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Thespis 2002 - XXIX ITI World Congress
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The National Theatre 
Panathenaic Stadium
The Tumulus of Marathon
The Acropolis of Athens
The Parthenon
The Erechtheion
The Temple of Athena Nike
The Propylaea |
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The Theatre of Dionysos
The Odeion of Herodes Atticus
The Ancient Agora of Athens
The Roman Agora of Athens
The Academy of Athens
The Parliament Building (Old Palace)
Plato's Academy
Delphi |
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| The National Theatre |
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The National Theatre was built between 1895 and 1901 in plans made by the German architect Hernest Ziller. It served as the official royal theatre for the King's invitees until 1908 when it was given for public use. In 1924 it was renamed and from "Royal Theater" was thereafter called "National Theatre." The original internal installations for the stage facilities, the lighting and heating were among the most sophisticated of the kind for their times, designed by Viennese mechanics and constructed in Piraeus' factories.
The capital for the construction of the building was almost entirely donated by Stephanos Rallis, a prominent Greek from London, as well as by other members of the Greek community there, like Korialenes and Eugenides. Donations were also given by the Public Endowment Fund, and other sources following various initiatives of King George I. Inside the building there have been restorations and the stage installations have been modernized.
The facets were also restored and the "New Stage" was remodelled. By a ministerial decree of 1952, the building was identified as "in need of special protection" according to the relevant 1950 Law. The "Central Stage" of the National Theatre and the "New Stage" are currently functioning in the building.
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| Panathenaic Stadium |
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It was originally a natural hollow part of the ground between the two hills of Agra and Ardettos, over Ilissos river. It was transformed into a stadium by Lykourgos in 330-329 BC for the athletic competitions of the Great Panathinaea Festivities. Between 140 and 144 AD, Herodes Atticus restored the Stadium, giving it the form that was found at the 1870 excavation: the horseshoe construction with a track 204,07 meters long and 33,35 meters wide. It is believed that the Stadium had a seating capacity of 50.000 people.
Separating scales were built between the tiers and on the base of the sphendone there was a portico with Doric-style columns; another portico was placed in the stadium's facade. At the Roman times, the Stadium was used as an arena, with the addition of a semi-circular wall on the north that was corresponding to the sphendone of the southern side.
The modern times restoration of the Stadium was conducted by G. Averof by the end of the 19th century for the first Olympic Games that were reborn again in 1896.
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| The Tumulus of Marathon |
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The fertile plain of Marathon was a natural place for the establishment and development of human activity from prehistoric to Roman times. Here on this plain the battle between the Athenians and the Persians was fought in 490 B.C.
To this great event Marathon owes its worldwide fame and its important place in the conscience of the ancient Greeks. The Mound was raised over the graves of the 192 Athenians who died in the battle and whose remains were buried here after cremation of the dead.
The first excavations were carried out by D. Philios in 1884, and subsequently by V. Staos in 1890 and 1891.
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| Address: Marathon |
| Tel.: +30-2940-55055 |
| Visiting hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 08.30-15.00 |
| Tickets: � 3 |
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http://www.culture.gr |
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| The Acropolis of Athens |
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The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city. During Perikles' Golden Age, ancient Greek civilization was represented in an ideal way on the hill and some of the architectural masterpieces of the period were erected on its ground. The first habitation remains on the Acropolis date from the Neolithic period. Over the centuries, the rocky hill was continuously used either as a cult place or as a residential area or both. During the Classical period (450-330 B.C.) three important temples were erected on the ruins of earlier ones: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Nike, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, Athena Polias, and Athena-Apteros Nike, respectively.
The Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the sacred area was also constructed in the same period. The monuments on the Acropolis reflect the successive phases of the city's history. After the liberation of Athens from the Turks, the protection, restoration and conservation of the monuments was one of the first tasks of the newly-founded Greek state.
This major effort is continued until today, with the large-scale restoration and supporting of the monuments, which started in the 1970's and is still in progress. The first excavations on the hill were conducted between 1835 and 1837. More systematic work was carried out in 1885-1890 by Panagiotis Kavvadias. The most important monuments on the Acropolis are:
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| The Parthenon |
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The most important and characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization and still remains its international symbol. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens. It was built between 447 and 438 B.C. and its sculptural decoration was completed in 432 B.C. The construction of the monument was initiated by Perikles, the supervisor of the whole work was Pheidias, the famous Athenian sculptor, while Iktinos and Kallikrates were the architects of the building. The temple is built in the Doric order and almost exclusively of Pentelic marble. It is peripteral, with eight columns on each of the narrow sides and seventeen columns on each of the long ones. The central part of the temple, called the cella, sheltered the famous chryselephantine cult statue of Athena, made by Pheidias.
The sculptural decoration of the Parthenon is a unique combination of the Doric metopes and triglyphs on the entablature, and the Ionic frieze on the walls of the cella. The metopes depict the Gigantomachy on the east side, the Amazonomachy on the west, the Centauromachy on the south, and scenes from the Trojan War on the north. The Turks used the Parthenon as a powder magazine when the Venetians, under Admiral Morosini, sieged the Acropolis in 1687. One of the Venetian bombs fell on the Parthenon and caused a tremendous explosion that destroyed a great part of the monument.
