MetaChat - Best Dog Walk Route Ever!

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08 November 2008

Best Dog Walk Route Ever! Yesterday evening we took Sky for a walk to the Acropolis, specifically to Areios Pagos, the "Rock of Ares". →[More:]

This high point was once the location of what could be called the "supreme court" of ancient Athens, and also where Paul the apostle addressed the Athenians. You can see the city spread out below, and it's quite breathtaking at any time, but at that perfect twilight hour of dusky violet sky, with everything still visible but dreamlike around you and all the lights twinkling below, it's especially awe inspiring.

post by: taz at: 04:10 | 8 comments

Here's Areios Pagos by daylight:

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Here's a Raphael painting of Paul addressing the Athenians at Areios Pagos:

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and, "Phryné before the Areopagus" by Jean-Léon Gérôme (wikipedia on Phryne)

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From Areios Pagos, the entrance to the Acropolis:

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But when we were there yesterday evening, it looked more like this:

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and the view below looked more like this:

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except more twinkly:

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There are many paths in the Acropolis complex to the Areios Pagos (seen upper left on this map), all of them lovely:

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The evening hour and the late fall month meant there were few tourists around, and at one point we had the whole Areios Pagos completely to ourselves, just me, V. and Sky atop this incredible rock whose history defies imagination (it is here that Ares was said to be judged by the Gods for the murder of Poseidon's son, Alirrothios). The weather has been mild, but as dusk darkened to night and we turned to leave, the wind kicked up with a distinct chill, our first true taste of Autumn... and I loved that sharpness, and the feeling of being a bit buffeted by Aeolus as we prepared to climb back down and take our winding route past more ancient marvels as well as the bustling, glittery modern city to make our way back home.

posted by taz 08 November | 04:11

And how many dogs can say they made a poopy on the steps to the Odeion of the Acropolis? Don't worry! I always have my handy-dandy pooperscooper bags on hand! :)

posted by taz 08 November | 04:39

Just wow! What an amazing place to explore.

You should bring Sky to all the places that mark the birth of democracy and let him poop in each, just to remember that even in Athens early days, the popular vote could allow some terrible things to happen. Meaning, Democracy is never perfect.

posted by MonkeyButter 08 November | 05:01

Parthenon as mosque, Parthenon as Ammo dump.

posted by Meatbomb 08 November | 06:41

Sublime.

posted by chewatadistance 08 November | 06:53

So beautiful, taz! Lucky Sky.

posted by goo 08 November | 08:14

*sigh* Beautiful.

posted by Specklet 08 November | 11:01

****siiiiiighhhh****

I do like the idea of blogging the dog at the historic sites - poop optional!

posted by rainbaby 08 November | 11:20

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