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| The Caryatids, Akropolis of Athens, Greece |
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| The Akropolis of Athens |
THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
Acropolis means the upper fortified part of an ancient city, so every town had one.The most famous though was the Athenian Acropolis for its magnificent marble temples that were built in the 5th c.B.C. during the golden Age of Pericles.According to mythology the town got its name from the goddess Athena when she defeated Poseidon in a contest as to who would be the patron of the town. Poseidon offered to the Athenians a horse while Athena offered the first olive-tree (the symbol of peace). The best gift was considered by the Athenians to be the olive-tree and so Athena became the patroness of the town. In her honour they built on the Acropolis the Parthenon, the best temple ever built to honour a god.
On the way up to the Acropolis you enter from the Propylaea, the monumental gateway. This magnificent entrance was erected in pentelic marble. It consists of a central body and two wings and it is decorated with six doric columns outside and two rows of Ionic inside,three on either side.
In front of thePropylaea on a bation is standing a small graceful temple dedicated to Athena Nike (Athena Victory) also known as the Temple of wingless Victory. The lovely marble building was built around 437 - 415 B.C. by the great architect Kallikrates. It is in ionic style amphiprostyle with 4 columns on the narrow sides.
Passing through the Propylaea you are on the top of the Acropolis and you see on the northern part the Erectheion and on the south the Parthenon.The Erectheion is the most elegant and at the same time the most harmonious creation of Attic art. It was the most sacred temple of the rock Acropolis as here took place the contest between Athena and Poseidon, so the eastern part was dedicated to Athena and the western part to Poseidon. The temple was built from 421 - 407 B.C. by the architect Philocles in Ionic architecture. On the souther side is the famous "Portico of Kores" the six female statues called Caryatids. One can admire the original 5 in the new Acropolis Museum while the sixth is in the British Museum.
Opposite the Erecthteion stands the magnificent Parthenon, the temple of Athena. The architects in charge were Ictinos and Kallikrates while the artistic work and the general supervision were undertaken by the genius sculptur Pheidias. Works begun in 447 and finished in 438 B.C. The temple was made entirely of white Pentelic marble. It is doric, peripteral, amphiprostyle with 8 columns on the narrow and 17 on the long sides. The eastern pediment above the main entrance depicted the birth of Athena who had just sprung out from the head of Zeus. On the western pediment was shown the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the possession of the city. The famous frieze which surrounded the external walls depicted the Panathenaic Procession. 360 figures and lots of sacrificial animals , climbing the Acopolis rock in Athena's honour. Part of the procession is in the New Museum of the Acropolis and the rest in British Museum removed and taken by Lord Elgin.To complet the visit of the Acropolis one has to visit the New Museum of the Acropolis, which is located at the foot of the Acropolis.
Info
Acropolis:
Telephone 0030210 3214172
Tickets:Full: €12, Reduced: €6
Special ticket package: Full: €12, Reduced: €6
Valid for: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agoraof Athens, Arcaeological museum of Kermaneikos, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora,Olympieio, Roman Agora of At, North Slope of Acropolis, South slope of Acropolis
Opening hours : 08.00-17.00 Last admission 16.30
New Acropolis Museum:
Telephone 0030 210 9000900
Opening hours
Tickets: 5 euros
Opening hours 1 November – 31 March:Tuesday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last admission: 4:30 p.m.)
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
1 April – 31 October:Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
Closed: Every Monday
Written by: Sophia Kokkinou . guide/archaeologist/ writer
THE ODEON OF HERODES ATTICUS
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Greece
Info
Acropolis:
Telephone 0030210 3214172
Tickets:Full: €12, Reduced: €6
Special ticket package: Full: €12, Reduced: €6
Valid for: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agoraof Athens, Arcaeological museum of Kermaneikos, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora,Olympieio, Roman Agora of At, North Slope of Acropolis, South slope of Acropolis
Opening hours : 08.00-17.00 Last admission 16.30
New Acropolis Museum:
Telephone 0030 210 9000900
Opening hours
Tickets: 5 euros
Opening hours 1 November – 31 March:Tuesday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last admission: 4:30 p.m.)
