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Published: June 14th 2017
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Geo: 37.9668, 23.7295
What an incredible day! We went across the road from our wonderful hotel to the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009. The museum itself is built above the ruins of a Classical Greek street and early Byzantine street, visible through glass floors. The new museum has so many wonderful artifacts from the period when the Acropolis temples were built (500BC). There is evidence that the Acropolis has been inhabited since 6000BC - don't that make your head spin!
The top floor of the museum has been built to the same size and proportions as the Parthenon, with the remaining marble frieze (and presumed replicas) displayed around the museum. The marbles that Lord Elgin bought (or, as they say here, "looted"😉 are replicated in stark white, so everyone can appreciate how well they fit with what is displayed here. I have to say, now there is an amazingly good place to display them, I'm more sympathetic to the Greeks - previously there was nowhere to put them!!
When we got to the gates of the Acropolis, a guide asked if we wanted to join her private tour - well worth the €50. We saw the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus (first stone
theatre in the world, 4th century BC) the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (amazingly beautiful and intact theatre (161BC) and up to the Propylaea (the monumental 5th c. B.C. entranceway). The Temple of the Athenian Nike (450BC) is almost complete, and just so beautiful.
We then wandered around the Acropolis for about 1 hour, having the most amazing location for our picnic (complete with stray cats). Significant restoration has been made to the Erechtheion (dedicated to Athens and Poseidon, with Athena's olive tree still growing outside - built 450 BC) with its stunning caryatids, and works are still ongoing for the Parthenon. The day was just perfect!
Lots more photos, including at the Flag of the Acropolis. (This is a very important flag to the Greeks - to quote one website "On the very east side of the Acropolis there is a high pole, the Greek flag on top. When, during World War II, the Germans occupied Athens, they ordered Konstantinos Koukidis, the Evzone (elite solider) who guarded the flag, to take it down. The soldier obeyed, calmly took the flag down, wrapped himself in it and jumped from the Acropolis to his death."
We then climbed the Areopagus Rock (or Areios Pagos,
Acropolis Museum
Acropolis Museum or Mars Rock (Roman name, reference to Mars, God of War). It was the site of St Paul's speeches to the Athenians in 50AD. In classical times, it functioned as the Supreme Court. Ares was supposed to have been tried here by the gods for the murder of Poseidon's son Halirrhothius. Certainly, it's a great view of the Acropolis and the city!
From here, we walked down past the Roman Agora to the street of the Plaka, and as the Ancient Agora was soon closing, we spent a pleasant hour or so wandering the tourist shops and antique shops.
A rest at the hotel - Steven and I snuck in a romantic date to the rooftop garden of our hotel, with its stunning views of the Acropolis - the before dinner in a little plaza overlooking a monument to Lord Byron who had stayed here 300 years ago - a lovely night. Dessert was loukoumades - a new family favourite. We can't decide if we like the little balls of pastry (like a donut) soaked in honey and cinnamon or in chocolate better!
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Ruth
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How amazing Kaylene. Great photos of amazing places. We have just arrived home from our Bundaberg/Sunshine Coast Christmas festivities and are having a few quiet days. Talk soon. Ruth x