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)

 

 

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre

303_4497 [Sacred Heart]

 

Are you already in Paris for the Olympic Games?

If you are, I’m sure your schedule will accommodate a visit

to this exceptionally interesting Basilica. [Google maps: 48.88689, 2.34316]

 

This Roman Catholic Basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,

is an architectural marvel and a church of national historical interest.

It is built at the top of a hill, two hundred meters higher than the Seign;

At a point from where visitors (more than 11 million per year)

enjoy a unique, panoramic view of Paris and the suburbs below.

 

Do not forget to climb to the dome. The view is superb!

 

Please click on the picture for a better view. 

Statue of Mother

801_6883 [Mana]

 

The Statue of Mother is located on the island of Aegina,

3 km north of the port of Aegina,

in the area of Plakakia. [37°45'54.5"N 23°25'26.6"E]

 

The spot is beautiful and attracts any visitor to the island.

It is only a walking distance away from the house

where Nikos Kazantzakis lived and wrote his works

and from the beautiful Bouza lighthouse.

 

The Statue of Mana is the work of the well-known Greek sculptor

of the 20th century (1909 - 1993) Christos Kapralos.

It is made of bronze and symbolizes the mother

who is waiting for her son who is a sailor to return from a long, multi-day, voyage.

 

A few meters opposite the statue

you can visit the Christos Kapralos Museum to enjoy remarkable exhibits.

 

 

 

801_6912 [Mana]

 

Please click on the picture

to enjoy the sunset in a larger resolution.

Alexandos Papagos

IMG_1294 [Papagos]

 

Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos (1883-1955)

Commander-in-chief of the Greek National Forces (1940-1941 and 1949)

Prime Minister of Greece (1952-1955)

 

The man for whom Winston Churchill on December 4, 1940 said:

“I wish Papagos would command the British army”.

 

The sculpture above, crafted by Iraklis Xanthopoulos,

was wisely placed a few meters away

from the entrance to the Greek Ministry of Defense in Athens.

 

 

 

IMG_1294 [Papagos]

 

This picture was taken through a hedge

that surrounds the little “Pl. Enoplon Dynameon” (= Greek Military Forces sq.)

where the statue was placed in 2000.

 

Both photographed on October 23, 2022

An Amphora

801_1932 [Amphora]
 

This monumental amphora was found in Kerameikos cemetery, very close to the Acropolis of Athens, and is exhibited in the National Archeological Museum in Athens. It dates back to 760-750 B.C. 

 

Impressive dimensions (approximately 125cm x 60cm) and an interesting, painted scene of people.

See below. 

 

 

801_1932 [scene]

Please click on the photo for a better view.

 

The scene shows a funeral of that time. The dead person is depicted lying on the deathbed in the middle of the scene, while men, women and a child around it all lament with the hands on their heads, the mourning gesture of those days.

 

Photographed in Athens on January 18, 2014

Spain’s Industrial Park

_MG_4474 [Industrial Park]

 

This is part of Spain’s Industrial Park in Barcelona. It was built between 1982 and 1985 on the site of an old textile factory, a fact that justifies its name 'Industrial'. It combines a grassy area, a large odd-shaped boating lake and on the right a seating area dominated by 10 futuristic, lighthouse-style watchtowers (only five are visible here).

It is considered controversial but I found that it deserved a 'click'.

 

Please click on the photo for a better view.

 

Photographed on August 25, 2006

 

 

Poros

301_4771 [Poros]

 

Poros is a small island, covered with pines and olive trees, in the Saronic Gulf. It has its own peculiar charm and attracts the preference of many tourists, including photographers of all kinds.

 

A narrow sea passage separates the island from mainland Peloponnesos and from a vast lemon-grove which fills the air with a pleasant aroma for miles around.

 

I visited the island quite some time ago but I still have memories of golden beaches, shores with shady pines, and leisure walks, not to mention restaurants with a reputation for good food and wine! 

 

Photographed on November 22, 2008

 

 

 

DSCN2342 [Poros]

 This is a partial view of a picturesque seaside residential area of Poros (about here: 37.495885, 23.460630) at the southern part of the island.

 

Photographed on April 26, 2008

 

Please click on the photos for a better view.

 

 

Ag. Panteleimonas

803_6815 [Ag. Panteleimonas]

 

A place for a swim, or a prayer, or … both! Why not? 

 

Photographed near Daskaleio on August 10, 2020

 

Please click on the photo for a better view. 

