Acropolis 8 May

David noticed this tortoise near the Stadio before I stumbled on it.  At the Acropolis we saw others bumbling around  in red poppies and yellow dandelions.

Hadrian's Arch 131 AD

In case you are as ignorant as I was, the Acropolis is a large area containing lots of ruins.  The Parthenon is the building on top.  Before reaching the Acropolis, we walked past the temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch.  Glad it was  FREE TODAY as it's easy to see them from the road.

Erechtheion c 410 BC with 5 replicas of Caryatids

Opposite the Parthenon and level with it is the Erechtheion , a temple whose Caryatids (maidens) are now in the Acropolis Museum, except for the one Lord Elgin stole.  He tried to get another one by sawing it up but it smashed and has since been reconstructed.

Parthenon from Stadio

We expected to pay 12 euros each to enter the Acropolis but on Sundays it is free!!  Quite a climb up stairs in the heat of the day, but well worth it.  Many people had winter clothing and must have suffered.

Theatre of Herodes Atticus 161-174 AD

Theatre of Dionysos oldest in Greece 500 BC

View from flagpole on Parthenon.  Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus 575 BC is in patch of green.

Our next stop was at the Acropolis Museum with its welcoming sign:

 

No photography allowed inside.  It was heartbreaking to see the plaster casts filling the gaps where the sculptures now in the British Museum should stand.  The image below is copied from the web:

After all the hours walking, we were ready for a late lunch in the very modern and superbly run Museum restaurant.  I had a "multi-coloured salad with molasses"  and David potato salad with anchovies and olives.  The food and accompanying assortment of bread was great.