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ATHENS/PIRAEUS, GREECE
Archaelogical Sites | Museums | Byzantine Monuments
ARCHAELOGICAL SITES IN ATHENS/PIRAEUS, GREECE
| The Acropolis The rock of the Acropolis with its natural spring, the "Klepsydra" and its caves (mostly on its northern side) has been inhabited since Neolithic times. During the Mycenaean Age, it was fortified with Cyclopean walls which protected the King's palace and the residences of the senior officials on the summit. In early historical times, the palace was superseded by a temple dedicated to Poseidon, god of the spring and to Athena, goddess of the olive tree. In archaic times, the temple was twice destroyed and rebuilt. On the second occasion (in the years of the Peisistratids towards the close of the 6th century B.C.), it was adorned with excellent carved gables while a second temple, dedicated to Athena, began to be built further south on the rock. In the meantime, after the Panathenaean festivals were established (in 566 B.C.), the first monumental Propylaea were built on the western approaches to the rock, together with an altar dedicated to Athena Niki. Apart from these, various other temples and shrines stood on the rock, dedicated to various gods and demi-gods, heroes and demons and there were also some open-air altars. In 480 B.C., all temples on the Acropolis and the entire city of Athens were sacked by the Persians and burnt. Today's layout of the fortified citadel is the work of Pericles who, aided by his principal collaborator Pheidias, had the temples on the Acropolis rebuilt, after first having completed defensive walls begun by Kimon.  The
Parthenon was the first temple to be built. It was dedicated to
the Virgin goddess Athena. Iktinos was its architect while Pheidias and
his pupils had charge of general constructional supervision and the decorative
carvings. It was the first time that a peripteral temple in the Doric
style was decorated all round with a sculptured frieze (160 meters long)
illustrating the Panathenaean Procession. The 92 metopes were also sculptured
with reliefs representing a battle with giants, a battle with Amazons,
battles with centaurs and scenes from the Trojan War. The gold and ivory
statue of the goddess Athena, the work of Pheidias, was erected in the
interior. When construction of the temple had been completed, the pedimental
sculptures were added. The birth of Athena, from the head of Zeus, was
depicted on the eastern pediment, the quarrel between Poseidon and Athena
for possession of Attica was shown on the western pediment. Then
followed construction of the impressive Propylaea by the architect
Mnisicles and constructed in 437-432 B.C. It comprises a central building
and two lateral wings. The colonnades along the west and east sides had
a row of Doric colmns while two rows of Ionic columns divided the central
corridor into three parts. A
little later (420 B.C.), a third architect, Kallikrates, built the elegant
temple of Athena Niki in the lonic style, also known as the Temple
of the Wingless Victory (on the tower which had been formed to the south
of the Propylaea). Its frieze was decorated with scenes from the historic
battle of Plataeai while its marble balustrade showed Athena Niki. Last
to be built, in the Ionic style (420 B.C.), was the Erechtheion
temple which occupied the site of the former temple of Athena and Poseidon
and was dedicated to the two deities. However, it also became the resting
place for the tombs of the creators of Athens, Erechtheus and Kekrops.
The elegant porch of the Caryatids gives only a faint notion of the luxurious
construction of this temple. Of all other buildings and votive offerings
which decorated the rock in classical times, traces only are left (e.g.
the sanctuary of Vravronia Artemis, the Halkothiki. etc.). In Roman times,
a small circular temple of Augustus and Rome was added but did not survive.
The Beule Gate (named after the French archaeologist who discovered it
in 1852) was also added south of the Propylaea.Opening hours:Daily Winter: 8.30-15.00, Summer: 8.30-19.00 Ticket price: 2000 Drs, Students: 1000 Drs, Seniors:1500 Drs The same ticket is valid for the museum of Acropolis Sunday free admission Tel. (01) 321-0219 , 321-0219, 923-8724, Fax.923-9023. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
| Buildings on the Southern
Slope of the Acropolis On this side of the rock of the Acropolis there are buildings belonging to various periods. The Temenos of Dionysos Elefthereus (Hellenistic period) whose main entrance stood on the Street of the Tripod (Tripodon), shows the foundations of two temples and a large altar. The Theater of Dionysos also belongs to the sanctuary (4th century B.C.). To the north of the theater stood the choregic monument of Thrasyllos and votive offerings to other victors at choregic contests. To the N.W. of the theater stood the  Asklepeion,
consisting of an old and a later precinct with a spring, a sanctuary,
an altar and an arcade while, to the east, stood the Odeon of Pericles.
