tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17356969645384630992024-03-12T18:03:53.307-07:00travel GreeceDiscover the mythical land of Greecenphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-32373377656435854722012-12-06T09:51:00.000-08:002012-12-06T09:51:07.036-08:00 An Overview of Zeus and His Role In Ancient Greece<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By Richard Monk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zeus is where any discussion of ancient Greek deities should start. In Greek religion, Zeus represented the ultimate god and power. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An Overview of Zeus and His Role In Ancient Greece</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The many gods and goddesses found in ancient Greece formed a sort of society, with the twelve (eventually 14) major deities residing on Mount Olympus. From this mythical place, the Greek pantheon looked down on the mortals and other mythical creatures, had interactions with others, and even embarked on love affairs with non-gods. The lead god of those that lived on Mount Olympus was Zeus, the Greek god of sky and thunder, as well as the ruler of Mount Olympus and the highest ranking in the pantheon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zeus was the youngest son of the Titans Chronos and Rhea, older gods who were overthrown during the War of the Titans. Chronos had swallowed all of Zeus's siblings, and upon winning his battle with his father, Zeus forced Chronos to disgorge the rest of his children. Some of these siblings became installed gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus, and he even married one of them, his elder sister Hera. His original wife, however, was Dione - but not much is known about this goddess-like figure. His union with Dione, according to the Iliad (by Homer) produced the Olympic goddess <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/aphrodite" target="_blank">Aphrodite</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zeus also had many other children by various goddesses and consorts. With his wife Hera, he produced <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Ares" target="_blank">Ares</a>, Hephaestus, Hebe and Eileithyia. His other offspring included Hermes (by Maia), Perseus (by Danae), <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Dionysys" target="_blank">Dionysus</a> (by Semele), <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Apollo" target="_blank">Apollo</a> and Artemis (by Leto), the Muses (by Mnemosyne) and<a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Hercules" target="_blank"> Heracles</a> by Alcmene. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zeus's powers were not as varied as other gods and goddesses that were his contemporaries, but they were very strong. He had the ability to force the transformation of others, mortals and even mythical creatures, and he also was able to cast thunderbolts at those who had displeased him in any way. Being the "Sky God" made him also appear as the supreme god, and his counterpart in Roman culture, Jupiter, also held this office. Olympia was the site of the biggest cult to Zeus, many people traveled there to worship all of the gods, but the games every four years were specifically dedicated to Zeus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Zeus was undoubtedly revered as the head of all religion in ancient Greece, many other gods and goddesses were seen as just as important to specific areas. Zeus was mostly worshiped to appease his easily angered persona, with many sacrifices held to this great god.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Richard Monk is with FactsMonk.com - a site with facts about <a href="http://www.factsmonk.com/greece" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Greece</span></a>.</span></div>
nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-61612485604720491262012-12-05T08:03:00.001-08:002012-12-05T08:04:35.850-08:00The Evolution of Greek Sculpture From 600 BCE - 150 BCE<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify;">Greek sculpture "evolved" throughout, and paralleled the historical significances of this ancient civilization through three major historical periods. We see how for the Greeks, art and the events of the day were significantly entwined.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each of the three main periods of Greek sculpture presented its own unique contributions in the art of sculpting the human form. Ancient Greeks were skilled craftsmen and incorporated the human appearance into every aspect of their art from the earliest period the Archaic, through the middle Classical period, into the Hellenistic period. Although today we view sculpting as an art form, in early ancient times the Greeks viewed it as a learned trade or skill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the Greek's unique appreciation for sculpture, this art form was nurtured by the city of Athens, then the sculptural hub of Greece, as it grew through various periods. This 'financial support' is why the Ancient Greeks created vast amounts of sculpture. Art was not so prolific in areas of the world where it wasn't profitable. During the Archaic period, from 650 B.C. to 480 B.C., dictators ruled the most powerful Greek cities. Despite tyrannical rule and political and social unrest, the arts flourished. The Greek's victory at Persia's attempt to conquer them in Asia Minor, ushered in a celebration in Greek Art, "symbolizing the triumph of civilized peoples over the forces of barbarism". "The origins of democracy can be traced to Athens in the years following the fall of the tyrannical <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Peisistratus" target="_blank">Peisistratides</a> (560-510 BC)".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The earliest full size stone Greek sculptures were one dimensional nude males and females (kouroi and draped korai). As beautiful as every sculpture was, they were being created as grave markers, cult images, and as dedications for sanctuaries rather than works of art. Obvious differences in the male and female sculptures of this period are that males stand nude, forward facing, one leg forward and arms to the side with clenched fists, where the females stand with feet together, always fully clothed with nothing more than their feet and arms bare. "The difference between the sexes is striking". Many human sculptures displayed 'the Archaic smile', which was not created to display emotion, but rather as a simple, easy solution for the artist creating the "face". Heavy Egyptian influence is evidenced by the similarities found in many sculptures during this period. Some art historians believe Egyptian artists used a grid system, with spacing between each line to define their proportions. "Using this same grid system, artists of the Greek Archaic period produced the simple and limiting style that led to the creation of the rigid sculptural forms of that period." Although bronze casting to create sculptures was discovered in the middle of this period, it wasn't commonly used until the 5th century. It's important to note that each stone sculpture of the Archaic period was richly painted, enhancing features such as the lips and eyes. Today most consider them quite beautiful works of art.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marked by the end of the Persian wars, the second period in Greek art, the Classical period, spanned from 480 B.C. to 323 B.C. and brought about great changes in Greek sculpting. This period saw the full development of the Greek democratic system of government, however by the late 5th century wars raged between Athens and Sparta, and the Carthaginians and the Greeks of Sicily and Italy. Again in the 4th century, Athens, Sparta and Thebes were warring over control of Greece. Under Spartan rule, Greece divided and the Macedonian state rose under Phillip II and his son, <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Alexander%20the%20Great" target="_blank">Alexander the Great</a>. The wars occurring during this period influenced the more life-like, realistic anatomical appearances taken on by sculptures. Statues with slender athletic torsos were often posed with war-like stances or grimaced faces. "Characteristic examples of this trend are two slightly later works by Praxiteles, the Hermes and the Conidian Aphrodite. They were considered of unparalleled beauty by the ancient authors and were copied repeatedly in later periods."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This classical style is also reflected in two of the earliest bronze sculptures Tyrannicides Harmodius and Aristogiton. "Early Classical statues tend to be dramatic, and to carry with them the impression that they represent one distinct stage in a series of events". "In the period from 430 - 400 B.C. sculptors in particular devoted a great part of their attention to exploiting the decorative potentialities of the 'wind-blown' style of rendering drapery which had been developed by the sculptors of the Parthenon pediments". By the 4th century, nude female sculptures began to emerge. The Greek female nude sculpture of Aphrodite, the embodiment of perfect beauty, set the standard for other nude female sculptures. Later we see "Athena, the daughter of Zeus, patroness of the arts, promoter of wisdom, goddess of war, and guardian of cities, always clothed and sometimes even armed." The two most commonly used materials in sculpting during this period were bronze and marble. "But a number of ostentatious works, largely cult statues, were ordered in a technique known as chryselephantine: upon a wooden frame the flesh was overlaid with ivory, the drapery with gold". It was during this period that artists became recognized for their works.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. ushered in the Hellenistic period (323 B.C to 31 B.C.). Due to their changing cultural environments, the influx of peoples of varying societies and ethnicities, and the changing and merging of ruling nations, artists began to examine the world in a whole new way, which was reflected in their work. Portrait statuary became a popular form of art and there were many wonderful works created in this genre. One of the most famous was Polyeuctus' figure of Demosthenes (a copy can be found in Copenhagen and Oxford). Hellenistic sculptors delved deep into the expression of human emotions in their sculptures. "The fullest dramatic use is made of swirling drapery, but the main force is lent by the vigorous carving of muscles and the writhing, tense bodies. If this alone were not enough to convey the horror of the struggle the faces too were carved with expressions of extreme anguish. "Hellenistic sculptors had other standards. In work of traditional character they kept the old impassivity, but where the aim was naturalistic or dramatic they enjoyed their virtuosity. Pain, fear, pleasure amusement, drunkenness, lassitude, sleep and death were within their range by the second century so too were all the graduations of age and, when they wanted they could produce plausibly differentiated racial types".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viewing the figurine of Aphrodite Anadyomene created of clay, it's <strong>"</strong>clear that the erotic dimension of Aphrodite was only enhanced in art in the Hellenistic period, when her nude statues flourish and the word 'Aphrodisia' becomes synonymous with sexual intercourse. This fact is possibly associated with the improved social position of women and their liberation from the conservatism of the male-dominated cities of the Classical period. It certainly demonstrates a departure from the aesthetic of Classical art, which was based on adulation of the male body." Nude sculptures of males remained prominent in the Hellenistic period, and became much more anatomically correct than those of previous periods. Unlike the more rigid "Classical" poses, women were sculpted in a variety of poses such as bending or laying. Two of the most famous female sculptures of the time are The Nike of Samothrace and the Venus di Milo. Another new form emerged in the Hellenistic period, the sculpting of groups. "We have so far dealt mainly with single-figure studies but far more characteristic of the age are the groups - narrative groups we might almost call them - which tell a story and study the emotions of the protagonists".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warring adversaries destroyed the majority of the Greek statues from these periods, however the Romans greatly valued Greek art, and created copies of many of their statues. We would know little about the ancient Greeks and their rich world of art if not for these Roman admirers. We see a profound evolution in Greek sculpture throughout the three major periods discussed here, and we acknowledge particularly the influence of Greek art in the development of Western art through the centuries. The magnificence of ancient Greek sculpture remains an influence in today's world of art and sculpture, and their weight can be seen in many modern works.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sharon_L._Green" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_L._Green</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-12918749426443500272012-12-04T11:51:00.003-08:002012-12-05T03:08:20.677-08:00A Brief History Of Greek Music<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Mike Shaw</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The musical history of the Greeks may be divided into two great periods, the historical, and the mythological. The mythological period covers the entire range of traditions and legends, up to the time of the Olympiads, the date of the first Olympiad being 776 B.C. From 776 B.C. to 161 A.D. is the historical period.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the mythological period belong the stories of Eurydice and <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Orpheus" target="_blank">Orpheus</a>. Perhaps the noblest and most beautiful of all the fairy tales of art, the building of Thebes and Cadmea by Amphion, who by his playing supposedly caused the stones and rocks to move spontaneously. The contest between the myth of the Sirens, Apollo and Marsyas, and numberless other stories and traditions with which the Hellenic mind loved to surround, as with many garlands, the art of music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The poet Homer, provides us with a link between the traditional and historical periods, and in the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" are to be found both legend and exact information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming to the historical period proper of Greek music, we cannot fail to be impressed with the broadly moral significance which music possessed for the Greeks. Among the Assyrians, it is to be imagined, music was more or less emotional in character. Among the Egyptians, it apparently shared of the nature of an occult philosophy. Among the Israelites, music was primarily an act of worship; and it is, therefore, to the Greeks that the credit of being the first to recognise that music was highly valuable as an educational resource.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although not yet an independent art, music probably gained very nearly as much as it lost in this respect, by being made an essential part of the literary and dramatic genius of Greece. Thus, the Greek play resembled more an opera than a play, however, with the music strictly subdued in favour of more dramatic interest. Perhaps the simplest way of making clear the musical aspect of the Greek drama would be to say that a Greek play was like an opera of which the composer wrote the libretto and the librettist wrote the music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes the Greek dramatist, as in the case of Eschylus, composed the music to his own tragedies. Sophocles also accompanied the performance of one of his plays upon the cithara (an instrument of the harp kind).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other than fragments of musical work, which it would be difficult to absolutely accept as authentic, there are no musical compositions of the ancient Greeks now known to be in existence. There has been preserved, however, a considerable amount of Greek literature about music, including the theoretical writings of Aristoxenus (B.C. 300), Euclid (B.C. 277), Nicho-machus (A.D. 60), Alypius (A.D. 115), Bacchius (A.D. 140), Aristides Quintilianus (A.D. no), and others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of these Aristoxenus wrote upon the Elements of Harmonics, Euclid wrote an Introduction, to Harmonics, Nichomachus an Introduction to Harmony, Alypius a work on musical notation, Bacchius, supposed to have been tutor to the Emperor Antoninus, was the author of a short Introduction to Music, in dialogue form. Aristides Quintilianus wrote a treatise, "De Musica," in three books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These writers, and others, have perpetuated the theoretical systems of the Greeks. Although they give us little or no hint of the practical application of the same, and it is upon their works that the earliest theorists of Europe based their further efforts towards the construction of a musical system at once logical, scientific, and capable of allowing the emotional side of man's musical nature, free play.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; text-align: start;">Mike Shaw is an organist and music teacher who has produced a selection of downloadable music books for anyone who wishes to learn to play the piano, organ or keyboard. To find out more visit his websites </span><a href="http://www.mikesmusicroom.co.uk/" style="text-align: start;" target="_new"><span style="color: #666666;">http://www.mikesmusicroom.co.uk</span></a><span style="color: #333333; text-align: start;">, </span><a href="http://www.keyboardsheetmusic.co.uk/" style="text-align: start;" target="_new"><span style="color: #666666;">http://www.keyboardsheetmusic.co.uk</span></a><span style="color: #333333; text-align: start;"> and </span><a href="http://musical-instruments-uk.mikesmusicroom.co.uk/" style="text-align: start;" target="_new"><span style="color: #666666;">http://musical-instruments-uk.mikesmusicroom.co.uk/</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Shaw"><span style="color: #666666;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Shaw</span></a></span></div>
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nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-6374094456311086092012-12-03T14:37:00.000-08:002012-12-03T14:37:08.967-08:00Ares - The Greek Deity<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Richard Monk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout history, man has warred amongst himself over and over. In doing so, each side inevitably avails themselves of a deity. Ares, the Greek Deity, served the role in ancient Greece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among ancient polytheistic cultures, the deity of war has always been an important figure - believed to be the guardian of those in battle as well as the entire culture of war. In Rome, the deity of war in highest esteem was Mars; but along with this deity, inherited from the Etruscans, they, along with the residents of Greece, also worshiped Ares - the Greek deity of war.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ares was said to be the son of Zeus (the king of deities) and Hera (the goddess queen). Ares was not seen as much of a deity, rather, he was often mistrusted among his kin. His birthplace and home were positioned in an area that was far-off (as not many would venture to see the birthplace of this deity) among the Thracians. Ares was found on a couch with Aphrodite, whom he had four children with, and retreated to his far away home after this episode.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ares - the Greek deity - was not elevated to cult status in many areas of Greece. <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Ancient%20Sparta" target="_blank">Spartans </a>would invoke him before going into battle, and he was only featured in a few myths and stories, including the creation myth of Thebes. In the city of Sparta, there was a statue of Ares erected where he was shown to be in chains, which was to symbolize the fact that Ares was supposed to never leave the city. Occasionally, dogs and even humans were sacrificed to him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The symbols of Ares were a quadriga, which was pulled by four immortal stallions, and very flashy armor and weaponry. His favorite animal was said to be the dog, and because of this, black puppies were often sacrificed to Ares in the area of Sparta. Ares also had a number of different birds that were seen to be symbolic of his power, they included the vulture, barn owl and woodpecker. Sculptures of him often depict this deity as naked, wearing only a crested helm and carrying a spear. His companions were his children by Aphrodite, Deimos (the spirit of terror) and Face (the spirit of fear).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ares is by no means the most well-known of the Greek deities, and even during the ancient Greek time period he was not well loved or cared about. While the Roman deity of war Mars was revered and worshiped, Ares - the Greek deity - was seldom spoken of or given tributes. His female war counterpart, Athena, was far more popular and loved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Richard Monk is with FactsMonk.com - a site with facts about everything.</span></div>
