1936 On the Continent

world.
    The visitor enters the Acropolis through the gate known as Beulé Gate after the French archaeologist who directed the excavations in 1852 and discovered it under a Turkish bastion. A Roman marble staircase leads to the base of the Propylaea. Ascending the staircase, the visitor sees on his left the pedestal of the Monument of Agrippa.
T HE P ROPYLAEA
    A vestibule to the Acropolis, situated at the top of the Roman staircase, dating from the epoch of Pericles and constructed of pentelic marble by Mnesicles (437 B.C. ) after the completion of the Parthenon. It is a majestic Doric edifice with Ionian columns (43 feet 6 inches high) at the central structure, through which the sacred road passed,with two wings, of which the one to the north is the Art Gallery.
T EMPLE OF W INGLESS V ICTORY
    This small Ionic temple, built entirely of pentelic marble in 435 B.C. , rests on a platform near the south wing of the Propylaea. It is remarkable for its graceful form.
    A marble balustrade, decorated with reliefs, served as a parapet around the platform of the temple. Fragments of these reliefs preserved in the Acropolis Museum are universally considered as masterpieces.
    The panoramic view from the platform towards the island of Salamis and the entire Saronic Gulf is superb.
A THENA P ROMACHOS
    At a distance of about a hundred feet east of the Propylaea, on a slightly raised level, is the probable site of Phidias’ colossal bronze statue of the goddess Athena Promachos.
T HE P ARTHENON
    The most genuine masterpiece of architecture of all time. It was constructed (447-432 B.C. ) according to the plans of the architect Ictinus in collaboration with the great sculptor Phidias. Nothing can compare with its marvellous beauty. Constructed on the highest plateau of the sacred rock, it dominates the city and lifts up the majesty of its architecture towards the pure and clear sky as a supreme manifestation of man’s art.
    Built entirely of pentelic marble, it measures 228 feet by 101 feet. Its external peristyle comprises forty-six Doric columns. The pediments, the metopes and the friezes were decorated with sculptures. Within the temple was the statue of Athena Parthenos, work of Phidias, made entirely of gold and ivory, and reaching a height of 49 feet, including the base. The temple was inaugurated in 438 B.C.
    One should observe especially the curvature of the lines of the building, which is easily perceptible if one follows with the eye the steps at the base. The lines will be found to be not strictly horizontal but slightly convex. This is a refined touch in construction which corrects the optical illusion whereby long isolated horizontal lines appear to bend in the middle.
T HE E RECHTHEUM
    This is the Temple of Athena and Poseidon Erechtheus built in 420 on the site of the oldest sanctuaries of the Acropolis. It stands north of the Parthenon, to which it presents a contrast through the delicacy of its form. Specially noteworthy is the portico of the “Corae,” called the Caryatids, which stand in the place of columns bearing on the their heads the weight of the architrave with dignified grace.
T HE H ECATOMPEDON
    This was an archaic temple to Athena Polias, destroyed by the Persians in 480 B.C. The only remains are its foundations extending between the Parthenon and the Erechtheum. It was built on the site of the Megaron (1400 B.C. ), of which the bases of two stone columns are still in position, now enclosed in a railing.
T HE A CROPOLIS M USEUM
    This small museum, at the south-east extremity of the plateau, contains objects discovered on the Acropolis. It is unique in the world for its collection of archaic objects.
    To the north-east of the museum is the Belvedere, from which one may enjoy a pretty view of Athens.
Southern Slope of the Acropolis
O DEON OF H ERODES A TTICUS
    A Roman edifice constructed about A.D. 160 by the wealthy Herodes (surnamed Atticus) in memory of his wife Regilla, and intended to serve for concerts and dramatic performances. To-day it is occasionally used for that purpose.
P ORTICO OF E UMENES
    Extends between the Odeon and the Theatre of Dionysus. It was constructed by Eumenes, King of Pergamos, about 165 B.C. , to serve as shelter and promenade for the spectators at the theatre.
S ANCTUARY OF A SCLEPIOS
    Occupies the terrace above the portico of Eumenes and comprises the altar, the temple of Asclepios and Hygeia, and a portico 164 feet long, with galleries which served asdormitories and in