Acropolis And the National Archaeological Museum
Hello,
Today was a great day. We hiked from our hotel to the acropolis and also when in the Acropolis museum. Then we walk to the Plaka area and ate lunch. Then we walked to a metro stop and traveled to area of the National ArchaeologicalMuseum. After our visit we walked back to the metro and back to the area of our hotel. After a short break we walked to outdoor resturant near the acropolis. Overall a great day but a little tiring.
As we walked up to the Acropolis we arrived in time to see the army guard march in ranks and load up in the truck and leave. They do not allow backpacks on the acropolis. We walked up and it was sunny and warm day. the wind had been blowing for several days so the there was no haze and you could clearly see the harbor 5 miles away and the island of Salamis and even the mountains of the Pelopponessus.
We climb up the hill much in the same way the ancient people of Athens would walk up in Athena's birthday. They would bring sacrifices and a new dress for her statue in the Erechtheion.
As you enter the acropolis (which means high or upper city) you walk through the Propylaia a monumental entranceway. Which had a room on the to house pieces of art and a place for meals for the elite. They are still working on this area and in fact the entire emple to Athena Nike which is on the right has been dismantled and is in the process of restoration.
When would through the gate you see the Parthenon on the right. It gets its name from the Greek word parthenos which means virgin. Athena was the virgin goddess who according to the mythlogy competed for the control of Athens with Nepture. Her symbol is an owl which represents her wisdom. Of course the Parthenon is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It is amazing to see. It still has some reconstruction work taking place. But much of it has been reworked. Construction began in 447BC and the temple was dedicated in 438BC A large chryselephintine (ivory and gold) statue of Athena stood in front of the Partheon but it does not survive. The Partheonon was destroyed in 1687 when the Venetians attcked the city and the Turks had explosives stored in the building. The explosives were detonated during the battle. The temple has Doric constructionand several features built in to give it the illusion of perfection. The columns taper towards the tip but bulge slighty in the middle. They also lean slightly inward. The temple is uilt on a 9:4 ratio of height to width etc. The interior frieze is preserved in London at the British Museum. Lord Elgin moved many of the remaining sculpltures 1801-1803 he sold to the British in 1816. Many would like to have the material returned to Greece.
To the right of the Propylaia is the Erechtheion which is mostly reconstructed now bu they are sitll working on the center ares of the temple. The most famous feature is the Porch of the Caratids. Here carvings of women were used in the place of columns. This building is names after Erchtheus the mythical king of Athens. It was built between 421 and 406 BC.
After looking over all of the buildings on the acropolis we visited the Acropolis musuem which has objects found on the Acropolis including material from earlier temple structures. The museum has the Caratids and other parts from the metopes and Pediments of the temples especially the Parthenon.
It is a small but important museum.
We then left the acropolis walked by the Aeropagus and through the Agora and then stopped for lunch in the Plaka area. Then on to the then National Archaeological Museum.
This is a large and fine museum with material from all over Greece including the islands. There are mnay fine examples of Greek pottery from all the periods from Geometric on to Black and Red figures pottery. There are many fine bronze statues also. Most which were recovers from the sea. The large bronze of Zeus is one of the finest pieces in the museum. The museum also hs the Mycenaen materials from the tombs of Mycenae. Schliemann found gold desk masks and fine gold objects. Also on display on the second floor are some of the frescos from ancient Thera.
This is a world class museum that is worth several visits.
Tomorrow we will visit the Agora and musuem and the Areopagus or Mars Hill.
Today was a great day. We hiked from our hotel to the acropolis and also when in the Acropolis museum. Then we walk to the Plaka area and ate lunch. Then we walked to a metro stop and traveled to area of the National ArchaeologicalMuseum. After our visit we walked back to the metro and back to the area of our hotel. After a short break we walked to outdoor resturant near the acropolis. Overall a great day but a little tiring.
As we walked up to the Acropolis we arrived in time to see the army guard march in ranks and load up in the truck and leave. They do not allow backpacks on the acropolis. We walked up and it was sunny and warm day. the wind had been blowing for several days so the there was no haze and you could clearly see the harbor 5 miles away and the island of Salamis and even the mountains of the Pelopponessus.
We climb up the hill much in the same way the ancient people of Athens would walk up in Athena's birthday. They would bring sacrifices and a new dress for her statue in the Erechtheion.
As you enter the acropolis (which means high or upper city) you walk through the Propylaia a monumental entranceway. Which had a room on the to house pieces of art and a place for meals for the elite. They are still working on this area and in fact the entire emple to Athena Nike which is on the right has been dismantled and is in the process of restoration.
When would through the gate you see the Parthenon on the right. It gets its name from the Greek word parthenos which means virgin. Athena was the virgin goddess who according to the mythlogy competed for the control of Athens with Nepture. Her symbol is an owl which represents her wisdom. Of course the Parthenon is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It is amazing to see. It still has some reconstruction work taking place. But much of it has been reworked. Construction began in 447BC and the temple was dedicated in 438BC A large chryselephintine (ivory and gold) statue of Athena stood in front of the Partheon but it does not survive. The Partheonon was destroyed in 1687 when the Venetians attcked the city and the Turks had explosives stored in the building. The explosives were detonated during the battle. The temple has Doric constructionand several features built in to give it the illusion of perfection. The columns taper towards the tip but bulge slighty in the middle. They also lean slightly inward. The temple is uilt on a 9:4 ratio of height to width etc. The interior frieze is preserved in London at the British Museum. Lord Elgin moved many of the remaining sculpltures 1801-1803 he sold to the British in 1816. Many would like to have the material returned to Greece.
To the right of the Propylaia is the Erechtheion which is mostly reconstructed now bu they are sitll working on the center ares of the temple. The most famous feature is the Porch of the Caratids. Here carvings of women were used in the place of columns. This building is names after Erchtheus the mythical king of Athens. It was built between 421 and 406 BC.
After looking over all of the buildings on the acropolis we visited the Acropolis musuem which has objects found on the Acropolis including material from earlier temple structures. The museum has the Caratids and other parts from the metopes and Pediments of the temples especially the Parthenon.
It is a small but important museum.
We then left the acropolis walked by the Aeropagus and through the Agora and then stopped for lunch in the Plaka area. Then on to the then National Archaeological Museum.
This is a large and fine museum with material from all over Greece including the islands. There are mnay fine examples of Greek pottery from all the periods from Geometric on to Black and Red figures pottery. There are many fine bronze statues also. Most which were recovers from the sea. The large bronze of Zeus is one of the finest pieces in the museum. The museum also hs the Mycenaen materials from the tombs of Mycenae. Schliemann found gold desk masks and fine gold objects. Also on display on the second floor are some of the frescos from ancient Thera.
This is a world class museum that is worth several visits.
Tomorrow we will visit the Agora and musuem and the Areopagus or Mars Hill.
posted by John Wineland at 12:45 PM
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