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)

 

 

Galanthus reginae-olgae

DSCN3098 [Galanthus reginae-olgae]
 

Galanthus reginae-olgae is a rare flowering plant

found on Mt. Taygetos, on Mt. Hymittos, and the island of Corfu in Greece,

as well as in West Balkan areas to the North.

 

It blooms from October to December

with its leaves appearing usually after flowering time

and rarely simultaneously with the flowers.

Often used as ornamental plant in gardens.

 

Habitat: Wetlands on altitudes of 50-1300m.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Taygetos.

 

 

Spiranthes spiralis

804_1601 Spiranthes spiralis

Spiranthes spiralis is a small wild orchid

with a characteristic spiral arrangement

of its tiny, whitish flowers around its spike.

 

It grows in dry forest clearings, meadows and open scrub

on altitudes of up to 600m (sometimes higher)

and flowers from September to November in all parts of Greece.

 

Its leaves appear early in Autumn

but they fully develop in Spring.

 

It is also found in many European countries.

 

The picture is from the foot of Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum

IMG_0322 [Biarum abbreviatum]

This small perennial plant that looks like an Arum is widespread

on stony grounds, (usually in rock crevices) of Central Mediterranean countries.

 

Its spathe and spadix appear leafless

from July to November in heights of up to 1800m.

The leaves appear in Spring.

It produces very small flowers

which grow along the spadix from October on.

 

In Greece,

it is found in the mainland, up to north Central Greece,

and on the island of Crete.

 

Picture above: from Aspropyrgos (Attica)

 

 

Colchicum lingulatum

IMG_1117 [Colchicum lingulatum]

 

801_0399 [Colchicum lingulatum]

A perennial, bulbous and also poisonous colchicum,

as is the case with all colchicums.

It is endemic to Central Greece with more populations found

in Attica, Evoia, and Viotia.

However, populations are sparse. This is the reason why

it is considered “almost threatened” for extinction.

It grows in open, stony and grassy habitats at altitudes of 200 - 1100 meters

and flowers from late August to early October.

Its leaves appear after flowering.

 

The pictures were taken on Mt. Parnitha.