Athens, Greece

Athens

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The Acropolis

The most famous part of Athens is the Acropolis, a raised, fortified area of the city, containing ancient structures. One of these, the Parthenon, built in the 5th century BC, was a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, then later a Christian church, then an Ottoman Mosque, and was partially destroyed in 1687 when it was used as a gunpowder storage facility during a war with the Venetians; it is currently undergoing reconstruction. Another structure, the Erechtheum, also from the 5th century BC, is known for the "Porch of Maidens," a set of six columns shaped as female figures. At the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, built in 161 AD, one can still watch concerts today.

Three adjacent structures: The Erechtheum (Έρέχθειον), the Pandroseion (Πανδρόσειον), and the Old Temple of Athena (Παλαιό ναό της Αθηνάς) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

The Pandroseion (Πανδρόσειον) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

The Parthenon (Παρθενώνας) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Odeon of Herodes Atticus (Ωδείον Ηρώδειον Αττικού) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Herodes Atticus Theatre (Ωδείο Ηρώδου Αττικού) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

The Theatre of Dionysus (Θέατρο του Διονύσου) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Inscribed stone at the Theatre of Dionysus (Θέατρο του Διονύσου) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

The Acropolis (Ακρόπολη) at night, viewed from Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός).

Walking around the City

While many of the modern parts of Athens are architecturally unremarkable -- a jungle of concrete apartment buildings -- there are a few very walkable neighborhoods. One such neighborhood is Plaka, an old section of town with stone streets, neoclassical architecture, and lovely restaurants with outdoor seating. Another is Monastiraki, the site of many shops and a well-known flea market. The very long, centrally-located Ermou Street, is a shopping haven.

Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens, at night.

Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Girl wearing a shirt for the Communist Youth of Greece. It says "Πρωτοπόρα θεωρία Πρωτοπόρα δράση για το μέλλον μας το σοσιαλισμό," which translates as "Pioneering theory Pioneering action for our future socialism.

Flea market in the Monastiraki (Μοναστηράκι) neighborhood. This market seems to have a preponderance of camouflage clothing.

Ελαια restaurant. Rooftop dining area with the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη) behind it, at night.

Ελαια restaurant. Rooftop dining area at night.

Pedestrian street near Ermou (Ερμού) Street.

Flea market in the Monastiraki (Μοναστηράκι) neighborhood.

Restaurants at night in Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Restaurant overlooking the Ancient Street of the Tripods (αρχαίας οδού των Τριπόδων).

Dogs resting in the street in Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Street performers. Ermou (Ερμού) street.

Cityscapes

The Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill are excellent vantage points from which to view the expansive city of Athens.

Philopappos (Φιλοπάππου) Hill, viewed from the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Thissio (Θησείο), viewed from the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Athens viewed from the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Athens viewed from Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός) at sunset.

Syntagma Metro Station

The Syntagma Metro Station contains a free exhibit of some of the archaeological findings unearthed during construction work on Athens' metro system in the 1990s. A gigantic wall, displaying a cross section of geological layers of Athens' soil, contains a 5th century BC aqueduct, a 4th century BC skeleton, and a 2nd century BC grave.

Archaeological display at the Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) metro station.

Grave, 2nd century BC. Archaeological display at the Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) metro station.

Peisistratid aqueduct, 5th century BC. Archaeological display at the Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) metro station.

Skeleton from the 4th century BC. Archaeological display at the Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) metro station.

Syntagma Square and Greek Parliament

Syntagma Square sits at one end of the busy shopping street, Ermou Street. At the Greek Parliament, adjacent to the square, one can see the changing of the guards. The guards wear traditional, dress-like Greek military uniforms, with large shoes.

Presidential Guard at the Greek parliament building at Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) Square.

Greek parliament building at Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) Square.

Parliament building viewed from Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός).

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Greek parliament building at Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) Square.

Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) Square, with the Greek Parliament in the background.

Syntagma (Σύνταγμα) Square, with Hotel Grande Bretagne in the background.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

This temple, dedicated to Zeus, king of the Greek gods, took 650 years to build, starting in the 6th century BC. It was pillaged and reduced to ruins a century after its completion. It has beautiful Corinthian columns still intact.

Column detail. Temple of Olympian Zeus (Ολυμπίου Διός).

Temple of Olympian Zeus (Ολυμπίου Διός).

Temple of Olympian Zeus (Ολυμπίου Διός), viewed from the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Ruins near the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Ολυμπίου Διός).

