The Acropolis Of Athens Quiz

1. Like most temples in Greece, the Parthenon was also used as a treasury.

True

False

True. Like many temples in ancient Greece, the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens was indeed used as a treasury. It housed significant amounts of wealth, both in the form of offerings to the goddess Athena and as a secure place to store the financial reserves of the Delian League, which was later transferred to the Acropolis from Delos.

Explanation

True. Like many temples in ancient Greece, the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens was indeed used as a treasury. It housed significant amounts of wealth, both in the form of offerings to the goddess Athena and as a secure place to store the financial reserves of the Delian League, which was later transferred to the Acropolis from Delos.

2. Which order are the columns on the Parthenon?

Doric

Ionic

Corinthian

There were also two internal colonnades in the cella to support the roof. Although the order of the columns was doric, the frieze running around the cella walls is ionic.

Explanation

There were also two internal colonnades in the cella to support the roof. Although the order of the columns was doric, the frieze running around the cella walls is ionic.

3. Although the buildings on the Acropolis were not planned to follow any strict orientation like the Romans preferred, which way were the Parthenon, the old Temple of Athena, the Erechtheum and the Propylea roughly orientated along their long axis?

North-South

East-West

The buildings on the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, the old Temple of Athena, the Erechtheum, and the Propylea, were roughly oriented along their long axis in an East-West direction. This means that the buildings were aligned in a way that their longer sides faced towards the East and West.

Explanation

The buildings on the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, the old Temple of Athena, the Erechtheum, and the Propylea, were roughly oriented along their long axis in an East-West direction. This means that the buildings were aligned in a way that their longer sides faced towards the East and West.

4. What is at the highest point of the Acropolis?

Temple of Athena Nike

Parthenon

Altar of Athena

The Parthenon is located at the highest point of the Acropolis. It is a famous ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. The temple is considered a masterpiece of classical architecture and is renowned for its intricate design and historical significance. It is a symbol of ancient Greece and stands as a testament to the cultural and artistic achievements of the time.

Explanation

The Parthenon is located at the highest point of the Acropolis. It is a famous ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. The temple is considered a masterpiece of classical architecture and is renowned for its intricate design and historical significance. It is a symbol of ancient Greece and stands as a testament to the cultural and artistic achievements of the time.

5. What does the word 'acropolis' actually mean?

Sacred mount

Sky city

Highest city

The rock was the original citadel and defence for the settlements on the plains of Attica

Explanation

The rock was the original citadel and defence for the settlements on the plains of Attica

6. The monumental marble gateway to the Acropolis is called the __________

The gateway was formed of two parallel walls in 2 wings of colonnades, the north one serving as a picture gallery. It marked the transition from the everyday into the sacred temple complex. The six columns of the central section had the same proportions (not size) to the Parthenon. The central section, known as the 'gate wall' was two thirds the way down the columned passage. The structure was necessary to control entry into the Acropolis, which as a sacred area, unclean wrongdoers and runaway slaves could not enter to claim the god's protection. It is also the first building known to have both Doric and Ionic orders. People ascended towards the Propylea, which acted as the grand finale to the Sacred Way.

Explanation

The gateway was formed of two parallel walls in 2 wings of colonnades, the north one serving as a picture gallery. It marked the transition from the everyday into the sacred temple complex. The six columns of the central section had the same proportions (not size) to the Parthenon. The central section, known as the 'gate wall' was two thirds the way down the columned passage. The structure was necessary to control entry into the Acropolis, which as a sacred area, unclean wrongdoers and runaway slaves could not enter to claim the god's protection. It is also the first building known to have both Doric and Ionic orders. People ascended towards the Propylea, which acted as the grand finale to the Sacred Way.

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7. Athena was worshipped as the goddess of victory in war in this small temple, the _________

This was one of the earliest temples on the Acropolis to be built entirely in the ionic order. The cult statue stood within the cella.

Explanation

This was one of the earliest temples on the Acropolis to be built entirely in the ionic order. The cult statue stood within the cella.

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8. What is the largest theatre built onto the lower slopes of the Acropolis Rock? The _______

The open-air theatre was used for festivals to honour the God Dionysus, the patron of wine and drama. It was part of the sacred complex or 'temenos' of Dionysus and was next to a temple dedicated to him. It could hold up to 25,000 people who would watch the sacred stories of the god being performed.

Explanation

The open-air theatre was used for festivals to honour the God Dionysus, the patron of wine and drama. It was part of the sacred complex or 'temenos' of Dionysus and was next to a temple dedicated to him. It could hold up to 25,000 people who would watch the sacred stories of the god being performed.

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9. The Parthenon is thought of as the most perfect Doric temple ever built. There is a subtle relationship between the curvature of the stylobate, taper of the noas walls and the _______ which creates a slight bulge in the columns.

A possible reason for the entasis was to correct the optical illusion of two parallel lines bowing when intersected by other lines. Therefore the entasis would make the building seem more rectilinear.

The curve of the stylobate - platform on which the columns stand was intended to shed the rainwater off the face of the building more effectively

Explanation

A possible reason for the entasis was to correct the optical illusion of two parallel lines bowing when intersected by other lines. Therefore the entasis would make the building seem more rectilinear.

The curve of the stylobate - platform on which the columns stand was intended to shed the rainwater off the face of the building more effectively

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10. Which of these statements about the Erechtheun are true?

The complex design is due to the need to preserve the adjacent sacred buildings

Its design in plan is based upon the ancient symbols for the Godess Athena

The temple housed some of the oldest and most sacred Athenian relics including the marks of Poseidon's trident

The south has the famed 'porch of the maidens' with six caryatids as supporting columns and is built entirely from marble.

Explanation

The south has the famed 'porch of the maidens' with six caryatids as supporting columns and is built entirely from marble.

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