splendour of the ancient times.
The Acropolis stands proudly over the modern and busy city of Athens and it keeps reminding us that Athens was the cradle of a great civilization. Although temples were constructed there since the Archaic times, the Acropolis as we know it today was an idea of Pericles, the famous statesman of the Classical Era.
Made of fine Pentelian marble, the Acropolis and its buildings were constructed in the 5th century BC and it costed a huge amount of money for that times. The most famous buildings of the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaea.
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The site of Delphi was discovered in 1893 by the French School of Archaeology. This was the most important oracle of ancient Greece.
During the Mycenaean Period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle started in the beginning of the 8th century B.C with the establishment of the cult of Apollo.
Gradually, the sanctuary continued to work autonomously and enlarge its influence on religious and political orders. The sanctuary was enlarged and decorated with beautiful buildings, statues and other kind of offerings.
People from all over the Mediterranean would come to the oracle of Delphi to ask for advice from the priestess Pythia. Although many other oracles developed in Greece, this was considered the most accurate of all.
The most important monuments excavated in Delphi are: the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Altar, the Stoa of the Athenians, the Theatre, the Stadium, the Tholos and the Gymnasium. Next to the site, there is an interesting museum.
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was dedicated to the father of all gods, Zeus. In fact, two great temples of Zeus and Hera were constructed there in the ancient times.
Olympia was also the place were the ancient Olympic Games were first held n the 7th century B.C. The Games were organised to honour Zeus and, according to the myth, they were founded either by Pelops, king of Peloponnese, or by Hercules.
These were the most important sports competitions in the ancient times and even wars stopped at their duration. The winners were awarded a branch of olive oil tree and they were welcomed as heroes in their homelands.
The site was excavated by French archaeologists in 1829 and some of the findings were transferred to the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The most important monuments of the site are: the temples of Zeus and Hera, the Stadium, the workshop of sculptor Phedias, the Palaestra and the Gymnasium. Next to the site, there is an impressive museum with findings from the area.
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| The Sacred Island of Delos |
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Delos, included in the World Heritage Monuments protected by the UNESCO, is a small islet situated a few miles from the famous island of Mykonos, in the centre of the Cyclades.
Delos is considered as one of the most important Pan-Hellenic sanctuaries of Greece.
According to the Greek mythology, Delos was the birth place of Apollo, the god of light and maybe of Artemis, the twin-sister of Apollo, goddess of hunting.
Delos was a sacred place in the ancient times. It worked both as a religious and trade centre.
The excavations on Delos started in 1873 by the French School of Archaeology.
The most important monuments of the site are: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Terrace of the Lions and the ancient theatre, which is being renovated currently to host theatre performances. On Delos, there is a small museum with findings from the island.
To go to Delos, you take the tour boat from Mykonos. The island is not inhabited today.
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flourishing commercial, political, social and cultural system, as well as by the construction of impressive palaces, such as Knossos, Lato, Zakros, Phaestos and many others.
The Minoans also developed for the first time a trade network with the rest of the Aegean and even established colonies like Akrotiri in Santorini.
From the lack of defensive walls, we can assume that the Minoans had peaceful relations with their neighbours. Also, their facilities and urban planning were surprisingly developed for that era.
The Minoan Palace of Knossos was discovered in 1878 by archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos and its restoration started in 1900.
The most important monuments of the site are: the palace of Knossos, the little palace, the Royal Villa and the house of the frescoes.
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The site of Mycenae is considered as one of the oldest sites in Greece and witnesses the development of the Mycenaean civilisation.
Mycenae was the legendary home of Agamemnon, ruler of the Greeks during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization took its name after the discovery of the site of Mycenae.
The Mycenaean civilization followed the Minoans. Their society, as proved by the excavations, was formed by an elite group.
Their citadels were fortified with what we call the Massive "Cyclopean" walls. They were named like this because people thought that only Cyclopes could have lifted such huge stones to compose them.
The society of the Mycenaeans was based on military force. Generally, this era doesn't have much to show in cultural issues, but it stressed mostly on urban planning and military invasions.
The most characteristic spot of the site is the Lion Gate. Particularly interesting is also the museum.
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