Our hometowns by Eva Papako

Goulandris Natural History Museum, Levidou, Kifisia

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-13 16:12:51 UTC

· The Goulandris Museum of Natural History is located in Kifisia in the north suburbs of Athens.

· The museum was founded by Aggelos Goulandris, a biologist and Niki Goulandri in 1964. Niki Goulandri was an internationally acclaimed environmental activist. The museum seeks to connect ecological goals with cultural values.

· The museum is dedicated to the study, conservation and protection of the natural environment. Since its establishment in 1964, it has made a lot of progress in its studies, including an important study of the climate change, which has helped a lot with methods to reduce the pollution.

· One of the most interesting exhibitions that I would suggest is Zoology. There you can see a large variety of mammals from all over the world such as lions, tigers, alligators and giraffes in habitat dioramas. If you go there you will remember it for ever.

Sources:
https://www.gnhm.gr/en/publications/

https://urbanlife.gr/urban-city/mousio-goulandri-fysikis-istorias/

https://goulandris.gr/el/

Panagias Eleftherotrias, Kifisia

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-15 15:53:54 UTC

· This church was built after the German occupation with stones from different places in Greece where patriots had fought during the Second World War. They built it in order to thank her for the liberation of our country.

· It attracts a lot of people every year, who come to venerate the sacred icon of Mary.

· The church celebrates the feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos, or ‘Agia Skepi’, on 28 October when we also celebrate our National day, on which we remember that in 1940 Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas refused the Italian forces access to Greece.

· Next to this church there is another church which is dedicated to the Holy National Martyr and Patriarch of Constantinople Gregory V.

Source:
https://www.monastiria.gr/%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%BA%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B1-%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%83-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%81%CF%89%CF%84%CF%81/

Κασσαβέτη, Kifisia

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-15 16:27:15 UTC

· The burial monument may have belonged to a family related to Herodes Atticus, a great sophist (teacher of the art of writing and speaking) who lived in the 2^ndcentury AD.

· Four sarcophaguses, which are ancient graves, were found inside the burial monument.

· The corners of one of the sarcophaguses are adorned with Caryatids (female figures), who are accompanied by two male figures.

· The existence of this monument was first announced in 1866 in a newspaper called ‘Paligenesia’.

· Today only the plaved floor and the lower part of the walls of the cabin are preserved.

Sources:
1)https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fel.m.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2F%25CE%2591%25CF%2581%25CF%2587%25CE%25B5%25CE%25AF%25CE 25BF%3A%25CE%25A4%25CE%25B1%25CF%2586%25CE%25B9%25CE%25BA%25CF%258C_%25CE%25BC%25CE%25BD%25CE%25B7%25CE%25BC%25CE%25B5%25CE%25AF%25CE%25BF_%25CE%259A%25CE%25B7%25CF%2586%25CE%25B9%25CF%2583%25CE%25B9%25CE%25AC%25CF%2582_3460.jpg&psig=AOvVaw0z5gs-z39h343I4HzTGlrd&ust=1633867570102000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjhxqFwoTCOiFnLKlvfMCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

2)https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpribas.blogspot.com%2F2017%2F10%2F08102017.html&psig=AOvVaw0z5gs-z39h343I4HzTGlrd&ust=1633867570102000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjhxqFwoTCOiFnLKlvfMCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK

2) http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/gh251.jsp?obj_id=21104

3) https://amarysia.gr/arthra-sxolia-main/%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%8A%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%BC%CE%BD%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF-%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%86%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%AC%CF%82

Marathon

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-15 17:38:56 UTC

• This is a burial mound in the Marathon plain where the Athenians paid tribute to 192 soldiers from Athens, who died trying to defend their city from the Persians. The tomb is 9 metres high.

• The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BCE and it was an important battle because without the resistance of the Athenians and the Plataeans many areas in Greece would not belong to us today.

• More than 45,000 soldiers were involved in the battle. Six thousand Persians were killed, who by far outnumbered the Greek soldiers.

• The Persians lost the battle because the Athenians and their allies chose a location for the battle, with marshes and mountainous terrain that prevented the Persian cavalry from joining the Persian infantry.

