2018 Greece 05

Today our guide was Kostas.  He loved Greek mythology and gave me way more information than I was interested in hearing.  Our first stop was the Corinth Canal.  Construction began in 1881 and was completed in July 1893.  It is 4 miles in length, 25 meters wide and 8 meters deep. It is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. Before the canal ships still used this shortcut but the small boats were being carried on wheeled cradles running in grooves. It is estimated that this process took 150 slaves. This system may have been used until the 9th century. Today approximately 2500 boats use the canal annually.

Above are photos of the Treasury of Atreus.  This is actually a burial gravesite for a wealthy family, but the details are lost to history.  The shape is like a beehive with 33 rows of rocks in concentric circles with a round capstone at the top.  After the initial folks were buried here, the entrance was probably covered in soil to conceal the entrance.  Additions to the burial space were made by lowering the bodies in the tomb by rope through the round cap rock at the top. The Lintel across the entry is estimated to weigh 110 tons.  The structure is 14 meters high by 14 meters wide and the grave was looted prior to the 2nd c BC

Above is the Citadel of Mycenae.

Mycenae is one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece. The fortified citadel is nested over the fertile plain of Argolis near the seashore in the northeast Peloponnese.

Mycenae is the largest and most important center of the civilization that was named "Mycenaean" after this very citadel. Mycenaean is the culture that dominated mainland Greece, the Aegean islands, and the shores of Asia Minor during the late Bronze Age era (circa 1600-1100 c BC). The Mycenaean Era occupies the tail end of the Helladic Civilization, which flourished in mainland Greece since 3rd c BC.

The Lion Gate guards and provides the main access to the citadel. The two lions arranged symmetrically around a column is the first example of representational monumental sculpture in the European continent. While its significance has been lost to the depths of history, its placement above the main gate of the most powerful citadel of late Bronze Age has led to speculation that it symbolized something important like a family crest or a coat of arms.

The triangular shape of the sculpture acts as a relieving triangle for the door below: its shape distributes the weight above the door to the sides and away from the horizontal lintel, protecting it form breakage. The relief sculpture is carved of gray limestone, but the heads of the lions were added on (probably made of steatite or metal) and have been lost since antiquity.

Above is photo of Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidavros.  This theatre seats around 15,000 and still performs Greek tragedies about 40 performances each year. There are 113 steep steps to the back row, so take of all your business before making the climb.  Some of the steps are not in good shape so take care!  In 4th c BC the original theatre seated 7,000.  The Romans added the upper deck to make 55 rows.  Legend tells that the theatre was created by Dionysus, the God of Wine and Entertainment.  No other builder was mentioned.

.