Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis of Athens is a rocky, flat-topped limestone outcrop rising one hundred and fifty meters above sea level, crowned by the weathered marble remains of ancient temples. While the term describes any high-altitude citadel in Greece, this site served as the primary religious and defensive center of ancient Athens, famously hosting the Parthenon. Its current appearance is the result of a massive building program commissioned by the statesman Pericles during the fifth century BCE to showcase the city's power after the Persian Wars.