Athenian Gallery

Socrates, (c470-399 BC), 1830. Creator: Unknown

Socrates, (c470-399 BC), 1830. Socrates (c470-399 BC) Athenian moral philosopher influential in Western ethical traditions of thought. Served as a hoplite in the Peloponnesian War, irritating people with considerations of justice, his paradoxical wisdom made prominent Athenians look foolish. Found guilty at trial of impiety and was required to poison himself with hemlock. From "Biographical Illustrations", by Alfred Howard. [Thomas Tegg, R. Griffin and Co. J. Cumming, London, Glasgow and Dublin, 1830]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The multi-headed monster Typhon, Ancient Greek, from the period of Solon, c640-560 BC

The multi-headed monster Typhon, Ancient Greek, from the period of Solon, c640-560 BC. Porous limestone and pigment figure from the Hecatompedon (the old Parthenon) of Athens. The multi-headed monster Typhon whose torso terminate in the body of a dragon. He holds birds, sparks of fire and stylised waves in his hands. From the Acropolis Museum, Athens

© Werner Forman Archive/ Acropolis Museum, Athens / Heritage-Images

Erechtheion, Athens, Greece, c1924

Erechtheion, Athens, Greece, c1924. The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the Acropolis of Athens in Greece, that was built in honour of the legendary King Erechtheus. The temple as seen today was built between 421-407 BC, and its architect may have been Mnesicles. On the north side, there is a large porch with columns, and on the south, the famous Porch of the Maidens, with six draped female figures known as caryatids (meaning: Maidens of Karyae') as supporting columns, each sculpted in a manner different from the rest and engineered in such a way that their slenderest part, the neck, is capable of supporting the weight of the porch roof whilst remaining graceful and feminine. The Acropolis of Athens was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. A print from Countries of the World, edited by JA Hammerton, first volume, The Fleetway House, London, c1924

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images