Athens has a elevated limestone platform upon which the Parthenon was erected in 447 BC during the height of the Greek Golden Age. It was completed in only 9 years and has been considered the pinnacle of human achievement and an architectural masterpiece. We agree wholeheartedly!
There are several different temples up on the Acropolis this one is the temple of Athenea Nike
These are the tourists that have booked an actual tour
Looking out over Athens
Sanctuary of Asclepius
Theater of Dionysus
The entrance to the entire complex is the Propyla
Intended to impress it had a double row of columns and a covered roof area
Athena Nike is pretty small and no access to it for the public
Up everyone climbs
Selfie!
The gang is all here
Dave and me
Everywhere there are parts of the ruins laying on the ground
Some columns look worse for wear
These are very tall
Here you can see how the roof was made
We have officially entered
More remnants
The Parthenon is even larger
The older temple of Athena.
The wings of Athena were knocked off she she would stay in Athens and not fly away
A sample of the detail that is up on top of the Paerhenon
The Erechtheion
Substantially smaller but still a mystery to Dave
It is hard not to be drawn back to the Parthenon
Off we go
We are now looking at the back corner of the Parthenon
Details on the top
Athens spreads out forever!
Raised int he center and the columns lean in towards the center!
Where does this part go?
All kinds of extra pieces
Seem very out of place
Hadrian's gate far below
Oops!
I need to photoshop out this guy
We will be sailing out of here in two days
Our Apartment is in this picture...somewhere
Looks like a huge quarry
A glamours gal
the wind is up!
and the hair goes up with it
They are working on the interior
So very large
A break in the crowds
We lost Dave
Found him
Columns to spare
During the 1687 siege of the Acropolis by the Venetians a shell landed in the center of the Parthenon which held the Turkish gunpowder. It blew up large sections of the building
What it was in it's heyday
A very exact cut in the stone
Stela!
Having a blast
Working our way back to the front
A magpie is trying to get in on the act
Almost done
Another very detailed piece of stone
The Athena Nike temple
Heading out
The steps are less crowded
Looking back up
Lion
Big stones in the wall
the magpie is following us
A tiny gift shop
Snake!
church
Very nice brick work
Olive trees
Bronzed
The police are ready for trouble
Orthodox
Fund a tea shop
We got lots of tea
Vespa!
