Acropolis

:This article is about to acropoleis in general. For the best-known example of the kind, see Acropolis, Athens.

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Acropolis (Gr. akros, top, polis, city), literally the upper part of a town. For purposes of defence early settlers naturally chose elevated ground, frequently a hill with precipitous sides, and these early citadels became in many parts of the world the nuclei of large cities which grew up on the surrounding lower ground.

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The word "Acropolis", though Greek in origin and associated primarily with Greek cities (Athens, Argos, Thebes, and Corinth), may be applied generically to all such citadels (Rome, Jerusalem, Celtic Bratislava, many in Asia Minor, or even Castle Hill at Edinburgh).

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The most famous example of the kind is the Acropolis of Athens, which, by reason of its historical associations and the famous buildings erected upon it, is generally known without qualification as simply "The Acropolis".

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Because of its classical Greco-Roman style, the ruins of Mission San Juan Capistrano's "Great Stone Church" (in California, United States) have been dubbed the American Acropolis.

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Other parts of the world developed other names for the high citadel or alcazar, which often reinforced a naturally strong site. In Central Italy, many small rural communes still cluster at the base of a fortified habitation known as "La Rocca" of the commune.

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Athens: Athens (Greek: ?????, Ath?na; IPA ) is the capital of Greece, and of the Attica prefecture of Greece. Modern Athens is a large and cosmopolitan city; Ancient Athens was a powerful city-state and renowned center of learning. It is named after its patron goddess, Athena. Athens is located at 38? North...

Thebes: Two important places in antiquity were called Thebes:...

Corinth: Corinth, or Korinth (????????; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a Greek city, on the Isthmus of Corinth, the original isthmus, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. To the west of the isthmus lies the Gulf of Corinth, to the east lies the...

Acropolis related Images and Photos (experimental)

Acropolis Athens	Acropolis Athens Greece	Acropolis Athens Greece	The Acropolis Athens Greece
The Acropolis Lindos Rhodes Greece	Parthenon Acropolis Athens Greece Europe	The Acropolis Unesco World Heritage Site Athens Greece	The Acropolis in Athens in Ancient Greece 1914
Map of the Acropolis of the 2nd City at Troy 1884	Parthenon at Night Acropolis	Parthenon at Night Acropolis	Parthenon at the Acropolis