The fresco pictured above is from Akrotiri, a Minoan city that was buried in ash from one of the largest volcanic eruptions ever recorded. This site is known as the “Pompeii” of our mystery country. Unlike Pompeii, it seems the inhabitants of Akrotiri had time to evacuate, as no human remains have been found at the site.
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Charming Nafplion has a reputation as one of the prettiest towns in our mystery country, and that’s saying a lot. It’s located on the Peloponnese, a large peninsula to the southwest of the mainland. Nafplion is often a gateway stop for tours of the Peloponnese, which continue on to historical sites such as Mycenae, Epidaurus and Olympia.
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In the shadow of sacred Mount Parnassus, Delphi was an important religious sanctuary and known as the center of the world by the ancient people of our mystery country.
For centuries, pilgrims, including civic and military leaders, came from near and far to consult the oracle here, where the wisdom of the sun god was channeled through priestesses known as Pythia. Today, the site is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
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This is the Lions Gate at Mycenae on the Peloponnese peninsula. Mycenae was a major center of power and cultural influence in the eastern Mediterranean from about 1600-1100BCE. Mycenean civilization was the first advanced civilization on the mainland of our mystery country. In Homer’s Iliad, Mycenae was among the city states that fought in the Trojan War over the abduction of Helen, wife of the King of Sparta (Menelaus) , who was the brother of the King of Mycenae (Agamemnon).
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In the central north of or mystery country, a collection of monasteries perch 1,000 feet above the Plain of Thessaly at the top of titanic natural pillars. This is Meteora, first inhabited by Christian hermits seeking solitude and security in the 11th century.
These first settlers scaled the towers and lived in caves and cracks in the stone.
In the 13th century, groups of monks came to the area and began to build. Over the next several hundred years over 20 monasteries were built. Today, six of the surviving monasteries are open to visitors.
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With its elegant design and amazing acoustics, the theater at Epidaurus is widely considered to be the pinnacle of ancient performance venues. The theater was built as a compliment to the nearby Asclepeion health center. Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing, was born at Epidaurus, and his sanctuary there drew health-seekers from around the known world for almost a millennium, from the 6th-century BCE to the 5th-century CE, well into the Christian era. Dramatic performance was considered therapeutic and Asclepeion patients were often prescribed an evening at the theater.
The theater is still in regular use, especially during the annual, summer Epidaurus Festival.
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On the island of Milos, Kleftiko, also known as “Meteora of the Sea,” is a popular excursion for swimming, snorkeling, diving and kayaking. Shapely gray-white rock formations make a striking contrast to the clear turquoise water and harbor caves and little coves for exploring. Kleftiko is in a remote part of the island and predominantly reached by sea, although there is a hiking trail. Group tour boats and private yachts depart regularly from Adamas and Pollonia.
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According to legend the island of Delos, pictured above, was the birthplace of the twin Olympian gods Apollo and Artemis, making it a sacred place. In antiquity it was a major religious, political and trading center. The Cyclades island group is so-named because it encircles and protects Delos. That a group of islands should be named based on their position in relation to Delos, is one indication of its importance. Today, the island’s only permanent inhabitants are the toppled remains of an illustrious past, and those remains are some of the best we have from Classical antiquity. Modern visitors to the island come on short excursions from neighboring islands. The 6th-century BCE lions lining the Sacred Way once numbered 12. What we see in the open air today are replicas, with the remaining originals protected from the elements in the nearby museum.
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Ancient Aegae or Aigai (modern Vergina), in the north of our mystery country, was the 1st capital of the kingdom of Macedon, which produced Philip II and his son Alexander the Great. Even after the capital was moved to Pella, Aegae remained an important religious and ceremonial center and a sophisticated, cultured city, which attracted great thinkers and artists.
The 4th-century BCE royal palace at Aegae rivals the Parthenon in terms of architectural innovation and influence. In 1977, the discovery of the royal necropolis, including the tomb and remains of Philip II, was one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Excavation and restoration is ongoing on the large site. Funeral objects and several tombs are on display in the excellent Museum of the Royal Tombs, which is cut right into the tumulus (burial mound). The fresco of the abduction of Persephone pictured above is from one of the royal tombs.
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Theater of Epidaurus, Greece
Less than 2 hours from Athens, near the Saronic Gulf coast of the Peloponnese, the ancient site of Epidaurus makes an easy day-trip from the capital.
In mythology, Epidaurus was the birthplace of Asclepius, son of Apollo and god of healing. The Asclepion sanctuary there was an active healing center from the 6th-century BCE to the 4th-century CE and then continued as a Christian healing center for another century. The area thrived on the popularity of the sanctuary and the spectacular theater at Epidaurus is one indication of that prosperity. The theater seats 15,000 and the acoustics are so perfect that normal voices on the stage can be heard clearly from every seat. The theater is still used for performances today.
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