Incredible Construction: Greek Acropolis Built by Ancient Engineers to Resist Earthquakes - Classical Wisdom Weekly

By Liz Leafloor, Contributing Writer, Ancient Origins Throughout its 2,500-year history, the ancient ruins of the Acropolis in Greece managed to survive many earthquakes where other, more modern constructions have fallen. How is this possible? Experts now conclude it comes down to skillful construction and accomplished engineering. Kyriazis Pitilakis, Professor of Civil Engineering Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki tells news site Greek Reporter, “This is an incredible construction, using ingenious solutions to insurmountable engineering and construction problems.” Scientists and engineers, puzzled by how the ancient buildings survived the many regional earthquakes, examined the construction of the famous Parthenon and the Athenian citadel in total. Based on their findings, they concluded that the buildings were designed specifically in order to be protected from earthquakes. At a workshop on “Contemporary Interventions in the Athenian Acropolis Monuments” organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, Pitilakis said “The modular columns, other than the fact that they were made to be constructed and transported more easily, they are designed so that they have excellent seismic performance properties.” In effect, the columns were built to withstand earthquakes. The Erechtheion, ancient Greek temple at the Acropolis of Athens. It was dedicated to Poseidon and Athena. Juan Manuel Caicedo/ Flickr It would seem the ancient engineers knew what they were doing in terms of ensuring their creations would last, which is part of the reason we still see them gracing the high, rocky outcrop in Athens. The Acropolis of Athens, proclaimed the “preeminent monument” on the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments, is a sprawling citadel composed of many structures, including the famous Parthenon. Evidence suggests the site was inhabited as early as the fourth millennium B.C., and it has suffered damage due to wars and fire in its long history. Incredibly, the Parthenon was being used to store gunpowder, and a cannonball strike caused a blast that severely damaged the structure in 1687. Famous ancient Greek structure, the Parthenon at night. Andreas Kontokanis/ Flickr The Acropolis of Athens, as seen from Philopappou Hill. A. Savin/Wikimedia Commons Pitilakis explained the importance of the enduring historic site in Athens, saying “The Parthenon condenses all that Greece is and all that it has offered to the Western World in the best way. It stands as a symbol of European culture, a symbol of the principle of measure, of art, technology and human capability. This is because that other than the highest artistic creation, it is also a marvel of mechanical engineering.” Efforts began in 1964 by the Greek government in restoring the Acropolis, and teams of archaeologists, architects, civil engineers and chemists work to preserve the important cultural and historical icon. The World Cultural Council writes of the award-winning restoration by the Athens Acropolis Preservation Group of Greece, observing, “Most of the marble comes from the Greek islands, where there is an age-old tradition of working marble; they now continue the work of their ancestors, using the same methods and same tools, not indeed to create but rather to save a masterpiece which belongs not only to the Greeks but to all humanity.” The post Incredible Construction: Greek Acropolis Built by Ancient Engineers to Resist Earthquakes appeared first on Classical Wisdom Weekly. - Artículo*: plato - Más info en psico@mijasnatural.com / 607725547 MENADEL Psicología Clínica y Transpersonal Tradicional (Pneumatología) en Mijas y Fuengirola, MIJAS NATURAL *No suscribimos necesariamente las opiniones o artículos aquí enlazados
By Liz Leafloor, Contributing Writer, Ancient Origins Throughout its 2,500-year history, the ancient ruins of the Acropolis in Greece managed to survive ma

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Más info en psico@mijasnatural.com / 607725547 MENADEL Psicología Clínica y Transpersonal Tradicional (Pneumatología) en Mijas y Fuengirola, MIJAS NATURAL.

(No suscribimos necesariamente las opiniones o artículos aquí presentados)