Center of the City

At the center of many towns and cities in ancient Greece was a hill or rocky mound called an acropolis.  Acropolis is a Greek word meaning "high city", or in other words, the highest point/hill in the city.   People would retreat to the acropolis in times of attack or danger.  In earlier times, palaces were sometimes constructed on top of the acropolis, but later, temples were built there.  On the hill, the temples stood out and could be easily protected.

The most famous acropolis was in Athens. In 480 BCE/BC, the temples on top of the Acropolis were destroyed by the Persians. They were left in ruins as a war memorial.  However, by the second half of the fifth century BCE/BC, Athens had grown wealthy.   Under the leadership of Perikles, the citizens agreed to a huge construction project and the design of new temples.

The goddess Athena, the main patron goddess of Athens, continued to be worshipped on the Acropolis, along with other gods and heroes.