Late again but here goes. I am typing this out at Florence Railway station hopeful that I’ll get 2 posts in to finish wonderful Greece.
The Iconic Greek
No holiday in Athens is complete without visiting The Acropolis and it’s famous Parthenon. This structure is one of the world’s most recognisable buildings on this planet. It has also been a bucket list item of ours for many moons. It should also be on your list.
We are so glad we weren’t here at peak period. As you can see by the first photo the crowd was thick. Here I will digress a bit to draw your attention to the first bit of stupidity of youth (more in the next post) in the quest to get that selfie to make you famous. In the second photo you will notice a crowd on a huge rock in the center lower right of the pic. While we were there a 25 year old woman wandered too close to the edge of that rock trying to get that special pix and fell to her death. Not what we wanted to hear of while we were there.
Upwards and Onwards
We carried on and after battling the crowds we made it to the top of the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. For me it was a special moment as I recall being taught about the mathematics of this wonder at school and since then it has been a goal to get here. The number of columns across the side of the temple is twice those in the front plus 1. Greek mathematician, Phidias used what was called the “Golden Ratio” in the design of the sacred temple. That ratio is (1+root 5)/2 or 1:1.619 . Don’t ask me how it came about. I wouldn’t have a clue except to say it is apparently most pleasing to the eye.
There is a lot I could write about but most of the photos tell their own tale. Having said that the 7th, 8th & 9th photos surprised me when we realised the Parthenon was made from Lego bricks. True! Have a look.
More About the Sacred Rock
Also atop of the Acropolis there are several structures including The Erechtheion a temple dedicated to Athena, Poseidon, Erechtheion and other dieties. I have posted 14 photos related to that Temple. The views from the Acropolis are outstanding too as you’d imagine they would be. One thing that amazed us was the ‘bits and pieces’ lying about the place everywhere and the archeologists digging in exclusive corners of the ruins. Click here for more.
Our day on this sacred rock came to an end and we wandered on to see other things before heading ‘home’. Next gallery I will show you another temple and explain the link between it and the Acropolis and a wager lost by the God of the Sea.
Poor Old Poseidon
One more of our tours was to the southern end of Greece to Sounion to see sunset at the Temple of Poseidon (Circa 700BC). Legend has it that Zeus had a dilemma when doling out real estate. So he set up a competition between Athena and Poseidon (Gods of equal rank) to see who got the prime land we now know as Athens. You can guess by the name of the capital who won. Their job was to see who could bring the most useful item to (now) Athens. Poseidon bought salt water to float the city’s defensive fleet but Athena bought fresh water which Zeus deemed much more useful as it can be used for drinking and irrigation. So Athena got the pick and poor old Poseidon got stuck with this southern headland.
Byron the Graffiti Vandal?
Again the photos tell their own story but I need to explain the two photos of the rock column. English Poet, Lord Byron, once visited here and carved his name onto this column. We couldn’t read it but our guide assured us it was there. In any case it was a great trip with a lovely ending. I finished up with two photos of the moon playing hide and seek with an ancient column.
That’s all for now folks
Well that’s another blog knocked over. I said at the start I was at Florence Railway Station. Well we’re onboard out train for Venice and have just left Bologna. If I had wi-fi I’d post this now but I’ll do so in our hotel later this evening. Keep watching the blog for more. Next up is the Greek Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier and their spectacular changing of the guard along with mammoth monasteries at majestic Meteora.
Bye for now
Garry & Shane.
Now only a couple of weeks away, your wearing me out ……………. time for coffee …………………. stay safe folks.
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