4.14 Acropolis Lesson for Kids: Definition & Facts
The Acropolis is an important part of the Greek city of Athens that was built on a hill. Come learn about the Acropolis, what buildings were built there, and some other cool facts about this place.
What Is the Acropolis?
Imagine going on vacation in the country of Greece. You visit a city called Athens, and in the distance you notice some very old, crumbling buildings on a hill. They look really high up and you’re not sure you want to go see them. But when you get there, you see all the cool details in the buildings, and you have a great view of the city below!
The Acropolis is a group of ancient temples that were built on a high, rocky hill in Athens, Greece. The word acropolis even means ‘high city’ in Greek. Other cities have an acropolis, too, but the one in Athens is the most well-known.
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The buildings of the Acropolis weren’t put on the hill for decoration. The buildings were a fortress where people could escape to if the city was attacked, the way you might climb into your tree house so you aren’t tagged during a game of hide-and-seek.
However, the Acropolis was mostly destroyed by 580 B.C. The people of Athens weren’t going to rebuild it. However, a Greek official finally convinced other politicians to build it again.
Many important buildings were built as part of the Acropolis, and you can still visit what is left of them today.
1. Main points:
The Acropolis is a famous group of ancient temples on a high hill in Athens, initially serving as a fortress, that was once destroyed but later rebuilt.
2. Questions:
– Content Analysis: What was the original purpose of the Acropolis’ buildings?
– Contextual Analysis: When was the Acropolis mostly destroyed, and what changed the minds of the Athenians to rebuild it?
– Thematic Analysis: What makes the Acropolis in Athens unique compared to acropolises in other cities?
3. Further Discussion:
How do you think the Acropolis might have felt like a big treehouse in the sky for people long ago?
4. Answers:
– What was the original purpose of the Acropolis’ buildings?
“The buildings were a fortress where people could escape to if the city was attacked.”
– When was the Acropolis mostly destroyed, and what changed the minds of the Athenians to rebuild it?
“The Acropolis was mostly destroyed by 580 B.C. A Greek official finally convinced other politicians to build it again.”
– What makes the Acropolis in Athens unique compared to acropolises in other cities?
“Other cities have an acropolis, too, but the one in Athens is the most well-known.”
So, who’s ready to time-travel and explore the Acropolis like an ancient Athenian? What else are you curious about?
The Parthenon
The Parthenon (pronounced PAR-theh-non) is the biggest building in the Acropolis and has many tall columns. It was built as a temple for a Greek goddess named Athena (pronounced uh-THEE-nuh), who was the goddess of wisdom and war. The city of Athens was named after her.
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Temples in ancient Greece were built as places to worship gods and goddesses like Athena. The Greek builders put a giant carved statue of Athena in the temple and carved sculptures right into the walls of the temple as well.
1. Main points:
The Parthenon is a significant temple in Athens, built to honor Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war; it features many architectural details like tall columns and sculptures.
2. Questions:
- Content Analysis: What was the Parthenon built for, and what is inside it?
- Contextual Analysis: In what city is the Parthenon located, and who was this city named after?
- Thematic Analysis: What are some architectural elements found in the Parthenon?
3. Further Discussion:
- Why do you think people in ancient times felt the need to build such large and intricate temples?
4. Answers:
- Content Analysis: The Parthenon was built as a “temple for a Greek goddess named Athena,” and it contains a “giant carved statue of Athena” and “carved sculptures right into the walls of the temple.”
- Contextual Analysis: The Parthenon is located in “the city of Athens,” which was “named after her [Athena].”
- Thematic Analysis: Some architectural elements in the Parthenon include “many tall columns” and they “carved sculptures right into the walls of the temple.”
So, kids, what do you think? Why would people a long time ago want to build such a huge building just for a goddess? 🤔
The Erechtheum
The Erechtheum (pronounced ih-REK-thee-um) is another temple in the Acropolis. It had different rooms and was made with very fine details, including statues of women holding up the roof of its large south porch.
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It also honored Athena, as well as other gods and heroes, and was built to hold important ceremonies, including what was known as the cleansing festival and the festival of the games.
