Temple of Erechtheion
Located in the northern part of the Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens, the Temple of Erechtheion is dedicated to numerous ancient Greek gods. Its most notable feature is the six female statue columns known as the Caryatids, which are standing outside the surrounding wall. Each statue column has different clothing, hairstyle, and facial expression, possibly reflecting the diversity of women in ancient times. However, the statues outside the temple now are replicas, while the originals are preserved in the Acropolis Museum.
Along the streets of Plaka, into the Theater of Dionysus, the premiere venue for many great Greek playwrights. The theater now lies in ruins, a shadow of its former glory. Climb up the stone steps of the seats, all that remains is the hushed whispers of tourists, trying to imagine the once-grand spectacle, as if hearing the raucous applause and unabashed criticisms of ancient Athenians in the fading sunset.
Gathering place of the gods, revelry of the deities, Patong's lights shine brightly at night, standing tall on top of the Acropolis mountain. On that day, there was a total lunar eclipse, the moon appeared exceptionally large and round. Looking through the columns of Patong, the moon felt so close to us, and we, standing in this mythical place, seemed so insignificant.
Poseidon, as the uncle of Athena, was defeated by the goddess of wisdom in the struggle for the guardianship of Athens. However, he remains one of the most important gods in the hearts of the seafaring Greeks, guarding the various seas. The several surviving Doric columns in the temple showcase his unparalleled majesty.
Herod Atticus Odeon
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built in AD 161 by the philosopher Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes to honor his wife. It is one of the oldest and most remarkable buildings of its time, and has a width of 35 meters and 32 rows of seating, accommodating up to 5000 people. In ancient times, music concerts and theatrical performances were held here during festivals, and this tradition continues today, especially with a multitude of concerts during the summer. However, it is only open to the public during concert events, and specific dates and times can be checked on the official website.
This is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Greece, dedicated to the god of fire and forge, Hephaestus. The temple has 34 columns and the roof is adorned with carvings depicting nine of the Twelve Labours of Hercules.
The ruins of the Hadrian's Library are located in the north of the Acropolis in Athens. It was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD. The library was built in Roman architectural style and had study rooms, reading rooms, and classrooms. The library was damaged during the invasion by the Heruli in 267 AD and was later restored by Maximian in the 5th century. During the Byzantine Empire, three churches were built inside the library.
The building of the Zeus Column Hall was once dedicated to the god Zeus, who symbolizes freedom, and also commemorated the people who brought freedom and defended Athens. Now, only the foundation remains here. It is said that this was the place where the great philosopher Socrates and his friends gathered to discuss philosophy.
Hadrian's Arch (Πύλη του Αδριανού) is located 325 meters southeast of the Acropolis in Athens. It was built in 131 AD by Emperor Hadrian and is a Roman triumphal arch. The arch spans an ancient road in the center of Athens, which leads to the eastern side of the city, including the buildings such as the Temple of Zeus. Today, Hadrian's Arch remains a symbol of the entrance to Athens. Behind it, there is the famous ruins of the Temple of Zeus, with 15 towering columns. The temple, which used to have 104 beautiful Corinthian columns, is now a disordered and overgrown ruin.
National Archaeological Museum of Athens
This museum has an old and simple appearance, but it is definitely one of the top ten museums in the world because of its heavyweight collection. The National Archaeological Museum is the largest and most richly stocked museum among more than twenty museums in Athens. It is also the largest museum of ancient artifacts in Greece, housing nearly 20,000 highly valuable cultural relics and representing the pinnacle of ancient Greek artifacts. The museum is divided into two exhibition halls on two floors, with a total of 50 exhibition rooms. Its famous collections include "The Golden Mask of Agamemnon," the bronze statue of Poseidon, the bronze statue of a youth with a horse, and the mural depicting boxing youth. The museum takes at least half a day to visit as it is filled with artifacts from various periods. If time is limited, it is recommended to focus on appreciating the key artifacts.
The three buildings in Athens with neoclassical style, collectively known as the "Neoclassical Trilogy," are the National Library, the University of Athens, and the Academy of Athens. The middle building is the University of Athens, which features beautiful Greek gods on its exterior walls. On either side of the University of Athens are the National Library and the Academy of Athens. The National Library houses a collection of numerous ancient Greek books and literary works. The Academy of Athens was built in imitation of the Acropolis, with statues of Athena in armor and Apollo with a musical instrument carved on the two columns outside, and statues of Plato and Socrates seated below the columns.
The New Acropolis Museum opened in 2007 and is a highly modern building that is ten times the size of the old museum. The museum's transparent floors allow a clear view of the ancient city ruins buried beneath, while also reducing energy consumption. It houses the artifacts from the old museum as well as collections from various parts of Greece, including the relief of the Athena Nike and the female statue column from the Temple of Erechtheion. Most importantly, the new museum has modern facilities for the preservation of marble sculptures, providing Greece with a reason to reclaim looted artifacts from the British Museum.
This is the Square of Greek Parliament Building, the gathering place for political demonstrations. Two soldiers in traditional Greek costumes are standing below the parliament building, guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They perform a changing of the guard ceremony every hour, which is also the busiest time for tourists taking photos.
