Athens and Attica Week 3: Prehistoric Finds, Eleusis, Acharnai, Dekeleia, Archaic Akropolis

Monday's epigram seminar focused on inscriptions housed in the Acropolis Museum, so no pictures. Allie, Sarah, and I presented a short report on the inscription from the base of the Anavyssos Kouros statue, also known as the Kroisos Kouros because of the name in the inscription.

On Tuesday morning we began the first half of our exploration of the prehistoric finds at the National Museum led by Jack Davis. 

That afternoon we attended the Wiener Lab seminar on food in which we learned about how the archaeological remains can tell us about what people ate. It reminded me a lot of CSI--finding clues and using science to piece together the answer to a mystery.

Wednesday's trip began with a stop at the sanctuary of Aphrodite along the Sacred Way. 

We also stopped at a Hadrianic bridge.

At Eleusis Margie led us through the site and Jon gave his report on the Telesterion, a hall into which the initiates of the Eleusinian Mysteries were led.

After exploring the site we went into the museum and just in time, too. It had been sunny and beautiful but just after we went inside, it began to rain heavily.

Our next stop was another museum, this one in Acharnai.

After the museum, we stopped at the Menidi tholos.

Then it was on to Dekeleia which has been home to an ancient Spartan fort and, more recently, the Greek royal family. The site is in a nicely wooded area and families come here for picnics and walks.

Remains of an ancient wall

On Thursday Jack continued our study of the prehistoric finds at the National Museum.

We went up to the Thera room where, because I was busy taking notes, forgot to take any pictures! Perhaps on a future trip to the National Museum, I'll take some pictures I can put here.

Friday saw us back at the Acropolis, this time with Margie telling us about the Archaic Parthenon. We were allowed to cross the boundary ropes to get a closer look at the building. Here Margie points out a place where, between the classical blocks, you can see a bit of the old wall!