Thursday, November 7, 2013

The Ancient Agora and the new Acropolis museum



Athens
For legend has it that Poseidon, God of the sea, plunged his trident
 into the rock on the hill of the city, dramatically producing 
a spring of water,while Athena, Goddess of wisdom created 
a simple olive tree, whose produce remains a main staple 
of Greek society. A panel of judges declared the Goddess 
the winner, and the city was named Athena. 




Strolling up and down the foothills of the Parthenon along 
the pedestrian cobblestone lanes of the ancient Agora and 
exploring the charming old districts in the heart of Athena
always gives us  great pleasure. 














The Greek term Acropolis means "High City," and whoever climbs 
the hill is paying tribute to the prime source of Western civilization. 
Visiting the Acropolis evokes the spirit of the ancient heroes 
and Gods who were once worshiped there. 




At the loftiest point of the Acropolis stands the Parthenon, 
the architectural masterpiece conceived by Pericles and executed 
between 447 and 438 BC. It not only raised the bar in terms 
of sheer size, but also in the perfection of its proportions. 
Dedicated to the Goddess Athena Parthenos, or the virgin Athena, 
the Parthenon was built as much to honor the city's power as to 
venerate Athena.



It was a lovely autumn Saturday and after having fully enjoyed 

our visit to the old neighbourhoods, we visited the Acropolis 

museum late in the evening to avoid tourists and to best 

capture the sunlight. It was a good idea!




The Acropolis Museum is located in this historical area, southeast 
of the Rock of the Acropolis, at the beginning of the pedestrian 
walkway of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, which constitutes 
the central route for the unified network of the city’s 
archaeological sites. 
 

Designed by architects Bernard Tschumi and  Michael Photiadis , 

the museum revolves around light and movement. It was  inaugurated 

in the summer of 2009 and  was founded to exhibit all the significant 

finds from the Sacred Rock and its foothills. 

The collections are hosted across three levels, as well as in the 

archaeological excavation that lies at its foundations. (photo above)


















Archaeologist-Hosts are available to answer your questions about 

Museum exhibits but unfortunately, we didn’t find 

anybody as we were  late visitors.




One of the six original maidens (Caryatids) wearing delicately 

draped Ionian garnments is on display.

Their heads supported the Caryatid Porch in

the Erechtheion, Athena's holiest shrine on the Acropolis hill. 
(photo below)



All the museum is transparent as there are glass walls 

all around and glass floors as well. 

The view of the Parthenon from the interior of the museum is 

majestic!



The sight of the Parthenon has the power to stir the heart 
as few other ancient relics do, I have to admit.







 “The Parthenon without the marbles is like a smile with a tooth missing.”
Neil Kinnock



Hope you enjoyed this little tour. Sending you sweet thoughts…
O

36 comments:

  1. Oh what wonderful memories of our visit there last spring. . .your post brought them all to life for us. We have just this week started planning our return visit to your beautiful Greece.

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  2. Beautiful place! Thanks for sharing. :D

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  3. Dear Olympia,

    thank you for your sweet thoughts. The place is wonderful and the history is very interesting.
    I am sorry that the Google Translator is so ugly. I must also laughing about some blogs, when I make a translation.
    But I am happy, that you understand what I mean - it´s so annoying when I always forgett some things.
    But I have heard it´s normal when we be older.

    Enjoy the November and I send you a lot of greetings.

    your Bluemchenmama

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  4. And sorry for my bad english.
    I will do my best.
    :0)

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  5. Dear Olympia,

    Many thanks for sharing your wonderful photos and taking us along.
    As I have never been to Athens, and have always been interested in these wonderful old places, found it really interesting to see the Acropolis and the Pantheon - the museum looks fascinating too.
    Happy day
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  6. Dearest Olympia,
    You can be so proud for living in the capital of the beginning of Western civilization. Such a rich history and culture and so much of it still there for being admired and studied. Thank you for this great tour and you did it the smart way, sorry for no host being around at the later hour... The museum is an incredible building too with all its glass for optimum views.
    Hugs to you,
    Mariette

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  7. Thank you for the tour, Olympia. I was watching a program, a few days ago, that was showing some of the restoration work on the columns of the Parthenon. A different colour was chosen for the repaired portions so that people would know what was original and what was restored. Very painstaking work!

    -Karen

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  8. Yes..I enjoy the tour...verry interesting Olympia.
    I didn't know that it means high city...so i learning too.
    Have a nice evening.

    Greetings,
    Inge, my choice

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  9. I did enjoy this tour with you so much. One of my closest friends visited Athens and thought it was wonderful. I especially loved all those glimpses of Parthenon .
    Sarah x

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  10. Olympia,
    These pictures are wonderful. Jess saw this beautiful place a few years ago, and took many photos herself. I love the old white statues. They have so much history to them. I hope to visit Greece one day, but until then, thank you for showing me some of this glorious place through your lens.

    ~Sheri

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  11. Fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing this visit and your beautiful photos, Olympia.

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  12. Wat een interessant verhaal, Olympia en wat een prachtige foto's heb je gemaakt zodat we het in beeld mee konden kijken.
    Een oud stuk geschiedenis.
    Vanuit de bijbel, het Nieuwe Testament, sprak de apostel Paulus op de Akropolis de menigte mensen toe.
    Ook daarom was de rondleiding heel interessant!
    Dank je wel!

    Lieve groet,
    Gerry

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  13. What a great tour! I enjoyed your story and your beautiful pictures!
    Greatings from Aleta

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  14. It really looks wonderful, I have never been there, but may be once....how knows ;-). Thanks for sharing!

