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After very long period of absence (studies, search for work, you know that stuff :D), I'm glad to present my best project yet:

THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS


Once upon a time I've decited to try to recreate one of ancient architecture masterpieces - Acropolis of Athens. I also needed ideas about our new server's spawn, so it was obvious just to connect these two ideas and start to build.

My dillema was to decide, whether I want to create an exact replica of Acropolis, historically accurate to the closest point possible in Minecraft, or I wanted to create an efficient and functional server spawn. So I've made a compromise - tried to do both, as historically accurate as possible, and as functional as possible within boundaries of historical recreation.
As construction was progressing, I've encountered several problems, like housing our server much needed emplacements, like merchant square, food shop, portals to other places, and a problem of lack of information. For example, I was unable to find any pics of buildings behind Parthenon, between it and Erechteion and behind Erechteion, so I had to make some alterations. Hope you'll not judge me :D

I was building it for a year, almost completely by myself, with a little help of our server crew - Avenger, Franya and Barabashka.

List of structures:
1. Main temple - Parthenon (spawn point)
I've tried to make an exact replica of Parthenon, but I've met an issue of server needs (portals and lack of space), so I had to make a compromise between architecture and server needs (1st pic). So in this project Parthenon is a biorder peripteral temple with minecraft's replica of ionic order used at outside collonade and doric order inside. (second pic). And I hade to change internal layout in order to create emplacements for portals. (pic 3) But it's still very close to original, at least in my own humble opinion. It took me two month to calculate it's proportions, build and decorate the temple with white quartz, whool and terracota. We're playing on a sandbox server without any mods, so we have to use what we have :D

2. Great statue of Athena Parthenos
This great replica of original bronze statue of goddess Athena was built by my coworker Franya, and it serves only decorative needs, just an enormous landmark seen from far distance. Still remarkably well done, isn't it? And and at the foot of this statue grows an olive tree, planted by Athena herself. Pic 4

3. Erechteion
Just as with main temple, I was trying to make an exact replica of original Erechteion, but it was impossible due to server needs - we've placed here our main shop. So I had to compromise again - that's why I'm not showing you the interior ;). Pics 5-6

4. Propylaia
That's where I was able to endulge myself - I've strived to make it as close to original as possible. And, IMHO, it looks AMAZING. Main ceremonial stairs to the Acropolis with a little altar on Nika on the right and server's main library on the left with mosaic Medusa Gorgona on library's wall made by Franya. Pics 7-10

5. Two stoas with portals to server's cities and nether\ender portals
Yet another alteration to original plan of Acropolis, but comlpetely necessary - we've placed in these stoas our exchange boots and additional portals. I've placed them alongside the Main Panathenean road, so they have formed an enseble of a forum-like square in front of the Parthenon. Pics 11 and 12

6. Portal gate to Panathenean road
Just a little cute entrance ^_^ Pic 13

7. Temple of Hephaestus
Also, our main forge. An ionic peripteral temple near Great Statue of Athena Parthenos. Pic 14

8. Statue of a Trojan horse
Carries educational and decorative functions - we are trying to teach ancient history to players of our server, so this wooden horse has a cavity in it's belly just to remind players about Trojan war and create a lovely square near Hephaestus temple. Pic 15

9. Two statues of athenean hoplites
Also carrying educational value and creating lovely square with a little comblock surprise from Zeus :D Located neat Hephaestus temple, pic 16

11. Lion's agora
This merchant roman themed square is located between Parthenon and Erechteion, has got many toll booths with various goods and also another surprise from Zeus, pic 17

12. Altar to All Gods
Another alteration. I could not find any pictures of buildings behind Parthenon, so I've improvised and placed a close-enough replica of altar of Pergamon here, decorated them with dragons (we've got a vampire-plugin, so under those dragons I've placed altars of Light and Shadow). Pic 18

13. Temple of Demeter and Fountain square
Yet another alteration. created to house server's food shop and to solve the problem of empty space behind Erechteion. A square in front of this temple has lovely fountain with dolphin fountain and two horse statues. Pics 19-20