Best Archaeological Sites for Percy Jackson Fans in Athens and Rome

Athens, Greece, and Rome, Italy are both pretty much the capital cities for Greek and Roman mythology, so it makes sense they would also be home to some of the best archaeological sites to visit if you are a fan of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Read on to discover which are the places in Athens and in Rome that are a must-see for kids who love the Percy Jackson books!

Which are the top places to visit in Athens if you are into Percy Jackson?

Athens, the capital of Greece, is more than just Greece’s biggest city. It is the birthplace of democracy, western civilization, and dozens of innovations still prevalent today. It is also very relevant to the Percy Jackson books because of its rich Greek mythology background.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis is definitely the number one Percy Jackson stop in Athens. (It’s also the number one spot for all tourists.) The Acropolis is a collection of temples that sits on a hill in the center of modern Athens, just as it did in ancient Greece.

The most famous temple, the Parthenon, will sound familiar to fans who have read The Mark of Athena. The book’s main plot revolves around the Athena Parthenos, the statue that once sat in the Parthenon. Furthermore, fans who have read The Blood of Olympus will know that the Acropolis is the very place where the seven demigods and their godly parents battle the giant army.

In Greek Mythology, the Acropolis is where Athena and Poseidon competed to become the city’s patron god. As Annabeth tells Percy in The Lightning Thief, Athena won (as you can tell by the name of the city).

Your tour guide at the Acropolis will show you the exact spot this competition supposedly happened.

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Acropolis Museum

You can’t visit the Acropolis without also visiting the Acropolis museum. With huge windows that show off a view of the Acropolis itself, the museum has thousands of artifacts all excavated from the Acropolis and the surrounding areas. Plus, the top floor is dedicated to the Parthenon and has many pieces of the original building on display in the order they were on the structure.

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Temple of Zeus

Even though Zeus can be frustrating in the Percy Jackson books, he is undeniably powerful and important. Surely you wouldn’t want to miss out on visiting the temple dedicated to the king of the gods, just a few minutes from the Acropolis. This temple was once a very important site for Ancient Greeks to pay homage to Zeus.

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Temple of Poseidon

Many fans of the Percy Jackson series are also fans of Poseidon, since he is Percy’s godly parent. Percy would definitely suggest a visit to his father’s temple in Cape Sounion, about an hour from Athens. The beautiful temple is surrounded by water on three sides, and you may even see a Greek trireme ship on the water like the Argo II that the characters sail in the Heroes of Olympus series!

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National Archaeological Museum of Athens

If you enjoy the Acropolis museum, you can’t miss the National Archaeological Museum. It boasts the largest collection of sculpture of Greek Antiquity, so you are sure to see your favorite god or goddess. One of the most famous statues, the Artemision Bronze, is thought to be either Poseidon or Zeus but since his weapon is missing, archaeologists cannot know for certain. See who you think it is when you visit!

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Temple of Hephaestus and Ancient Agora

The Temple of Hephaestus in Athens is said to be the most intact temple of Greek Antiquity. Definitely worth the visit to get a full vision of how all the temples in ancient Greece once looked. The temple is located in the Ancient Agora, which was the political, social, and religious center of Athens. Read the plaques and imagine how busy and exciting the area must have been during ancient Greece—as busy as a day at Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter!

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Rome Percy Jackson Tours

If you have read The Heroes of Olympus, the five-book continuation series after Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Rome will be especially interesting to you since much of Camp Jupiter’s structure is based on Ancient Rome. Even if you haven’t read this series, Rome will still impress you with its many links to Percy Jackson. (Plus, if you choose to read these books later, you’ll see all the similarities!).

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Colosseum

The Colosseum is one of Rome’s most remarkable monuments, visited by over six million people every year. Built in the first century AD, the Colosseum was used to entertain the Roman masses for over 500 years with events such as gladiator races. In Mark of Athena, Percy and Jason fight twin giants in the Colosseum, and there is also a replica in New Rome, the city inside Camp Jupiter.

Pantheon

Another must-see is the Pantheon, considered one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Rome. While historians are not certain its original purpose, it was likely a temple to the all of the Roman gods. Though the Pantheon has since been converted into a church, you can still imagine the statues of the twelve Olympians that may have stood in its alcoves. Keep an eye out for the Tomb of Raphael, because in Mark of Athena Leo, Hazel, and Frank find a secret entrance behind it that leads to a workshop!

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was the center of social and political activities during ancient Rome. You will see remains of temples for many gods you will recognize including Saturn and Venus. It’s not hard to imagine you are in ancient Rome while you walk down the Via Sacra which was the city’s main street. In the books, Camp Jupiter also has a forum with shops that sell everything from muffins to togas!

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is the largest fountain in the city and one of the most beautiful. It depicts the titan Oceanus, titan of the sea and water, riding a chariot pulled by hippocampi, sea horses. Fans of the Percy Jackson books will remember Rainbow, the hippocampus that helps Percy and his friends throughout the series.

Capitoline Hill and Museum

Capitoline Hill was once Rome’s symbolic center and held the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, the most important temple in ancient Rome. At Camp Jupiter, temples to the gods are on Temple Hill, with their own Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus being the biggest!

The Capitoline Museums are said to have the oldest public collection of artifacts in the world, including statues, inscriptions, art, jewelry, and more. An added bonus is the stunning view of the city from the top of the hill.

Arch of Janus

This massive arch of marble is dedicated to Janus, the Roman god of doors and transitions. It is thought to have been a boundary marker rather than a triumphal arch, which you will see in Rome and Athens. In The Battle of the Labyrinth, the characters meet the god Janus while exploring the labyrinth. He causes Annabeth to struggle with indecision. Who knows, maybe viewing this arch will help you decide your next Percy Jackson-related trip!