During our week in Athens, we visited the Acropolis. In ancient times, the Acropolis was the center of Athens, where men gathered to discuss politics and to vote.
Nike, the goddess of victory, looked over us from her perch as we hiked up. The marble steps were slippery from many footsteps over the years. The white pieces are the new marble, and they only reconstructed the columns that were 50% intact.
To top it off, these sacred marble temples were painted in colors. When the rays shone down, the effect would have been dazzling.
View of an ancient theatre and of the city
The Acropolis is currently undergoing construction to restore its columns and pediments. This is actually their second attempt because they did not accurately fit the pieces the first time. It is a very costly process, but seeing as how it is their national treasure, it’s worthwhile. Despite the construction, they still keep the admission low because they believe that everyone should have access to see and learn about the history.
Even with the crane obstructing the view, the Parthenon still looked magnificent. If you look closely enough, you can see the remains of a sculpture of a horse and God.
People would make the pilgrimage to pay tribute to Athena. It also became a government center because the treasury was located in Parthenon. When our tour guide told us that this is where Socrates spread his teachings, shivers went down my spine.
What is fascinating is that the people who built these temples were not just workers, but skilled stonemasons. Many optical refinements were done so that the temple would appear light and transcendent.
Despite the crowd, I could feel the immensity of these sacred temples. Wars and pollution have raged, but the Acropolis still stands.