Tag Archives: archaeology

Today we visited the archaeological site of Delphi. Delphi is definitely one of the most amazing archaeological sites to which I have ever been. It is not the biggest. Olympia and the Athens Acropolis are probably bigger, and both of them are very impressive. I think what I found so awe-inspiring about Delphi was not just the ruins, which are impressive, but also the setting. It is nestled into the mountains, and it reminds me of Machu Picchu. As an engineer, I haven’t stop being impressed with the construction of these sites, and at Delphi, I found the Polygonal Wall to be just amazing. Polygonal Wall is built of carved stones set on top each other without any mortar.

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Delphi

View from Delphi

Polygonal wall and Athenian Stoa

Stadium

Theater

Theater

Treasury of the Athenians

Altar of Apollo

Omphalos

Today we visited the ancient site of Olympia where the original Olympic games were held. The site is huge, and they are still uncovering it. The gymnasium is only partially uncovered with something like 80% still left to dig up. There were two different areas where people were working to uncover remains while I was there. There were so many structures that I got confused at times what was what structure. Then of course there also pieces lying around in what I am sure is some logical method to the archaeologists, but to most of us, it looks like column, foundation, or undetermined piece of stone lying about everywhere with no clue as to which building it belongs. Then there is the stadium, which is unmistakable as it is a huge open area surrounded by sloped grassy areas, where I like most people, felt the need to traverse the distance just to say I walked across the ancient Olympic Stadium. Many others raced each other down the length of it. The entire site is just really neat to explore. I also really started examining the limestone that was used to make the structures. Some of the stone has eroded enough that I could examine the shells in it. Other limestone was being eroded by plants, lichen, and moss, who clearly had no respect for the history of the stone.

Temple of Zeus

Temple of Zeus

Temple of Zeus

Temple of Zeus

Temple of Hera

Temple of Hera

Hera’s Alter, where they light the Olympic torch for modern Olympics

Propylon

Propylon

Philippeion

Stadium entrance

Stadium

Leonidaion

Leonidaion

Column parts

Ruins

Seashells in eroded limestone column

Moss and plant on limestone column

After visiting the Corinth Canal, we stopped at Epidaurus to see the ancient Theater of Epidaurus and also the Sanctuary of Asklepios. The shrine of Asklepios, the god of medicine, became a site where ancient people came to seek healing or to ask for healing of other. The site also contains the fourth century theater, which is still in absolutely amazing condition. The acoustics of the theater are just astounding.

Epidauros Theater

Epidauros Theater

Epidauros Theater

Wall of the Asklepios ruins

Asklepios ruins

Banquet Hall

Bathhouse

Sanctuary of the Gods

Stadium

Capital

I have now joined my tour group, and so my last full day in Athens was a bit of a save the best for last, in that the morning was spent at the Acropolis. It is such an amazing feat of ancient engineering. It is currently, and has been for a while, being restored through modern engineering. It was weird to see such ancient structures surrounded by modern structures like scaffolding and cranes, or really it was a juxtaposition I guess. It makes me wonder about the work conditions back then versus now. I think we already know a bit about the work conditions back then, but it still amazes me what they accomplished. The hill that the Acropolis is on is essentially solid rock, so they certainly picked the correct foundation on which to build the structures. I am still in awe though after having seen it.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon

The Parthenon

Close up of The Parthenon

The Erechtheion

The Erechtheion

The porch of The Erechtheion

Close up a doorway of the Erechtheion

The Propylaea

Temple of Athena Nike

Plants growing from a column at the entrance

I’m guessing movement meters on the column at the entrance

I took a different route through Plaka to visit more sites, and I ended up climbing partially up the Acropolis hill and winding through a little neighborhood filled with cute little adobe-like houses that I associate with the Greek islands. Then I visited the Roman Agora, Ancient Agora, and Hadrian’s Library. The rest of the day was spent wandering through the National Gardens.

Houses in a neighborhood at base of Acropolis hill

Houses in a neighborhood at base of Acropolis hill

Roman Agora columns

Roman Agora pediment

The Great Drain in Ancient Agora

Middle Stoa in Ancient Agora

Stoa of Attalos in Ancient Agora

Temple of Hephaistos in Ancient Agora

Temple of Hephaistos in Ancient Agora

Ruins in Hadrian’s Library

I spent the majority of the day at the National Archaeological Museum, which has an amazing collection of artifacts. Being a nerd, the highlight for me was the Antikythera Mechanism. However the stone, pottery, glass, and metal artifacts were amazing too. I could have spent more time there, but there are only so many vases and sculptures I can look at in one time period.

A few photos of some of my favorite things in the museum, starting of course with the Antikythera Mechanism. After seeing it, I am very impressed with whoever made it and also with the modern scientists that have been able to understand what it did, at least on some level.

Antikythera Mechanism

There were lots of metal sculptures and other items.

Bronze vase

Bronze head

Pins

There was also amazing carved stone items.

Alabaster pitcher

Statue of a kore

The below was labeled as a bull figure. I think it looks like a cross between a seahorse and real horse.

Bull figure

Below may be one of my favorite pieces. Take heart all artists and craft people, especially if you are like me and go through many trials before getting something right, some day your failed pieces may end up in a museum!

Failed pottery batches

This frying pan was labeled as something that would buried with someone. I would rather not be buried with a frying pan, no matter how pretty.

Frying pan

They were very big on the octopus in metal pieces and painted on pottery. I love cephalopods, so I thought this was really neat.

Gold Octupi

Octopus Vase

The roof spouts cracked me up.

Roof spouts

This piece was labeled as “clay artifact in the form of bunch of breasts or multi-cluster fruit. Probably symbol of fertility.” When I first saw this, I thought it was supposed to be a bunch of grapes or perhaps a pine cone. No where in my guesses was bunch of breasts. I don’t know if that says more about my ignorance of artifacts, my imagination, or perhaps the thought process of the archaeologists studying this, whom I am going to go out on a limb and guess are mostly men.

Bunch of breasts or fruit

Afterwards, I went to the Archaelogical site of Keramikos to view yet more ruins. This was a nice site because it was not jammed packed with people, and I could just wander around the ruins or really all the walls.

Sacred Gate

Wall

Stones of wall