Ancient Greece Odyssey: A Guide to the Journey
This will be an index, table of contents, and guide to my online book, Ancient Greece Odyssey: A Traveller's Journal.
Following the Table of Contents, I am compiling a list of all my photos with their descriptions, and a list of all the websites I recommended divided by categories.
If you haven't begun your journey with me yet, please click the link above to join me in exploring ancient Greece, Athens, Greek gods and goddesses, ancient art, and the city of Athena! Included are photographs, book recommendations, links to relevant web pages and lenses, unique gifts featuring my own artwork and photos, and much more!
Ancient Greece Odyssey Itinerary
- Part One: Arrival in Athens
- 29th Apr - 1st May 2005. Arrival in Greece and early explorations of Athens. The Temple of Hephaistos. Lecture notes on Athena and Greek religion.
- Part Two: Sites and Museums of Athens
- 2nd May 2005. Visit to Athenian Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, National Museum, Theater of Dionysos.
- Part Three: Eleusis and Demeter
- 3rd May 2005. Morning visit to the arcchaeological site of Eleusis, site of an ancient mystery religion. Myths of Demeter and Persephone, more on Greek religion and women.
- Part Four: Delphi and the Oracle of Apollo
- 3rd-4th May 2005. Oracle of Delphi on Mount Parnassos. The Sanctuary of Apollo, his oracle, and his myths. Also the Temple of Athena Pronaia on the slopes below.
- Part Five: Mycenae and Tiryns
- 5th-6th May 2005. Drive around eastern Greece and Peloponnese to Nauplion. Mycenae and Tiryns, Bronze Age citadels from the time of the Trojan War. Lecture notes on Agammemnon and Greek tragedy.
Guide to My Photos/Illustrations
Original artwork and photographs © 2005, 2007 by E. Brundige.
You may use these for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide my name/copyright information and a link back to this site (just make my name the link). I'd appreciate it if you leave me a note/link to your site in my guestbook, if you use any!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Photos from Part One
My drawing of the Mourning Athena. Featured design at It's All Greek To Me shop.
SE corner of Parthenon, taken 2nd May 2005.
Volcano in harbor of Thera taken from cafe on crater rim of ancient caldera. 13th May.
Acropolis, facing southwest, from window of Central Hotel. 30th Apr.
View of one of the Greek islands taken while flying from Athens to Mykonos. 8th May.
Stoa of Attalos, c. 150 BCE. Edge of Agora, Athens. A stoa is a long gallery with an open colonnade down one side, often used as a shopping mall and/or art gallery. Financed by King Attalos II of Pergamon. 1st May.
Stoa of Attalos. Left, ruins of a Roman forum; center, the metro. 1st May.
Acropolis at night and the lanterns/candles of Easter Service processions leading to various churches. Athens, 30th Apr.
Yours truly on Athens street between Central Hotel and Agora. 1st May.
Acropolis. Roof of Erechtheion peeking over on far left. Propylaia is main structure. Scaffolding box at upper right is site of Temple of Athena Nike, under reconstruction. Taken 1st May.
Temple of Hephaistos in Athenian Agora. 1st May.
Panorama of Agora with Athens in background, Temple of Hephaistos, left, Stoa of Attalos, right. 1st May.
Left, ruins of Agora, right, foundation of Temple of Hekate. 1st May.
Taos musicians in front of Library of Hadrian.
Mycenaean wall in countryside near Epidauros. 7th May.
Acropolis. 30th April.
Archaic Athena, Acropolis Museum
Photos from Part Two
Lefthand side of Propylaia, the gateway to the Acropolis. Facing north.
SE corner of Parthenon. Acropolis, Athens.
Archaic Gorgonian (Medusa), probably from pediment of Old Temple destroyed by Persias. c. 575-550 BCE. Acropolis Museum #630.
High Archaic sphinx, offering by worshipper. c. 560-550 BCE. Acropolis #630.
Moschophoros, the calf bearer. Self-portrait and dedication by worshipper showing himself bringing an offering. Archaic, c. 560 BCE. Acropolis #624.
Kore, "maiden," lifting hem of chiton and holding out offering, typical representation of (usually deceased) worshipper depicted like a Persephone figure. Late Archaic c. 520-500 BCE. Acropolis #670.
Peplos kore, named for straight woolen garment often worn by archaic Artemis figures. Left handing holding offering, now missing. High Archaic, c. 530 BCE. Acropolis #679.
Kritios Boy, small statue of kouros (youth) famous as marking transition from archaic to classical Greek art. Named for sculptor. 480 BCE. Acropolis #698.
Four blocks from Parthenon Frieze, originally found at top of outer temple wall behind columns. Shows city festival in honor of Athena with procession of offering-bearers, priests and citizens, and youths displaying military horsemanship.
