Acropolis

Ancient hilltop fortress

The Acropolis is the ancient citadel on a rocky outcrop above Athens, Greece, crowned by the Parthenon and other classical structures.

It's among the most recognizable archaeological sites in the world and a symbol of ancient Greek civilization: We watched the sunset from below the Acropolis. (Lowercase acropolis refers to any such citadel.)

ancient

Parthenon

Ancient Greek hilltop temple

AthenaGreek wisdom deity
PericlesFifth-century Athenian statesman
DoricAustere classical column style

Ionic · Hellenic · Olympian · classical · frieze · pediment · triglyph · architrave · entablature · colonnade

symbolic

civilization

Advanced organized human society

democracyRule by the people
AthensGreece's capital city
heritageInherited cultural legacy

philosophy · culture · legacy · wisdom · Greece · Hellenic · Western · icon · emblem · birthplace

Categories

European LandmarksEiffel Tower, Colosseum, Big Ben, Parthenon, Stonehenge
Greek placesAthens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Crete, Rhodes
AcropolisParthenon, Elgin Marbles, sacred rock, pediments, frieze
ancient AthensParthenon, Agora, agora, Pericles, Athena
Ancient Greek sitesParthenon, Delphi, Olympia, Agora, Temple of Zeus
AthensParthenon, War Museum, Royal Palace, Lyceum, historic neighborhoods

Opposites

elevation/topography

Acropolisagora

Greek civic square

lowland · valley · lowlands · plain · flatland

civic function

Acropolisagora

Greek civic square

marketplace · forum · bazaar · commercial district · slums

accessibility/exclusivity

Acropolisagora

Greek civic square

public square · commons · open market · town square · village green

Family

acropolises

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G