Day 2
Walking West through Pláka to the Roman Agora

Above: Some views of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis. If I lived here, I would never get tired of seeing the Erechtheion or the Parthenon (on the other side)

The Roman Agora

Above Left: Part of the Fortress Wall of the old Roman Agora in Athens.

Above Right: Agora Entrance Directions and Hours - The sign had a basic layout map of the Agora.

Above: Looking through the fence.

Above: We're in the courtyard.

Above Left: Main Entrance.

Above Right: Drainage system components.

Above Left: A collection of Edges and Cornices (what people do before building a jig-saw puzzle).

Above Right: Roman Columns tend to be single pieces of stone, whereas Greek Columns tend to be in carefully matched sections.

Above Left: Parts of a Temple Roof (L-R): one piece Cornice and Raking Cornice, Raking Cornice Cap, and Facia, all sitting on a Architrave (or Lintel).

Above Right: Cornice Drain Gargoyle.

Above Left: Quite the elaborate Mark.

Above Right: The same mark on a stone piece that has slots for wood beams (likely part of a wood roof beam support).

The Horologion of Andronnikos of Kyrrhos (an Astronomer), inside the Roman Agora

Above: The Horologion was already built and existing form the Hellenistic 2nd century BC before the Romans built the Agora (or occupied Greece). The Agora was built around the Horologion. The Horologion was only saved in the later Byzantine period and the Christion 17th Century because the Church was using the Horologion (there is a related Basilica within 150 meters).

IN FACT, the only reason that many Temples still exist is because they were used by a church, otherwise they may have been viewed as un-important pagan structures and destroyed (a dictate by the Byzantine Church in the 600s AD/CE).

Above Left: Floor.

Above Right: Roof.

Above Left: An entrance's archway.

Above Right: A Privy.

Above Left: The Horologion in the background, Agora parts and pieces in the foreground.

Above Right: An upside-down Doric Capital.

Walking from the Roman Agora to the Acropolis Museum

Above: Apparently, this is a Good Neighborhood Award from the Roman Rulers.

Lunch Near the New Acropolis Museum

Above Left: Way to the New Acropolis Museum.

Above Right: Terry, reading a menu and the Parthenon in the background (the photographer, Dennis, needed Flash turned on).

Above: Lunch options.

Above Left: Dennis and Terry at a Café with the Parthenon in the background.

Above Right: The end of the Metro Line.

The New Acropolis Museum
(The Old Acropolis Museum is on the Acropolis, next to the Parthenon)

Above Left: The new Acropolis Museum opened in 2009, the Old Acropolis Museum is on the Acropolis, next to the Parthenon. The new museum was built on stilts (heavy duty cement columns) above a known Ancient Athens neighborhood. The old neighborhood was dug and archived and it is on display in the open or under glass flooring.

Above Right: An old well of the old neighborhood (the object of coin tosses and good wishes).

Above Left: A close-up of the old well.

Above Right: A look through the floor of the museum's store at the old neighborhood.

Above Left: Model of an earlier version of the Acropolis.

Above Right: Old neighborhood as seen through the glass flooring. The floor dots really do help with perception.

Above Left: Fortress Walls.

Above Right: City Walls.

Above Left: About the Caryatids.

Above Right: These are the real Caryatids, taken in from the Portico display at The Erechtheion on the Acropolis. The British have the missing Caryatid. It is the Hair in the original design that keeps the Caryatids from structurally breaking at the neck.

Above Viewing the Caryatids from above.

Above: A mock-up of the end Frieze on the Parthenon (many parts and pieces were there in the museum).

Above: Our view from the Museum Café.

Above Left: Museum Barista at work.

Above Right: Ionic.

The Walk Back to Our Hotel

Above Left: Last view of the old neighborhood of Athens below the Acropolis Museum.

Above Right: Colorful Street Vendor.

Above Left: Hadrian's Gate.

Above Right: Terry and a very good Street Musician (we tipped).

Above Left: My favorite traveling partner - It was hot outside and the beer was cold.

Above Right: Home for a few more days.

Dinner in Pláka

Above Left: Grilled Sardines, a local favorite.

Above Right: Desert and Aperitif, complements of the Owner.

A Night Walk about Pláka

Above: Cruising the Shops.

Above: It was a warm night, we made it to the Roman Agora.