Today we continued our travel through space and time, as we moved from our coastal base, inland to the downtown, and from 2012 to the 5th century BC.
Outside of Constitution square, site of the most recent demonstrations.
We were able to be inspired by Pericles' words inscribed on the side of the monument of the Unknown Soldier "Ανδρών επιφανών πάσα η γη τάφος" (The whole earth is the grave of all famous men). These words were spoken by the famous Athenian politician during his funerary oration at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian war. The speech that defines Athens as a state and has served as inspiration for generations was delivered at the old cemetery of Athens of Kerameikos. Our next stop then had to be Kerameikos, to experience the physical space that inspired Pericles' oration.
After Kerameikos and the museum, we continued on the Panathenean Way, the same path that the Athenians took to pay homage at the temple of their guardian goddess Athena, the Parthenon. After we crossed the ancient agora, where Athenians continue to assemble in this space of the commons to debate and exchange and trade goods, we reached the ultimate symbol of Athenian power, the Parthenon. Even though everyone was exhausted and hungry, no one was willing to step down the hill. Once at the bottom, however, a late lunch, a shopping spree, and a stop at an amazing pastry store, energize everyone to walk to the new Acropolis museum, which allowed us to not only witness the amazing marbles of the Acropolis, but to see the three hills of Athens lit under a star-lit sky. Tomorrow we are off to Sounion and Laurion, south from our base in Glyfada but on the coast.
Day two was amazing! Breakfast at the hotel was a yummy start. I couldnt believe the site of the Parthenon, truly, truly breath taking. Im so proud of us making it to the top ;) it is so amazing seeing how detailed and massive the artwork was. How crazy is the metro station, the wall was clear glass with a real ancient tomb behind, unbelievable how easy it is to discover these ancient sites, they are right beneath us,as we saw at the mueseum! Today, the sites are breathtaking :)
ReplyDeleteDay Two was so much fun! We strolled up the hill to see the Parthenon and took pictures of Athens from the top. Then we ventured through the see of gypsies who where selling everything from parakeets to old monitors from the 90's. I finally was able to pick out some gifts at the local shops and try new desserts that came of a giant platter. It was then quite a giggly walk to the museum where we saw more ancient artifacts of Ancient Greece. The day ended beautifully with us munching on burgers and fries. My friends, you really need to get over here.
ReplyDelete~Mary
Kerry:
ReplyDeleteI must say, I am still truly in awe of the sites we saw today. Both the cemetery at Kerameikos, the acropolis and the Parthenon were such extraordinary sites it is still unbelievable what I was just standing in front of. It was great to put a connection between the history we read from class to the sites we saw, like Pericles' funeral oration. I could stay at the Parthenon all day!!! The view was breathtaking, the entire city below, and just mind blowing.
I must say shopping and a massive platter of pastries lived up the group and showed us another view into Greek culture. We finally adjusted to the Greek meal schedule and it was very strange eating dinner at midnight! After a long day it was nice to relax and take in the beautiful sites from the day.
-Kerry
I love the blog so far!!! I can't believe that I was there a year ago, and now I'm sitting in 20 degree weather in New Hampshire... I hope you all have as much fun as last year's group did, and more. I will be looking forward to the blog postings and finding out what your favorite sites are and what your favorite bits of culture are (food, people, etc.) Have fun and I hope you all enjoy this experience and make the most of it :)
ReplyDelete-Alexandra Murray
Yasas,
ReplyDeleteIt appears my previous post has vanished. Today was a beautiful day in Greece. The Parthenon was magnificent, a true wonder of the world. It is disappointing that such a great monument to human ingenuity was been destroyed over the years by war and religious fanatics. What still remains on the Acropolis instills such awe I can only imagine how it moved people who saw it in its prime. Athens reflects the rest of Greece so far, absolutely amazing. The combination of the ancient and the new mingled into the same location creates architecture unlike anything I have see before. One of the most amazing things about the city was the subway stations. When it was being constructed everything dug up in each station was displayed in small museums in every station. This is truly a city filled with beauty in many forms.
Aaron
We finally made it to the top of the Acropolis to view the Parthenon where the Erechtheion stood, a temple to Poseidon. There we saw the Caryatids columns that are in the shape of a female figure. There were about six Caryatids that were erected on the side of the temple, but have since been replaced by replicas while the originals have been relocated to the Acropolis museum yet is shy a couple of the originals that were taken and put in the British museum. The Greeks have have been trying to negotiate with the British to get the said Caryatids back and they have unfortunately been denied such a right; I think the Greeks should have the right to own their own history and the British should give them back without further ado!
ReplyDeleteOn the way down from the Parthenon I climbed up the Rock of Ares, also known as Areopagus, where St. Paul (the apostle Paul) spread the message of the gospel to the gentiles. It was powerful to stand the same place such a holy man had stood all those years ago and to see the sprawling city of Athens below.
A we walked among the ruins I could not help but to reflect upon past civilizations and the impact they had; first the Greeks, then the Romans, next the British, and it is us the Americans who be the rightful heirs of such honor. I wonder if someday people will walk among the monuments and buildings of our precious country that we have worked so hard to build and preserve and marvel at what we were able to pioneer and achieve as we do today with the Greeks and Romans of yore? We Americans have now taken our place among the great and must recognize what we do now and today will forever be remembered in the pages of history. We have a responsibility to ourself, our posterity, and to God who has blessed with this privileged opportunity to be the rightful and just heirs of such power in a long line of greats. May we seize this offer and use it to the greater glory of God!
Jesus says in the Gospel, "You are the light of the world -a city upon a hill cannot be hidden" Matthew 5:14
"The eyes of the world are upon us" -John Winthrop 1630
So I say yes indeed that the eyes of the world and all those yet to be born are upon us, now and forevermore.
Ryan J. DeAngelis