Filopappos Hill

I went back to the Acropolis today so start my tour of the big archeological sites in Athens. I decided to leave the actual Acropolis (the Parthenon, et al) for Monday when I would be with the new tour group. So today I visited five other nearby sites - the Theater of Dionysus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora and the Ancient Cemetary. Of these, the Ancient Agora and the Ancient Cemetary are the most impressive. \r

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In the Agora, for example, is the Temple of Hephaistus, a more complete, though smaller, version of the Parthenon surrounded by olive trees. This site has the remains of several other temples as well and a nice museum of the statuary from this area. A small Byzantine church is the only 'modern' building in the site.\r

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But the best find of the day was Filopappos Hill, a public park on the south side of the new pedestrian mall. There's a marble monument at the top of the hill so I thought I'd wander up and take a look. On the way up, I discovered the Pnyx, a stone outcropping where the Athenians used to gather to discus matters of import to the city. This is where Pericles is thought to have made his speeches rallying the citizens during the Peloponnesian Wars and outlining their responsibilities in the fledgling democracy. Not much to look at but a very cool site to stand on nonetheless.\r

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A short climb brought me to the summit of the hill. The monument is to Filopappos, a wealthy Athenian citizen. He must have been pretty well off because he bought himself the best view anywhere in Athens. His marble statue sits facing, and slightly above, the Acropolis. For the past 2000 years, he has watched the sun rise through the columns of the Parthenon, seen the marble of the Erechtheion shine in the noonday sun, and basked in the sunset reflected off the stone of the Acropolis.\r

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I was tempted to spend the whole day there watching the light play over the marble. Instead, I came back each of the next three days at different times to take in the views. Watching the temples fade from white, to ivory, to yellow in the sunset was my favorite. I would recommend Filopappos Hill as the top photo op spot in Athens.\r

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Photo Album: Greece - Peloponnese\r

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=c931oof.6d5kab3z&x=0&y=-kipo37