During our visit to Athens, we began our exploration with Hadrian’s Arch, a grand gateway that once marked the division between the ancient city of Theseus and the Roman city of Hadrian. Standing beneath the arch, we were struck by its classical elegance and how it perfectly frames the Acropolis in the distance. Not far from there, we made our way to the Panathenaic Stadium, the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. Standing in the very arena where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896, we could almost hear the echoes of cheering crowds from the past.
As we ascended the Acropolis, the Propylaea greeted us with its monumental columns, serving as a majestic entrance to the sacred hill. We paused at the Temple of Athena Nike, a small yet striking structure dedicated to the goddess of victory. The view from the temple was breathtaking, overlooking the Athenian landscape and the sea beyond. Just a few steps away, we marveled at the Erechtheion, particularly its famous Caryatids—graceful female figures that act as columns, blending art and architecture seamlessly.
Our journey culminated at the Parthenon, the enduring symbol of ancient Greece and a masterpiece of classical architecture. Despite centuries of wear, its majestic columns still convey a sense of strength and harmony. To deepen our understanding, we visited the nearby Acropolis Museum (often called the New Parthenon Museum), where original sculptures and artifacts from the site are preserved with care. The museum’s modern design offered a striking contrast to the ancient ruins, yet it felt like a natural extension of our experience—connecting the glory of ancient Athens to the present day.
Before we went to the museum and the Acropolis, we stopped at Hadrian’s Gate and the Panathenaic Stadium:
The Arch of Hadrian
(Greek: Αψίδα του Αδριανού, romanized: Apsida tou Adrianou), most commonly known in Greek as Hadrian’s Gate (Greek: Πύλη του Αδριανού, romanized: Pyli tou Adrianou), is a monumental gateway resembling—in some respects—a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens, Greece, to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Panathenaic Stadium, where the Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.
The Propylaia (Greek: Προπύλαια; lit. ‘Gates‘) is the classical Greek Doric building complex that functioned as the monumental ceremonial gateway to the Acropolis of Athens. Built between 437 and 432 BC as a part of the Periklean Building Program, it was the last in a series of gatehouses built on the citadel. Its architect was Mnesikles, his only known building. It is evident from traces left on the extant building that the plan for the Propylaia evolved considerably during its construction, and that the project was ultimately abandoned in an unfinished state.
The Temple of Athena Nike (Greek: Ναός Αθηνάς Νίκης, Naós Athinás Níkis) is a temple on the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to the goddesses Athena and Nike. Built around 420 BC, the temple is the earliest fully Ionic temple on the Acropolis. It has a prominent position on a steep bastion at the south west corner of the Acropolis to the right of the entrance, the Propylaea. In contrast to the Acropolis proper, a walled sanctuary entered through the Propylaea, the Victory Sanctuary was open, entered from the Propylaea’s southwest wing and from a narrow stair on the north. The sheer walls of its bastion were protected on the north, west, and south by the Nike Parapet, named for its frieze of Nikai celebrating victory and sacrificing to their patroness, Athena and Nike.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus (Greek: Ωδείο Ηρώδου του Αττικού; also called Herodeion or Herodion;[1] Greek: Ηρώδειο) is a stone Roman theatre.
It was built in AD 161 by Herodes Atticus in memory of his Roman wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. It was originally a steep-sloped theatre with a three-story stone front wall and a wooden roof made of expensive cedar of Lebanon timber. It was used as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000. It lasted intact until it was destroyed and left in ruins by the Heruli in AD 267.
The Parthenon, constructed at Athens from 447 to 438 BC, is renowned for its balanced architecture and often connected with the golden ratio. Others insist its facade is a golden rectangle because its length (69.5 meters) to width (30.88 meters) ratio is approximately 2.25, which is quite close to the square of the golden ratio (2.618). Its architecture is attributed to the sculptor Phidias who inscribed the symbol of the golden ratio (Φ).
Nevertheless, it is a disputed interpretation. Research, including that cited by Mathwizdom, indicates the 9:4 rather than 1.618 ratio. Parthenon optical refinements, with no lines, tapered columns and a bowed platform, indicate an emphasis on optical perception rather than exact mathematical proportions. Asymmetrical corrections called entasis compensate for optical illusions, increasing the temple’s visual beauty.
Regardless of controversy, the Parthenon’s proportion and symmetry attest to a sophisticated understanding of geometry, sacred or pragmatic, which was in harmony with the Greek quest for beauty and balance.
The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek Ionic temple located on the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to Athena and Poseidon.It’s known for its unique asymmetrical design and the Porch of the Caryatids. Construction began around 421 BCE and was completed around 406 BCE.
Base of the Statue of Athena Promachos
The Athena Promachos was a 30 foot tall colossal bronze statue of Athena sculpted by Pheidias, which stood between the Propylaea and the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens. Athena was the tutelary deity of Athens and the goddess of wisdom and warriors.
The Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.
The museum site was found to have archeological finds, so they built it with a glass floor so you can see what was found there!
In Greek mythology, the owl is a sacred animal of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and crafts.
The owl is often depicted with Athena, sometimes perched on her hand or shoulder, and is seen as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and the ability to see beyond the surface. The owl’s nocturnal nature and keen eyesight contribute to its association with wisdom and insight.
he East Pediment of the Parthenon depicted the birth of Athena from her father, Zeus’s head, an event of great importance for Athens as their patron goddess. The sculptures that filled the triangular space above the temple’s entrance were lost, but surviving fragments and artistic renderings help us understand the composition. The scene likely included Zeus, Hephaestus (who struck Zeus’ head with his hammer), and the emerging Athena, fully armed.
Floral akroterion crowning the ridge. The top of each Parthenon pediment was adorned by one big akroterion in the form of a palmette placed on a low marble base. The reconstructed akroterion exhibited in the Acropolis Museum aims at visualising the impressive size of the two akroteria that exceeds three metres and highlighting their design novelty that draws on the combination of acanthus and palm tree leaves.
