Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - Docked in Piraeus, visited Athens, Greece

We started earlier again with Monica and Bill to visit Athens today.  The main attraction to visit was the Acropolis. The Acropolis is the centerpiece of Athens. It is rising up from the city center and is a rocky, fortified, limestone plateau, topped with the Parthenon and several other ancient monuments.

When we got there, it was already packed with tourists.  This was our 2nd time to visit the Acropolis, therefore we were sort of familiar with it's surroundings.  Again, we did the usual of walking around and taking a lot of photos. 

First we saw the Odeon of Herodes Atticus which is  a stone theatre structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis and it is one of the more “modern” buildings on the Acropolis, built in 161 AD. This theater can accommodate almost 5,000 people and it is still used for performances during the summer months.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Then, we went through Propylaea which is the gateway into the Acropolis; it’s a grand entrance, meant to impress visitors with its colonnaded entryway and marble buildings. 

Propylaea

Later, we saw the Temple of Athena Nike standing next to the Propylaea. This small temple is dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike who was the protector of the city of Athens. 

Temple of Athena Nike

Then, we saw the Parthenon which is the centerpiece of the Acropolis. 

Parthenon in Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Parthenon in Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Parthenon in Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Panoramic view of Acropolis

We also saw Erechtheion, Pandroseion, and the Old Temple of Athena which appears to be one building is really three separate temples and sanctuaries.

Erechtheion in Acopolis, Athens, Greece

Then, we visited the Acropolis Museum which is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.  Several interesting parts of the museum are Gallery of the Slopes, Archaic Gallery, Caryatid Ladies and Parthenon Procession.  

Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece

Gallery of the Slopes has a transparent floors reveal the excavations of the maze of settlements and sanctuaries that once sat at the foot of the Acropolis. This gallery also displays items that were found here. There is Archaic Gallery which is a column-filled gallery allowing one have the opportunity to view exhibits from all sides as three-dimensional exhibits. There are 5 of the 6 original columns that supported the south porch roof of the Erectheion can be found here. The third level of the museum is Parthenon Gallery which allow one to see the frieze of reconstituted panels around the Parthenon but at eye level. 

Then our guide took us to the Temple of Olympian Zeus for a short visit and photo taking.  

Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens, Greece

Then he took us to The Ancient Agora which is the best-known example of an ancient Greek agora. The word "agora" applies to an assembly of people and by extend marks the gathering place. In modern Greek the term means “marketplace".

First we visited the Hephaisteion which is located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. The building's condition has been maintained due to its history of varied use.

The Hephaisteion in the Ancient Agora, Athens, Greece

Then we walked around several ruins and finally reached the Stoa of Atallos which is the most striking building in the Agora. The Stoa of Attalos houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. The collection of the museum includes clay, bronze and glass objects, sculptures, coins and inscriptions from the 7th to the 5th century BC, as well as pottery of the Byzantine period and the Turkish conquest.

The Ancient Agora, Athens, Greece

Then we walked to the Roman Agora which is located to the north of the Acropolis and to the east of the Ancient Agora. 

The Roman Agora, Athens, Greece

Then we were on the van for another hour of driving to south of Athens and arrived at the tip of the peninsula to visit the Ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. It is one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens. It is situated above the sea at a height of almost 60 meters. With much less tourists at this attraction, we were able to throughly enjoy this wonderful ancient temple.  

Ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Greece

Ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Greece

Then we had another hour drive back to Piraeus.