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nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-35602286258110117792012-12-03T13:46:00.000-08:002012-12-03T13:46:30.018-08:00Greek God - Apollo<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greece is possibly one of the world's richest countries when it comes to history and culture. A lot of our present existence be it the language or customs, have somehow or the other evolved from Greek civilization. In fact even the fashion industry has its roots in the ancient Greek costume. Greece was famous for not only its culture but also its mythology and of course the Greek Gods! Large figures of Apollo, Zeus and all of the Gods of Mt. Olympus draped in their impressive ancient Greek costumes still stand tall at Delphi and all over Greece. It is believed that there was a 40-foot statue of Zeus at Olympia!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ancient Greece had many religious figures. Each of these was associated with a distinct part of the earth's resources. They were guardians of these parts. For instance, there was a god associated with wars and also for daily work such as cleansing and even manufacturing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most authoritative and prominent not to mention well-known deity was Apollo - the Greek god of the sun. He was the son of the king of gods - Zeus (ruler of Mt. Olympus and God of sky and thunder) and mythical figure Leto, his twin sister was Artemis, deity of hunting and later the deity of the moon. Zeus is depicted in various sculptures as bearded, properly draped in the ancient Greek costume of a cloak - like a Roman Toga and bearing a thunderbolt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apollo on the other hand is portrayed in most of the sculptures and in scriptures in his ancient Greek costume of the cloak concealing his divine nakedness. Apollo controlled many of the aspects of Greek life such as including medicine, healing, music, poetry, archery and even plague. Both Delos and Delphi were devoted to worshiping him. He was also the god of migrants with the divine powers of keeping a watch over them and was the guardian of herds and flocks. Apollo's many different aspects were worshiped alternately in different areas of Greece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apollo was a patron of <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Delphi" target="_blank">Delphi</a>. This made him an oracle and he was thus able to speak to mortals and tell them the future. His position diving prophecy at Delphi made Apollo one of the most important deity figures of Olympus. There are various scripts describing the oracle and pictures depicting the followers at the oracle in their flowing ancient Greek costumes. The sects that followed were quite diverse, which was odd because he had two areas that were devoted to him - Delos and Delphi. Often, shrines of each cult would be found in the same city! Today, supporters of revivalist Hellenic polytheism still revere Apollo. The most common symbols associated with Apollo were the lyre and the bow, along with occasional depictions of a plectrum and the "sacrificial tripod", representing his powers of prophecy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another very important attribute to Apollo were The Pythean Games that were held at Delphi every four years. The crowns given to the winners were made out of laurel bay plant. This was a symbol sacred to Apollo since he was born under a palm in Delos. These games were the forerunner to our present day Olympics! It would seem strange to see those games with the participants sporting the ancient Greek costumes rather than the sports wear we see today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences. One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientgreekcostume.org</i></span></div>
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<br />nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-71199766454024328042012-12-03T11:56:00.003-08:002012-12-03T12:01:28.274-08:00Greece - Meteora Monasteries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wW-onqmc0y4/UL0DcQoFzbI/AAAAAAAAAcM/K5uyhem4sRI/s1600/cloudy_meteora_2_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wW-onqmc0y4/UL0DcQoFzbI/AAAAAAAAAcM/K5uyhem4sRI/s1600/cloudy_meteora_2_b.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some lonely heights from a veritable forest of huge rocks crowned with monasteries which are in mysterious harmony with the landscape can be seen in Meteora. The monks are always ready to receive you in the parlour, offering you the hospitality which the example of Abraham and Greek tradition demand. Up there solitude and lence are the rule. Wherever you look you will be aware of an unparalleled peace and calmness, exactly as happens with a star-filled sky in autumn which is filled with voiceless ecstasy. There on those barren and inhospitable rocks, which became palaces for thousands of ascetics Orthodox monks have learnt to be wise in thought and humble in will. Within them lives another world, free from the violence of the elements and unbounded by time, from which each monk can draw power to resist the elements of nature and hymn the creation through the cataclysm in which he is often in danger of being lost himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as you find yourself in the dark churches of the Monasteries of Meteora, you are seized by a feeling which is a mixture of faith and reverence. The holiness of the place, with its carved wooden and gilded screens, its marvellous icons, the cycle of the life of Christ, above, its wealth of murals drawn from the dogmatic, historical and liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church, creates an atmosphere of profound faith in the Creator. Everything there is characterized by extreme cleanliness and reverence. The ascetic forms which are portrayed on the screens and on the walls seem to speak to you in the play of the flickering light of the candles and that little which comes from the lamps. An atmosphere of the divine rules everywhere. Involuntarily you whisper words of prayer, directing your thoughts to the Creator. You have the feeling of talking with Him; you have left the earth and your thoughts are in the heavens. The dim light which comes from the sky-lights in the domes and from the few windows is the mysterious link between heaven and earth. It is here that you believe that you are in heavenly places and experience the mystical forces which work in the soul, with the result that the barriers which separate the human spirit and nature are broken down. Your soul is possessed by awe and love as an expression of the experience of the unapproachable. You are aware of an internal light and a peace giving joy which are difficult to describe. God is close to you, He is within you and you are in mystical communication with Him. It is at this moment that you find yourself.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ESBewCxXuek/UL0DhINu6jI/AAAAAAAAAcU/_T5I_AD5aqQ/s1600/rock_hard_place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ESBewCxXuek/UL0DhINu6jI/AAAAAAAAAcU/_T5I_AD5aqQ/s1600/rock_hard_place.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the churches of the monasteries of Meteora the monks will take you to see the sacristies and the libraries. Hung on the walls or displayed in show-cases you will find miniature works of art and painting which have taken great patience and persistence to complete to admire. Parchment gospels and large numbers of manuscripts of a historical and liturgical nature, portable icons, the products of skilful hands and a powerful imagination, Good Friday bier cloths, vestments embroidered in gold with an abundance of grace and dexterity, valuable silver and fire-gilded cases, a variety of fine crosses in gold, enamel or silver with precious stones and pearls, and hundreds of other liturgical and ecclesiastical objects are preserved and shown with reverence to every pilgrim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the libraries the monks preserve valuable manuscripts and hundreds of documents. The majority of handwritten codices, which are of parchment, deal with various religious, historical, medical, philosophical and mathematical matters. There are, of course, also those which are written on paper, dating from the 14th century. Some of these codices contain remarkable miniatures preserved in excellent condition. There are also gold bulls, decrees of the Patriarch of Constantinople, lead bulls, patriarchal decrees etc., which testify to the generous benefactions of emperors and patriarchs over the centuries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus the indomitable will of the monks to preserve and pass on what they had received from their predecessors, their foresight and cunning in difficult times and above all their self-sacrifice have saved these relics, which constitute an invaluable national ancestral treasure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the most recent study carried out in the monasteries of Meteora 1124 codices were recorded and classified by N. Veis, distributed among the monasteries as follows: Monastery of the Great Meteora 610, Monastery of Varlaam 269, Monastery of St. Stephen 103, Monastery of the Holy Trinity 47, Monastery of Rousanou 52, and Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas 43.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't miss the opportunity to visit the monasteries of Meteora Greece and take the Meteora Monasteries Tour. While you are there you can stay at Kalambaka - Meteora Hotels which are fabulous.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dorris_Day" style="color: #1900ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorris_Day</a></div>
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nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0Μετέωρα, Πολίχνη 565 32, Ελλάδα40.6572941 22.955207940.6452481 22.9354669 40.6693401 22.9749489tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-79488266267917894532012-12-03T11:33:00.001-08:002012-12-03T11:35:50.470-08:00Thrace Offers Scenic Beauty Combined With History and Culture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are visiting Greece, Thrace, its most north-easterly part could well be a destination that you might like to see. The first inhabitants of Thrace were the race of Pelasgians. According to legend, "Thrace" was the daughter of Oceania, sister of Europe, Asia and Libya. The other meaning of Thrace is traced to the Greek word "trahia" that means rough terrain due to mountain and climate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Thrace region has three parts: Evros and Xanthi on the east and west, and Rodophi in the center. This place is historically and culturally vibrant. The mythological musical characters Orpheus and Mousaios are associated with Thrace. It was also the birth place of Democritos. There are several historical monuments in the region like Didimotiho and its castle with 23 towers, the cavern of Agios Theodorus in Alexandropoulis, the fortress of loannis Katakouzinos in Pythio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Xanthi still retains traditional houses and castles. There are several historical monuments including the remains of ancient city wall here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Komitini lies at a distance of 57 km from Xanthi at the foot of Mount Rhodope. You may like to visit museums rich in folk art, and cultural and religious art and artifacts. You can also visit Porto Lago famous for the chapel of Avios Nikolaos. Moreover, it is famous for fish and eels apart from water-fowl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alexandroupolis, the capital of the Prefecture of Evros and the last town of Greece at its border with Turkey is a beautiful place that will make your visit memorable. It is a modern town with a number of hotels, restaurants, theatres, and beautiful sandy beaches. Since Thales is a popular holiday destination, a number of popular hotel chains have invested there. The large hotels are luxurious and spacious. They have rooms available for hundreds of visitors. The luxurious hotels offer facilities like restaurant cum bar, facilities for disabled guests, air-conditioning and heating, safety deposit box, sound proofed room, shops. They also have a number of activities to keep you fit and fine. You are also offered a number of services so that your stay is like staying in your home away from home. The hotel rental per night is somewhat expensive at Thrace. The luxurious hotels can come for a minimum of 75 pounds per night with discounts. A thorough search before actually beginning your journey and booking the hotel room in advance can save you money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author is a marketing strategist specialist having great knowledge on Travel and Tourism. To find out cheap hotel deal in Europe visit <span style="color: #333333;">http://www.hoteltravelexpress.com.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Soobash_Badal" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #666666;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Soobash_Bada</span></a><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Soobash_Badal" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #666666;">l</span></a></i></i></span></div>
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nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0Επαρχιακή Οδός Ξανθής-Κομοτινής, Ίασμος 692 00, Ελλάδα41.182788328112878 25.098266601562540.800964828112875 24.4665526015625 41.564611828112881 25.7299806015625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-45377775226420159832012-11-27T04:09:00.002-08:002012-12-03T11:02:16.596-08:00Central Greece or Kentriki Ellada Is The Most Mythical And Mountainous Region In All Of Greece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">By Marc R Jager</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Τhis is the most mythical and mountainous regions in all of Greece. It has been inhabited since the most distant historical past, after all, the mythical city of Thebes is located here, and the greatest ancient writers of Greece, Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus were so inspired by this land that they wrote the most dramatic and tragic poetry about it. Also, the famous <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Delphic%20Oracle" target="_blank">Oracle of Delphi</a> is here, where throughout antiquity Greeks arrived to seek advice from the gods and to worship their presence in their lives. And to this day, modern tourists will travel the same route to the region, though for other reasons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the great ancient battles have been fought in this very region, such as the Battle of Thermopylae, which the ancient historian Herodotus described in detail. The name Thermopylae is taken from the hot springs in the area and Central Greece is known for its natural hot springs which attract thousands of health-minded visitors each year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the most brilliant personalities of ancient Greece were from the regions of Central Greece, including the poets Hesiod and Pindar, the Theban statesmen Epaminondas and Pelopidas, and the historian Plutarch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because of its geographical location, Central Greece, enjoys a variable climate which is dry and alpine in the mountains and mild and Mediterranean on the coastal areas. The landscape is full of the most diverse surprises, full of wavering contours and thick green slopes covered in pine and oak and poplar trees. Interspersed between the mountains are crystal clear streams of water. The landscape seems to be forever changing with mountains becoming plateaus, streams becoming lakes and bays, and rugged terrain becoming peaceful and idyllic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The region of Central Greece is often dismissed by first-time visitors to Greece, who will choose destinations that are much more popular, and better advertised, tourist attractions, such as the Cycladic islands. But Central Greece is evocative and offers excellent facilities for tourists, as well as unsurpassed natural beauty, the most varied landscape, opportunities for ecological tourism and sporting tourism, and, of course, a history that cannot be met by other regions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Central Greece, there are five prefectures, each with their own unique character, and all of which are perfect choices for both summer and winter holidays. These are Etoloakatnania, Evritania, Fokida, Fthiotida, Viotia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Eteloakarnania</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Etoloakarnania is situated on the western part of the region and combine the beauty of mountains and the sea. The historic Messolonghi is its capital. Here marks the spot of the great revolutionary battle for the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, where locals resisted a Turkish siege and battled until they could no longer and, exhausted, they left the city in the "Exodus of its Guards." The city was since crowned as a Sacred City (Irea Poli) for the brave stance against the Ottomans, and even the poet Lord Byron had struggled with them in their battle for independence and finally died there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As such, Messolonghi is full of the history that documents the beginnings of modern Greece, which can be viewed at the Museum of the History and the Art of the Holy City of Messolonghi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from history and the picturesque city, the greater landscape is covered with woody and green trees and there is the pleasant sound of running water throughout. And then, other surprises, such as the historical 17th century monastery of Agios Simeon, again a place of battle and siege. But there are idyllic getaways here too, such as the north-western islands of Etoliko and Astakos, two thriving summer resorts with folkloric town centres. There are endless beaches here at Agios Yorgis, Asprogiali and Vela and the coastline continues through to Mitikas, where there are some idyllic fishing villages and more beaches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a taste of a bustling central city, Agrinio is modern and practical, but with limited picturesque appeal. But Agrinio is interesting for its tobacco-producing industry, making it a rich city with good facilities for travellers, as well as an archaeological museum, and a panoramic view of the city from the hill at Agios Christoforos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are Byzantine monuments in Angelokastro, Venetian monuments in <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/nafpaktos" target="_blank">Nafpaktos</a>, and the landscape around the Aheloos Lake is stunning and a perfect destination for travellers with an environmental conscience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Evrytania</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This prefecture of often called the "Greek Switzerland" for its Alpine climate, thick woody mountains and rich waters. Karpenissi, the renowned ski-centre, is the prefecture's capital, and Mount Timfristos hovers over the landscape with its imposing altitude of 960 meters. Karpenissi has excellent facilities for tourists, especially for those with winter skiing in mind, and plentiful restaurants, cafés and tavernas, where cheeses, goat cheese and grilled feta especially, are specialities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's the impressive church of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) and the historic mansions of Korishades, and ancient ruins, quite possibly the remains of Oichalia, the ancient capital of Evritania.