, elders, girls, on foot and on horseback, not one repeated the other; the movements of people and animals were conveyed with amazing dynamism.
The figures of the sculptural Greek relief are not flat, they have the volume and shape of the human body. They differ from statues only in that they are not processed on all sides, but seem to merge with the background formed by the flat surface of the stone. Light colors enlivened the Parthenon marble. The red background emphasized the whiteness of the figures, the narrow vertical projections that separated one slab of the frieze from the other clearly stood out in blue, and the gilding shone brightly. Behind the columns, on a marble ribbon encircling all four facades of the building, a festive procession was depicted. There are almost no gods here, and people, forever imprinted in stone, moved along the two long sides of the building and united on the eastern facade, where a solemn ceremony took place to present the priest with a robe woven by Athenian girls for the goddess. Each figure is characterized by its unique beauty, and all together they accurately reflect the true life and customs of the ancient city.
Indeed, once every five years, on one of the hot days of mid-summer, a nationwide celebration took place in Athens in honor of the birth of the goddess Athena. It was called the Great Panathenaia. Not only citizens of the Athenian state, but also many guests took part in it. The celebration consisted of a solemn procession (pump), the bringing of a hecatomb (100 head of cattle) and a common meal, sports, equestrian and musical competitions. The winner received a special, so-called Panathenaic amphora filled with oil, and a wreath made from the leaves of the sacred olive tree growing on the Acropolis.
The most solemn moment of the holiday was the national procession to the Acropolis. Riders on horses moved, walked statesmen, armored warriors and young athletes. Priests and nobles walked in long white robes, heralds loudly praised the goddess, musicians filled the still cool morning air with joyful sounds. Along the zigzag Panathenaic road, trampled by thousands of people, sacrificial animals climbed the high hill of the Acropolis. The boys and girls carried with them a model of the sacred Panathenaic ship with a peplos (veil) attached to its mast. A light breeze fluttered the bright fabric of the yellow-violet robe, which was carried as a gift to the goddess Athena by the noble girls of the city. For a whole year they wove and embroidered it. Other girls raised sacred vessels for sacrifices high above their heads. Gradually the procession approached the Parthenon. The entrance to the temple was made not from the Propylaea, but from the other, as if so that everyone would first walk around, examine and appreciate the beauty of all parts of the beautiful building. Unlike Christian churches, ancient Greek ones were not intended for worship inside them; the people remained outside the temple during religious activities. In the depths of the temple, surrounded on three sides by two-tiered colonnades, the famous statue of the Virgin Athena, created by the famous Phidias, stood proudly. Her clothes, helmet and shield were made of pure sparkling gold, and her face and hands shone with the whiteness of ivory.
Many book volumes have been written about the Parthenon, among them there are monographs about each of its sculptures and about each step of gradual decline from the time when, after the decree of Theodosius I, it became a Christian temple. In the 15th century, the Turks turned it into a mosque, and in the 17th century, into a gunpowder warehouse. It was turned into final ruins by the Turkish-Venetian war of 1687, when an artillery shell hit it and in one moment did what all-consuming time could not do in 2000 years.
Greece is a small country with a colossal historical and cultural heritage. It was here that the formation of European civilization began in the form in which we know it today. And although many elements came from earlier eras, it was in Greece that many classical elements of science, art and medicine originated. And the Greek language served as the “donor” of many modern dialects, not only at the level of individual words, but even writing and liturgical elements. Colossal historical heritage The country in most cases today is relatively poorly visible - the turbulent history of this land destroyed many ancient cities and temples. For example, there are much more monuments of ancient civilization outside the country itself, in Asia Minor. However, the land of Greece itself carries the spirit of its former greatness, and there are many monuments of later eras here. Friendly people, unique traditions, picturesque villages, warm climate, countless islands and a long sea coast attract millions of tourists every year.
When asked what Greece is primarily associated with, many will answer: the famous Acropolis of Athens. Others will remember rows of white houses rising in tiers against a turquoise sky. Fans of Mediterranean cuisine will answer differently: for them, Hellas is, first of all, the birthplace of melt-in-your-mouth moussaka and lamb souvlaki, washed down with retsina, a white wine with the aroma of pine resin. Those who love solitude will find hard-to-reach corners under the Greek sky, while dreamy people will be more likely to be attracted by Delphi, the Meteora monastery complex or the amphitheater in Epidaurus.
It is impossible to recognize this country and all the iconic sights of Greece if you have been here only once. Each city has its own characteristics - to get to know them, you need to come to Hellas again and again.
