And they went on to Athens...

SUNDAY MAY 31, 2015

EPIDAVROS

We got an early start this morning, leaving the hotel at 7:45 and missing the yummy free breakfast (heartbreaking first world problem).  We met our guide at Epidavros, about 30 minutes from Nafplio. Epidavros was the center for the cult of Ascelpilus (his snake entwined staff is still the symbol of modern medicine).  For almost 1,000 years Greeks traveled here seeking healing from various ailments.  The priests practiced very strict triage in the intake area--they didn't want to take anyone too sick that might die--proving that the practice of biased patient selection is as old as medicine itself!    While these pilgrims were whiling away the days and weeks waiting on a cure there was a whole entertainment complex to keep them occupied.  We could show you lots of pictures of ruined ruins but the most notable feature of Epidavros is its remarkably well preserved ancient theatre.

Testing the acoustics in the theatre

In the cheap seats...you could still hear the guide's keys jingling down at the bottom

Amazingly well preserved ancient corinthian style capital found buried at Epidavros.  It was either a piece of planned construction that was never installed or some sort of offering to the gods.

Troops wishing they had a normal family that went to Panama City Beach...

THE ROAD TO CORINTH

At "The Stork" a cliffside restaurant with an amazing view.

The restaurant was frequented by "bikers" which instead of Harleys and Tattoos means expensive motorcycles and dudes in high-tech racing suits.

We ran across this fish farming operation a little further up the road.

THE ACROCORINTH

Our next stop was Acrocorinth, the hilltop fortification and temple on the high rock above Ancient Corinth.  In the days of Paul there was a Temple of Aphrodite there that had 1,000 temple prostitutes offering "religious services" to any sailors stopping by in Corinth.  (Hence the term "a Corinthian Girl" was not a compliment).  It was quite a climb, you must imagine that those who made it up there must have had a good deal of religious fervor....

On the top

Standing on the ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite

Everlie loves high places....

ANCIENT CORINTH

On the way down we stopped at the city of Ancient Corinth.  It is in this relatively compact ancient city that the events of Acts 18, 1 Cor and 2 Cor all played out.  We tried to communicate this to the boys--although the stray dog with puppies seems to have made a bigger impression.  

ACTS 18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

This capital was from a synagogue of the period when Paul was present and likely was from the synagogue mentioned in Acts 18.

In front of the Bema, by all indications the site where Paul was brought before Gallio.

THE ANCIENT DIOLKOS / CORINTHIAN CANAL

After seeing all Ancient Corinth had to offer we headed down the hill to the site of the modern Corinthian Canal.  Along its edge are remnants of an ancient road used to transport ships across the isthmus.  This early railway moved ships across the isthmus from approximately 600 BC to 50 AD.   Several roman emperors made efforts to dig a canal but the The Corinthian Canal was not completed until 1893.

Skipping rocks off paving stones laid there 600 years before Christ.

A tanker going through the canal.

THE ROAD TO ATHENS

That gas is only $1.73...per liter.   That's $6.54 per gallon.  That was actually one of the cheapest we saw on our trip.  

We finally made it to the car rental storefront in central Athens (a bit like dropping your car off in midtown manhattan).  Athens has 5 Million people and they are crammed in there. 

Everlie and Ethan try out Everlie's new "selfie stick."   We negotiated a street vendor down to 5 Euro ("you gotta be prepared to walk away kids").

View from the Balcony!

Tomorrow we conquer Athens (well, it might take two days).   

Goodnight!