Travel
in 438 B.C, close to the temple of
Athena. In 480 B.C., the original
temple had been destroyed by
invading Persians. The Parthenon
itself was built as a tribute
commemorating Greek victories
over the Persians.
The Apostle Paul preached here in
51 A.D. Centuries later, it was
converted to an Orthodox church,
then an Ottoman Turkish mosque
and, still later, a storage facility
for gunpowder.
Each piece of the Parthenon has
been described as unique. Experts
say it is both the most perfect and
most imitated building in the world.
As Barrett’s Guide describes it,
“Lines that look straight are actually
not. The ancient Greeks understood
the mechanics of site and that to
make a line look straight, it had to
be tapered or curved.”
When Venice was a world power, its
ships bombarded the Parthenon and
blew it up. Since then, much of the
remaining structure has been taken
apart and put back together. To most
onlookers, the building exudes as
much glory as ever. Restoration work
has been in process for 30 years and
may continue for another 30.
When the Nazis occupied Greece
in 1941, they naturally hoisted
their swastika in the Acropolis,
close to the Parthenon. Two teenage
Greek resistance fighters soon
tore it down.
Climbing to the Acropolis and
Parthenon can be a daunting
proposition. Going up the hills requires
several resting periods for many. On
hot days, remember that Athens is in
the heart of sunny Mediterranean
territory. Available water will go a
long way to preclude dehydration.
Besides the Parthenon, the Acropolis
Museum provides many publications
and relics that can add to an
understanding of this incredible area
and its history. You could easily
spend an entire day in the museum.
Summary
The Parthenon and other buildings
of the Acropolis still represent the
golden age of ancient Greece. They
serve as reminders of how western
civilization began. We were on our
way to Northern Greece, but Maralyn
knew I would be disappointed if I
didn’t get to visit the Parthenon.
So we adjusted our trip to allow for
this one-day stop. For me, it was
certainly worth the effort.
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