Parthenon - Acropolis - Athens (15/01/2010)


Parthenon_Acropolis

The Parthenon (Ancient Greek: Παρθενών) is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena whom the people of Athens considered their protector. Its construction began in 447BC and completed in 432BC on the Athenian Acropolis, although decorations of the Parthenon continued until 431BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered one of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy, and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure.

The Parthenon itself replaced an older temple of Athena, which historians call the Pre-Parthenon or Older Parthenon, that was destroyed in the Persian invasion of 480 BC. Like most Greek temples, the Parthenon was used as a treasury. For a time it served as the treasury of the Delian League, which later became the Athenian Empire. In the 6th century AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After the Ottoman Turk conquest, it was turned into a mosque in the early 1460s, and it had a minaret built in it. On 26 September 1687 an Ottoman Turk ammunition dump inside the building was ignited by Venetian bombardment. The resulting explosion severely damaged the Parthenon and its sculptures. In 1806, Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin removed some of the surviving sculptures, with Ottoman Turk permission. These sculptures, now known as the Elgin Marbles or the Parthenon Marbles, were sold in 1816 to the British Museum in London, where they are now displayed. The Greek government is committed to the return of the sculptures to Greece, so far with no success.

39 σχόλια:

  1. I like this picture. The sky is very moody and adds to the feeling of this picture. Wonderful capture of the old buildings. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Oh, that is so beautiful! Love that blue sky and seeing the Parthenon brought back so many lovely memories of my time in Greece! Thanks for the beauty and the memories, Vicky!

    Sylvia

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  3. This is an excellent perspective to capture the power and the glory that is still the Parthenon, Vicky. The stormy sky goes well with the vivid green of the vegetation down the bottom.

    I think this is an excellent shot.

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  4. Sometimes you have no words... you are just whatching and watching, and THIS was such a great picture :-) thanks a lot.

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  5. I have added Greece to my "bucket list." Amazing image.
    Joyce, IL, USA

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  6. That's a precious jewel, and I'm glad I've seen it in person.

    Fab capture.

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  7. You have captured it so beautifully with the light and darkening sky. Just lovely.

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  8. Looks like it's nearer to heaven...what a grand place and great shot!

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  9. Buildings show up so beautifully with that colour blue as a backdrop. Very nice!

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  10. The light creates such dramatic color! This is beautiful from top to bottom!

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  11. Superb shot Vicky. Love to see those lush greenery and the blue sky over that wonderful building. Greece is such a beautiful place. Hope I can visit one of these days.

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  12. Oh my! That ominous sky as backdrop is so dramatic - well done, a perfect shot!

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  13. This is just a gorgeous shot. Historic temple plus beautiful, moody sky.

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  14. Just a fantastic way to show acropolis, I never seen it like this before!!! Thanks Vicky, have a nice weekend :))

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  15. Exquisite shot!!! great sky and great detail.
    Gena @ thinking aloud
    South Africa

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  16. Wonderful! I love that you happened to post a photo of the Acropolis this week. I am studying Acts and just read chapter 17 where Paul went to Athens and spoke at the Acroplis about the "Unknown God." Your photo is stunning- thanks for sharing your part of the world.
    Caprice

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Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments and suggestions.
Have a nice day, Vicky

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