The disaster was completed in the beginning of the 19th century, when the British ambassador in Constantinople, Lord Elgin, stole the greatest part of the sculptural decoration of the monument (frieze, metopes, pediments), transferred them to England and sold them to the British Museum, where they are still exhibited, being one of the most significant collections of the museum.
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| The Erechtheion |
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The Erechtheion was built in ca. 420 B.C. in the Ionic order. It has a prostasis on the east side, a monumental propylon on the north, and the famous porch of the Caryatids on the south.
The main temple was divided into two sections, dedicated to the worship of the two principal gods of Attica, Athena and Poseidon-Erechtheus.
A relief frieze, bearing a representation possibly of the birth of Erechtheus, decorated the exterior of the building.
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| The Temple of Athena Nike |
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The Temple of Athena Nike was constructed in ca. 420 B.C. by the architect Kallikrates. It is built in the Ionic order, and it is amphiprostyle with a row of four columns in front of each of its narrow sides.
The relief frieze on the upper section of the walls depicts the conference of gods on the east side, and scenes from battles on the other three.
A marble parapet decorated with the relief representation of Nikae (Victories), protected the edge of the Bastion on which the temple was erected.
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| The Propylaea |
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The monumental gateway of the Acropolis was designed by the architect Mnesikles and constructed in 437-432 B.C. It comprises a central building and two lateral wings.
The colonnades along the west and east sides had a row of Doric columns while two rows of Ionic columns divided the central corridor into three parts.
The walls of the north wing were decorated with painted panels or wall paintings and that is why it was called the "Pinakotheke". The ceiling of the Propylaea had coffers with painted decoration and a perforated sima around the roof.
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| The Theatre of Dionysos |
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No trace has been preserved of the 5th-century theatre which must have been simple in form with a few rows of wooden and stone seats. The preserved ruins belong to the monumental theatre built by Lycourgos. The permanent skene (stage) was then constructed, extending in the width of the orchestra.
After its destruction by Sulla in 86 B.C., the theatre and the skene were rebuilt. The old temple of Dionysos sheltered the old, cult statue of Dionysos Eleuthereus. It was constructed in the 6th century B.C., during the rule of tyrant Peisistratos and his successors.
The later temple of Dionysos sheltered the chryselephantine statue of the god, a work of the sculptor Alkamenes. The building cannot be dated earlier than the middle of the 4th century B.C. as is attested by the pottery found in its foundations in 1963.
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| The Odeion of Herodes Atticus |
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The third Odeion to be built in Athens, after the Odeion of Perikles and that of Agrippa. It was erected by Herodes in memory of his wife Regilla, who died in A.D. 160.
It is shaped as a semicircular theatre, with a radius of 38 m., and could seat around 5,000 people. The facade, 28 m. high, was massive, having a width of 2,40 m. The wall of the skene was lavishly decorated with architectural elements.
The Odeion was destroyed during the invasion of the Herulae who also destroyed most of the city's monuments in A.D. 267.
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| Address: Athens |
| Tel.: +30-10 3214172, 3210219, 9238724 |
| Visiting hours: Summer Opening Hours: Daily: 08.00-19.00 - Winter Opening Hours: Daily: 08.00-Sunset
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| Tickets: Special ticketing package for the Archaeological Sites of Athens (Acropolis site and museum, Ancient Agora, Theatre of Dionysos, Kerameikos, Olympieion, Roman Agora): � 12 |
| Acropolis Metro Station |
| http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21101a/e211aa01.html |
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| The Ancient Agora of Athens |
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The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, the religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice. The site was occupied without interruption in all periods of the city's history. It was used as a residential and burial area as early as the Late Neolithic period (3000 B.C.). Early in the 6th century, in the time of Solon, the Agora became a public area. After a series of repairs and remodelling, it reached its final rectangular form in the 2nd century B.C.
The first excavation campaigns were carried out by the Greek Archaeological Society in 1859-1912, and by the German Archaeological Institute in 1896-97. In 1890-91, a deep trench cut for the Athens-Peiraeus Railway brought to light extensive remains of ancient buildings. In 1931 the American School of Classical Studies started the systematic excavations with the financial support of J. Rockefeller and continued until 1941. Work was resumed in 1945 and is still continuing. In order to uncover the whole area of the Agora it was necessary to demolish around 400 modern buildings covering a total area of ca. 12 hectares.
The most important monuments of the site are: The Temple of Hephaistos, Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios, the Temple of Apollo Patroos, Bouleuterion, Monument of the Eponymous Heroes, the Altar of the Twelve Gods, the Odeion of Agrippa, the Royal Stoa (Stoa Basileios) and Tholos.
