Today, I finally actually went up the acropolis! This was very exciting, especially since I have been looking at it for two weeks now and hadn't actually gotten any closer that the Odion of Herodes Atticus.
I went with my archaeology class, and officially we were looking at prehistoric sites on the Acropolis. The problem with this is that the acropolis has been in use continuously for many, many years, and many of the very ancient layers have been hidden or destroyed by newer buildings. (Parthenon, I'm looking at you.) What is left is mostly pot sherds and other hints that areas might have been in use during the Bronze age or earlier. The two caves here are sacred to Zeus and Apollo- the cave of Apollo was a sanctuary during the bronze age.
Oh look! It's the Erechteion! And the Porch of the Maidens!
This is one of the leftovers from the Bronze Age- it's part of a massive retaining wall from a Bronze Age palace. You can tell because of the huge stones. It's called a Cyclopean wall because of the giant stones- it was assumed that such walls had to be made by the Cyclopes, since normal mortals clearly couldn't do that sort of thing. They're very cool- the stones are massive and more or less unworked, and no mortar was used.
Oh look, it's the Parthenon!
And last, but not least, "Oh look! An ancient drinking fountain!" Thank you, Josh.
I went with my archaeology class, and officially we were looking at prehistoric sites on the Acropolis. The problem with this is that the acropolis has been in use continuously for many, many years, and many of the very ancient layers have been hidden or destroyed by newer buildings. (Parthenon, I'm looking at you.) What is left is mostly pot sherds and other hints that areas might have been in use during the Bronze age or earlier. The two caves here are sacred to Zeus and Apollo- the cave of Apollo was a sanctuary during the bronze age.
Oh look! It's the Erechteion! And the Porch of the Maidens!
This is one of the leftovers from the Bronze Age- it's part of a massive retaining wall from a Bronze Age palace. You can tell because of the huge stones. It's called a Cyclopean wall because of the giant stones- it was assumed that such walls had to be made by the Cyclopes, since normal mortals clearly couldn't do that sort of thing. They're very cool- the stones are massive and more or less unworked, and no mortar was used.
Oh look, it's the Parthenon!
And last, but not least, "Oh look! An ancient drinking fountain!" Thank you, Josh.
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