It is one of the most
important museums in the world. It temporarily houses masterpieces
of the ancient Greek civilization, dedicated to the most important
of the Athenian sanctuaries, the "temenos" of Athena
Parthenos. Preparations for the erection of the New Acropolis
Museum have already begun. Many of the unique works of art that
ornamented the Acropolis have been stolen and transferred abroad.
The worst plundering of the monuments took place in the beginning
of the 19th century by Lord Elgin. ิhe museum was designed by
the architect Panages Kalkos and constructed between 1865 and
1874. In the 1950's it was extended towards the east and the exhibition
was rearranged by the archaeologist I. Meliades. The museum contains
only the stone sculptures from the monuments of the Acropolis
and from the excavations on the site. Since the beginning of the
excavations, the vases and the bronzes have been kept in the National
Archaeological Museum of Athens, while the inscriptions are housed
in the Epigraphical Museum.
The collections
of the museum include:
-Sculptural
offerings of the Archaic period
-Pediments of temples dated to the Archaic period
-Archaic Horsemen
-Sculptures of the "Severe" style
Pediments and metopes from the Parthenon
-The Parthenon frieze
-The Erechtheion frieze
-Parapets of the Athena Nike temple
-Frieze of the Athena Nike temple
-The Caryatids
-Clay figurines and vases from the sanctuary of the
Nymphs.
The most important items of the exhibition are:
The Moschophoros
(calf-bearer).
Archaic statue of a bearded man carrying a calf on his shoulders.
The eyes of the figure were inset. According to the inscription
on the base, it was offered by Rhombos. Dated to 570 B.C.
Inv. no. 624.
The Peplos Kore
Statue of a young woman (kore) clad
in a chiton and peplos, which was originally ornamented
with painted decoration. Traces of paint are still visible
on her eyes, lips and curly hair, which was held by a metal
diadem. Dated to 530 B.C. Inv. no. 679.
Kore with almond-shaped eyes
The young woman is clad in a chiton
and short himation, which buttons on the left shoulder.
A band with a painted maeander ornamented the diadem on
her hair and garments. Dated to 500 B.C. Inv. no. 674.
Pediment of the Ancient Temple
Part of the east pediment
of the Ancient Temple, bearing a representation of Gigantomachy.
Athena is depicted fighting against a Giant. Dated to ca.
520 B.C., when Peisistratos' sons embellished the old temple
of Athena.
The Kritios Boy
Statue of a boy with inset eyes and
long, weavy hair, rolled up around his head. It is attributed
to the sculptor Kritios and dates to 480 B.C. Inv. no.
698.
Relief of the "Mourning Athena"
The goddess is clad in an Attic peplos with a belt and slightly
bends her head towards the stele depicted in front of
her. Dated to ca. 460 B.C. Inv. no. 695.
Section of the Parthenon Frieze
coming from the east
part of the building. The relief representation depicts
the gods Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Eros.
Inv. no. 856.
Metope from the Parthenon
The relief comes from the south side
of the building, where the metopes represented Centauromachy.
In this scene a Centaur is shown seizing a Lapith woman.
Inv. no. 705.
The Caryatids
Statues of young women clad in peplos.
They supported the roof of the south porch of the Erechtheion,
and probably were the work of Alkamenes, a student of
the great sculptor Pheidias. Dated to ca. 420 B.C. Inv.
no. 15000-15003.
Relief parapet from the Nike Temple
One of the parapets
that flanked the three sides of the area around the temple
of Athena Nike. Young Nike is shown with her wings half-stretched,
bending to bind or unbind her sandal. Dated to ca. 410 B.C.
Inv. no. 973.
Hours of Operation
From 1-1-2003 until 31-3-2003, the museum is open daily
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