5/17 Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio
Today was jam-packed with learning! After breakfast, we got on the bus and headed to the ruins at Epidavros. Epidavros is famous for two things: its theater, which is quite intact and has nearly perfect acoustics, and that it was a healing center, or as Amie called it, a day spa. We all trooped up to the top of the theater and listened as people spoke down at the bottom. We then walked around the ruins of the healing center, which included a few temples. We continued on to Mycenae, the center of the Mycenaean world/civilization, which peaked between the 16th and 12th centuries B.C. It had several different sections with rooms; there were also a few tombs underground. It was quite cool, temperature-wise, in the tombs, so since we were all dead tired and hot, we hung out there for a while. After that, we again boarded our bus and made our way to the city of Naufplio, where we drove to the Palamidi Fortress, a sprawling enclosure of "security buildings" built by the Venetians around 1700. The Turks took it over not long after, but the Greeks retained it after they gained their independence in 1822. It was exceptionally impressive; it was quite intact, having only been around a few hundred years, as opposed to the other ruins we've seen. We wandered around for a while, climbing all the stairs, admiring the view, which overlooked both land and sea (it was built at the top of a large hill/mountain) so as to be better for protection. This Fortress is also famous because the Greek resistance leader Kolokotronis was once held in one of its prisons. It was nearly mid-afternoon by the time we finished. We headed back to our hotel; some enjoyed a late lunch or some ice cream, and most found time for swimming, paddlboating, or sunbathing at the beach before supper.
Entering the theatre of Epidaurus, the best preserved of the ancient Greek theatres, which is still used today for summer performances of Greek plays. The acoustics from center stage are incredible.
Climbing up the stairs to the top of the theatre to listen to an unmiked conversation from ground level.
At the top in the shaded nosebleed section of the theatre.
At the top looking down at the group clustered at the aural focal point.
The Epidaurian Sanctuary to Asklepius on the plain below the theatre.
We enter the ruins to the citadel at Mycenae through the famous Lion's Gate.
Climbing around on the ruins at Mycenae, with the valley below as a backdrop.
Carolynn, Amie, Holly, and Tonya at Mycenae.
Amie, Jenn, Beth, Kristen, and Lindsey at the entrance to one of the "beehive" tombs at Mycenae. Inside the stone blocks that make up the ceiling gradually taper to a point at the top.
Group inside the grave.
Melanie and Erinn at the Palamidi Fortress in Nafplio, built as a Venetian stronghold around 1713.
Carolynn, Ryan, Kristen, Amie, and Mark take a break while exploring the ruins at Palamidi fortress.
Another view from within the fortress.