In Roman times, the roofed Odeon of Herod Atticus, the benefactor of Athens,
was built and linked to the Theater of Dionysos by the Eumenes Stoa (arcade)
of the Hellenistic period. The cave above the Theater of Dionysos was
converted in Byzantine times into a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary
"Chryssospiliotissa".The Monument of Lysikrates of "Diogenes Lantern" This is a choregic monument of the 4th century B.C. which stands at the junction of Lysikrates and Lord Byron Streets. It served as a pedestal for the bronze tripod set upon its summit--a trophy for the victor of a choregic contest. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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THE
AREIOS PAGOS The Areios Pagos is a rock with an artificially leveled top which lies to the S.W. of the Acropolis and is not as high. The Council of Elders of the Areopagus held its sessions there and it was the most ancient political and simultaneously judiciary body in Athens. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
 The
Hill of Philopappus or Hill of the MusesOn its summit stands the monument of the Roman benefactor of Athens Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappus (2nd century A.D.) from which the visitor has a vantage point offering a magnificent panoramic view of Athens, embracing the plain of Attica with the Acropolis, Mount Hymettus (Imitos) and the landscape down to the Saronic Gulf. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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THE
PNYX This lies close to the Avenue of Paul the Apostle (Leoforos Apostolou Pavlou). It is a spacious, semi-circular terrace, artificially levelled out of the rockside, with a rostrum for orators. It was the meeting place for the Assembly of the city of Athens. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
This
has been built upon the low knell called the Agoraios Kolonos and is the
best preserved ancient temple (5th century B.C.). It was built by the
same architect who designed the temple of Nemesis at Ramnous and the temple
of Ares at Acharnai. It is in the Doric style (peripteral) with an internal
frieze in the pronaos and the opisthodomos. Only the metopes of the eastern
and western sides carried ornamental reliefs (the Labours of Hercules).
There were also sculptured representations in the pediments.|
Area of the Ancient
Agora East of the temple of Thesseion, spreads the space once occupied
by the ancient Agora which was the center of everyday Athenian life,
the seat of administrative bodies and of the Courts of Law. At its western
extremity, below the knell of the Thesseion, was the Stoa (arcade) of
Dies Elefthereos, the temple of Patroos Apollo, the Council House of
Assembly Hall, the Mitroon (or temple of the Mother of Gods) where the
State archives were kept, the Tholos where the city elders took their
meals, the Perivolos of the Eponymous Heroes and Military Headquarters.
The other three sides of the Agora were bounded by commercial arcades.
On the northern side stood the Stoa of Hermes and the Poikille Stoa.
On the eastern side stood the Stoa of Attalus and to the south were
the Middle Stoa and the Notia Stoa. Here, also, stood the ancient Court
of Law known as the Heliaia, the famous fountain of the Nine Spouts
("Enneakrounos") and the mint where the coins of ancient Athens
were struck. The Panathenean Way cut right across the Agora. In Roman times, the 5th century B.C. temple of Ares was dismantled from its original site at the village of Acharnai and re-assembled in the midst of the Agora. The same open space of the Agora was used for building Agrippa's Odeon and the Gymnasium. To the S.E. of the Stoa of Attalus, the small public library of Pantainos was built. Fountains, small shrines and various other buildings were added to the Agora. In early Byzantine times, the Stoa of the Giants was built. It served educational purposes and adorned the facade of the Gymnasium. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
 STOA
OF ATTALOSThis was built by Attalos the Second, King of Pergamos (159- 138 B.C.) purely for trading purposes. It was a two-story building with internal and external rows of pillars which lead into 21 shops on each floor. Fully restored today, the arcade is being used as a museum with entrances on Thesseion (Thissio) Square and Andrianou Street. It contains mostly finds from the excavations carried out in the area of the Agora. Among these are numerous inscriptions, statues, reliefs, pieces from the temples of Hephaistos and Ares, thousands of vases, coins, bronze articles, miniatures, etc. Some of the more interesting items found are the weight and measurement standards, a clay water clock, part of the ballot box used for the election of city officials in Athens, a bronze shield taken from the defeated Spartans on the island of Sfaktiria, "ostraka" (shreds) bearing the names of Athenians such as Aristides the Just, Kallixenos and others, as well as an inscription containing a law passed 336 B.C. against tyranny. Tel: 321-0185 Closed on Mondays [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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ROMAN