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two great summer vacations in the prefecture can be had at Mikro Horio, which literally means "small village" or Megalo Horio, "large village." The beauty of these areas lies in the natural surroundings, which are full of orchards and forests, but also in the relics and monuments of the Byzantine era, the church of Agios Athanassios, for example, or the monastery of the Virgin Proussiotissa, which was built in 1754 and is renowned for its icons and woodcarving craftsmanship. A museum in honour of the War of Independence hero Karaiskakis is also interesting to visit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Proussos, a village which rises to a height of 800 metres, there is a lesser known oracle at the Black Cave or "Apokleistra." There are numerous churches scattered throughout the prefecture and background reading on the Byzantine period of Greece will make them all the more interesting to see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fascinating and remote village is Agrafa, which is buried in snow during the winter months, but in the summer it is a great destination for the fisherman who fish at the Agrafiotis River.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fokida (or Phocis) is a luscious area known for its olive groves, but also for its beaches. Amfissa is the capital here, with varied architecture of Byzantine and Frankish elements. The Folk Art Museum has an interesting exhibit that documents the local Roumeli traditions. Of course, the big tourist attraction in the area is <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.gr/search/label/Delphi" target="_blank">Delphi</a>, for the Oracle of Apollo, the mythical mountain of Parnassos. the Phaedriades rocks, and the Gulf of Itea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The atmosphere at Delphi is truly magical, what with the sanctuary of Athena, the ruins of the Apollo temple, the Gymnasium, the Stadium, the fourth-century theatre, and the museum which exhibits all the important artefacts found in the area, such as the famous fifth-century bronze statue of the Charioteer. This is truly the "Navel of the World."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from ancient past, the area is a friendly one for tourists seeking relaxation and sun. The beaches on the Itea coast are stunning and the best thing in these regions is that sandy beaches are lined with luscious green and woody forests. The seaside town of Itea is a flourishing commercial centre with many facilities for tourists, while the harbour at Galaxidi, to Itea's west, is full of action on the seafront with the best seafood tavernas in the region. For a the history buffs, there's a worthy Archaeological and Naval Museum here with exhibits documenting the War of Independence and its battles, amongst other things. Easter is always a good time to be in Galaxidi, because locals here are faithful to both the spiritual traditions of the Greek Orthodox church and the pagan traditions of their ancestors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again you will find mountains and beaches here, just the perfect combination of idyllic and rugged terrain. There are numerous summer resorts in the area, but you may find yourself drawn to the mountains instead. Best of all in the area are the thermal springs, excellently organised with good facilities for tourists. These healthy springs renowned for their therapeutic powers are located at Ypati, Kamena Vourla, and Platystomo. Greeks flock to them for their yearly dose of nutrients and if you are travelling in the area, they are a must.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lamia is the capital of the prefecture and it is a busy city, with its public squares and imposing municipal buildings, which is built into the stunning mountain slopes of Mount Othris. The skyline is dominated by the castle on the acropolis, and also by the church of Agios Loukas, which was built in the 18th century. There is an excellent museum in the area, which includes artefacts that document the prehistoric era of the country all the way through to the Classical and Hellenistic periods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The legendary Thermopylae is only 18 kilometres south-east of Lamia. You can see the statue of Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, testament to the heroic battle over 2000 years ago. The name of the city refers to the ancient thermal springs there, which are popular to this day, attracting hundreds of visitors each year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a perfect summer vacation, there are numerous coastal towns, such as Agios Konstantinos and Arkitsa, with the best beaches in the area, Aspronero, Agios Serafim and Agios Nikolaos. Blending Byzantine history and beach culture is the beach at Livanates with its Agios Theodoros church in the background. Of more historical interest are the Agios Athanassios catacombs near the town of Atalanti, and the archaeologically rich area of Elatia and Tithorea. The last stop in this prefecture must be Ypati, or Ipati, and not just for its famous spas or loutra, but for its historical interest and the 15th century Agathonos Monastery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Viotia or Boeotia</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viotia is the region where you will find the best ski resort in all of Greece at Mount Parnassos and the ski town of Arahova, the mythological river of Lethe (Forgetfulness) and Mnemosyne (Memory) in Livadia, the Oracle of Zeus Trophonios, the medieval castle of Profitis Ilias, and even Plutarch's birthplace in Chaironia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The capital of the prefecture is Livadia, situated snugly between two mounts and the gorge of Erkina. The climate is Mediterranean and dry and the landscape is mainly bare and dry, with few lush and fertile areas in the region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is, however, much archaeological interest in the area, such as the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Orhomenos, a 9th century Byzantine church. In Orhomenos there are many ruins, including a tomb of the Mycenaean age, temples, and an amphitheatre. For a more folkloric appeal, visit Arahova, even if you don't intend to ski. This little village seems timeless and static, and a great place to see folkloric Greece and to buy traditional handcrafted items, such as rugs, bags, fabrics, as well as, fresh and homegrown produce. Of course, you can't go very far without more history and archaeology and this is what happens only 10 kilometres from Arahova at Distomo (Two-mouthed), another historic town which also had a brave appearance in the War of Independence. Here you should definitely visit the most famous of the Byzantine monasteries in the area, the 11th century Ossios Loukas, known for the divine mosaics and frescoes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the real gem of Viotia, lies in ancient Thebes. Visit the archaeological museum, see the Mycenaean tombs, the temple of Apollo and the fountain of Oedipus. And simply enjoy the atmosphere of the land that inspired the dramatic and tragic stories of Oedipus and Antigone, written by Greece's best tragedians, Sophocles and Euripides. Their stories will linger with you even after you have concluded your visit to Thebes and Central Greece. For they are the essence of this country of the mountain and the sea, the myth and the legend, the spiritual and the pagan.</span></div>
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nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-64089319162137323402012-11-27T03:57:00.000-08:002012-11-27T03:57:16.207-08:00Walking in Greece - Treading a Wonderland<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rb-HbdDAcik/ULSqFDheaYI/AAAAAAAAAW4/mk-wqWLNNUU/s1600/Greece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rb-HbdDAcik/ULSqFDheaYI/AAAAAAAAAW4/mk-wqWLNNUU/s1600/Greece.jpg" height="150" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="line-height: 1.5em;">Greece and the Greeks</b></div>
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Even people that proclaim they know nothing of even their own history probably have heard some of the echoes of Greek history ringing down through the ages. The 300 Spartans, Mount Olympus and the Gods, The Trojan War, great architecture, art, literature and science - all these often come to mind when the word 'Greece' is mentioned.</div>
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More recently, Greece has also become associated with marvellous holiday opportunities through its beaches, crystal clear waters, marvellous historical sites, great food and fabulous people. There are so many destinations on both the mainland and islands of Greece that it's hard to know where to start first in terms of choosing a destination. Yet one thing should be clear from the outset; while you're in Greece you'll want to get the most out of your experience.</div>
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<b>Walking in Greece - getting the most out of your holiday</b></div>
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The majority of tourists to Greece tend to visit a relatively small number of main centres. Their holiday is usually based around a major resort, typically on a beach and there may be a few short day-trips by coach to see some sights. There's nothing wrong with that at all but, if you're interested in seeing a little more of the "real" Greece and a little less of the pool and beach, a walking in Greece holiday may be for you.</div>
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These holidays are taken in many parts of Greece including the Peloponnese, Samos, Crete, Rhodes and other locations. There are guided walks under the supervision of an expert and well-qualified tour leader and you'll get the chance to see rural Greece at its best, or the wildlife of some of the more the remote parts of the countryside. You'll come across isolated bays and inlets or mountain villages - places that most tourists will never see.</div>
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If that's not appealing enough, then some of Greece's best-kept historical secrets are far more easily reached on foot than by coach or car. You may even get to Delphi and ask the Oracle what the future holds for you! To see large parts of Greece, your own feet are often the very best way to get there - and you'll see far more en-route in so doing.</div>
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<b>Walks for all tastes</b></div>
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Don't worry, unlike Pheidippides who ran 26 miles after the battle of Marathon in 490BC to bring Athens news of their great victory over the Persians, you won't have to push yourself too hard! There are plenty of holidays to choose from and many are specifically arranged to allow a gentle pace for people to explore at leisure.</div>
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Walking in Greece holidays also cater for the modern tourist's demands for comfort.</div>
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Your guided walk accommodation and daily itineraries have been provided to ensure that you don't get too stretched and are able to relax in civilised and pleasant surroundings at the end of the day. Your tour leader is there not only to act as an expert in helping you see all that there is to see, but also to ensure that you're being well looked after in terms of creature comforts.</div>
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<b>Guided walks in Greece - not just for the countryside</b></div>
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If you've ever visited a major city overseas, you may have found it a good but possibly a very tiring and even intimidating experience. That's why there are also walking in Greece holidays that include walks around Athens and other major urban areas to admire at the art, history and architecture under the helpful eye of an experienced tour leader. You won't get lost and you won't miss anything important.</div>
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<b>The walking holiday - a growing phenomenon</b></div>
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As people increasingly recognise the benefits of exercise, walking holidays are booming. Lying around all day eating and drinking is becoming less fashionable - and perhaps for good reason. So walking in Greece may be not only be very enjoyable, but possibly better for your health than a conventional break!</div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, they now offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in more than 90 different countries. While</span><span style="color: #666666;"> <a href="http://www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/Holiday_Search.aspx?Search=2&utm_campaign=MAP_Greece&utm_source=ramblers&utm_medium=web" target="_new"><span style="color: #666666;">walking in Greece</span></a> </span><span style="color: #333333;">with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you can walk the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tony_Maniscalco"><span style="color: #666666;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Maniscalco</span></a></span></i></div>
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<br />nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-54629998478753545922012-02-13T07:34:00.000-08:002012-02-13T07:39:59.008-08:00Greece - Ancient Greek Monuments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mary_Rowland" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Mary Rowland">Mary Rowland</a></span></em> <br />
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<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ko8Rnbv1DY0/TzkuDmMqo8I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/LIUm469UIvA/s1600/parthenonas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ko8Rnbv1DY0/TzkuDmMqo8I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/LIUm469UIvA/s400/parthenonas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The glorious Parthenon is a Doric temple constructed between 447 and 432 BC by Iktinos and Kallicrates under the direction of Phidias, the Michelangelo of the Periclean Age. Constructed of Pentelic marble, it held Phidias' chryselephantine (ivory and gold) statue of Athena which stood over 36 ft. high. The Parthenon architects wrote the book on mathematical precision, grace and entasis, the art of curving a form to create the visual illusion of perfection.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look closely, and you'll see that there's not a straight line to be seen: the foundation is curved to prevent an illusion of drooping caused by straight horizontals. The columns bend inward, and those on the corners are wider to complete the illusion of perfect form. Above the 46 columns of the outer colonnade are the remnants of the Doric frieze: the east side portrayed the Battle of Giants and Gods, the south the Lapiths and Centaurs the west the Greeks and the Amazons, and the north the Battle of Troy. Little remains of the pediment sculptures of the gods. Above the interior colonnade, 40ft up, is a unique feature: the exquisite 524 ft. continuous Ionic frieze designed by Phidias showed the quadrennial Panathenaic Procession in which the cult statue of Athena in the Erechtheion was brought a crown and a sacred garment, or pelops. After seeing it at eye level in the British Museum, it's startling to realize how hard it must have been to see in situ.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Parthenon, used as a church and then a mosque, remained intact until 1687, when a Venetian bomb hit the Turks' powder stores and blew the roof off. The 1894 earthquake struck another blow. Entrance within is forbidden to save on wear and tear. The work of preserving the building from smog and undoing the damage of previous restorations has been ongoing since 1983. While discovering how to use hot, pressurized carbon dioxide to re-harden stone surfaces, Greek engineers have learned about ancient techniques and are reconstructing as much of the temple as possible.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In ancient times the now bare rock of the Acropolis was thronged with exquisite Attic statues, many of which are now in this little museum tucked behind the Parthenon. The Archaic works are exceptional: painted pediments from the 6thcentury BC Hecatompedon (or 'Old' Parthenon) and from the Temple of Athena Polias, with three impressive snake men; the smiling Calf-Bearer (Moschoforos) from 570 BC carrying his offering to the goddess; lovely Kore statues, votives to Athena, and each with her own personality; and the Rampin Horseman. There are several remarkable panels of the Parthenon frieze that Lord Elgin forgot, and the pollution-scarred Caryatids. At the time of writing, a new state-of-the-art museum is being built on Mitseon Street, with Acropolis views and space for the Elgin marbles, fingers crossed.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BFo-PhcINdU/TzkteWNx5VI/AAAAAAAAAWI/ZcbZxbzGw7g/s1600/%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%87%CE%B8%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BFo-PhcINdU/TzkteWNx5VI/AAAAAAAAAWI/ZcbZxbzGw7g/s400/%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%87%CE%B8%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BD.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The last great temple of the Acropolis the Erechtheion, was completed only in</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">395 BC after the Peloponnesian War. This complex Ionic temple with three porches and none of the usual Classical colonnades owes its idiosyncrasies to the much older holies of holies it encompasses -the sanctuaries of Athena Polias, Poseidon, Erechtheus, Kekrops and the olive tree planted by the goddess -yet such is the genius of its structure that it appears harmonious. The southern porch facing the Parthenon is supported by six Caryatids (now casts), designed to complement the Parthenon opposite. Lord Elgin nicked one; the other girls, said to weep every night for their missing sister, rotted in the smog before they were rescued.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Behind the east portico, with its six Ionic columns the cello was divided up to serve both Athena Polias and Poseidon Erechtheos, and held the primitive cult statue of Athena Polias, who wore the pelops and had the biggest juju of all. Down the steps is the Erechtheion's best side: its north porch, defined by six tall and elegant Ionic columns. Part of the floor and roof were cutaway to reveal the marks left by Poseidon's trident; when the Turks made the temple a harem, they used the sacred place as a toilet. This porch was the tomb of Erechtheos, some say Kekrops, and the traditional home of the Acropolis guardian snake. An olive tree replaces the original in the western court of the temple.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Below the </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/acropolis" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Acropolis</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> entrance, to the north towards the Agora, is the bald Areopagos, or hill of the war god Ares, once the seat of the High Council. It figured prominently in Aeschylus' play The Eumenides where mercy defeated vengeance for the first time in history during the trial of Orestes for matricide. Although Pericles removed much of the original power of the High Council, under the control of the ex-archons it continued to advise on the Athenian constitution for hundreds of years. Beyond it, across Apostolou Pavlou St, tucked in the side of Philopappos Hill, is the Pnyx, where the General Assembly of Athens heard the speeches of Pericles and Demosthenes. On Assembly days it was sometimes necessary to round up citizens in order to fill the minimum attendance quota of 5,000. For important debates, 18,000 could squeeze in here. Later the Assembly was transferred to the Theatre of Dionysos.</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pnyx assemblies now consist of tourists watching the Sound and Light Show.