The ancient theater trip back in 2008:

The ancient theater at Stratos, in Aitolοakarnania (Western Greece). Α memorable visit, since our bus almost toppled down a hill. The next, and last theater we visited was at Dodoni, so everyone was pretty tired, only a handful left the bus to visit this one- which was quite an adventurous exploit because you have to climb down the hill to get to it and the grass is full of snakes this time of year, well the snakes are pretty harmless, but they can give you a nasty scare. That’s also why we didn’t get to see the theater at Orchomenos- because it was infested with vipers according to the guard. Every year the municipalities have to supply archaeological sites like this with snake repellents and trim the weeds, but towns with a lack of funds don’t do it, and as a result minor sites stay closed.

Anyway when we returned happy and refreshed-it was really nice and cool down there- we found the bus like this. I am not kidding the front wheels are in the air. 

But all in all the trip was an amazing experience. You see theaters are not just out there by themselves; they were part of extensive cities and towns that were abandoned and eventually disappeared into the natural landscape. Only a handful of cities have been inhabited constantly since the antiquity (sometimes even since neolithic times), which makes studying the ancient past of these places really difficult. These sites in the middle of nowhere are a view to a particular time in the past, more or less frozen in time, and offer great insight into the diversity of various greek cultures that challenges monolithic views about a singular “Greek Civilization”

Archaeological Museum of Dion:

A marble table support depicting Medea and a nurse protecting a child. 2nd century A.D

Archaeological Park of Dion:

Fragments of mosaics from the Great Baths of Dion, a building complex with a bathhouse, a small theater and an odeon, built in the 2nd century A.D. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 3rd century A.D

The baths’s suspensurae, a system of underfloor heating. These small columns would aid the flow of hot air from furnaces beneath the floors of the baths.

Archaeological Museum of Dion:

A mosaic with head of medusa, from a patio next to the banquet room from a private residence in Dion. From Dion’s Roman period.

greek-museums:

Archaeological Park of Dion:

The restoration of the mosaic of the epiphany of Dionysus.

Go behind the scenes with the team of conservators at Dion and get a fascinating glimpse of the restoration of one of the most exciting archaeological discoveries in the site, the mosaic of the “Villa of Dionysus.” From the rigorous process of detachment to the challenges of transportation, repair, and conservation, the results will surprise you. The mosaic was restored with the support of the Onassis Foundation.

I just stumbled on this amazing video. The Epiphany of Dionysus, from Dion is one of the most famous- and beautiful- ancient mosaics here. I didn’t get to see it during my last visit in the summer, but there were talks of it being moved for conservation. I think from now on it’s going to stay in the museum facilities permanently.

(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)

Archaeological Museum of Dion:

From the house of “Zosas”. A mosaic with a grouse and in inscription: ΤΩ ΕΥΤΥΧΙ ΖΩΣΑ (for lucky Zosas). The second mosaic depicts birds on the rim of a kantharos. 2nd A.D. From the site of Dion. 

I am preparing some post from the archaeological museum of Ioannina, and there are a lot of led tablets from the oracle at Dodona, and I just stumbled on a group that’s just men asking if they should get married.

greek-museums:

Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon:

A terracotta larnax from the late Minoan period, found in cemeteries in the prefecture of Rethymnon. The tombs were either built tholos tombs, or rock-cut chamber tombs. The orientation of the dead, doesn’t seem to matter, but a general tendency for the bodies to be facing the door can be observed. The deceased were buried along with grave goods such as vases, weapons, jewelry and tools.

But most importantly look at that flower decorated cow! (which is actually a bull). Above and below the animals are horns of consecration, a recurring religious and decorative motif in Minoan art. Τhe Museum of Rethymnon has a pretty old exhibition, which hasn’t been updated yet, so many artifacts don’t have individual tags.

A more or less contemporary similarly decorated bull is to be found at the Archaeological Museum of Volos, in Northern Greece.

Clay figurine of a bull from the mycenaean settlement at Dimini. Found in the shrine of a house. 14th century B.C

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion:

The “Dolphin Fresco” is part of a marine landscape composition . It depicts two dolphins, swimming among smaller fish, against an iridescent ground representing the sea. The frescoes decorated the wall, or the floor of the hall above the “Queen’s Megaron”. Knossos Palace. Neopalatial period. 1600-1450 B.C

The reconstruction of the “Queen’s Megaron” now at Knossos Palace, Neopalatial Period (1600-1450 B.C) 

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion:

Bronze sword with gold-covered rivers for securing the hilt. The inner sheathing of the sword pommel is decorated with a repousse acrobat performing a full backward sommersault. His depiction on the sword may indicate that the acrobat was performing this leap over a sword set upright, at the risk of his life. References to such “leaps of death” by both male and female acrobats are found in later ancient sources. Palace of Malia. 1800-1600 B.C