Acropolis

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The Erechtheion named for Erichthonius the mythical King of Athens.  An Ionic style masterpiece and my favourite building on the Acropolis.
Porch Of The Caryatids. named for the women of Karyai on whom the larger than life figures were modeled. These are all copies but the originals can be seen at the onsite museum with the exception of the one plundered by Lord Elgin which you will find (for the time being) at the British Museum!
The Parthenon 'Virgins Apartment and the largest completed Doric temple in Greece.'

In  order to avoid visual distortion and attain perfection in the eye of  the beholder, the base rises towards the center.  The columns lean inward and are slightly convex.  Eight Doric columns graced each end, seventeen either side. All but the roof was built of local Pentelic marble.  The ceiling was painted blue with gold stars.

Sadly this is how the magnificent Parthenon looked in May of 2001.

It was built to house the 40 foot gold covered statue of the Goddess Athena, patron of Athens.  Her hands, feet and face were made of ivory her eyes were jewels. She stood here in the Cella at the eastern  and most sacred part  of the temple, where few could enter.  She was taken to Constantinople in the 5th century and being held responsible for beckoning the crusaders to the city, was destroyed in 1204.
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