Day 2 was our tour around Athens. We drove past the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic games of modern times were held in 1896. We also passed by the temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, and the Parliament.
We spent most of our tour time visiting the Acropolis. The Acropolis is a large fortified hill in the Center of Athens and it houses several ancient structures including: The Propylaea, The Temple of Athena Nike, The Erechtheion,and The Parthenon.
We toured the New Acropolis Museum before going up to the Acropolis which contains sculptures, ceramics, and other treasures. (Pictured below)
The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, that was dedicated to the goddess Athena. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of classical Greek art, and the Parthenon is considered an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, democracy, and Western civilization.
Coming down from the Acropolis, we saw Mars Hill (where Paul spoke in Acts) It was pretty cool to be able to walk where Paul walked!
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| Mike on Mars Hill |
22 So Paul stood in the midst of the [a]Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and [b]exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. 30 So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 31 because He has set a day on which He will judge [c]the world in righteousness [d]through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people [e]by raising Him from the dead.”
After the scheduled tour, we walked around Plaka for a little bit- looking at shops and eating ice cream. :)
We had a dinner reservation for Thissio View that evening which has a beautiful view of the Acropolis. (Pictured below) As we were eating on the rooftop, 50 some American college girls joined us. (I guess they were here for a conference or something) We couldn’t help but laugh because they just kept coming!
