Athens, the ancient city of Greece....Part I

The Monastiraki Square with the Old Mosque and Metro Station, far in the background is the Acropolis.

Only photos from Acropolis and Agora are shared in this 1st part of post on Athens. Other photos will be posted in the next writing up, Part II and III. Greece located on the southern side of the Europe and a neighbour to Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Turkey. From the Athens International Airport, the metro line is directly connected to the Monastiraki Station within 40 minutes journey and priced at Euro 8 one way.

Location of Athens and Greece

A view of the old city of Athens from the top Areopagus (Ares Rock)

A view from Areopagus, below is Plaka, the old city and far background is Lycabetus Hill

Morning sun shines the Lycabetus Hill (far background), Plaka (below) and Acropolis (right)

The National Observatory of Athens at Pnika

A bit of introduction on to Athens. She is the capital city of Greece and is very famous for its Acropolis. She began as a small, Mycenaen community and grew to become a city that flourish and enjoyed such ancient prestige. Do get the Euro12 priced ticket at the Acropolis Ticket Booth. This ticket will allow you to enter almost all ancient historical sites of Athens. The historical sites can be easily reached by foots and it is best to explore Athens on foots too, but there will be some climbs here especially to the Acropolis Hill and Filopapou Hill. 

The Parthenon, Acropolis

The Acropolis also known as the scared rock.The Parthenon one of the good examples of temples constructed entirely with marble. The monument stands over an ancient sactuary of goddess Athena.

The Erechtheion, Acropolis with six caryatids

Theater of Dionissos, Acropolis

Herodium, Odeum of Herodes Atticus, still being used for cultural and arts shows at night, far back is the Filopapou Hill.

Early settlement was around the Acropolis and Agora dated back up as early as 7000 BCE. Athens entered her golden age and great thinkers, writers, and artists flourished in the city such as Herodotus, (father of history), Socrates (father of philosophy) and Hippocrates (father of medicine). The sculptor Phidias created his great works for the Parthenon on the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Temple of Olympian Zeus was built in honor of the Greek god Zeus.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Acropolis Hill from the Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Hadrian's Arch

Some historical timeline if Athens: 7000 to 5000 BCE - Earliest known human habitation on the Acropolis and Agora. 1100 to 600 BCE - public buildings erected at the Agora.
493 BCE - the first fortifications are constructed at Piraeus Port.
469 to 399 BCE -life of Socrates.
460 to 429 BCE - Athenian Agora is rebuilt, construction of Parthenon.
460 to 320 BCE -Period of full and direct citizen democracy in Athens.
449 BCE - the Hephaisteion, temple to Athena.
447 to 432 BCE - the construction of the Parthenon by the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates.
447 BCE - Construction of the Acropolis.
427 to 347 BCE - life of Plato.
421 to 406 BCE - the Erechtheion is constructed with six Caryatids in the south porch.
384 to 322 BCE - life of Aristotle.
117 to 138 CE - rule of the Roman Emperor Hadrian who supports great building projects in and around the Agora.

The Roman Agora

The Ancient Agora of Athens

Stoa of Attalos, the Athens Agora museum

The Temple of Hephaestus

Cicada, the tree cricket singing the song of Athens

After looking at the ancient sites of Athens, do continue in the next post which covers the neoclassical journey in Athens Part II.