Acropolis Museum

Last updated on December 18, 2023.

The state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum (Μουσείο Ακρόπολης) in Athens, Greece, is a great complement to any visit to the Acropolis, especially after exploring the summit and slopes.

 

Collection of the Acropolis Museum

The collection of the Acropolis Museum contains original artifacts as well as plaster copies of sculptures looted from the Acropolis. The most notorious of these looters was Thomas Bruce (1766-1841), the 7th Earl of Elgin, who between 1801 and 1812 removed about half of the frieze, 15 metopes, and 17 sculptures from the pediments of the Parthenon. He also took a Caryatid and a column from the Erechtheion. The Elgin Marbles, as they’re known, were shipped to London via Malta. Lord Elgin had intended to use them to establish a private museum but later sold them to the British Museum where they currently sit on display. Greece has been campaigning for their return for several decades.

 

History of the Acropolis Museum

In 1974, Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis (1907-1998) proposed the construction of a new Acropolis museum to replace a much older and obsolete museum on the summit of the Acropolis. The first architectural contest took place two years later and again in 1979, but the proposed plots of land were deemed unsuitable. A third contest held in 1989 was won by Italian architects Manfredi Nicoletti (1930-2017) and Lucio Passarelli (1922-2016). The grounds of the former military hospital and gendarmerie barracks in Makrygianni, just south of the Acropolis, were chosen as the building site.

After a series of delays in the 1990s, excavation finally began but work was halted when archaeological remains were discovered. The failure to provide a solution for preservation of the site led to the annulment of the competition in 1999. A fourth and final competition was held in 2001 by invitation only, with the winning design by New York-based Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and Greek architect Michael Photiadis.

Construction of the new Acropolis Museum took place between 2002 and 2007. The old museum closed in 2007 and the collection was transferred to the new museum, starting in October of that year and taking four months. It finally opened to the public on June 20, 2009.

 

Architecture of the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum was built on pillars to protect the archaeological site below. The pillars reach the underlying bedrock and are on roller bearings able to withstand a magnitude 10 earthquake.

The building contains 14,000 square meters of exhibition space with the collection is spread out over three levels. Glass façades give visitors a direct connection between the artifacts and the Acropolis 300 meters away. There are 1,302 square meters of glass panels on the building.

 

Visiting the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum holds more than 4,000 artifacts over an area of 14,000 square meters. It was built to display every artifact found on the Acropolis, including those that were illegally removed from the country. It also features an archaeological site underneath the building.

Admission is €15 from April through October and €10 from November through March (as of July 2023). It’s open daily, but check the official website for the most current operating hours. Tickets include admission to the archaeological site underneath the building. Give yourself a couple hours to thoroughly enjoy the exhibits.

 

Facilities

The ground floor contains the ticket area, a gift shop, café, and offices. The café has a terrace with views of the archaeological site underneath the building. A ticket is not required to visit the gift shop or café.

The second floor features a book store, a 700 square meter restaurant with an outdoor terrace, and a reading room. The terrace offers panoramic views of the Acropolis.

Also on the second floor is the Kid’s Corner, which offers interactive activities for younger visitors. The Kid’s Corner also has a scale model of the Acropolis built with Legos.

 

Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes

The museum collection starts after passing through the ticket gates on the ground floor. A long rectangular hall with a sloping floor, meant to give visitors the feeling they’re walking up to the Acropolis, contains finds from the north and south slopes.

 

Settlement on the Slopes of the Acropolis

First, the displays on the right side of the gallery feature finds from the settlement on the slopes of the Acropolis. They date between the 3rd millennium BC through the 6th century. Most were found in the 1950s on the south slope in front of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Some of the more impressive artifacts are a pair of red-figure kraters. One, dating between 350 and 325 BC, was found in 1957 and depicts a religious procession. Another, dating to the end of the 5th century BC, was found in 1959 and depicts a woman with castanets dancing in front of Athena.

Two clay braziers dating between 150 and 86 BC give a glimpse into how ancient Athenians prepared their meals. One is topped with a 1st century BC cooking pot. The braziers were found in 1956 and the cooking pot in 1961.

In the middle of the gallery are two nearly identical Roman period statues of Nike found in an ancient well in 1956. They date to the 1st or 2nd century and probably decorated a public building.

