Editing Acropolis

{{short description|Defensive settlement of an ancient Greek city built on high ground}}{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
[[File:The Acropolis of Athens on June 1, 2021.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Acropolis of Athens]] in Athens, Greece]]
An '''acropolis''' was the settlement of an upper part of an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] city, especially a [[citadel]], and frequently a hill with precipitous sides, mainly chosen for purposes of defense. The term is typically used to refer to the [[Acropolis of Athens]], yet nearly every [[Greece|Greek]] city had an acropolis of its own<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mark |first=Joshua J. |title=Acropolis |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Acropolis/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=World History Encyclopedia |language=en}}</ref>. Acropolises were used as religious centers and places of worship, forts, and places in which the royal and high-status resided. Acropolises became the nuclei of large cities of classical ancient times, and served as important centers of a community. Some well-known acropolises have become the centers of tourism in present-day, and they are a rich source of archaeological information of ancient Greece, especially, the Acropolis of Athens.<ref name="Book">{{cite book |title=Eyewitness: Ancient Greece |publisher=Eyewitness |pages=30–40}}</ref>

== Origin ==
An acropolis is defined by the Greek definition of {{Lang|grc|ἀκρόπολις|italic=no}}, {{Lang|grc-latn|akropolis}}; from {{Lang|el-latn|akros}} ({{Lang|el|άκρος|italic=no}}) or {{Lang|el-latn|akron}} ({{Lang|el|άκρον|italic=no}}) meaning “highest; edge; extremity”, and {{Lang|grc-latn|polis}} ({{Lang|grc|πόλις|italic=no}}) meaning “city.”<ref>{{Cite book |last=Douglas (Ph.D.) |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o20CAAAAQAAJ |title=English etymology |date=1872 |pages=145 |language=en}}</ref> The plural of {{Lang|el-latn|acropolis}} ({{Lang|el|ακρόπολη|italic=no}}) is {{Lang|el-latn|acropolises}}, also commonly as {{Lang|el-latn|acropoleis}} and {{Lang|el-latn|acropoles}}, and {{Lang|el|ακροπόλεις|italic=no}} in Greek. The term acropolis is also used to describe the central complex of overlapping structures, such as plazas and pyramids, in many [[Maya city|Maya cities]], including [[Tikal]] and [[Copán]]. Acropolis is also the term used by archaeologists and historians for the urban [[Castro culture]] settlements located in Northwestern Iberian hilltops.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sinner |first1=Alejandro |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IKP6EAAAQBAJ |title=The Human Factor: The Demography of the Roman Province of Hispania Citerior/Tarraconensis |last2=Carreras |first2=Cèsar |last3=Houten |first3=Pieter |date=2024-09-24 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-284859-8 |pages=142 |language=en}}</ref> 

[[File:Lindos Rhodes 3.jpg|thumb|Acropolis of Lindos, on the island of [[Rhodes]], Greece]] 
It is primarily associated with the Greek cities of [[Athens]], [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] (with [[Larissa (Argos)|Larisa]]), [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] (with [[Cadmea]]), [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]] (with its [[Acrocorinth]]), and [[Rhodes]] (with its [[Lindos#Acropolis|Acropolis of Lindos]]). It may also be applied generically to all such citadels including Rome, [[Carthage]], [[Jerusalem]], Celtic [[Bratislava]], [[Asia Minor]], or [[Castle Rock, Edinburgh|Castle Rock]] in [[Edinburgh]]. An example in Ireland is the [[Rock of Cashel]]. In [[Central Italy]], many small rural [[Comune|communes]] still cluster at the base of a fortified habitation known as {{lang|it|[[Rocca (fortification)|rocca]]}} of the commune. Other parts of the world have developed other names for the high citadel, or {{Lang|es|[[alcázar]]}}, which often have reinforced a naturally strong site. Because of this, many cultures have included acropolises in their societies, however, do not use the same name for them.

== Differing acropolises ==
The acropolis of a city was used in many ways, with regards to ancient time and through references. Because an acropolis was built at the highest part of a city, it served as a highly functional form of protection, a fortress, and was as well as a home to the royal of a city and a centre for religion through the worshipping of different gods.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book|last=Lefkowitz R.|first=Mary|author-link=Mary Lefkowitz |title=The "Wooden" Horse on the Athenian Acropolis|publisher=Hesperia: The Journal of The American School of Classical Studies at Athens Vol 89. No. 3|year=2020|pages=588, 589}}</ref> There have been many classical and ancient acropolises, including the most commonly-known, [[Acropolis of Athens]], as well as the [[Patara (Lycia)#Location|Tepecik Acropolis]] at [[Patara (Lycia)|Patara]], Ankara Acropolis, [[La Blanca, Peten#Acropolis|Acropolis of La Blanca]], Acropolis at the Maya Site in Guatemala, and the Acropolis at [[Halieis]].

