April 17, 2005
April 17 Photos: Neha
An aerial view of the Byzantine town of Mistra taken from the top of its fortress. The site contains numerous churches, monasteries, and palaces.
The cathedral of Ayios Dhimitrios (Metropolis), whose front façade is seen here, was built (or rebuilt) in 1309 and contains paintings ascribed to ten different artists.
This two-headed marble eagle, located in the floor of the Metropolis, is believed to commemorate the coronation of Emperor Constantine XII.
One of the pieces in the museum adjoining the Metropolis is this marble relief of Christ, who is enthroned.
The Palace of the Deposits, seen here, has been the focus of an extensive restoration effort. The Palace is composed of five wings, the earliest of which dates to the 13 century. The last wing added to the palace, the audience hall, was resurrected in the 1400s.
The kastro, the fortress built in 1249 by William de Villehardouin, towers over the rest of the site. /b>
On the left, the church of Ayia Sophia, which was built in 1350 by Manuel Cantacuzene as the katholikon (main church) for the Zoodhotas monastery.
The group poses for a quick photo upon reaching the top of the kastro.
The Pantanssa, one of the most beautiful churches at Mistra, is now part of a nunnery.
The iconostasis within the Pantanssa is beautifully decorated with religious figures such as that of Mary and the baby Jesus, at left.
The Sparta Museum contains the famous capitals from Amyclaion. Dated to the late 6th century BC, the capitals feature one of the earliest combinations of Ionic and Doric elements b>
Professor Rutter stands beside the upper part of a marble warrior statue, considered to be Leonidas. The statue, dated to the 5th century, may be the memorial that was raised to Leonidas when he was reburied in Sparta.
Nkosi stands beside the torso of a nude, kneeling female figure, which is part of a large group. The figure is thought to be the Goddess of toketos (childbirth), Eileithyia.
This case contains clay masks found in the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia. It is theorized that these are coming of age masks for young boys.
The group stands on top of the remnants of a small temple at the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia. During the Archaic period, the temple was part of a larger wall enclosure that contained an alter at its east side.
The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia was the site of endurance tests, by flogging, for Spartan boys. The group pays homage to the ancient Spartans by reenacting the endurance test.
The Menelaion, a shrine to the Trojan heros Menelaus and Helen, was built at the summit of a hill.
Below the Menelaion lies the remains of a Mycenaean “mansion.” Three different structural phases have been uncovered, the earliest of which dates to the 15 century BC. The layout of the rooms all three phases resemble that of later Mycenaean palaces.
The group stands at the remains of the Temple of Athena Chalkioikos on the ancient acropolis of Sparta.
The remains of a theatre, built in the second or first century BC, are situated near the acropolis of Sparta.