Owl Coin charm

 

 

Trip to Greece and Ephesus, March 2012      Site summaries: A | B | C | D | E | F       Begin slide show B

It's the thrill of a lifetime to visit Acropolis Hill and see the ruins of ancient Greece. The Greek people have every reason to be proud of their ancestors’ accomplishments and the evidence left of their efforts.

The ancient stone and marble of these spaces live on. The view of Athens and the seven surrounding hills is impressive. Catiya, our guide, did a marvellous job of telling us of the history of the Greek people and their accomplishments as ancient builders.

Do not go to Acropolis Hill if you are unable to climb up rough terrain. There are no accommodations for those with disabilities. That fact is rather sad, but the situation made me happy I visited while I was still able to climb up the steep hillside. There are walkways, but they are bumpy.

There are two ancient amphitheatres standing at the bottom of the east side of the hill. The large one has been reworked. The smaller one remains in its ruined condition. Both are interesting sights/sites.

The pediments and friezes of the ruins have been disassembled. Lord Elgin took some of the finest of the marble works to London long ago. They can now be admired at the British Museum. Reproductions of the ancient carvings currently grace the actual site in Athens.

Athens now has, however, a wonderful Acropolis Museum within sight of the ruins. They have moved other marble work from the site to this museum, which also shows excavations of ancient foundations very near its own foundation. These dug-out ruins can be seen through glass flooring.

Inside the museum, visitors can see ancient ruins from the Acropolis and modern models of these ancient pieces.

I was very impressed with both the ruins and the archaeological museum.

As a group we took a bus tour of the area and stopped at the reconstruction of an ancient athletic stadium, rebuilt to hold up to 60,000 spectators. Also, by entering a tunnel underneath the stands, we were able to visit an Olympics museum that houses posters from all modern Olympic games, restarted in Athens in 1896 and held every four years since that time at locations all over the world. Torches from games were also displayed.

Our group had fun running the track and climbing stairs to the top of the stadium during our visit.

Members of our tour group also walked to a park containing the Temple of Zeus, which once had 104 marble columns, of which there are only 16 remaining.

We also saw the Arch of Hadrian. Looking through the arch from north to south, it frames Acropolis Hill beautifully.

On Sunday evening members of our group once more walked in the Plaka. I was pleased to get a good photo of ruins on Acropolis Hill, lit for night viewing.

Day 3 (Sunday): Visiting the Acropolis
Monumental Propylaea GateMonumental Propylaea Gate BOur group walks toward the ParthenonWalking on ancient stoneOn top, a view to the westOn top, a view of the Erechtheion, tomb and shrine of KekropsDog voices his opinionGroup lectureWest end construction, the ParthenonOld and new marble partsSouth Portico of the Caryatides or MaidensErechteheion, view BDog at leisure, atop the AcropolisConstruction zone, inside the ParthenonLots of rubbleStone cornice, east end of the Parthenon, north cornerStone cornice, east end of the Parthenon, south cornerEntire east end of the ParthenonView of Lykavittos Hill, the highest peak in AthensReconstructed sculpture, SE cornice, ParthenonOld marbleGreek MagpieCarol, on the Acropolis, NE corner of the ParthenonJohn, on the Acropolis, NE corner of the ParthenonHuge, beautiful, downed fluted marble columnTheatre of Dionysus and new Acropolis MuseumLooking downhill, south side of Acropolis HillTheatre of Dionysus, not restoredThe Temple of Zeus as seen looking eastfrom the AcropolisExplanations of restoration work, southt side of PantheonHuge marble column baseSlightly downhill from the ParthenonHigh point, AcropolisView of Parthenon over the heads of touristsFoundation structureIonic columnSet of Inonic columnsImpressively tall and classicCarol at the corner of the ErechtheionGlenda and the CaryatidesCarol and the CaryatidesRuins, AcropolisRock, marble and flowersRuins BPieces of columnWalking south, back toward Prppylaea gateBack to the entrance-exit, the PropylaeaIonic columncrowds of tourists arrive as we departLooking toward Plaka, down the north side of Acropolis HillRocky knoll known as the Areopagus, first court of homicideGlenda stands by marble wallMarble statuaryTourist closely observes Greek incision into stoneCarved in marbleExitChelsey came after allMarker at the AreopagusStairs to the top of the AreopagusImportant Catholic clergy visit the AcropolisIndependent dogs live at the Acropolis

