The Acropolis in Athens
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek. Most city-states in Ancient Greece had at their centre a rocky mound or hill where they built their important temples and where the people could retreat to if under attack. The most famous acropolis is the one in Athens.
The Athenian Acropolis is home to one of the most famous buildings in the world: the Parthenon. This temple was built for the goddess Athena. It was decorated with beautiful sculptures which represent the greatest achievement of Greek artists.
The Acropolis was also home to a number of other temples and sanctuaries and was the focus for the Athenian festival for Athena, the Panathenaia. The buildings of the Acropolis provide examples of both Ionic and Doric styles of architecture.