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Ancient Greek Monuments

One of many Ancient Greek Monuments is the Acropolis of Athens. An acropolis is “any

citadel or complex built on a high hill” (Mark). Though these type of structures came from Greek

origin, they are still used to name monuments that are built on high places. The Acropolis of

Athens was pondered over and executed by Pericles of Athens, an advanced “general and

statesman.” After a few years of pondering, construction finally began with the first structure on

the acropolis, called the Parthenon. The general got very skilled workers to work on the project,

including the sculptor Phidias who created the statue of Zeus at Olympia. He wanted to make the

monument last for a very long time to honor the goddess Athena. Phidias basically did most of

the work of constructing the acropolis planned out by Pericles. Thousands of workers worked on

the acropolis and a statue of Athena was made by Phidias. Participants in “the Panathenaic

festival would carry a new robe to the ancient wooden cult statue of Athena.” These structures

that were built on the acropolis were signs of a resilient Athens. There was four original

structures that were planned to be built on the acropolis and those were “the Propylaia, the

Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike.”

The next ancient Greek monument is the Delphi. This place is a sanctuary dedicated to

Apollo. The space allowed for the “famous oracle of Apollo” to give lectures and speeches

encouraging and guiding individuals (Cartwright). The priestess would answer any concerns or

confusions of the people to guide them in the “right” path. The place also held the “Pythian

Games.” Originally the site was named “Pytho” because many believed that Apollo had killed

the reptile at this location. Offerings were given up at the site but they mainly included expensive

material possessions. However, sacrifices of animals such as goats were still common during

cleansing rituals. This place was considered “the center of the world” by Greeks because,
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according to Greek mythology, Zeus released two eagles and after they had travelled around the

world, they met at the location of Delphi.

The next ancient Greek monument is the Knossos. This monument is a palace that is

famously known for its involvement in the “story of Theseus and the Minotaur” (Mark). It is also

known for its ties to the mythical place of Atlantis. Some believe that this palace was indeed the

mythical Atlantis that people have been searching for. The palace was ruled by a king named

Mino who was known for his “wisdom and justice.” However, there are accounts that contradict

this claim and shows a darker side to the king. It is believed that King Mino ordered the

construction of his palace. He ordered the workers to design his palace so complexly that it was

impossible for anyone to find their way out of the palace once they entered, unless they had

someone to direct them out. Other stories say that it was not the entire palace that was designed

this intricately, rather it was a piece of the palace which housed the Minotaur. Mino kept the

designer of the maze prisoner to keep the secrets of the palace a mystery. It is said that to keep

the Minotaur fed, the king would offer up one of the children of Athens.

The next monument is the Epidaurus. It was an “important sacred center” for both Greeks

and Romans (Cartwright). The monument was named after the son of Apollo, Epidauros. The

site included great, large entrances as well as a large temple with a sacred fountain. It also

possessed a statue of Asclepius. These building were used in the “Asklepieia festival.” Every

four years it would hold an event including “theater, sports, and music.” It was destroyed

however by “the Goths and the Emperor Theodosius II” closed it with other “pagan sanctuaries.”

Once it was damaged by natural disasters, it became abandoned and eventually excavation began

and it continues to be excavated to this day. The theater located on this monument is still in use

today.
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The next and last monument site that will be discussed here is located in Olympia and

was a sanctuary for the Greek god Zeus. In honor of Zeus, every four year the “Pan-Hellenic

Games” were held (Cartwright). “The Kronion Hill” at the monument was most likely the first

area of “worship.” This led some to believe that it was only “dedicated to Kronos,” but this was

proved incorrect as many other gods were worshipped there as well. However, it was Zeus, the

most prominent god in Greek mythology, who would become the lead figure at Olympia. The

first large structure that was built there was the “Heraion” which was “a temple dedicated to

Hera.” A very large sanctuary was built soon after and in it was a large sculpted statue of Zeus

sitting in a throne. This temple was the largest Greece had ever seen at the time and the statue of

Zeus was massive. On the right side of the temple, a chariot race was sculpted and on the left, a

“Centauromachy” with Apollo was sculpted. Hercules was also represented in the temple as

Hercules is the son of Zeus. The statue of Zeus was made of “gold and ivory,” and it was made

by a man Phidias who was also the man who worked on the Acropolis of Athens. This sanctuary

and statue of Zeus is considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Other important

buildings at Olympia included “baths and a swimming pool,” a stadium, and “guest houses.”

There were many sporting events that would originally and normally happen at funeral rituals.

Zeus is credited with creating the games. Because of the sporting events and Zeus’s popularity

amongst the people, being physically fit and capable were portions of the education the Greeks

received. This is the site at which the “first Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE.” There was

only one event in the games and that was a “foot-race” which was won by a man named

Koroibos of Elis. Every winner than won the game was recorded and it was the “first accurate

chronology in the Greek world.” Thousands of people came from all over the country just to

participate in these events. People brought gift offerings to Zeus when they travelled to the
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games. Overall these games became a part of the culture of Greece and the people of Greece

made each and every one of these monuments a part of who they were as individuals and as a

whole country. Each of these monuments represents what the Greeks used to believe in and what

they have accomplished in their time of existence.

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Works Cited

Cartwright, Mark. "Delphi." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 22

Feb 2013. Web. 07 May 2018

Cartwright, Mark. "Epidaurus." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia,

18 Jun 2012. Web. 07 May 2018

Cartwright, Mark. "Olympia." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 02

Jul 2012. Web. 07 May 2018

Mark, Joshua J. "Acropolis." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 02

Sep 2009. Web. 07 May 2018

Mark, Joshua J. "Knossos." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15

Oct 2010. Web. 07 May 2018