Hill of the Muses

Koukaki, I found myself on the opposite side of the hill of the Muses.

Quite a climb to the top.

Kite flying public holiday

I’ve never seen so many people.

A public holiday, a day for kite flying.

I had not intended to climb Hill of the Muses. But needs must, kite flying.

Hill of the Muses, not usually many people. Not today.

Sickening. At the top of the Hill of the Muses, a sacred site, a group of drunk girls, dancing to music they had blaring out.

Not content with one jill, I climbed two, Hill of the Pnyx.

On the same Hill, Orator’s Berm. Democracy in action. Located outside the city, the orator would address the crowd. I have ascended in the past, now roped off.

My intention has been, walk a little way, then head to Warehouse CO2 for a coffee.

But could not pass by The Underdog without dropping in. I was surprised how quiet. I expected it to be like a weekend. Everyone out walking or a picnic on the hills.

Hill of the Muses

For many days, wishing to visit the Hill of the Muses, but either too hot or too windy.

Well worth the climb as excellent views open up of The Acropolis and over Athens.

As a pleasant day I then take a walk along the Koile Valley following the route of the Koile Road. One of my favourite walks.

Hill of the Muses with views over Athens https://t.co/oe3m2NJutD #Athens

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) November 6, 2019

Hill of the Muses

I had intended to walk to the top of Hill of the Muses but a hot day and strong wind blowing, none too safe at the top.

I kept to the lower wooded slopes, passed Prison of Socrates, then walked down the Koile Valley.

Had I made it to the top, stunning views over Athens.

wooded lower sloops Hill of the Muses https://t.co/xl5isTOUTb #Athens

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) November 15, 2019

Filopappou Hill

Filopappou Hill

Hill of the Muses, wooded hill, overlooking The Acropolis, at the top stunning views over Athens.

Hill of the Muses

detail of monument

The Hill of the Muses took its name from the poet Mousaios, who lived and was buried there. Because of its strategic position, the rock was included in the Themistoclean defence works and, in 4th century B.C., the Athenians set up the fortification wall known as “Diateichisma”, which was never completed. In 294 B.C. Demetrios Poliorketes built a small fort, known as the Macedonian Fortress,and installed a garrison to control the city.

Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappos was a prince of Commagene, a kingdom in Upper Syria, who was overthrown by the Romans in 72 A.D. Exiled from his native country, he settled in Athens and became a benefactor of the city. Between A.D.114-116 he built his own funeral monument, in a very privileged position facing the Akropolis, which dominated the area and gave his name to the hill.
The monument, built from Pentelic marble, is 12 metres height and consists of a large apse-shaped wall on a pedestal of porous limestone. It is adorned with sculptures of Philopappos and some of his ancestors, along with inscriptions giving their titles and names.

The Monument of Philoppapos, intact up to the 15th century, gradually fell victim to vandalism and natural phenomena.
The monument was partly restored in 1904.

Diateichisma

Diateichisma

Diateichisma is a wall that was constructed to defend Athens from Macedonia, remains of which can be found on the Hill of the Muses.

Ayios Demetrious Loubardiaris

Ayios Dimitrios Loubardiaris

A church stood at this site, or regarded as a sacred site, to guard the entrance into the city through the gate in the wall.

The church is dedicated to Saint Demetrius and took the name “Loubardiaris” because around 1650 the following peculiar event took place:

On the eve of 26 October, a thunder bolt hit the Turkish garrison commander, Yusuf Aga, who had installed a loubarda (big canon) at the Acropolis Propylaea because he was planning to attack the Christian believers on Saint Demetrius day.

The lightening hit and killed the garrison commander and the faithful were able to honour the Saint in the church.

The church was restored in the 1950’s by a local architect and planner who also laid out the paths.

Located below the Hill of The Nymps, the Hill of the Muses, below The Acropolis.