 

House of Proclus

At the end of settlements section are finds from the so-called House of Proclus, which was excavated in 1955. It was a large building believed to have been the residence and school of the philosopher Proclus (412-485), who was the head of the Neo-Platonic School from 437 until his death. The display case contains lamps, miniature vessels, bones, a knife, seven drinking cups, a jug, and a lamp. The items may have been used for the sacrifice of a piglet “that took place during the laying of the house foundations”.  They were all found in a small pit dating to the 4th century BC.

To the left of the display is a large funerary table that was also found at the house. It dates between 350 and 325 BC and includes reliefs on three sides.

 

Finds from Small Sanctuaries

Further up the ramp are finds from the seven small sanctuaries on the slopes of the Acropolis. Athenians worshipped gods, heroes, and nymphs in open-air sanctuaries, caves, and flat areas of the Acropolis.

 

Sanctuary of the Nymphs and Pan

First are two reliefs from the Sanctuary of the Nymphs and Pan, who were worshipped on the south slope. The first was found in five fragments near the Asclepeion in 1876. It dates to the end of the 5th century BC and depicts Pan with three Nymphs. The other was found in 1900 and dates to the middle of the 2nd century BC. It depicts the Nymphs and Pan along with Apollo and Hermes.

 

Sanctuary of Blaute and Kourotrophos

Next is Silon’s Dedication, which is a stele found in 1904 south of the Theatre of Dionysus. It dates to the middle of the 4th century BC and is 2.39 meters tall. The stele depicts a man on a sandal with a large snake slithering up towards him. The image of the sandal leads many experts to associate it with the Sanctuary of Blaute and Kourotrophos on the south slope of the Acropolis.

 

Sanctuary of Apollo Hypoakraios

Further up are three reliefs with wreaths and inscriptions. All three were found in 1897 in the Sanctuary of Apollo Hypoakraios, which is a cave on the north slope. After becoming elected, the nine archons of Athens took their vows at the sanctuary. About 70 plaques have been found in and around the cave.

The inscription on the plaque to the left, which dates to 91/2 reads:

 To Apollo Hyp’ Akrais dedicated Eraton when the Eponymous Archon was Trebellius Rufus from the municipality of Lamptron, secretary of the council (synedrion) was Eraton son of Antigonos from the municipality of Bese, Thesmothetes was Eirinaios son of Sotos from the municipality of Berenikides.

The plaque in the center, which dates to the end of the 1st century, reads:

Tiverios Antistius Kineas from the municipality of Koile, (dedicated) to Apollo Hyppoakraios as the Archon Basileus.

Finally, the plaque on the right, which dates to 40/1-53/4, reads:

The Thesmothetes Gaius Julius Metrodorus from the municipality of Marathon dedicated this to Apollo ypo Makrais.

 

Sanctuary of Aphrodite Ourania

The treasure box from the Sanctuary of Aphrodite Ourania, which is an open-air sanctuary on the north slope of the Acropolis, sits on the gallery floor. It was used to “collect pre-nuptial offerings which were set at one silver drachma”. The box dates to the 4th century BC and is made of Pentelic marble. It was found in 1988 built into a 19th century house that was demolished. The house was built atop the Rizokastro, which was the medieval wall around the Acropolis, and the box had been incorporated into the wall. The Sanctuary of Aphrodite Ourania is a bit further up the slope from where the box was found.

 

Asclepeion

Across on the left side are finds from the Asclepeion. The most important is Telemachos’ Relief, which is a monument describing the history of the establishment of the Asclepeion by Telemachos Acharneas in 419/418 BC. It depicts Telemachos appearing before Asclepius and his daughter Hygieia. The relief is displayed next to a base for a dedication depicting suctions cups, scalpels, and a curved instrument. The base was discovered in 1877 and dated to around 320 BC.

Another interesting artifact is the Relief of the Physicians, which dates between 350 and 300 BC. It depicts Asclepius, Demeter, and Persephone receiving a group of famous doctors. The names of the doctors are inscribed on the wreaths. They include Theodorides, son of Polykrates; Sostratos, son of Epikrates; Epeuches, son of Dieuchos; Diakritos, son of Dieuchos; and Mnesitheos, son of Mnesitheos.

Other items of interest include a relief in the form of a small temple and portico and a relief depicting Asclepius and Hygieia.