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">An attractive stone and marble lane leads via the lovely Byzantine church of</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em;">Ag. Dimitrios up to the Philopappos Monument (AD 114) built in honour of Caius Julius Antiochos Philopappos, a Syrian Prince and friend of Athens. The surrounding park is a good spot for sunset views of the Acropolis, but very isolated at night. Nearby is the Dora Stratou Theatre, where Athens' folk dance troupe performs nightly in summer.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two theatres are tucked into the south flank of the Acropolis. The older, in fact the oldest in the world if you don't count the theatre' at Knossos, is the Theatre of Dionysos. Built in the 6th century BC when Thespis created the first true drama, it was continually modified up to the time of Nero. Here, 17,000 could watch the annual Greater Dionysia, held in honour of Dionysos the god of wine and patron divinity of the theatre; the dramatic competitions were awarded prizes, many of which went to the works of Aeschylus, Sophodes, Aristophanes and Euripides. The stage that remains is from the 4th century BC, while the area before the stage, the proskenion, is decorated with 1st century AD scenes based on the life of Dionysos. Further east in Plaka, the Monument of Lysikrates was built by an 'angel' who funded the play that won top prize in 334 BC. It later passed into the hands of Capuchin friars who hosted Lord Byron; another Lord, Elgin wanted to take the monument to London but was thwarted this time by the friars.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Next to the Theatre of </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Dionysys" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Dionysos</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, the Odeon (AD 161) was originally covered with a roof when built by the Rockefeller of his day, Herodes Atticus (like someone out of Arabian Nights: he inherited his great wealth from his father, who found a vast golden treasure outside Rome). The Odeon hosts the annual mid-May and September Festival of Athens, where modern European and ancient Greek cultures meet in theatre, ballet, and classical music concerts performed by international companies.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Discover </span><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Athens Greece</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> and during your stay in Greece stay in some of the best </span><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/athens-hotels-greece/luxury-hotels-athens-greece.asp" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Luxury Hotels</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> of </span><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/athens-hotels-greece.asp" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Athens</span></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mary_Rowland"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Rowland</span></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">"What is your sign?", is the number one question that everyone has been asking. Many may see this question as a pick-up line but some people are really interested in knowing our </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/northern%20zodiac%20signs" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Zodiac Sign</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">. Maybe because our Zodiac Sign has been said to help us better understand each other's personality and traits. There are 12 Signs in the Greek Zodiac. Zodiac means "circle of animals" in Greek, although the 12 signs are composed of animals and humans, with the exception of Libra. There is an interesting and fun Greek Mythology behind each of our Signs. The Greek Myths behind each of the Southern Hemisphere Zodiac Signs, which include Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, are as follow:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNCK7HqDzWs/TyafcKKtPyI/AAAAAAAAAWA/sIJXDCaySEU/s1600/constellation-libra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNCK7HqDzWs/TyafcKKtPyI/AAAAAAAAAWA/sIJXDCaySEU/s320/constellation-libra.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333;">Libra</b><span style="color: #333333;"> - the Libra Sign is represented by scales, which Egyptians believed were used to weigh the souls of the dead. However, in Greek Mythology, Libra actually represented the golden chariot of </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/hades" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Pluto (Hades)</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">. Pluto was the brother of Zeus and ruler of the underworld. One day he spotted a beautiful girl named </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Persephone" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Persephone</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, while riding into the Upper World with his golden chariot, which was pulled by four jet-black horses, Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. Pluto was so mesmerized by her beauty that he quickly forced her into his chariot and carried her away to the Underworld and made her, his Queen. Demeter became so depressed about the kidnapping of her daughter that she could not pursue with her godly duties. Zeus demanded that this brother Pluto returned the girl back to the Upper World. Pluto agreed, just as long as his Queen would divide her time between the two worlds, four months of the year.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333;">Scorpio</b><span style="color: #333333;"> - the Scorpio Sign represents a giant Scorpion. The myth begins with a giant hunter named </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/myth%20of%20orion" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Orion</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">. He was very handsome and this made him think very highly of himself. He had no respect for the immortals and started to brag about how better of an anchor he was than Artemis and how he would be able to kill every animal he encountered. Artemis was the goddess of the wilderness and she became very angry at Orion and decided to call his bluff. She sent a giant Scorpion to deal with Orion. The fight was pretty intense but the Scorpion was able to defeat Orion. Zeus, the king of the gods, was so impressed with the whole duel that he placed the Scorpion in the high heavens.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Sagittarius</b> - the Sagittarius Sign is represented by a Centaur named Chiron. In Greek Mythology, Centaurs were half-man and half-horse. They were known to cause great trouble, except for a gentle Centaur named Chiron. He was very kind and an excellent anchor and physician. Unfortunately, Hercules had mistaken Chiron for one of the evil Centaurs he was battling and accidentally shot Chiron in the heart with a poisoned arrow. The arrow caused Chiron such great pain that he offered to take place of a man named Prometheus and become mortal. Prometheus was a Titan who had stolen fire from Zeus and was punished greatly for it. Prometheus was chained up to a rock by Zeus and every morning an eagle would eat his liver. The liver would grow back the next day and once again be eaten. Chiron decided that a few minutes of pain was much better than a life-time of agony and so he took the place of Prometheus.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Capricorn</b> - the Capricorn Sign is represented by a goat named Pan. In Mythology, Pan was being chased by the god of dangerous winds, Typhoeus. Pan had no choice but to jump into the Nile River. Little did Pan know, the Nile River was very powerful. The Nile River was able to turn Pan's lower half to a fish while his other half remained a goat. Pan was then able to quickly swim away and escape Typhoeus.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Aquarius</b> - the Aquarius Sign is represented by the Cupbearer. There was a young boy named Ganymede. He was son of Tros, the King of Troy. Zeus took a liking for the young boy and decided to kidnap Ganymede and take him to the heavens. One day while Ganymede was attending his father's sheep, Zeus turned into an eagle and swooped the boy away. Ganymede then became the Cupbearer for the gods.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333;">Pisces</b><span style="color: #333333;"> - the Pisces Sign represents a pair of fish. Typhoeus once again was terrorizing the gods and was trying to scare them away. The gods immediately turned into animals, wanting to escape this evil monster. </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/aphrodite" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Aphrodite</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> and her son Euro ran to the river and quickly turned into a pair of fish with cords attached to their tails. The cord kept the two together and they swam away safety.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Represent your sign with the </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://bedroomduvetspot.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=504" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Astrology Bedding</span></a> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Duvet Set from Bedroom Duvet Spot.</span></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bedroomduvetspot.com/" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;"><i>http://bedroomduvetspot.com/</i></span></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Linda_Aviles"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Aviles</span></a></i></span></div></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Greek Zodiac Signs were identified with groups of stars called Constellations. The stars would form an imaginary shape in the sky, just like an image that would form when we played the puzzle game, Connect the Dots. The Greek Zodiac is composed of Northern and Southern Signs. The Northern Signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo. There is a Greek Myth behind each Sign. Here are some of the interesting Myths behind the 6 Northern Zodiac Signs:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwDaaT2QWZA/TyacIsn41EI/AAAAAAAAAV4/qSLZkhv7HXA/s1600/aries+ram.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwDaaT2QWZA/TyacIsn41EI/AAAAAAAAAV4/qSLZkhv7HXA/s320/aries+ram.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Aries</b> - a Golden Ram represents the Aries Sign. The myth begins with two sibling children, Phrixus and Helle. The children's mother, Nephele, dies and their father, King Athamas, remarried a woman named Ino. She was very envious of the children and quickly planned to get rid of them for good. She spread disease amongst the crops of the land, so that the crops would fail. The King saw the crops and could not understand why they had failed, so he sent two messengers to ask the Gods for help. Ino bribed the messengers in telling the King that his two children, Phrixus and Helle, would have to be sacrificed in order for the gods to save the crops. Nephele was watching from the heavens and immediately sent a golden ram to rescue her children and have the golden ram take them away to a far and safe place. The children quickly mounted the golden ram and Phrixus was saved but unfortunately Helle could not hold on much longer and fell into a body of water, which is still called Hellespont.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333;">Taurus</b><span style="color: #333333;"> - the Minotaur represents the Taurus Sign. In Myth, a man named Minos promised to sacrifice a beautiful white bull for the god Poseidon. Minos decides to kill another bull instead and tricks Poseidon into thinking that it was the beautiful white bull. Poseidon becomes very upset and asks Venus to catch a spell onto Minos wife. The spell made Minos wife fall madly in love with the white bull. Minotaur became the offspring of both. Minotaur had the head of a bull and the body of a man. Minotaur was very dangerous and had to be kept behind an elaborate maze. Minotaur was feed children and maidens. In order to save the children and maidens, a brave prince named </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Theseus" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Theseus</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> tied one end of the rope onto his waist and the other end to a tree. He then killed the Minotaur with a sword and found his way out of the maze with the rope.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Gemini</b> - a pair of twins represents the Gemini Sign. Twin brothers Castor and Pollux were inseparable. They both had the same mother but Pollux was immortal because he was son of Zeus, the king of gods. Castor was not. He was son of a mortal. When Castor died, Pollux begged his father to let him be mortal as well, that way he can die alongside his brother. Zeus did not want his son to die so he made a deal. He will bring Pollux to life as long as Castor agrees to share his brothers mortality. While one brother is alive, the other will be dead and vice versa. Zeus will also allow both brothers to spend small amounts of time together and so Castor agreed.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333;">Cancer</b><span style="color: #333333;"> - a giant crab represents the Cancer Sign. In Mythology, Zeus had an affair with the queen of Tiryns, Alcmene. This affair lead to the birth of </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Hercules" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Hercules</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">. Hera, the wife of Zeus, was so angry about the whole affair that she did everything in her power to destroy the child of Zeus and Alcmene. Hercules was a powerful man and trying to destroy him was not an easy task. In his twelve labours he encountered the nine-headed water serpent Hydra. Hera immediately sent a giant crab named Cancer, to help the water serpent destroy Hercules but they were no match. Hercules smashed the crabs shell with his foot and killed the nine-headed water serpent.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Leo</b> - a powerful lion represents the Leo Sign. The Myth begins with a strong and fierce lion named Nemean. Nemean roamed the land of Argolis and killed anything or anyone that crossed his past. His claws were sharper than any mortal sword and his tough skin was imperious to metal, stone and wood. He was the first of Hercules twelve labours. Hercules managed to strangle the lion to death. Hercules skinned the animal with its own sharp claws and used it as a mighty cloak.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Virgo</b> - represents the virgin goddess Artemis. In Greek Mythology, gods and humans once lived together in harmony during the golden age. Unfortunately this ended, as the gods wanted to assume the role of superiority. Pandora unleashed a box of evil demons and all the gods fled from Earth. Pandora was the first woman formed by the gods. The goddess Artemis loved being on earth and had shared her knowledge about the gods with the humans but was forced to leave because of the evil demons.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Represent your Northern Sign with the Leo </span><a href="http://bedroomduvetspot.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=500" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Zodiac Bedding</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> Set from the Arya Collection at Bedroom Duvet Spot.</span></i></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Linda_Aviles"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Aviles</span></a></i></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-30QiawHpZYU/TyaW6phOzgI/AAAAAAAAAVw/-YK2oJlFUTg/s1600/aphrodite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-30QiawHpZYU/TyaW6phOzgI/AAAAAAAAAVw/-YK2oJlFUTg/s400/aphrodite.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Born from the genitals of Cronus as his sons used a sickle on him for revenge. They were thrown into the sea which foamed up with a beautiful girl within. Aphrodite was born in a wave of foam on a shell, as the myth goes, leaving the sea, onto the island of Cyprus. She was greeted and as each drop of water fell from her body, they turned into pearls. The Horae (Goddesses of the Seasons) that met her gave her jewels and golden robes to wear. After getting royally dressed she was taken to Mount Olympus to greet the other Gods.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Aphrodite is one of most known of the gods. Mortals and Gods were always after her favour, including Zeus. When Zeus asked to be his wife however, she scorned him and made her marry Hephaestus. He was the crippled God of Blacksmiths and was very boring, to a sensuous and loving goddess.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">She was a very promiscuous and sexual Goddess who found joy and beauty. She did have an evil side though. She took revenge on mortals and gods alike when they interfered with the natural order of love. With her power of love, good and bad, she was a powerful Goddess who was adored but feared at the same time. She started the Trojan War infact by offering </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Helen%20of%20Troy" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Helen</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> of Sparta to Prince Paris of Troy at a wedding between Peleus and Thetis. Of course Helen's husband, Menelaus was not too pleased and the war broke out. With the passion and spark of love, she could manipulate the importance of a lot of episodes in mythological history.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Aphrodite had many lovers and many children by them. They were all passed off as Hephaestus's offspring.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Her most known of all affairs is with Ares, the God of War. He was the favourite of so the myth tells. They had a child together, Anteros who punished people who never returned love. Adonis was another suitor who stayed with Aphrodite for a third of a year with Aphrodite, a third by himself and a third with the Goddess of the Underworld, Persephone. The goddesses were fighting over him and so Zeus sorted the solution to the argument.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The openness of the affairs with Ares was noticed by Gods and soon filtered down to Hephaestus. He made a golden web for revenge and threw it over them when they were naked and in each others arms. Both were totally humiliated and embarrassed by the act.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">She did have a child to Zeus, Cupid (Eros). He became the god of sensual love. Aphrodite actually turned down Zeus when he made his intensions known to be his wife.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">By Hermes she was the mother of Hermaphroditus, who was welded with a nymph into a body with both sexes.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">By <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Dionysys" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Dionysus</span></a> she had two sons, Hymen and Priapus. While Hymen was worshipped as the god of marriage, his ugly brother, Priapus represented human lust. They were exact opposites</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">One of Aphrodite's mortal children was Aeneas, her son by the shepherd, Anchises. Aeneas became the mythological God of Italy and the Roman countrymen. Therefore he is well remembered in Italian history</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em;">With all the passions of herself and her offspring together, they had the most control of every felling known to God and mortal alike.</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"><i><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">A tourist guide to Cyprus, Paphos, The Mayfair Hotel, and our apartment within.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></i></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.apartment5137.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.5em;" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">http://www.apartment5137.com</span></a><u> </u></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em;">Donna owns an apartment within a hotel complex in Paphos, Cyprus. </span><a href="http://www.apartment5137.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.5em;" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Her site</span></a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em;"> provides information on the apartment and its surroundings.