March 31, 2005
March 31 Photos: Nkosi
As you walk up the hill leading up to the Acropolis the first thing you see is the Propylaia, the gate house to the acropolis. It has gone through several stages throughout the centuries. The earliest fortifications on the Acropolis were in Mycenaean period (1300-1150).
The Parthenon as you see it after fighting your way through the mobs of tourists coming through the Propylaia. The man in the blue jacket on the left is Prof. Rutter, right under the oh-so attractive cranes.
The south side of the Parthenon. You are looking at the colonnade and the frieze. The conical frieze contains an alternating triglyph and metope. Here you can see the remains of the triglyphs and plain blocks where the metope once was. Those metopes were part of the series taken by Lord Elgin which currently reside in the British Museum.
Rutter had full access to the Parthenon. And here we are taking advantage of sleeping security guards.
I promise, we are paying attention.
Katherine trying to climb out of the little cubby space. It was easier to get out than it was to get in.
The reconstruction process is long and slow. Good thing we are only studying the Parthenon. A doctorate only takes 7 years!
We had a few problems with the wind.
The group as human scale.
Walking around in the inner-sanctum of the Parthenon. Oodles of fun. We got to see cranes, unfinished flutes and Rutter’s enthusiasm for the subject.
Our guest lecturer for the day, Björn Forsén, with a view of the Parthenon behind him (you really just can’t get enough).
Björn Forsén and company. I personally thought he was a great speaker and learned quite a bit.
It’s not all masonry.
An ancient roadway. I promise.
The monument of Phiopappos. At the top of a hill, one of the many. Great views of the overcrowding in the city and the Parthenon (can never get enough). It is not complete, parts of it were hacked off, but not by Lord Elgin.
Abby, Caleb, Jackie, and Katherine. Hot times in the city.
Athens in all of its overcrowded splendor. Think of Athens as a pie. This picture was taken in the middle of the pie. You have just received the smallest possible piece of the pie.
Can you guess what this is a picture of? Steps around the Pynx. It’s a lot more impressive in person.
A view of the Parthenon from the monument of Phiopappos. On the bottom left you can see the remains of the Roman buildup of the theater of Dionysus and the Parthenon (of course).
The money shot ;)