The Acropolis

We got up early this morning, and after a delicious breakfast of omelets and Greek yogurt, we made our way to the Acropolis. Maria found 8am admission tickets for us, so we were able to visit before the heat of the day. Even so, it was very warm.

We entered from the southern slope and walked past the Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

We approached the summit through the Propylaea gateway, past the Temple of Athena Nike. As you pass through the gateway, there is a magnificent view of the Parthenon. It's oriented at an oblique angle to the gateway so that as a man enters, he can see both the front and side of the building. All of the buildings are oriented similarly so they can be viewed in a similar manner from the Propylaea.

We saw Athena's Olive Tree next to the Erechtheion. Mythology holds that this was her gift to the city and was prized far more highly than Poseidon's gift of salt water. As a result, she was chosen to be the goddess of the city that now bears her name.

From the Acropolis you can see the Areopogus Hill where the apostle Paul presented his speech to the leaders of Athens in Acts 17: 22-34. This is when he declared to them that the Unknown God that they worship is the one true God of all creation, the Lord Jesus Christ.Read more