A monumental gate

FBHB 5640 [Monumental gate]

This monumental gate marks the entrance to the Roman Agora in Athens.

 

It was built in 11 BC through donations

from the Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Augustus,

whose names are inscribed on the stone block above the columns.

 

The entire structure was constructed from gray marble,

the same type of marble used to build the Parthenon.

 

Remarkably,

the gate has remained in exceptionally good condition

for more than 2,000 years,

despite being built without any connecting materials

between the marble blocks.

 

This is the view from the west.

 

 

 

803_9129 [Monumental gate]

 The same gate viewed from the east at sunset.

 

Please click on the images to see them in higher resolution.

Thanks.

 

If any one of you has missed my older post

of a detailed video presentation of the Roman Agora (13 min),

please click HERE.

 

 

Ictineo II

MG_4252 [Ictineo II]

 

The Ictineo II was a pioneering submarine built in 1862

by the Catalan inventor Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol (1819–1885).

 

Constructed from olive wood with oak reinforcements,

the vessel was 14 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 3 meters high,

capable of diving to depths of around 27 meters.

Remarkably,

it was the world's first submarine powered by a combustion engine.

 

The full-scale replica shown in this photo was built in 1992

and placed on public display at the Harbor of Barcelona.

 

Back in 2006,

every passing tourist seemed to raise their camera

to capture a picture of it—and I was no exception!

 

By the way,

Barcelona: Visit once, remember forever.

 

 

Sunset at OAKA

803_5181 [Sunset at OAKA]

 

I had gone to this place with a specific photographic project in mind but I was faced with adverse conditions that rendered the project impossible to carry out. The long metal “tunnel”, designed by the architect S. Calatrava for the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, provided me with an alternative project: to experiment using the hyperfocal distance in an attempt to achieve maximum depth of field. Indeed, I focused at 122cm and, to my surprise, I found the outcome more than encouraging. Not bad for a beginning, I think.

[The sunset was only a 'by-product' here.]

 

Photographed in Athens on September 03, 2019.

 

Please click on the picture to have a better view.