    Hugs, Ingrid

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  15. So beautiful, Olympia - thank you for sharing this tour with us! The photos are amazing and I can imagine how magnificent it must be to see in person. I love the sculptures of the maidens and the view from the museum of the Parthenon. It is also nice to know the history as we view the photos. I do hope to see it someday....
    Hugs xoxo Karen

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  16. Well, you are so good to share your lovely photos of all these sights! Old ruins have such a captivating quality. I can't help but try to visualize them in former times. Great to travel along with you!

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  17. Thank you Olympia, hadn't seen the Parthenon for many years , really worth a second, third or fourth look ! I felt the pride in your words...very understandable. Have a nice weekend. xx

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  18. Olympia,

    Your beautiful photos do justice to these ancient and modern places our country has hosted for so many thousands of years! I have visited both of these artistic masterpieces, (posted on the ancient Agora last year), and never tire of seeing and reading about our ancestors' amazing achievements, especially during these trying times of Greek tragedy. Thank you for the heartfelt narration, it was emotionally eloquent and evoked a sense of pride regarding my own origins.

    Poppy

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  19. Thank you for this wondeful tour! I haven't seen such a good description of the Acropolis museum before. Last time I was in Athens they were building it but one day before too long I hope to get back there and see it for myself. How amazing the Acropolis is, definitely one of the wonders of the world!

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  20. I am not usually a great historical holidaymaker. But this museum is simply stunning and I would love to see it. I love how the ancient and the modern combine so well.. Simply stunning. Have a fun weekend.

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  21. What a beautiful impression of Greece, thank you for this grand tour!

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  22. Dearest Olympia,
    we were in Athens in 2007, and then visited the Acropolis! It was only a short visit in the course of a Mediterranean cruise. Unfortunately at that time there was a high crane next to the main temple, which does not look so nice in the photos - but the grounds is well worth seeing!
    I thank you for your very kind words on my blog.Now I say goodbye to you - but do not worry, I'm only in my blog break. I will return! Maybe you like to join my giveaway? :o)
    http://rostrose.blogspot.co.at/2013/11/blogpause-giveaway-herbst-katzchen.html
    I would be very happy about this!
    ✿ ܓ ܓ ✿ ܓ ✿ ܓ ✿ ܓ ܓ ✿ ܓ ✿ ܓ
    Hugs and nice weekend!
    Traude ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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  23. Dear Olympia,

    After I left a message on this post, I came back to read your previous posts. Oh, how I've enjoyed what I saw. You're a very talented photographer!

    Your newest follower,
    B.

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    Replies
    1. Τhank you Barbara, you have the sweet name of my mother, daughter and niece.

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  24. Μία όμορφη και υπέροχη διαδρομή σε ιστορικά μέρη ! Το Μουσείο όμως προκαλεί δέος και εξωτερικά και εσωτερικά !!!
    Ευχαριστούμε Ολυμπία μου για την σημερινή σου ανάρτηση !

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  25. Wonderful post Olympia, thank you for taking the time to share all these photos and to share all the information. The new museum looks amazing. There is always such a special atmosphere when visiting ancient Greek (and Roman) sites, and we have been to many of both, especially in Greece and France, over the years.
    Gill xx

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  26. It'a so beautiful and interesting. I really are impressed by this
    fantastic sculptures, because I love art. This is Greece to me.
    The historical surroundings are very special and I will thank you
    for sharing, Olympia.

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  27. Dear Olympia,
    This is just what I need today! Blue sky and an "armchair-traveling" to Greece to lift up a grey and rainy Sunday! Battling since weeks with awful weather here......grrrh.
    Thank YOU for another wonderful post with all interesting info!
    And - Thank you so much for your lovely comment in French, Marie Claude was delighted!!!
    Heartily greetings from the Périgord,
    Karin

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  28. thank you for this walk through Athens! truely enjoyed it!

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  29. Bonjour Olympia,
    c'est toujours un plaisir de venir te voir ! En plus comme je ne suis jamais allée en Grèce, cela me donne doublement envie de voir tous ces trésors. Bonne semaine à toi sous le ciel bleu :-)
    ps : merci pour ton commentaire si chaleureux !
    ....oops....je ne sais plus si on se vouvoie on se tutoie..mais je crois qu'on peut se tutoyer, non ? amitiés Lala

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  30. Biensur qu'on se tutoie, c'est plus chaleureux et je le prefere.Merci Lala!

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  31. I loved this fascinating tour, Olympia! So steeped in history, and so beautifully preserved and presented. Your photographs are beautiful, with a clear golden sunny feeling........ thank you for a lovely visit :)
    Helen x

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  32. Hi Olympia what a fabulous trip I have just taken with you !! what a great idea to have glass walls etc in the museum. You are so lucky to have such treasures and such a rich ancient culture !! And I notice that it is still beautiful and sunny ...sigh ! I let you into a secret ...my husbands company is called Athena .... what more can I say ??
    have a nice week...Gail x

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  33. Echoing lovely, Gail's words above... ( Gail is my friend outside of blog land) wonderful trip we have had with you....LOVE Greece as you know already....and the sun warms my heart so..Sending hugs and warm wishes your way.....Maria x.

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  34. I really enjoy walking around with you to these beautiful ancient sites my husband and me were visiting a couple of years ago.
    I like your country very much and thank you for sharing your lovely photos.:-)
    Many thanks having visited my blog. :-)

    Lots of warm greetings to you from Germany
    Christa

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