Monuments

Around every corner in Athens there seems to be a monument or building linking the city to its ancient history. Here is a summary of some of the most important monuments you might want to see during your holiday in Athens.

 

The Acropolis

This is the most famous of all the monuments on the Acropolis and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. It was built in the 5th Century BC and was a temple to the goddess Athena, however it has also been used as a treasury, a church, a mosque and a fortress.

Propylaea
Built in 437-432 BC the Propylaea is a masterpiece of classical architecture. Used as a gallery and later as a palace.

Temple of Athena Nike
A temple dedicated to Athena and Nike. Although destroyed by the Ottomans in 1686 it was reconstructed after 1835.

The ruins of the Temple of Brauronian Artemis
This temple was used to worship the goddess Artemis.

Chalkotheke
Only the base of this structure remains. It dates back to the 5th century BC and is thought to have been used for storing precious votive gifts.

Erechtheum
Built between 421 and 395 B.C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Slopes of the Acropolis

Theatre of Dionysus

Built at the end of the 6th Century BC, this was the first theatre in the Western world. It held 17,000 people and was where the plays of Sophocles, Euripedes, Aeschylus and Aristophanes were performed.

Odeon of Pericles
Only ruins remain now but the Odeon of Pericles was built in the 5th Century BC and was used for musical performances.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Built in 161AD by Herodus Atticus in memory of his wife. It has been partially restored and during the Athens Festival is used for music, dance and theatrical performances.

To the west are the ruins of Asclepion, built as a temple dedicated to the god of medicine in 420BC and used as a medical school and clinic.

Other ruins include Hippolytus tomb, the sanctuaries of Earth Kourotrofos, Demetre Chloe and Aphrodite Pandemos, and Eumenes Stoa.

 

Monuments in Athens City

Temple of Hephaestus
Located at the top of Kolonos Hill overlooking the ancient Agora, this building is one of the best preserved temples of ancient Greece. The temple, also known as Theseion, was built between 449-415BC and is thought to have been dedicated to Hephaestus, patron god of metalwork and to Athena, patron goddess of pottery and craft. 

Ancient Agora and The Stoa of Attalos

The Ancient Agora was a meeting place for the citizens of Athens and was the centre of social, political, commercial, administrative and judicial life. The Stoa of Attalos was restored in the 1950's to become the Museum of Ancient Agora. It is a significant monument as the restoration  of the building is a true replica of the original.

Roman Agora

Was built in the 1st Century with funds donated by Julius Ceasar and Octavian Augustus . It was the second agora of Athens and is located to the east of the original Ancient Agora. There is an entrance fee to the ruins of the Roman Agora,

The Tower of the Winds

This monument is an octagonal clocktower built around 50BC. It is located in the Roman Agora.

Roman Library of Hadrian

Originally built in 132AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian but destroyed in 267AD. Over the centuries a number of churches were built on the site. There is an entrance fee to the ruins. 

Hadrian’s Arch

It is believed that this monument was built in 131AD in honour of Roman Emperor Hadrian and spanned an ancient road leading from central Athens to the east of the city.  

Temple of Olympian Zeus

This is an impressive and majestic monument. It originally consisted of 104 Corinthian columns and while only 15 remain, you can certainly get an idea of the grandeur of this building. It is thought that building began in 515BC and completed in 125AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It is believed to have housed an enormous statue of Zeus. There is an admission fee to the site.

Kerameikos

This was the ancient buriel ground of Athens from 11th century BC until the 2nd century AD and is an interesting area to visit. The Kerameikos Museum houses artefacts excavated from the site.

Lysicrates Monument

This monument is located on Lysicrates Square in the Plaka district. It was erected around 334BC by Lysicrates, the patron of theatrical performances at the Theatre of Dionysus, to commemorate an award winning performance.

Panathenaic Stadium

This monument was originally built in  330BC for the Panathenaic Games which were held in honour of Goddess Athena.  It was enlarged to seat 50,000 people in 140AD and was again restored in 1895 for the 1896 Olympic Games and then again for the 2004 Olympics. The stadium is built of white marble and seats 80,000 people. It is easily accessible as it is situated in central Athens, just east of the National Gardens.

 

 

West of the Acropolis

Hill of Areopagus 

Prior to the 5th Century BC, the Areopagus was a council made up of the city's most important elders and it was on this hill that they met. It later served as the high court of appeal. The hill is often referred to as the Hill of Ares as in Greek mythology Ares, God of War  was tried on this Hill for the murder of the son of Poseidon. St Paul is said to have preached Christianity from the top of the Hill of Ares in  52AD. The Romans called it Mars Hill as Mars was their god of war. It is popular to climb the hill to watch the sunset.

Hill of the Muses – Philopappou (Filopappou)

In Greek mythology, the muses are the godesses who are the inspiration for poetry and the arts. The Hill of the Muses is also known as Philopappou Hill. Philopappou was a benefactor of the city of Athens carrying out civil, religious and political duties. On his death in 116AD, his sister erected a marble monument in his memory on top of the Hill of the Muses. It was known as the Philopappos Monument and thus the hill also became known as Philopappou Hill. There are fine views of the Acropolis from this Hill.

Hill of the Pnyx

This is one of the most significant sites in the history of democracy. In the 5th Century it was on the Hill of the Pnyx that the first democratic assembly met. It was a site of free speech and it is thought that as many as 6,000 citizens gathered to hear speakers address the crowd from the speakers platform, an flat rock platform.

Hill of the Nymphs

In Greek mythology, nymphs are spirits that take human form, usually female. In 1842 an observatory was built on this site. 

 

Landmarks of the Modern Era (From 1830)

Hellenic Parliament

National Library of Greece

Athens University

Academy of Athens

The national academy of Greece compres 12 research centres, 10 research offices and a central library. Construction of the main building began in 1859. It was used as a museum prior to becoming home to the Academy of Athens in 1926. For more detailed information, refer to the official Academy of Athens website.