The most important and most famous site in all of Greece, it is situated some 156 metres above sea level, thus earning its name of "high city," a literal translation of its Greek moniker. In most Greek cities, these kinds of elevated settlements had a defensive function and also housed the temples of worship.
The Parthenon was build within the Acropolis between 447 and 438 BC and is the most symbolic structure throughout all of ancient Greece. It consists of a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and is one of few important Doric constructions that have survived.
It was the center of social, political and commercial life in ancient Greece. As the nerve center of the city, the Ágora served three main functions. On the one hand it was the center of government, where citizens discussed the laws and the form of government. On the other, it was a sacred place where the temples of the gods of Olympus were located. Lastly, it fulfilled an important function as a market, where the Athenians could exchange objects and spices.