• If the word ‘marathon’ reminds you of the modern marathon races, you are right. Pheidippides, an Athenian runner, ran a 24-mile distance from the Marathon plain to Athens in order to tell the Athenians about their victory against the Persian army.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_tumuli

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidippides

http://www.marathonbeachresort.com/sites/default/files/field/attachments/pages/tour-in-marathon-mbr.pdf

Μουσείο Δέλτα Πηνελόπης, Emmanouil Mpenaki, Kifisia

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-23 15:21:17 UTC

· Penelope Delta (1874-1941), the author who raised generations of Greeks with her books, wrote some of her famous novels and letters to important figures about education in this house. She also kept her known diary there, in which she made confessions about her life, recorded personal anecdotes as well as all the significant historical changes of her time.

· After having lived in this house for 20 years with her family, Delta put an end to her life on the day when the Nazi German troops occupied Athens in 1941.

· The architect of the house remains unknown until today .

· Many powerful personalities have lived in this house such as Eleftherios Venizelos, who was one of the most powerful Greek politicians and prime minister of Greece. Our airport in Athens has been named after him.

· The Delta estate spread over an area of more than 37 acres in which there were cowsheds, chicken coops, vegetable gardens and fruit trees. There was a daily production of dairy products, many of which were distributed to the staff and the needy of Kifissia.

Sources:
https://almaradio.gr/oikia-pinelopis-delta/

https://live.staticflickr.com/7194/6923982673_e2708ab65f_b.jpg

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.ucbS5mzHabonMc7gmiyvQwAAAA?w=116&h=180&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.25&pid=1.7

Πυροσβεστικό Μουσείο, Leoforos Marathonos, Municipality of Pallini

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-23 17:32:31 UTC

· The Fire Brigade Museum, the only one of its kind in Greece, was founded in 1992 and started its operation in Pallini, Attica, in 2007.

· All the exhibits are displayed on the ground floor and the second floor, while on the first floor there is a Special Fire Brigade Archive, a library, the administrative offices, a canteen and a shop.

· The mission of the Fire Museum is the collection, preservation and exhibition of firefighting collections, relics, tools, equipment such as fire engines and firefighter accessories, and objects of historical value as well as documents of firefighting interest or related to the history of firefighting, the preservation of a special historical firefighting archive and the promotion of the history of the Fire Brigade since its foundation.

· The Fire Brigade Museum, in addition to its main mission, publishes books of historical firefighting interest and organises events, lectures, ceremonies, slide presentations, as well as cultural and artistic competitions on subjects related to the promotion of its objectives. It studies, organizes and promotes the documentation of firefighting history and seeks, finds, preserves and displays historical firefighting artifacts.

Sources:
Πυροσβεστικό Μουσείο | Museum Finder | Ανακαλύψτε τα Μουσεία της Ελλάδας
https://www.google.com/search?q=%CF%86%CF%89%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%83+%CF%80%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%B2%CE%B5%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF+%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BF&sxsrf=AOaemvIDlGAlQk4ElNbu7Cjum2bQSVZ5mQ:1634840440120&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=ysVHkktMuv195M%252C15JlpU9skG5sNM%252C_&vet=1&usg=K_CQQ-kteA3e7bL80O77Tk9qX3UHQ%3D&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim5cmdj9zzAhUMhv0HHXm5CuIQuqIBegQINRAD&biw=1536&bih=754&dpr=1.25#imgrc=_EENSQFKzhw_XM

Παλαιος σταθμός τρένου, Leoforos Dionisou, Dionysos

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-31 13:03:43 UTC

Text by Krysta Ko, GR1 · There is a park with marble statues next to the ruins of the old railway station in Dionysos, a suburb of Athens where there is a marble quarry. · On the occasion of the 2004 Olympic Games held in Athens, well-known sculptors were invited to a sculpture symposium organised by the company which is responsible for the exploitation of the quarry. The sculptors expressed their ideas in marble volumes that now adorn the park and other places in Dionysos. · Among them you will see the “Eyes of the world” by Loukas Loukidis, the "Unbearable lightness of the modern Olympic essence" by Rokos Kyriakos, the sculpture "Five Continents" by Charilaos Koutsouris, the "Start" by George Stamatopoulos, the "Victory" by George Chouliaras, the "Greco-Roman Wrestling" by Andreas Lolis, the "Discus thower" by Takis Kozokos, "Runners" by Theodoros Papayiannis , and other notable works. · Families with children walk in the ruins of the old station or cycle among the sculptures at the weekends. However, probably very few people know the importance of the works there.

