Well, I'm back and a li'l travel worn after spending the last days of summer traipsing around mainland Greece. I arrived into Athens last Thursday, and I headed straight for The Acropolis. Throughout Greece there are several acropolises or "cities of the air" strategically situated to help defend them from invading marauders. However, the one in Athens is the most well known in the world, and is therefore commonly referred to as "The Acropolis". The Sacred Rock for which The Acropolis is built on dates back to prehistoric times, but the remaining monuments date back to 447 B.C. onwards. The Acropolis was not a city, but a religious site for shrines, statues, and sanctuaries while the actual city was situated at the base of the Sacred Rock. Athen's patron god was the goddess Athena. Mythology contends that the city's founder, King Cecrops, felt the city needed a god to protect it, and therefore challenged the Olympians to bid for the city's patronage. Only Poseidon and Athena took the bait, and competed with telltale gifts. Poseidon struck his trident onto the Sacred Rock, and water came gushing forth thereby providing a watering well for the people. However, the water was not drinkable because it came from the sea. Athena's gift was an olive tree that sprang from the ground that she touched. Because her gift was the most practical, Athena was awarded patron goddess; hence, the city of Athens was born out of mythology.
At the base entrance of The Acropolis was the "Odeum of Herodes Atticus"; a theater built in 161 A.D. by Herodes Tiberius Claudius Atticus, a teacher and philosopher, who had the theatre erected in memory of his wife who loved the arts.
Not too far from the Odeion, located on the southern slope of The Acropolis, was the "Theatre of Dionysos" (below) where famous ancient poets and tragedies debuted performances in 500 B.C.
Climbing up the well worn marbled step pathway of The Acropolis was arduous work.
Entering through the portal of the religious center, I found more steps to climb! Ugh!
The view of modern day Athens was spectacular.
I finally made it to the top! The Parthenon, Athena's sacred temple, was a sight for sore eyes --- and sore knees! LoL.
Standing across the way, was the much smaller temple of Poseidon, a.k.a. the Erechtheion Temple, which was built in 420 B.C. The Caryatids or pillar of muses serving as architectural support on the side porch of the temple were often found on ancient monuments. The Caryatids discovered on the site of The Acropolis were the most well known or most copied in the world.
Excavated marble slabs were on exhibit. The Parthenon was under repairs as part of its sections were being fortified.
All the ruins were stately, classical and utterly Greek!
At the base entrance of The Acropolis was the "Odeum of Herodes Atticus"; a theater built in 161 A.D. by Herodes Tiberius Claudius Atticus, a teacher and philosopher, who had the theatre erected in memory of his wife who loved the arts.
Not too far from the Odeion, located on the southern slope of The Acropolis, was the "Theatre of Dionysos" (below) where famous ancient poets and tragedies debuted performances in 500 B.C.
Climbing up the well worn marbled step pathway of The Acropolis was arduous work.
Entering through the portal of the religious center, I found more steps to climb! Ugh!
The view of modern day Athens was spectacular.
I finally made it to the top! The Parthenon, Athena's sacred temple, was a sight for sore eyes --- and sore knees! LoL.
Standing across the way, was the much smaller temple of Poseidon, a.k.a. the Erechtheion Temple, which was built in 420 B.C. The Caryatids or pillar of muses serving as architectural support on the side porch of the temple were often found on ancient monuments. The Caryatids discovered on the site of The Acropolis were the most well known or most copied in the world.
Excavated marble slabs were on exhibit. The Parthenon was under repairs as part of its sections were being fortified.
All the ruins were stately, classical and utterly Greek!