 

Sanctuary of Dionysus

Finds from the Sanctuary of Dionysus are further up the slope. Athenians celebrated the Great Dionysia there. It took place every spring and eventually included drama competitions. The Theatre of Dionysus, which sat above the sanctuary, hosted the most important ancient tragic and comic works by Aeschylus (c. 525/4 – 456/5 BC), Sophocles (c. 497/6 – 406/5 BC), Euripides (c. 480 – 406 BC), and Aristophanes (c. 446 – 386 BC).

One item on display is a statue of Papposilenus, the elderly version of Silenus, carrying the infant Dionysus on his shoulder. Dionysus holds a theatrical mask in his hand. Silenus was the tutor of Dionysus. The statue was found at the theatre in 1832 and is a 2nd century BC copy of a 5th century BC original.

Nearby is a relief plaque depicting six theatrical masks. It was discovered in three fragments at the theatre in 1865. The plaque is believed to have been part of the theatre’s stage decoration. It dates to the 2nd century BC but may be a copy of an older plaque dated to the second half of the 4th century BC.

Another relief on the wall depicts Dionysus holding wine vessels. A woman putting incense in an incense burner stands next to him. It dates to the early 4th century BC and was found at the theatre in 1862. The relief may have decorated a statue base.

 

Early History of the Acropolis

Once at the top of the stairs, the section to the left includes exhibits on the early history of the Acropolis. They cover the evolution of the Acropolis from a citadel and seat of power to a sacred place dedicated to worship of Athena and other gods.

 

Mycenaean Acropolis

At the top of the stairs to the left are four display cases containing artifacts from the Mycenaean Acropolis, the oldest period of settlement on the summit. The first three cases contain everyday objects from the 14th through 11th century BC. This includes an amphora dated between 1225 and 1190 BC and a cup dated between 1210 and 1170 BC. Both were found in 1937-38 during excavation of the Mycenaean Fountain. The fourth case contains the Coppersmith’s Treasure, which is a 12th century BC hoard of weapons and tools.

 

Temple of Athena Polias

On the opposite wall, a bronze sheet depicting a gorgon marks the transition of the Acropolis from the seat of a ruler to a sacred space. It dates between 675 and 650 BC and probably decorated the pediment of the first Temple of Athena Polias.

 

Archaic Acropolis Gallery

The next section starting at the very top of the stairs is dedicated to the Archaic period, from 700 to 480 BC. It starts with the Hekatompedon.

 

Hekatompedon

Directly in front of the stairs are fragments from the Hekatompedon, which once occupied the site of the Parthenon. It was built between 570 and 550 BC and measured about 46 meters long. The temple was demolished in 490 BC after the Athenian victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in order to build a new temple, the Old Parthenon.

 

West Pediment

The west pediment of the Hekatompedon survives in three sculpture groups, mostly found in 1888 east and southeast of the Parthenon. They were protected by gutters and geisons decorated with palmettes, lotus flowers, and waterbirds. The sculptures are made of porous limestone and were colorfully painted. Traces of the paint can still be seen today.

The group on the left depicts Heracles fighting Triton. The central group depicts two lions devouring a bull. The group on the right depicts the Three-bodied Daemon holding the symbols of the three elements in nature: water, fire, and air.

 

East Pediment

Sculptures of a lioness and calf as well as one of a snake likely came from the east pediment of the Hekatompedon. They were found in 1888 along with the west pediment sculptures.

 

Other Sculptures

Other items of interest from the Hekatompedon include fragments of the cornice painted with waterbirds along with sculptures of an owl and snake that once adorned the pediments. There’s also a fragment of a massive Doric column capital from the pteron, which was the colonnade surrounding the cella. The entire capital weighed three tons.

 

Dedications of the Archaic Period

On the south side of the first floor is a large trapezoidal hall featuring dedications from the Archaic period. In my opinion, it displays the most spectacular sculptures in the entire museum. Photography is forbidden in this gallery and the policy is strictly enforced.

At the end of the Archaic Acropolis Gallery, there’s an escalator around the corner. I suggest heading up to the third floor to see the Parthenon Gallery. This will continue the visit to the Acropolis Museum in chronological order.

 

Parthenon Gallery

The third floor contains the Parthenon Gallery, which is the main attraction of the Acropolis Museum. It displays original sculptures that once adorned the Parthenon. The sculptures were most likely executed under the direction of Phidias (c. 480 – 430 BC).

 

Lobby

The lobby at the top of the escalators has an area where visitors can watch a short film about the Parthenon. It plays on a loop so if you miss the first part of it, you’ll be able to catch it on the next run. Also in the lobby is a scale model of the Parthenon and models of the sculptures on the pediments.

