Left: The Temple of Athena Nike (also known as the Temple of the Wingless Victory).

It was built in the 5th century B.C. to commemorate the Greek's victories over the invading Persians.

It's frieze depicts scenes from the battles. In this small temple the Athenians paid homage to Athena Nike without wings, so that she might not fly away from Athens.

Left: The Erechtheion or Erechtheio (depending on which language you use) was built for the mythical hero-king Erechtheus on the most sacred area of the Akropolis (Acropolis). The Athenians were told that Poseidon's trident left it's mark while battling Athena for the protection of Athens. Athena won by causing her most sacred emblem (the Olive Tree) to sprout from the area where the temple was erected. This temple housed "The Xoanon" (the most divine image of the goddess Athena) . The temple's different architectural styles depict the many religious functions the building was used for, and are all from the Ionic period,. The porch with the six Korai or Caryatids (6 female statues) show a combination of the feminine grace and inner strength, which provides the required support for the temple's entablature with an air of effortless ease and solemn composure.

Left: The Ancient Roman Agora or Market of Athens showing the Gate of Athena Archegetis and the road that linked the market with the Athenian Agora passing beside the Stoa of Attalus.

The little church on the right is from the Byzantine period, built sometime between the 9th and 11th centuries A.D.

In the foreground is the Clock of Andronikos Kyrrhestes (popularly known as the Tower of the Winds), built in the 1st century B.C.. Inside it housed a hydraulic clock and a planetarium. The exterior frieze represents the wind blowing from that specific direction.

Left: Hadrian's Arch. Built for the Emperor Hadrian to celebrate the consecration of the temple of the Olympian Zeus. This arch separated the old classical quarter of Athens from the more modern Roman section. It's located East and a little South of the Akropolis (Acropolis).

Left: The northwest side of the Agora of Athens, or the hub of the city-state.

"The Theseion" or Temple of Hephaestus and Athena was built in the 5th century B.C. It is the best preserved classical temple in all of Greece.The reason for this is the temple was converted into a Christian church and dedicated to Saint George. It's located on the hill of Agoraios Kolonos, which in ancient times was the site of the Iron and Metal works of Athens. It was only natural that it was used for the worship of the patrons of the Arts and Crafts, Hephaestus and Athena. There are ten decorated metopes on the eastern and western sides depicting the various feats of Hercules and Theseus.

Left: The Agora of Athens was the very place where democracy was born and first flourished Located north of the Akropolis (Acropolis), it was the social, religious,and judicial centre of the Athenian lifestyle. The area was considered the ideal place to conduct business, meet friends, have philosophical discussions, as well as hold the drama and athletic contests of Athens. To the East you see The Stoa of Attalus and the ruins of the middle Stoa.

Above: The Akropolis (Acropolis) at night.

Left : In Syntagna Square the Evzones (Presidential Guard) stand watch over the monument of the "Unknown Soldier" .

Right and Bottom Right are a couple of shots of The Olymium and The Temple of Olympian Zeus. Construction on the Temple started in 6th century B.C. by order of the Peisistratids (the tyrants) but was put on hold with the fall of tyranny. It's almost 5,000 sq. metres in size, making it the largest temple of the God ever built in mainland Greece. In 174 B.C. the Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes started construction on the temple, but he died in 10 years later and construction once again was put on hold until it was finally completed around 132 A.D. when the Roman Emperor Hadrian had construction resume.The completed temple had 104 columns (double rows on the sides and triple rows on the ends) only 16 survive (15 standing and 1 in pieces on it's side).

The fish markets in Greece are wonderful. This one is south of Omonia Square on Athenas street in Athens, very close to Kotzia Square.Mmmmmmm fresh grilled Octopus and Red Snapper.

Left: The Temple of Aphea on the island of Aegina. This is one of the most well preserved examples of ancient Greek architecture. It was built in the 4th or 5th century B.C. It's location forms a perfect triangle with the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio, and the Akropolis (Acropolis) in Athens.

Where the Adriatic and Aegean Seas meet you'll find what remains of the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon at Sounio (or Sounion as it's known in English).

Delphi was the centre meeting place of the Amphictyonic League (a kind of United Nations for the isolated ancient Greek city-states). The teachings of Apollo Delphinius were preserved and taught here. The columns you see to the left are what remains of Apollo's Sanctuary located within Delphi. Political and Religious leaders of the ancient world would assemble in Delphi to consult the holiest of the holy ones, Pythia (the high priestess) who was in the Adyton of Delphi (sacred temple) where she sat on a tripod and delivered oracles in a state of intoxication after inhaling the fumes emanating from the chasm below. When the oracle began to speak, they would try and decipher what was said (Delphi was also the birth of political double talk) and then decide the best way to proceed.

The first Pythian Festival (Pan-Hellenic Games) were held in Delphi. The competition was held for eight days. During that eight day period a truce among all the countries of the ancient world was in place. There were musical competitions at the theatre, equestrian competitions at the Hippodrome as well as athletic games in the stadium located near the top of the Phaidriades mountain range.

Right: The ruins of the athletes gymnasium and training area are located almost at the base of the mountain. Delphi was built 700 metres up the mountainside.

Right: The Stone of Sibyl and the Athenian Treasury House at Delphi.

Right: The Athenian Treasury House. There were many treasuries in Delphi. Each was owned by the respective city-state of the Amphictyonic League. These treasuries were eventually plundered by invaders, but the final blow came when the Byzantium emperor Theodosius ordered Delphi's abolition in 385 A.D.

Right: This is all that's left of the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi.

Right: The Theatre at Delphi

These days the European Cultural Centre meets in Delphi to carry on the spiritual teachings of Apollo.