 

Strolling in the portico

303_9509 [Strolling in the portico]

 

The two ladies in the picture seem to have just completed their visit to the museum in the Stoa of Attalos and decided that a leisurely walk along the pillars of the portico was what they needed in order to relax and re-think of what they had seen. 

 

The portico is part of the Stoa of Attalos.

 

 

The Stoa of Attalos

303_9498 [Stoa of Attalos]

 The Stoa of Attalos is a long building, 115 by 20 meters, made of marble and is located inside the archeological site at the foot of the Acropolis.

 

It houses the Museum of Ancient Agora. 

 

Both pictures were taken on September 17, 2012. 

 

Please click on the pictures for a better view.

Fountain of the Lions

302_1280 [Fountail of the Lions]

The head of a lion.

 

Figures like this, pouring water through their mouth, decorate fountains in numerous parts of the world. Curious to know where this one was found? Follow your imagination to Italy, … to Rome, … to Plazza del Popolo, … to the Obelisk in the center of the Plazza, … and look at the base of the Obelisk. Four similar lions stand there, each one on a small pyramid and constitute the Fountain of the Lions: A piece of work designed by the Italian architect Valadier in 1823. 

 

For a nice view of the Plazza itself please click here (Wikipedia).

 

Photographed on August 17, 2009

 

Apollo the Guitarist

802_1539 [Apollo the Guitarist]

 

This statue of Apollo, the ancient Greek Olympian god of music, stands with his lyre on a column outside the Academy of Athens, a world-wide highlight of the city. The statue itself measures 3.71m in height while the column is 19.54! 

 

It is attributed to the Greek architect Leonidas Drossis but there is evidence that there is more to the matter.

For additional information please click HERE to watch a slideshow on the Academy of Athens, in case you have missed it. 

 

Please click on the picture for a better view. 

 

 Photographed downtown Athens on September 13, 2015 

 

 

Kaisariani Monastery: A slide show

[Kaisariani monastery: A slide show]

 

A virtual tour of all the premises of the Byzantine Monastery of Kaisariani (11 c.) on Mt. Hymittos near Athens

in the form of a slide show with extensive presentation of wall paintings in the church.

 

Duration 33' 26"

 

Watching it in FULL SCREEN is recommended.

(Make sure you have your cup of coffee with you to avoid viewing interruption!!!)

• Music:

https://www.purple-planet.com

 

• Liturgical Chant:

excerpts from live transmissions of the Divine Liturgy at Athens Cathedral by ERT 2,

from "Τα Πάθη τα Σεπτά" broadcasted in 2011 by ERT 3 (Voice of Charilaos Taliadoros),

and from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c58KR... (Voice of Dimitrios Papagiannopoulos) 

 

• Script:

based on the leaflet "Kaisariani Monastery" by Aik. Pantelidou - Alexiadou:

distributed free by The Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports 

 

Redistribution is allowed as long as the slide show remains unaltered 

and proper reference is made to the source.

 

Photographs taken in 2016-2020

 

Το slide show είναι διαθέσιμο και με ελληνικούς υπότιτλους στο YouTube.

Για να μεταφερθείτε εκεί, παρακαλώ, κάντε κλικ ΕΔΩ.

Saint George and Saint Irene

Please click on the pictures for a better view. 

 

803_1101 [Saint George Papagou]

A Greek Orthodox church dedicated to Saint George and Saint Irene, found at the residential area of Papagos very close to the foot of Mt. Hymittos. It was opened to the public in 2011 but it was inaugurated in 2018. I found it architecturally attractive and photographically inviting, although it is very similar to many Greek Orthodox churches I had seen before.

 

803_1625 [Saint George Papagou]

 

The interior, however, is quite dissimilar to other churches. 

 

[If you want to see an example of a dissimilar church, please click HERE.]

 

What surprised me, however, were the stained-glass windows it is decorated with, which as far as I know, are not a common feature of Greek Orthodox churches.

 

Here follow four such windows:

803_1612 - 803_1611 [Kosmas + Damianos]

 

803_1614 + 803_1615 [Nektarios + Nikolaos]

 

All photographed on March 28, 2018

 

 

Dubai: memories from the past

_MG_6048 [Dubai: memories from the past]

 

The boat in the picture is a boat-restaurant.

Tourists on board enjoy a night view of Dubai or they take advantage of an opportunity to try a selection of local and international specialties for their evening meals while the boat is on a cruise along Dubai creek.

 

The picture was taken from our boat-restaurant that happened to be moving the opposite direction at that moment.

 

Dubai memories from November 21, 2007

 

Please click on the picture for a better view.

The Acropolis of Athens

Please click on the picture for a better view. 

