Spartan_X
December 10th, 2007, 01:57 PM
A few months ago i made a thread with a few photos from the Ancient Agora. Today we continue the tour ... upwards :) To the Acropolis.
To reach the "Sacred rock" of Athens the shortest way is to take the metro and disembark at the Acropolis station. From there it is a very short distance to the Acropolis, passing through the beautiful Dionysiou Aeropagitou str. I decided to not take this road, instead the starting point of this tour will be the ancient road of the Panathinea, the road that crosses Kerameikos and the Ancient Agora and leads to the Acropolis.
So, here we go :)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2099777649_4d31e67f55_b.jpg
We pass through the ruins of the Ancient Agora...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2099778611_6416798a8b_b.jpg
The ancient road still exists
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2100557850_70b547f798_b.jpg
Continuing upwards we encounter the church of Agioi Apostoloi ( Saint Apostles ) a 11th century byzantine church.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2040/2100558298_1ce7020f31_b.jpg
A Detail of the Dome
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2100558036_d5cf7fe4e3_b.jpg
Leaving the church we continue to follow the road.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2100558928_2e470edd4e_b.jpg
Reaching the base, the road takes a turn...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2099780565_f8fa8a2a20_b.jpg
And we end up at the rocky hill of "Areios Pagos". The hill was used as the council of the city elders in the pre-classical period, and in classical times as a high court. It is also believed that St. Paul from the top of this hill preached to the Athenians.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2099781113_8c760a089c_b.jpg
The stairs leading to the top of the hill.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2143/2100560494_61b04fd62b_b.jpg
A view at the Acropolis from the Areios Pagos.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/2099782149_8751bbb564_b.jpg
We leave Areios Pagos, and we reach the stairs leading up the Acropolis... We pass through the large door of the outer walls.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2099782531_753f6280e8_b.jpg
And we reach the Propylaea, the main gateway to the Acropolis.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2100561918_ef3cc7c377_b.jpg
A work of the architect Mnesicles, the Propylaea were built during the 5th century ( during Pericles time. ). However they where Left forever unfinished. A large part of the monument that was planned to be built, was never constructed. A lot of restoration work has been contucted on the propylaea over the years, and still this work hasnt finished yet. 2500 years after their construction ( a main reason for their bad shape is a large explosion that they suffered in 1656 ) they still look astonishing.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2120/2099783545_253258d70d_b.jpg
The columns are identical to those on the Parthenon, yet they are smaller.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2099783895_cc94e9f4a0_b.jpg
Security was tight on the Propylaea, not only because the sanctity of the place... On the Acropolis the treasury of Athens was held.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/2100563038_181800238f_b.jpg
Passing through the Propylaea we see the very familiar image of the Parthenon. A work of the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates ( Phidias did the decoration ), the temple was built during the 5th century b.c
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2100563702_915b284836_b.jpg
The temple is surrounded by scaffolding today due to the much needed restoration work.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2100564866_b3f63105ae_b.jpg
The temple columns are not completely vertical but lean slightly inwards...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2100565318_9ebb14a2d1_b.jpg
A detail
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/2099786927_c40c2a84e0_b.jpg
On the floor beside the Parthenon, something is written. What it may say?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2099787585_9f81f09fbf_b.jpg
Although damaged from time and humans, the Parthenon still echoes the minds of those who built it...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2100567572_891474c34f_b.jpg
A view from another angle.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2099790613_30f0e987e4_b.jpg
The colors of Greece
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2099792253_66f93ce21a_b.jpg
The southern wall is the most damaged part of the temple, due to a explosion of a gunpowder magazine in 1687 during a attack of the Venetians in Athens.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2099792755_0fbd1cba11_b.jpg
Slowly the damaged building takes a more complete shape...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/2099793335_f360f8d580_b.jpg
... And the wrongdoings of the past are slowly corrected.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2099793955_d4f455fdf4_b.jpg
A detail of the inside.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2100573044_7288fce0a4_b.jpg
Our next stop is the Erectheion. Built also during the 5th century bc ( but after the Parthenon ) its a work of the architect Kallimachos
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2099795539_5a10476d41_b.jpg
The Erectheion is one of the most impressive ( and for many reasons, unique ) Ionic rythm temples.. It housed not only a shrine to Athena, but also it housed altars to Poseidon and Hephaestus. According to legend also the Erectheion is the site of the tomb of Cecrops, the ancient founder of the city of Athens.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2099795987_69a94c68c6_b.jpg
The Caryatids from below... These Caryatids of course are not the real ones. The real Caryatids are to be housed in the new Acropolis museum.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2099796443_cb8a23e216_b.jpg
A view of the east entrance
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2404/2099797379_f8c4a64d15_b.jpg
A closer look at the door of the temple
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/2100576416_91acfb46fc_b.jpg
The of the door decoration is exceptional. It is also obvious how this style of decoration inspired the neoclassical buildings of the 19th and 20th century.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/2099798345_37ea8e181a_b.jpg
The north entrance to the temple. The thinner Ionic rythm columns are a contrast to the Dorian-rythm columns of the Parthenon
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2100577926_556af8af4c_b.jpg
A peek on the inside.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2100578512_4df45955bf_b.jpg
After a lot of restorion work on the Erectheion, the building seems to be in very good shape..