FORUM Tel. 324-5220 This lies further to the east than the ancient Greek Agora, at the beginning of Aeolou (Eolou) Street. Its construction began in the days of Julius Caesar but was not completed until the reigns of the emperors Hadrian and Trajan. It consists of a rectangular commercial arcade surrounded by a perivolos or outer courtyard. Two gateways led in from east and west. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
KERAMEIKOS Ermou
and Pireos corner Tel. 346-3552Open Daily The area contains sections of the ancient city walls of Athens, including the Dipylon and Iera Pyli gates as well as the city's ancient cemetery, the Kerameikos itself. It was in this area that the roads to Athens from Piraeus, Eleusis, Boeotia and Plato's Academy converged. The road from Plato's Academy led up to the Dipylon which was the city's main gate while the Iera Odos (or "Holy Way") from Eleusis led up to the lera Pyli ("Holy Gate"). Between the two gates stood the Pompeion which was the building from which the Panathenaea Procession used to set out. The Kerameikos cemetery extended beyond the Dipylon Gate. Its most interesting section was the Street of Tombs (Odos ton Tafon), flanked on either side by the tombs of wealthy Athenians. Some of the best known of these tombs belong to Dexileo, the Ighissos Proxenou family, the tomb of Demetria and Pamfilli, etc. Museum Tel:346-3552 Closed on Mondays Entrance is from 148 Ermou Street. It contains some beautiful finds from the ancient cemetery, largely in the form of tombstones ("Stelae") and a notable collection of vases. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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The
Clock of Andronikos Kyrrestos This is located outside the western entrance to the Roman Market. It was constructed in the 1st century B.C. by the astronomer Andronikos from Kyrrhos in Macedonia and is shaped like an octagonal tower. It served as a form of meteorological station since it combined a sundial and water clock and also had a weather vane to show the direction of the wind. Each face is adorned with a relief representing the wind blowing from that direction, hence its nickname in Greek "aerides" meaning "the winds". [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
 Hadrian's
ArchThis stands at the junction of Vass. Olga and Amalias Avenues. It was built by the emperor Hadrian in the early part of the 2nd century A.D. and marked the boundary between the ancient city of Athens and the new quarter which was given the name of New Athens or Adrianople. Hadrian's Library This lies to the north of the Roman Market. It was built by the Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century A.D. and donated to the city of Athens. It is likewise a rectangular peristyle market place with five rooms built onto its eastern side. The middle room served as a library with niches in its walls to accommodate manuscripts. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
MUSEUMS IN ATHENS/PIRAEUS, GREECE
| ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
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The
Museum occupies the S.E. extremity of the rock of the Acropolis where
the sanctuary of Pandion once stood. The Museum contains mainly pedimental
sculpture, reliefs and statues found on the rock of the Acropolis, which
formed part of the decoration of its buildings or were dedicated to
the goddess Athena. Among the latter is the unique collection in the
world of statues of female figures of the archaic era known as the "Korai"
with the well known archaic smile, such as the Kore of Lyons,
the Kore of Naxos, the Kore of Chios, the Peploforos
Kore, the Kore of Antinor, the Kore of Euthidikos,
etc. From the remaining votive offering sculptures, those of outstanding
interest are the Moschoforos (man carrying a calf across his shoulders),
Rampin's horseman, a hunting dog, the Boy by Kritias, the head of the
blonde youth, etc. There are also sphinxes, four-horse chariots and
many votive reliefs such as that of Lenormant, Athena in Meditation,
etc.National Archaeological
Museum of Athens No.
1 Tossitsa Street Tel: 821-7717Closed on Mondays The Museum displays finds from all parts of the ancient Greek world which date from Neolithic times to the last years of the Roman Empire. Art of the Pre-Historic Period Up To 1100 B.C. This includes four pre-historic collections from Thessaly (mainly ceramics and clay figurines), the Cyclades Islands (mainly marble figurines and vases), Thera or Santorini (mainly frescoes) and the Mycenaean period (treasures from royal tombs, cups from the Vafio beehive to Art from the Historic Period Sculpture and ceramics make up the main branch of the art of this period but there is also a variety of miniature arts, coins and goldsmith's work. Next to the originals of works, mainly of the classical period, are copies from the Hellenistic and Roman times. The National Museum also houses: The Epigraphic Collection, Tel: 821-7637. The Numismatic Collection, Tel: 821-7769. The Thera (Santorini Island) Collection, Tel: 821-7717. In the same building of the National Archaeological Museum there is an exhibition where copies and castings taken from objects in museums throughout Greece are sold. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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The