 

803_6643 [Acropolis]

 

 An early evening view of the well-known, much-photographed, Acropolis of Athens.

 

The sun was setting exactly behind the Parthenon that day and I was hoping for a spectacular sunset to combine with the Parthenon in the foreground but my hope remained only an unfulfilled wish. The sky was dull, the lighting conditions in the area were rather poor but the Parthenon was again as spectacular as ever. To avoid going home with an empty basket, I faced my challenging task by using the HDR technique (7 images stalked) so that I could record as much detail as possible. I am sharing with you whatever I managed to get and look forward to another opportunity with better conditions.

 

The picture was taken from the roof terrace of a friend’s house in the center of Athens on July 19, 2020.

 

 

Ag. Eirini

801_8427 [Ag. Eirini]

This little church, dedicated to St. Eirini, can be found at the very foot of Mt. Hymittos next to the residential area of Argyroupolis in Athens. It takes nearby residents only five minutes’ walk to get there and, besides lighting their own candle in the church, they can picnic in a beautiful spot arranged to that purpose under the trees.

Photographed on November 09, 2014

Please click on the picture for a better view.

S. Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

803-240 [SNFCC pano]

The new Greek Cultural Center in Athens, with its ease of access, beauty, diversity, novelty and tens of other reasons, offers itself as an irresistible photographic spot. Ideal, I might say, for amateur photographers who would like to experiment and improve their skills. One of my favorite spots!
 
On this spot, I often spend some relaxing time shooting panoramas. Occasionally, repeating the ones that failed! Why not? It’s free, enjoyable and educating! The above rectilinear panorama resulted from stitching 17 vertical pictures.
 
Photographed in Athens on October 02, 2019.
 

803_0286 [SNFCC pano]

 This is also a composition of 17 pictures but processed in a way that would produce a cylindrical panorama. I had never tried this process before but I thought the series of trees might yield an interesting result. So, I gave it a try.
 
Photographed in Athens on September 26, 2017.

Please click on both pictures to have a better view.

 

The Holy Trinity Chapel

801_9506 [Holy Trinity Chapel]

This beautiful little chapel, found at a height of 600 meters on Mt Parnitha, is located in an environmentally privileged area and constitutes a highlight of Ippokrateios Politeia: A community of 1000 people lives permanently there in more than 600 houses. This chapel occasionally hosts under its roof believers from this community and certainly constitutes a highlight for crowds of visitors who come here in search of natural beauty.


The interior

801_9525 [Holy Trinity, the interior]

IMHO, the view of the interior is rather disappointing. It stands between simplicity and … lack of interest. It would be nice, I think, to see some changes for the better some time.


A structure nearby

801_9511 [Holy Trinity, a structure nearby]

Opposite the entrance to the chapel - only a few meters away - one can see an elegant little structure that offers fresh water to the passers-by. If close enough, they can read an inscription on its face that reads:

“ΝΙΨΟΝΑΝΟΜΗΜΑΤΑΜΗΜΟΝΑΝΟΨΙΝ”

It’s a Greek phrase that can be read from left to right or from right to left and means:
“Wash off your sins. Don't wash your face only”.


All photographed on Mt. Parnitha on April 30, 2015

Please click on the pictures for a better view.

 

SNFCC: a first view

802_8693 [SNFCC Cultural Center]

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center [above] was opened to the public in 2017. It is a complex that houses the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera and many other facilities. It is a well-visited structure.

The picture above shows my own first sight of the Center while I was approaching it one early evening.
 
Photographed in Athens on April 23, 2017
 
Please click on the picture for a better view.

Up there on the mountain…

CCC_9292 [Up there on the mountain]

It was in the hot month of August when a friend of mine and I set out early in the morning to explore the mountainous area not far from the historic town of Karavrita in high hopes that, besides exploring the area, we might find a spot of photographic interest. Indeed, in the middle of the day we found this chapel standing on a high hill and overlooking a beautiful gorge below. Perhaps not of much interest to my blog viewer today but when I saw it, it triggered emotions to the blogger. It reminded me of a little song that all of us - children at Elementary school - had to learn and chant about 70 years ago [Yes, the number is correct!] I can still recite or chant it as easily as 70 years ago.
For some reason, I feel urged to remind my Greek friends of that song [in its original form] and also to render it in simple, non-poetic, English for the sake of my non-Greek visitors who might want to have a better understanding of the blogger's emotions triggered by the chapel.

CCC_9292 [the song]

Χριστός Ανέστη!
Χρόνια Πολλά!