 Sources:

https://www.edionysos.gr/odoiporiko-tis-kathimerinis-sto-ypaithrio-mouseio-marmarou-kai-to-parko-me-ta-agalmata-sti-dk-dionysou/

https://www.glyptothiki.gr/%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BA%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BA%CE%AC%CF%82-loukidis-loukas.html

Λεωφόρος Μεσογείων, Χολαργός

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-31 14:30:25 UTC

· This is the statue of Pericles, a great politician who lived in the 5^th century BC. Pericles is famous for ordering the construction of the Parthenon temple, for developing democracy in ancient Athens, for his leadership in a very significant war (the Peloponesian War) between the two most important cities of Greece and their allies, and his long-term relationship with metic (= foreign resident of Athens) Aspasia of Miletus.

· This is the biggest statue of Pericles in the world and it is located on a wide avenue in Cholargos because Pericles was born in the ancient municipality of Cholargos.

· It was made in 2004.

Sources:
https://boreiageitonia.gr/%CE%B7-%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%87%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%8D/

https://www.xolargos-papagou.gr/istoriki-anadromi-cholargoy/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericles

Βασιλικά Ανάκτορα Τατοΐου, Acharnes

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-31 18:10:01 UTC

· Located on a slope of Mount Parnitha, the estate was first bought by the Greek royal family in the 1870s.

· It is only 15 kilometres away from the centre of Athens.

· The European Court of Human Rights decided in 2003 that the former Greek royal family deserved a payment of 12 million Euros, which represents approximately one percent of the total value of the estate.

· The estate used to be surrounded by forestland, rivers and rich wildlife but the wildfires in the area two months ago destroyed several buildings on the estate and a vast area in the forest. When the fire moved dangerously close to the palace, the Greek Ministry of Culture decided to remove the entire collection of the palace like documents and other objects of great value to save them from the fire. Hours later, the wind changed direction and the flames moved away from the Palace.

Sources:
· https://greekreporter.com/2019/07/27/tatoi-the-glorious-past-and-promising-future-of-greeces-historic-palace

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatoi_Palace

· https://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/greece/unidentified-royal-artefacts-burnt-in-fire-at-tatoi-palace-164288

· https://blueskytv.gr/2019/04/%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%B2%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AC-%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%8C%CE%B9-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BF

Βωμού Διονύσου, Dionysos

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-31 19:00:17 UTC

· Ikarion (an ancient municipality in the area of Dionysos) was named after Ikarios, a great king, who, according to Greek mythology, with the help of god Dionysus, brought the art of winemaking to Greece. When the god visited the area, Ikarios hosted Dionysus, who enjoyed his hospitality and in return taught him the art of viticulture and winemaking.

· Born in Ikarion, Thespis was the person who gave birth to the Greek tragedy here and it is said that he was also the first actor of ancient Greek plays. This might mean that the sanctuary of Dionysus in Ikarion (6th century BC) may have been the oldest in Attica!

· What is certain is that Ikarion hosted the Rural Dionysia, which were held every year in honour of the god Dionysos and included contests of dancing and singing and maybe theatrical performances of tragedies.

· Apart from the temple of Dionysos, in Ikarion there used to be a temple dedicated to the god of music Apollo, an ancient theater and an altar dedicated to Dionysus.

· Since 2010, an organization called "DIAZOMA" has been supporting the Ancient Theater of the sanctuary of Dionysus in Ikaria, Attica, with the aim of promoting the theater.

