Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

We came across these chaps in our travels. They are located out the front of the Parliament building and guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Sahara Gal

To market, to market.....

Of course when we start exploring a new city, we end up at the food markets sooner or later. The meat and fish market are undercover on one side of the road and the fruit/veg and deli goods are in the open air on the other side. There was some fabulous looking produce - it was just a shame we couldn't buy any!

Sahara Gal

The Temple of Zeus

The Ancient Greeks began building this temple but it wasn't until the Romans were in charge that the mighty Temple of Zeus was completed. It originally had 104 colums, though now only 15 remain on site with one blown down in a storm in 1852. The colums are each 17m high.

Sahara Gal

Home of the Olympics

The Panathenaic Stadium was built in the 4th Century BC and then restored in 1895 for the first Modern Olympic Games. It was used in 2004 for achery and the finishing line of the marathon.

Sahara Gal

A Little Church on Top of a Hill

At the top of Lykavittos Hill is the Chapel of Agios Giogios. You can reach it by climbing up a path (which we didn't do) or the funicular railway (which we did do). The views are spectacular and you cansee what a sprawly city Athens is.

Looking towards Lykavittos Hill Getting closer..
On top!

View of Athens

Sahara Gal

Ancient Agora

At the foot of the Acropolis hill lies the Agora - the meeting place in days gone by. It consisted of temples and meeting halls and was where democracy was born. The Lonely Planet informs me that Socrates and St Paul both spent time here. These days it is of course a ruin but there is enough information to give an idea about daily life in the Agora. Here are some of the highlights:

Temple of Hephaestus

Stoa of Attalos (which has been reconstructed and houses the Agora Museum). A Stoa is a long colonnaded building used for meetings and shelter (thanks again LP).

Pretty stuff

A local going for a stroll through the Agora

The all important drain system

A mighty fine torso...

Looking towards the Acropolis

The 10th Century Church of the Holy Apostles built in the Agora to commemorate St Paul

Restored Byzantine frescoes inside the church

Sahara Gal

The Mighty Acropolis

Perched high above the city, lies the Acropolis - an ancient citythat only hints of it's former glory. It can be seen from miles away and eventually every tourist makes their way up. To be honest, the Acropolis is better seen from afar, and preferably at night (so the scaffolding isn't as visible). Up close, the site is heaving with people, there is an incredible amount of scaffolding due to never ending restoration and manyt of the more delicate friezes have been removed, leaving just a skeleton. However, even with all these distractions, you can not help but try to imagine what life was like in ancient Athens during it's glory days.

Looking towards the Acropolis from Areopagus Hill (where it is believed St Paul preached Christianity). One of the many dogs living in and around the Acropolis.

Some of the many fragmented colums and statues that litter the ground

The mighty Parthenon

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Nap time...

The Erechtheion

The Caryatids holding up the southern portico - these are plaster casts; the originals are in the brand new Acroplis Museum where you can see the ladies right up close.

The Acropolis at night

Sahara Gal