Small Athena, perhaps Roman period. Holes for attached metal decorations (snakes). Gorgoneion on breastplate. Acropolis Museum #?
One of original karyatids from Erechtheion. High Classical, mid 5th century BCE. (Light near top of column is a reflection.)
Photos from Part Two Cont'd
Mourning Athena, Acropolis Museum #695, c. 460 BCE, Early Classical marble relief.
Theater of Dionysos on northern slope of Acropolis.
Erechtheion North Porch on the Acropolis.
Erechtheion west side and Sacred Olive of Athena on the Acropolis.
Parthenon through branches of sacred olive on the Acropolis.
So-called "Mask of Agammemnon", c 16th century BCE. Actually several centuries before Trojan War. National Museum, Athens.
Mycenaean boar's tusk helmet and small ivory plaque of warrior. National Museum, Athens.
Mycenaean "Warrior Vase" at National Museum, Athens.
The gold of Mycenae: found in shaft graves by Heinrich Schliemann. National Museum, Athens.
Vapheio Cups. Top is Minoan, bottom Mycenaean. National Museum, Athens.
Large cycladic marble head, c. 2800-2000 BCE. National Museum, Athens.
Cycladic musicians. National Museum, Athens.
Artemesion Zeus, bronze. Classical period, c. 460 BCE. National Museum, Athens.
Marathon boy, bronze. c 340 BCE. National Museum, Athens.
Athenian grave stele, late 5th century BCE. National Museum, Athens.
Large marble head of Athena. National Museum, Athens.
Diadoumenos, the "Ribbon Binder", Roman copy of a well-known classical statue by Greek Polykleitos c. 420 BCE. National Museum, Athens.
Theater of Dionysos, used for staging famous Greek plays of 5th century BCE. Acropolis northern slope.
Nobles' marble seats. Theater of Dionysos, Athens.
Odeion (music hall) of Herodes Atticus, 162 CE. Lower slopes of Acropolis, Athens.
For Further Reading...
Vote on your favorites!
Atlantis: The Biography of a Legend by Marjorie Braymer
Slightly outdated but highly readable account of t more...0 points
The Goddess: Mythological Images of the Feminine by Christine Downing
Classic text on Greek goddesses found in most wome more...0 points
Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources by Timothy Gantz
In-depth two-volume resource on Greek mythology, e more...0 points
Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion (Mythos Books) by Jane Ellen Harrison
Classic but somewhat dated landmark study of Greek more...0 points
Gods in Our Midst: Mythological Images of the Masculine--A Woman's View by Christine Downing
Another study of Greek deities: this time the gods more...0 points
Lost Goddesses of Early Greece: A Collection of Pre-Hellenic Myths by Charlene Spretnak
Feminist explorations of early Greek goddesses.0 points
For Further Reading: General Greece Links
- Ancient-Greece.org
- Informative and engaging portal on all things Greek: sites, history, gods, myths, and much more.
- Perseus Project
- Free online texts of most classical authors in Greek, Latin and English, dictionaries and language tools, photos and detailed archaeological information on major Greek sites, monuments, museums, sculpture, vases, and more.
For Further Reading: History Links
- Greece Timeline
- Easy-to-read timeline of early and pre-Greek history from Ancient-Greece.org.
- An Overview of Classical Greek History
- Perseus Project's historical overview, by classicist Tom Martin. Hyperlinked with Perseus materials.
For Further Reading: Archaeology Links
- The Ancient City of Athens
- Stoa.org's "photographic archive of the archaeological and architectural remains of ancient Athens" with photos available for students and teachers.
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture: The Acropolis
- History, descriptions photo galleries, and visitors' information on the Acropolis monuments (Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaia, and more) and museum.
- Lens: Acropolis of Athens
- Easy-to-read guide to the Athenian Acropolis including photos and descriptions of monuments, ground plans, and history.
- Wikipedia's Acropolis Entry
- In-depth info. I edited some of this entry for accuracy, but as always with Wikipedia you can't be sure of the expertise of all its writers!
- Dr. J's Illustrated Acropolis
- Photo gallery and lecture notes on several monuments by another professor of classics.
- Overview of Parthenon
- Simple introduction, groundplan, photos and links on the Parthenon by Dr. David Silverman of the Reed Classics Dept.
- Ancient-Greece.com: Parthenon
- Good description and history of Parthenon.
- Perseus Library: Parthenon Entry
- Plans, history, description, archaeological information, and photo gallery from the Perseus Art & Architecture catalog.
- Dr. A. Lesk: Erechtheion study
- Readable summary of her dissertation on the Erechtheion, with a few good photos and a 3-D reconstruction. Link to full dissertation as well!
