Ancient Athens: Day 1

ATHENS

Capital of Greece

Named after the goddess Athena

Centre of Demoncracy

A city full of history

We've planned for 4 days in Athens, with 2 meant for day trips. Our first day was spent discovering ancient Athens. There are so many sites and so much to know about each. While we didn't see it all, or know it all, we did enjoy all of what we did see, and we even learnt a little too.

THE ROMAN AGORA
An Agora is a marketplace...or shall we say, the downtown area. Most buildings of importance were found in the agora.

the gate
The Tower of the Winds.
It is decorated with 8 'winds', with an object on top that would point in the direction that the wind was blowing in. The building is very important because it also has a sun clock to tell the time and a water clock used for the same purpose (but only if it was night time, or if it was cloudy).

the 'winds'

THE ANCIENT AGORA
The largest agora in Athens.

view from the Acropolis

The temple or Ares (the god of war), intact after all these years.

THE ACROPOLIS

The Acropolis is the highest part of the city. The Acropolis of Athens is the most well known Acropolis in the world...it's known as THE Acropolis.

view from below

The Theatre/Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Propylaea (its the main gate)

and it's under construction

THE PARTHENON (on the Acropolis)

The most famous area of the Acropolis, the Parthenon is a temple dedicated to Athena (the goddess of war and wisdom---and the namesake of Athens).

Originally there would have been a giant statue of Athena inside, covered in marble and ivory.

It was taken to Constantinople (Istanbul) and no one knows where it is now.

reliefs decorated below the roof

speaking of relief...we learned that marble remains cool in the blistering Athens sun.

they also have pottable water. Yay!!!

The wonderful view of Athens below

The temple of Athena Nike

HADRIAN'S ARCH
Built by Hadrian, this arch combines the Greek column and the Roman arch.

THE TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS

The biggest temple in Greece, this temple would have had 104 marble columns...only 15 remain.

THE PANATHINAIC OLYMPIC STADIUM (MODERN OLYMPIC STADIUM)

Now closed to the public, this stadium is where the first modern Olympic games were held in 1896.

THE REPUBLIC GUARDS

This is the house of the President

These are his guards.

I'm not so scared.

Maybe it's the tutu,

maybe the really slow and funny walk they do.

THE NATIONAL GARDENS

Gorgeous park, beautiful sun

and a handsome man, happy with a slushee. Life is good!

Well Ancient Athens is just part of what modern Athens has to offer. We still have the National Archaeological Museum, the ancient Oracle of Delphi, and some time chilling on the beach.

Till then

XOXOXO