Graffiti

Some cities (Athens and São Paulo, in particular) have such creative graffiti.

Graffiti depicting a girl holding a television set displaying a bitten watermelon slice.

Graffiti depicting a man wearing a gas mask.

Graffiti in Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

First Cemetery of Athens

This cemetery contains ornate mausoleums from some of Greece's most famous and important people. Much of the artwork is exquisitely beautiful, such as The Sleeping Maiden, a sculpture by Greek artist Yiannoulis Halepas, which looks serene and life-like (last photo in section below). The bones of people without mausoleums are dug up after three years and placed into an ossuary to make room for newcomers.

The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Angel. The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

The grave of General Theodoros Kolokotronis (Θεόδωρος Κολοκοτρώνης) at the First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Averof family grave. The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Figure of woman on chair. The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Grave of actress Melina Mercouri (Μελίνα Μερκούρη). The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Sphinx-like figure. The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Winged female figure. The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

A "locker" containing things to be used when visiting a grave, including a candle and cleaning supplies. The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Ossuary, a building used for the storage of bones that have been removed from tombs to make room for new burials. The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Grave of singer Sofia Vembo (Σοφία Βέμπο), the legendary "singer of victory." The First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών).

Sculpture of sleeping woman at the First Cemetery of Athens (Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών). Title: Koimomeni (Κοιμωμένη). Artist: Yiannoulis Halepas (Γιαννούλης Χαλεπάς). Year: 1978.

Athens Polytechnic

In November 1973, a group of students barricaded themselves in the Athens Polytechnic and sent out radio broadcasts in protest of the dictatorial military rule which had begun in 1967 and which had taken away civil rights and democracy from the citizens of Greece. On November 17, a tank crashed through the gates of the Polytechnic (gate shown below), and police killed 24 civilians outside the campus. The graffiti shown below reads (translated), "Passion for freedom is stronger than jail cells."

Graffiti at the Athens Polytechnic. Translation: Passion for freedom is stronger than jail cells.

Monument to the victims of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising, November 17, 1973.

Panathinaiko Stadium

The Panathinaiko, or Panathenaic, Stadium is the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and is built entirely of white marble.

Statue of a discus thrower near the Panathinaiko (Παναθηναϊκό) Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.

Panathinaiko (Παναθηναϊκό) Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, viewed from Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός).

Panathinaiko (Παναθηναϊκό) Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.

Mount Lycabettus

The highest point in Athens is found at the top of Mount Lycabettus. In addition to providing spectacular views of the city, a beautiful church and excellent restaurant can both be found at the top of the hill.

Likavittos restaurant at the top of Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός).

Church of Aghios Georgios (Άγιος Γεώργιος) on Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός).

Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός), viewed from the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη).

Academy of Athens, University of Athens, and National Library of Athens

These three places are adjacent to each other in the Panepestimio area of Athens. The National Library, completed in 1903, is built of marble with Doric columns and contains over a million volumes. The University, dating from 1850, has Ionic columns. The Academy, like the National Library, is built of marble and, like the University, has Ionic columns; completed in 1885, its design by a Danish architect was modeled on the Erechtheum in the Acropolis.

Ceiling. Academy of Athens (Ακαδημία Αθηνών).

Column detail. Academy of Athens (Ακαδημία Αθηνών).

Mural depicting the sciences. University of Athens.

National Garden

The National Garden is a huge park in the middle of Athens. Athens doesn't seem to have many parks, so this green space is a nice respite from the concrete jungle. Formerly the garden of the Royal Palace, the park is now open to all. Within it lies the Zappeion, a large exhibition hall.

Planter depicting Pan. National Gardens.

Zappeion Megaron (Zάππειο Μέγαρο). National Gardens.

Churches

Churches shown below include Panaghia Kapnikarea on Ermou Street, one of the oldest churches in Athens, built in the 11th century over an ancient Greek pagan temple; the nearly identical Aghion Apostolon located at the Agora, a large ancient gathering place common in Greek city-states, containing well-preserved frescoes and paintings dating back as far as the 11th century; the very colorful Aghia Irene, built between 1852 and 1892, with a famous Greek palindrome inscribed above the door which translates as "Wash your sins, not only your face;" and a couple other churches.

Man blowing bubbles in front of the Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea (Εκκλησία της Παναγίας Καπνικαρέας), one of the oldest churches in Athens.

