Wednesday 2 May

The day started with a slightly later breakfast which was most welcome. A short drive to the Acropolis through Athens with our guide pointing out some areas of interest. We were given a little history lesson on Greek mythology.

Athens derived its name from the struggle between two mythical deities. According to tradition, Poseidon, god of the unbridled forces of nature, of earthquakes and of storms, claimed Athens from the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Poseidon struck the earth with his trident and an untamed horse and a flood of water sprang from it. Athena's gift to the city was an olive tree, which grew out of the rock. In this battle between the two opposing forces - of violence and the works of peace - the city awarded victory to Athena and took her name.

The day was hot (31 degrees) and the climb to the top of the Acropolis was steep and slippery in parts. Some of the group choose not to climb. Athens is surrounded  by a number of hills. One of the hills has a monument and graves to a Syrian king and his family. As we climbed higher the views over Athens became more spectacular with our guide pointing out the points of interest such as the port used 2000 years ago and still used today today (with some upgrades in technology). The climbing route was very busy with lots of groups. At one stage we looked down on Mars Hill which we later visited after Phil read from Acts 17. 

We climed up through the impressive gate to the temple area. The buildings were colourful in the past but time has rended them white with some dark areas due to pollution. When we reached the top our guide explained that the Parthenon was just to show off Athena with a statue 15 M high made of gold an ivory. Part of the building was destroyed by a Turkish canon which ignited gunpowder stored in the Parthenon in the 17th century.

The Erechtheion was was the most important building to Athena with 4 rooms. 1 for Athana 2 for Poseidon 3 for a snake and 4 for the buriel of a king. Interesting perspective - Athena got her power from a snake.  

We were given time to explore the whole area on top of the Acropolis and take some great photos. After we descended we caught up with the others who didn't climb the hill.

After boarding the bus again we stopped at the Olympic stadium of Athens that was used for the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896 and restored for the 2004 Olympics (but only used for archery on that occasion). It is used every year for the finish of the Athens Marathon which is held over the original route of the first "Marathon" - run by Marathon-Pheidippides with news of the great victory of the Greeks over the Persians in 490BC.

 

We had a very interesting tour of the Acropolis museum built over early ruins of the city.

After that the group split up - some going back to the hotel, some shopped, some watching the changing of the guards at parliament house.

By Kathleen Merry

Looking down over Mars Hill - where Paul told the Athenians who their "unknown" God really was

The Parthenon - built in 9 years from 447BC to 438BC - restoration planning started in 1975 and the work is still going today - over 40 years later!!

The hole in the structure made by the Turkish canon in the 17th century - will be left as is during the renovation to show the damage it caused

The Erechtheion 

Statues on the Erechtheion used as pillars to hold up the roof (they are replicas as all but one of the originals are in the Acropolis Museum to protect them from decay)

Some of us at the Olympic stadium of 1896

Original pillar statues from the Erechtheion - in the Acropolis museum