On our way to the Acropolis, we passed several marinas that house some very large yachts. Ahh the lifestyles of the rich and famous!
Once we arrived at the Acropolis, one of the first things we saw was the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone theater structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens.
We were told at the beginning of the tour that the Greeks used a lot of elements of nature in their architecture. For example, the flowers carved into the marble fragments below. The Greeks used flowers, plants and sea shell like patterns in their carvings.
As we approached the Propylaea, a monumental gate at the western end of the Acropoli, Rah Rah and I started noticing something odd about the ruins...
All of the buildings and columns looked like a patchwork quilt.
Layer after layer of different colored marble.
Not just different colors... no, some of the sections were old and worn while others looked like they were carved last week. Okay not last week but definitely NOT 429 BC.
Not to mention, we saw more scaffolding... everywhere!
This was our first view of the Parthenon.
All of the monuments were under some form or restoration. Not the kind of restoration that power washes and cleans the pollution and decades of soot off of the monuments. No, this was actual rebuilding of the monuments taking place. Piecing together pieces of crumbled ruins and using modern technology and bright, shining white, new marble to restore old columns and structures.
Sometimes you would look up and see this...
and other times this.
We didn't know how to feel about all of this "restoration" going on. I understand that these monuments have suffered such devastation from wars and natural disasters like fires and earthquakes. I guess I understand the need to preserve the ruins for hundreds of years to come. But it just seems so weird. So un-authentic. So strange. Like I was in some way cheated of the "real deal."
All of that patchwork and scaffolding...
Luckily the other side of the Parthenon was not currently under construction.
Behold... no scaffolding!
Even though the Parthenon is probably the most famous monument in the Acropolis, I think my favorite monument was the Erechtheion, an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis which was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.
Of course the most distinct feature being the Porch of the Caryatids. On the south side, the famous "Porch of the Maidens", with six draped female figures (caryatids) are the supporting columns of the porch.
But wouldn't you know, after I read the little information plate in front of the monument I found out those ladies are fakes, replicas. The original maidens are in the Acropolis Museum.
A little more disappointment.
But onward we went after one last photo passing through the Propylaea.
On our way to Sounion, our bus stopped by the Kallimarmaron Stadium were part of the 2004 Olympics was held.
After lunch at a really nice hotel - where we were able to get free WiFi connection, check email, update a few pictures to Facebook and send a few short emails home - we headed for Cape Sounion to see the Temple of Poseidon.
According to legend, Cape Sounion is the spot where Aegeus, king of Athens, leapt to his death off the cliff, thus giving his name to the Aegean Sea.
In a maritime country like Greece, the god of the sea was bound to
occupy a high position in the divine hierarchy. In power, Poseidon was
considered second only to Zeus, the supreme god himself. His implacable wrath, manifested in the form of storms, was greatly feared by all mariners. The temple was therefore a place where mariners could appease Poseidon with animal sacrifices or by leaving gifts.
The view from Cape Sounion was amazing. There wasn't any scaffolding. No significantly noticeable restorations.
Standing at the southern most tip of main land Europe was breathtaking.
The Temple of Poseidon redeemed our views of Greece.
It was still an amazing day of real life history lessons.
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