Sources:
Ιερό του Διονύσου Ικαρίας (Διόνυσος) – Heritagent

Archeological Site of Ramnous, Nea Makri

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-31 19:39:06 UTC

· The fortified citadel of Ramnountas (5^th century BC) is an archeological site with impressive ruins located in the municipality of Marathon.

· It is one of the best-preserved and lesser known archeological sites. It kept thriving during the Roman period as well. It was the most important place of worship of the relentlessly vengeful goddess Nemesis in ancient Greece.

· The statue of Nemesis was created by Agorakritos, who was a student of the most famous ancient Greek sculptor Pheidias. It was made from marble, which came from Paros Island, and it was four meters tall! There was a golden crown on its head. This head seems to be similar in style to the sculptures seen on the Parthenon.

· In Ramnountas there used to be other temples as well, such as the temple of Aphrodite and Dionysus. Comedies and other theatrical performances took place there in honor of the latter, whereas relay competitions and sacrifices took place in honor of Nemesis once a year.

· One can visit the archeological site and wander around following the designated routes among the ruins.

Sources:

https://athensattica.com/el/ti-na-deite/archeologiki-chori/archeologikos-choros-ramnountas/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnous

European Bread Museum, Varnavas

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-10-31 20:01:35 UTC

· The bread museum was founded in 2005. Before it was converted into a museum, the building was an old big house with a view to introducing children to the production of bread.

· The museum has over 3,000 varieties of bread from Greece and 50 other countries. It is the largest bread collection in Europe.

· The embroidery on the breads used to vary from area to area in the past and many of the types of bread have been inherited from previous generations.

· The museum preserves various aspects of the tradition and culture of Greece.

What can visitors see in the museum apart from the bread collection?

· Representation of land cultivation

· Bread circle representation (preparation, shaping, embroidery, baking).

· Also, visitors have the opportunity to see agricultural tools, so that the older ones can remember and the younger ones can learn.

· Finally, there is a traditional café which serves coffee and pastries.

You should not miss a visit to the museum whenever you are near Varnavas.

Sources:
https://mouseio-psomiou.com/the-museum/

Othisi High School, Marmara, Stamata

ChristinaTheoch — 2021-11-01 16:12:38 UTC

Our school!

The church of Agioi Theodoroi- The battle of Analatos

papakoeva — 2021-11-08 19:19:12 UTC

The church of Agioi Theodoroi in Nea Smyrni is a small but important monument, where a great battle took place, the battle of Analatos. It was the place where famous people, such as George Tzavellas, Fotos Fotomaras , and infamous Greeks lost their lives by fighting the Ottomans. However, most of them were caught and then sent to prison. It was a tough defeat causing the deaths of about a million soldiers. The ecclesiastical building we see today was built in the early 1880s but it is believed that it already existed during the Byzantine period, but it was abandoned and erected again during the 1880s. Moreover, in the first decades after the Greek revolution of 1821, the Greeks used to have a celebration called “Psychosavato” (coming from the Greek words for “soul” and “Saturday”). According to tradition, citizens visited the church that Saturday and dedicated this day to those who were lost during this fight.

Sources
https://www.taathinaika.gr/o-na%CE%90skos-ton-agion-theodoron-kai-i-iroiki-machi-ston-analato/

Adrianos Library

papakoeva — 2021-11-08 19:44:03 UTC

Adrianos library was a big library in ancient Athens. It was founded and named after the Roman emperor Adrianos in 132 b.C. This library is located in Monastiraki, northern from Acropolis. Inside this library there was a Roman colossal statue of Nike of the 1^st century B.C. The main library building had two rooms, where visitors read or attended lectures. This is the reason why it was also known as the University of Athens. Today it operates as an archeological site.

Source
https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92%CE%B9%CE%B2%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%B8%CE%AE%CE%BA%CE%B7_%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85_%CE%91%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%8D

The sanctuary of the Egyptians in Nea Makri

papakoeva — 2021-11-08 19:55:39 UTC

The Herodes Αtticus chose his marathon place of
residence to build the sanctuary of the Egyptian gods in 160 b. c. .This monument includes an extensive complex dedicated to the Egyptian gods. It was said that the sanctuary was built on an artificial "island" that in earlier years was called an "Island". The temple was dedicated to Sarapis and Isis and their
sοn Oros. Archaeological excavations have been cofinanced of E.U. and has opened to the public since 2001. Many
finds are on display at the "Archaeological Museum
of Marathon" and the "National Archaeological Museum".

