The construction of Temple of Olympian (Olympieion) Zeus begun in the 6th Century BC and was finished in th 2nd Century, i.e. after more than 600 years. It was the largest temple in ancient Greece. The Temple was damaged during the barbarian sack of Athens in 267 and was never repaired. The Temple orignally had 104 columns of 17 m high each and 2 m in diameter each. Today, 15 columns remain standing, the 16th column lies on the ground where it fell during a storm in 1852.
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The Athenian Agora was the center of the ancient city of Athens. It was a large square where the citizens could assemble. The space might be used as a market, or for an election, a dramatic performance, a religious procession, military drill, or athletic competition. The quare was surrounded by the public buildings necessary to run the Athenian government. Until Peisistratus reorganised the Agora (in 6th Century BC), there are private houses, too. Excavations in the ancient Athenian Agora are conducted by the American School of Classical Studies (since 1931). The Stoa of Attalos was adapted to house the Museum of Athenian Agora.
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The Acropolis is one of the most known historic monuments of Athens. Most of the major temples were rebuilt under the leadership of Pericles (Golden Age of Athens, 460–430 BC). During the 5th century BC, Acropolis of Athens gained its final shape. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, many of the existing buildings in the area of the Acropolis were repaired, and monuments to foreign kings were erected (Attalos II and Eumens II of Pergamos. In the Byzantine period, the Parthenon was turned into a church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
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Amiens is a city in northern France and the capital of the Somme region in Picardy. The city is known for its famaous cathedral. The Amiens Cathedral is the tallest complete Gothic church form the 13th century in France. It was built very quickly in the period 1220 – cca 1270. The Amiens cathedral “survived” both wold wars without substantial damages.
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Mont-St-Michel (St. Michael’s Mount) is a tidal island, located at the mouth of Couesnon River in Lower Normandy (France). In 8th century, St. Aubert, bishop in Avranches, founded a first chapel devoted to St. Michael. In 1067, the monastery of Mont-St-Michel supported the duke William of Nomandy (William the Conqueror) in his claim to the English throne. After 1789, the abbey was closed and converted to a prison. In 1863 the prison was finally closed and in 1874 was the mount declared as a French historic monument. Mont-St-Michel is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1979).
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Athens (Athina) is the Capital and the biggest city of Greece. Although it is one of the world’s oldest cities (with a recorded history about 3500 years), the major part of the build-up area consists of new buildings. A panoramic views made from the Acropolis hill illustrates the situation brightly.
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