Byzantine and Christian Museum 22 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue Tel: 723-1570 Closed on Mondays The exhibits cover the early Christian, the Byzantine and the post-Byzantine periods and are divided into the following collections: A rich collection of sculptures from various churches, mostly architectural elements but also some rare, large marble ikons showing the Virgin Mary in relief. Outstanding among these sculptures are the complex showing Orpheus, the marble balustrades with carvings of animals in combat, the marble plaque from Thessaloniki showing the three Apostles (this is an altar screen) and others. A rich collection of ikons (portable. individual paintings and sections of altar screen decoration). Some of the best specimens of the Byzantine ikons exhibited are those of Panagia Glykofilousa from Bithynia, done in mosaic form, the rare wood-carved relief of Saint George from Kastoria, the ikon of the Archangel Michael and the well known ikon of the Crucifixion from Thessaloniki. A number of frescoes, salvaged from demolished churches in Attica and the isiands have also been set up in the Museum. There is a collection of fabrics and inscriptions from Coptic churches and, in the courtyard, stands a phiale which is a reproduction of a fountain represented in one of the mosaics at Dafni. One of the halls in the Museum has been converted into a small Basilica with nave and two aisles and another into a cruciform church with dome while a third hall has been converted into a post-Byzantine church. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
The Benaki Museum On the
corner of Vassilissis Sofias Avenue and Koumbari StreetTel: 361-1617 Closed on Tuesdays It is founded on the private collection of Anthony Benakis and has since been enriched with several other private collections. Items exhibited are: Works of Greek art from pre-historic times up to the modern era. The collection of gold ornaments is of particular interest and so are the two portraits from Fayoum, silver ecclesiastical vessels, Byzantine miniatures, Byzantine and post- Byzantine ikons by painters such as Damaskinos and Poulakis. Works of Greek popular art with certain specimens of similar art from other countries, historic relies, historic archives, drawings of landscapes by foreign artists of the Romantic School, paintings of scenes and personalities in Greece's more recent history (aquarelles, lithographies, etc.) There are also some fine Greek embroideries and woodcarvings as well as Moslem and Coptic fabrics. A collection of art miniatures from the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the East (Asia Minor, Moslem and Chinese ceramics, etc.) The entire reception room in the Museum is decorated in the carved wood panelling style of Kozani. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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Museum
of Greek Popular Art No. 17 Kidathineon Street Tel: 321-3018, 322-9031 Closed on Mondays The Museum contains specimens of traditional arts and crafts which have their origins deep in Byzantine times. There are embroidered shrouds for the Good Friday bier, priest's robes, woodcarved crosses, covers for Bibles, ornaments, carved wooden seals, carved wooden spoons, Greek embroidery generally and specimens of paintings by Greek popular artists. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
 Historical
and Ethnological Museum13 Stadiou Street Tel: 323-7617 Closed on Mondays This Museum is housed in what used to be the old Parliament building. The Museum contains portraits of the heroes of the 1821 War of Independence, arms and other mementos of that war, the sword and helmet of Lord Byron, flags, historic documents, etc. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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The
Kanellopoulos Museum On the corner of Theorias and Panos Streets Tel: 321-2313 Closed on Mondays The Museum houses a private collection and contains noteworthy exhibits which belong to two basic periods, pre- Christian and post-Christian. One of the most interesting groupings in the collection is that of Tanagra figurines in terracotta which represent various figures. They were discovered on the site of the ancient township of Tanagra and belong to the period 330 to 200 B.C. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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The
War Museum On the corner of Vassilissis Sofias and Rizari Streets Tel: 723-9560 and 729-0543/4 Closed on Mondays Weapons of various periods are exhibited, also uniforms, regimental flags, medals and decorations, ships models, aircraft, etc. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
National Picture
Gallery/Alexander Soutsos Museum No.
