The Hill of the Muses (Mouseion)
The Hill of the Muses, or Mouseion (200φ MC, 147 m above sea level), is located SW of the Acropolis, to the south of the Hill of the Pnyx. The hill was dedicated to the Muses but there was also a tradition that Mousaios, a friend and student of Orpheus, lived and died there.
Photo taken on September 14, 2002
As we approach the hill from the Acropolis, we find Socrates' prison in the foothills carved in the bedrock. It is about 80 m south of the Byzantine church of Haghios Demetrios.
Dipylon above the Gates (south side)
In front of the church is an ancient gate called "Dipylon above the Gates" and the "diateichisma" (inter-wall) that crosses the Pnyx (behind) and ends at the top of the Hill of the Muses (left). Part of the diateihisma can be seen behind these stones.
Kimon's tomb
About 70 m beyond the church and the gate (west) is Kimon's tomb (on the left) carved in the bedrock.
Koele
Beyond Kimon's tomb is the ancient deme (municipality) of Koele (or Koili) between the two hills.
Near the gate there is an ascending path along the diateichisma that leads to the summit of the hill. This photo shows the part about 100 m before the top. The wall was built by the Athenians at the end of the 4th century BC and had square and circular towers. One of these is to the left of the picture.
Mousaios' monument
The monument of Philopappos on the summit of the Hill of the Muses.
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