The Acropolis Museum is located on the historical Acropolis of Athens and houses some of the most important relics and sculptures of the ancient Greek era. It is a relatively new museum, which was opened in 2009, with main purpose to house significant finds from the Sacred Rock archaeological site.
The museum is huge, having three levels that exhibit various collections, which include original pieces from the temple of Acropolis, sacred sculptures from the temple of Athena Polias, sculptures of Archaic buildings, sculptures from the temple of Athena Nike, and several other findings. In addition to the building, there is an archeological excavation site that lies at the foundations of the building, which is also part of the museum.
What To See In Acropolis Museum
1) The Ruins Of Ancient Athenian Neighborhood
The Acropolis Museum is home to several finds that were recovered from the ancient Athenian city, during an excavation that took place before the construction of the museum. In addition to these finds, visitors touring the museum can also get a scenic view of the ruins of the ancient Athens city, which were artistically integrated into the museum. One can see the ruins of the museum as he enters, by looking through the plexi-glass floor, or from different points on the upper floors of the museum buildings.
2) The Foyer Gallery
The foyer gallery is located on the ground floor of the Acropolis Museum, and it houses various finds recovered from the sanctuaries from the slopes of the Acropolis. The gallery features an ascending glass floor, which emulates the climb of the ancient Greeks when going up the sacred hill. It also provides you with a breathtaking view of the ruins found below the museum. In addition to the Acropolis finds, the foyer gallery also houses various objects that were used in day to day lives of the ancient Greeks. Some of the items that you can find exhibited here, include painted vases, objects recovered from sanctuaries that were used in the worship of gods, and objects recovered from the excavation of ancient Greek settlements.
3) The Archaic Gallery
Located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum, the Archaic gallery houses a myriad of statues, most of them being votive offerings, offered to the ancient Greek goddess, Athena. Some of the finds, that are on display in the gallery, include statues and depictions of young women with beautiful clothing and intricate braids (a trend that was popular in the 6th century), statues of male figures, marble objects, bronze figurines and artifacts, discovered in the ruins of the temple, and clay offerings. The gallery also houses magnificent sculptures that used to grace the first temples built on the Acropolis.
4) The Parthenon Gallery
On the third floor of the Acropolis Museum is the Parthenon gallery. The gallery is a glass foyer that is built in alignment with the Parthenon temple, and it is basically a replica of the cella of Parthenon, whose ruins can be seen from the gallery. It showcases various sculptures recovered from the temple, including the famous Parthenon Frieze and Metopes that depict the Panathenaic Procession. In addition to the original pediments, the gallery also exhibits replicas of the missing pieces, which are currently housed in the British Museum, after they were taken from the Acropolis by Lord Elgin in the 19th century.
Inside the museum, there is also an affordable restaurant that offers very great views, as well as a great museum shop where you can buy souvenirs to take back home.