Athens. Sights of Athens
The main center of tourism in Greece is its capital - Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world, located in a bowl-shaped valley on the western coast of Attica, surrounded by the mountains of Aigaleo, Parnitha, Pendeli and Hymetos (Imitos). The city itself is built somewhat chaotically and, due to its location in the intermountain basin, has a rather difficult ecological situation, but its beautiful ancient monuments and excellent museums attract millions of tourists here. The center of Athens is considered to be the Acropolis and Lycabettos (Lykabettos) hills, from which the city began more than 6 thousand years ago. The Acropolis of Athens is a symbol of ancient Greece. Already during the Mycenaean era (1600-1000 BC), a royal palace was built on the top of this 155-meter rocky hill, surrounded by a Cyclopean wall (4.5 m thick), which, however, did not save the city from numerous destructions. The structures that have survived to this day were built mainly in the 5th century. BC e. The entrance to the Acropolis was the monumental portal Propyleion (447-432 BC).
The pearl of the Acropolis is considered to be the Parthenon (5th century BC) - the temple of Athena Parthenos, which is a unique architectural structure - it was designed in such a way that its different-sized columns and the curvature of the seemingly flat structures give this huge building amazing lightness and proportionality. The colonnade (“peristyle”) of 46 columns and the famous Parthenon frieze (now kept in the British Museum) set off the beautiful sculptural groups by the great Phidias, most of which have not survived to this day and are known only from copies. Throughout its history, the Parthenon was both a Christian temple and a gunpowder warehouse, and only in the 19th century. partial restoration of this unique monument, which continues to this day. The Pegille Theater (2nd century BC) has also been restored, where festivals are now held and performances by ancient authors are staged, next to which lie the ruins of the more ancient Theater of Dionysus.
Statistical indicators of Greece
(as of 2012)
Near the Parthenon is ancient place The worship of the Athenians is the small classical temple of Erechtheion (421-407 BC), built on the site of the Mycenaean royal palace. According to legend, it was at this place that the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the right to patronize the city was resolved. In honor of this event, two temples were built under one roof. Of greatest interest is the "Portic of the Daughters" - six sculptures of Caryatids, one of which was taken out British Ambassador to London (now kept in the British Museum), which gave rise to the legend of the cry of the remaining Caryatids heard in the night for their kidnapped sister.
The central part of the city is limited by the triangle of Omonia (Concord), Syntagma (Constitution) and Monastyraki squares - this is the most crowded area of the city and always filled with tourists and businessmen. From Monastyraki with its first cathedral in the capital - Agios Eleftherios (XII century), to Syntagma Square, which is considered business center capital, you can walk past the Kapnikareya Church along the quiet pedestrian Ermou Street to pay your respects to the memory of Greek patriots at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded by an honor guard of “Evzones” (national guard) in traditional Greek costumes. Next to the memorial stands the majestic Parliament building (formerly the Royal Palace), behind which lies the luxurious royal park of Zappio, as well as, somewhat further away, the ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (530 BC - 129 AD). ) and the famous Arch of Hadrian. Under no circumstances should you miss the 60,000-seat Panathenaic Stadium, built on the site of the old ancient stadium (330 BC), where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896, the Temple of Hephaestus (sometimes incorrectly called Thissio) - the most beautiful of the surviving ancient temples of Athens, as well as the ensemble of buildings of the National Academy, the University of Athens and National Library on Panepistimiou Street, Necropolis of Keramikos, Clepsydro Andronikos of Kyrrha and the Roman Agora. Of the monuments of later eras, the Church of Ayia Apostoli (St. Apostles) in the area of Ancient Agora, the Church of Ayia Theodori (St. Theodore) on Klaftmonos Square or the Church of Ayia Georgios (St. George) on the top of Lykabettos Hill, where you can Take the funicular to admire the magnificent panorama of the city.
Athens has 250 museums, galleries and more modern temple complexes. The National Archaeological Museum is one of the richest museums in the world, storing unique finds from all over the country (and from the islands of the Cyclades, Crete and Santorini), beautiful jewelry, including those found by Schliemann during the excavations of Mycenae. There is a whole room dedicated to vases and amphorae alone! The Byzantine Museum on Vasilissis Sophias Street is famous for the best collection of icons and mosaics in Europe, as well as other works by famous Byzantine sculptors and artists. The Benaki Museum was founded in 1930 by the collector A. Benakis and is famous for its rich collection of ancient Greek and Byzantine art, as well as its exhibitions of Chinese porcelain, oriental jewelry and weapons. Also interesting are the Archaeological Museum of the Athens Agora, the Museum of Natural History of Goulandris, the National art gallery, Museum of Greek Folk Art and Museum of Greek Folk musical instruments, as well as the Cultural Center of the Athens Municipality (Theater Museum), the Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art, the Museum of Holy Icons in the Archdiocese building, the Museum of Ceramics and many other collections.
