Page 459 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

A THENS  457

6 Temple of The displays start
Olympian Zeus on the first floor,
with the Cycladic
Corner of Amalías & Vasilíssis Olgas,
Pláka. Tel 210-922 6330. v 2, 4, 11. collection. Dating
Open summer: 8am–7pm daily; back to the 3rd
winter: 8am–3pm daily. Closed main millennium BC, the
public hols. & 7 limited. Cycladic figurines
were found mostly
This vast temple is the largest in graves, although
in Greece, exceeding even the their exact usage
Parthenon in size. The tyrant remains a mystery.
Peisistratos allegedly initiated Ancient Greek art
the building of the temple in is exhibited on
the 6th century BC to gain the second floor
public favor. It was not and the Charles
completed until 650 years later. Polítis collection
In AD 132, the Roman of Classical and
Emperor Hadrian dedicated the Prehistoric art
temple to Zeus Olympios and on the fourth
set up a statue of the god floor. The
inside, a copy of the original by The remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus third floor
Pheidias at Olympia (see p469). displays some
Next to it he placed a huge Neoclassical mansion, was excellent ancient Cypriot art.
statue of himself. Both statues adapted as a museum and Another wing in the adjoining
have since been lost. opened to the public in 1931. Stathátos Mansion is used for
Only 15 of the original 104 A major part of the Benáki worthwhile temporary exhibits,
columns remain, but enough collection consists of gold many unrelated to Cycladic art.
to give a sense of the once jewelry dating from as far
enormous size of this temple – back as 3000 BC. Also on 9 Byzantine and
approximately 96 m (315 ft) display are icons, liturgical
long and 40 m (130 ft) wide. silverware, Egyptian artifacts, Christian Museum
Roman-style Corinthian capitals and Greek embroideries. Vasilíssis Sofías 22. Tel 213-213 9500.
were added to the original q Evaggelismos. Open 8am–8pm
Doric columns in 174 BC. 8 Museum of daily in summer, may close earlier
The temple lies next to in winter. & 7
Hadrian’s Arch, built in AD 131 Cycladic Art ∑ byzantinemuseum.gr
and marking the boundary Neofýtou Doúka 4 (new wing at
between the ancient city and Irodótou 1), Kolonáki. Tel 210-722 Following a 2004 revamp, this
the Roman Athens of Hadrian. 8321. v 3, 7, 8, 13. Open 10am–5pm is now one of Athens’ must-see
Wed–Mon (to 8pm Thu, from 11am museums. It features religious
7 Benáki Museum Sun). Closed main public hols. artifacts from the Early Christian,
Byzantine, Medieval, post-
& 7 ∑ cycladic.gr
Corner of Koumpári & Vasilíssis Sofías, Byzantine, and later periods.
Kolonáki. Tel 210-367 1000. v 3, 7, 8, A magnificent selection of Treasures on display include a
13. Open 9am–5pm Wed–Sun (to ancient Greek art, including reconstructed frescoed church
midnight Thu & Sat, to 3pm Sun). the world’s most important from inland Attikí and the gold
Closed public hols. & except Thu. collection of Cycladic Hoard of Mytilene, which was
7 limited. ∑ benaki.gr figurines, is on view at abandoned during 7th-century
this modern museum. Saracen raids.
This museum contains a superb
collection of Greek art and crafts,
jewelry, regional costumes, and
political memorabilia from the
Neolithic era to the 20th century.
It was founded by Antónios
Benákis (1873–1954), who was
interested in Greek, Persian,
Egyptian, and Ottoman art from
an early age and started collect-
ing while living in Alexandria.
On moving to Athens in 1926,
he donated his collection to
the Greek state. The family
home, an elegant 19th-century Byzantine icon of St. Elijah at the Byzantine & Christian Museum

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