Mediterranean Trip
Mediterranean Trip
Athens because was a transfer stop on our cruise where some passengers got off and others got on. Both of those tour choices included a day in Athens so we had three days to see the sights. There is no other city in Western history that compares with the lasting impact of the city of Athens and the creation of Democratic forms. At its most productive times Athens was home to great advances in medicine, the arts, philosophy, athletics, and public policy. While it is pretty lengthy, reading the Wikipedia publication of the history of Athens is done extremely well: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens>
Promenade below Acropolis
The Acropolis
Below the Acropolis.
View from below
Nearly to the entrance gate.
The main entrance to the Acropolis.
Description of the Odeon.
The Odeon where speeches, lectures, debates happened.
The Forum where democracy was born under Pericles.
The rock where Socrates was tried and convicted.
Drawing of the Parthenon.
Rear of the Parthenon
Front of the Parthenon.
Marilynn’s shot of a Magpie in flight.
The Erecthion-Temple to Athena.
The Theater of the Acropolis.
The City State of Corinth and the Corinthian Canal
Corinth Canal
Panorama of city of Corinth
———-———————Temple of Apollo at Corinth.————————————
Shop
fortress built by Venetians
The Agora and all the shops along the way.
Start of the road to the harbor.
The Lechaion Road
Frieze figures had heads removed by Christians who thought they might be statues of gods.
Greek youth.
Socrates.
The Oracle at Delphi
The Oracle at Delphi, a “bucket list” item for Michael. The Oracle was started in the 8th Century BC and was in nearly constant use until the Roman Emperor Theodosius banned all pagan and athletic games due to his christian conversion. A superb history article on Delphi is here: <https://historycooperative.org/the-oracle-of-delphi/>.
View from the Oracle of the valley below.
Why was Apollo the God of Oracle?
Roman Stoa (covered walkway) for shops.
Retaining wall of shaped stones.
Steps to Athenian Treasury.
Athenian Treasury Building
Retaining wall for the Temple of Apollo (The Oracle)).
———————Snake Pillar celebrating military victory—————
Snake Pillar. This is a copy since the original is in Istanbul near the Blue Mosque.
—————————————-The Oracle of Delphi———————————————
Path up the hill to the athletic field.
Marilynn took this of Michael as the rain started pouring down. It was so hard the rain was bouncing on the stones.
The Museum of the Oracle of Delphi
Michael photographed few of the wonders of this museum. For more, check out their website:
<https://www.ancient-greece.org/museum/muse-delphi.html>
Model of the Oracle of Delphi.
White bowl showing Apollo pouring a libation while a raven watches. This dates 480 BC!
Wht Apollo was the God of the Oracle.
Sphinx.
Statue of a famous athlete.
Cleobus and Bitonias CA 590 BC.
Flower base of a column.
frieze of Treasury of Siphnians
Story of the bronze charioteer.
Charioteer 5th Century BC.
