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It's the first day of summer and during a heat wave here in Athens. Earlier, The Propylaea / Propylaia entrance to the Acropolis was crowded with guests waiting to go in. Now, after all day, this is what the The Propylaea / Propylaia looks like with out all the people waiting in line. Amazing architecture and design. And to think even after so many wars and natural disasters, the construction has mostly lasted a really long time. Thousands of years, in fact. Compare that to modern-day buildings that may barely last 100 years or less. Not to mention, most new developments do not have the aesthetic beauty and design that the ancients built into almost everything.

And now, here's a little history:

The Propylaea (or Propylaia) on the Acropolis in Athens served as the monumental entrance to the sacred area.
It was built as a grand and imposing gateway to the Acropolis, which housed temples and monuments dedicated to the gods. Visitors approaching the Acropolis in ancient times would have passed through the Propylaea to enter the sacred precinct.
While it functioned as the primary entrance, controlling access to the Acropolis, it was also a magnificent architectural achievement, designed by Mnesicles to be both functional and visually stunning. Its grandeur served as a statement of Athenian power and cultural sophistication.
Therefore, the Propylaea can be considered the main entrance to the Acropolis.

The Acropolis has been inhabited since the Bronze Age (around 2000 BCE), but significant construction began in the 5th century BCE during the Classical period.

The Acropolis of Athens has a history spanning thousands of years, with evidence of habitation dating back to the Neolithic period (around 6000 years ago). The Mycenaean civilization fortified the hill in the Bronze Age, and the Periclean Acropolis, featuring the Parthenon, Propylaea, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike, was built in the 5th century BC.
Here's a more detailed timeline:
Neolithic Period (5000-4000 BC): First evidence of human presence on the Acropolis hill.
Mycenaean Period (1600-1100 BC): Fortification and palace construction by the Mycenaeans.
Archaic Period (6th century BC): First monumental temples begin to be built.
Classical Period (5th century BC): The Periclean building program, resulting in the iconic structures we see today.
Later periods: The Acropolis continued to be used and modified throughout subsequent periods, including Roman and Byzantine times.