Day 3
Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Above Right: No person will bother this dog and if it were to get in the way of any event, the animal would be kindly coached to move to a safer spot.

About Dogs (and Cats) in Greece and Turkey. Since the times of the Black Plague(s) this area of the world has respected Wild &/or Feral Dogs and Cats because those animal groups kept the Black Plague from spreading from Europe! These animals have free reign in the countries of this region. These animals keep their populations in-check in a natural balance, in return these same animals live off of mice and rats and have kept the rodent population in-check.

• I have seen shop owners put food out at night in both of these countries for dogs and cats.
• I have seen people randomly walk up to dogs or cats and pet them.
• These animals all seem friendly to humans.
• I have seen people go out of their way to make sure a kitten or puppy gets fed when other full-grown animals get pushy for themselves for food.
• It doesn't matter Muslim or Christian, they both treat Dogs and Cats with respect in this region of the world.

Above: The Guards had Changed!

The National Gardens

Panathenaic Stadium,
Also Known as Kallimarmaro (Beautiful Marble) Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. One of the main historic attractions of Athens, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. - Wikipedia

Fact: The words Athlete and Athens are derived from Athena (Athos in Greek).
Fact: Nike is Athena (in her Competition Persona).

History: A stadium was built on the site of a simple racecourse by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos (Lycurgus) c. 330 BC, primarily for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, by 144 AD and had a capacity of 50,000 seats. After the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was largely abandoned. The stadium was excavated in 1869 and hosted the Zappas Olympics [1859, 1870, and 1875 sponsored by Greek businessman Evangelis Zappas]. After being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and was the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports. It was used for various purposes in the 20th century and was once again used as an Olympic venue in 2004. It is the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon. It is also the last venue in Greece from where the Olympic flame handover ceremony to the host nation takes place. Source: Wikipedia

Zappeion

Temple of Zeus

Emperor Hadrian's Gate

Handy References About the Acropolis
(Wonderful Source: www.athens-greece.us/acropolis/map-of-the-acropolis/)

Above: Excellent Overview of the Acropolis, the artists view is looking southeast.

The Roman Agora and Amphitheater (outside of the Acropolis) are to the south side, we will enter on a path that leads through them and proceed clockwise-uphill to the east (only) entrance gate (Peisistratus Portico).

Above: The best 2D Map of the Acropolis area that I know (the Key is below).
Source: www.athens-greece.us/acropolis/map-of-the-acropolis/

Above: Key to the above Acropolis Map.

Thoughts that people get mixed:
1. Fun Fact: The Acropolis is located in Athens, the Capitol of Greece.
2. Fun Fact: The Acropolis is NOT Mt Olympus - Mt Olympus is Greece’s tallest mountain and it is located in a mountain range on Greece’s east coast, about 275 miles (440 kilometers) NNE from Athens.
3. Fun Fact: Olympia, home to one of Greece’s Ancient Pan-Athletic Games which are now commonly called the Olympics, is not in Athens. Olympia is located near the Peloponnese west coast and is 180 miles (290 kilometers) ENE from Athens.

Above Left: Conveniently located in the highest foot traffic area of Greece, at the entrance area to the Acropolis.

Above Right: The Romans couldn't add much more to the Acropolis (because they filled the remaining space with monuments), so the Romans built this Tower Monument on the first hill top viewed south and west of the Acropolis.

Above: The Roman Agora (also known as the Asclepeion) was built at the foot of the Acropolis. It was built in 3 stages (called Odeons) at the south side of the Acropolis. The Parthenon is visible in the upper-right.

Above: About the third Odeon added to the Roman Agora - One has to go through Ancient Rome to get to Ancient Greece (above Odeon #3).

Theatre of Dionysus
(Amphitheater at the Acropolis)

Above Left: Near the Entrance Gate, looking about due west; the Saronic (Soranokos) Gulf is visible to the left side.

Above Right: Near the Entrance Gate, looking about northwest; the next hill's green area is the Ancient Agora of Athens (we will visit later this day).

Above Left: Near the Entrance Gate, looking due north across the Ancient Agora of Athens at modern Athens. The Temple of Hephaestus is barely visible in the Ancient Athens Agora area (next to needles in the near tree).

Above Right: A zoom-in on the Temple of Hephaestus (to be visited later this day because it is one of a few Whole Temples in existence).

The Entrance Gate through the Acropolis Fortress Wall

Above Left: Looking up at the Nike Bastion on the south side of the Entrance Gate. The Monument to Agrippa is visible left and down from the Nike Bastion and the Entrance Gate is in-between.

Above Right: The only Entrance Gate for tourists to access the Acropolis. There are other closed gates. Thousands of people walk through the gate daily! A part of the Old Temple to Athena is visible through the gate.

Above Left: Nike's Bastion.

Above Right: The Monument to Agrippa is on the left and Peisistratus Portico is straight ahead.

Above: A picture of our Guide's Acropolis Map.

Above Left: Peisistratus Portico.

Above Right: Monument to Agrippa (Agrippa was Roman but Noteworthy).

"Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a Roman consul, statesman, general and architect. He was a close friend, son-in-law, and lieutenant to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus and was responsible for the construction of some of the most notable buildings in the history of Rome and for important military victories, most notably at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC against the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra." Source: Wikipedia

Peisistratus Portico

Above Left: Passing through the Peisistratus Portico.

