whiteness of the marble was relieved by brilliant colours； and rendered still more dazzling by the transparent clearness of the Athenian atmosphere。 It was surrounded with walls； and the surface seems to have been divided into terraces communicating with one another by steps。 The only approach to it was from the Agora on its western side at the top of a magnificent flight of marble steps； 70 feet broad； stood the Propylaea； constructed under the auspices of Pericles； and which served as a suitable entrance to the exquisite works within。 The Propylaea were themselves one of the masterpieces of Athenian art。 They were entirely of Pentelic marble； and covered the whole of the western end of the Acropolis； having a breadth of 168 feet。 The central portion of them consisted of two porticoes； of which the western one faced the city； and the eastern one the interior of the Acropolis； each consisting of a front of six fluted Doric columns。 This central part of the building was 58 feet in breadth； but the remaining breadth of the rock at this point was covered by two wings； which projected 26 feet in front of the western portico。 Each of these wings was in the form of a Doric temple。 The northern one； or that on the left of a person ascending the Acropolis； was called the PINACOTHECA； from its walls being covered with paintings。 The southern wing consisted only of a porch or open gallery。 Immediately before its western front stood the little temple of Nike Apteros already mentioned。
On passing through the Propylaea all the glories of the Acropolis became visible。 The chief building was the Parthenon （I。E。 House of the Virgin）； the most perfect production of Grecian architecture。 It derived its name from its being the temple of Athena Parthenos； or Athena the Virgin； the invincible goddess of war。 It was also called HECATOMPEDON； from its breadth of 100 feet。 It was built under the administration of Pericles； and was completed in B。C。 438。 The Parthenon stood on the highest part of the Acropolis near its centre； and probably occupied the site of an earlier temple destroyed by the Persians。 It was entirely of Pentelic marble； on a rustic basement of ordinary limestone； and its architecture； which was of the Doric order； was of the purest kind。 Its dimensions were about 228 feet in length； 101 feet in breadth； and 66 feet in height to the top of the pediment。 It consisted of a cella； surrounded by a peristyle。 The cella was divided into two chambers of unequal size； the eastern one of which was about 98 feet long； and the western one about 43 feet。 The ceiling of both these chambers was supported by rows of columns。 The whole building was adorned with the most exquisite sculptures； executed by various artists under the direction of Phidias。 These consisted of； 1。 The sculptures in the tympana of the pediments （I。E。 the inner portion of the triangular gable ends of the roof above the two porticoes）； each of which was filled with about 24 colossal figures。 The group in the eastern or principal front represented the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus； and the western the contest between Athena and Poseidon （Neptune） for the land of Attica。 2。 The metopes between the triglyphs in the frieze of the entablature （I。E。 the upper of the two portions into which the space between the columns and the roof is divided） were filled with sculptures in high relief； representing a variety of subjects relating to Athena herself； or to the indigenous heroes of Attica。 Each tablet was 4 feet 3 inches square。 Those on the south side related to the battle of the Athenians with the Centaurs。 One of the metopes is figured below。 3。 The frieze which ran along outside the wall of the cella； and within the external columns which surround the building； at the same height and parallel with the metopes； was sculptured with a representation of the Panathenaic festival in very low relief。 This frieze was 3 feet 4 inches in height； and 520 feet in length。 A small portion of the frieze is also figured below。 A large number of the slabs of the frieze； together with sixteen metopes from the south side； and several of the statues of the pediments； were brought to England by Lord Elgin； of whom they were purchased by the nation and deposited in the British Museum。
But the chief wonder of the Parthenon was the colossal statue of the Virgin Goddess executed by Phidias himself； which stood in the eastern or principal chamber of the cella。 It was of the sort called CHRYSELEPHANTINE； a kind of work said to have been invented by Phidias in which ivory was substituted for marble in those parts which were uncovered； while the place of the real drapery was supplied with robes and other ornaments of solid gold。 Its height； including the base； was nearly 40 feet。 It represented the goddess standing； clothed with a tunic reaching to the ankles； with a spear in her left hand； and an image of Victory in her right。
The Acropolis was adorned with another colossal figure of Athena； in bronze； also the work of Phidias。 It stood in the open air； nearly opposite the Propylaea； and was one of the first objects seen after passing through the gates of the latter。 With its pedestal it must have stood about 70 feet high； and consequently towered above the roof of the Parthenon； so that the point of its spear and the crest of its helmet were visible off the promontory of Sunium to ships approaching Athens。 It was called the 〃Athena Promachus；〃 because it represented the goddess armed； and in the very attitude of battle。
The only other monument on the summit of the Acropolis which it is necessary to describe is the Erechtheum； or temple of Erechtheus。 The traditions respecting Erechtheus vary； but according to one set of them he was identical with the god Poseidon。 He was worshipped in his temple under the name of Poseidon Erechtheus； and from the earliest times was associated with Athena as one of the two protecting deities of Athens。 The original Erechtheum was burnt by the Persians； but the new temple was erected on the ancient site。 This could not have been otherwise； for on this spot was the sacred olive…tree which Athena evoked from the earth in her contest with Poseidon； and also the well of salt…water which Poseidon produced by a stroke of his trident； the impression of which was seen upon the rock。 The building was also called the temple of Athena Polias； because it contained a separate sanctuary of the goddess； as well as her most ancient statue。 The building of the new Erechtheum was not commenced till the Parthenon and Propylaea were finished； and probably not before the year preceding the breaking out of the Peloponnesian war。 Its progress was no doubt delayed by that event； and it was probably not completed before 393 B。C。 When finished it presented one of the finest models of the Ionic order； as the Parthenon was of the Doric； It stood to the north of the latter building and close to the northern wall of the Acropolis。 The form of the Erechtheum differed from every known example of a Grecian temple。 Usually a Grecian temple was an oblong figure with a portico at each extremity。 The Erechtheum； on the contrary； though oblong in shape and having a portico at the eastern or principal front； had none at its western end； where； however； a portico projected north and south from either side； thus forming a kind of transept。 This irregularity seems to have been chiefly owing to the necessity of preserving the different sanctuaries and religious objects belonging to the ancient temple。 A view of it is given opposite。 The roof of the southern portico； as shown in the view； was supported by six Caryatides。
Such were the principal objects which adorned the Acropolis at the time of which we are now speaking。 Their general appearance will be best gathered from the engraving on the Frontispiece。
Before quitting the city of Athens； there are two or three other objects of interest which must be briefly described。 First； the Dionysiac theatre； which occupied the slope at the south…eastern extremity of the Acropolis。 The middle of it was excavated out of the rock； and the rows of seats ascended in curves one above another； the diameter increasing with the height。 It was no doubt sufficiently large to accommodate the whole body of Athenian citizens； as well as the strangers who flocked to Athens during the Dionysiac festival； but its dimensions cannot now be accurately ascertained。 It had no roof； but the spectators were probably protected from the sun by an awning； and from their elevated seats they had a distinct view of the sea； and of the peaked hills of Salamis in the horizon。 Above them rose the Parthenon and the other buildings of the Acropolis； so that they sat under the shadow of the ancestral gods of the country。
The Areopagus； or Hill of Ares （Mars）； was a rocky height opposite the western end of the Acropolis； from which it was separated only by some hollow ground。 It derived its name from the tradition that Ares （Mars） was brought to trial here before the assembled gods； by Poseidon （Neptune）； for murdering Halirrhothius the son of the latter。 It was here that the Council of Areopagus met； frequently called the Upper Counci