PIRAEUS, ATHENS, GREECE

PIRAEUS, ATHENS, GREECE

   Commonly known as the birthplace of democracy, Athens serves as Greece’s capital city and is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back 7,000 years. The city is steeped in rich political history and impressive architectural feats including the Acropolis of Athens. The Parthenon was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena who saved the Athenians from the Persians.  It was built and ornamented at the order of the leader of Athens, Pericles. The artists were Pheidias, Iktinos, and Kallikratis.  It was completed in 438 BC.

   On tour we also saw the Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first ever Olympic Games were held in 1896. The original structure was rebuilt and is now the only major stadium made entirely of white marble. We also saw the National Archaeological Museum, where the largest collection of ancient Greek antiquities in the world is housed.  Many statues and other treasures from ship wrecks around the Greek coast were taken by the English in 1816 and they now reside in the British Museum.

   Athens is a city of 11 million people and there are 20 million in all of Greece. There are many refugees coming in from Syria now. In 1821 Greece became a Republic and 95% of the people are of the Greek Orthodox religion.

                                           Gold finds from Mycenae grave 16C BC

Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt. From grave 16 C BC

Bronze statue of Poseidon 460 C BC

Tom at the Acropolis

Tom and Sandy at the Parthenon