</span></i></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source:</span><span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_Mclaren"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_Mclaren</span></a></span></i></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Giorgos_Kontopoulos" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Giorgos Kontopoulos"><span style="color: #444444;">Giorgos Kontopoulos</span></a></em> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OW0gZc9pei0/TvNRMgwnDKI/AAAAAAAAAVU/j6YlOXYYZLI/s1600/skopelos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OW0gZc9pei0/TvNRMgwnDKI/AAAAAAAAAVU/j6YlOXYYZLI/s400/skopelos.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is said that is the greenest of all the many islands of Greece and once you have spent some time exploring this magical place it is a difficult claim to deny. With five million pines, fifty thousand olive trees and only five thousand inhabitants it is a place where the natural world dominates and the heat of the beaches is fringed by the cool of the forests. There are also many broad leaf trees to be seen with sweet chestnuts, walnuts and oak s amongst others and the island has been famous for the production of plums, which were dried in the many plum ovens that create one of the many architectural features seen throughout the island.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two towns of the island, Skopelos and Glossa, are also of great interest, their beautiful houses with tiled roofs, colourful shutters and balconies overhanging narrow alleyways winding up the hills they are situated on creating a picturesque but real environment in which to have a home. Skopelos town is the capital of the island and has all the modern services you could require but wandering up from the mulberry tree lined harbour front through the myriad of lanes, passing the many small churches, to the medieval castle you could be in any of the past few centuries.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a largely unspoilt island which has avoided the ravages of mass tourism but has a good mix of foreign visitors and residents with Greek tourists and the local population. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people choose to stay in Skopelos town but there are a number of kalivis (or small farmhouses) in the countryside being re occupied and renovated and new build houses on sites with spectacular views and their own olive groves or orchards.There are also a number of small villages which have property available and because of the topography of the island you can find a great variety of locations from chestnut filled valleys to coastal planes, from hill tops to beach fronts and from towns to unspoilt countryside.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often visitors come to enjoy the beautiful white beaches and azure waters for which it is famous but find so much more in a place steeped in history and with a strong living culture. At some moment during their stay whether it be walking one of the ancient pathways, eating in one of the many tavernas or restaurants or just absorbing the atmosphere of this beautiful and friendly island, we are sure that they wonder if it is possible to live in such a paradise, and we are here to tell them that it is.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Getting here </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Travel to Skopelos is increasingly easy with direct flights to the neighbouring island of Skiathos from the UK and other countries and Olympic airways flights to Athens There are connections by the Flying Catamaran, Flying Dolphin and car ferries to Thessaloniki and Volos which have international airports and Aghios Constantinos for connections to Athens.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.skopelostopos.gr [http://www.skopelostopos.gr/realestate_en.asp]</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Apostolos_Dimitriadis</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div></div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-23370346104057104672011-12-18T03:09:00.000-08:002011-12-18T03:37:28.605-08:00Discover Delphi Greece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Author: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/nikolaos-giannis/881046" title="Nikolaos Giannis"><span style="color: #444444;">Nikolaos Giannis</span></a></span></strong></h1><strong style="text-align: justify;">DELPHI ON GOD'S FOOTPRINTS</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9l7_GnnRUE/Tu3Jbg-e1pI/AAAAAAAAAU8/K9BE7m3PQRc/s1600/delphi-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9l7_GnnRUE/Tu3Jbg-e1pI/AAAAAAAAAU8/K9BE7m3PQRc/s400/delphi-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to "The Navel of the World", to Delphi. One of the most important tourist destinations in the world which every year attracts more than 2.000.000 visitors. An historic place which has been announced by UNESCO as a place of Worldwide Cultural Heritage.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delphic history dates back to the 14th century B.C. and Delphi area has been acknowledged as a place of remarkable positive energy, which in the lapse of times has given the opportunity for the initiation of big and important events. A characteristic example of this is that of the prophesy of the <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/2011/12/delphic-oracle-ancient-greece.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Delphi Oracle</span></a> and its priestess Pythia, which led to the initiation of the Olympic Games. Delphi, home of the sanctuary of god Apollo extends over successive terraces on the lower slopes of Mt Parnassos, in a stunning location surrounded by towering crags, the Phaedrades Rocks, and with the gulf of Itea as its backdrop. The Archaeological Museum holds masterpieces of worldwide splendour. The famous bronze statue of "The Charioteer of Delphi", the "Sphinx of the Naxians", the archaic Kouroi "Kleovis and Biton", found in the remains of Delphi, are dominant and represent art on its best.Delphi is one of the most essential poles for the promotion of classical and contemporary civilization. Here is also based the European Cultural Center of Delphi, which hosts every year important theatrical, musical and art productions along with many interesting meetings of world range. Delphi is a place of incomparable natural beauty, which due to its grace has been characterized as protected "Delphic Site". Together with the settlement of Chrisso, they are the twin traditional urban cells, which make up the Municipality of Delphi. The area, also, involves the greatest part of the National Woods of Parnassos, a virgin wood complex, which is protected as national heritage and is one of the best places for recreation, exercise and relaxation.Delphi is characterized by its marvelous Mediterranean climate. It is a micro- climate, which contributes to making the area of Delphi known as the second area in Greece, which has a high total sunshine day range and a low percentage of humidity. This is a climate ideal for any activity, winter or summer. The fact that Delphi is 15 min away form the sea to the South, and 20 min away form the Parnassos ski resort to the North, highlights the ideal natural position of the site.Delphi is a modern tourist resort characterized by its perfect network of top quality hospitality. There are 50 units of hospitality which cover the whole range (LUX hotels to Camping sites) and can fulfill any exclusive need of worldwide range. Additionally, the infrastructure in modern and traditional restaurants and entertainment places makes Delphi one of the most appealing hospitality destinations in Greece.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delphi has been recorded as the essential geographical core of love for nature, alternative exercise, touring and exploration. It's a place of natural beauty with abundant flora and fauna, which has attracted worldwide interest for discovery and recording. The big European path E4 (Delphi-Spain) and 5 more local paths, ancient and modern, attract every year the devoted fans of nature for the big joy of trekking and perambulation to a varying degree of difficulty and satisfaction. Actually, the National Woods of Mt Parnassos are one of the most ideal locations for the Nordic exercise and definitely the ideal spot for mountain biking and off road running and training. Naturally, the winter sport fans, have the chance to enjoy every snow action on the biggest Snow Center of Greece, Mt Parnassos. The geological beauty of the Delphic area provides great moments of discovery to the speleologists because of the many beautiful caves spread around Delphi. Rock Climbing and Parapente flights, in accordance with the area climate status, have found an ideal place to demonstrate every alternative expression. Cycling is traditionally one of the sports that Delphi has nested for a number of years now, presenting some of the best competition and training circuits. In accordance with the plethora of therapeutical springs and spas of the Central Greece region –at a distance of about 1:30hrs drive- an ideal opportunity is given for recreation, therapy and even for a recovery of the body / physical condition. Do not also hesitate to make use of the Delphi Athletix Center; from a relaxing jogging to a tennis match point. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delphi appears dominant on an altitude of 600 meters above the traditional olive grove of Amfissa. This is an over perennial and lush olive grove which has turned the area into the most important centre for the production of olives, olive oil as well as of by products of the sacred olive tree, which has gained worldwide reputation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delphi is an ideal place for holding conferences of a small to medium scale, due to not only the European Centre of Delphi, but as well to the accommodation facilities of the town. All this is found in a perfect environment, which guarantees the prerequisites for success and effectiveness.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delphi can be the starting point for activities of religion discovery tourism. Located in an area where worship has offered some of its magnificent roofs, discovery of this creation is really important not only from the point of view of worship but also for reasons of interest in history, architecture and art.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delphi is proud of its brotherhood amphictiony with the cities of Teotiouaqan of Mexico and Tonga of Japan. We also participate in a strong cooperation net with cities throughout the country and the World; from Ancient Olympia to Oklahoma and from Versailles to China.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Access to Delphi is easy. The city is a 2 hours drive form the capital of Greece, Athens. Regular bus and train services also provide easy and comfortable access all year round. Access from the Port of Patras is by car or bus on a beautiful 2 hours of transfer. Thessaloniki, the capital of Northern Greece, is a 4:30 hours drive from Delphi with alternative connection achieved by bus or train.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "Navel of the World" nowadays coexists with one of the most breathtaking archaeological sites in Greece, which is distinguished as one of the most significant "Sacred Places" of World Civilization.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nikolaos Giannis is writing about Self help, Business, Hospitality Industry and destinations. Visiting Delphi Greece? Find here <a href="http://www.kouroshotel.gr/" title="Delphi Hotels"><span style="color: #444444;">Delphi Hotels</span></a> and Arachova Hοtels <span style="color: #444444;">(<a href="http://www.aggeloshouse.gr/" title="Αράχωβα Ξενοδοχεία"><span style="color: #444444;">Αράχωβα Ξενοδοχεία</span></a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Article Source:<span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/discover-delphi-greece-4453204.html" title="Discover Delphi Greece"><span style="color: #444444;">http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/discover-delphi-greece-4453204.html</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>About the Author</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nikolaos Giannis is living and working in Athens Greece and writing about Self help, Business, Hospitality Industry, Destinations and Marketing. Find here about Karpenisisi (<a href="http://www.in-karpenisi.gr/" title="Καρπενησι"><span style="color: #444444;">Καρπενήσι</span></a>). Check here Karpenisi Hotels (<a href="http://www.in-karpenisi.gr/" title="Καρπενήσι Ξενοδοχεία"><span style="color: #444444;">Καρπενήσι Ξενοδοχεία</span></a>) and Karpenisi rooms (<a href="http://www.in-karpenisi.gr/" title="Καρπενήσι Δωμάτια"><span style="color: #444444;">Καρπενήσι Δωμάτια</span></a>).</div></div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-85086710738420808132011-12-17T14:26:00.000-08:002011-12-18T11:29:24.654-08:00Corfu -The Spianada and the Old Castle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><em style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gigi_Fitrakis" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Gigi Fitrakis"><span style="color: #444444;">Gigi Fitrakis</span></a></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hL9YyB6rrq0/Tu0YTRF61FI/AAAAAAAAAU0/APAh8jChWUs/s1600/corfu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hL9YyB6rrq0/Tu0YTRF61FI/AAAAAAAAAU0/APAh8jChWUs/s400/corfu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Our description of Corfu town begins, naturally enough, at the Spianada: the large open area which lies between the town and the Old Castle. The original reason for which this area was not built on was so that the Castle gunners would have a clear field of fire at any besieging forces. At the same time, it was useful as a parade ground. Today, the southern part has been turned into a pretty park, with a bandstand, statues and shady walks, and the northern section, nearest the Castle, doubles as a car park and cricket pitch. Cricket and ginger beer are among the few legacies of British rule; but it was the French who first had the idea of planting trees on the Spianada. Despite the different national origins of the buildings around the Spaniada -Venetian, French, British and Greek they all blend together into a harmonious whole which, in the soft Corfiot light, is very pleasant to the eye.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The building which stands on the western side of the Spianada is one of Corfu town's chief glories. This is the arcaded row of cafes and restaurants known as the Liston, which was built during the brief period of French rule to plans by the engineer Lesseps, father of the man who built the Suez canal. There is an almost identical series of buildings in the Rue de Rivoli in Paris.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The cafes of the Liston are one of the places of which it could be said that if you sit there long enough everyone you know in the world will come by. This is the centre of social life in Corfu, and there is an almost constant bustle of movement and hum of voices all day, all the year round.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Moving to the southern end of the Spianada, visitors'-curiosity may be aroused by the shell of the building which stands at its furthest extremity. This was originally a barracks -the Grimani barracks- and after 1840 it housed the Ionian Academy, as which it is better known. The Ionian Academy, which was founded in 1808, re-founded in 1824 and closed in 1864, was Greece's first university and did much to elevate Corfu to the status of a major centre of Greek learning and culture. The building was ruined in the bombing of 1943.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">This part of the Spianada is notable for one of Corfu's most impressive spectacles: the moment of the Resurrection at Orthodox Easter. The Bishop of Corfu and other dignitaries ascend the bandstand, and at exactly midnight on Easter Eve, when the officiating priest pronounces the words "Christ is risen!", his words are greeted with a roar of approval, fireworks, and the lighting of thousands upon thousands of candles by the vast crowd which has gathered. This is the only place on the island where the Resurrection is celebrated at midnight on Easter Eve, and so congregations from all over Corfu mass here to celebrate. The churches in the town and the villages celebrate the Resurrection at 12 noon on Easter Sunday.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Also on this part of the Spianada is the Rotunda, a pleasant structure built to commemorate Sir Thomas Maitland, first Lord High Commissioner (1815 -23).</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The entrance to the Old Castle or Fortezza is almost directly opposite the Liston.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The castle is rather a sad sight today; the fortifications on its seaward side are crumbling and whole sections have already collapsed; the large building which stands on the saddle between its two peaks (once a British military hospital and until recently a Greek army training unit) is gradually falling apart and the whole site is overgrown and untended. Yet the fortifications themselves are a masterpiece of the art of the military engineer, and the Castle is well worth a visit for that reason and for the view from it.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">It is easy to see why this site was chosen as the ideal place to build a fortified town. It is easy to defend against land attack, and because it juts out into the channel can easily serve as a point for controlling sea traffic.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">To the north of the acropolis a small port was built, while still further in this direction was a natural bay which was used as a ship harbour.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The first fortifications were erected by the early 8th century and seem to have consisted of a landward wall and the first moat. No major alterations or additions were made to this plan until the period, in the 16th century when Venetian Corfu was being threatened by the Turks, when the whole town was fortified (see above). At this time, more bastions were built and the fine west gate was constructed and widened.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Leaving the Castle, we continue towards the north end of the Spianada, the whole of which is occupied by the Palace of Sts Michael and George.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">This superb neo-classical building in soft Maltese stone which blends in nicely with the surrounding buildings has a curving Doric facade and was designed by Col. George Whitmore in 1819 as the residence of the Lord High Commissioner. The concept of the Palace stems from the country houses of the English aristocracy, on their estates. It is a unique example of Georgian architecture in the Mediterranean area. It also housed the Ionian Senate and the offices of the Order of Sts Michael and George. In the period 1864-1913 it was used by the Greek royal family as a summer residence, but subsequently fell into disrepair.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">In recent years it has been restored -and currently houses the Corfu archives- but it is not open to the public.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Also in the building are the Museum of Asiatic Art and a branch of the police station (in front) and the Public Library and the Inspectorate of Classical Antiquities (from the left).</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The carvings on the cornice of the Palace represent the seven Ionian Islands; Corfu is shown as a ship. The imposing hall on the ground floor is adorned with two rows of Ionian columns and paintings with scenes from the Odyssey. In the distance a magnificent staircase divides to right and left halfway up, leading to the antechamber on the first floor, which has Corinthian columns. Facing the staircase are the three main halls of the Palace: a circular central ballroom, a throne-room to the left and a banqueting hall to the right.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">This walk has taken us right round the Spianada and back to the Liston - which is probably quite a good reason for making use of its facilities and having a cooling drink.