<< previous Overview Corfu Peloponnese Central Greece and Attica Cyclades Crete next >>
Central Greece and Attica
- Stadion
Athletes, Musicians and Poets were already competing
2500 years ago at this place
|
Fri. 29th, 11th day After staying at a campsite with nice view close to the historical site I went there, to Delphi, taking my time wandering these places which had once been considered to be the centre of the universe. And still have now, thausands of years later, a feeling of greatness and purity to me. I walked up the slope of the hill and reached the stadium. The place made me think that so many years had gone by, but a basic thing hasn't changed. Those who can do something that others can't become heros, bringing joy to their fellow men - or pain. Right, here is what I wrote in my diary that day: |
A few of the gigantic columns are still standing. The entranceway to the temple consists of a stone-ramp. It's simplicity and perfection made a deep impression on me. Furhter up the 35 rows of seats of the Amphitheatre are fitted into the slope, giving space for 5000 spectators. A word spoken at the stage can be heard clearly even on the last row. At the highest accessable point is the stadium, maybe 350 (?) meters long, with twelve seating-rows for 7000 spectators. I was walking one round. My feet where sweat and tears had been 2500 years earlier? The 'lower excavation' consist of the Gymnasium and additional treasure-houses, the Temple the Athenians and the Tholos. The gymnasium was a trainingroute for the ancient athletes, about 350m long and its width is about six meters. Right next to it is the foundation wall of the Palstra with the remains of the columns which belonged to this training place for the wrestlers. The wall opposite of the columns is also still there, but has the be supported. Stones everywhere. Further down are the foundation walls of the temple of the Athenians and other treasure-houses. And there is also the enigmatic rotunda in the middle of the place and all the stones. [...] Transience, Perfection, Insignificance, Way of Living and Thinking, Intelligence, Feeling. Tomorrow I'll visit the museum." |
- welcome!
- view from the campsite
- The Temple of Apollo
- Amphitheatre
- The Tholos
- The Stadion, again
|
Sat. 30th, 12th day Yip, I saw just two rooms of the museum, the rest was closed. Still it was impressive. For example the Omphalos-stone. Omphalos means "navel" and it marked the centre of the universe ;) Not exactly the centre of the universe, but the centre of Greece was my next destination, the country's capital Athens. I approached it the best possible way, riding through suburbia, watching it growing right in front of me. "Athens International" (youth hostel ;) near the Metaxourgio metro station was the place to stay for me, they were friendly and parking the bike was for free. I met Martin from the Netherlands who was about to become a wave-scientist, analysing what specific waves do for example to a harbour basin. |
We watched the mounting of the guard at the Presidential Mansion and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, off Syntagma Square at the foot of the Hellenic Parliament. Sorry to say that but the uniforms of the elite Evzones light infantry unit look somewhat clown-like to me, especially the enourmous tassels at the tip of their shoes!! They lift their arms very high and walk in such a funny way that I forgot myself and imitated them.. put quickly stopped when i realized that some tall special police guys were approaching me, uiuiui!!!
|
- Omphalos "the navel"
- Charioteer of Delphi
- Siver bull
- elite Evzone light infantry unit
- (pic from wikipedia)
- (pic from wikipedia)
|
Sun. 31st, 13th day I had a dream that I was riding on a horse, hiding my face in the mane. The horse often rose its head and then I was completely prodected. I was free and happy. I also dreamed that a girl tried to manipulate the race, but she couldn't ;) In reality had been twice on the Mount Lycabettus, a hill in the centre of the city. From there the whole area can be seen well, I liked the western suburbia best. There is a huge panorama picture of Athens online at Wikipedia. Mon, 1st, 14th day I've been to the Acropolis and where I stepped through the Propylaea to see the Parthenon and the Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion. The museum was closed. Next to the Acropolis is a hill with the prison of Socrates and other sights, I was sitting on the top for quite a while. |
Strolling through the city I came across on flashy "Octopus"-Shop were I bought a metal box that I still like. Later I visited the Stoa of Attalus and the Agora Museum with nice ancient articles of daily use. Quite near was the best-preserved ancient temple of the whole Greek, namely the temple of the god of fire Hephaestus. Another thing was the Temple of Zeus, aka the Olympeion, which onces consisted of 104 Corinthian columns, from which only 15 remain standing today. These columns have a _huge_ tremendously gigantic scale. Each of them is 17 meters high, how did they erect them? If you stand close you get dizzy. Tomorrow I'll go to Mykonos ;) |
- Parthenon
- Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion
- Propylaea
- Stoa of Attalus
- Temple of Hephaestus
- Olympeion
- Olympeion
<< previous Overview Corfu Peloponnese Central Greece and Attica Cyclades Crete next >>