Behind the escalators is a section where you can view the back side of the blocks on the west frieze. Look closely and you can see the chisel marks made by workers in the 5th century BC.

 

Orientation of the Parthenon Gallery

The Parthenon Gallery sits in the same cardinal orientation as the temple. Furthermore, the sculptures are positioned facing outwards and are spaced out exactly as they were on the Parthenon. The frieze is displayed behind the columns at eye level while the majority of the metopes are displayed on the columns. For ease of viewing, the pediment sculptures are displayed at eye level.

You’ll notice a difference in color on some of the sculptures. Anything with a white color is a copy while the original sculptures have a brown tint. Some of the original sculptures sit alongside plaster copies of others that are missing, while many sculptures show signs of repair. If the place sits empty, it’s likely a sculpture has been lost to history.

For sculptures that aren’t at the Acropolis Museum, labels show their current location until they’re returned home to Athens. Most are found in the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris. The Vatican returned three pieces to the museum in March 2023.

 

Parthenon Frieze

I started my visit to the Parthenon Gallery with the frieze, which is situated on the inner wall behind the columns. The Parthenon Frieze depicted the procession of the festival of the Great Panathenaea. Of the 160 meters (524 feet) of the original frieze, 128 meters (420 feet) survives. The rest was lost in the Venetian bombardment in 1687, but images exist thanks to illustrations by French artist Jacques Carrey (1649-1726) in 1674. The majority of the frieze is in the British Museum while the Acropolis Museum displays much of the rest.

For each section of the frieze below, I’ve chosen some of my favorite scenes. Each photo caption contains an adaptation of the description from the label at the museum. I started with the north frieze and worked my way around the gallery.

 

North Frieze

 

West Frieze

 

South Frieze

 

East Frieze

 

Metopes of the Parthenon

There were a total of 92 metopes above the columns of the Parthenon. The east and west sides each had 14 metopes while the north and south sides each had 32. They depict Amazonomachy on the west side, the Fall of Troy on the north side, Gigantomachy on the east side, and the battle between the Centaurs and the Lapiths on the south side.

As in the frieze section, I’ve chosen some of my favorite metopes to post below. I started with the metopes on the north side and worked my way around the gallery.

 

North Metopes

 

West Metopes

If you look closely at W 1, you’ll spot graffiti left behind by a 19th century visitor to the Acropolis.

 

South Metopes

 

East Metopes

 

Pediments of the Parthenon

The pediments contained about 50 sculptures. The sculptures were damaged over time and some have been lost forever. Every figure on the had a fully formed back, which illustrates the depth of detail the sculptors put into their work.

 

West Pediment

The west pediment depicts the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the protectorship of Athens. The central figures depict Athena and Poseidon followed each by their chariots. Nike is the charioteer for Athena and Amphitrite for Poseidon. The messenger gods Hermes and Iris run behind them. On the corners are seated and reclining heroes.

 

East Pediment

The east pediment depicts the birth of Athena in the presence of the Olympian Gods. In the center are Zeus and Athena. Other gods are depicted to the right and left. They’re either standing, seated, or reclining in order to fit in the triangular space of the pediment. The chariots of the rising sun (Helios) and the setting moon (Selene) rest at either end. The central figures have not survived, probably due to the construction of the apse during the Parthenon’s conversion to a Christian church in the 6th century.

 

Acroterion

The floral acroterion that crowned the ridge of the pediment is on display in a corner of the Parthenon Gallery. It was reconstructed in 1990 using plaster to fill in the missing pieces. The original height is estimated to be about 3.9 to 4 meters. The original parts were painted and a marble acanthus leaf has been added.

 

Other Monuments of the Periclean Building Program

After going back down to the first floor from the Parthenon Gallery, the Acropolis Museum continues with artifacts and fragments from other buildings on the summit of the Acropolis. These buildings were commissioned by Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) during the Golden Age of Athens.

 

Propylaia

The first section covers the Propylaia. It displays architectural fragments from the monumental gateway to the Acropolis built between 437 and 431 BC.

 

Erechtheion

In the middle of the first floor is the Erechtheion section, which is another highlight of the Acropolis Museum collection. The temple was built between 421 and 413 BC and was designed by Mnesikles. It enclosed some of the most sacred parts of the Acropolis.

