Athens

Athens The Roman Forum Photos And Other Ancient Ruins

Roman Forum Information

Roman Forum Pictures

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Roman Forum Photos
Temple of the Winds	Gateway to the Roman Forum
The Temple of the Winds was originally a water clock and was built in the Roman Forum near the Agora. The name is from the eight winds, carved into the top of the tower and are to represent the eight winds. The temple served as a water clock until the 6^th century (the water came from the Klepsydra Spring running down the Acropolis) when it was converted to a chapel.	This was the gateway to the Roman Forum. This was the "official way into and out of the forum. When built, this was a monumental gateway designed to impress people as well as to give a person a grand entrance into the Forum. It was started under Julius Caesar and completed by Augustus during the second century.
Temple of the Winds	The Forum and the Church of the Transfiguration
Another view of the temple of the Winds	We can see some of the marble pillars of the Forum. I am guessing on the name of the church but I it is the church of the Transconfiguration.
Decorated Wall in Ionic Style	Looking up to the Acropolis
Other Ruins
Hadrains Arch A.k.a. Píli Adrianoú	Monument in the Plaka
My guide book says this is Hadrain's Arch, Hadrian being a Roman Emperor. The arch of Hadrian is said to have divided the Greek city from the new Roman city. I can believe this since it is on the outer edge of the Plaka. Furthermore, Hadrian was a lover of Greece. I saw a program that said Hadrian spent more time in Athens than he did in Rome. Therefore, it seems only logical he would leave his mark on the city.	I walked by this several times in my wanderings in 1997. I didn't write down its name though. Anyone know?

The Roman Forum is essentially the Roman version of a Greek Agora.. It was in the forum that the day to day business of the city took place (political, commercial, and spiritual) This would be the "downtown" in any ancient Roman city. Citizens would go to the forum to shop, listen to the latest news (a.k.a. gossip), and to pray. The Roman forum was built in the first and second centuries A.D. This period overlaps with the period that barbarians destroyed the ancient Greek Agora. However I am not completely sure that there was a cause and effect relationship between the two (I am guessing no). What I do know is that Citizens would enter through a grand gateway into a plaza lined with white marble full of white marble columns. I must have passed by the forum several times in 97 but did not take many photos. In 2003, I ran by the forum and did not stop because I thought that I had more photos and was in a hurry to catch a boat. I guess I have a reason to return to Athens.

I hope you enjoy the photos. Any comments, please E-mail me, .

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