TROPICANA MAGAZINE Jan-Feb 2020 #128 The Love Issue

Once upon a time, ancient Greece was
deemed as one of the most powerful
civilisations of the world. With a
great empire to match, they were also
known for their tales of ancient Gods
and Goddesses like Zeus, Hera and
Apollo, all depicted in stories and legends. The Greeks were
also renowned for great philosophers such as Aristotle and
Socrates who played important parts in human history.
But myths and legends aside, present day Greece is also a
great place to explore as the country has countless attractions
to offer. Though known for their islands of Santorini and
Mykonos, their capital Athens does not fail to impress either.
Ancient And Modern
Athens, the capital of modern-day Greece is said to be
the birthplace of democracy. Also known to be the oldest
city in the world, it is named after the ancient Goddess of
Wisdom, Athena. With a population of 3.7 million, the
city has progressed from a farm-based economic hub to
an industrial centre of the Mediterranean. Today, tourism
has become a core focus for Athens drawing tourists by the
millions every year, especially those interested in learning
more of ancient history.
Among the most visited sites include the Epidaurus
Ancient Theatre. Highly regarded for the amazing architecture,
the theatre which was built in 340 B.C. can hold up to 13,000
spectators and is still used today during the annual Epidaurus
Festival. Apart from the astounding architecture, researchers
from the Georgia Institute of Technology discovered the
elusive factor that makes the ancient amphitheatre an acoustic
marvel. It’s not the slope, or the wind - it’s the seats. The rows
of limestone seats at Epidaurus form an efficient acoustics
filter that hushes low-frequency background noises like the
murmur of a crowd and reflects the high-frequency noises
of the performers on stage off the seats and back toward the
seated audience, carrying an actor’s voice all the way to the
back rows of the theatre. Imagine that! They had surround
sound system way before modern-day technology!
Another compulsory stop is obviously the landmark of
Athens, which is the Parthenon Acropolis, a temple erected in
honour of the Goddess Athena. Perched on the hilltop in the
centre of Athens, the word acropolis is actually a combination
of two words, with ‘Acro’ meaning hill and ‘Polis’ meaning
city. Construction of the temple began in 477 B.C. during the
peak of the Athenian civilization. A 13 meter-tall statue of the
Goddess Athena once stood at the temple adorned with a tonne
of gold. Today, the only remaining structure is the temple and
it is considered as the democratic symbol of Greece and also
one of the most historical monuments on earth.
113 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | TM