History (from Greek word ἱστορία, historia, meaning "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation") is the study of the past as it is described in written documents, as it is stated in Wikipedia. Everybody knows that we can ‘learn’ about our past from history books or from lots of historian’s biographies. But, why not surprise our brain seeing history unfolding in front of our eyes?
Parthenon, this Doric’s order building from Classical ‘Pericles’ Greece was built from 447BC to 438BC and the fine decorations finally entered at 432BC from Ictinus and Kallikratis. The current Parthenon was built, on the top of the remains of the old one, to show the Greek’s appreciation to gods for their help over the Persians in 480BC. The Parthenon had many uses, in 6th century AD is served as a Christian church dedicated to Virgin Mary, in 1460 was a Muslim mosque and finally, on 1687 the Venetians bombed it and ruined most of the sculptures.
The temple is 70m length, 31m width and 13m high. The total number of pillars inside and outside was 108. Between those pillars, we can see figures on battles, Trojan war, Centaurs war, Giants war and Amazons wars.
It is a huge experience to come and explore all the above. It will definitely stimulate your brain. Place yourself on the Acropolis’s hill and look at it. Look the Parthenon and watch the Hyades and find your calmness by starring the Aegean sea.
Agora was a gathering place for socialization. After lots of excavations, at the place you can now see many sculptures while also admire the collections of its museum inside the Stoa of Attalos. The visitor has a lot of things to explore there like following a trial to the Peristyle Court, explore a military meeting at Strategeion, see the place where the officials meet at Tholos (their dining-sleeping quarters), to see the marbles that representing the tribes of Athens and at the temples of Apollo Patroos/Ares-war god/Hephaestus/Aphrodite Urania. Finally you can end up shopping and walking through the Stoa of Hermes/Poikile/South Stoa I or II/Stoa of Zeus.
The Hellenic Parliament was build around 1843 as a Royal Palace for Bavarian Otto, the first king of Greece. Since 1934 it operates as the Hellenic Parliament in front of Syntagma square (the translation of Syntagma square is Constitution square). The square was built around 1834, after King Otto announced that he will move the capital of Greece from Nafplio to Athens. In front of the House of Parliament you will have the opportunity to see Evzones, who is the Presidential Guard of the Palace. Every hour the Guards change performing a ceremony in front of the Tomb Memorial of the Unknowing Soldier. If you will visit the square, we propose you to see also the National Gardens near the parliament.
Another significant monument in the centre of Athens is the Panathinian Olympic Stadium (where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896), which is located at the centre of Athens in an area called Kallimarmaro, meaning beautiful marble. The stadium is entirely composed from marble and its capacity is 50.000 seats. It was built at 330BC and after its abandoning it was reopened for the first modern Olympics in 1896. It is also the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon and the last point where the Olympic Flame passes before delivering it to the host nation of Olympics every 4 years. It is close to National Gardens and Zappeion exhibition hall, you could easily reach it by feet. The stadium hosted numerous of events like racecourses, basketball matches, concerts, archery and quite a few ceremonies.