Other attractions in Greece
Peloponnese Peninsula
The mountainous Peloponnese peninsula, located in the south of Greece, is one of the centers of Greek civilization, the “homeland” of many myths and a modern resort area. Be sure to visit ancient Corinth with its ruins of the temple of Apollo (VI century BC), the Roman agora, odeon and theater, or the ruins of the famous Lacedaemon (Sparta) with the remains of the acropolis, the temple of Athena (VI century BC) , numerous sanctuaries and theater (1st - 2nd centuries AD).In the northern part of the Peloponnese, in the foothills of Agios Ilias, lies the center of one of the most ancient civilizations in the world - the city and fortress of Mycenae, founded by the legendary Perseus. In 1870, archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, relying on the texts of Homer’s Iliad, began excavations in these places and rediscovered the treasures of the “golden Mycenae” to the world. The fortress that surrounded the city was built from giant stone blocks, which gave rise to the legend of the Cyclops who built it. Now on the site of the legendary city there is a museum famous for its “Lion Gate”, “Tomb of Agamemnon”, the royal palace, the royal cemetery and the ruins of numerous domestic buildings, and many gold items found during excavations are now stored in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Olympia, an ancient Greek city in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese, is the site of the ancient cult of Zeus and the birthplace of the Olympic Games in honor of Olympian Zeus. The existence of Olympia goes back to ancient times - the first settlements here date back to the 3rd millennium BC. e., and the oldest architectural monuments date back to the 2nd millennium BC. e. Currently, almost all the monuments of the Altis complex (Olympic temple and cult complex) have been uncovered, and these are such famous buildings as the remains of the sanctuary of Pelops over his grave (end of the 2nd millennium BC), the Temple of Hera (7th century BC). BC), belonging to the “seven wonders of the world”, the sanctuary and oracle of Zeus (468-456 BC), the portico of Echo (VI century BC), the palaestra (III century BC .) and gymnasium (II century BC), a number of temple treasuries, bouleuterion (meeting place of the Olympic Council, VI-V centuries BC), stadium, more than 130 statues, the triumphal arch of Nero, baths and nymphaeums from the Roman period, and much more. Since the revival of the Games in 1896, the Olympic flame has been rekindled in the ancient sanctuary of Olympia, from here it makes its journey to the site of the next Olympics. In 1887, the Olympia Museum was founded - one of the best collections of ancient art in the world.
Epidaurus, located 30 km. east of Nafplion, was famous for the sanctuary of Asclepius (Aesculapius, the god of healing) and its theater (IV century BC), which accommodated more than 14 thousand spectators and in which real ancient greek dramas. Also interesting are the local Historical Museum and the "katoghion" - a hotel for pilgrims and patients of the Temple of Asclepius.
The Monemvasia fortress (legendary Malvasia, 6th century) is located on a huge rock in the sea opposite the town of Gefira, with which it is connected by a unique structure - an ancient tunnel. The fortress itself and many Byzantine houses, which now house fashionable hotels, have survived to this day.
The first capital of independent Greece - Nafplio (165 km from Athens), is famous for its Turkish fortress Palamidi, a small Venetian castle on an island at the entrance to the bay and picturesque alleys covered with poplars and olive trees. Now it is the starting point for numerous excursions around the Peloponnese and to the islands of Hydra, Spetses and Poros, as well as to Monemvasia. In the vicinity of Nafplion there are many good and clean beaches, the best of which stretch along the coast of the Saronic Gulf near the resort of Tolon. You can also relax on the wonderful sandy coasts of Kyllini, Kalogria, Ermionida, Porto Heli and Galatas, or in the picturesque mountain resorts of Kalavryta and Vytina.
