----- Acropolis of Athens -----

Approaching Acropolis

Acropolis | The Rock | Museum | Map

Pass through the entrance to the archaeological site at the southern slope of the Acropolis in Dionysiou Areopaghitou street and start climbing.
On your left you will see the oldest of all known theaters in the world, the theater of Dionysos.

Here. the four greatest ancient Greek poets Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides and Sophocles saw their plays being performed for the first time in the 5th century BC.

The koilon (cavea) and the proskoinion (stage) were originally of wood. They were reconstructed of marble during the 4th century BC.
Today only parts of the stone koilon have survived.
Experts estimate that the theater could accommodate 17 000 spectators.

On your ascent you will find the Stoa of Eumenes, which was built by the King of Pergamon, Eumenes II in the 2nd century BC.
Its main purpose was to protect the spectators in case of bad weather or sun.
On passing through the Stoa you can see the ruins of the Asklepieion which was built in 429 BC after the plague that decimated the population of Athens.

The Herodeion as it is called by modern Greeks. was built in AD 161 by Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes an important figure of his time.
He was a teacher and philosopher who had inherited a great fortune from his father. When his wife Rigilla died he built this roofed Odeion for musical performances to honor her memory.

The ancient Greeks used to give music and recital concerts there. Today the Athens Festival takes place at the Odeion every summer but the Herodeion's splendor is best admired during a morning stroll on your way to the Acropolis.

The Acropolis Museum is also located on top of the rock.