Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was named Athena. The proof of its ancient flowering is everywhere, in the remains of monuments, statues, and sacred places, which still hold respect for one of the most important periods in history.
The Poseidon Adventure in Art
In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the god of the sea, so it only fits when the surprisingly forged bronze statue comes from the bottom of the Aegean Sea, where it lay for centuries after a shipwreck from Artemision Point. The two-meter-high figure stands with wide arms and moves forward at the left foot. The right hand held a trotter, and the unknown sculptor was clearly a master in exactly doubling the complicated balancing act, which was a gesture of seemingly simple spear throwing.
This work of art is a number of fascinating bronzes of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The museum's collection, which includes pieces from the prehistoric era, offers the world's finest Greek art collection. The renovation closes the museum for one and a half years, but was reopened before the 2004 Olympic Games.
260 meters above the city, the Acropolis (the "high city") is not only the highest point of Athens, but it is also the main point for many people to visit Greece. It is the oldest known settlement in Greece and was a holy place for ancient Athens.
In the period from 448 to 420, Pericles's outstanding Athens statesman commissioned four new monuments on the Acropolis at the site of former ruins. The Athens sculptor Phidias is the leader of construction and interior design. The Ionic Erechtheum includes the Caryatids veranda with columns in the form of monumental female figures that identify the mystery. The Athena Nike Ionian temples, dedicated to Athena as the goddess of victory, were built during the Peloponnese War, freshen the Greek victory over the Persians in the Battle of Plataea. The Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis, replaced both the Doric and the ion columns with the earlier version destroyed by the Persians. Of course, the Acropolis will stay at the left side of Parthenon.
Parthenon, designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates, lasted 15 years. It was closest to Pericles & # 39; Heart: Among the various friezes depicting the life of the gods, the great statue of Athena represented the greatness of the goddess and Athens.
Even in AD 131, competent developers such as Roman Emperor Hadrian admit the importance of signals. "This is the city of Hadrian and not the city of Theseus," read the inscription on the arch of Hadrian, located at the foot of the Acropolis, and once between Hadrianopolis and Athens. The view of the Acropolis and Ancient Athens says, "This is the city of Athens, Theseus."
Like all surrounding monuments and the Athens infrastructure itself, the arch of Hadrian was remarkably renewed. The 60-foot arch, built of Pentellian marble, combined with columns with Corthical capitals and Corinthians columns, lost some structural stability in the mid-18th century when 8 columns were removed.
The restorers raised the arches, cleaned up the centuries-old pollution and improved the cracks before the 2004 Olympic Games.
Evzones
The Ears were once the elite soldiers of the Greek army. Today they are presidential guards, a celebration unit that monitors the Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The soldiers wear a traditional and heavily photogenic uniform that has a long black coat with a yellow-brown cap, a white tunic over white stockings, a black knee-jacket, a black chopstick red stick and fustanella . The fustanella contains 400 patches each year that the Greeks invaded the Ottoman Empire. The bayoneted leather paper belts and rifles maintain strict physical discipline while watching and resisting tourists. tries to take them away.
Before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, there is a daily change of the guard, but on Sunday, there will be a full ceremony that will include an army and dozens of soldiers.
Alice in Wonderland
Imagine the magic world of Alice in Wonderland, and you can imagine what is similar to the assembled track in the Paiania village. The Koutouki Cave is much larger than a rabbit hole, a natural wonder that will fascinate its colors and formations. In 1926, a goat disappeared from her flock where it was grazed on the slope of Mount Ymittos. The search created a small gap and an expensive soul that the rope brought into the depths below. The goat did not survive the fall, but his deliberate ambulance came back with a beautiful underground chamber.
The vertical cave consists of a 38.5-meter axis, a large, approx. It opens to a cave with a diameter of 60 meters. Guided tours visit visitors through man-made entrances, and lead them through stalactites and stalagmites formed by mineral deposits of water passing through the mountain limestone. The tour ends with a light show accompanied by classical music. It's just a short taxi ride from Athens to nearby Paiania.