ABOUT MYCENAEN
Mycenae
is situated on a small hill, on the feet of mount Euboea, between two
peaks of it and near the road leading to the Argolic gulf from North.
The hill is inhabited since the Neolithic era but it enjoys its fame the
later Copper era(1350 - 1200 B.C.). Huge Cyclopean walls surround the
acropolis except for the south side where a steep ravine provides
physical protection. The palace was built in top of the acropolis, with
the room of the throne in the south-west side, along with the "Religion
Center" and the central lion's gate. The findings from the First Grave
Circle and the royal chambers are excibited in the National Museum of
Athens. In the south-east side of the hill, besides shops, a tunnel of
Cyclopean walls was built, which led to an underground spring. Besides
the walls there are also found residencies, the Second Grave Circle, as
well as big arched graves.
Mycenae
was habitated till 468 B.C. when it comes to the hands of the Argives
and the population is chased. The acropolis is reinhabited, for a while,
during the 3rd B.C. century, but the area was abandonded long ago during
the 2nd B.C. century when Pafsanias payed it a visit.
In
1841, Mr Pittakis cleaned the liongate, and in 1876, Eric Sliman started
the excavation of five graves of the First grave Circle. At the same
time from 1952 till 1955, Mr Milonas and Mr Papadimitriou, from the
Archaelogical Service of Athens excavated the Second Grave Circle. In
1950 the Repair Service with Mr Orlandos and Mrs Stika restored the
grave of Clytaemnestra.
ABOUT ANCIENT EPIDAURUS
The
small plain of Epidavros, center of the Epidavros municipality, is one
of the most picturesque places in the Argolida. Its sheltered location
and natural surroundings, the beauty of the landscape and fertility of
the soil, attracted not only men but also gods. It was here that
Asklepios' most splendid sanctuary was situated. Here yet another
important nucleus of ancient Greek civilization was created. The scenery
around the city has remained quite unspoilt throughout the centuries
and, as the visitors face the wooded areas, they cannot help wondering
if time has stood still here in the age that Homer describes in his
writings. Ancient Epidavros, a well-known sacred place, which for
thousands of years has cured illnesses of the body and soul, surrounded
by the calming blue sea and covered in greenery of olive, pine and
citrus trees it awaits contemporary visitors to plant a magic balsam of
calmness into their souls, tired from the stress of everyday life.
It
wasn't by chance that Epidavros was chosen as the place for the
establishment of the main sacred sanatorium of the God of Asklepios. The
beauty and tranquility of the site practiced and still practices a
beneficial influence on every human being.
Its
first inhabitants were the Carians. Later came the Dorians. The city
took part in the Trojan War; it fought against the Persians at Plataea
and Salamis and found itself on the side of the Spartans in the
Peloponnesian War. Good sailors and merchants, the people of Epidavros
founded colonies and raised their town to a high level.
Their
civilization came to light during excavations on the peninsula that
bisects the Bay of Epidavros, the "island" as the locals call it today.
There we can find remains from the Acropolis with Roman walls, ruins of
a palace and houses, columns from the Doric temple and nearby, Mycenaean
tombs and the jewel of the town "the ancient little theatre" called The
Shell of the Saronic to distinguish it from the "big" one in the
Sanctuary of Asklepios. While under the sea, not very deep, lies a
section of the ancient city an underwater treasure of history and
delights for swimmers and snorkel enthusiasts.
ABOUT ANCIENT CORINTH /
ACROCORINTH
The ruins of Ancient Corinth are spread out at the foot of the huge rock
of Acrocorinth. The monuments are mainly Roman; only a few are Greek.
You can trace the Long Walls which began at the summit of Acrocorinth
and descended all the way to Lechaion (Leheo), the artificial harbour on
the Corinthian Gulf.
Lechaion was the start of Lechaion road which led to the ancient agora.
This was paved with flagstones and lined with sidewalks, arcades and
shops. The area of the marketplace was filled with imposing buildings,
temples and business emporia.
