The Mythological world inhabited by the Ancient Greeks was not one of the fairytales, but one filled with a pantheon of real Gods, who it was possible to talk to, summon up, or just meet by chance when they visited the mortal world.
Bad or good decisions could lead to punishments like transformation into animals, or bestow fortune such as victory in battle. Multi-headed Hydras inhabited lakes, Centaurs lived in dark mountain caves, Griffins flew the skies, and the islands surrounding Athens were full of beasts with special powers, from Minotaurs and Sirens. No wonder the mythology of the ancient world formed part of everyday life for local Athenians who carved these beliefs into every monument for us to see today.
So join your private guide and step back 2500 years for a fun and educational tour bringing the mythology of Athens to life in front of you.
2-Hr PRIVATE TOUR: Starting at Hadrian's Arch with the backdrop of the Temple of Zeus, the tour proceeds with a visit to the nearby Acropolis
Dedicated to Zeus head of the Olympian Gods, this colossal Temple pre-dates the Acropolis and is the largest ever constructed and home to one of the wonders of the ancient world; a gigantic statue of Zeus seated on a throne over 12 meters tall and encrusted with gold, ivory & Jewels. At the golden sandals of the god sat an olive oil reservoir that reflected on the statue making it appear that the god would rise up and lift of the temple roof. One can only imagine the impact it had on the visitors of the day over 2500 years before! The starting point for the tour is located opposite the temple so you will start with the stories & myths surrounding Zeus and his influence on the citizens of Athens.
Most sacred site of Ancient Greece and crowned by the pinnacle of Classical Greece, the Parthenon which was richly decorated with the struggles of the gods, and the focus of the largest Athenian celebrations to the Goddess Athena. A short distance away lies the Erechtheion Temple, dedicated to both the God Poseidon and Goddess Athena who battled for the patronage of Athens. Learn of their competition, uncover the riddles of the Parthenon, the events behind the myths and the relevance of these monuments both then and now in the lives of Athenians.
ENDING YOUR TOUR. Your guide will end your tour at the Acropolis where you can continue longer on your own or enjoy the sights of the City!
You will make your own way to the meeting points
• TOUR QUESTIONS: For all tour questions please email: [email protected] • MEETING POINT: Our guide will see you at Hadrian's Arch. She will have a sign with the name of the lead traveler written. • TOUR TYPE: The Tour is a Walking Tour. • ADMISSION TICKETS for Sites/Archaeological Sites (NOT INCLUDED): Please note that site entrance tickets and their cost are not included. We kindly request that you turn up for your tour with appropriate tickets; either having bought these yourself, or having asked us to buy these on your behalf. Otherwise we are not responsible for any delays. If you need us to purchase Skip-the-line Tickets for you, just let us know by message after booking. As some messages fail to reach us, please ensure that if you have requested us to purchase tickets, you have received a confirmation reply from us and in this case please use our direct email address: [email protected]