Acropolis

According to legend, founded the legendary king of Athens Kekrop.
In the name of another legendary king - Erihtoniya (Erehteya), the son of a blacksmith god Hephaestus and the Earth goddess Gaia, in establishing a cult in Attica, Athena and renaming Kekropa in her honor, the beginning of coinage, the introduction of competition in the wagons.

 In II millennium BC terr. Coincided with the Acropolis in Athens and the original area was surrounded by defensive walls. It was built Enneapilon "Devyativratie" bastion of 9 gates. Behind the walls of the palace of the kings of Athens - "Palace Erehteya." 

In 447 BC on the initiative of Pericles on the Acropolis began a new building, guide all the work was entrusted to the famous sculptor Phidias, who, apparently, was the author of the artistic program, which lay the basis for the entire complex, its architectural and sculptural shape.

The architectural design of the new Acropolis was designed at the direction of and with direct participation of the Athenian strategy (chief) and the leader of the democratic group of Pericles, who, after the truce with Sparta was able to do furnishing the capital.
But the main attraction of the whole ensemble has been and remains the Parthenon - the largest and most famous buildings in this ensemble, which is referred to and "anthem" of Ancient Greece and the "beauty of simplicity." This temple was also dedicated to the goddess Athena. But this time she appeared in the guise of Athena Parthenos, or Athena the Virgin. Hence the name of the church. Here on a high pedestal, stood a 12-meter high statue of Athena the Virgin of the same Phidias.

The Parthenon, the Doric and Ionic combining orders and fits perfectly into the surrounding area, characterized by an amazing harmony.
The Ionic order is much different from the austere Doric style. It has an ornamented necking, a base in several tiers and more flutes. The Ionic style is much more graceful than the heavy Doric architecture. One of the best examples of this order is the Temple of Athena Nike at the Acropolis of Athens. This is the earliest Ionic temple built on the Acropolis. Another famous example is the Erechtheion, opposite the Parthenon. This is the temple where the famous Caryatids stand and support the heavy roof.

The Parthenon, the Doric and Ionic combining orders and fits perfectly into the surrounding area, characterized by an amazing harmony. This refers to his steps, the outer colonnade, pediments, friezes and metopes - the square slabs with sculptures, many of which were created by Phidias.
The first building on the rocky promontory of 300 to 130 m, rising on the outskirts of Athens, appeared long before the classical period.
But they were all destroyed by the Persian king Xerxes who invaded Athens in 480 - 479 years. BC.

The architectural design of the new Acropolis was designed at the direction of and with direct participation of the Athenian strategy (chief) and the leader of the democratic group of Pericles, who, after the truce with Sparta was able to do furnishing the capital.