The first section features architectural fragments including the frieze of the temple. There’s also a window restructured from eleven original fragments and supplemented with marble and gypsum blocks.

 

Caryatids

The Erechtheion section also contains the original Caryatids (Καρυάτιδες), which once adorned the Porch of the Caryatids on the temple. Visitors to the Acropolis will see copies in their place.

There were originally six Caryatids, but one was removed by the aforementioned Lord Elgin. The missing one has been one of the major focal points of Greek and British campaigns to return antiquities to Greece. Meanwhile, the five Caryatids in the gallery wait patiently for their sister to return.

 

Temple of Athena Nike

The final building in this section is the Temple of Athena Nike, which was designed by Kallikrates and built between 426 and 421 BC.

 

Frieze

One of the most important displays includes the frieze of the temple, which contained different themes on its three sides. The east side contained scenes of gods around an enthroned Zeus.

The other two sides depicted scenes of war. The north side depicted the mythical pursuit and assassination of King Eurystheus of Mycenae. The south side contained scenes of the Athenian victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.

 

Parapet

The other interesting sculptures belonged to the marble parapet built in 410 BC to protect visitors to the temple from falling. The reliefs, which are about one meter high, depict Athena resting after a victorious battle. She watches winged Nikes leading bulls to sacrifice, holding the weapons of defeated Persian and Greek soldiers, and decorating victory trophies with Persian and Greek armor. Most have not survived but the few on display are impressive.

 

From the 5th Century BC to the End of Antiquity

The north side of the first floor completes the chronological journey through the Acropolis Museum. The gallery covers the history of the Acropolis from the 5th century BC to the end of antiquity. It’s broken down into seven different sections.

 

Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia

The first section covers the Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia, which was just inside the Propylaia on the summit of the Acropolis. It was founded in the mid-6th century BC as a branch to the main sanctuary near present-day Vravrona. The sanctuary was an enclosure consisting of a stoa with two closed wings at its ends. Artemis Brauronia was the protector of pregnant women and women who had just given birth. Women would often dedicated their baby to her, and if the birth was successful, their clothing.

On display is an ancient copy of an inventory of the treasury from the sanctuary, listing all offerings including women’s garments dedicated there. It’s a valuable source of information regarding the types of fabrics and garments worn during the Classical period.

Also on display is the head of a statue of Artemis Brauronia. It was sculpted around 330 BC and discovered in 1839. The statue was mentioned by Pausanias and is attributed to Praxiteles. The head would have been decorated with earrings.

 

Dedications on the Acropolis in Classical Times

Next are dedications on the Acropolis from the 5th century BC. Very few have survived, including a head of a statue of Alexander the Great. It was discovered in 1886 near the Erechtheion. It’s considered to be an original work of Leochares and is dated between 338 and 330 BC.

Another is the Lenormant Relief, which depicts a trireme. It dates to the end of the 5th century BC. One fragment was found near the Erechtheion in 1852. Another was found in 1876 in the Serpentzes, a bastion on the south slope of the Acropolis that was part of the 13th century Rizokastro fortification wall. The relief was named after the archaeologist who discovered it and it likely depicts the Paralos. The Paralos was a trireme that participated in important sacred and public missions.

 

The Acropolis and Athenian Foreign Policy

The gallery continues with a section on the Acropolis and Athenian foreign policy. It includes decrees issued by the  Boule (Council) and confirmed by the Ekklisia (Assembly). Some concerned the terms of treaties while others were privileges granted to cities allied with Athens. Athenian decrees often had a relief of its contents at the top.

 

The Acropolis and Honored Citizens and Foreigners

Across the hall is a section on decrees honoring Athenian citizens and foreigners who had provided services or had somehow benefitted the city. Having a decree placed on the Acropolis was an even greater honor.  As in political decrees, honorary decrees also had relief scenes at the top.

One decree that caught my eye was the honorary decree for the ambassadors of Abydos. It features a relief of Athena, with an eagle on her lap, speaking with a representative of the proxenoi (consuls) of Abydos. Abydos was a city Asian coast of the Hellespont. It dates to the first quarter of the 4th century BC.

Another is an honorary decree for a citizen from Croton in southern Italy. The relief depicts Athena and possibly Asclepius. The decree itself grants the title of proxenos (consul) and benefactor to a citizen of Croton. It dates to around 330 BC.

