What's On at The Acropolis?

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We decide to trek to the Acropolis to see the ancient temples and buildings today. Our Esteemed Leader finds us an English speaking guide so the children might actually learn something about Greek history. First stop is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. An odeon is basically a closed ceiling theater and this one (minus its ceiling) is located just below the Acropolis; it is still used for cultural performances. Herodes Atticus was a famed orator, high priest of the imperial cult at Athens, friend of the Emperor Hadrian and all around good guy philanthropist. Our second stop is the Propylaea or entrance to the Acropolis. Its main architect was Mnesicles, a colleague of Phidias, the sculptor. It was completed in 432 BC just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian wars. Next up, is the tiny temple of Nike Athena which commemorates the Athenians victory over the Persians in 490 and 480 BC.
The Parthenon and several other main buildings on the Acropolis were commissioned by Pericles in the fifth century BC as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the inhabitants of Athens. The Big P was designed by the architects Kallikrates and Iktinos as the home of the giant statue of Athena. It took 9 years to build and was completed in 438 BC. From a pagan temple, overtime it became a church, a mosque and finally a storage facility for Turkish gunpowder. In 1687 the Venetians bombarded it from below and when their cannon ball hit the stored gun powder--KABOOM! Twits!
The Erecthion sits on the most sacred site of the Acropolis where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city. Poseidon lost, while Athena touched the ground with a spear and an olive tree grew. This building is probably best known for the porch of the maidens or Karyatids which are now copies, four of which have been placed in the Acropolis museum. The fifth was taken from the Acropolis by Lord Elgin and put in the British Museum more than a century ago. Citizens, Write the Queen! Reunite the Karytids! At the area where the Greek flag flies, Athens stretches out endlessly below. You can see the Plaka, the ruins of the giant Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Olympic stadium nestled in a pine covered hill, an island of green in a sea of concrete. You can also see Mount Lycabettos rising from the neighborhood of Kolonaki and nearby the rock of Areopagos or Mars Hill. This is where Saint Paul spoke to the people of Athens in AD 51 trying to persuade those pagans to come out of the darkness of superstition into the... well... a different darkness of superstition.

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Photos

Yes, there will be a Quiz
Esteemed Leader (and our guide)

Propylaea Entrance
Completed in 432 BC just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian wars.

The Erecthion and the Karytids
A sacred site where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city.