North Slope (Klitis)

What I can see

The foothills of the Acropolis rock are dotted with caves, which were used in various ways, from prehistory to late antiquity. Going from west to east, we find the Klepsydra cave (one of the most significant sources of water of the rock), the caves of Hypakraios Apollo (Apollo slept with Creusa, daughter of Erechtheus, who gave birth to Ion, forefather of the Ionians) and of the Olympian and Lighting Zeus. Further down, inside crevices on the rock, people honoured the nymphs and the god Pan. The Athenians used Klepsydra since Mycenaean times as one could reach it in secret, even when the Acropolis was under siege. Further east, inside the next cave, one can find the sanctuary of Aglavro, in honour of the daughter of the mythical king Cecrops. Somewhere under the Erechtheion, there is also the sanctuary of Eros and Aphrodite. If one looks closely on the wall of the Acropolis from this side, one can see architectural parts, belonging to temples destroyed by the Persians. The Athenians placed them here as a monument of Athens’ sack by the Persians.

What I can't see

All these temples were mainly used for popular cults, unlike the temples of Acropolis, which had a more formal purpose. During the Christian years, some ancient sanctuaries were converted into Christian sanctuaries or small Christian churches.

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