Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

 

IMG_4246 [Dafni mosaic]

Τhis is one of the many mosaics found on the walls of the Katholicon (the church)

of the byzantine Dafni Monastery in Athens (11th c.).

It depicts the scene of Christ’s birth.

 

 

The following images are parts of the mosaic,

enlarged to show details.

 

Top left

 

 Three angels look at newborn Christ.

 

Top right

 

A fourth angel is announcing the great event to the shepherds.

Bottom left

 

At the entrance of the cave, we see Virgin Mary,

and next to her, the Holy Infant lying on the manger.

Behind the manger there are two animals:

the normal tenants of the cave!

Bottom right

Josef is looking at Infant Christ.

 

 

Crocus pallasii

802_2201 [Crocus pallasii]

 802_7402 [Crocus pallasii]

 

This species of crocus is pretty similar to cartwrightianus

but it differs in the branches of the style

and occasionally in the color of the tepals.

 

It is found in stony locations and shrublands

in the wide area from the Balkan to Iran.

 

In Greece, it thrives on some Aegean islands

and on a few areas of the mainland at altitudes of 50m to about 2400m.

 

It blooms from October to November.

 

The pictures above come from Mt. Hymittos. 

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

803_0670 [Crocuss cartwrightianus]

803_0709 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 

 Crocus cartwrightianus is endemic to Southern Greece;

specifically, to Attica, the Cyclades islands and some parts of Crete.

 

It grows on rocky slopes or in low shrubbery

at heights from sea-level to 1.000 meters

and blooms from October to December.

It is the wild ancestor of the cultivated Crocus sativus

from which the well-known saffron is produced.

 

The flower is about 5 centimeters in diameter

with impressive, long red styles.

It is predominantly purple-lilac

but it often comes in white, as well.

 

The pictures are from Mt. Hymittos. 

 

 

The Roman Agora in Athens

video: [The Roman Agora]

 

“The Roman Agora in Athens” is a 13min virtual tour

in the form of a picture movie that combines

information, still pictures, transitions, effects, background music

and subtitles in English.

 

It aims to familiarize viewers

with antiquities available in the archeological site of the Roman Agora

and to photographically show them

what they would actually see if they visited the site presented in the project.

 

Background music comes from https://www.purple-planet.com

 

The script is based on historical information

provided free to the public by the Greek Ministry of Tourism. 

 

Redistribution of this picture movie is allowed

as long as the work remains intact and proper reference is made to

https://tagtonsphotography.blogspot.com.

 

Watching in FULL SCREEN and HD is recommended.

 

Για Ελληνικούς υπότιτλους,

παρακαλώ κάντε click στην Ελληνική σημαία.

Θα μεταφερθείτε στο YouTube. 

Σας προτείνουμε να επιλέξετε (αν χρειαστεί) το FULL SCREEN και HD.

 

>==0==<

 

Link to “The Tower of the Winds” in case you are interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rOdWG3Wis8 (in English)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_3mt12k42o (Ελληνικά)