Macedonia
Macedonia is the largest and most fertile region of Greece. The famous Ancient Macedonia was born and flourished here, here are the most beautiful capes and bays of Halkidiki, mountains covered with green forests and fabulous beauty waterfalls, as well as concentrated thousands archaeological sites world famous - Olynthos, Dion, Vergina, Pella, Thassos and Platamon.Thessaloniki - the capital of Macedonia and the second largest city in the country, was founded in 315 BC. e. and named after Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. Over its centuries-old history, Thessaloniki was the capital of many states, saw the glory of the Macedonians and the power of Rome, the invasions of the Celts and Mongols, survived five centuries of Turkish rule and numerous uprisings of the local population. The Roman triumphal arch of Galerius (Camara, 300 AD), a theater with stands and mosaic floors of Roman villas built on the site have survived to this day ancient temple Kaviro Roman Rotunda, itself later rebuilt into the Christian Church of St. George (IV century AD), Basilica of the city's patron saint - St. Demetrius (V century AD, rebuilt in 1949), Temple of Achiropiitos (Miracle, V-VI centuries), domed basilica of St. Sophia (V-VIII centuries), churches of Elijah Profitis (Prophet, 1360), St. Catherine (XIII century), Holy Apostles (XIV century) , built on the site of the ancient temple of Hephaestus, the temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chalkeon (5th century AD), the monastery of Vlatadov (1351-1371), etc. The symbol of the city is Lefkos-Pyrgos (White Tower) - a former terrible Turkish prison, which deserved even the name "Bloody Tower". Now Thessaloniki is a major industrial and financial center of Greece, the site of major international fairs, but in the vicinity of the city, on the coast of the Gulf of Thermaikos and Paralia, as well as on the peninsulas of Kassandria (Kasantha), Sithonia and Athos, there are many beautiful resort places - Sani, Afitos , Nikiti, Sithonia, Kallithea, Litochoro, Sarti, Neos Marmaras, Porto Koufo and many others.
In the south-eastern part of Halkidiki there is a holy place for everyone Orthodox man- Agion Oros (Holy Mount Athos, 2033 m.). First large monastery, the Great Lavra (Lavra of St. Athanasius), was founded here in 963, in 1016 the first Russian monastery appeared - Xylurgu (later - St. Panteleimon), and now in this “monastic state” there are 20 monasteries with thick impenetrable walls , many hermitages and solitary cells. According to the "golden bull" of Constantine the Monk (1060), access to Athos is still limited (permission required, overnight stays prohibited, women not allowed), but visiting these places is worth the effort - Athos represents a real museum, unique treasures of enormous historical and artistic value are stored here.
Thessaly
The center of the country, the territory of ancient Thessaly, Aetolia and Epirus, was the center of the formation of Dorian culture. The ancient monuments of this region are not as famous as Attica or Macedonia, but no less interesting.The modern capital of Thessaly - Larisa, attracts tourists with the acropolis on the hill of Agios Achillios, the ancient Christian basilica and the bishop's chambers (VI century), as well as the ruins of a three-nave basilica with beautiful mosaics and wall paintings (IV-V centuries), an ancient Greek theater (II century . BC), the picturesque Alcazar Park, the Theater of Thessaly and many wonderful museums. In the area there are such interesting places, like the Kefalovriso cave, an international reserve in the Kilada valley, the “place of residence” of the ancient Greek gods - the city of Olympus (2917 m), the churches of Aiou Georgiou (St. George), Agios Paraskevis (St. Paraskevi-Pyatnitsa), Agia- Athanasiou (St. Athanasius) and famous monastery Our Lady of Panagia Olymbiotis (14th century), built on the site of an ancient Greek acropolis, numerous monuments of original local architecture in Tsaritsani and Ambelakia, as well as beautiful resort areas in Agiokambos, Velika, Kokkino Nero, Karitsa, Stomio and Nea Mesangala.
The sights of Karditsa are represented by the Church of Zoodokhu Pigis (Life-Giving Spring), the Metropolis of Ayia Constantine, the original Museum of Christianity and Pavsilipos Park. 18 km. southwest of Karditsa, at an altitude of 1150 altitude, there is an important religious and cultural center of the country - the Moni Koronas monastery. In the vicinity there are the healing springs of Smokovos and Ketsa, the town of Rendina, famous for its unique architectural ensemble, a vaulted burial of the Mycenaean period (1500 BC) in the vicinity of Georgiko, the ancient Greek settlements of Gomfi and Kierion, the monastery of Moni Petras ("on the rock") near Lambereau and the beautiful artificial lake Tavropu.
