The south slope of the
Acropolis played a significant role in the artistic, intellectual and religious activity of ancient Athens. It was here, in the sunniest side of the hill, the Athenians established the principal
shrine of Dionysus in Attica and most importantly the
theatre where the ancient Greek drama was born. By the mid-5th century BC, Pericles built an
odeum (now poorly preserved) to host musical contests, while its Roman successor, the
Odeum of Herod Atticus, still lies at the heart of the city's cultural life. Herod's Odeum was a case of exceptional benefaction to Athens but not the only one: The
stoa of Eumenes II, king of Pergamon, was an imposing building running along the foot of the hill. Its counterpart is to be found in the
stoa his brother Attalus erected in the
ancient agora of Athens.
Highlights
Theatre of Dionysus
Asklepieion
Odeon of Herod Atticus
Archaeological site
Art & culture
- Ancient monuments
- Temples: Late Classical period, 4th century BC
- Odeum: Roman period, 31 BC-AD 324Classical period, 480-323 BC
- Stoas: Hellenistic period, 323-31 BCClassical period, 480-323 BC
- Theatre: Late Classical period, 4th century BC
- Basilica: Early Christian period, 4th-7th centuries AD
- Visiting Information
- Fixed hours
- Organized archeological site
- Admission fee
- Ancient sanctuary
- Asclepieium
- Sanctuary of Dionysus
Executives & Departments
- Archaeological service:, Tel.: 210 9238175, 210 9238724, Fax: 210 9239023, Email: Requires Login as Tourism Professional 1st Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, 2-4 Makrygianni Street, Athens
Organizational Structure / Affiliations / Networks / Memberships / Relations
- As a monument is administered by:
- Excavations / Surveys conducted by:
- Finds are exhibited at the museums:
