A morning walk up many steps to the top of Filopappou Hill, also called the Hill of the Muses, just southwest of the Acropolis.  gr17 090809450 k Atop Filopappou Hill, what is left of the Monmument of Filopappos, A Roman consul and administrator.  gr17 090810150 k Overall view of the Acropolis from Filopappou Hill.  gr17 090810140 k View south towards Piraeus and the Aegean Sea.  gr17 090810011 k
View from Filopappou Hill of the Propylaia and the Temple of Athena Nike.  gr17 090809550 k rcab We finally got to see the Acopolis Museum, and without any waiting in line.  gr17 090817350 s The entrance hall of the Acropolis Museum. For some reason, you are not allowed to take photos in this part of the musuem.  gr17 090815300 k Thr originals of the remaining caryatids from the Erechtheion of the Acropolis.  gr17 090815540 k
Two of the Erechtheion caryatids.  gr17 090815550 s Gorgeous statue of Athena adjusting her sandal -- or maybe scratching her heel.  gr17 090815580 s Gorgeous statue of Athena adjusting her sandal -- or maybe scratching her heel.  gr17 090815582 k rcab Nice ringlets Hermes has in his beard.  gr17 090816050 s
Reconstruction in miniature of the statues on the west pediment of the Parthenon.  gr17 090816330 s The Acropolis, seen from the upper floor of the Acropolis Museum, which is not on the Acropolis, but at its foot.  gr17 090816311 s The Acropolis, seen from the upper floor of the Acropolis Museum, which is not on the Acropolis, but at its foot.  gr17 090816353 k One of the metopes which were once on the frieze above the columns of the Parthenon.  gr17 090816500 s
Athena's typical pose, probably brandishing a spear.  gr17 090816523 s These ruins of an ancient quarter were made part of the museum and are visible through glass floors.  gr17 090817320 s We waited a half hour in line at the ticket booth of the Acropolis.  gr17 090910291 k Filopappou Hill seen from the walk up to the Acropolis.  gr17 090910511 k
Most of the walk up is not very steep.  gr17 090910520 s The Temple of Athena NIke, Athena in her role as goddess of victory.  gr17 090910530 k a The Temple of Athena NIke, Athena in her role as goddess of victory.  gr17 090910550 s The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Roman, built in 151 CE by ... Herodes Atticus. Filopappou Hill in the background.  gr17 090910590 s
The Propylaia, or  monumental entrance, toe the Acropolis, was fairly crowded that day. It was Saturday and we were told that tour boats stopped at Piraeus and sent up their tourist contents by bus.  gr17 090911040 s Columns of the Propylaia.  gr17 090911050 s Swedish tourist in front of the Propylaia.  gr17 090911100 k The Erechtheion was completed in 406 BCE, three years before Athens was conquered by Sparta in the Peloponnesian Wars.  gr17 090911111 s
American tourist at the Parthenon. You can see how he is holding his breath to suck in his belly.  gr17 090911180 s Swedish tourist at the Parthenon. You can't see her belly.  gr17 090911193 k The top of the Acropolis, Parthenon on the left, Erechtheion on the right. It's really quite bare.  gr17 090911241 k Mount Lycabettus  gr17 090911281 s
The Parthenon.  gr17 090911341 s The Erechtheion.  gr17 090911350 s Ionic capitals of the Erechtheion.  gr17 090911350 k Hmm, that one is off kilter a little. Seems to hold all right, though.  gr17 090911452 k
Looking west from the Propylaia.  gr17 090911480 s The rock of the Acropolis.  gr17 090912063 s The ancient of Dionysus, where plays by Sophocles and Aeschylus had their premieres.  gr17 090912181 s