</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">A </span><a href="http://www.greek-islands.us/corfu/" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Corfu Travel Guide</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> is an essential item to find out where </span><a href="http://www.greek-islands.us/greek-villages/corfu/" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Corfu Traditional Villages</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> and </span><a href="http://www.greek-islands.us/corfu/pontikonisi/" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Corfu Pontikonis</span></a><a href="http://www.greek-islands.us/corfu/pontikonisi/" style="color: #1900ff;" target="_new">i</a><span style="color: #333333;"> are.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Hello everybody! I am really happy to be here sharing my experiences with you and learning things that I didn't know about. I hope you enjoy reading my articles as much as I enjoy reading yours!</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gigi_Fitrakis"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gigi_Fitrakis</span></a></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Martyn_Shuttleworth" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Martyn Shuttleworth"><span style="color: #444444;">Martyn Shuttleworth</span></a></em> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>THE ANCIENT SPARTANS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq1fDa3fFAs/TuzcgYSkfNI/AAAAAAAAAUE/LgLkut2C5M4/s1600/%25CF%2583%25CF%2580%25CE%25B1%25CF%2581%25CF%2584%25CE%25B9%25CE%25B1%25CF%2584%25CE%25B7%25CF%2582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq1fDa3fFAs/TuzcgYSkfNI/AAAAAAAAAUE/LgLkut2C5M4/s400/%25CF%2583%25CF%2580%25CE%25B1%25CF%2581%25CF%2584%25CE%25B9%25CE%25B1%25CF%2584%25CE%25B7%25CF%2582.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Ancient Sparta is a name that everybody knows and recognises. The bravery of Leonidas and the 300 are the heroic basis of myriad Hollywood blockbusters. The betrayal of Menelaos, by beautiful </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Helen%20of%20Troy" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Helen of Troy</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, is enshrined in glorious Homeric myth and legend. Documentaries and books portray the brutal military regime, and the abhorrent practice of exposing weak infants in the harsh Taygetos Mountains.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">As any local in the modern town will tell you, the reality of Spartan society was very different from the modern perceptions. The society of the Ancient Spartans was surprisingly sophisticated, their culture as rich as any other city in Ancient Greece.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>BEGINNINGS</b></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Surprisingly to some, the history of the Ancient Spartans does not begin with the Homeric Trojan War. The realm of Menelaos and Helen existed nearly a century before the dawn of historical Ancient Sparta. This was an older civilization, semi-mythical even to the Dorian Spartans of Leonidas. Some authorities believe that the kingdom of Menelaos, known as Lakedaimon, was based at nearby Ancient Pellanas, not Sparta.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Excavations there are ongoing, but are yet to find concrete evidence of any palace. The historical Sparta of Leonidas begins with the Dorian Greek invasion. Tribes migrating from north-eastern Greece displaced the 'long-haired' Achaean Greeks of Homeric legend.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">The rise of Ancient Sparta began in about 750 BC, when the emerging Spartan state systematically subdued the populations of the surrounding areas. The nearby village of Amyclae was incorporated into the original four settlements and </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Ancient%20Messini" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Messinia</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> was invaded, the population subjugated as helots. These were not quite slaves, but had few rights and were forced to farm the land, giving half of the produce to Sparta.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The lands of Messinia were parceled out to Spartan warrior-citizens, known as Spartiates. During this period, the Spartan constitution was formulated, and the state elected two kings, ruling alongside a council of elders and demos of male citizens. Helots and inhabitants of outlying areas, the Perioikoi, were denied a vote. This is very similar to the 'democracy' of Athens, where only the richest males had the right to vote.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>THE RISE OF ANCIENT SPARTA</b></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Between 680 and 660 BC, the Spartan army adopted the hoplite method of fighting, which would become the mainstay of their tactics for many centuries. In 669, the army suffered a reverse against the neighbouring Argives, and had to put down a Messinian revolt in the 650's. Despite this, the reform continued and the revolt was crushed, within ten years. Finally, Messinia was completely conquered and Sparta began to look further afield.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The famous laws of Lycurgus were crafted to stabilise the society and were impressed into the psyche of all Spartans. Military training became compulsory for all citizen males; from the age of seven, their lives were dictated by unbreakable rules. The Messinian Helots provided food, and the Perekoi became the craftsmen and merchants, allowing Ancient Sparta to establish a professional army. The constant training and hardening, by beatings, austere conditions and rigid selection, led to a highly trained and elite fighting force, devoted entirely to the law.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The whole system discouraged the gathering of wealth into a few hands, avoiding material imbalances that could lead to tyranny, coups or revolts. The use of professional troops, against the part-time hoplites of other Greek states, was the major factor in the growing Spartan dominance. By the middle of the 6th century, Ancient Sparta had conquered its near neighbours and was the dominant power in the Peloponnesian league, a major player in Greek politics.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>THE PERSIAN EXPANSION</b></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Throughout the sixth century BC, the Persian Empire gradually developed. Starting as a loose confederation of tribes in modern day Iran, it grew and dominated the Middle and Near East. The great cities of Babylon, Memphis and Susa, fell to the well equipped and well drilled army of Cyrus the Great. By 512 the new king, Darius, overran the Greek cities in Asia Minor and began to influence their politics.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">After a failed revolt by these cities, in 494, King Xerxes of Persia decided to punish the Greeks, especially the Athenians, key supporters of this Ionian revolt. Xerxes invaded, but the resulting Battle of Marathon saw defeat at the hands of the Athenians and their allies. Ancient Sparta declined to send an army until their religious ceremonies were over, by which time the battle was won.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">480 BC saw the pinnacle of Spartan history, the Battle of Thermopylae, a name that has echoed down through history. Despite the subsequent overestimation of Persian numbers and the underestimation of Greek numbers, it was still an act of steadfast bravery. Thermopylae was an awesome display of Spartan prowess, courage and strength.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Persian king, Xerxes, timed his invasion to coincide with religious festivals, preventing many of the Greek city states from sending armies. Despite this, many states sent small contingents, including the famous 300 Spartans under Leonidas, the overall General. The Greek forces probably numbered about 7000, and the Persian force up to 250 000 men, a vast difference in strength.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">After four days of waiting for the Greeks to accept terms and disperse, Xerxes sent in his first wave of troops, demanding annihilation of the Greeks. Here his plan faltered; the terrain funnelled his army onto a narrow front and neutralised the effect of numbers. The superior training and morale of the Ancient Spartan phalanxes held the 'Hot Gates', and the initial assault was cut to pieces. The next day saw an assault by the elite 10 000 immortals, but they were also forced back, in shame.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The course of the battle now swung against the Greek forces. The infamous traitor, Ephialtes, led a force of 40 000 Persians along a goat path, bringing them around the rear of the Greeks. The guarding force of 1000 Phocians fled, and the encirclement of the advance force was almost complete. Hearing of this, Leonidas dismissed the Greek allies, leaving only the 300 Spartans, 900 Messinian Helots and 700 Thespian volunteers. They made a last stand on a hill behind the pass, dying to a man and inspiring generals for centuries.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">One year later, at Platea, 10 000 Ancient Spartan warriors, part of a force of about 45 000 hoplites, and an uncertain number of light troops, defeated a huge Persian force. This, along with the victory of the Athenian navy in the battle of Salamis, crushed Persian hopes forever. They never again invaded Greece and their focus shifted to using their wealth and prestige to influence Greek politics.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>THE PELOPONNESIAN WARS</b></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The end of the fifth century BC saw the uneasy alliance between Athens and Ancient Sparta, the two major powers in Greece, break down. At first, there was no outright declaration of war, but the two city states began playing the political game, wrangling and manipulating their allies. Athens exerted pressure on the city of Corinth and its colonies in Sicily, establishing its own outposts on that island. Corinth, alarmed by this, turned to Sparta for help, and threatened to leave the Peloponnesian League.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Athenians also intrigued against another city, Megara, neighbour of Corinth, by restricting their rights to trade in Athens. Pressure built and war broke out, becoming a battle of attrition. Despite the superior initial strength of the Spartan armies, the strong defensive walls and powerful navy of Athens forced a stalemate.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">By 421 BC both cities were feeling the strain upon their treasuries and armies. An uneasy truce was called, lasting until 415, when the Athenians suffered a major defeat whilst attempting to conquer Sicily. Despite this, Ancient Sparta failed to take advantage of this reversal and again offered peace. This was gratefully accepted and lasted until 404 BC. For a while, Sparta was the dominant force in the Eastern Mediterranean, but never fully exploited its position.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Persian gold equipped a new Spartan fleet, which crushed the Athenian navy in the Hellespont. Athens had no option but to surrender, and the Spartan terms were harsh. Athens had to tear down its walls and disband its fleet.</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i>Martyn lives in the beautiful Peloponnese area of Greece and is absorbing the philosophy buried deep within the bones of the land.</i><i style="line-height: 1.5em;">He specializes in science and philosophy articles. </i><i style="line-height: 1.5em;">Please find the original article at [http://www.eccentric-englishman.com] </i><i style="line-height: 1.5em;">Martyn's website is at [http://www.amethyst-web.net] </i><i style="line-height: 1.5em;">Please also visit experiment-resources.com for some of his other articles</i></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Martyn_Shuttleworth"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martyn_Shuttleworth</span></a></i></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9mWFZi8XW8s/TuywsQYLOyI/AAAAAAAAAT8/dYrD1HMQv_U/s1600/cycladic+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9mWFZi8XW8s/TuywsQYLOyI/AAAAAAAAAT8/dYrD1HMQv_U/s400/cycladic+art.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cycladic sculptures are thousands of years old and yet look eerily modern. A face with no facial features, except the nose, is not exactly how we think of ancient Greek art. Cycladic art came to prominence during the twentieth century. Unfortunately that started a period of looting, which destroyed the possibility of putting the sculptures in any kind of location or archeological context. To this day we know very little about Cycladic art. A measure of its growing importance is the existence of the Cycladic Museum located in the heart of Athens, Greece.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Greek islands of the Cyclades are located to the South East of Greece and to the North of <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/crete" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Crete</span></a> in the Aegean Sea. There are more than two hundred islands approximating a circle around the most significant island Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, Greek God of music and light from Greek mythology and of Artemis, the huntress. The Greek name for the Cyclades is Kyklades, an obvious reference to a circle.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the period between 3200 and 2000 B.C. the small Cycladic islands in the Aegean became home to a flourishing culture. The most prominent craft in Cycladic culture was stone-cutting, especially marble sculpture. The abundance of high quality white marble on the islands encouraged its use for the creation of a wide range of artifacts. Among these, Cycladic Figurines are the most distinctive Cycladic creation because of the style, the great numbers in which they are found, and the significance they held for their owners. The majority of Cycladic Figurines show women, nude with the arms folded over the belly and the long feet, soles sloping downwards. We do not know whether they were meant to show mortals or deities, but probably symbolized the worship of the 'Mother Goddess'. In this case, the figurines may have been conceived as representations of the Goddess, or companions to her. Many figurines have been discovered in relation to burials as the Cycladic civilization flourished and burials became more elaborate to reflect status.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There have been recent discoveries (in the last five years) of piles of buried and broken statues and pottery, as if the breaking of the statues was a feature of some unknown ancient ceremony. This ritualistic behavior appears to be centered on the island of Keros in the Cyclades. Also, hidden deposits of broken pottery and figurines have been found on islands around Keros, many fragments brought there from other locations. Why would the Cycladians do that? To what end? The mystery surrounding Keros, the Cycladians and their art deepens as archeologists sift through clues of human history and behavior. To this day Keros and surrounding islands are home mainly to archeologists attempting to explain one of those mysteries of human behavior and human art that drive us with a ‘need to know’. Art, in all forms, leaves behind a legacy of a civilizations history, behavior, values and intrigue. Fortunately for us it also provides beauty that only human civilizations can produce.</div><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/ancient-greece-art-cycladic-sculptures-in-the-greek-islands-955737.html" title="Ancient Greece Art – Cycladic Sculptures in the Greek Islands"><span style="color: #444444;">http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/ancient-greece-art-cycladic-sculptures-in-the-greek-islands-955737.html</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div></div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-86720272222277610812011-12-16T14:56:00.000-08:002011-12-17T11:54:28.928-08:00The Meaning of Myths<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><em style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dimitri_Karalis" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Dimitri Karalis"><span style="color: #444444;">Dimitri Karalis</span></a></em> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOYbnJy55x0/TuzzU6LSeOI/AAAAAAAAAUM/ccGe8zKSw0s/s1600/%25CE%25BC%25CF%2585%25CE%25B8%25CE%25BF%25CF%2582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOYbnJy55x0/TuzzU6LSeOI/AAAAAAAAAUM/ccGe8zKSw0s/s320/%25CE%25BC%25CF%2585%25CE%25B8%25CE%25BF%25CF%2582.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Myths or mythos for the ancient Greeks was an allegoric vehicle to awaken the soul from its forgetful past for those who were spiritual and sensitive enough to recognise the veiled truth behind it. The Greek word μύθος= myth, derives from the sound 'mou'=murmur, which we produce when our lips are closed and the word Μυστήριο= mystery= inexplicable, adjoins with it. Together they form a secret communicating organ for every soul who is ready to recollect the forgotten experience from their previous incarnations.<br />
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</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Every mystical truth when presented by a normal open concrete language, usually is misconceived and rejected by the undeveloped intellectually insensitive individuals. For this reason philosophers, mystics, poets and even prose writers of all times used myths, allegorises and parables to veil the truth from the unready ones and to unveil for those who were ready to understand.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The soul of man possesses the capabilities to recognise and respond to truth that the myth carries, even before the mind grasped and analyse it. Most of us have been touched with this type of phenomena in the past and especially in our youth, before our minds and souls have been wounded and cobbled by dogmatism and wrong education. Soul responds sensitively to truth and its poetical beauty that encompasses the myth -and which has been lost through countless incarnations. Here, we see clearly the Socratic theory that our soul pre-existed and that all knowledge is nothing more than αναθύμισης= anathimisis= recollections from the past.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The inclination for a certain talent and the easier understanding of some life issues, are nothing more than recollection, says the English Platonist Thomas Taylor. The aim of a myth is not to entertain the senses and the mind by telling interesting stories, but to awaken the soul from its lethargic past. The Greek word αλήθεια =alitheia= truth, is derived from the word λήθη= lithe= forget -and the letter a' in the front which means to throw away the forgetfulness. In other words, the meaning of this word it speaks clearly, that truth searching is nothing more then throwing away the forgetfulness of the past or ανάμνησης= anamnesis= remembrance, as Plato used to call.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Every free and undamaged soul wakes up joyfully like a child by listening to the poetic beauty and the truth that myth unveils.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It feels exited, like re-meeting old friends and known events from its forgotten past. This is the grace and the glory that the myth brings- and of which the ancient Hellenes have so generously endowed us with.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The exegesis (explanation) of myth is a valuable exercise for the wandering soul. Although initially it appears as a fable, nevertheless when analysed, creates enthusiasm and reveals the depth and glory that contains.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Plato was one of the greatest skillful masters of myth producers with his brilliant written dialogues. He often used myths, imaginations and metaphors to pass the knowledge and the deep mystery, which our life hides. He proceeded bit by bit in lengthy dialectic conversations, manufacturing with scrupulous care the foundations of truth, leaving no ignorance and microbes behind, neither allowing lies nor doubts to creep between his celestial edifices. Suddenly without notice or argument, he calmly finishes his intellectual masterpiece to glisten everlastingly in the minds and souls of humanity.