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Assos Acropolis

Altar of Zeus, in the Acropolis of Pergamon

For the most famous example of an Acropolis, see Acropolis of Athens. "Akropolis" redirects here. For the Swedish football team, see Akropolis IF. For other uses, see Acropolis (disambiguation).

Acropolis (Greek: Ακρόπολις) means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel (akros, akron, edge, extremity + polis, city, pl. acropoleis). For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides. In many parts of the world, these early citadels became the nuclei of large cities, which grew up on the surrounding lower ground, such as modern Rome.

The word acropolis, although Greek in origin and associated primarily with the Greek cities Athens, Argos, Thebes, and Corinth (with its Acrocorinth), may be applied generically to all such citadels, including Rome, Jerusalem, Celtic Bratislava, many in Asia Minor, or even Castle Rock in Edinburgh. An example in Ireland is the Rock of Cashel.

The most famous example is the Acropolis of Athens, which, by reason of its historical associations and the several famous buildings erected upon it (most notably the Parthenon), is known without qualification as the Acropolis. Although originating in the mainland of Greece, use of the acropolis model quickly spread to Greek colonies such as the Dorian Lato on Crete during the Archaic Period.

Because of its classical Greco-Roman style, the ruins of Mission San Juan Capistrano's Great Stone Church in California, United States has been called the "American Acropolis".

Other parts of the world developed other names for the high citadel or alcázar, which often reinforced a naturally strong site. In Central Italy, many small rural communes still cluster at the base of a fortified habitation known as La Rocca of the commune.

The term acropolis is also used to describe the central complex of overlapping structures, such as plazas and pyramids, in many Mayan cities, including Tikal and Copán.

The Acropolis of Athens as seen from Mount Lycabettus (northeast). The wooded Hill of the Nymphs is half-visible on its right, and Philopappos Hill on the left, immediately behind. Philopappos Monument stands where, in the distant background, the coast of Peloponnese meet the waters of the Saronic Gulf.

References

Notes

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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Acropolis

• The Acropolis of Athens (Greek Government website)
• The Acropolis Restoration Project (Greek Government website)
• The Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Acropolis, Athens
• Acropolis Friends
• AcropolisofAthens.gr
• Acropolis of Athens travel guide
• Acropolis Museum
• The Parthenon Frieze (Hellenic Ministry of Culture web site)
• Marbles Reunited - The British Campaign to Return the Parthenon Marbles to Athens
• Acropolis: description, photo album