Source
https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%99%CE%B5%CF%81%CF%8C_%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD_%CE%91%CE%B9%CE%B3%CF%85%CF%80%CF%84%CE%AF%CF%89%CE%BD_%CE%98%CE%B5%CF%8E%CE%BD_%CE%9C%CF%80%CF%81%CE%B5%CE%BE%CE%AF%CE%B6%CE%B1%CF%82

Archaeological site in Thorico

2021-11-09 16:23:23 UTC

This hill is called Velatouri and at its top, very close to the Ancient Thorikou Theater, there is an important archeological site that was inhabited from the Neolithic to the Classical Age. As the archeological findings show, the area flourished especially during the Mycenaean Era (1,600-1,100 BC).
The Mycenaean architecture stood out in this era
This justifies the ruins of a Mycenaean citadel, as well as the 5 vaulted, chambered tombs at the top of the hill. In their disturbed interior were found good quality clay vessels, stone arrowheads, seal stones, beads of semi-precious stones as well as deer horn. In fact, in one of their tombs were found vessels and figurines, which date from the 7th to the 5th century BC. From these findings it can be concluded that there was some heroic worship in this area, which continued after the decline of Mycenae. The vaulted tombs are among the most brilliant findings of archaeological research.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSwQn2A6ykQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W4kMvHv8Lo

https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9C%CF%85%CE%BA%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B1%CF%8A%CE%BA%CE%AE_%CE%B1%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE

The archaeological site of Sounio

2021-11-10 16:04:59 UTC

First people in the area seem to have appeared in bronze age. The cape of Sounio, in the southern end of Attica, is an important strategic point, 60 meters above the sea. It has been mentioned in the poems of Omiros as a place of worship for the Athenians. There are two temples of Poseidon and Athena. During the Peloponnesian War the Athenians built a strong fortress on the rock.

Text references:
http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/gh355.jsp?obj_id=2390
http://users.sch.gr/ipap/Ellinikos%20Politismos/Sounio/Sounio.Poseidon.3a.htm

Photo source: https://www.goldrent.gr/greece_athens_sounion_sunset_2/

Athens University History Museum, Tholou, Athens

papakoeva — 2021-11-12 10:12:47 UTC

by Nasos GR1

The History Museum of the University of Athens is housed in the building known as "Cleanthos House" or "Old University". Its history dates back to before the 18th century and makes it one of the few surviving buildings of the pre-Ottonian period. It also has the rare privilege of being housed in the same building which housed the first University of independent Greece (1837-1841), which was also the first university of the Balkan Peninsula and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.
Its current operation as a Museum started in 1987 in the context of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the founding of EKPA and in the realization of the vision of Professor Michalis Stathopoulos (Rector's Office, 1983-1991), challenging the visitor to seek aspects of the culture and academic heritage of the first university in the country over time.
The History Museum is also one of the rare university museums which is open not only to the academic community, but also to the general public.

Sources
http://www.historymuseum.uoa.gr

National Observatory of Athens, Λόφος Νυμφών, Athens

papakoeva — 2021-11-12 11:28:49 UTC

by Dimitris GR1

The National Observatory of Athens was founded on June 28, 1842. It was inspired by the Macedonian astronomer
and Professor of Astronomy at the University of Athens, George Vouris. Georgios Vouris persuaded Georgios Sinas to finance the construction of the Athens Observatory. A solar eclipse described by the Danish historian and geographer A. L. Koppen coincided with the day of its inauguration. The original building of this first Greek research institute was oriented to the four points of the horizon and was built based on the plans of the Danish architect Theophilos Hansen on the Hill of Nymphs, one of the seven hills that dominate the city of Athens.

