Athina (Αθήνα) - Athens

Athens, read in Modern Greek as Αθήνα or Athina, sits as the capital and largest city of Greece. There's a lot to see as this has been called the birthplace of civilization and most of all, democracy. It has been inhabited since the Neolithic Times (neos=new and lithos=stone), i.e. New Stone Age. An Era starting from 10,200 BC, when the development of human technology started. 

So many legendary stories evolves around Athens history. Such would remain the battles of Gods, say for example between Poseidon and Athena. Both offered the city their own gift, Poseidon striking the ground and producing a spring and Athena producing the olive tree as the sign of peace and prosperity. It has been said that the Athenians accepted the olive tree from the goddess. There's a lot of Greek Mythology that can be read and will always be part of students' literature curriculum. Such interests arise from the legends and how Gods conquered evil demons or even other Gods from the underworld. Sometimes I get confused between Greek and Roman mythology though. 

The period from the end of Persian Wars and Macedonia was the time when Athens flourished as the center of literature, philosophy, arts and poetry. It's amazing to read the list of the well-known names who have left their mark most especially in the area of philosophy. 

Brenda and I decided to join the free group tour. Selena and Nini decided to tag along too. We had George as our guide for the day, half British and half Greek. He was a chatty and funny guy with a lot of knowledge about Athens. We had to stop in a few different places to pick up some people from the different hostels. By the time we started, we were about 12 people already. 

Brenda @ Monastariki

We started off with Monastariki, one of the centers of Athenians, treated as a meeting point and where people would usually start their walk going up the Acropolis. It is a flea market located in the old town, flourishing with heaps of stalls ranging from souvenir, clothes, bags and other items. It's a major attraction in Athens where people go and buy stuff whilst bargaining. It is also just beside the well known Ancient Agora. Obviously it's location is proof of George's statement that it was once the heart of Athens. 

After a few minutes we already passed by the side of Ancient Agora. The tickets to explore Acropolis, Agora and other sites was worth 12 Euros. So Brenda and I decided to buy a ticket and explore the monuments the following day.

Ancient Agora was said to be built back in the 6th century. It has been the center of political and public life in Athens. So many buildings were constructed that served as a public commune for the people. Due to the war and most probably aging, only ruins remain, but still, I could not stop but be awed by such massive perimeter of history. 

When Brenda and I explored, I was dumbfounded when we passed by a fence and noticed a few people bending over excavations, just to realize that these were all students/professionals part of an archaelogical team. I've only seen such from movies, but there I was watching them in the usual outfit, digging and brushing items from the ground. It was so amazing, and I just watched in silence. 

Columns of Odeion

There was also the grand but already refurbished site of the Stoa of Attalos, created by King Attalus II of Pergamon. It served as a civic building with the main purpose of providing business functions. It was actually destroyed years ago but restored in the early 1950's by an American Society. Thus the explanation why majority of the edifice that stands now looks more modern. If you run your hands on the columns, the roughness of the past wouldn't exist anymore. Today, inside the halls would be a museum that Athens has put up. It contains all of the old artifacts and it was amazing to see the old coins that the Greek use for their bartering system. 

Just in front of the Stoa is the well known Odeion of Agrippa which was once a public space that served as a great concert hall. But now adays only ruins and remnants of the once grand structure exists. Still, as I've said earlier, there's an energy there that exists. The building collapsed near 150AD because of the long span of the auditorium. 

Up above a small hill, on the other hand, is a structure that would actually seem to be a tiny version of the Parthenon. However, this is the Temple of Hephaestus. It is very much well preserved unlike the other monuments. The columns are still the original ones located on top of the Kolonos hill. Hephaestus is the known God of metal works and craftsmanship. Back in the days, this temple served as as potters and metal-work shops. We couldn't enter the temple itself as it was barricaded by a rope and the off limits sign. But walking around suggested that it has been very well kept and the architectural designs were stunning. 

Down just beside the east stoa is the Church of the Holy Apostles, dating back to an estimated 1000AD. The layout itself was designed after a Greek Cross, with four arms are the same size with unique characteristics with each sides ends in a semicircular shape. The central dome is with four centered columns and the interior is decorated with frescoes dating back to the 17th century.The whole of the walk was amazing, with a lot of the monuments so grand to see and just stare at. We tried imagining how it was centuries ago. Just pure awe.