[[File:The Parthenon in Athens.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Parthenon]] in Athens]]
The most famous example is the Athenian Acropolis, which is a collection of structures featuring a citadel on the highest part of land in ancient (and modern-day) Athens, Greece. Many notable structures at the site were constructed in the 5th century BCE, including the [[Propylaea]], [[Erechtheion]], and the Temple of Athena.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book|last=van Rookhuijzen|first=J.Z.|title=The Parthenon Treasury on the Acropolis of Athens|publisher=American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 124 No. 1|year=2020|pages=3, 6}}</ref> The Temple is also commonly known as the [[Parthenon]], which is derived from the divine Athena Parthenos.<ref name=":03"/> There were often dances, music and plays held at the acropolis, which it served as a community centre for the city of Athens. It became a prime tourist destination by the 2nd century AD during the Roman Empire and was known as "the Greece of Greece," as coined by an unknown poet.<ref name=":22"/> Although originating in the mainland of Greece, use of the acropolis model quickly spread to Greek colonies such as the [[Dorians|Dorian]] [[Lato]] on [[Crete]] during the [[Archaic period in Greece|Archaic Period]].

The Tepecik Acropolis at Patara served as a harbor to nearby communities and naval forces, such as Antigonos I Monopthalmos and [[Demetrios Poliorketes]], and combined land and sea.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Dundar, Erkan and K. Rauh|first=Nicholas|title=The North Bastion on the Tepecik Acropolis at Patara: Dating "Early Hellenstic" Fortification Walls in Southwestern Anatolia|publisher=Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Vol. 86. No. 3|year=2017|pages=509, 510, 513, 517}}</ref> Its fortification wall and Bastion date back to the Classical period.<ref name=":3" /> The acropolis was constructed in the fourth century BCE by the Hekatomnids that ultimately led to its seizure in 334 BCE by [[Alexander the Great]].<ref name=":3" /> The acropolis contributed significantly to the overall development that took place during the Hellenistic empires.<ref name=":3" /> This acropolis was the earliest place of settlement, probably dating back to the third millennium BCE.<ref name=":3" /> During excavations that took place in 1989, ceramic items, terracotta figurines, coins, bone and stone objects were found that date to the fourth century BCE.<ref name=":3" /> The fortification wall and bastion that are built at this acropolis uses a style of masonry, commonly known as the Greek word {{Lang|grc|ἔμπλεκτον|italic=no}} (meaning "woven").<ref name=":3" /> This style of masonry was likely used for weight-bearing purposes.

The Acropolis at Halieis dates back to the Neolithic and Classical periods.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|last=J. Pullen|first=David|title=The Prehistoric Remains of the Acropolis at Halieis: A Final Report|publisher=Hesperia: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens Vol. 69 No. 2|year=2000|pages=133, 134, 135}}</ref> It included a fortified wall, sanctuary of Apollo (two temples, an altar, a race course), and necropolis (cemetery).<ref name=":12"/> This acropolis was the highest point of fortification on the south edge at Halieis. There was a small open-air cult space, including an altar and monuments.<ref name=":12"/>

The Ankara Acropolis, which was set in modern-day Turkey, is a historically prominent space that has changed over time through the urban development of the country from the Phrygian period.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last1=Sahin Güçhan|first1=Neriman|last2=Demiröz|first2=Merve|date=2021|title=Urban Conservation Legacy of the Turkish Planning System: Tracing Spatial Change in the Ankara Acropolis, from 1923 Onwards|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/02665433.2020.1753102|journal=Planning Perspectives|volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=337–362 |doi=10.1080/02665433.2020.1753102 |bibcode=2021PlPer..36..337D |s2cid=218820478 }}</ref> This acropolis was well known as a spot for holy worshipping, and was symbolic of the time. It has also been a place that has historically recognized the legislative changes that Turkey has faced.<ref name=":5" />  

The Acropolis of La Blanca was created in Guatemala as a small ancient Maya settlement and archaeological site that is located adjacent to the Salsipuedes River.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last1=Montuori|first1=R.|last2=Gilabert-Sansalvador|first2=L.|last3=L. Rosado-Torres|first3=A.|date=2020|title=3D Printing for Dissemination of Maya Architectural Heritage: The Acropolis of La Blanca (Guatemala)|url=https://www.int-arch-photogramm-remote-sens-spatial-inf-sci.net/XLIV-M-1-2020/481/2020/isprs-archives-XLIV-M-1-2020-481-2020.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.int-arch-photogramm-remote-sens-spatial-inf-sci.net/XLIV-M-1-2020/481/2020/isprs-archives-XLIV-M-1-2020-481-2020.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|journal=The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences|volume=XLIV-M}}</ref> This acropolis developed as a place of residence for the city of La Blanca's rulers.<ref name=":6" /> Its main period of usage was during the Classical period of 600 AD to 850 AD, as the city developed as a commercial place of trade among a number of nearby settlements.<ref name=":6" />