Sources
https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%95%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C_%CE%91%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF_%CE%91%CE%B8%CE%B7%CE%BD%CF%8E%CE%BD

The Ancient place of Vravron

papakoeva — 2021-11-12 11:31:56 UTC

by Nagia GR1

In the suburbs of Attica, in Bravrοn, there was one of the oldest sanctuary, the temple of Artemida, which was the place that goddesses Artemida Bravron and Ifigeneia, the keepers of the children, were being worshiped.As the legend says, at the time of the war of Troy, goddess Artemis commanded the sacrifice of Ifigeneia. Right before Ifigeneia’s sacrifice, goddess Artemis saved her.In 1945 the archeologist Ioannis Papadimitriou started excavations in the area and brought, most of the temple, to the light.

Source
http://archaeologia.eie.gr/archaeologia/gr/02_DELTIA/Sanctuary_of_Artemis.aspx

https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%81%CF%8E%CE%BD%CE%B1

Penteli cave (Daveli), Penteli

papakoeva — 2021-11-12 11:33:51 UTC

by Ilectra GR1

The Plutonion Cave is located in the Eleusis region of Attica. It is a place with a special history, of particular archaeological interest. It is a shallow cave with carved stairs leading to its interior.
Behind the walls of the cave there are slits and recesses that fuelled the imagination of its visitors thousands of years ago. The ancient Eleusinians believed that this cave and its crevices lead to the Underworld. For this reason, the cave was named Plutonion, as it was associated with the worship of the God of the Underworld, Pluto.
Ancient legends mention that the god came out of this cave and kidnapped Demeter's beautiful daughter, Persephone. This is confirmed by various archaeological findings that display records of such beliefs. These include evidence in the precinct of the sanctuary, including reliefs dedicated to Persephone, Pluto and Demeter. These findings directly connect the cave not only to the beliefs of the ancient inhabitants of Eleusis, but also to the famous Eleusinian Mysteries.

Source
https://exploringgreece.tv/attiki/ditiki-attiki/ploytonio-spilaio-ta-ainigmata-kai-oi-thryloi-stin-attiki-gia-ton-kato-kosmo/39662/

Temple of Hephaestus, Athens

papakoeva — 2021-11-12 11:57:25 UTC

by John GR1

The Temple of Hephaestus is one of the best preserved ancient temples in Greece dedicated to god Hephaestus. The temple was designed and constructed in 450 B.C. and is located at the Agora of Athens. In around 700 A.D., the temple was turned into a Christian church, dedicated to Saint George. Since 1934 it has been an archaeological site.

Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Hephaestus

Μονή Καισαριανής, Καισαριανή

2021-11-14 10:54:07 UTC

The Μonastery of Kaisariani is located in the western area of Hymettus and it contains a remarkable and famous library all of whose manuscripts have been destroyed. Τhe monastery is dedicated to the Presentation of the Holy Mary. The main temple was built in the late 11th century or at the beginning of the 12th century and is cross-in-square, four-column church with a dome. The wall paintings date back to 1700. Nowadays, the monastery is an archeological site.

"The unknown soldier" monument, Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias, Athens

papakoeva — 2021-11-22 17:11:31 UTC

In Syntagma square in front of the Greek Parliament, one can see the tomb of the "Unknown Soldier" .

It was built in the 1930’s and it is a tomb monument for the unknown soldiers of wars for the nation. It is guarded 24 hours a day by men belonging to the Presidential Guard.

In Greece, the first Tomb for unknown soldiers was made in Syros, in 1858. In 1926, the minister of defense Theodore Paggalos announced a competition which was won by the architect Emmanouel Lazaridis.

The monument was built in a "Π" shape, it has decorative scales and the sculpture and the Tomb can be seen in the middle.

The sculpture shows a dead warrior who holds a shield, wears a helmet and his face resembles a face depicted on an ancient coin. He looks alive, as if he is relaxing and ready to get up.

The revelation of the statue took place on 25 March 1932 in a festive atmosphere and great official presence of a lot of representatives from many countries around the world.