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
1 April – 31 October:Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
Closed: Every Monday
Written by: Sophia Kokkinou . guide/archaeologist/ writer
THE ODEON OF HERODES ATTICUS
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| The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Greece |
On the South-West slope of the Acropolis, just few meters from the theatre of Dionysos was built in 161 B.C. the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
There is a Stoa (=Portico) called "Stoa of Eumenes" which joined the theatre to the Odeon. This Stoa which had an outer Doric colonnade with 64 columns was built by Eumenes II , the king of Pergamon (197-159 BC). It was used as a shelter and promenade for the spectators. The Portico communicated with the Odeon by two doors.
The Odeon was built by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife Amnia Rhegilla in 161 BC and served for musical festivals. Herodes Atticus was an aristocrat benefactor . He was also a philosopher and orator.
In the ancient years this magnificent concert-hall was covered with a roof which was supported by huge beams made by the very expensive Lebanese cedar.
The massive facade stands to the second story and in places to the third. Entrance is made to either side, leading to the parodoi. The wall of the stage has three doors and eight niches where they had statues.
The diameter of the semi-circular cavea, in Greek "koilon" is 86 m. It was hewn out of the rock and it is divided into two sectors (diazoma). Each diazoma had 32 rows of seats. The orchestra is paved with marble. The length of the scene ("skini" ) is 35 m. and it is one meter higher from the orchestra. The seating capacity is about 6.000 spectators.
The destruction of the theatre was done in 267 AD by the Eruls. As the seating was entirely destroyed it was restored in 1950-961 in Pentelic marble.
Nowadays the Odeon hosts the Athens Festival which runs every Summer from May through October. The Festival contains Greek and International performances.
Among the artists who have performed in the Odeon were Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, Nana Mouskouri, Pavarotti, the Bolshoi Ballets, Maurice Bejart, Liza Minelli, Diana Ross and many others.
Under the Acropolis and under the stars the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a unique place to experience a theatre performance.
OLYMPIA, the birthplace of the Olympic Games
Olympia is in the west of Peloponnese. It was the Panhellenic religious and athletic center , a vast sanctuary with various temples and altars enriched by gifts of the faithful. The ex-votos, the monuments and the treasuries belonged to Zeus, the father of the gods and humans. For more than a thousand years here was held the greatest athletic festival that the world has know, the Olympic Games.
During the festival the different Greek races forgot their quarrels. Athletes (only of Greek descent) from as far apart Sicily and Asia Minor competed under the protection of a sacred truce.
The first day was for the sacrifices and libations to Zeus and Hestia, the goddess of hearth. The second day took place the chariot races and the pentathlon (wrestling, long-jump, running, discus and javelin). The third day was given up to a procession and the official sacrifices on the Altar of Zeus. In the Stadium took place foot-race(dromos), armed-race (hoplitodromos). The fourth day was for boxing and wrestling. The fifth day the festival ended with a procession of the victors (Olympionikes) who were given a crown made of a branch of olive-tree! Increasing honors were heaped on them and their statues were erected in the Sanctuary.
Near the entrance of the archaeological site , there is a stele which contains the heart of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the reviver of the Olympic Games (1896).
The Altis (the sacred grove) lies at the foot of the Kronion Hill at the confluence of the rivers Alpheus and Kladeus.
Here is a description only of the most outstanding buildings of the sacred Altis:
The Gymnasium (4rth c. B.C) was used for foot-races during bad weather.
The Palaestra (3rd c. B.C) used for wrestling und boxing.
The Theokoleon , where the high priests lived
The ruins of the Workshop of Pheidias, the great sculptor of the 5th c. B.C.
The Leonidaion (3rd c. B.C)was used as a hostelry for the public guests (ordinary pilgrims stayed in tends)
The Bouleuterion was the Palace of the Olympic Senate. Here the athletes took an oath to keep the rules of the games.
The Temple of Zeus (468 - 456). It was the greatest temple of Peloponnese . The architect was Libon of Elis. It was Doric style, peripteral, with 6 columns on the short and 13 on the long sides. The total height of the temple was 20 m.
In the cella of the temple was the statue of Zeus, work of the great sculptor Pheidias. The statue was made of gold and ivory and it was one of the Sever Wonders of the ancient world.
In the Museum of Olympia one can admire the magnificent statues that decorated the pediments of the temple.
We must mention also the Temple of Hera. It was the first temple to be built in the Altis in mid of the 7th c. B.C. in Doric style, peripteral with 6 columns on the short and 16 on the long sides. In the cella of the temple was the statue of goddess Hera sited on a throne and beside her Zeus wearing a helmet. In the cella was found the famous statue of Hermes of Praxiteles which can now be seen in the Museum of Olympia.