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/2099800431_918037ac82_b.jpg
A last peek at the Caryatids.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2408/2099800865_12f315a535_b.jpg
Leaving the Erectheion we are reaching the northen part of the Acropolis, The flag pole.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/2100568042_9667d98abc_b.jpg
From there you have a marvellous view of the Athens below. Far away in the distance you can see the Athens tower, like its looking at the Acropolis... The ancient spirit and the future joining together.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2100568724_ac4d3e9615_b.jpg
And So, with this last photograph, this is the end of this small "tour". I sure hope that you liked it :)
To reach the "Sacred rock" of Athens the shortest way is to take the metro and disembark at the Acropolis station. From there it is a very short distance to the Acropolis, passing through the beautiful Dionysiou Aeropagitou str. I decided to not take this road, instead the starting point of this tour will be the ancient road of the Panathinea, the road that crosses Kerameikos and the Ancient Agora and leads to the Acropolis.
So, here we go :)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2099777649_4d31e67f55_b.jpg
We pass through the ruins of the Ancient Agora...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2099778611_6416798a8b_b.jpg
The ancient road still exists
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2100557850_70b547f798_b.jpg
Continuing upwards we encounter the church of Agioi Apostoloi ( Saint Apostles ) a 11th century byzantine church.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2040/2100558298_1ce7020f31_b.jpg
A Detail of the Dome
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2100558036_d5cf7fe4e3_b.jpg
Leaving the church we continue to follow the road.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2100558928_2e470edd4e_b.jpg
Reaching the base, the road takes a turn...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2099780565_f8fa8a2a20_b.jpg
And we end up at the rocky hill of "Areios Pagos". The hill was used as the council of the city elders in the pre-classical period, and in classical times as a high court. It is also believed that St. Paul from the top of this hill preached to the Athenians.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2099781113_8c760a089c_b.jpg
The stairs leading to the top of the hill.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2143/2100560494_61b04fd62b_b.jpg
A view at the Acropolis from the Areios Pagos.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/2099782149_8751bbb564_b.jpg
We leave Areios Pagos, and we reach the stairs leading up the Acropolis... We pass through the large door of the outer walls.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2099782531_753f6280e8_b.jpg
And we reach the Propylaea, the main gateway to the Acropolis.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2100561918_ef3cc7c377_b.jpg
A work of the architect Mnesicles, the Propylaea were built during the 5th century ( during Pericles time. ). However they where Left forever unfinished. A large part of the monument that was planned to be built, was never constructed. A lot of restoration work has been contucted on the propylaea over the years, and still this work hasnt finished yet. 2500 years after their construction ( a main reason for their bad shape is a large explosion that they suffered in 1656 ) they still look astonishing.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2120/2099783545_253258d70d_b.jpg
The columns are identical to those on the Parthenon, yet they are smaller.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2099783895_cc94e9f4a0_b.jpg
Security was tight on the Propylaea, not only because the sanctity of the place... On the Acropolis the treasury of Athens was held.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/2100563038_181800238f_b.jpg
Passing through the Propylaea we see the very familiar image of the Parthenon. A work of the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates ( Phidias did the decoration ), the temple was built during the 5th century b.c
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2100563702_915b284836_b.jpg
The temple is surrounded by scaffolding today due to the much needed restoration work.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2100564866_b3f63105ae_b.jpg
The temple columns are not completely vertical but lean slightly inwards...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2100565318_9ebb14a2d1_b.jpg
A detail
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/2099786927_c40c2a84e0_b.jpg
On the floor beside the Parthenon, something is written. What it may say?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2099787585_9f81f09fbf_b.jpg
Although damaged from time and humans, the Parthenon still echoes the minds of those who built it...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2100567572_891474c34f_b.jpg
A view from another angle.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2099790613_30f0e987e4_b.jpg
The colors of Greece
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2099792253_66f93ce21a_b.jpg
The southern wall is the most damaged part of the temple, due to a explosion of a gunpowder magazine in 1687 during a attack of the Venetians in Athens.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2099792755_0fbd1cba11_b.jpg
Slowly the damaged building takes a more complete shape...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/2099793335_f360f8d580_b.jpg
... And the wrongdoings of the past are slowly corrected.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2099793955_d4f455fdf4_b.jpg
A detail of the inside.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2100573044_7288fce0a4_b.jpg
Our next stop is the Erectheion. Built also during the 5th century bc ( but after the Parthenon ) its a work of the architect Kallimachos
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2099795539_5a10476d41_b.jpg
The Erectheion is one of the most impressive ( and for many reasons, unique ) Ionic rythm temples.. It housed not only a shrine to Athena, but also it housed altars to Poseidon and Hephaestus. According to legend also the Erectheion is the site of the tomb of Cecrops, the ancient founder of the city of Athens.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2099795987_69a94c68c6_b.jpg
The Caryatids from below... These Caryatids of course are not the real ones. The real Caryatids are to be housed in the new Acropolis museum.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2099796443_cb8a23e216_b.jpg
A view of the east entrance
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2404/2099797379_f8c4a64d15_b.jpg
A closer look at the door of the temple
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/2100576416_91acfb46fc_b.jpg
The of the door decoration is exceptional. It is also obvious how this style of decoration inspired the neoclassical buildings of the 19th and 20th century.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/2099798345_37ea8e181a_b.jpg
The north entrance to the temple. The thinner Ionic rythm columns are a contrast to the Dorian-rythm columns of the Parthenon
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2100577926_556af8af4c_b.jpg
A peek on the inside.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2100578512_4df45955bf_b.jpg
After a lot of restorion work on the Erectheion, the building seems to be in very good shape..
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/2099800431_918037ac82_b.jpg
A last peek at the Caryatids.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2408/2099800865_12f315a535_b.jpg
Leaving the Erectheion we are reaching the northen part of the Acropolis, The flag pole.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/2100568042_9667d98abc_b.jpg
From there you have a marvellous view of the Athens below. Far away in the distance you can see the Athens tower, like its looking at the Acropolis... The ancient spirit and the future joining together.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2100568724_ac4d3e9615_b.jpg
And So, with this last photograph, this is the end of this small "tour". I sure hope that you liked it :)