Fabulous Acropolis Museum in Athens

Acropolis Museum 1

Acropolis Museum 3

We visited this amazing new, modern museum at the beginning of the trip. The friezes from above the columns of the Parthenon are shown there. The ones in color are the originals. The white ones are reproductions showing what went to the British a Museum long ago. There were a lot so statues all draped beautifully with great volumes of cloth –handwoven, of course.

Acropolis Museum 4

 

Corinthian Columns

Corinthian Columns 1
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The Corinthian capitols we learned about in school came from the old city of Corinth. There is a huge canal there now joining the two seas..the Ionian and Agean. The old city as prosperous transporting goods or even whole ships across the isthmus where the canal is now. No wonder it was a city of big commerce. All the places we visit where there are ruins we see lot and lots of stones around looking to me like big puzzle pieces, that belong to the ruins. Jigsaw puzzle lovers should help out with these giant puzzles!Corinthian Columns 2

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Real Greek Theater

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We visited this outdoor theater at Epidavros. It is huge and the acoustics are so good that the person performing can be heard in the top row with no amplification. We learned that drama was considered healing therapy and very important. Even prisoners were allowed/ invited to attend the performances. It is an impressive place.
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Greek  Theater 3

Polka Dot Construction

Dots 1When I saw the polka dot pattern on one of the elegant ladies in the frescos from Akrotiri, I thought that was a pretty sophisticated design idea for ancient times. I then saw polka dotted walls around as we visited some towns. When I saw this broken down building I saw where the idea for polka dots may have come from! There are textile things to find all over!
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Dots 2

How Grapes Are Grown on Santorini

Source: Daily Telegraph | Features
Source: Daily Telegraph | Features
Grapes 1
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Grape vines are coiled close to the ground instead of stretched out like in California. Here is a dead vine that shows the old, knurled vine.  The next picture shows a living plant and the last one shows part of a vineyard.  There were lots of vineyards on the island and some wineries to visit. Who would have thought to grow grapes this way? That’s what I like about travel!

Grapes 2

There were looms in Ancient Greece!

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Greek loom with weights – click to enlarge
Greek Loom Weight
Greek loom weight – click to enlarge

There were looms in Ancient Greece. At the archaeological  site, Akrotiri,  we visited in the Island of Santorini we read there were hundreds of loom weights were found . At a museum we saw some weights–thrilling to see them. The picture shows a loom with the weights. This is a well known image. Exiting to see such elaborate costumes–all made of cloth from those primitive looms.

Elegant Ladies in old Frescoes

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TGreece 3hese pictures are of pieces of frescos found at the archeological site on Santorini, named Akrotiri. The pictures show that 3600 years ago they painted frescos of elegantly dressed, Coiffed, and groomed ladies on the walls.  I liked how they decorated the fabrics and the beauty of the paintings.   [click photos to enlarge]
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