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">When</span><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Socrates" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Socrates</span></a> </span><span style="color: #333333;">was conversing with his friends about soul and knowledge, he introduced myths and metaphors experimentally and almost hesitatingly at first, as if he was entering a holy ground. As he new well the misunderstanding of the myth initially by those unfamiliar and has taken the necessary steps to make it easier conceivable. Great care is needed to interpret a myth and especially Plato's. When he speaks of a human soul turning to an animal, he doesn't mean that man becomes a beast, but he wants to say that when man cares only for his sensual pleasures (hedonism), he descends voluntary to an animal level, without intellectual and spiritual thoughts as higher human being.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Soul is an abstract word without material substance. No language ever yet managed to outline its subtle nature. For this reason Plato often used symbols, myths and fantasies to lead the human intellect higher and closer to their soul. The myths in his dialogues of Gorgias, Phaedra, Pheudo, Republic and Symposium, are the most valuable treasures that he left us behind to read.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Homer with his story of Achilles heel did not mean surely that the only vulnerable spot of Achilles, was his heel, but he was allegorising that for every bad act that we do, we will not escape our punishment no matter where we will hide our self's, it will find us like in the secret venerable heel of king Achilles.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The well-known myth of Odysseus, who was wandering in the stormy sea for ten years before reach his Ithaca home, meant that every soul goes through testing hurdles and sufferings before it reached intellectual awaken of spiritual destination.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The ancient sphinx that gave a riddle to passing pedestrians with a risk of losing their life if not answering correctly had metaphoric meaning. It was saying that our life has new riddles daily to be solved, and if we don't answer them correctly, our future life will not be safe.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Resuming for a moment the enormous and admirable Hellenic mythological inheritance, I ask my self with a heart yearning: Why we are not taught this valuable truth and analyse them from our young age? Why such enormous valuable treasures remain untaught and hidden away from our schools and societies to day? Although we see clearly the advanced of their culture, we remain indifferent and apathetic to learn or study them theoretically.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">What would we loose by being taught the meanings of these mythological treasures from the past? Would it not be useful to know little more about the meaning of our present earthy existence, - rather to accept blind beliefs without any knowledge of our life purpose what so ever?</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Johannesburg</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Copyright © 2003 Dr.D.Karalis. All Rights Reserved.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dimitri_Karalis"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dimitri_Karalis</span></a></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div></div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-26524443782991973682011-12-16T13:47:00.000-08:002011-12-18T06:55:30.423-08:00The Chryselephantine Idol of Goddess Athena<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><em style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Apostolos_Jacobs" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Apostolos Jacobs"><span style="color: #444444;">Apostolos Jacobs</span></a></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-HNaXRF5VE/Tuu8In-SHLI/AAAAAAAAAT0/4KvxQDo59Nk/s1600/Athena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-HNaXRF5VE/Tuu8In-SHLI/AAAAAAAAAT0/4KvxQDo59Nk/s400/Athena.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">The statue of </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Athena" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Athena</span> </a><span style="color: #333333;">in the Parthenon (Athena Parthenos) stood on a base two metres in height and was some ten metres tall. The goddess wore a long dress and a Medusa-head breastplate. On her helmet was a sphinx flanked by griffins. She held the goddess of victory in her left hand, and a gold-tipped spear in her right. Her sandals were adorned with the battle between the lapiths and centaurs, while her shield depicted the struggle between the Athenians and the Amazons on the outside, and that of the gods and the giants on the inside.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Pheidias first built a wooden framework, and then covered it with gold plate and thin leaves of ivory. According to Thucydides, over one thousand kilogrammes of pure gold was used, while the unplated parts of the body (face, hands and feet) were made of ivory. Jewels were inserted for the pupils of the goddess' eyes. It was, in itself, a civic treasury, since the plates of gold and ivory and the jewels could be removed if required in an emergency.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">It seems certain that this statue was never intended to inspire religious piety. It was consciously executed as a work of art, and as a demonstration of the military, political and economic power of the city.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Its creation was not unaccompanied by scandal. Pheidias was accused of using less gold on the statue than he had been allocated, and of appropriating some of it for himself. The indignant artist promptly had all the gold plating removed and then weighed to establish his innocence. But then it was discovered that he had unobtrusively included portraits of himself and his patron, Pericles, on Athena's shield; an act considered by many at the time to be sacrilege. According to tradition, he languished in jail for this offence until he died.</span></div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/athens-gate/" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Athens Gate Hotel</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/athens-hotels-greece/luxury-hotels-athens-greece/Athenian-Callirhoe.htm" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Athenian Callirhoe</span></a> </span><span style="color: #333333;">and </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/herodion-hotel/" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Herodion Hotel</span></a> </span><span style="color: #333333;">are among the best of Athens.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Apostolos_Jacobs"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Apostolos_Jacobs</span></a></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div></div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-48251313310116358622011-12-16T13:30:00.000-08:002011-12-16T13:30:44.505-08:00Ancient Messini – Messinia – Peloponnese - Greece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> by <a href="http://www.articledashboard.com/profile/Claire-L-May/73125">Claire L May</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNy5zCo2aPU/Tuu4LrcvuEI/AAAAAAAAATs/uFZbKWtupeQ/s1600/ANCIENTMESSENE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNy5zCo2aPU/Tuu4LrcvuEI/AAAAAAAAATs/uFZbKWtupeQ/s400/ANCIENTMESSENE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ruins of ancient Messini lie scattered in a sheltered valley beneath the picturesque village of Mavromati, 32km northwest of Kalamata in Messinia. Mavromati is a small village built like an amphitheatre up the foothills of the sacred mountain of Ithomi. Today it’s called Voulkano and is where the sanctuary of Zeus Ithomatos was located.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the legends upheld is that Zeus was born not in Crete or on Olympus, but here at Ithomi, where he was brought up by two nymphs, Ithomi and Neda. Water flows from the heart of the mountain to splash out of a black hole in the rock face in the centre of the village. This is where Mavromati gets its name from. Mavro mati means black eye in Greek.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Archaeological Site of Ancient Messini</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Asklepion complex; is a large complex of shrines and meeting rooms that formed the centre of the city. The Temple of Asklepios and Hygeia was a peripteros, Doric temple. The temple was destroyed and then rebuilt of a local stone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• A small theatre-odeion belongs to the Asklepion complex. An inscription was found here which informs us that the building was found and called "Decterion". It was a room for rhetorical displays and assemblies. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Bouleuterion: A rectangular almost square room which also belongs to the Asklepieion complex. It was used for meetings of the Messinian</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• council, attended by representatives form all towns in the territory. Its dimensions are: 19x18.30m. There are two entrances on the west side of the building. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Temple of Artemis: A small temple of the Ionic style which dates back to the middle of the 3rd century B.C. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Sanctuary of Zeus Ithomatas: The statue of Zeus, designed by the Argive Sculptor named Ageladas, was here. This type of statue, which represented Zeus as a child, is unusual. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Theatre-Stadium: The stadium was used to hold athletics contests in the honour of Zeus and remains largely intact. The lower seats of the stadium on the eastern side was where the judges and priests sat to preside over the games. The stadium is surrounded by the remains of the gymnasium</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• The Massive wall fortification which dates back to the 3rd century B.C. is one of the most important achievements of the ancient military architecture. The Arcadian Gate that is on the north side of the wall is still very impressive. It was the main gate of ancient Messini and the main route to Megalopolis. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• The Museum: A small museum on the main road 200m northwest of the village houses some of the finds from the site.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mount Ithomi</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The main route to the summit of Mount Ithomi (799m) starts approximately 1.5km east of Mavromati along the road to the Laconian Gate. A signpost marks the beginning of a rough track the zigzags up the mountainside. The summit of Ithomi is occupied by the 13th century monastery of Voulkanou which is now abandoned. The new monastery is situated on the eastern side of the mountain beyond the Laconion Gates.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ancient Messini is one of the largest archaeological sites in Greece and is significant in terms of its size, form and state of its preservation. Excavation of the site began only 25 years ago and artefacts are still continuing to be found - and it’s quickly become a significant site. Ancient Messini is one of Messinia’s hidden gems and well worth a visit.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Claire May is an informed author of articles about the Messinian prefecture of Greece. She has lived and worked in the Messinia for many years. Her articles endeavour to provide information for visitors to the region. More information about <a href="http://www.claires-messinian-properties.com/messinia.html">Messinia</a> can be found on her website. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: <a href="http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Ancient-Messini-Messinia-Peloponnese-Greece/1422275"><span style="color: #444444;">Ancient Messini – Messinia – Peloponnese - Greece</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-39643421159572943262011-12-16T12:49:00.000-08:002011-12-18T04:29:09.081-08:00Delphic Oracle - Ancient Greece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><em style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tryfon_Samaropoulos" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Tryfon Samaropoulos"><span style="color: #444444;">Tryfon Samaropoulos</span></a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jBe7tPgCeWc/TuuuykZvhiI/AAAAAAAAATk/jE1lA_w0Lp0/s1600/oracle-delphi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jBe7tPgCeWc/TuuuykZvhiI/AAAAAAAAATk/jE1lA_w0Lp0/s320/oracle-delphi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">The first diviner to occupy the Delphic oracle was the mother of the gods, Gaia. She was succeeded by her daughter, Themis. The third occupant was another daughter of Gaia, the Titaness Phoibe, who gave Apollo the surname of Phoibos as a birthday present. We have this information from the Pythia's own mouth, in the opening lines of Aischylos' tragedy Eumenides. As regards the rest of the story: how Apollo founded his first temple at </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/2011/12/discover-delphi-greece_18.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Delphi</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, and how he slew the fearful dragon (a female serpent) near a spring, this is recounted in the ancient Homeric hymn to Apollo. In later times, men believed this serpent to have been male and even more redoubtable, none other than the famous Python, guardian of Gaia's oracle; the battle that the young god who had come from the north - from the valley of Tempe - fought against the serpent was indeed a great and terrible one. They also believed that although a god, Apollo complied to the divine rule which he himself had set: that whoever defiled his hands with the blood of murder should be sent into exile. Thus the god departed for eight years and worked in the service of Admetos, King of Pherai, in order to cleanse himself of the pestilent blood of murder; then he returned, purified and clean at last, sole master of the Delphic oracle.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">This is what the ancients had to say about the beginnings of the legendary oracle. But concerning the site itself, that unique site which overwhelms whoever visits it for the first time, they had another story to tell. Zeus, wishing to find the centre of the earth, let loose two eagles from the two ends of the world; the sacred birds met at Delphi, which meant that there was the "navel" of the earth. Hence, Apollo's sanctuary contained, since remotest times, an omphalos (navel-stone), and votive offerings in the shape of the omphalos were presented to the god by pious pilgrims from all over the world. The Apollonian oracle was indeed celebrated and venerated throughout the inhabited world. Not only Greeks, but barbarian monarchs as well sent envoys to consult the oracle and expressed their gratitude by dedicating sumptuous gifts and votive offerings to the god.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Site: Such are the myths of the ancients concerning Apollo, Delphi and the celebrated oracle. However, before we come to the Delphic sanctuary and speak of the Delphic cult, we must first take a look at the place itself - the place which was once behind to be the centre of the earth. The usual approach to Delphi by land is by means of the road climbing up from Boiotia towards Arachova and then descending westward; it is the same road which the god himself followed when he first came to Delphi, as we are informed by the Homeric hymn to Apollo. Another approach is by means of the Corinthian gulf, and that was the one used by the first priests of Apollo, who were Cretans. Now the visitor encounters a landscape vividly described in the Homeric hymn: "You climbed rapidly (Phoibos is being addressed here) running across the hill-tops and you reached the regions of Krisa below Mount Parnassos which is covered with much snow, at the point where it forms a knee to the west, and a large rock overhangs the spot, while below a wild valley stretches out; this was the spot where the Lord Phoibos Apollo decided to have a beautiful temple..."</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Anybody coming upon the holy site for the first time is struck with awe. "It is as if the earth had been cleft asunder by some cosmogonic spasm; the valley is a vast and profound chasm... And as soon as we reach the foot of the Phaidriades, at the exact spot of the Kastalian Spring, we are faced with something that appears like the chasm of chasms: the two rocks are separated by a tremendous gorge, narrow and impassable - the Arkoudorema (the Bear's Gully) as it is known today - which continues all the way down the slope, deep into the thicket". And there, at the point where the two rocks meet, in the deepest recess of the gorge and at the foot of the east rock (known anciently as Hyampeia and presently as Flempoukos), the most limpid water gushes forth: it is the water of the celebrated Kastalian Fountain where both priests and pilgrims cleansed themselves before entering the temple. On the western side, at the foot of the rock named Rhodini, Apollo's sanctuary, the most famous in ancient Greece, extends across the opening on the rising ground. And down below, the deep valley of the Pleistos river spreads out, green and silver with olive-groves, and merges with the plain of Itea stretching all the way down to the sea-coast.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The history of Delphi: The history of Delphi is inextricably bound with the history of the sanctuary and the oracle; to be more precise, Delphi only existed as a township under the shadow of the sanctuary. Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of an insignificant settlement on the site of the sanctuary and further east, dating back to c. 1400 B.C. This settlement was destroyed at the end of the Mycenaean period, but came back to life in Geometric times, when Apollo's cult began to take root in that region. Hence-forward, Delphi acquired world fame and power of a kind unparalleled in Greece, although it remained a small town, sparsely populated. Over the course of 250 years, four sacred wars were waged for this small town, and at the end it caused the annihilation of the Phokians.</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Among the best </span><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/travel-to-athens-tours-greece-tours.asp" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Athens Tours</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> is the </span><a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/travel-to-athens-tours-greece-tours/delphi-oracle-one-day-tour.asp" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Tour to Delphi </span></a><span style="color: #333333;">and a</span><span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://www.athens-greece.us/travel-to-athens-tours-greece-tours/delphi-meteora-monasteries-tour.asp" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">tour to Delphi and Meteora</span></a>.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tryfon_Samaropoulos"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tryfon_Samaropoulos</span></a></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div></div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-81483573013829472912011-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:002011-12-16T10:04:52.552-08:00The Mystery Of Orpheus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333;">By </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jon_O'Bergh" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Jon O'Bergh"><span style="color: #444444;">Jon O'Bergh</span></a></em> <br />
