Ancient Agora
The Entrance Lined With Statues
Two Young Boys
Facing The Sun
Close-up of Young Boy
Nemesis. Doesn’t look like a Nemesis to me!
Probably a philosopher. He has that look in his eye ‘I am wiser than you!’
Ancient Rock Star? No, it’s Alexander the Great. Same thing.
Lantana Camara Orange flowers
Calendula Asteraceae flower
Door frame at the Agora
Archway at the Agora
View of the Acropolis from the Agora below
The Acropolis from Below
A model of how the Acropolis looked like in ancient times.
A model of the ancient city
View of the Temple Of Hephaestus within the Agora
After years of living in Athens I paid my first and overdue visit to the ancient Agora. For the past few weeks I felt drawn to the Temple of Hephaestus. The temple is located just below the Acropolis in the ancient Agora (market place). Hephaestus is the God of blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, fire and volcanoes. The temple is the best preserved ancient temple in all of Greece. Upon visiting the temple I was awe-struck by its beauty and energy. Even though I don’t work with metals I do get crafty, I am good with my hands. What a coincidence that I would feel a pull to visit this place!
The temple with the Agora below
View of the temple from the front with its Doric columns
The west side of the temple facing Thiseio
Not a bad-looking temple for a God who was considered the ugliest God of all, and who was crippled by Zeus!I walked for hours that day and the next I could barely walk. I felt crippled just like Hephaestus!
These are some black and white photographs from the pictures that I took from my fathers’ village of Akovos in Arcadia, Greece. He’s so proud! He was happy that I finally went there. It’s not an easy feat getting up there though.. In a earlier post I had published photographs of the Arcadian mountains and of a memorial service for a revolutionary battle that took place in the 19th Century.
Wild Mountain Flowers
Lonely Burnt Tree
Cars Parked on a Cliff
Aghia (Saint) Paraskevi Church
Small VIllage Path
Village Grannie (Giagia Panayoula)
A few weeks ago I paid a long overdue visit to my fathers’ village called Akovos in Arcadia. The village has a very beautiful and rugged mountainous landscape where many battles were fought in ancient and modern times. I arrived on the day of a memorial service that takes place every year at Aghia Paraskevi church (near Akovos village) which over looks the landscape called ‘Drabala’ A very important battle took place at the site called the ‘Battle of Drabala’ ( June 5-7 1825) This is where the fierce battle for Greek independence against the Ottoman Turks unfolded. To commemorate the death of the soldiers wreaths were layed at the statue of Greek independence war hero Theodoros Kolokotronis. Then there was a moment of silence followed by Greek soldiers singing the national anthem.
Memorial For the ‘Battle of Drabala’ (June 5-7 1825) 
Wreaths at the statue of Greek leader of Independence Theodoros Kolokotronis
Greek Soldiers’ Instruments
Greek Soldiers’ Instruments
Cherry Blossoms
Butterfly On White Flower
B&W Plant Flowers
Bee At Work
The Last Leaf
It was a beautiful and sunny day in downtown Athens. And of course , like the tourist that I am, I had to take photographs of the unique little streets of Athens.
Ηταν μια πολυ ωραια και ηλιολουστη μερα στο κεντρο της Αθηνας. Εννοειται οτι επρεπε, σαν μια τουριστρια, να φωτογραφησω τα γραφικα σοκακια της Αθηνας.
Plug It In!
Bustling Side Street
Move That Car!
Now This Is Inspiring!
Hmmm that bread looks yummy!
Helmuts? No! This Is Athens
Last Saturday I ventured downtown to get a few art supplies at an art and hobby store. As I was walking down Stadiou St. I noticed the old parliament building. In the past I have stood in front of it to take pictures of the statue of Greek General Theodoros Kolokotronis who is depicted riding a horse . I had never been inside the building, but that day something came over me and I decided to follow the group of people that were heading into the building. There was no entrance fee or anything and I was free to wander everywhere. The building was built in 1875 with plans by French architect Francois Boulanger and with foundations that were layed by Queen Amalia of Bavarian origin. After the Greek war of independence Greece had a monarchy for a short time that began in the late 19th century.The building has ceased to be used as a parliament building in 1932. The current parliament building is located at Syntagma square.
The parliament building is now the National Historical Museum. When I walked in I was awe-struck by the amount of historical artifacts that are displayed in the old building, from the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453 to the Second World War. Also, there are costumes and works of art from drawings to paintings and statues from different time periods and many weapons that were used during the many wars that Greece participated in.
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Athens is the National Garden of Athens (Ethnikos Kipos). After visiting the park recently I decided to do some research and I found out some interesting facts about this enchanting place. The parks’ original name was ‘The Royal Garden’ . It was designed by Queen Amalia (Greece had a monarchy at the time) and constructed in 1836 by the architect to the royals Friedrich von Gaertner . There is a small zoo containing different species of birds and a duck pond. Also, there is a closed off section with Roman baths and pieces of Adrians’ wall. Another remnant of antiquity is the canal that dates back to the time of the Greek tyrant Peisistratos. It surprised me when I discovered that American writer and painter Henry Miller visited the park in the 1930’s and wrote that “It remains in my memory like no other park I have known. It is the quintessence of a park, the thing one feels sometimes in looking at a canvas or dreaming of a place one would like to be in and never finds.”
The bust of the first president of Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias
Crossing the Bridge
Roman Letters
50 shades of Green
I’m not your stepping stone..
Business Meeting..
He loves me he loves me not..
Birds lining up..
No balloon buyers today..
My Creative Wayz 