Rocky plateau 55 meters high, the Acropolis of Athens is behind the fortress of a local lord. Its position on the heights and one path, a steep slope made it an amazing site that allowed the Lord to extend its influence throughout the region.
Acropolis but also means all monuments formed by the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike , the theater of Dionysus, etc.
In the thirteenth century BC, the fortress and sanctuary were surrounded by a large and imposing wall of which only very few remnants today. It was only during the reign of King of Athens , both political and religious leader as the Acropolis was dedicated to the famous goddess Athena, protector of Athens.
In 480 BC, the Persians led by their leader Xerxes invaded the city, the Greeks must abandon flee Athens.When they fled the Greeks instinctively hide many works and statues in secret cavities but one that could not be saved were looted by the invaders.
The temples of the Acropolis were destroyed. What survived the looting and destruction is now in the Acropolis Museum.
By uniting against the Persians in a great alliance, the Greek cities returned to power. This is the height of Greek influence and abundance Athenian.
Pericles, then in power, using newly collected in the coffers of the city to completely rebuild the temples of the Acropolis treasures. It's Phidias, the greatest sculptor of antiquity who oversees the work, leaving his imprint on the timeless world.
The remainder of this golden age remains unfortunately not possible to realize the splendor of the temples and their ornaments as they were at the time.
Although in 86 BC, the Romans invaded and looted the city, the soldiers did not touch the Acropolis. It was the Christians of Byzantium, who in the fifth century, are in charge of carrying the famous statue of Athena made of ivory and gold, 10 meters high.
This symbol which stood in the Parthenon was never found.
At the same time, the Acropolis is then converted to Catholic Orthodox Church before being taken over by the Turks in 1456 and turned into a fortress. A mosque will be built elsewhere.
Eager to drive the Turks out of the city, a Venetian general bombed shortly after the Acropolis and Pathenon.
Many outrages have been inflicted on this ancient monument throughout history.
The last and most radical will pillage orchestrated by a British Lord Elgin, ambassador of Great Britain to Constantinople, which in 1801 will bring back the British Museum's most beautiful and spectacular pieces of the Parthenon and other temples.
Since then, the Greek government is struggling to recover these fragments of history.
Source : here .
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