Thursday, 9/24 - Aboard the Pegasus - Epidavros and Piraeus
This morning we rode in a bus over to the ancient city ruins of Epidavros. This city was dedicated to Asklepios, who was an ancient medical man. Medical cures were performed here around 4 BC. In the museum we saw some of the surgical tools found in the excavations - scoops, tongs, spoons, knives, bottles, etc. They also displayed inscribed panels with possible cures written on them.
Ancient of Epidavros
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We wandered around the site and looked at the foundations of an 84-room hotel for sick people waiting for a healing ceremony.
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The baths were located nearby as was the gymnasium (a workout place for athletes which may have been converted into a restaurant of sorts). |
The hippodrome or stadium was near the temple and was used to honor the gods with sacrifices and athletic events. |
The Thymele or Tholos was a round building. In the middle of it was a labyrinth, which housed the snakes whose venom the “medical” men used in “healing” processes. Restoration work is in progress.
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When races were run in the hippodrome, they ran in a straight line and ran back and forth. It wasn’t until 1920 that an oval track was used but the runners all started in a straight line so the inside men always won - they didn’t have as far to run. In 1924 the staggered start was first used on the oval track. The 14,000-seat theater was built around 4 BC and is in wonderful shape for its age. It is a semicircle set into a hill with an orchestra area and stage (not restored). The theater honored the gods with dramatic performances. The medical influence found at Epidavros made this archeological site special.
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Theater at Epidavros
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Theater at Epidavros |
Theater seats |
Theater at Epidavros
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Back at our boat we read and napped until lunch - spaghetti, real Greek food! Then we sailed to Piraeus, the seaport of Athens.
Sea life - a jellyfish
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Sun and clouds |
Athens
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Athens with one of the Olympic stadiums in the foreground |
Money on the water at the harbor at Piraeus
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After we docked at Piraeus, we took a short walk along the marina. |
A parking garage for racing shells |
An election sign for the Communist Party
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Exercise equipment in a Pries waterfront park
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Friday, 9/25 - Delphi and Athens
We disembarked our boat and took a three-hour bus ride to Delphi. Since this was an "add-on" to the Exploritas tour (because we didn't get to do the planned tour because of the high winds in the Aegean), I have combined the pictures taken on 9/25 with those taken on the next tour (Insight, 10/3, which was scheduled to go to Delphi).
Two types of oracles were sought at Delphi. Sybil sat on a rock throne and heard questions of commoners while inside the temple of Apollo important statesmen sought advice. Priests and priestesses interpreted the babble of the seers
Site model of Delphi - we entered at the bottom right and proceeded to the closure point
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Pink shaded area was not open to tourists due to the earthquake
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There was an earthquake near Delphi two weeks ago and it caused a landslide into the temple and altar areas. Our tour was only able to see the Temple of Apollo from a distance. We entered the sanctuary site where the market place was. Later that area was turned into a church (in 1 AD). Delphi was not a city but a holy place. The site was secure from the sea and cannot even be seen from the sea so several city-states built treasuries here. The solid stone buildings with ornate facades stored the silver and gold that was the basis for their coinage.
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Area around the site - quite peaceful |
Delphi from across the road at the ruins of the Temple of Athena Pronaia
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Pathway leading into the site
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Market area and later a church |
Market area and later a church
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Details from Christian times |
Intricate stone walls
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Omphalos or Navel of the Earth on the site - below is the more intricate omphalos housed in the museum
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Treasury of Athens |
Omphalos or Navel of the Earth housed in the museum
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The treasury building of Athens is all marble. Carved into the outside wall were wreaths honoring winning athletes over many years.
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Road up toward the Temple of Apollo |
Below the Temple of Apollo is a retaining wall built with polygonal stones perfectly fit together. The stones contain inscriptions, which help describe what went on at this holy place.
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Plaque at the base of the wall |
Original wall inscriptions
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Museum at Delphi (opened in 2004) houses relics from Delphi - great museum! |
Outside the museum is a large mosaic with depictions of birds, animals, and humans. This was recovered from the floor of the agora/church at Delphi.
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Mosaic |
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Closeup of a chryselephantine statue
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Sphinx of Naxos - dedicated to the citizens of the Island of Naxos
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Musical inscriptions on rock slabs - said to be the oldest notation of music |
Vase from 460-470 BC |
Flute player
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Antinoos
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Charioteer of Delphi - erected at Delphi in 474 BC
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Fragments from and drawing of the Charioteer of Delphi |
The Thalos at the ruins of the Temple of Athena Pronaia
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The Thalos at the ruins of the Temple of Athena Pronaia |
View from Delphi looking down on huge groves of olives, the Gulf of Corinth, and the town of Itea (very distant)
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Delphi street scene |
Greek Orthodox Church in Delphi
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Unique tourist transportation around town |
The return to Athens and our hotel took three hours. We had 20 minutes to check into the Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel and then walk to dinner at a little local restaurant. Our starter was spaghetti, then a cabbage and carrot salad, and then rice/French fries/ meatballs, with yogurt and honey for dessert. It was not very good. When we got back to the hotel we went right to sleep.
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