Above Right: Seeing roofs is rare, I tried to study how it was done. There's not quite enough information here at this distance and there has been some re-work performed.

The Parthenon

Above Left: Boom, just like that, there it was! Not only is this a Bucket List Check, my Father has stood in this same spot and he had taken virtually the same picture. I saw his images as Kodak Slides taken while cruising the Mediterranean Sea with the 6th Fleet of the US Navy. We're looking in a ESE direction.

Above Right: The reverse view of the Parthenon, looking ENE.

Above: East end of the Parthenon.

Above: Looking at the east end of the Parthenon.

Above: Looking southwest at the Parthenon.

Above: About the Parthenon.

The Erechtheion
(It is a Temple to Athena and Poseidon, with the Porch of the Caryatids on the South Side
and a Temple Porch/Portico dedicated to Zeus on the North Side of the Temple)

Above Left: The Erechtheion, looking northeast.

Above Right: The Caryatids - These Caryatids are all reconstructions, all but one is in the New Acropolis Museum and the British have a single original in the British Museum of London. The Caryatids Image and the Parthenon Image are the two most recognized photos as being from or representing Greece and Ancient Greek Culture.

The Erechtheion is an Ancient Greek Temple located on the north side of the Acropolis (of Athens, Greece) which was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.

The Temple as seen today was built between 421 and 406 BC. Its architect may have been Mnesicles, and it derived its name from a shrine dedicated to the legendary Greek hero Erichthonius. The sculptor and mason of the structure was Phidias, who was employed by Pericles to build both the Erechtheum and the Parthenon. Some have suggested that it may have been built in honor of the legendary king Erechtheus, who is said to have been buried nearby. Erechtheus was mentioned in Homer's Iliad as a great king and ruler of Athens during the Archaic Period, and Erechtheus and the hero Erichthonius were often syncretized. It is believed to have been a replacement for the Peisistratid Temple of Athena Polias destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. Source: Wikipedia.

The roof of the North Porch was supported on six Ionic columns, while below its floor the Athenians pointed at the mark of the thunderbolt sent by Zeus to kill the legendary King Erechteus - Source: Acropolis Museum. This is what is visible from Pláka on the north side of the Acropolis - See our previous recorded days in Athens.

At the South Porch, which was the most well-known, the roof was supported by six statues of maidens known as the Caryatids - Source: Acropolis Museum. A caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term karyatides literally means "maidens of Karyai", an ancient town of Peloponnese. Source: Wikipedia.

Above: A Classic image representing Greece, Greek Culture, and travel in Greece.

Above Left: The east end of the Erechtheion and looking NNE.

Above Right: Looking northeast from the Acropolis over Athens.

Above: More east end views of the Erechtheion.

The Other Ancient Greek Amphitheater

Above Left: An older Greek Amphitheater sits between the New Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis; the Museum is at the top image.

Above Right: A closeup of the older Amphitheater. It is still used and recently a free concert benefit was given there for donations to the Acropolis Archaeology workers (who often use their own money on site projects).

Above Left: There sits an observation tower on the eastern point of the Acropolis that overlooks Athens, it flies a huge Greek Parade Flag.

Above Right: A view straight down, we have walked those streets.

Above Left: Looking ENE over Athens.

Above Right: Looking east over Athens.

Above Left: Looking east at Hadrian’s Gate.

Above Right: Looking ESE at the Temple of Zeus. Those columns are huge, compare with the people on the plaza.

Enjoying the Acropolis' Main Thoroughfare, Dionysiou Areopagitou Street

Benaki Museum

Above: This museum delivered - We enjoyed our visit and recommend a visit. Both images are from Internet Images.

Above Left: After our visit to Turkey, we found this to be a typical Muslim styled Reading Room.

Above Right: Refreshment before departing, again we stayed inside because the smokers were outside.

A Walk from the East Side of Pláka to the West Side of Pláka

Above Left: We just happened to cross the street from the Benaki Museum and catch a glimpse of the Honor Guards marching to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (for a Change of Guard).

Above Right: Dennis and Terry Struck having dinner at the Barbadimos Restaurant, again (Greek Name: Mparmpadhmos).

Above Left: Terry's meal.

Above Right: Dennis' Meal.

Agoraios Kolonos Hill, Ancient Agora of Athens, and the Temple of Hephaestus

Above Left: We were curious about this statue because of the detail but we understood very little; the Eagle emblem at the top represents the Byzantine Empire and the dates posted at the right side represent the end of the Byzantine Era and the beginning of the Ottoman Era in Greece. The suit of armor is an adapted Roman style but the head gear and sword are middle-eastern in appearance; I suspect that this soldier was a commander from the final stages of the Byzantine Empire.

Above Right: The Temple of Hephaestus.

Hephaestus was the patron god of metal working, craftsmanship, and fire. There were numerous potters' workshops and metal-working shops in the vicinity of the temple.

Above: Acropolis in the background, both the Parthenon and the Erechtheion are visible from this elevated hill top, and the sun was setting.

Above: A beautiful view of the Acropolis ended our day! Don't miss the Magpie in the tree top.