[Days 2 (the Plaka) and 3 (Poros/Hydra/Aegina)] [Day 4 (Athens)] [Day 5 (Corinth Canal/Epidaurus/Mycenae)]
[Day 6 (Olympia/Patras/Gulf of Corinth/Nafpaktos)] [Day 7 (Delphi)]
On our first full day in Greece, we took a bus tour of the city of Athens, with a stop at the Acropolis. Click on any pictures or links to see larger versions of the pictures.
This is a the Academy of Athens. It was established in 1926 and is divided into three sections (natural and applied sciences, humanities and fine arts, and moral and political sciences). The two ionic columns hold the statues of Athena and Apollo.
On our way up to the top of the Acropolis, we stopped and climbed up Mars Hill. In the Bible it is known as Areopagus, or Hill of Ares. St. Paul the Apostle addressed the philosophers on this hill. The first picture is of the Hephaisteion taken from Mars Hill. The other picture is of Bonnie coming down the very steep steps of the hill.
Built between 160 and 174 A.D., the Odeion of Herodes Atticus (or Herodeion) is on the the southwest corner of the Acropolis. It was built by Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes of Marathon for his late wife, Aspasia Regilla (though there were claims he was actually responsible for her death -- by having a servant beat her while she was pregnant). Herodes spent large sums of money erecting buildings all over Greece. The odeion originally had a cedar wood roof to improve accoustics and allow for performances in all weather. It seated from 5000 to 6000 people. The theatre was destroyed by the Hirullians in 267 A.D. It was refurbished from 1950 to 1961 so that it could be used again. It is still in use today.
The next two pictures are of the Propylaea and the Parthenon, respectively. The Propylaea is the entrance hall of the Acropolis. It is made of Pentelic marble. Athenian leader Pericles began building it in 437 B.C. The architect was Mnesicles. It was never completed to the original plans. Pericles began the construction of the Parthenon (Temple of Athena Parthenos) around 438 B.C. It was built by the architects Ictinus and Callicartes under the supervision of the sculpture Phidias.
The next pictures were taken inside the Acropolis museum. The first is the statue called Moschophores (calf-bearer) (570 B.C.). Our guide told us that the picture of Jesus carrying the lamb on his shoulders is based on this statue. The second statue is of Athena battling the Giants. Athena's aegis/shield carried at its center the head of Medusa, which is represented by the snake. The last statue is one of the Caryatids from the Erechtheion.
The following pictures (all from the Acropolis) are of Kim, Helen, and Joyce, the Temple of Zeus, and Kim behind the Parthenon.
The Erechtheion was built around 420-406 B.C. The eastern part is dedicated to Athena Polias and the western, to Poseidon Erechtheus. Its location is considered the most sacred of the Acropolis because it's where Athena supposedly caused the olive tree to grow. The first picture is of the Caryatids supporting the south porch. All of them are replicas; one real one is being restored, four are in the Acropolis museum, and one is in the British Museum. The other picture is the west side of the of the Erechtheion and Athena's olive tree.
The last five photos from the Acropolis are of The Propylea, the Parthenon (and a few of the many dogs hanging around), two pictures of the front of the Odeion of Herodus Atticus, and a train of wooly catepillars on a step (the second such one we saw).
We ended the day with a visit to Tavern Kalokerinos. We got baked Alaska and Greek dancing.
Here are Kim, Helen, Bonnie, and Joyce back at the lovely Divani Caravel hotel.
[Days 2 (the Plaka) and 3 (Poros/Hydra/Aegina)] [Day 4 (Athens)] [Day 5 (Corinth Canal/Epidaurus/Mycenae)]
[Day 6 (Olympia/Patras/Gulf of Corinth/Nafpaktos)] [Day 7 (Delphi)]