The Acropolis

Good news! I will have internet for the duration of the cruise. That's what credit cards are for.

The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world and was the religious centre of ancient Athens. It was built mostly in the 5th century BC during the Golden Age of Pericles. It was built in thanksgiving for the Greek victory over the Persian invaders during the Greco-Persian Wars. It was dedicated to the city's patron, Athena. The site contains several buildings of major architectural interest.

The Propylaea is the monumental gateway leading into the Acropolis (think of it as a massive front foyer). It is built in the classical Greek Doric style. It was never fully completed due to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War.

The Parthenon is a former temple that was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It is considered to be a lasting symbol of Ancient Greece, democracy, and Western civilization.

The Parthenon, a massive temple, once housed a colossal gold-and-ivory statue of Athena, but alas, it is now lost. Extensive restoration of the structure is on on-going project. Using white marble from the same quarry from which the original marble was sourced, artisans are creating intricate patches to stabilize the structure. The Parthenon was converted into a Christian church in the 6th century AD, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It later became a mosque under Ottoman rule.

The Temple of Athena Nike is a small Ionic temple which celebrates Athenian victories over Persia.

The Erechtheion was built between 421 and 406 BC. It was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, commemorating the legendary contest between them for control of the city. Its highlight is the Porch of the Caryatids - six female statues (the originals are in the Acropolis Museum - replicas are on display here). Each figure is unique - with a different hairstyle, facial features, and draped clothing. The name of the building comes from Erechtheum, a legendary king of Athens, who was buried on this site.

Entry to the Acropolis is by timed ticket in an attempt to control the massive crowds. The steps are steep and the marble has been worn smooth over the past 2500 years, so the walking was a bit challenging. It was hot up there and there were lots of people, but you expect crowds at UNESCO World Heritage site.

Some more patient members of the group went to Mars Hill (Aeropagus - "Ares" was the Greek god of war, and "pages" means hill) on the way down. It was here that St. Paul first presented his message that there was only one God, and that his Son was Jesus of Nazareth. I was fried by this point and headed straight to the bus where I chugged a litre of water.

We were all happy to get back to the hotel for showers and clean clothes. We hopped on the bus which took us back to the same dining area as last night. We had a nice 4-course meal. French fries seem to be a staple of Greek cuisine - wasn't expecting that! The chocolate cake drenched in honey we had for dessert was good. It was an memorable night of fellowship, live music and some impromptu Greek dancing!Читать далее