Favorite Ruins - Athens
Okay, this is really a "Favorite Corners" post, but with Athens, "Favorite Ruins" felt more appropriate. Athens is an intriguing coexistence between modern, myth, and ruin. Clean efficient metro lines zip beneath the ancient weight of marble temples. Words etched in early Greek letters share walls with fresh graffiti. Construction noises boom from inside the stoic crumble of the Parthenon. A young olive tree marks the spot where, thousands of years ago, the goddess Athena planted a gift for the city that would forever treasure her name.
Everyone takes pictures of the Parthenon, but even the entrance to the Acropolis is a breathtaking display of marble.
The Roman Agora, opened after the Romans sacked the much larger and more impressive Greek Ancient Agora a few blocks away.
Train tracks going right through an ancient site.
Sitting on some steps in the Ancient Agora with the Acropolis in the background.
Temple of Hephaistos, from around 460-415 B.C. and one of the best preserved of this temple style in Greece.
Close up of the interior of the Temple of Hephaistos.
Sculpture of Winged Victory, a.k.a. Nike.
A rare Spartan shield.
View of Mount Lycabettus and Athens.
A small corner of Greek island life in Athens near the back of the Acropolis. According to our guide, some people from the island of Anafi came and did up this area with white walls and building just like their home.
Changing of the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Groot graffiti. Graffiti is very prevalent in some areas of the city, especially on the sides of trains.
The massive Temple of Olympian Zeus, once known to be one of the largest temples in Greece.