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| Address: Athens |
| Tel.: +30-10 3210185 |
| Visiting hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 08.30-15.00 |
| Tickets: Special ticketing package for the Archaeological Sites of Athens (Acropolis site and museum, Ancient Agora, Theatre of Dionysos Kerameikos, Olympieion, Roman Agora): � 12
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| Theseion Railway Station |
| http://www.culture.gr |
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| The Roman Agora of Athens |
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Large building measuring 111 x 98 m., comprising a spacious rectangular courtyard surrounded by stoas, shops and storerooms. It has an east, Ionic propylon and a west, Doric propylon, known as the Gate of Athena Archegetis. It was built between 19 and 11 B.C. with a donation of Julius Caesar and Augustus.
During the reign of Hadrian the court was paved with slabs. After the invasion of the Herulae in A.D. 267 the city of Athens was restricted to the area within the Late Roman fortification wall, and the administrative and commercial centre of the city was transferred from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora and the Library of Hadrian. During the Byzantine period and the Turkish occupation the area was covered with houses, workshops and churches along with the Fethiye Mosque.
The most important monuments of the site are: Gate of Athena Archegetis, East Propylon, Fethiye Djami, Agoranomion andThe public latrines (Vespasianae).
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| Address: Athens |
| Tel.: +30-10 3245220 |
| Visiting hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 08.30-15.00 |
| Tickets: Special ticketing package for the Archaeological Sites of Athens (Acropolis site and museum, Ancient Agora, Theatre of Dionysos Kerameikos, Olympieion, Roman Agora): � 12
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| Monastiraki Railway Station |
| http://www.culture.gr |
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| The Academy of Athens |
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The Academy of Athens forms part of the so-called "Neoclassical Trilogy" of the City of Athens: Academy - University- Library. It consists of aesthetically distinct parts that form a harmonic ensemble of built mass. A corridor connects the two lateral wings to the main body of the building, which -in its proportions of line and mass- is set-off by its Ionian-style entrance and its big pediment. The entrance has elements originating from the eastern side of Erechtheion, on Acropolis.
The predominant material on the facets is marble. Overall, the building is a characteristic example of mature Neoclassicism. It was built in two phases, in 1859-1863 and 1868-1885, based on studies of the Danish architect Theophile Hansen and it is believed to be his most exquisite work in Greece. Hansen himself was also supervising the construction up to 1861 when E. Ziller took over.
The embossed compositions on the central pediment and the statues outside are works of the sculptor L. Drosis. The embossed compositions on the eight small pediments are worked by Fr. Melnizki (1875) and the wall-paintings in the interior were made by K. Grupenckel.
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| Address: 28, Eleftherios Venizelos Ave., Athens |
| Tel.: +30-10 3600207, 3600209 |
| Panepistimio Metro Station |
| http://www.culture.gr |
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| The Parliament Building (Old Palace) |
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A representative sample of the early period of Neoclassicism in Greece, the building is an abstemious work of strict geometry in its mass. The formation of its spaces forms a frame and a central rectangular body that separates the opening in between in two courtyards. Doric-style column rows stand in front of the facade and the back (eastern) side. It was built between 1836 and 1840 based on the study of the Bavarian architect Fr. Goertner.
Originally it served as a palace of Otho, the first King of Greece after the end of the Turkish occupation, who moved from Nauplion (initial royal seat and temporary capital of the Hellenic State) to Athens in 1834. The Greek state expropriated the estates occupied by the building, the front plaza and the royal garden. The first Parliament was temporarily housed in a private residence building in Kolokotronis Street while afterwards it moved to the University building and much later, in 1857, to the building of Stadiou Street that houses today the Museum of History and Ethnography.
Today, it serves still as the seat of the Hellenic Parliament and houses offices, the National Assembly Room, the office of the president of the Assembly, the Archives and other services.
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| Plato's Academy |
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Academy was a suburb of Athens, named after the hero Academos or Ecademos. The site was continuously inhabited from the prehistoric period until the 6th century A.D. During the 6th century B.C., one of the three famous Gymnasiums of Athens was founded here.
Moreover, it is recorded that Hippias, the son of Peisistratos, built a circuit wall, and Cimon planted the area with trees which were destroyed by Sulla in 86 B.C. In 387 B.C. Plato founded his philosophical school, which became very famous due to the Neoplatonists, and remained in use until A.D. 526, when it was finally closed down by emperor Justinian.
The first exvavations on the site were carried out between 1929 and 1940 by P. Aristophron, at his own expense. Work was resumed in 1955 by Ph. Stavropoulos under the auspices of the Athens Archaeological Society, and lasted until 1963. Since then, excavations have been conducted by the 3rd Ephorate of Antiquities.
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| Delphi |
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The most important archaeological sites and one of the most beautiful sights in al of Greece. It is the city of oracle, built in a magnificent setting on Mount Parnassos, which made it all that much easier for ancient Greeks to believe that here they stood in the presence of the gods.
Nothing much happened in the ancient world, hardly a decision reached, without consulting the oracle at the temple of Apollo. Delphi was the place to visit before going into battle or even getting into a family argument, especially if you happened to be a King. And of course noone ever took the advice before offering a gift.
Thus, during 4 centuries of its glory, before the Romans looted the temples, Delphi became a huge complex of temples full of treasures and works of art. Given its unique history, its mystical aura and natural beauty Delphi is an excursion that you should not miss at any cost.
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