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Tuesday 9 October 2007

Athens – The Homeland of the Gods: Ancient Agora

The agora is the meeting place for the people in ancient time. It literally means 'market.' Hence, the role of an agora is similar to our city centre which is the hub of administrative and political proceedings as well as commercial and social activities.

Ancient Agora is situated at the foothill northwest of the Acropolis. It is just within walking distance and can be visited together with the Acropolis. In fact the entrance ticket to Acropolis is inclusive of entrance to Ancient Agora. I need to emphasize that every ticket that you buy has four counterfoils, allowing you four entrances to these two sights.

The first enormous building in sight at the eastern edge of Ancient Agora is the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos. It was build as a 'shopping centre' for the leisure of the wealthy Athenians. It is now the Agora Museum displaying the collections of finds from the archaeological site.


The two-storey Stoa of Attalos.


The long corridor of the Stoa of Attalos.


An earthen ware with carvings on display at the Agora Museum.


A typical plate in black with human figure, probably modelled after the Chinese wok.


This is probably a mobile stove. A smaller version could be a censer for burning the incense.


The compound of the archaeological site is not very big, probably just around 200 m by 200 m, but quite a lot of remains can be found around here.


Two remaining columns with human figure.


Another main monument inside the Ancient Agora is the Temple of Hephaestus at the western edge. It was built for the god of forge, Hephaestus, and hence it was surrounded by foundries and metalwork shops.


An overview of the Temple of Hephaestus.


The front of the Temple of Hephaestus. I think most of the people would mistakenly recognise it as the Parthenon.


This is the fresco at the entrance to the inner hall of the Temple of Hephaestus.


There is a small little Church of the Holy Apostles inside Ancient Agora which is of equal prominence to the two gigantic monuments. This church was built to commemorate St. Paul's teaching in Ancient Agora.


The cute little Church of the Holy Apostles under golden light.


One of the Byzantine frescoes found inside the church.


This is the main dome of the church featuring the painting of Christ.


If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Greece, here are the links:-


1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods


2. The White Dream in Mykonos


3. Santorini – Almost Heaven


4. Miscellaneous

4 comments:

Greg Wee said...

Hey CK,
Your blog should be called Sifu Go Places. Sifu meditates and teleports to places. The new 3M movement (Mindful Imagery Movement)with hundreds of student apprentice worldwide, second only to Fa Lung Gong! :)

CK Ng said...

Heay Greg,

Wait till I have found a mountain that I can build my own shrine. WA HA HA HA! :D

Alyce "Aliki" Clark said...

Hi CK, you take great photos. I am a missionary about to move to Athens, Greece for 2 years. I would love to use some of your photos as part of the design on my prayer cards.
-Alyce

CK Ng said...

Hi Alyce, thanks for your interest in my photos. Please feel free to use my photos posted here but please include full credits to "CK Ng @ ckgoplaces.blogspot.com".

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