Greece

Acropolis Museum

We went to the Acropolis museum in Athens. The outside of the museum was very modern looking. It has a total area of 25,000 square meters, and is well known for the fantastic original artifacts.

Front entrance to the Acropolis museum in Athens.

As we got closer to the entrance of the museum we could see some ruins that were under the museum building. They had kept areas open for the public to see.

Ancient ruins under the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

There was even a glass floor which you could walk on and see the ruins underneath.

Glass floor at the entrance area of the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
Ancients ruins under the Acropolis museum

The archaeological excavation on display are remnants of an ancient neighbourhood that once stood there. The ruins were complete with a drainage system, bathhouses and mosaics.

We entered the museum and headed to the third floor. We always like to start at the top of a museum and work our way down. On the top floor, there were large windows which provided stunning views of the Acropolis.

Shelley and Ray on the top floor of the Acropolis Museum with a view of the Acropolis in the back

What was quite interesting about the top floor was its design. We discovered that it was made to reflect the size 70 meters long by 31 meters wide and orientation of the Parthenon. It was made so that the displays would reflect the actual location as it would have been in ancient times.

We explored the third floor and can across the floral ‘Akroterion’ which was atop of the Parthenon.  The colour of the pieces indicates if it is original or a plaster addition to complete the piece.

A reconstruction from both original and plaster pieces of the floral ‘Akroterion’ which crowned the top of the east pediment measuring 4 metres high.

There was a model of the pediments, which are the triangular spaces formed by the horizontal and raking cornices of the roof. There was one at each end of the temple.

Shelley beside the model of the pediments,

We then went to see the original pediments which were on display.

Shelley looking at the pediments on display at the Acropolis museum

There was a display of the different metopes that were of the Parthenon.

Metopes on display in the Acropolis Museum

The metopes were on the upper the upper part of Parthenon supported by colonnades.

Details of one of the Metope’s on display

We walked through the rest of the museum looking at the original artifacts that were removed from the Acropolis and put on display at the museum.

Artifacts on display in the Acropolis museum

After exploring the museum, we decided to go and enjoy a glass of wine on the outdoor patio of the museum.

The view from the outdoor patio at the Acropolis museum

It was a very interesting and enjoyable day exploring the Acropolis museum.

“Έχετε μια υπέροχη μέρα, μέχρι την επόμενη φορά.”