The Ottoman Rule of Athens and How it Shaped the Topography of the Acropolis

Summary

This poster will discuss the topographical changes of the Athenian Acropolis and how it affected the city’s identity. The Acropolis is an iconic monument defining Athens as a city. It was erected in pre-classical times, and has been the center of religious festivals and the city itself ever since. In 1453 the Ottoman Turks conquered Athens and made it their own. Most monuments, including the Acropolis, were altered to fit the Turkish lifestyle, giving the monuments a different function than the glorified Classical period. This was horrific for the Athenians because they viewed the Classical times as a Golden era, and did not want to see it fade. All churches were turned into mosques, Turks became neighbors to Athenians, and most importantly, Christians were not allowed on the Acropolis.

Today, tourists can visit the Acropolis and see the changes made during the Turkish rule.The easiest to spot is the caved-in roof and destroyed wall of the Parthenon. Due to its significant influence on the city, I’ve chosen to focus on the three main monuments on the Acropolis; the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Propylaea. I will discuss the changes made and how the effects were felt throughout Athens.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17279