This tholos
tomb with stone dome, the largest known, was plundered in antiquity. An
access passage (dromos), bordered by a peudo-isodome wall, leads to a façade
10.5 metres (34 feet) high. The door opens on to a rotunda, 14.6 metres (48
feet) in diameter and 13.5 metres (44 feet) high, with a masonry domed vault of
33 regular courses; some blocks bore a metal decoration, probably of 'patera'
form. This door has a pyramidal shape which is also found in Egypt,
and which reappears in classical architecture. The lintel is made up of two
enormous blocks; the inner one weighs about 120 tons. The void triangle above it
is characteristic of Mycenaean architecture: it serves to deflect the thrusts of
the upper part of the building on to the supports of the door...No other
Mycenaean building can boast such exact stone cutting, nor such refined
proportions; not for another 1,000 years in Greece was such technical perfection put at
the service of such a grandiose architectural
design."
Olympia is one of my
favorite’s archaeological sites in all of Greece. You
can almost feel the magic of the ancient Olympic Games and service as you stroll
around the ruins.
The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC and reached
their height of popularity in 576 BC. The festival was open to only Greek born men but later Romans were allowed
to compete most likely because they were running the country by then. Slaves and
women were not even allowed to be spectators and women caught sneaking in were
thrown off a cliff. The events included foot races, wrestling, discus, javelin,
long-jump, horse and chariot racing, and a type of boxing called pancratium.
There were not only athletic events but also writing, poetry and history
readings, plus business transactions and treaties were made between leaders of
city-states.
Meteora
is an area in Thessaly (Central Greece) and
Kalampaka is the city under
the rock towers of Meteora. The thing that
makes Meteora so special is the monasteries on the top of the rock towers. The
monasteries, the amound of peaks to climb and the paths for hiking brings in
Meteora the whole year many tourists.
The Delphi
Museum is situated right next to
the ancient site of Delphi, and is a
fascinating museum, filled with truly remarkable artifacts, statues and findings
from excavations that have taken place in the site of Delphi. The main building of the museum is a shining white
marble structure that is very modern, considering the ancient site next door
that dates back thousands of years.
On approaching the museum from the walk from
the entrance/exit of the archaeological site, you will follow a small path that
passes through several relics and tombs located outside of the
museum.
Rhodes (Rhodos or Rodos in Greek), lies between Crete and the near East in the Aegean ocean. Rhodes is the
biggest of the Dodecanese islands. Named the
sun island or island of light there are hardly any days when the sun doesn't
shine. With its subtropical climate and over 3.000 hours of sun per year you can
be guaranteed a good tan on your holiday. Rhodes is one of the most popular
holiday islands in Greece - even Greeks themselves come to
Rhodes for a holiday from the
mainland.