Sources

1. https://www.sansimera.gr/articles/1235

2.https://www.tanea.gr/2021/03/25/people/mnimeio-agnostou-stratioti-i-istoria-kai-o-symvolismos-tou/

Leoforos Vasilissis Sofias, Athens

2021-11-24 15:15:06 UTC

"Megaro Doukissas Plakedias" is a compound of 4 buildings on Basilissis Sofias Avenue.

Sofi de Maboua was born in Philadelphia, USA in 1785. She married Sarl Lebren. Their marriage was not successful, and Sofi de Maboua lived away from her husband with her daughter for several years. Sofi de Maboua started living in Athens permanently in 1837, after the death of her daughter, and bought many houses. After her first house had got destroyed, Sofi de Maboua asked the well known architect Stamati Kleanthi to build "Megaro Doukissas Plakedias."

In the middle of the garden there is a fountain and two very tall trees. The exterior is made of white marble. Indoors the building has two floors and one basement. It does not have a lot of decoration.

Sources:

Greek Parliament, Athens

2021-11-25 06:26:24 UTC

Dimitris S. GR1
The building of the Old Royal Palace, which now houses the Parliament, was built in the 19th century by the Bavarian architect Friedrich Wilhelm von Gärtner. It is a sample of neoclassical architecture with strict and simple lines. The building was a royal residence until 1922. In 1929 the Government of Eleftherios Venizelos decided to move the Greek Parliament to the building of the old palace. Significant changes were made thanks to the designs of the architect Andreas Kriezis. The central part was demolished to create space for a large meeting room with a glass ceiling to provide natural light.

Εθνικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο, Athens

2021-11-25 07:15:40 UTC

Olga Ch. GR1
The Οld Parliament is a neoclassical building. Its construction started in 1858 under the supervision of the French architect Francois Boulanger and in order to function as the seat of the Parliament and the Senate. After the eviction of King Otto, the plans of the building were changed by the architect Panagiotis Kalkos, due to the abolition of the Senate. The construction finished in 1875. For 60 years this building housed the Greek Parliament, till its removal to a new seat in 1930. In 1961, the building became the National History Museum.

Μουσείο Λαϊκής Τέχνης και Παράδοσης «Αγγελική Χατζημιχάλη», Aggelikis Chatzimichali, Athens

2021-11-25 07:32:41 UTC

Maria T. GR1
The Museum of Folklore and Tradition has been operating since 1980 and is housed in the old mansion of Angeliki Chatzimihali (1895-1965) at Plaka. The building is a sample of Greek urban architecture built under the supervision of Aristotelis Zahou (1871-1939), who combined popular tranditional elements with the Byzantine style. The interior decoration was created by the popular artist N. Thomopulos. The museum houses collections of folk art (traditional costumes, wood carvings, embroidery, ceramics and metal works).

Πλάκα, Athens

2021-11-25 09:32:15 UTC

Dimitris T. GR1
Plaka is a district located in the center of Athens under the Acropolis. It was inhabited in antiquity and there are numerous ancient monuments scattered there. The area is also known as “The Neighborhood of the Gods”. Because of this it is a tourist attraction and hosts museums, restaurants, taverns, cafes, and souvenir shops.

Μουσείο Μπενάκη Ελληνικού Πολιτισμού | Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, Κουμπάρη, Αθήνα

2021-11-27 07:46:46 UTC

Myrto GR1
The Museum Benaki is one of the most prominent museums of Athens. It was established by Antonis Benakis in 1929 to commemorate his father. Antonis Benakis started collecting works of art during his stay in Egypt. When he returned to Greece in 1928, he wanted to offer to the public access to this collections. These
collections are now kept in his old home, which houses the museum. It is a neoclassical building, built in 1867-1868 in the center of Athens, across of the National Garden.