50 Vassileos Konstandinou Avenue, opposite the Athens Hilton Tel: 721-1010Closed on Mondays The paintings, sculptures and engravings of Greek artists provide the visitor with a complete picture of the develop- ment of Greek art from the early 19th century to the present day. A selection of post-Byzantine ikons as well as a collection of works by painters of the Ionian Islands, cover the transitional stage between Byzantine and Modern Greek Art. The hall of this museum, where West European paintings from the Renaissance period through to creations by contemporary West European artists are exhibited, contains masterpieces by Domenico Theotokopoulos (El Greco), Rubens, Jordaens, Tiepolo, Caravaggio and the latest acquisition of the gallery "Greek Mounted Warrior" by Delacroix. Also works by Picasso, Dayer, Magritte, Brauner, Modigliani and others as well as Rodin's statue of the "Prodigal Son". The open-air exhibition of sculpture consists of works by Greek sculptors of the 19th and 20th centuries. Finally, all periodical or retrospective exhibitions of the works of Greek and foreign artists are presented in a special hall throughout the year. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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Piraeus
Archaeological Museum No. 31 Harilaou Trikoupi Tel: 452-1598, 451-8388 Closed on Mondays Exhibits include interesting finds of the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Of particular interest is the statue of Hermes of Kifissia, the bronze statue of Athena and two statues of Artemis. Piraeus Maritime Museum Akti Themistokleous, Freatida quarter of the port of Piraeus Tel: 451-6822 Closed on Mondays Exhibits include ship models from ancient to modern times, also busts, uniforms and clothes of heroes of the 1821 War of Independence, paintings of major naval engagements, etc. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
 The
Goulandris Natural History Museum13 Levidou Street, Kifissia, (Northern suburb of Athens) Tel: 801-5870 Closed on Fridays The Museum is a research centre for the flora, fauna, geology and palaeontology of Greece. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
BYZANTINE MONUMENTS IN ATHENS/PIRAEUS, GREECE
| Aghii
Apostoli Sotira Likodimou (Russian Church) Kapnikarea Panagia Gorgoepikoos |
Aghii
Theodori Kessariani Monastery The Monastery of Dafni |
| Aghii
Apostoli
The church of
the Holy Apostles is one of the oldest Christian churches (early 11th
century A.D.) in the area of the ancient Greek Agora. It stands a
little south of the Stoa of Attalus. A minute church, it has four
apses and a narthex with the lower part of the walls built of massive
blocks and the upper section in stone masonry, lined with bricks.
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Sotira
Likodimou (Russian Church) Built on the ruins of Roman Baths in the 11th century A.D., it formed an important monastic group, until its destruction from the Turks. Later the church was restored and bought from the Russian colony in Athens. It is still in use today. It stands on Filellinon Str. and belongs to the octagonal style with dome. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
 Panaghia
KapnikareaThe church of Panaghia is built on the ruins of an ancient temple, dedicated to a female goddess, possibly Athena or Demeter. It was founded at the beginning of the 11th century (around 1050 A.D.) and was probably named after its donor. This church stands in the middle of the street about half way up Ermou Street. Originally, it had been built in the cruciform style with dome supported on four pillars. Later, the small porch was added on the southern side and also the chapel on the northern side and the external narthex with the watershed roof on the western side. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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Panagia
Gorgoepikoos or Aghios Eleftherios This is the most ornamental of the small Byzantine churches in Athens. Built in the 12th century A.D. in what is now Cathedral Square (Platia Mitropoleos) in Athens, it is made of marble sections, blocks and reliefs which originally belonged to various ancient buildings. Over the doorway, on the western side, there is a marble frieze with a symbolic representation of formal festivals in Attica. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
 Aghii
TheodoriThis is also one of the more attractive Byzantine churches in Athens. It stands in Klathmonos Square, at the lower end of Dragatsaniou Street. The church was probably erected over the ruins of an earlier structure, of the transitional cross-in-square type. Inscribed plaques built into the west wall, over the entrance, record that the church was renovated in 1065 A.D. by Nicolaos Calomalos. It was seriously damaged during the Greek Revolution in 1821 but was restored in 1840. The sanctuary and the ambo of the church have been restored. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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Kessariani
Monastery Tel. 723-6619. Open daily. Only 7 km out of Athens, Kessariani is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Attica. It was built in the 11th century A.D. close to the ruins of a temple of Aphrodite. Apart from the cruciform church with dome, set upon four pillars, the monastery has a refectory, a mill and bakery as well as a bath house. Later additions were the narthex, the chapel of Saint Anthony and the belfry. The narthex contains paintings by the Peloponnesian painter Ioannis Ypatios while the rest of the church is adorned with murals by painters of the Cretan School of Art. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
The Monastery of Dafni Tel.
581-1558. Open daily.This is the most important surviving Byzantine monument within a short distance of Athens. It stands 10 km out of town at the junction of Iera Odos and Leoforos Athinon (also known as Leoforos Kavalas). The monastery, within its fortified enclosure, was built in the 6th century A.D. on a site formerly occupied by a temple dedicated to the Dafnios Apollo whence it got its present name Dafni. The church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin. was built in the 11th century A.D. in the octagonal cruciform style with narthex. Later, an outer narthex was added with a second story which housed the library or the abbot's living quarters. Both externally and internally, the church has been built with exceptional craftsmanship. Its mosaics, which are among the best to be seen anywhere in Greece, are inspired by the classicist ideal. In the narthex and in the main church next to representations of the Passion, is a representation of the life of the Virgin Mary. One of the finest of all the mosaics at Dafni is the Crucifixion. The dome is dominated by an austere countenance of Christ the Almighty against a gold background. The drum of the dome shows various saints and prophets. The apse shows the Virgin Mary surrounded by Archangels. [Back] [Greece Travel Info] |
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