DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0022
AS SANCTUARY, CITADEL AND RESIDENCE 3
forming huge caverns and fissures in the sides of the hills.
These erosions probably account for the existence of hills
and valleys which may have originally formed one plateau.
;Plato(2) seems to have believed that these depressions and
elevations were caused in part by an earthquake. But the
more likely cause is the gradual undermining of the hills
by the action of torrents and the subsidence of the places
Jfhus undermined, a process which may be seen in the
neighboring hill of Areopagus. Of these hills the Acropolis
was much the most suitable for planting a settlement, both
By reason of its position and the extent of its area. The
other famous citadels of Greece are either massive and
somewhat high mountains, like Acro-Corinthus or Mount
home, in the case of which intercourse with the city at
Pie foot is inconvenient, or they lack the requisite height
ipr defense, as in the case of the Cadmeia of Thebes and
the Acropolis of Sparta. The Athenian citadel had by
nature the desired height and extent suitable for the
Jfbundation of a settlement. The Acropolis rock rises about
70 metres (230 ft.) above the surrounding plain and
bout 156 metres (512 ft.) above the level of the sea.
It is precipitous and inaccessible on the north, south, and
"east sides, where the native rock rises almost perpendicularly
above lower tedges to a height of nearly 30 metres (98 ft.).
Only on the west side is there a slope towards the valley
below, which separates the Acropolis from the lower hill
of Ares (the Areopagus) lying adjacent to the northwest.
It was accordingly from the west side that the top of
the Acropolis was reached and it was on this side that
its strongest defenses were built.
In form the Acropolis is an irregular polygon of very
uneven surface, rising somewhat toward the east and extending
from west to east in its greatest length (exclusive of the
ascent) about 270 metres (886 ft). With the artificial exten-
sion of the surface at the south side, which will be spoken of
pore fully in another connection, the greatest breadth of the
Acropolis is about 156 metres (512 ft).
Originally the rock must have presented a very different
appearance and a much more irregular form. Numerous
projections and hollows, jags and fissures, especially towards
forming huge caverns and fissures in the sides of the hills.
These erosions probably account for the existence of hills
and valleys which may have originally formed one plateau.
;Plato(2) seems to have believed that these depressions and
elevations were caused in part by an earthquake. But the
more likely cause is the gradual undermining of the hills
by the action of torrents and the subsidence of the places
Jfhus undermined, a process which may be seen in the
neighboring hill of Areopagus. Of these hills the Acropolis
was much the most suitable for planting a settlement, both
By reason of its position and the extent of its area. The
other famous citadels of Greece are either massive and
somewhat high mountains, like Acro-Corinthus or Mount
home, in the case of which intercourse with the city at
Pie foot is inconvenient, or they lack the requisite height
ipr defense, as in the case of the Cadmeia of Thebes and
the Acropolis of Sparta. The Athenian citadel had by
nature the desired height and extent suitable for the
Jfbundation of a settlement. The Acropolis rock rises about
70 metres (230 ft.) above the surrounding plain and
bout 156 metres (512 ft.) above the level of the sea.
It is precipitous and inaccessible on the north, south, and
"east sides, where the native rock rises almost perpendicularly
above lower tedges to a height of nearly 30 metres (98 ft.).
Only on the west side is there a slope towards the valley
below, which separates the Acropolis from the lower hill
of Ares (the Areopagus) lying adjacent to the northwest.
It was accordingly from the west side that the top of
the Acropolis was reached and it was on this side that
its strongest defenses were built.
In form the Acropolis is an irregular polygon of very
uneven surface, rising somewhat toward the east and extending
from west to east in its greatest length (exclusive of the
ascent) about 270 metres (886 ft). With the artificial exten-
sion of the surface at the south side, which will be spoken of
pore fully in another connection, the greatest breadth of the
Acropolis is about 156 metres (512 ft).
Originally the rock must have presented a very different
appearance and a much more irregular form. Numerous
projections and hollows, jags and fissures, especially towards