Today was both a day of travel and a day of learning! We left Athens right on time at 8 AM, and we began traveling West. We made a short stop at the Daphni Monastery, which no longer functions as a monastery, but a historical site. Since the original Byzantine church was built in the 11th century, the complex has also served as a Catholic monastery, as barracks during the Greek War for Independence, and as a psychiatric clinic. We were all in awe of the gold-flecked mosaics covering the walls and the ceilings. The restored monastery is a mixture of Gothic arches, ancient pillars, and Byzantine mosaics- the perfect example of empire and religion intersecting throughout the centuries.
We then paid a visit to the Corinth Canal, the manmade canal connecting the Agean Sea with the Ionian Sea. We were surprised to learn that the successful canal used today was actually the fourth attempt! Corinthians had been attempting to built a canal across the isthmus for over 2,000 years before its completion in 1893. After the first failed attempt in the 7th century BC, boats had to travel across the isthmus using the Diolkos, a stone railway boats were pulled across. We enjoyed watching the boats and getting a quick snack from the café nearby! We then traveled by bus to the site of ancient Corinth to take a look at the museum, the ruins, and the Acrocorinth.
At the site of the ancient city of Corinth, we saw the ruins of a bath house, public toilets, and the platform where the Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians. The site had many layers because the Roman Empire destroyed the city in 146 BC and rebuilt it as a Roman civilization around 44 BC. In the museum, we discovered another connection between religion and empire in ancient Greece. Statues portraying Roman emperors often had head-coverings, a sign of priesthood. The political leaders, therefore, also acted as religious leaders for the Romans. After grabbing a quick lunch in the quaint town of modern Corinth, we began our ascent towards the Acrocorinth.
The bus drove us up to the first gate of the giant fortress, and we hiked the rocky, winding path the rest of the way. Our hard work was rewarded with amazing views of the mountains, the sea, and the remains of ancient Corinthian fortifications. The Acrocorinth was also built in layers, and each wall has different features, reflecting the weapons of its time. We then completed our journey to Nafplio, checked in to our hotel, and finished the day with a delicious group dinner!
Oles in Greece 2020 