Today was certainly bittersweet.
Although our morning was exciting (in more ways than one..), it was also sad because we knew it was the last morning Sabrina and I would spend together! After having a pal for more than 4 weeks, it was very sad to know we wouldn't be sharing any more memories together here in Europe! But we tried to make the best of the few hours we DID have...
Around 8, we grabbed some pastries - I got a powdery-suger, chocolate-covered, fruit-jam-filled donut (I had a serious suger-craving...) and Sabrina got something akin to an apple turnover that we both inhaled before realizing I hadn't taken a pic...so apologies there ;D
Then, as we ate, we made our way over to the National Archaeological Museum (getting a bit lost on the way....as per usual), but when we did finally arrive we discovered that we were 45min early! So we sat and people-watched, waiting until the museum opened. And was it an exciting day to people watch!
We saw a full-on fight break out in a little park just a few yards away! Some guy with a motorcycle helmet was yelling at this one-legged homeless man and his female companion (whose pants and top didn't seem to like their task of covering her body) and then all of a sudden the motorcycle guy just started kicking the homeless man in the gut and the face! Sabrina and I obviously were more than a little shocked but the museum guards behind us starting whistling for the police and soon there were four of the baton-armed cops coming over to break up the fight.
It was a very special morning on the steps of the museum....
Finally though, when things had calmed down in the park, the museum opened it's door and we basically sprinted into their secure, academic embrace!
Yet, it wasn't just the safety of the institution that we enjoyed - the collections were equally amazing!!
Right as you enter in, there rests the gorgeous, gold Mask of Agamemnon from Mycenae!!!!
...so cool!!! I love this whole 'previous-art-history-class-slides-coming-to-life-right-before-my-eyes' thing!! This funerary mask covered the face of a fallen ruler (once thought to be Agamemnon, but that's questionable) from the 1500s BC!
But that was not all by a long shot! They had numerous other artifacts from this time period in history and this very powerful, and wealthy civilization! (and I'm going to go see the ruins on Saturday!!! YAY!!)
...example of the Mycenaean writing called 'Linear B' on a clay tablet (it pre-dated Greek writing by at least a few centuries!)
...helmet made of boar's tusks
...octopus vase...awesome.
Also, the museum had a section displaying the unique and beautiful art of the Cycladic civilization (from the Cyclades Islands) that pre-dated the Mycenaean culture by around 1,000 years!
...these are frying pans! haha!
...piggy...
After that room, we moved into another section of the museum that showcased even more works of art that I had studied in history books and classrooms!
...a HUGE vase with early geometric Greek artforms from the 8th century BC
...one of the many Kouros boys! They are basically statues of male youths that show the development of Greek sculpture throughout the years and their process of mastering the realism that inspired the Romans...which then inspired the Renaissance!!
...these are cool: they're 'jumping weights' that ancient athletes used when trying to cover longer distances!
...massive bronze sculpture of Zeus or Poseidon
...ancient Greek horses' bit! That's for you Beth!
....love it!
...I totally want a cup like this.
So, after part of the Greek wing, we moved into the Egyptian wing!!
Fayum mummy portraits!! I love these! They were made after Roman influence became widespread in Egypt during the Coptic period. They are a great example of how the two cultures merged: preserving the dead but in the typically-Roman realistic portraiture...
...so awesome!
And then we moved into the Byzantine section!
Then we wandered through another section with more Greek sculpture, pottery, etc....
...the skeleton of a Greek male found in perfect burial tradition. There was even a bit of text explaining how they had discovered his death by studying the bones...I totally felt like Temperance Brennan.
...marble shells!
...lovers...so cute...
...this was cool - It was a preliminary study for some pottery art!
...the discard pile!
They also had some reconstructed walls featuring Minoan art from their civilization on Crete (I also will be going there in a few days!!)
...this is a very cool find - the perfectly-preserved Spring Fresco - a room from the ancient site of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini (...yeah I'm going there too)
...the room was painted in a very whimsical and organic theme with cute little swallows to brighten the walls!
Also at the museum, there was a temporary exhibit that featured finds from the Antikythera Shipwreck that went down in the 1st century, but wasn't discovered until 1900!
...there were tons of statues on the ship - some of which just happened to get buried deep enough into the ocean floor to stay somewhat intact...
...crazy!!
And last, but not least, we were able to look at some Roman works the museum had...
...bronze figure of Emperor Augustus
...and look who it is! Our lover-boy from Hadrian's Villa, Antinous, and the besotted Emperor himself! lol.
So, after our extensive, but extremely-rewarding walk through the museum, we decided to stroll over towards the Parliament building to see if we could catch a glimpse of the fabulously-dressed guards (called 'Evzones') who watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier!
On our way there we also saw the University of Athens and the Academy next-door, which was pretty neat too!
Parliament!
...so dashing!
...it was also kind of funny, though Sabrina might kill me for this, she walked up the steps to try and get a closer look at the tomb, but the Evzones started to bang their rifles and suddenly another army soldier who was patrolling nearby came running up telling her to get back down! Though Sabrina handled it very calmly, some lady who had been trying to get a picture next to one of the Evzones totally freaked out. It was kind of hilarious.
Anyways, by this time we were hot and hungry, so we decided to grab some cheap gyros for lunch and then go back to the hotel room to rest a bit before Sabrina had to jet off for the airport!
When it came time to walk over and for me to send her on her way it was very sad, but luckily we live in the same state and go to the same school so I'll definitely be seeing here again soon!
Now it's just me here in the big Greek apple! Though I won't even be hanging around here for very long - I'll be using it more as a landing-pad for my fabulous daytrips!
Starting tomorrow I head off early in the morning to catch a tour bus headed for Delphi and then Meteora where I'll get to see even more awesome Greek ruins and the stunning cliff-top monasteries over the course of two days! Can't wait! Wish me luck!
καληνύχτα!
I so enjoy your postings. You are a fabulous tour guide. Love your photos and your narrative. Enjoy your tours!
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