The capital of ancient Thessaly and the modern district of Magnisia - Volos, lies in the depths of the Pagasitikos Gulf. Majority ancient Greek monuments the city has not survived to this day, but nevertheless the churches of Aiou Constantinou, Aiu Nikolaou, Metamorphosis (Transfiguration) and Agios Triadas (Holy Trinity) in the Anavros area, the Archaeological Museum and the ancient miniature train that regularly runs to the picturesque slopes of Mount Pelion, where, according to legend, the legendary centaurs lived. There are many beautiful resorts on the Magnisia Peninsula - Chorefto, Kissos, Tsangarad, Mylopotamos, etc. This district also includes the Sporades Islands, almost the entire northern part of which has been declared a National Marine Park. The famous Euboea (Evia), the second largest island of the country, is famous for its thermal springs (3rd place in the world), cozy small beaches with clean sand and many karst caves.
The city of Trikala (Homeric Trikki) is interesting for its Byzantine fortress and the old district of Varusi located under its walls, an archaeological reserve on the site of the ancient Greek Asklepion and the Municipal Art Gallery with a wonderful collection of icons of the 16th-19th centuries. In Kalambaka there is the majestic Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with icons and wall paintings of rare beauty, as well as the picturesque Teopetra rock, in the depths of which lies a cave with an archaeological site from the Stone Age period. Kalambaka serves as the starting point to the famous Holy Meteora - the second largest and most important monastery complex in the country after Athos. Built on the tops of grandiose cliffs (up to 400 m), the inaccessible monastic country of Meteora (from the Greek “meteoros” - floating in the air) became a shelter for hermits back in the 11th century.
Greek Islands
The main attraction of the country is its islands. Typically, the islands of Greece are divided into two groups - the Ionian Islands (the so-called Eptanis - “Seven Islands”, including Corfu, Kefalintia, Zakynthos and Lefkas) forming the western arc, the more numerous Aegean islands, united in the archipelagos of the Sporades, Cyclades and Dodecanese . In the Saronic Gulf there is another small island group - Argosaronica.
In the south of the Aegean Sea there is the largest island of Greece - Crete (8.3 thousand sq. km.), one of the centers of the ancient Minoan culture (III-II thousand years BC), which had a huge influence on the culture of ancient Greece . On this island, covered in the legendary glory of ancient myths, Zeus was born, here stood the palace of Minos and the famous Labyrinth of the Minotaur. On its northern coast are the best beaches in Greece, and in the mountain central regions- about 3 thousand caves, deep canyons and fertile valleys. The most picturesque are the Lasithi plateau, irrigated by thousands of windmills, the longest gorge in Europe - Samaria, the only date forest in Europe in the Vai and Preveli regions, as well as highest peak islands - the city of Ida (2456 m.).
The capital of Crete and at the same time the center of the largest region of the island of the same name is the city of Heraklion (Herakleion), named after the legendary Hercules. Heraklion was once the main port of the Venetians in the eastern Mediterranean. The powerful defensive walls of the Fortress (XVI century), built around the “old city”, have been well preserved to this day. But the main attraction of this large port is the Archaeological Museum, which houses unique frescoes from the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos, the famous “Phaistos Disc” and many sculptural forms. This is a one-of-a-kind collection of exhibits from the Minoan era, placed in strict chronological order, starting from the 6th millennium BC. e. and until “late Rome” (III century AD), which allows us to clearly trace all six thousand years of the history of civilization. After the museum, visit the Church of St. Catherine of Sinai with a museum of icons, the Venetian Basilica of St. Mark (1239) converted into a mosque with a Gallery contemporary art, the Church of St. Titus (961) with the relics of this saint, the magnificent Morosini Fountain and the Venetian Stock Exchange, which now houses the City Hall.
Near Heraklion lie the ruins of ancient Knossos - the most ancient city of Crete and one of the first cities in Europe. The famous Knossos Palace, exact date the buildings of which are lost in the darkness of centuries (most of the discovered premises date back to the 2nd millennium BC), appears in many ancient legends and myths as an example of luxury and grandeur. The remains of this colossal multi-story structure, richly decorated with frescoes, reliefs and sculpture, discovered by archaeologists, have now been partially reconstructed and are wonderful museum open air. No less interesting is the palace complex in Festus that belonged to the brother of Minos (XVIII-XV centuries BC), the “royal villa” in Ayia Triada (not far from Festus), where a rich tomb with a painted sarcophagus was discovered (1550-1400). . BC), the palace at Kato Zakros (eastern tip of the island) and the ruins of the Niru palace at Hani Kokkini.