1. Main points:
The Erechtheum is a detailed temple in the Acropolis with multiple rooms, statues of women holding up the roof, and it was built for important ceremonies honoring various gods.
2. Questions:
– Content Analysis: What are some of the unique features of the Erechtheum?
– Contextual Analysis: Where is the Erechtheum located, and what was its purpose?
– Thematic Analysis: What types of ceremonies were held in the Erechtheum?
3. Further Discussion:
If you could design a room in the Erechtheum, what would it look like and what would it be for?
4. Answers:
– What are some of the unique features of the Erechtheum?
“It had different rooms and was made with very fine details, including statues of women holding up the roof.”
– Where is the Erechtheum located, and what was its purpose?
“The Erechtheum is another temple in the Acropolis. It also honored Athena, as well as other gods and heroes.”
– What types of ceremonies were held in the Erechtheum?
“It was built to hold important ceremonies, including what was known as the cleansing festival and the festival of the games.”
How neat is that? Imagine having statues holding up your roof at home! What other cool features would you add to a building?
The Propylaea
The Acropolis was important and had a big, fancy entrance, like some big theme parks have today. The building at that entrance is called the Propylaea (pronounced prop-uh-LEE-uh), and it was built using a lot of marble.
However, a war broke out while it was being built and it was never finished, like building the front of your house but leaving a hole where the door should be.
1. Main points:
The Acropolis had a significant and elaborate entrance known as the Propylaea, which was constructed with marble but was never completed due to a war.
2. Questions:
- Content Analysis: What is the Propylaea, and what material was used to build it?
- Contextual Analysis: Why was the Propylaea never completed?
- Socio-cultural Analysis: How is the entrance of the Acropolis compared to something in today’s world?
3. Further Discussion:
- How do you think the unfinished Propylaea might have affected people’s feelings or thoughts about entering the Acropolis?
4. Answers:
- Content Analysis: The Propylaea is the “building at that entrance” of the Acropolis and was “built using a lot of marble.”
- Contextual Analysis: The Propylaea was “never finished” because a “war broke out while it was being built.”
- Socio-cultural Analysis: The entrance of the Acropolis is likened to “some big theme parks” that have a “big, fancy entrance” today.
Isn’t it interesting how even something as grand as the Propylaea could be left unfinished because of unexpected events like a war? What do you all think about the big theme parks comparison? Does it make you see ancient buildings in a new light? 🎢🏛️
The Temple of Athena Nike
The Temple of Athena Nike is the smallest building within the Acropolis, but it’s still important. It was built to honor Athena because the people of Athens believed that she helped them win wars. It was also built to represent Athens as a strong, powerful city.
1. Main points:
The Temple of Athena Nike, although the smallest building in the Acropolis, was built to honor Athena for her help in wars and to symbolize the strength of Athens.
2. Questions:
- Content Analysis: Why was the Temple of Athena Nike built?
- Contextual Analysis: How does the size of the Temple of Athena Nike compare to other buildings in the Acropolis?
- Ideological Analysis: What beliefs did the people of Athens have about Athena that led them to build this temple?
3. Further Discussion:
- Do you think a smaller building like the Temple of Athena Nike could be as important as bigger buildings like the Parthenon? Why or why not?
4. Answers:
- Content Analysis: The Temple of Athena Nike was “built to honor Athena” because the “people of Athens believed that she helped them win wars.”
- Contextual Analysis: The Temple of Athena Nike is the “smallest building within the Acropolis.”
- Ideological Analysis: The “people of Athens believed that she [Athena] helped them win wars,” which is why they built the temple.
So, even though it’s the smallest, the Temple of Athena Nike still had a big job to do, huh? What do you guys think? Can something small still be super important? 🤔
Lesson Summary
Sitting high on a hill in Athens, Greece, is the Acropolis, which includes the Parthenon as well as the Erechtheum and Temple of Athena Nike, all temples built to honor Athena. Also part of the Acropolis is a big building at the entrance known as the Propylaea.