We finish with the Stadium where one enters through a vaulted tunnel. Its length is 192,27 m. The track was surrounded by an embankment and this is where the spectators stood. It could seat about 20.000 people. This is the Stadium where the Olympic Games were held from the Archaic era 776 B.C. to the end of the Roman Empire 393 A.D.
The Theokoleon , where the high priests lived
The Leonidaion (3rd c. B.C)was used as a hostelry for the public guests (ordinary pilgrims stayed in tends)
The Temple of Zeus (468 - 456). It was the greatest temple of Peloponnese . The architect was Libon of Elis. It was Doric style, peripteral, with 6 columns on the short and 13 on the long sides. The total height of the temple was 20 m.
In the Museum of Olympia one can admire the magnificent statues that decorated the pediments of the temple.
Info
Telephone: 00302624022517
Tickets: Full € 9, Reduced € 5
Opening hours: weekdays 08:00 - 17:00, weekends 08:00 - 15:00
Writen by : Sophia Kokkinou, guide/archaeologist/writer
DELPHI , the famous Oracle
The sanctuary of Delphi - one of the most important and largest of ancient Greece- is located on the southern slopes of Mount Parnassos at a height of 580m above sea level.The location of the sanctuary of Pythian Apollo below the vertical rocks Phaedriades is breathtaking.The Delphic worship dates from the Mycenaean period. The first deity who was worshipped here was Gaia (Mother earth) while Apollo's began when he slayed the Python, the dragon - guardian of the oracle.The oracles were given by a priestess called Pythia. The Pythia would go at dawn to the sacred fountain Castalia to purify her body and then would drink the water from fountain Kassotis to purify her soul. Then she would get into the adyton of the temple and sit on the prophetic tripod (a three legged stool). After chewing laurel leaves and inhaling some mysterious exhalations coming out from a 'chasm' , she would get into trance. All her answers to the questions were ambiguous and this way the oracle was never wrong.The sanctuary of Delphi grew rich with wonderful buildings and excellent works of art which have been offered by the city-states and the faithful for the prophecies which they had taken. To visit the sanctuary you follow the Sacred Way which is decorated on either side with votive monuments, statues and Treasuries. The Treasuries were storehouses for offerings put up by the rich Greek cities. One of them is the Treasury of the Athenians. A marble doric prostyle building. Following the Sacred Way you pass in front of the Porch of the Athenians and you see the Great Altar, right in front of the Temple of Apollo. Colossal doric peripteral temple, 58 m. long and 23 m. wide, with 6 columns on the narrow and 15 on the long sides, built in the 4 th. c. B.C. The interior of the temple was divided in 4 parts. The most sacred was at the back of the cella where was the "oracular chasm" from where Pythia took mainly her prophetic power.From the Temple of Apollo a flight of steps leads up to the Theatre which is one of the best preserved in Greece today. It was built the 4rth c. B.C. and its capacity is about 5.000 spectators.Further up of the theatre is the Stadium. Every four years here held the famous "Pythian Games" in Apollo's honor. The stadium could seat 7.000 spectators.Not far from the archeological site is the Museum of Delphi which contains the findings from the excavations and the famous bronze statue of the Charioteer.
Info
Telephone 0030 2265082313
Ticket : Full € 9 , Reduced € 5
Opening hours: 08:00 - 15:00 h
Writen by Sophia Kokkinou , guide/archaeologist/writer
EPIDAURUS, the healing center of Ancient Greece
Info
Telephone 0030 2265082313
Ticket : Full € 9 , Reduced € 5
Opening hours: 08:00 - 15:00 h
Writen by Sophia Kokkinou , guide/archaeologist/writer
EPIDAURUS, the healing center of Ancient Greece
Epidavros (Epidaurus) is situated in the northeast of Peloponnes on the eastern side of Argolis.
The Sanctuary was founded in the 4rth cent. B.C. in the honour of Asclepios, the god of medicine.
Masses of worshippers and sick people from all over Greece flocked here seeking relief and cure. The priest-doctors, the Ascepiadae, as they named the descendants of Asclepios, served the god and maintained the secrets of healing which were passed from father to son.
The sanctuary is built amidst a peaceful evergreen landscape with crystal clear waters.
In the Sanctuary which was surrounded by a peribolos wall there were many temples, most of them built in the 4rth c. B.C.