Day 3 (Sunday): A tour of an ancient reconstructed athletic Stadium
A look up at Acropolis Hill looking west from eastReconstructed StadiumTour lecture from guideModern track at ancient siteReconstructed seating seats 50,000 yo 60,000Zoom shot of Lykavittos HillImportant seatingAdult and young maleAdult and young male BAdult and young male CRoy and John are important sittersYoung male sideAdult with repaired fractureInto the tunnelDeep in the tunnelLooking back to the entranceInside, looking outsideUpstairs Olympics displayFrance, 1900 gamesSt. Louis, 1904 gamesStockholm, 1912 gamesParis, 1924 gamesLos Angeles, 1932 gamesBerlin, 1936 gamesLondon, 1948 gamesPhoto, restoration of the site we are visitingRome, 1960 gamesMexico, 1968 gamesAthens, 1896 games. These were the first modern Olympics.Weaving depicting Athens games, 1986Olympic torches beside postersTorch and poster for Los Angeles games, 1984Outside tunnel gate, looking inOne last shot of inside of the tunnelTunnel gate and mossCheryl takes a victory lapRunning surfaceThree students join Roy in a brisk walkThree students sprint to the topThree students at the topNancy takes out runningPhoto finishClowning around the pedestal of winnersGiant runner made of smoked glass

Day 3 (Sunday): Quick bus tour of the Center of the City
A plethora of Greek flagsAthens trafficGrafitti and orangesAthenians park ANYWHEREAthenian selling flowers in the streetTrafficwayGuide lecturingPublic buildingModern Greek facadeOwl detailingGuide againOur driver

Day 3 (Sunday): A walk toward ruins
The Arch of Hadrian, entrance to Athens from the eastTemple of ZeusTwo columns, Temple of ZeusThere were once 100 columns where these columns remain standingEnormous collapsed fluted column. Still beautiful.The Acropolis seen looking through Hadrian's Arch from the eastBronze sculpture of Greek soldierFacade of Herodes Atticus, reconstructed theatre at the foot of Acropolis HillFacade of Herodes Atticus, reconstructed theatre at the foot of Acropolis Hill BNew Acropolis MuseumNancy observes ancient ruins at the foundation of the Acropolis MuseumRuins as seen through a glass flooringAncient ruins at the Acropolis Museum

Day 3 (Sunday): Acropolis Museum visit
Owls sculpture at museum entranceLunch refreshmentDelicious salad, museum restaurantAcropolis Hill as seen to the west from museum windowsAcropolis Hill as seen through museum's west window arcadePediment APediment BPediment CSouth end, upper floorFigureParts of figuresFemale figureHUGE marble decorative piecePediment DRow of pediment workDetail, ancient work and reproductionFigure piecesWhat's left, centaur fighting humanCentaur fighting human, reproTwo horse heads, repro next to what is leftFrieze piecesVery worn marbleFigural groupingThree horse heads, repro vs. what's leftLion piecePediments displayed at proper building-levelRemnants ARemnants BRemnants CRemnants DHand with broken-off fingersMarbles, in sight of Acropolis HillMagnificent museum spaceJohn and Acropolis HillNancy, Mrs., Roy, Marcus, JohnMrs. and Mr. WahlLion head
Entire freize, miniature versionEntire freize B, miniature version
Archeological dig just outside the Acropolis Museum AArcheological dig just outside the Acropolis Museum BSurfaceAncient marbleFoundations just outside Acropolis MuseumArcheological dig just outside the Acropolis Museum DArcheological dig just outside the Acropolis Museaum EArcheological dig just outside the Acropolis Museum FRoman bath, found in excavating Athens underground metro systemRoman bath, found in excavating Athens underground metro system B

Day 3 (Sunday): Night, Acropolis Hill from the Plaka

Acropolis after darkCity street after dark

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