An Ambitious Agenda in Athens

Tony and I planned a long day of activities today, and I think most were skeptical that we would conquer our list of visits, but we did that and more. The morning began with an adventurous ride on the Metro to Ancient Greek Agora. We were amused that while we waited on one of our Metro trains, the music playing in the Metro station was from the movie "The Godfather." It struck as funny. Anyway, we got off the train and hoofed it to the Ancient Greek Agora.

The Ancient Greek Agora was once the center of Athenian government. An "agora" is a central marketplace. [This is why the term "agoraphobia" means fear of going out in public or fear of public places, because an agora is the "public place."] The ancient agora in Athens includes a drainage system, fountains, and temples to Olympian gods, including the Temple of Hephaestus (also known as the Hephaisteion), which is considered the best-preserved ancient Greek temple. From the 7th century until 1834 this temple served as the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George Akamates. I have included a photo.

After hiking through the Ancient Greek Agora (which was huge), we moved on to find the Pnyx, which is one of three hills in the middle of Athens that was the meeting place of the one of the world's earliest known democratic legislatures, the Athenian assembly. The Pnyx has a flat stone which was the speaker's platform, and many consider the Pnyx to be a physical representation of the idea that every citizen has an equal right to debate matters of public policy. The Pnyx was used for popular assemblies as early as 507 B.C., and Pericles, Aristides, and Alcibiades all spoke here, within sight of the Parthenon.

After the Pnyx, we hiked further to find the Prison of Scorates. If you recall, Socrates was found guilty of impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens. As he is led off to jail, he said: "The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways--I to die, and you to live. Which to the better fate is known only to God." Many attribute this last quote to Plato and not to Socrates -- who knows? He spent his final hours in the jail cell that we found today, and he was executed with hemlock -- dying painfully as the hemlock slowly shut down his central nervous system. I have included a photo of me outsie the jail cell.


After the jail cell, we found the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The Arch was supposedly built to celebrate the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in Athens around 131 0r 132 AD. The Temple of Olympian Zeusis enormous. It is a temple in the middle of Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. Construction of the temple began around the 6th centry B.C. but was not completed until the 2nd century AD. I have included a photo of this temple, too.


After the Temple of Olympian Zeus, we found the Panathinaiko Stadium, of the Olympic Stadium of 1896. The first International Olympic Games of the Modern Era were held here. Tony ran a lap around the track, and I sat in the throne seat where Queen Amalia would watch the games. Quite a thrill, I must say. I have included a photo of one of us on the medal stand.

We did LOTS of walking today, gots lots of sun, ate some fried feta and some gelato and had a wonderful day. I will share with you several things I have learned while I have been in Greece:

1. Greek salads are so much better without lettuce.

2. If you do not pay for things with exact change, merchants are likely to scream at you.

3. Traffic is like a big, scary game of "Chicken."

4. Many men here do not seem to realize that heavy cologne does not mask body odor, it just smells like heavy cologne on top of body odor.

5. Fried Feta is to die for.

6. If you look remotely like a tourist, all sorts of people will try to sell you crap.

7. Accordion players fight for street corners almost as hard as drug dealers.

8. Since the gratuity is already factored into the price of things, waiters are seldom in a hurry.

9. If you use a public toilet in Greece, you would be wise to bring your own toilet paper. Seriously.

10. If you smile a lot, people automatically know you're American. Apparently, we smile more than anyone. Go figure.

We have loved hearing from home. Ruthie, I know you cannot read, but Mommy and Daddy miss you bunches.

Joanie