The Mayan Acropolis site in Guatemala included a burial site and vaulted tombs of the highest status royal.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last1=Fitzsimmons L.|first1=James|last2=Scherer|first2=Andrew|last3=D. Houston|first3=Stephen|last4=L. Escobedo|first4=Héctor|date=2003|title=Guardian of the Acropolis: The Sacred Space of a Royal Burial at Piedras Negras, Guatemala|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3557578|journal=Latin American Antiquity|volume=14|issue=4 |pages=449–468 |doi=10.2307/3557578 |jstor=3557578 |s2cid=163269121 }}</ref> This funerary structure was integrated into this sacred landscape, and illustrated the prosperity of power between the royal figures of Pedras Negras in Guatemala.<ref name=":7" />

== Modern-day uses ==

=== Tourism ===
Acropolises today have become the epicenters of tourism and attraction sites in many modern-day Greek cities. The Athenian Acropolis, in particular, is the most famous, and has the best vantage point in Athens, Greece. Today, tourists can purchase tickets to visit the Athenian Acropolis, including walking, sightseeing, and bus tours, as well as a classic Greek dinner.

===Cultural ties===
[[File:Quads at Columbia - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Columbia University]] in [[Morningside Heights, Manhattan]]]]
Because of its classical [[Hellenistic]] and Greco-Roman style, the ruins of [[Mission San Juan Capistrano|Mission San Juan Capistrano's]] Great Stone Church in [[California|California, United States]] has been called an American Acropolis.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hill|first=Veronica|date=2008|title=American Acropolis: Tour the majestic Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano|work=Daily Press|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=ITBC&u=mlin_c_collhc&id=GALE%7CA174569820&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco|access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> The civilization developed its religious, educational, and cultural aspects of the acropolis, and is used today as a location that holds events, such as operas.

The neighborhood of [[Morningside Heights, Manhattan|Morningside Heights]] in New York City is commonly referred to as the "Academic Acropolis" due to its high elevation and the concentration of educational institutions in the area, including [[Columbia University]] and its affiliates, [[Barnard College]], [[Teachers College, Columbia University|Teachers College]], [[Union Theological Seminary (New York City)|Union Theological Seminary]] and the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America]]; [[Manhattan School of Music]]; [[Bank Street College of Education]]; and [[New York Theological Seminary]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Gregory |first=Steven |date=2019 |title=Making the "American Acropolis": On Verticality, Hierarchy, and the Obduracy of Manhattan Schist |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24694452.2019.1625746 |journal= Annals of the American Association of Geographers|volume=110 |issue=1 |pages=78–97 |doi=10.1080/24694452.2019.1625746 |s2cid=201401410 }}</ref> The analogy is also aided by the [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] architecture of the Columbia University campus, which was designed by [[McKim, Mead & White]] in the early 20th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cohen |first=Brigid |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AkR3EAAAQBAJ&dq=academic+acropolis+neoclassical+architecture+columbia&pg=PA82 |title=Musical Migration and Imperial New York: Early Cold War Scenes |date=2022-05-05 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-81801-6 |pages=82 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Excavations ===
Much of the modern-day uses of acropolises have been discovered through excavations that have developed over the course of many years. For example, the Athenian Acropolis includes a Great Temple that holds the Parthenon, a specific space for ancient worship. Through today's findings and research, the Parthenon treasury is able to be recognized as the west part of the structure (the Erechtheion), as well as the Parthenon itself.<ref name=":03"/> Most excavations have been able to provide archaeologists with samples of pottery, ceramics, and vessels. The excavation of the Acropolis of Halieis produced remains that provided context that dated the Acropolis at Halieis from the Final Neolithic period through the first Early Helladic period.<ref name=":12"/>

==See also==
* [[Acropolis of Rhodes]]
* [[Acropolis Palaiokastro]]
* [[Idjang]]
* [[Tell (archaeology)]]
* [[Hillfort]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100507212643/http://www.i-live.gr/news-akropolis-museum-internet/ Acropolis Museum]
* [http://travels.co.ua/engl/greece/athens/acropolis/index.html Acropolis: description, photo album]
* {{commons-inline}}
* [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2384 The Acropolis of Athens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024154934/http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2384 |date=24 October 2019 }} (Greek Government website)
* [http://www.ysma.gr/en/ The Acropolis Restoration Project] (Greek Government website)
* [https://www.discovergreekculture.com/tours/the-acropolis-a-walk-through-history/ The Acropolis: A Walk Through History]
* [http://www.parthenonfrieze.gr The Parthenon Frieze] (Hellenic Ministry of Culture web site)
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/404 UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Acropolis, Athens]

{{Ancient Greece topics}}

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[[Category:Acropoleis in Greece| ]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek architecture]]
[[Category:Culture of Greece]]
[[Category:Archaeological terminology]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek fortifications]]