- Wikipedia: Erechtheion Precinct
- Fairly sound information on the Erechtheion and environs.
- Perseus Library: Erechtheion
- Architectural information, history, plans, and photos of this monument from Perseus Art & Architecture catalog.
- Dr. J's Temple of Athena Nike
- Illustrated guide to this monument by a professor of classics.
- Perseus Library: Acropolis Museum Catalog
- Detailed technical information on all sculptures in the Acropolis Museum. For the student/scholar.
- Perseus Library: Stoa of Attalos
- Plans, photos, history and archaeological information.
- Library of Hadrian, Athens
- Guide to this monument on "Ancient City of Athens" site.
For Further Reading: Greek Myth and Religion Links
- Theoi Project
- Excellent guide to Greek divinities, gods, spirits, legendary families and mythical beasts.
- Encyclopedia Mythica
- Huge library of myths, legends, gods and goddesses of all the world's cultures.
- The Cult of Athena Polias
- Detailed information on the old cult of Athena on the Acropolis, with reference to ancient sources.
- Myth of Ariadne
- Brief and easy-to-read summary of the story of Ariadne.
- Ariadne Entry, Encyclopedia Mythica
- More complete information on Ariadne, including variants of the myth and her pre-classical status as a goddess.
- Ariadne's Lament
- Excerpt from Ovid's Heroides by A.S. Kline on his Poetry in Translation site.
For Further Reading: Texts and Literature
- Poetry in Translation
- A.S. Kline's free translations of many classical and medieval authors.
- Perseus Library: Homeric Hymns
- English translation of Homeric Hymns. Original Greek also available.
- Perseus Library: Aeschylos' Emenides
- English translation of an ancient Greek drama: the third part of the story of Agammemnon, Klytemnestra, and their son Orestes. Greek also available.
For Further Reading: Miscellaneous Links
- Dr. Christine Downing's Faculty Page
- Photo, quick bio, curriculum vitae, syllabi, workshops and lectures, and mini-reviews of the published works of this remarkable lady.
- Pacifica Graduate Institute
- Graduate school with special programs in mythology and psychology. Our tour group consisted of students, alums, and one professor (Chris).
- Wikipedia Entry: Jane Ellen Harrison
- Well-known early classicist who started the "Myth and Ritual" school of scholarship.
- The Story of Krakatoa
- A historical eruption similar to the one that buried the ancient city on Thera/Santorini.
- Wikipedia Entry: Brundisium
- City in southern Italy settled by ancient Greeks. I mentioned it in passing since I flew over it on the way in.
- Central/Kentral Hotel
- Our accommodations in Athens.
- George's Famous Taxi
- Taxi driver who met us at the airport and took us to our hotel. Prompt, professional, speaks English, service was as advertised.
Books By Christine Downing
I owe so much to Dr. Chris Downing, my mythology professor who served as unofficial tour guide. Here are some of her books.
Journey Through Menopause: A Personal Rite of Passage by Christine Downing
This intensely personal account of the little writ more...0 points
My Products on Cafepress
T-shirts, sweatshirts, bumper stickers, magnets, journals, blank cards, mini posters, mouse pads, mugs, tile boxes, and other gifts from my It's All Greek To Me! series of shops.
Athena Art Magnet
Price: 4.99 
Reader Feedback
Feel free to leave feedback, critique or kudos. Also, if you use any of my photographs, please leave a link to the page using them!
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- poddys poddys Jun 27, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
- A very nice lens, love the photos, great job. Ancient civilisations have fascinated me since I saw the 1960's Italian version of The Wooden Horse Of Troy when I was in single digits. 5***** for a great lens.
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- Amanda_Blue Amanda_Blue May 16, 2008 @ 11:51 am
- Only kudos, and heartfelt ones! This compendium does your subject proud, and what a subject it is! I shall use this lens as a reference for years to come. As you know, from my recent e-mail to you, I am an admirer of your work as a lensmaster, whether you are describing the Minoan's terrible fate as the "seawater rushed in", re-telling the myth of Demeter and Persephone, helping us newbies with invaluable tips on how to navigate the ocean depths of squidoo, or creating intriguing lenses such as your "Volcanoes are Hot Stuff". (I too am fascinated by volcanoes, how can one not be?). Always I am struck, amidst the richness of information and images you provide, by your sensitive and beautiful use of language, which I attribute not only to your being a recipient of a gift (as in gifted) from the gods, but to your Greek heritage which brings in its wake and to your Greek-American DNA an intrinsic and profound understanding of words. Continue fearlessly, Greek Geek, on your personal odyssey, wherever it may take you, -- and Bravo!
by Greekgeek
Greetings! I'm not Greek, I just love ancient Greece. I'm a graduate student in mythological studies -- want fries with that? -- using the web to shar...
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