Near Festus lie the ruins of Gortyn, the Roman capital of Crete, where the remains of many buildings, the Odeon and the famous Gortyn Codex carved on stone columns are preserved.
Around Heraklion there are many monuments from other eras - in Malia (Malia, 34 km east of Heraklion) there is another Minoan palace (1900 BC), in which a decoration in the form of two golden bees - symbols of Crete - was found. Vrontisian monastery(1400 AD) is famous for its frescoes and fountain depicting Adam and Eve in paradise, and the Varsamoner Monastery (14th century) is considered one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. 20 km. from Heraklion are the resorts of Gouves and Stalida with excellent beaches, and 26 km. to the north is the best resort of northern Crete - Hersonissos, next to which is located one of the largest water parks in Europe in the resort area of Elounda. Rhodes - largest island the Dodecanese group ("twelve islands"), lying in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea near the coast of Asia Minor. Here once stood the Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders of the world, the ships of the Crusaders were loaded in its ports, its land saw great battles and mighty empires. Now it is a world famous resort with an excellently developed tourism infrastructure. The island's capital, the city and port of Rhodes, is located at its northern tip. Founded in ancient times by the Greeks, in the Middle Ages it was almost completely rebuilt by the Knights of the Order of St. John (Hospitaliers) - powerful (up to 12 m thick) fortress walls (XIV century), the Palace of the Grand Masters (Castello, XIV century) were built. with the museum now located in it, the Palace of the Admirals (XV century), the buildings of the order’s residences on Hippoton (Knights) Street, shopping mall Castellania, Small Palace and Gothic chapel with a statue of Our Lady. All that remains from Turkish rule are the Suleiman Mosque with an excellent library, the Sultan Mustafa Mosque and Turkish baths that are still in use. It is definitely worth visiting the ancient port (port of Mandraki) with its fortress of St. Nicholas, windmills and statues of deer - symbols of Rhodes, as well as the archaeological area on Mount Monte Smith, the churches of St. George and St. Paraskeva Friday, the largest Catholic church in Rhodes - the Church of Our Lady of Chora and the Byzantine Trinity Church.
Located in the building of a former knight's hospital (XV century), the Archaeological Museum is famous for its antique collection, Ethnographic Museum has a rich exhibition of furniture, ceramics and traditional folk crafts, and the Pinakothek (City Art Gallery) displays works contemporary artists. Be sure to visit the famous “Valley of Butterflies”, where thousands of these exotic insects live in natural conditions, among beautiful groves, streams and waterfalls.
The Ionian Islands (Kefalonia, Kerkyra, Zakynthos and Lefkas) lie off the western coast of Greece. The island of Kerkyra (Corfu) is the northernmost and most beautiful of them. Immersed in greenery and bathed in generous sunshine, with the shores of bays indented like lace, the island is repeatedly sung in myths as the “country of the Phaeacians”, in which the Argonauts found refuge after returning from the campaign for the Golden Fleece. Since ancient times, this land has inspired many poets and artists, and today it has become one of the most fashionable resorts in Greece. The best beaches on the island are in the areas of Gouvia, Kastoria, Messonghi, Paralia Katerini, Sidari and Roda. In the capital of the island - Kerkyra, you should definitely visit the Old (Maritime, XII-XVI centuries) and New (Coastal, XVII centuries) fortresses built by the Venetians, visit the beautiful main square of the city - Spianada and Cathedral St. Spyridon (1590) with the relics of the patron saint of the city, walk through the quarters of "Cadunia" ("Old Town" - the largest medieval complex in Greece, protected by the state), examine the Municipality (XVII century), the "old palace" Regenda ( 1819) with triumphal arches and the amazing Liston building. The “visiting card” of the city is the Blachernae Monastery in Kanoni (4 km south of the capital), also visit the Baroque Palace of San Giacomo, the Achillo Palace (1890) in Gasturi with a magnificent park and museum, a well-preserved monastery Mother of God Platytera, the Byzantine Museum and the Asian Art Museum, the picturesque Bella Vista hill and the medieval fortresses of Gardiki, Kassiopi, Paleokastritsa and Angelokastro (Fortress of Angels, XIII century). Among the ancient monuments, the stone “pediment of the Gorgon” (585 BC), a fragment of the pediment of the temple with the image of Dionysus, copper sculptures of Aphrodite, etc., which previously decorated the Doric temple of Artemis, are interesting. In total, there are more than 800 churches and monasteries on this island.
