Some photos for ancient history buffs - Cruise # 3

These photos from the cruise cover highlights of the history of ancient Greece through the period of imperial Rome. We start with Athens and the acropolis - Erectheum (below) note the porch with the statures of women holding up the roof, and of course, the Parthenon - the crowning achievement of Pheidas and Pericles in the 5th century B.C . Then they appear in chronological order from the Minoans, through Mycenaeans, Classical Greece, and Roman. If you enjoy any of these, you'd enjoy ancient history ( and archaeology, probably.)

Note: I can arrange these nicely on the blog writing page but never know how they are going to translate to the blog. It is smaller vertically so things are rearranged. Anybody have ideas on how to address this? Dad

The Palace at Knossos, Crete, the highlight of the Minoan Civilization about 1700 B.C. the palace had no defense walls, giant storage jars, running water, and inside toilets. The frescoes, as reconstructed by Sir Arthur Evans are beautiful - I especially like the dolpihns in the Queen's megaron (near her bedroom.) The bull played a major role - see horns behind the jars.

An Archaic sculpture of a young man or of Apollo(?) - in ivory about 6 inches tall. One of the earlier mainland carvings.

The first known large sculpture on the Greek mainland. The Lion Gate at Mycenae.

Apollo's holy island, Delos. Courtyard of house with columns and view of the harbor.

Above - Greek sculpture - classical tombstone in Rhodes museum, Archaic statues at Temple of Hera on Samos, Black Figure Athenian ware from Athens now in Rhodes. Below -The classical Temple of Hera on Samos - one of, if not the largest classical Greek temple.

Greek/Roman Stadium and theater at Aphrodisas inland from Ephesus in Turkey.

Scenes from Ephesus. The library -

big facade, little behind. Columns of different designs. Mom on a Roman - you guess it.

Main street of Roman Ephesus in modern Turkey. It had a fine harbor that silted up and the city was eventually abandoned. You can see how flat the land is in the middle distance.

Home of an wealthy, Roman, merchant. The excavation of these reminds me of Pompeii so much is left - color on walls, mosiacs, room layout.