Door of the Aghion Apostolon (Άγιον Απόστολον) church at Agora (Αγορά).

Mural within the Aghion Apostolon (Άγιον Απόστολον) church at Agora (Αγορά).

Ceiling mural within the Aghion Apostolon (Άγιον Απόστολον) church at Agora (Αγορά).

Aghion Apostolon (Άγιον Απόστολον) church at Agora (Αγορά).

Palindrome above the door of the Church of Aghia Irene (Αγία Ειρήνη). It says "Νίψον ἀνομήματα μὴ μόναν ὄψιν," which translates as "Wash your sins, not only your face."

Ceiling of the church of Aghia Irene (Αγία Ειρήνη).

Light shining through stained glass windows. Church of Aghia Irene (Αγία Ειρήνη).

Ceiling of Church of Aghios Dionyssis Areopagitis, a.k.a. Dionysius the Areopagite (Διονύσιος ὁ Ἀρεοπαγίτης).

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum contains a vast and awe-inspiring collection of artifacts from Greek antiquity, some of which date back to the Neolithic era (6800-3000 BC). One notable item in the collection is the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical calculator from about 150-100 BC, used to calculate astronomical positions. My favorite statue is the one of Aphrodite, Eros, and Pan, where it looks like Aphrodite is about to smack Pan on the face. The Youth of Antikythera statue is notable for its expressiveness. I noticed that many items in the museum depict lions. Also, many items contain swastikas -- a symbol that originated in Neolithic India and became popular in ancient Greece.

The human (or mythical) figures and pottery are displayed in approximate chronological order to make it easier to see stylistic changes over time.

Female figure from the island of Delos from 650 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Phrasikleia from 550-540 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Kouros from 530 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Zeus or Poseidon from 460 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of the Youth of Antikythera from about 340 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Poseidon from 125-100 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Kleonikos, son of Lysandros, from early 1st century BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Pan. 2nd century AD copy of 4th century BC work. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Aphrodite from the 2nd century AD. National Archaeological Museum.

Figure of emperor Lucius Verus. 161-169 AD. National Archaeological Museum.

Statue of Aphrodite, Eros, and Pan from 180 AD. National Archaeological Museum.

Figure of possibly a philosopher, found in the sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, from 270-280 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Minoan Palace-style amphora depicting an octopus from 15th century BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Vase from Thissio, created around 875-800 BC, discovered in 1878. National Archaeological Museum.

Attic late geometric krater depicting ekphora, the act of carrying a body to its grave, by the Hirshfeld painter, created between 750-735 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Naxion amphora depicting heraldic lions and mythical animals from early 7th century BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Boeotian pithos amphora depicting lions eating birds, pigs, and cows from 680-670 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Boeotian pithos amphora depicting roaring lion from 670-660 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Attic black figure funerary amphora depicting the myth of Perseus beheading Gorgon Medusa from 620-610 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Attic black figure amphora depicting a winged demon from about 570 BC, found in the area of Plato's Academy in Athens. National Archaeological Museum.

Black figure column krater depicting Herakles and the Nemean Lion from 550-540 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Three lekythoi from Eretria. Left: by the Bosanquet Painter, 450-440 BC. Center: by the Achilles Painter depicting the departure of a warrior, around 450 BC. Right: from around 420 BC.

Red figure kantharos depicting a female bringing an offering to the god Kabeiros, from 420 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Calyx krater depicting a female figure adorning a herm with an altar in front of it and a nude man holding a spit for entrails from a sacrifice. From 350-325 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Gold covering for baby corpse. National Archaeological Museum.

Funerary lebes kalpe depicting griffins found at Acharnon St., Athens, from about 350 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism at the National Archaeological Museum.

Antikythera Mechanism at the National Archaeological Museum.

Lion from a funerary monument, 4th century BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Lion from a funerary monument found in the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos, Athens, from 325-300 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Lion from Tholos. 365-335 BC. National Archaeological Museum.

Exterior of the National Archaeological Museum.

Other

The Lysikrates Choregic Monument (χορηγικό μνημείο του Λυσικράτη) on the Ancient Street of the Tripods (αρχαίας οδού των Τριπόδων).

Gold-colored door of the Archaeological Institute (Αρχαιολογική Eταιρεία).

The Bank of Greece (Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος).

Sony VAIO bar at the Saint George Lycabettus hotel.

More photos: View all photos in the directory /photos/greece/athens.

Eve Andersson (eve@eveandersson.com)
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