Joyce's Photos of Ancient Athens

In the Book of Acts, Paul made his famous "Men of Athens" speech. Paul is believed to have visited Athens during his second missionary journey (which was with Silas) around 49-52 A.D.

The following links are to photographs taken and/or directed by Joyce Thiel. All materials are copyrighted and all photographs are copyrighted by Joyce Thiel (c) 2005, All Rights Reserved:

Temple of Zeus - Zeus was the head of the pagan Greek gods. Here a two photos of what is left of what appears to have been one of the larger ancient temples.

Temple of Athena Nike These are two photos of the Temple of the Victory (Nike) of Athena. This temple in on the Acropolis of Athens and is near the Parthenon. Joyce is in one of the photos.

Ancient Water Vases These two photos were taken from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Smaller replicas of these vases are sold throughout Greece as souvenirs for tourists.

Inside an Orthodox Church This is a view inside of an Eastern Orthodox Church.

Inside an Orthodox Church Icon Shop When Paul was in Athens, "he saw that the city was given over to idols. " Here are two modern photos.

Tower of the Winds Here are two photos of the Tower of the Winds which is found in the first century Roman Forum in Athens. It contains a total of eight winds. The photo with only one wind shown, is the wind named Euro. Interestingly, that is the name of the currency now used in Greece and the rest of the European Union. Euro was the name of the southeast wind.

The Church of the Apostles This is the outside view of an 11th century Byzantine church, which was built on the site of the ancient nymphaion in the Athens marketplace (the church is now called "the Church of the Holy Apostles"). Allegedly, there was an early Christian church placed here in the first or second century, which eventually became rebuilt into this current structure. It is apparently named after the Apostles as Paul was walking in this region (Acts 17:17).

Inside of the Church of the Apostles This is a view of the ceiling of an 11th century Byzantine church, which was built on the site of the ancient nymphaion in the Athens marketplace (the church is now called "the Church of the Holy Apostles"). Allegedly, there was an early Christian church placed here in the first or second century, which eventually became rebuilt into this current structure.

Ancient Athens Marketplace (the Agora) Here are two photos of the remains of the ancient Athens marketplace. The Bible records that Paul "he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there" (Acts 17:17).

Temple of Hephaestus - This is believed to be the best preserved Classical temple in Greece. It was devoted jointly to Hephaestus and Athena. "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols" (Acts 17:16).

Ancient Roman Forum Here are two photos of the first century Roman Forum in Athens. This is within walking distance of the Agora, hence Paul may have visited this area.

Parthenon of Athena - The Parthenon was built to honor and worship the goddess Athena. who Athens is named after. It is on the top of the Acropolis of Athens and can be seen from almost all areas of Athens. This is a direct view. "Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious" (Acts 19:22).

Side View of the Parthenon The Parthenon was built to honor and worship the goddess Athena. who Athens is named after. It is on the top of the Acropolis of Athens and can be seen from almost all areas of Athens. This is a side view.

Parthenon on the Acropolis The Parthenon was built to honor and worship the goddess Athena. who Athens is named after. It is on the top of the Acropolis of Athens and can be seen from almost all areas of Athens. Thes two photos show the Parthenon and its base, the Acropolis.

The Acropolis at Night This is a view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon on a June 2005 night.

Here is the story regarding Paul and Athens from the 17th chapter of the Book of Acts:

15. So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

16. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

17. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

18. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods," because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

19. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?

20. For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean."

21. For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

22. Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;

23. For as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

24. God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

25. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

26. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

27 So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

28. For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

29. Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.

30. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

31. Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

32. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter."

33. So Paul departed from among them.

34. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Having been there, I can simply say that, both then and now, it appears that "the city was given over to idols." It is little wonder that only some believed Paul there then, and apparently, perhaps less now.

More photos can be seen on the Photos of Areopagus page.

COGwriter 2006

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