Today we woke up in Rhodes and took a brief flight to Athens. We drove to the hotel and took a brief break before heading out to Mars Hill. Now I knew Mars Hill was the site where Paul was put on trial, but Mars Hill is a famous point for many other events. Mars himself was supposedly put on trial here, and that's how the hill received it's name. It was also the spot where Orestes was put on trial. Mars Hill was the ancient Athenian court room for murder trials, and not even a god was exempt from this justice.
Next we visited the ancient agora, which was the ancient marketplace where people would go to buy goods, and exchange information. The philosophers would hang around the "stoas" to talk about the latest ideas. Going through the museum was really interesting. I especially liked seeing the pottery pieces where people would vote to ostracize someone. The votes on these particular pottery pieces were for Themistocles, the famous Athenian hero who advised the city to build a wooden wall of ships. I also enjoyed seeing the large stone which would randomly select citizens to serve as judges up on Mars Hill.
Down in the agora we passed the jail, and wales up a short hill to the temple of Athena and Hephaestus. The history of the temple was rather explicit, but let's just say that Hephaestus had a thing for Athena and she did not return this sentiment. At this site we found a turtle, and this excited Ellie to no end.
This is the second time I've visited these sites, but the first time I've visited the museum. I was impressed with just how normal life in ancient Athens was. People worshiped, talked, and traded together. There was rule of law and a functional government. Athens was ancient, but certainly not primitive.
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