The Acropolis of Athens Explained with Reconstructions

What's your favorite Ancient Greek building?

Having visited it, it is amazing.
Love the geometry of it, it’s a story in itself.

The Greeks made the elements of the Parthenon curve outward (barrel distortion) to correct for perspective. Or so they say. They were actually correcting for a lens defect, pincushion distortion. Did they use lenses in planning the Parthenon? Today we do not do that. Everything is straight and level and nobody says "look at those lines, they droop downward". I wish the historians or whoever writes the books would set the record straight. By the way, through the use of compound lenses, lenses today can produce straight lines, however the first lenses, which were convex on both sides, produced barrel distortion.

Manuel Bravo Bravo Manuelito hermoso video y magnifica explicacion y venida de un erudito tan inteligente y con tanta bondad como tu enhorabuena y que Dios te cuide

I don’t think a replica like the one in Nashville could be built in the US today.
I never knew it existed. The most beautiful building I’ve ever seen.

I wonder at the history before, ( who made the founations ) and the history after its glory days, ( who removed the later christian Church inside the temple ) and wonder how this knowlage would help the veiwer understand the context of Greek history among many at this location.

There are subtle compound parabolic convex curves running the lengths of main columes that we cant reproduce

Ngl , when i was younger i thought Acropolis was a giant police station. You can tell i don't really like to study history when i was young.

Excellent video!Congratulations!

1000000 like :) good video

Beautiful reconstruction!!

Alexander The Great burned the Persian city of Persepolis as revenge for the Persians burning Athens.

The crowds are amazing. I was there in August 1984, and there were large groups of tourists, but nothing like those shown early in this video. When did you film it?

The dry Greek landscape reminds me so much East San Diego, California 😢 beautiful ✌️

I once chain smoked a whole pack with a 70ish year old man while 18 the base of the acropolis, he had his 2stringed (I wanna say guitar but i know it isn't), best chill ever

Congratulations on your very nice presentation, Manuel! Question: some virtual reconstructions show the sculptural friezes as being fully painted with lifelike colors, while the reconstruction in Nashville shows the figures as unicolored within colored borders. Which version do you believe is truer to what the Parthenon looked like in the 5th century BC?

Like everyone else here, I love the way you have produced this video. The music, cinematic shots, still and in motion. All combined together to make for a very moving visual feast!. Then, add your insightful and knowledgeable commentary!. Just superb!. Just like your surname, Bravo!!!👏👏🎉
But, i am struck by one fact- this is all dedicated to one idea- man. And, the other design influence of the Acropolis' layout of sightlines. And the ONE sightline that is considered eternal and divine from the entry point is the view straight ahead viewing the natural world. The world that Jesus SPOKE into existence. (1 John 1:1-In the beginning was the Word. And the word was with God and the Word was God..." Jesus IS the Word. So, while i stand in amazement at humans can do, I reiterate what the apostle Paul said in the amphitheater in Ephesus--why worship the things made with mens hands. Why not worship HE who made mens hands. Because that which man has made will always crumble. Yet that "perfect" "divine" sightline is STILL looking at the mountains and sky HE created. Which will NEVER stop flourishing until HE says it will Stop. Interesting, huh?

Thank you for interesting information. There is also similar to Parthenon building near the Regensburg - Walhalla. Monument in Donaustauf, Germany.

💘💘💘💘 💡 🏛

Thanks. Do we know what happened to the outside bronze statue of Athena?

Your presentation was very well scripted. Great job.

Magnificently made visualisation, explanation! Great job!

The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

4 8 12 16 > 20 > IVXTLCDM > onto greek hellenes 20 > my four theory

How on Earth did they make the bronze statue of Athena? Are there any records on how this was achieved?

Great job dude. as modern Athenian myself u made me almost cry. We have nothing alike those great ancestors only to admire the remains of this legendary land that happened to be born.. With your passion you are more true Athenian than ourselves.

I want to visit Nashville one day. 😊

Pls make more videos about the classic era! You should visit Pella also in the North!

Thanks for the video! I’ve to go to the real place but Nashville’s building was great to visit.

I revisited this site last year. It hadn't improved or suffered a single item of refurbishment since I visited firstly in 2000.
The Turks do a much more impressive job in restoring their relics.

The Greek gods were real, they were half human and half fallen angel.

why do you pronounce NIKE like the shoe brand, rather than "neeke", as it is pronounced in Greek?

Pericles had many subsequent reincarnations like Louis XIV

Thanks for an amazing production 🙌 ❤️

Thank you for this Hymn ...

Great video!

Never knew about the replica in Nashville, that's neat.

Amazing. Thank you!

The explanation given here seems more credible than that given in my 5th grade history book, i.e. that the building was so precisely leveled the curvature of the earth could be seen in the base.
Something like a long bridge does need to follow the curvature of the earth, rather than being laser-line straight. Otherwise they would be higher at each end than in the center.

Enough with ruins, restore it already!

England , give the stolen Acropolis marbles ,back to Greece where they belong !

Very interesting. I enjoyed my visit there.

Why not put back the statue ?

❤ αρμονικό

My first time in Athens was February 1979 - terrible traffic but no scaffolding then on the temple and the original Caryatids and remaining sculptures were in place , all thankfully now protected in the museums, plus a few friendly cats and the site was uncrowded - I was fortunate to have a professional guide who was wonderful - and your video explains the site exceptionally well! Have since returned to Athens at least 5 or 6 times and every time it’s as magical as the first. My spiritual home and can’t wait to return later this year and hopefully many more times in the future. Also your Delphi video was fantastic - it’s an amazing place too and not to be missed. Thank you so much!

Exceptional presentation and analysis.Congratulations!

Excelente documentário.

Thanks Manuel! But great pity that today's Greeks are useless!!
In Ancient times, there was a huge Temple of Zeus near Areopagitou Street and Siggru Avenue conjunction. There is plenty of space around like a big park!
They could bring the best technicians in the World to rebuilt the huge Temple and make a small Ancient Athens copy in which visitors would come from all places of the World!!
But,
Their mind is in other things...😠
Useless descendants of a glorious Nation!!!

Excellent video. Very knowledgeable. Makes me want to go back and spend more times there. The museum should run this vid on their mini theater.

An amazing structure that cannot be fully appreciated except in person. I would also highly recommend a visit to the Acropolis Museum at the base of the hill where thousands of artifacts are on display.

The Parthenon was in perfect shape until the early 1900’s ….around 1810, the Greeks and Turks were at war. The Turks got word that the Greeks were using the Parthenon as a magazine (a storehouse of explosives). The Parthenon was blown up, and though restored partially, it’s a destroyed building either way. There is a beautiful reproduction Nashville, Tennessee. Colored and fired tiles and all.
Also: look up the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s a perfect example Greek architecture. The terra-cotta statuary are second to none. The curves in the museum and the Antaeus are there to serve.