 

Athens, the Acropolis, and the Successors of Alexander the Great

The fifth section in this gallery covers Athens following the death of Alexander the Great, with the city constantly trying to reclaim its independence. Although it was under the rule of Hellenistic kingdoms, Athens continued its role as the educational and cultural center of Greece. It also benefitted from extraordinary gifts from its rulers.

One artifact on display is the Atarbos Base, which was found in 1852 or 1853 built into a tower of the Beulé Gate. The base consisted of three blocks that supported at least three bronze statues, but only two blocks survive today. The left block depicts seven bearded men dancing the kyklios in the presence of a woman. The right block depicts eight nude youths in groups of four dancing the pyrriche, a war dance. They’re wearing helmets and holding shields while a woman stands behind them. The base is dated to 323/2 BC.

The inscription reads:

Atarbos, the son of Lysistratos from the municipality of Thorikos after winning the kyklios and the pyrriche dances, dedicated these statues, when Kephisodoros was archon.

 

Athens and Rome

The penultimate section covers Athens and its relationship with Rome. Although Sulla leveled the city in 86 BC, Romans held the city in high regard thanks to its intellectual and cultural achievements. This led to Athens being granted special autonomous status and aided its recovery. The city continued to be a center of philosophy, art, and literature, and copies of Classical Athenian sculptures were popular throughout the Roman Empire.

Athens also benefitted architecturally. The Roman Agora was funded by Julius Caesar and Augustus while Hadrian completed the Temple of Olympian Zeus and built a library and an aqueduct. Herodes Atticus donated the odeon on the south slope of the Acropolis and funded the refurbishment of the Panathenaic Stadium.

 

Dedications of the Roman Period

Meanwhile, the Romans respected the Acropolis so much that they only built one small temple, the Temple of Rome and Augustus, in the 1st century BC. The only additions were dedications in the form of statues of gods and portraits of emperors, philosophers, and prominent citizens. One such dedication included a replica of the Athena Parthenos created by Phidias in the 5th century BC. It was discovered in 1860 near the Propylaia.

Another is a head of a statue of Roman Emperor Lucius Verus. It was found in 1878 at the Theatre of Dionysus and dates between 161 and 170.

Also on display is a 2nd century marble copy of a Classical period chryselephantine statue of a goddess, possibly Aphrodite. It was found in 1857 at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Pay close attention to the streaks under her eyes. This is oxidation from the statue’s bronze eyelashes.

Finally is a “magic sphere” from the 2nd or 3rd century. It depicts Helios, a lion, a dragon and magical symbols. It was found in 1866 at the Theatre of Dionysus and may have been used in magical rituals to achieve victory in a theatrical or athletic contest.

 

The Epilogue of Antiquity

The final section in this gallery focuses on Athens following its destruction by the Heruli in 267. The Acropolis survived and was turned into a fortress. By the end of the 5th century, many pagan temples, including the Acropolis, were converted to Christian churches.

On display is a marble throne found in 1836 between the peristyle and pronaos of the Parthenon. The throne dates to either the 4th century BC or 2nd century AD and originally belonged to a public building. It was transported to the Parthenon in the 6th century and used as an episcopal throne. The throne is decorated with acanthus leaves and a winged male figure. The armrests take the form of winged lions with the body of a snake and a tail in the shape of an acanthus.

 

Loan Items

Finally, on my most recent visit to the Acropolis Museum in June 2023, a statue of Venus wearing a “golden bikini” was on display in the lobby. The statue was found in the House of Venus at Pompeii and dates to the 1st century. It was on loan from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy.

 

Archaeological Site at the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum not only features artifacts found on the Acropolis, but also its own archaeological site. The site documents human activity from the 4th millennium BC through the 12th century. It includes the remains of streets, homes, baths, workshops, and tombs. The best preserved ruins are those from the Roman and Byzantine periods, from the 2nd through 6th centuries. The entrance is down a ramp on the west side of the building.

 

History of the Archaeological Site

The neighborhood situated under today’s Acropolis Museum took shape at the end of the 5th century BC, when streets were organized and it was incorporated within the city walls. In 86 BC, it was destroyed during the Siege of Athens by Roman general Sulla and abandoned for many years until industrial shops were built atop the ruins.

In the middle of the 2nd century, the neighborhood was reborn and luxurious houses were built, but they were destroyed during the Sack of Athens by the Heruli in 267. At the end of the 4th century, the neighborhood was reorganized and began to flourish once again. This lasted until the end of the 6th century when buildings were destroyed or fell into disrepair. Many were converted to workshops that functioned until the early 8th century, when the area was abandoned.

