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Ancient of days! august Athena! where, Where are thy men of might? thy grand in soul? Gone--glimmering through the dream of things that were; First in the race that led to glory's goal, They won, and pass'd away--Is this the whole? Lord Byron |
Day 3:
Ancient Gods and Olympian Heroes
After getting up bright and early, you will all go to the airport to get the private van to head to several different ancient sites of Greece. Your host will give a brief history of each site and you will be able to spend as much time as you like wandering among the ruins, before heading to the next archeological site. There is some time between each of the sites site to marvel at the landscape. That night you will arrive in Archaia Olympia the small town which holds the 3rd of the 3 sites that day, the ancient site Olympia, named after Mount Olympus (the real-life mountain and mythical home to the Greek gods.) this site was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. the predecessor of our modern Olympics. If there is time you can visit the site, or if not your group will have time in the morning to visit it.
That evening enjoy the beautiful stars that fill the skies.
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Ancient Gods and Olympian Heroes
After getting up bright and early, you will all go to the airport to get the private van to head to several different ancient sites of Greece. Your host will give a brief history of each site and you will be able to spend as much time as you like wandering among the ruins, before heading to the next archeological site. There is some time between each of the sites site to marvel at the landscape. That night you will arrive in Archaia Olympia the small town which holds the 3rd of the 3 sites that day, the ancient site Olympia, named after Mount Olympus (the real-life mountain and mythical home to the Greek gods.) this site was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. the predecessor of our modern Olympics. If there is time you can visit the site, or if not your group will have time in the morning to visit it.
That evening enjoy the beautiful stars that fill the skies.
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Day 4:
The final Battle of Byron
In the morning, if you didn't have a chance to visit ancient Olympia the night before you will do this in the morning, before a couple hour's drive to Missolonghi, a small town where Byron drew his last breath, there you will visit the statue of dedicated to Byron and the Library dedicted to him. After lunch you will head on the road again, to the Ancient site and famous ruins of Delphi, in the mountains, where you will spend the evening and have a breathtaking view from your hotel.
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The final Battle of Byron
In the morning, if you didn't have a chance to visit ancient Olympia the night before you will do this in the morning, before a couple hour's drive to Missolonghi, a small town where Byron drew his last breath, there you will visit the statue of dedicated to Byron and the Library dedicted to him. After lunch you will head on the road again, to the Ancient site and famous ruins of Delphi, in the mountains, where you will spend the evening and have a breathtaking view from your hotel.
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Day 5:
The Center of the World
After waking to a mystical view of the mountains, and after breakfast you will visit the ancient site of Delphi. According to myth, it was the meeting point of two eagles released by Zeus, he sent one to the east and the other to the west, to find the navel of the world. The eagles met at the future site of Delphi — Zeus marked the spot with a sacred stone called the omphalos (meaning navel), which was later held at the sanctuary of Apollo. According to legend, natives of the island of Crete, accompanied by Apollo in the guise of a dolphin, arrived at the port of Delphi (Kirrha) and built the god’s sanctuary.
Greeks also believed the site was originally sacred and belonged to Gaea, or Mother Earth, and was guarded by Gaea’s serpent child, Python. Apollo killed Python and founded his oracle there. The Oracle of Delphi was consulted on both private matters and affairs of state. City-state rulers would even seek the oracle before launching wars or founding new Greek colonies.
That evening you will head to the port of Piraeus near Athens, where you will enjoy dinner along the harbor, before an early morning to go to the ferry port, the next day.
The Center of the World
After waking to a mystical view of the mountains, and after breakfast you will visit the ancient site of Delphi. According to myth, it was the meeting point of two eagles released by Zeus, he sent one to the east and the other to the west, to find the navel of the world. The eagles met at the future site of Delphi — Zeus marked the spot with a sacred stone called the omphalos (meaning navel), which was later held at the sanctuary of Apollo. According to legend, natives of the island of Crete, accompanied by Apollo in the guise of a dolphin, arrived at the port of Delphi (Kirrha) and built the god’s sanctuary.
Greeks also believed the site was originally sacred and belonged to Gaea, or Mother Earth, and was guarded by Gaea’s serpent child, Python. Apollo killed Python and founded his oracle there. The Oracle of Delphi was consulted on both private matters and affairs of state. City-state rulers would even seek the oracle before launching wars or founding new Greek colonies.
That evening you will head to the port of Piraeus near Athens, where you will enjoy dinner along the harbor, before an early morning to go to the ferry port, the next day.
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