June 30, 2013: Athens, patron city of Athena

So today's the day. The day I've been hoping for for quite some time. The day we go see the Parthenon! Eeeeeek! (That was a happy squeal by the way). When we arrived, it seriously brought tears to my eyes. (No one could tell though. Thanks sunglasses!) 

The parthenon is an ancient temple, built by the ancient greeks, to honor the goddess of wisdom, Athena. However, it has also been a Christian church, a mosque, and an arsenal for gun powder during it's lifetime. (That last one ended badly. Many of it's statues were destroyed when either lightening or a cannon ball hit the temple and caused it to explode). The Parthenon was home to the 13 meter tall, gold and ivory statue, Athena Parthenos. It has 8 columns along the from and back, and 17 down the sides. On the east pediment (the triangle part) it depicts Athena's birth. (The above picture shows the remains of the east pediment). The west pediment depicts the contest between Poseidon and Athena, and the prize was to be the patron god of Athens. (Obvious, in the myth, Athena won, since the city is named after her). There are other ruins on the acropolis (a fortified part of a city, usually on a hill), such as the older temple to Athena, and a temple to the goddess of victory, Nike. 

The Old Athena Temple

Nike's Temple

Afterwards, we walked to the Acropolis Museum, where you can see the statues that were stollen off the building, and reproductions of many of them that have been lost or destroyed. You can also see models of the temples atop the acropolis, as they would have looked originally, and offerings (statutes) that were made to the gods. Sadly, you couldn't take pictures inside. We also stopped by an old theater of Dionysus. 

Now we are back at the hotel, takin' a swim, and we'll hopefully go back to the flea market area for dinner again tonight. 

Long Story Short:

⚫ Acropolis 

⚫ Acropolis Museum

⚫ Theater

⚫ Flea Market?