Parthenon

The Parthenon is the jewel in the crown of the Athenian Acropolis, the site of the most important religious buildings from Classical Athens. The temple was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of the city, and originally contained a huge statue of Athena holding a smaller statue of Nike, goddess of victory. It’s not clear how many religious ceremonies took place inside the Parthenon, but many Greek writings from the time suggest that the temple was also used as a treasury to hold the riches of Athens. Considering that the Parthenon and the other Acropolis buildings during the pinnacle of the Delian League and Pericles’ building regime, it was very much a symbol of the power and wealth of Athens, sending a powerful message to its allies. The temple is an interesting mash-up of Doric and Ionic architectural styles, and it was originally decorated with both a series of metopes and a continuous frieze. The original pediments (statues above the front and rear facades) depicted the passage of day (represented by the god Helios) into the night (represented by the goddess Selene) and the competition to become the patron of Athens that took place between Poseidon and Athena.

The Parthenon and the other buildings on the Acropolis can only be viewed from the outside so that visitors don’t damage the stones. Several of the temples are also undergoing construction work almost constantly, with scaffolding holding the structure up, so the buildings are also closed for safety reasons. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty to admire from the outside, plus you get a wonderful view over Athens from the top of the hill.

Although the Parthenon is the most impressive building on the Acropolis, you’ll also see the unusual structure of the Erechtheion, which has three distinct areas dedicated to three different gods - Athena Polias, Poseidon-Erectheus, and Hephaestus. The temple was the home of the city’s most important religious relics: residual marks of Poseidon’s trident, the saltwater well which he created by striking the rock, and the olive tree which Athena conjured when the two gods were competing to decide who would be the city’s patron. The Erechtheion has a portico to the north, and the south porch is held up by caryatids - giant sculptures of women. There are two other major structures, the Temple of Athena Nike (the first Ionic temple on the Acropolis - most of the other buildings are Doric), which celebrated military victories, and the Propylaia, which is the monumental gateway to the site.

There are only a small handful of signs that explain what you’re seeing, so it might be worth taking a guided tour. The buildings alone are impressive, as is the view over Athens, but if you want to understand the significance of what you’re seeing then you should either take a guidebook, plan a trip to the Acropolis Museum, or invest in a tour with an expert guide. Only registered tour guides will be permitted to give tours at the site, so it’s advised that you book in advance from a reputable tour provider to make sure you avoid scams on the day.

If you’re interested in learning more about the construction and history of the Parthenon, then the Acropolis Museum is absolutely worth a visit. Many of the original sculptures and friezes from the buildings of the Acropolis have been removed in order to preserve them from weathering and are available to view in the Acropolis Museum. You’ll also benefit from seeing them up close, rather than attached to the walls and roofs of the temples, so you can truly admire the artistic talent on display. The museum will offer more insight into the history of the original temple and the uses it has been put to over the last centuries.

The Parthenon itself will probably only take about 15 to 20 minutes to see if you’re planning to walk slowly around its perimeter. The entire Acropolis site, without a guide, can be completed in about an hour. If you’re a history or architecture buff then you’ll probably want to linger a little longer, but you’ll probably still finish your visit within 2 hours, and if you’re planning to take a guided tour then most tours also take between 1 and 2 hours. If you’re planning to combine your visit with a trip to the Acropolis Museum (which is highly recommended, since you’ll get to see the original sculptures up close) then you should plan to spend at least an entire morning or afternoon between the two sites.

The Acropolis has an elevator that can take visitors in manual wheelchairs from the entrance to the top of the hill, but the paths at the top are uneven. Depending on the wheelchair being used, visitors may need to bring a companion to help them navigate the more uneven terrain. There is one wheelchair available to borrow at the ticket office. Disabled visitors are entitled to a free ticket for themselves and one companion. Accessible bathrooms are available at the entrance and at the top of the hill.