Acropolis
An acropolis was the settlement of an upper part of an ancient Greek city, especially a citadel, and frequently a hill with precipitous sides, mainly chosen for purposes of defense. The term is typically used to refer to the Acropolis of Athens, yet every Greek city had an acropolis of its own. Acropolises were used as religious centers and places of worship, forts, and places in which the royal and high-status resided. Acropolises became the nuclei of large cities of classical ancient times, and served as important centers of a community. Some well-known acropolises have become the centers of tourism in present-day, and, especially, the Acropolis of Athens has been a revolutionary center for the studies of ancient Greece since the Mycenaean period. Many of them have become a source of revenue for Greece, and represent some great technology during the period.[1]
Origin
An acropolis is defined by the Greek definition of ἀκρόπολις, akropolis; from akros (άκρος) or akron (άκρον) meaning “highest; edge; extremity”, and polis (πόλις) meaning “city.” The plural of acropolis (ακρόπολη) is acropolises, also commonly as acropoleis and acropoles, and ακροπόλεις in Greek. The term acropolis is also used to describe the central complex of overlapping structures, such as plazas and pyramids, in many Maya cities, including Tikal and Copán. Acropolis is also the term used by archaeologists and historians for the urban Castro culture settlements located in Northwestern Iberian hilltops.
It is primarily associated with the Greek cities of
Differing acropoleis
The acropolis of a city was used in many ways, with regards to ancient time and through references. Because an acropolis was built at the highest part of a city, it served as a highly functional form of protection, a fortress, and was as well as a home to the royal of a city and a centre for religion through the worshipping of different gods.[2] There have been many classical and ancient acropolises, including the most commonly-known, Acropolis of Athens, as well as the Tepecik Acropolis at Patara, Ankara Acropolis, Acropolis of La Blanca, Acropolis at the Maya Site in Guatemala, and the Acropolis at Halieis.
The most famous example is the Athenian Acropolis, which is a collection of structures featuring a citadel on the highest part of land in ancient (and modern-day) Athens, Greece. Many notable structures at the site were constructed in the 5th century BCE, including the
The Tepecik Acropolis at Patara served as a harbor to nearby communities and naval forces, such as Antigonos I Monopthalmos and
The Acropolis at Halieis dates back to the Neolithic and Classical periods.[5] It included a fortified wall, sanctuary of Apollo (two temples, an altar, a race course), and necropolis (cemetery).[5] This acropolis was the highest point of fortification on the south edge at Halieis. There was a small open-air cult space, including an altar and monuments.[5]
The Ankara Acropolis, which was set in modern-day Turkey, is a historically prominent space that has changed over time through the urban development of the country from the Phrygian period.[6] This acropolis was well known as a spot for holy worshipping, and was symbolic of the time. It has also been a place that has historically recognized the legislative changes that Turkey has faced.[6]
The Acropolis of La Blanca was created in Guatemala as a small ancient Maya settlement and archaeological site that is located adjacent to the Salsipuedes River.[7] This acropolis developed as a place of residence for the city of La Blanca's rulers.[7] Its main period of usage was during the Classical period of 600 AD to 850 AD, as the city developed as a commercial place of trade among a number of nearby settlements.[7]
The Mayan Acropolis site in Guatemala included a burial site and vaulted tombs of the highest status royal.[8] This funerary structure was integrated into this sacred landscape, and illustrated the prosperity of power between the royal figures of Pedras Negras in Guatemala.[8]
Modern-day uses
Tourism
Acropolises today have become the epicenters of tourism and attraction sites in many modern-day Greek cities. The Athenian Acropolis, in particular, is the most famous, and has the best vantage point in Athens, Greece. Today, tourists can purchase tickets to visit the Athenian Acropolis, including walking, sightseeing, and bus tours, as well as a classic Greek dinner.
Cultural ties
Because of its classical
The neighborhood of
Excavations
Much of the modern-day uses of acropolises have been discovered through excavations that have developed over the course of many years. For example, the Athenian Acropolis includes a Great Temple that holds the Parthenon, a specific space for ancient worship. Through today's findings and research, the Parthenon treasury is able to be recognized as the west part of the structure (the Erechtheion), as well as the Parthenon itself.[3] Most excavations have been able to provide archaeologists with samples of pottery, ceramics, and vessels. The excavation of the Acropolis of Halieis produced remains that provided context that dated the Acropolis at Halieis from the Final Neolithic period through the first Early Helladic period.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Eyewitness: Ancient Greece. Eyewitness. pp. 30–40.
- ^ a b Lefkowitz R., Mary (2020). The "Wooden" Horse on the Athenian Acropolis. Hesperia: The Journal of The American School of Classical Studies at Athens Vol 89. No. 3. pp. 588, 589.
- ^ a b c van Rookhuijzen, J.Z. (2020). The Parthenon Treasury on the Acropolis of Athens. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 124 No. 1. pp. 3, 6.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dundar, Erkan and K. Rauh, Nicholas (2017). The North Bastion on the Tepecik Acropolis at Patara: Dating "Early Hellenstic" Fortification Walls in Southwestern Anatolia. Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Vol. 86. No. 3. pp. 509, 510, 513, 517.
- ^ a b c d J. Pullen, David (2000). The Prehistoric Remains of the Acropolis at Halieis: A Final Report. Hesperia: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens Vol. 69 No. 2. pp. 133, 134, 135.
- ^ S2CID 218820478.
- ^ a b c Montuori, R.; Gilabert-Sansalvador, L.; L. Rosado-Torres, A. (2020). "3D Printing for Dissemination of Maya Architectural Heritage: The Acropolis of La Blanca (Guatemala)" (PDF). The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, and Spatial Information Sciences. XLIV–M. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
- ^ S2CID 163269121.
- ^ Hill, Veronica (2008). "American Acropolis: Tour the majestic Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano". Daily Press. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- S2CID 201401410.
- ISBN 978-0-226-81801-6.
External links
- Acropolis Museum
- Acropolis: description, photo album
- Media related to Acropolis at Wikimedia Commons
- The Acropolis of Athens Archived 24 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine (Greek Government website)
- The Acropolis Restoration Project (Greek Government website)
- The Acropolis: A Walk Through History
- The Parthenon Frieze (Hellenic Ministry of Culture web site)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Acropolis, Athens