All Day; All Acropolis- Halloween in Athens: Gods, Goddesses & a Few Ghostly Characters
The four-hour Greek Mythology tour I booked when still home went off without a hitch! Athena, who grew up on the island of Rhodes, was our guide, and she was good! I wondered if all Greek born guides in Athens are named Athena. Hmmm.
We had 12 of us in our group, seven from the UK and 5 from the USA. We wore a headset to hear Athena over the terrain and lots of people jostling for places on the pathways. It was good enough, but that has to be the maximum on a tour like that one. Half way through the tour, Athena said it was not that crowded, but we all thought it was!
Apparently, summer months brings throngs of people that it is hard to go up or down on fairly skinny, shiny, slick marble steps. We did see a man fall while on our way up, complete with an unstoppable bloody nose. Again, when they say wear sturdy shoes, listen!
Once at the top, we had incredible views of all of Athens and beyond. We got pretty up close and personal despite the archeology restorations on going of the Parthenon (the largest and most famous temple on the Acropolis; Erechtheion, (famous for its porch of Caryatids - female figures that serve as columns); Temple of Athena Nike, (a small elegant temple near the entrance dedicated to Athena as the goddess of victory); and Propylea, (the monumental gateway to the Acropolis).
Between wars, changes of religion, takeovers, bombings, fires and more strife that’s hard to think about for 2500 years, I was pretty happy to see what all remains and witness the ancient city for us still here on Earth.
Athena, our guide, never missed a beat to share both the mythology characters and mortals - which was a bit spooky. I thought, who needs haunted houses when I’m walking through a city filled with thousands of gods, goddesses, monsters, and mythology? Prefect timing I’m here in Athens.
While Americans are carving pumpkins, handing out candy, and dressing up as witches, ghosts, and goblins, I was wandering through the ancient stopping grounds of Zeus, Athena (the “real” one), Poseidon, and a whole cast of mythological characters who could give today’s Halloween crowd a run for their money.
For a second, think about Hades ruled the underworld, Hecate had connections to witchcraft and ghosts, and Medusa could turn you to stone with one look! What about the character of Dionysus? He’s just god of wine, theater, and festivities, so I suspect he’d be the life of any Halloween party!
The Ancient Greeks didn’t celebrate Halloween, of course, and really neither does Greece now, but they certainly know how to tell spooky stories (and most do not end well!).
I’m pinching myself that I’m walking through 2000+ years of history on October 31. Now that’s a Halloween treat no candy bowl could match (well, maybe a full sized Milky Way bar, or Reece’s Pieces would do it).
bSoleille!
Terri
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