Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Sunset at Sounio

801_6239 [Sunset at Sounio]

Photographed at Sounio on July 29, 2014


Saturday, December 27, 2014

Panthera leo bleyenberghi

801_7689 [Panthera leo bleyenberghi]
Photographed in Attica Zoological Park on October 02, 2014



CCC_9702 [Panthera leo bleyenberghi]
Photographed in Attica Zoological Park on September 19, 2012


Did you know that:
  • The roar of the lion can be heard as far as 5km away helping to demarcate territory?
  • They sleep at least 20 hours a day?
  • Females can reach a weight of 190 kilos, while males can reach 225?

Friday, December 12, 2014

The "Park of Souls" under the whirling stars

801_5921 [The "Park of Souls" under the whirling stars]

 The "Park of Souls" is a composition of human figures sculpted on logs of burnt trees by the artist Spyros Dasiotis. 
It stands on Mt. Parnitha at a height of 1018 m opposite a deserted sanatorium which had been the artist's key source of inspiration for the park.
It was inaugurated on Oct. 20, 2012

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on July 27, 2014

[See also here.]

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa monument

 801_4433 [Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa monument]

A monument of the Hellenistic times (323-30 BC) standing on the Propylaea of the Acropolis.

It was built in honor of the Roman general and statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (lived 63-12 BC), a friend of Caesar Augustus.

Photographed in Athens on April 26, 2014

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Prospero autumnale

 801_8416 [Prospero autumnale]


 Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 09, 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014

Micromeria juliana

8013771 [Micromeria juliana]

Photographed in the Acropolis area on April 03, 2014


Thursday, November 27, 2014

A rhyton

8011900 [a rhyton]

A rhyton is a liquid container usually in the form of a horn, a head of a woman, or a head of an animal. It was used by the Ancient Greeks and other peoples to pour or drink wine from it during ceremonies.

The rhyton in this photo is made of silver with gold horns and rosette on the forehead. The muzzle, which has the pouring hole, is gold-plated, as were initially the eyes and the inside of the ears. It dates back to 16th c. BC.

Found in Grave IV in the archeological site of Mycenae.

Photographed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens (here) on January 18, 2014.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Mycena seynesii

801_8567 [Mycena seynesii]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 17, 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Crocus laevigatus

8018489 [Crocus laevigatus]

8018515 [Crocus laevigatus]

Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 17, 2014

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

The Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounio

8011478 [Temple of Poseidon]

 
8011451 [Temple of Poseidon]
 

The Temple of Poseidon was built circa 440 BC on Cape Sounio
and was dedicated to Poseidon, the "God of Sea"
according to the Greek mythology.

Both photographed on November 23, 2013

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Scopula luridata

DSC_4908 [Scopula luridata]




DSC_4893 [Scopula luridata]

This moth - probably attracted by the electric light sent out through the balcony door in my study at home - landed on the window pane and stayed there patiently until I had time enough to photograph her from both sides.

Wing span is about 3 cm.

I express my appreciation to my friends who identified the moth for me as: Scopula luridata.

Both photographed in Holargos on July 28, 2014

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Crocus cartwrightianus

801_8384 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

801_8366 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 06, 2014

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Crocus laevigatus

801_8243 HF [Crocus laevigatus]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 30, 2014

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Dionysus theater

8014390 [Dionysus theater]

The Theater of Dionysus Eleuthereus at the foot of the Acropolis.
It dates back to the fourth century BC and we know that it could seat 17.000 spectators!

The new Acropolis Museum can be seen behind the trees.

Photographed in Athens on April 24, 2014

Monday, November 3, 2014

Crocus pallasii

801_8241[Crocus pallasii]

 
801_8232 [Crocus pallasii]
 
Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 30, 2014

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Via della Conciliazione


BBB1542 [Via della Conciliazione]
 
Via della Conciliazione: a 500-meters-long street in Rome that extends 
from Castel Sant' Angelo [here] on the river Tiber to St. Peter's Basilica [here].
Absolutely crowded during the day, absolutely quiet during the night.

Photographed in Rome on August 20, 2009

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Aphrodite, Eros and Pan

8012032 [Aphrodite, Eros and Pan]

A marble statue showing Aphrodite, Eros and Pan, which was found on the island of Delos. The nude goddess Aphrodite is trying to keep away from her the goat-footed god Pan who is making erotic advances to her. She is holding her sandal threateningly in her right hand, while the winged god Eros is trying to help her.
About 100 B.C.