The Doric temple of Apollo (6th c. BC with 1st c. AD restorations)
stands on a knell to the north of the agora; it is the most important
monument of that period. To the northwest of the agora lie the ruins of
the 4th century BC theatre -- which underwent some changes in the Roman
era -- and the Roman Odeon.
The museum is in the southwest sector of the site. It contains mosaic
floors, Mycenaean and Corinthian pottery, terra cotta sphinxes, statues
of two supernatural beings, relief plaques, the Roman head of the
Goddess Tyche and small objects of various kinds. On the north side of
the building one can see the remains of the fountain of Glauke hewn out
of the rock.
Glauke, daughter of King Green, was the reason why Jason deserted Medea.
In revenge Medea sent her as a wedding gift a poisoned mantle which
enveloped the girl in flames the moment she put it on. In order to save
herself she leapt into the fountain which since then has borne her name.
The imposing mass of Acrocorinth (Akrokorinthos) rises out of the ground
at the edge of the ancient city.
At the top of the pinnacle, at an altitude of 575 metres, stood the
acropolis of Corinth during ancient and medieval times. This is the
largest and oldest fortress in the Peloponnese. The
Franco-Byzantine-Venetian fortifications (built atop the ancient walls)
and Turkish additions have left deep signs of their successive claims to
supremacy.
At the summit, which offers a magnificent view, there were a vast number
of shrines and temples dominated by the Temple of Aphrodite. Lower down
is the Upper Peirene Spring. Pausanias mentions that Peirene was a woman
who was transformed into a spring by the tears she shed for her son who
had been killed by Artemis.
ABOUT NAFPLION
The City
First capital of the liberated, from the Turks, Greece. The first
primary school was also accomodated in Nafplio, under the auspices of
Kapodistrias. Today, Nafplio is the capital and administrative center of
the prefecture of Argolida, but also an important touristic center. With
its buildings, renowned castles and generally the whole layout of the
city makes Nafplio one of the most beautiful places in Greece.
The fortress complex of Nafplio is extensive and imposing. The oldest
fortress of all is Akronafplia, in the homonymous peninsula. On the
opposite rocky hill rises the famous Palamidi. Bourtzi is found in front
of the harbour, in the shallow waters, and was connected, during the old
times, by chains with the land, which is also the reason it was called
Porto Cadena. All three castles are remarkable not only for their
arcaelogical importance but also for their incredible adjustment in the
place's topography.
The city itself includes many praiseworthy monuments, such as the
imposing Venetian arms depot - which is maintained intact and
accomodates the Archaelogical museum -, the Mosque in Syntagmatos
square, the church of Saint Spyridonas, famous because on the entrance
of which Kapodistrias was murdered, the Bavarian lion, and other
buildings along the mole which compose this rare architectural and urban
plan whole making Nafplio distinguish as the best preserved example of a
neoclassical city of the 19th century.
Bourtzi Castle
Venetian creation, blazon of Nafplio. The Venetians firm its
fortification in 1473. Greeks regain it from the Turks in 18th June
1822, from where they wil assist the siege of Nafplio. Bourtzi serves as
a fortress until 1865. It then transformed into residence of the hangmen
who executed the convicts in Palamidi. From 1930 to 1970 served as a
hotel.
Palamidi
This imposing castle, with its 216 m, enjoys a Panhellenic fame. The
prehistoric settlement found here indicates that there were not only the
younger who tried to conquer it.
Two-year pride of the Venetians was completed in 1714. The bastions with
the renowned Venetian names, came to the hands of the Turks in 1715. The
change names for third time, when Greeks regain it in November 30th
1822. Except from the bastion of Saint Andrew there are also the
bastions of : Fokionas, Themistokles, Miltiades, Epaminondas, Leonidas,
Achilles.
A road of asphalt leads from the suburb of Pronoia inside Palamidi. The
view from Palamidi is awesome. The 999 steps, built by the Bavarian army
who used the convicts for that, offer the visitor an exciting
descending.
Inside the homonymous bastion of the fortress lies the church of Saint
Andrew. It has a hemicylindrical dome and its half east side steals into
one of the arches that support the walk of the walls. The open part of
the church is double-aisled.
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