Ξενοδοχείο Μεγάλη Βρεταννία, Syntagma Square, Αθήνα

2021-11-27 07:54:31 UTC

Victor S. GR1
The Hotel Grande Bretagne is a
luxury hotel in Athens. The original structure was built during 1842 as a house
for Antonis Dimitriou, a wealthy Greek businessman from the island of Lemnos twelve years after the independence of Greece from the Ottoman Empire. In 1874, it was bought by Efstathios Lampsas, who restored it with an 800,000 drachma loan and named it Grande Bretagne. It was one of the first buildings in Athens with electricity installations. In November 1930, a new wing was inaugurated, and in 1950,
another wing was created. In 1957, the initial Dimitriou mansion was demolished and a new wing
was built on its place. The architect of the new building, Kostas Voutsinas retained part of the style of the original mansion.
During the Greco-Italian War and the Battle of Greece in 1940–41, the hotel housed the Greek General Headquarters. During the Axis occupation, the hotel served as Nazi headquarters. When the Axis withdrew from Greece, in 1944, British forces made it their headquarters. During the early stages of the Greek Civil War, the hotel housed the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, and the British military assistance force under General Ronald Scobie. During 2003, the Grande Bretagne underwent a €112-million renovation. The hotel has 320 rooms and suites.

Έφιππος Ανδριάντας Αρχιστράτηγου Θεόδωρου Κολοκοτρώνη, Σταδίου, Αθήνα

2021-11-27 08:06:07 UTC

Aggelos S. GR1
The statue of Kolokotronis is located in Athens, in front of the old Hellenic parliament. It is made of bronze and it is 4 meters tall. The sculptor was Lazaros Sohos. The cost was covered with donations gathered by the Nafplion citizens to honor Theodoros Kolokotronis, a hero of the Greek War of Independence. Sohos wanted a different version for the head of the statue, but the Nafplion citizens forced him to make a helmet to hide Kolokotroni's baldness. The statue was created in 1900 in Paris and moved to its present position in 1904. The statue presents Kolokotronis riding a horse and looking left at his companions as if he wants to warn them about the enemy, while his right hand points ahead.

National Technical University of Athens, Αθήνα

2021-12-05 14:41:44 UTC

Paolo S. GR1
The Metsovio Technical University, also known as the National Technical University of Athens, is situated in Athens. It was founded in 1837 and is considered to be the oldest technological institution on Greece. In 1873, it became part of a complex of buildings in the centre of Athens , in Patission street and was named “National Metsovio Technical University” to honor its donors and benefactors Georgios Averof, Nikolaos Stournaris, Eleni Tositsa, all from Metsovo, a historical region in Epirus. In 1862 the construction of a building started, which was mainly sponsored by Georgios Averof. In 1873 the Metsovio was transferred to the uncompleted building of Patission street. The construction was completed in 1878 and in the period of 1903-1916 its expansion was underway.

The Metsovio became the symbol of democracy because of the student protests against the military regime that culminated with the uprising of November 17^th 1973.

Dionysos' theater, Μητσαίων, Αθήνα

2021-12-05 14:48:04 UTC

Elena S. GR1
The theatre of Dionysus was the most important and also most well-known open-air theatre in ancient Athens and is considered the first theatre in the world. The excavations in the theatre began in 1838 and continued through the rest of the 19th century. At first it consisted of a flat space for the orchestra and a few rows of seats on the hill made of wood or marble. The earliest orchestra in this theatre was circular and about 27 metres in diameter although there is much disagreement on this. The theatre was sometimes used for hosting meetings of the city’s assembly. During the Byzantine period the whole area was destroyed and in 2002 the restoration of this ancient theatre began. Finally, according to press releases from the Ministry of Culture, 3,5 million euro were allocated for the restorations between 2002 and 2009.

Δημοτικό Θέατρο Πειραιά, Λεωφόρος Ηρώων Πολυτεχνείου, Πειραιάς

2021-12-06 14:15:23 UTC

Theodora Ch. GR1
The Municipal Theater of Piraeus is a neoclassical building built according to the plans of the architect Ioannis Lazarimou and inaugurated on April 9, 1895. The theater has a capacity of 600 seats and is located in the central part of the city of Piraeus. In particular, the idea of creating a theater of this size in Piraeus at that time was considered visionary. The inhabitants of Piraeus in 1883, when the relevant decision was made, reached only 27,000, of who the question was whether 200 were considered educated.