Ancient Athens

Ancient Athens was a powerful city-state; a cultural center where learning and art were practiced and respected. Athens was also the hometown of great philosophers Socrates, Pericles, and Sophocles. Many call Athens the birthplace of Democracy.

Upon the Acropolis is the Parthenon, the temple of Greek goddess Athena. After the Ottoman conquest it was used as ammunition storage and the building was ignited by an attack by the Venetians on September 28, 1687. The explosion severely damaged the Parthenon and the surroundings, though much of the structure endured. The Greek Ministry of Culture is working to restore the Parthenon and other Acropolis structures stone by stone. During my visit in Athens I walked up to the Acropolis a few times, including once at night to see the beautiful view of Athens.






Also on the slope of the Acropolis is The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a stone theatre built in 161 CE by Herodes Atticus. I remember the first day looking down at this from the Acropolis and my whole perspective changed when had the opportunity to see the Greek Festival there as well. Sitting in the stone seats I really felt like I was experiencing a piece of history, taking in music the way ancient Greeks once did. It was a wonderful blending of old and new.





Another site we visisted that Herodes Atticus was involved in was the Panathinaiko Stadium, which is the only stadium in the world built completely from white marble. The stadium was first used to host part of the Panathenaic Games, honoring the Goddess Athena. The ruins from the ancient structure were refurbished for the revival of the Olympic Games that were held there in 1870 and 1875.

A prominent landmark of Athens is Mt. Lycabettus, with its peak rising high above the city. On our visit to Mt. Lycabettus, I ascended the hill in the Lycabettus Funicular, a railcar that climbs the hill. At the peak of Mt. Lycabettus is the Chapel of St. George, a beautiful white church, contrasted against the bright blue sky of Athens. In Greece, St. George is the patron saint of the Hellenic Army. While I was outside the chapel I saw a woman from the church and a man selling worry beads talking with each other, and I loved the interaction.







My favorite part about Mt. Lycabettus is the astonishing views of Athens. I was amazed (and still am through photos) at how expansive a city Athens is. Buildings start in the valleys and roll up through the hills until the highest mountain peaks, like a bowl, accentuated because there are barely any trees atop the mountains because of fires.