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<div id="article-content" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AziTGO7P_4A/TuuG0-3IRmI/AAAAAAAAATc/pvCob-IjG4k/s1600/orpheus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AziTGO7P_4A/TuuG0-3IRmI/AAAAAAAAATc/pvCob-IjG4k/s400/orpheus.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The myths associated with the musician Orpheus are some of the best known of the Greek and Roman myths. But underlying the various versions of the myth are contradictions, or complementary opposites, that make Orpheus the uniter of dualities.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Orpheus is son of Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry, and the ancient Thracian king Oeagrus. Apollo teaches him to play the lyre as a child. His legendary singing and musical skill moves stones and trees and calms wild beasts. Jason recruits Orpheus to join the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece, because Orpheus will be able to silence the beautiful singing of the Sirens so the ship can safely pass without being lured onto the rocks.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">After returning from the voyage, his bride, Eurydice, is bitten by a snake during their wedding and dies. Orpheus travels to the underworld, where his doleful music about his loss moves everyone to tears, thus convincing Hades to let Eurydice live again, but only if Orpheus promises not to gaze back upon her until he reaches the upper world. When he turns around during their ascent to make sure she is following, however, she slips permanently back into the Underworld.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The death of Orpheus branches out into different stories that are wildly contradictory. According to one version of the myth, he is so disconsolate with grief over Eurydice that he kills himself. In another version, he turns to the love of young males for consolation. The Thracian women known as the Maenads, initiates of the secret female mysteries of the god Bacchus, are mad with fury at being scorned by him, and attack him. Or, according to another branch, perhaps they attack him because he has gazed upon their secret rites. At first, the sticks and rocks refuse to strike him because those inanimate objects are charmed by his music. But the clamor of the Maenads' music, with its drums, howls, and flutes made from broken horns, drowns out his gentle lyre, and he is torn limb from limb.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">In yet another version of the myth, Orpheus travels to Egypt where he learns about these mystic rites of Bacchus (which are related to the Egyptian rites of Osiris), and introduces the cult to Thrace. Or he brings the rites back from the land of Lydia in the east (now part of Turkey) or beyond. (In Greek musical theory, the Lydian mode, named after the kingdom of Lydia, equates to the notes of the major scale, which became the basis of European music and is now common throughout the world.)</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The myth then branches again, and Orpheus was either struck with lightning by Zeus for having revealed the mysteries of the gods to men, or he turned his back on Bacchus and, perhaps to honor the one who gave him music, began worshipping Apollo as the sole deity, which caused a jealous Bacchus to incite the Maenads to kill Orpheus in revenge.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">So we have a variety of deaths for a variety of reasons, and the commingling of dualities. This iconic musician becomes associated with both the birth of an exotic cult and death at the hands of an exotic cult. He becomes associated with life - bringing stones to life, stirring men and beasts alike through music - and with death - his visit to the Underworld, the Egyptian cult of Osiris. He becomes associated with tragic love: through the loss of his beloved Eurydice not once but twice, and through sacrificing his life because of his love for men. He becomes associated with worshipping the Apollonian spirit -rational, orderly - and with worshipping the Dionysian spirit - irrational, ecstatic. There is even a polarity between the refined artistry of his playing and the clamorous music of the Bacchants.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">A style of poetry developed that was attributed to Orpheus. This Orphic poetry was recited in mystery rites and purification rituals. Plato mentions in "The Republic" a class of vagrant beggar priests who were devoted to these rituals and offered purifications to the rich. Followers of the Orphic way of life often practiced vegetarianism and, interestingly enough, abstention from sex (perhaps they feared the vengeance of the Maenads). It's also interesting that Bacchants were frequently associated with orgiastic practices, but Euripides makes it clear in his play, "The Bacchae," that the Bacchants were chaste. So again, we have a contrast between wild abandon and restraint.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">All of these polarities coexist in Orpheus. He represents life and death, order and ecstasy, abandon and restraint. And at the heart of it all is music, possessing an almost supernatural power, a gift from the gods.</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">More music articles at </span><a href="http://obergh.net/songoffire" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Song of Fire (obergh.net/songoffire)</span></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jon_O'Bergh"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_O'Bergh</span></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-29008938532354940662011-12-16T05:56:00.000-08:002011-12-16T15:50:43.659-08:00Peisistratus the Athenian Tyrant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><em style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #444444;">By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jane_Sproston" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Jane Sproston">Jane Sproston</a></span></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zce0MFYNK0I/TutNs1Ba5rI/AAAAAAAAATU/3fN5uPz9MMU/s1600/%25CF%2580%25CE%25B5%25CE%25B9%25CF%2583%25CE%25B9%25CF%2583%25CF%2584%25CF%2581%25CE%25B1%25CF%2584%25CE%25BF%25CF%2582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zce0MFYNK0I/TutNs1Ba5rI/AAAAAAAAATU/3fN5uPz9MMU/s320/%25CF%2580%25CE%25B5%25CE%25B9%25CF%2583%25CE%25B9%25CF%2583%25CF%2584%25CF%2581%25CE%25B1%25CF%2584%25CE%25BF%25CF%2582.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The idea of tyranny today is of a negative government based on one person who often abuses power and people. A recent example of tyranny in the modern sense would be Saddam Hussein. This modern view is at odds to the ancient perspective of tyranny. A tyrant was a person who by various means elevated themselves to a position of power. They usually did this by finding favour with the people, which meant treating the masses well.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Peisistratos (also known as Pisistratos or Peisistratus) was a tyrant of Athens during the 6th century BC. He ruled c550-520 BC although this was not a continuous rule. Peisistratos was the son of Hippokrates (Hippocrates) and according to Herodotos (Herodotus) he was advised by the Spartan Chilon to never marry and have children. He ignored this advice and later Peisistratos was born.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Athens during the 6th century BC was a split city. The Alkmaeonid (Alcmaeonid) family had great influence over the coastal parts of Attica and Megakles (Megacles) the son of Alkmaeon led the coastal inhabitants against their rivals the inland inhabitants led by Lykourgos (Lycourgus). The coastal faction wanted an oligarchy (rule of the few over the many), while the inland factions wanted a more moderate system of government. Peisistratos understood that such strife could lead to a power vacuum that he could fill. He devised a new faction of the Attic population called the Hyperakrioi (the men over the hills). He used deception and favourable treatment towards the poor of society to gain power. He pretended that he had been attacked by his enemies and that they might be violent towards the city. His good works towards his followers, combined with his previous military service for Athens convinced the rest of the Athenians that he should be protected from further harm. They armed themselves and took him up to the Acropolis. As soon as he reached the </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/acropolis" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Acropolis</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> he assumed power of the city. Herodotos says that this initial period of Peistratos' rule as continuing the traditions and laws of the Athens and treating her citizens with respect.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">This period came abruptly to an end when the two factions under Lykourgos and Megakles came together to expel him from the city. Soon after, infighting and unrest drove Megakles to ask Peistratos for support. He promised Peisistratos to restore him to power as long as he married the daughter of Megakles. Peisistratos agreed to Megakles' offer, however to ensure that his rule was welcomed he devised a plan to win over the Athenians. He went to the village of Paeania and recruited a girl known a Phye. She was nearly six foot tall and was dressed as Athene in armour and helmet. He then drove into Athens on a chariot with Phyle at his side. The Athenians believed that Athene herself was endorsing the rule of Peisistratos and welcomed him into the city of Athens. He then married the daughter of Megakles, however he refused to sleep with her in the normal way and thus stop her having any children. At first nothing was said about this, however Megakles was soon informed by his daughter of Peisistratos' deception. Megakles reunited with his political enemies to determined to overthrow Peisistratos.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">This time, the tyant left Athens and went to the island of Eretria to consult with his two older sons Hippias and Hipparchos (Hipparchus). They spent time collecting money and forces from all towns that they had influence over, including Thebes and Naxos under the authority of Lygdamis, as well as mercenaries from Argos. When everything was ready, Peisistratos marched on Athens. He attacked Marathon and won many followers there. His army finally came face to face with the Athenian army at the temple of Athene Pallenis. He then heard a prophecy from the prophet Amphilytos (Amphilytos). The prophecy went as follows:</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The net is cast and the meshes of it are cast wide,</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In the moonlit night the tunnels will come darting through the sea.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Peisistratos advanced towards Athens and attacked the city while the inhabitants were enjoying their midday siesta. Many Athenians fled, however Peisistratos caught up with those fleeing the city and managed to persuade them to return to the city. Peisistratos now had a firm foundation to base his power. The Almaeonids fled the city and Peisistratos recruited a bodyguard. From this time on, Peisistratos would remain the tyrant of Athens until his death. His sons would take on the family tyranny that would end with their overthrow by the tyrant slayers Harmodius and Aristogeiton at the end of the 6th century BC.</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><i>(Jane Sproston was a teacher of Classical Civilisation and Classical Greek in a number of secondary schools. She is also an examiner of Classical Civilisation for a major examination board. </i></span><i style="line-height: 1.5em;">Article Source:</i></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #444444;"> <span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jane_Sproston"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Sproston</span></a>)</span></span></i></div></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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</span></div>nphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849782866854486573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735696964538463099.post-41873429713054149592011-12-16T04:58:00.000-08:002011-12-16T13:08:28.837-08:00Greek Mythology Hercules - The Mortal Who Became a God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div id="article-content" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWTYzcDPuwA/TutAPvKlptI/AAAAAAAAATI/FDCOMm5ktbA/s1600/hercules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWTYzcDPuwA/TutAPvKlptI/AAAAAAAAATI/FDCOMm5ktbA/s400/hercules.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">When Hercules was born to Alcmene, she named him Herakles. But in Roman, Herakles is pronounced Hercules, which is the name we use for Hercules to this day. Hercules in Greek mythology is a great figure of valor and muscle strength. Hercules bravery earned him a place among the gods. After he left the mortal world, he found a position on Mount Olympus, the gods' dwelling place.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Zeus, the King of the gods was an unfaithful husband. He had a weakness for worldly pleasures. He fell in love with Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon. In a short time, Alcmene conceived Hercules. This angered Hera and she tried to kill Hercules. Hercules survived his first fatal assault with a miracle.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">When Hercules reached adulthood he became a famous warrior. He also fell in love with a beautiful woman called Megara. Megara became the mother of Hercules' children and together they made a happy family. However, things were to be different. Hera took a vow to irritate Hercules during his lifetime. She tricked Hercules into a wild rage. In his rage, the mortal god Hercules killed his family. This was exactly what Hera wanted!</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">When Hercules returned to his normal state of mind, he saw things were beyond remedy. He prayed to Apollo to get rid of his crime. Apollo was the sun god who could read into the future. We find in Greek Mythology that Hercules requested his advice. Apollo assigned him ten important tasks (later it was turned to twelve) as the way of purifying his soul.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">The </span><a href="http://etravelgreece.blogspot.com/search/label/Delphic%20Oracle" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Delphic oracle</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> sent him to Tiryns where the king Eurystheus ruled. Hercules was expected to serve him as laborer for twelve years of his life. However, the difficult service was not fruitless. Apollo promised him immortality. He was to become a god. However, the great Hercules of greek mythology had one problem, Hera. She actually kept her promise to make Hercules' life as wretched as she could. Nevertheless, with the assistance of Hermes and Athena, Hercules pulled off his term of twelve years with excellence. In addition, he became the greatest mortal on the earth to become a god.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Hercules In Greek Mythology - What Made Him So Special?</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The honorable penance of Hercules and his eventual success is what makes him so special. His success brought him immortality, which would have been unthinkable for ordinary mortals. Hercules' first task was to peel off the skin of the horrifying Nemean Lion after capturing one. His next task was to kill The Lernean Hydra. The Lernean Hydra was a serpent with nine heads, which never gave peace to the lives of those around it. The third task for him was to bring a Hind (a sacred red deer) from Ceryneia to the king. The deer was the pet of Diana, the Moon goddess.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The fourth task for Hercules was to bring a live Erymanthian Boar. It was very dangerous to men and animals living around the mountain Erymanthus. Then Hercules was asked to clean up King Augeas' stables in one day. Are you thinking what is so great about it? King Augeas had an awesome amount of cattle of cows, bulls, goats, sheep and horses. Hercules proposed to King Augeas that he would clean the stable only if he rewarded Hercules with a tenth of his cattle.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">After this success, Eurystheus was planning to make something tougher for Hercules. He commanded Hercules to force out an enormous flock of birds, which assembled at a lake near the town of Stymphalos. Goddess Athena helped him with a pair of bronze krotala, an item similiar to castanets. The Cretan Bull was an easy task for Hercules. Hercules wrestled the bull, and then delivered it back to King Eurystheus.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The eighth task was to bring the Man-Eating Horses of Diomedes. It was followed by the battle against the Amazonian female army to get the belt of Hippolyte, the queen. The tenth labor was an awesome one. Hercules had to go around the world, to bring the cattle of the Monster Geryon. It had three heads and three sets of legs all attached at the waist.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The tricky assignment was the eleventh one. Eurystheus asked Hercules to get the Apples of the Hesperides. These were the golden apples gifted by Hera to Zeus. These apples were strictly guarded by a hundred-headed dragon, named Ladon, and also by Hesperides, daughters of Atlas. The other obstacle was that Hercules had no idea where these apples of Hesperides were located. Eventually, Hercules found the location from Nereus whom he seized until Nereus gave him the location of the apples of Hesperides.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Then Hercules found out through Prometheus, whom Hercules had helped, that he would have to have Atlas retrieve the apples. Hercules agreed to hold the sky and the earth while Atlas retrieved the apples. When Atlas returned with the apples, he told Hercules that if he would hold the sky and earth for the rest of time, that he would take them to Eurystheus himself. But Hercules fooled Atlas by asking him to hold the earth until he padded his shoulders. Atlas took Hercules place holding the earth, and Hercules picked up the apples and ran.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">After making the great Hercules do all sorts of unbelievable errands, Eurystheus made sure that he did not succeed the last time. So, he ordered Hercules to abduct Cerberus, the underworld beast. Did you ever hear a living man visiting the Hades? However, Greek mythology tells us Hercules was no ordinary man. He was a hero.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">He eventually did complete all the tasks, purified his soul and rescued the princess of Troy from a ravenous sea-monster. He also facilitated Zeus to beat the Giants in a great battle for the control of Olympus. He married again, to the charming Deianira. She presented him a cloak, which was coated with what she mistakenly thought to be a magic love potion. She was told that the balm would make the person love her forever.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Ironically, it was poison, which burned Hercules skin. Hercules, not being able to endure the pain asked his friends to kindle a fire. Then Hercules placed himself on the fire to be burned up alive. But the gods looked down, and Zeus thought that Hercules had suffered enough. So he asked Hera to end her anger toward Hercules, which she did. Then Hercules was brought to Olympus in Athena's chariot by Zeus' request.</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">This Greek mortal Hercules is undoubtedly the greatest hero of Greek Mythology. Hercules is still considered to be the perfect mythical character.</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Randy currently has a website dealing with </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.ultimate-coffees-info.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_new"><span style="color: #444444;">Reviews of Coffee Related Products</span></a> </span><span style="color: #333333;">such as coffee makers, espresso makers, coffee, k-cups, and more plus articles on coffee enemas and other coffee and health related topics. He also has a website of Reviews of Small Appliances [http://www.smallappliancebuyerguides.com/] such as ice cream makers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, irons, toasters, food processors, and many other appliances.</span></i></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Article Source: </span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Randy_Wilson"><span style="color: #444444;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Wilson</span></a></i></div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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