 Photographed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens [See it here] on January 18, 2014.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Spiranthes spiralis

8018201 [Spiranthes spiralis]
Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 21, 2014


8018045 [Spiranthes spiralis]

8018039 [Spiranthes spiralis]

8018036 [Spiranthes spiralis]

Last three photographed at Schinias on October 15, 2014

Monday, October 20, 2014

A wedding

IMG0595 [Evoia wedding]

On June 21, 2014 I had the pleasure and honor to attend the wedding of two much-loved friends - Iro and Aris - which took place on the tiny island of St. Nicholas in Northern Evoia.

It was "Unforgettable"; to describe it in one word!

We wish them a happy life.


Here follow a few pictures of the venue:

St. Nicholas: a day view

8015535


St. Nicholas: a night view
 
8015589


St. Nicholas: a panoramic view



Friday, October 17, 2014

Crocus cancellatus ssp. mazziaricus

 
801_7933 [Crocus cancellatus ssp. maziaricus]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on October 11, 2014


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Sternbergia lutea

8017851 [Sternbergia lutea]


8017877 [Sternbergia lutea]

Both photographed on Philopappou Hill on October 06, 2014



Saturday, October 11, 2014

Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum

8017910 HF4 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum]


Photographed on Philopappou Hill in Athens on October 06, 2014

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Stars dancing for "Aristarchos"


CCC_9095 [Stars dancing for "Aristarchos"]

 Aristarchos is the largest telescope in Greece with a diameter of 2.3 meters.
It is situated at the top of Mt. Helmos at a height of 2.224 meters.

Photographed on Mt. Helmos on August 24, 2014

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Cyclamen graecum

8017778 [Cyclamen graecum]

Photographed on Philopappou Hill on October 03, 2014




AAA3641 [Cyclamen graecum]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 06, 2008


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Mantis religiosa

8017114 [Mantis religiosa]

Photographed on the island of Aegina on August 13, 2014

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Afternoon coffee at the Acropolis

8014569 [Afternoon coffee at the Acropolis]

Seeing these young people enjoy their afternoon coffee on the rocks near the Acropolis, I hesitated to approach them with my camera in hand, as I might be considered an “intruder” but I was pleasantly surprised at how polite they were while they were giving me the permission to record the moment photographically. Thank you guys!

Photographed near the Acropolis on April 26, 2014


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Colchicum bivonae

8017533 [Colchicum bivonae]


Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on September 21, 2014

Monday, September 22, 2014

Sturnus vulgaris

DDD3820 [Sturnus vulgaris]

Photographed in Holargos on February 17, 2014






Thursday, September 18, 2014

Oriental beauty in Athens

801_4544 [Oriental beauty]

It seems to be trendy these years for young couples from the Orient to choose the Greek islands or Athens as the location for their wedding ceremony. According to official reports in 2013 more than 1200 couples from abroad came to Greece for that purpose. In this photo a happy bride is posing in front of the Acropolis in an effort to combine her “dream day” with her “dream place” to visit. We wish them all a very happy life.

Photographed in Athens on April 26, 2014


Monday, September 15, 2014

Conium maculatum

DDD_2150 [Conium maculatum]

Conium maculatum is a highly poisonous plant the juice of which caused the death of Socrates
 - the ancient Greek philosopher - after he was convicted to death by the Athenian magistrates in 399 BC.

Photographed in the Athens University Botanical Garden on April 23, 2013


801_5246 [Conium maculatum]

It can reach a height of 2.5 meters.
In this clump of plants on Mt. Parnassos it was more than 2 m high when it was photographed on May 23, 2014.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Colchicum lingulatum

8017417 [Colchicum lingulatum]

8017194 [Colchicum lingulatum]

Both photographed on Mt. Parnitha on September 03, 2014

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Cicada orni

801_7259 [Cicada orni]
 
Although cicadas favour open pine forests, this one "landed" on the balcony of my apartment saving me a trip to the forest to find it! Did it come to me to be photographed? I wonder!


Photographed in Holargos on August 22, 2014

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Colchicum sfikasianum

8017342 [Colchicum sfikasianum]




8017384 [Colchicum sfikasianum]h

Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on Sept. 01, 2014