The final period of use was between the 10th and 12th centuries, when new houses and workshops appeared. The site was permanently abandoned at the beginning of the 13th century and rediscovered during the excavation for the construction of the Acropolis Museum building. The archaeological site opened to the public on June 21, 2019. Unfortunately, some of the ruins had to be removed to facilitate the construction of the lower levels of the museum.

 

West Bath

The first section of the archaeological site is the West Bath. It was built in the 2nd century as part of House Ξ, which lies outside the excavation area. The bath was destroyed in the 3rd century and other rooms were constructed over it. It’s best seen from the entrance terrace of the Acropolis Museum.

Visitors would enter the bath and leave their clothes in the changing room. They would walk through the cold chamber into the warm chamber to give their body time to adjust to the temperature, and then to the hot chamber for a steam bath and a dip in the heated pool. They would then return to the warm chamber for a massage with scented oils and then back to the cold chamber to rinse the sweat and oils from their body, followed by a dip in the cold water pool.

 

Public Latrines

To the south are the remains of four small public latrines. They date from the 2nd century BC through the 5th century. The two best preserved latrines, from the 2nd century and the 4th-5th century, could accommodate seven or eight people simultaneously. Seat openings were never found but drainage channels on three sides are still preserved.

These public latrines are relatively small compared to the large public latrines referred to as “vespasians”. The term is named for Roman Emperor Vespasian who built many public latrines throughout the empire during his reign.

 

Building E

Next is Building E, which was built in the early 6th century over the ruins of houses Γ, H, and ΣT (see below). It constituted a wing of the older Building Z, which together cover an area of over 5,000 square meters. The building likely belonged to a wealthy Athenian with power and authority. It was destroyed in the late 6th century and its ruins were used as workshops until at least the 8th century.

Building E contained two floors. The upper floor was used as the residential quarters and the surviving lower floor had functional rooms. The most prominent feature was the large circular tower hall, which was popular in mansions of late antiquity.

Building E also featured a large apsidal hall where the owner would receive guests. It connected to a room with three niches, which may have been used to meet with close friends and associates or as a private chapel for prayers. Six steps from the building lead down to an open-air antechamber.

 

Building Z

Building Z lies to the east of Building E. It was created in the 5th century when two large houses were combined. It covered an area of over 3,700 square meters but only a small part is visible today.

Building Z was organized in three wings flanked by courtyards. The east wing contained the owner’s private quarters while the west and central wings were used for public functions. The building had a private bath and several small rooms decorated with mosaics.

 

House H

House H was a small middle class residence with six rooms. It was constructed at the end of the 4th century or the beginning of the 5th century. It was in use until the beginning of the 6th century, when Building E was constructed over it. The house had a courtyard surrounded by three porticos and a well in the center. A room to the north of the courtyard may have functioned as the triclinium (formal dining room).

 

House Γ

Immediately to the south was House Γ, which was slightly larger with ten rooms. It was built around the same time as House H and was also later covered by Building E in the early 6th century.

House Γ has a courtyard paved with marble slabs. There was also a latrine with a terracotta pipeline to flush water into the underground sewer.

The large room south of the courtyard was probably a triclinium. A room on the southwest corner had a well and a separate entrance to the street. It may have been used as a workshop or storeroom, likely rented out or managed by the owner.

 

House ΣΤ

Immediately to the east of House Γ was House ΣΤ. It was constructed around the same time as Houses H and Γ and was the biggest of the three. It too was eventually covered by Building E. House ΣΤ featured a large courtyard with terracotta floor tiles. The courtyard was surrounded by porticos on all four sides. The large northern room was used as the triclinium while the latrine was near the entrance. The function of the other rooms is unknown.

 

House Θ

The final structure is House Θ, which is one of the oldest structures of the archaeological site under the Acropolis Museum. It was built in the last two decades of the 5th century BC and survived until the 6th century. Most of the remains are from the 5th and 3rd centuries BC.

House Θ was organized around a central courtyard. The room at the northeast corner was the andron, which was used to host symposiums. In the 3rd century BC, a workshop was added to the courtyard as well as three cisterns with different levels. It may have been used to wash dirty clothes or to whiten fabrics before sending them to be colored.

 

Map Containing the Acropolis Museum