The Acropolis

I was confused about The Acropolis, as are many others I suspect.  I thought it was a temple or building.  In fact the word acropolis means hilltop and can be used to refer to any hilltop anywhere.  Athens is built on three hills, one of which is known as The Acropolis (note the capitalization, making this particular usage a proper name), location of the Parthenon and other buildings and temples from ancient times.  The Acropolis in Athens was actually a fortress and military location as well as a religious location for the ancient Greeks.  Approaching The Acropolis from the city below you can see the considerable walls surrounding the area, like a fort or castle.

We approached The Acropolis through the Propylaia, which secured the vulnerable western slope of the fortress in the 3rd century AD.  You enter through the western gate, then up an impressive marble staircase to the Propylaia, walk through the Propylaia and on to the summit and the Parthenon.  Below is the western gate and the front of the Propylaia.  Note the large crowds collected on the steps of the Propylaia, making their way to/from the summit and enjoying the view of Athens and the sea below.

One of the surprises was how treacherous it was to walk on the irregular marble surface on which the Parthenon was built.  Textured, flat walkways have been built for visitors but are inadequate for the crowds walking the area.  When you venture off the walkways, the footing can be slick and slippery.  See an example below.

Our guide was excellent and full of interesting information about the site.  There is so much to see that you could easily return for several half day visits to see and experience it all.  It seems we only scratched the surface.  The full set of photos from our visit to The Acropolis will be posted later.  To read more about The Acropolis of Athens, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acropolis_of_Athens.