The Temple of Themis goddess of justice, the Temple of Artemis on the pediments of which were statues of Nikes (Victories) that they survive, magnificent works of the sculptor Timotheos.
Close by to this temple are the ruins of the Abaton. This was the dormitory where the sick slept, hoping for a dream in which the god would indicate the method of their cure.
Close by is the famous Tholos (rotonda) . A remarkable building of the 4rth.c.B.C. built after the plans of the great architect Polycleitos the Younger. This circular building was intended to be a place of cult practice.
The Temple of Asclepios, work of Theodotos, housed the gold and ivory statue of the god. The god was sitting on a throne holding a cane in one hand , while his other was stretched out over the head of a serpent which was the symbol of the god.. The temple was in doric style, peripteral with 6 columns in the narrow and 11 on the long sides.
The Stadium of Epidavros was built in the 5th c. B.C.
The jewel though of Epidavros and one of the marvels of Greece is the Theatre which was built by Polycleitos. This theatre is worldwide known forits acoustics. It is perfectly preserved and still in use.
Very interesting is the museum of Epidavros which contains the statues and the architectural fragments of the buildings of the sanctuary.
Info
Telephone: 0030 27530 22009
Tickets: Full € 6, Reduced € 3
Opening hours: 08:00 - 18:00
Info
Written by: Sophia Kokkinou . guide/archaeologist/ writer
SOUNION
Ancient Corinth is lying at the foot of
Acrocorinth and was one of the oldest and most important cities of the
Peloponnes.
It is situated near the Isthmus which connected mainland Greece with
Peloponnes. The city was inhabitated since the Neolithic Age (5.000 BC) Its
golden Age however was the 7th - 6th cent. BC under the tyrant Periander who
was one of the 7 sages.
Today one can visit the Agora, which was the market
during the Roman period, surrounded by the porticoes where were the shops. The Propylaea was the gate way to the Agora and from there started the famous
Lechaion road paved with marble and decorated with shops and statues on both
sides. This was the principal route from Corinth to the port of Lechaion on the
Corinthian Golf.
Near the Propylaea is the famous Pirene Spring. There are six basins for
dipping water communicating with a large underground reservoir.
In about the center of the Agora is the "Bema". a monumental platform
. From there the Apostel Paul appeared to defend himself and the Christian
religion before the Roman Governor Gallio.
On the hill, above the Roman Agora, is standing the Temple of Apollo , one of
the most ancient temples of Greece. Today only seven large monolithic columns
remain. The temple was built in 570 B.C in doric style with 6 columns on the
narrow and 15 on the long sides.
Near the temple is the entrance to the Museum which contains the finds from the
excavations.
Right beside the entrance to the archaeological site one can visit the Odeion and
the Theatre.
Written by: Sophia Kokkinou . guide/archaeologist/ writer
The temple of Poseidon
Cape Sounion is at the southern-most tip of Attica, 68 Km from Athens. On top of a steep,60 m. high cliff above the Aegean Sea, the Athenians built a wonderful marble temple dedicated to Poseidon, the god of the sea.
According the legend this is the cliff from which old Aegeas, the king of Athens threw himself to his death in desperation, beleiving that his son Theseus had been devoured by the Minotaur. Since then this sea has been called "the Aegean Sea".
Th temple of Poseidon was build by the Athenians in 444 B.C and it is still well preserved. It is a doric architecture peripteral with 6 columns on the narrow and 13 on the long sides.
On the north corner of the doorpost Lord Byron carved his name.
Info
Τelephone : 0030 22920 39363Tickets : Full: €4, Reduced: €2
Opening hours :9:30 a.m. - sunset
Written by: Sophia Kokkinou . guide/archaeologist/ writer
THE OLDEST UNDERWATER ANCIENT CITY
An underwater ancient city of 2800 B.C is situated near Elafonissos island, at the south of Peloponnese. The about 5.000 years old Pavlopetri, is the oldest known submerged archaeological town. It was submerged around 1000 B.C. by an earthquake and was discovered in 1967 by Nicholas Flemming. As the town is in a depth of only 4 meters it is easy to see the submerged 2-floor houses, the temples, the cemetary and the ancient port. Furthermore the whole area is scattered with statues, pots and tools . The fact that the city was submerged helped to maintain current findings in a perfect condition.
Here is a great video of BBC about Pavlopetri:
For more info about the Pavlopetri Underwater Archaeology Project :
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pavlopetri/index.aspx
General Information about Greece
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