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Archive for November, 2009

30
Nov

The Erechtheion and the Parthenon

Posted in Europe  by visit on November 30th, 2009

The Erechtheion temple’s name comes from one of the first kings of Athens. In the yard of the Erechtheion is growing the olive tree which was thought to be given to the city by the goddess called Athens.

The statue of Athena was so big warrior that the athenians sailors situated far, on the sea, could see the helmet and spear of the goddess shining in the sunlight.

The Propylaea: here is made the entrance into the Acropolis. The way to propylaea was consisted of a steep slope on which they advanced the religious processions heading to the temple.
The Parthenon was the most beautiful building on the Acropolis, it was built by Pericles being a temple dedicated to the Athens Parthenos goddess . The Greek word “Parthenos” means “unmarried” and Parthenon means “house of the unmarried goddess”. It is an imposing building with a length of 99.7 m and a width of 33.5 m. Its construction lasted 15 years, made of Pentel marble, which contains iron and gives a gold glow in the sunlight. Inside, there is another huge statue of the Athens goddess, carved in ivory and gold by Phidias.
The Parthenon was the scene of one of the biggest Athenian festivals:Panathenaea. This festival is being hold every 4 years in honor of the Athens goddess. This was a mixture of religious ceremony and entertainment, athletic competitions were organized and a torches race was being hold at night on the city’s streets. The most important event of the festival was a procession in which young athenians women led the peplos to the Parthenon. Pericles ordered this process to be carved on the frieze that surrounds the Parthenon. These sculptures are called Elgin, and some of them can be admired in the British Museum.

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20
Nov

The Colosseum

Posted in Europe  by visit on November 20th, 2009

The Colosseum was and it is still being the largest and most famous Roman amphitheater. Its construction was completed during the reign of Domitian. The building was called the Flavian Amphitheater. Modification and restoration of the Colosseum have been made to the beginning of the sixth century. In the following centuries has suffered because of negligence, earthquakes and other problems. However, more than one third of the outer arches can be seen today. Internal skeleton which supports the “Cave” has remained largely intact. Unfortunately, all marble and metal decorations have disappeared.

The Colosseum has an elliptical shape, measuring about 189 m in length and 156 m in width. The exterior has 47 m high, composed of 3 floors consisting of arches and an IVth floor. Each of these three floors had at the beginning 80 of arcade. At the Colosseum’s building were used stone blocks, cement and bricks.

The fourth floor contains the Corinthian style decorations. At first, at each arch were statues, and huge iron shields decorating the fourth floor of the building between the so-called windows. There were also a kind of awnings which sustained the top floor protecting spectators from the sun. According to the studies which were made, the Colosseum could accommodate about 60 thousand people.

The indoor arena which had 85 m long and 53 m wide is just a hollow surrounded by a high wall to protect spectators from the wild animals used in fights. The floor was made of wood and was covered with sand to absorb the blood spilled in battles. Under this were found some mechanisms that sustained it. The floor was covering underground tunnels where once, there were imprisoned the animals and gladiators.
The Colosseum is a marvel of engineering because there are so many stairs and exits, so that the entire arena could be emptied in just 10 minutes.
Surely this is an impressive building which represents of the main attractions of Italy.

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10
Nov

Yellowstone National Park

Posted in North America  by visit on November 10th, 2009

Yellowstone is the largest national park in the world. Established in 1872 by an Act of Congress, the park was known as Yellowstone, by the way the tribe of Indians called the water Minnetaree that crosses the land: the river that springs from the yellow rock.   

Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the park occupies an area of nearly 5470 square kilometers, along the length and the width whom the roads are arranged. Yellowstone is in the territories of three states: Wyoming, southwestern Montana and southeastern Idaho State. In the park you can get through five entries: Gardiner. West Yellowstone, Jackson, Cooly and Cooke City and is crossed by the parallel of 45 grades north latitude.

The first historical evidence of the human existence in this area dates back 12,000 years, and the problem is put over the traces which were left by the nomadic tribes. After coming of Europeans, Bannocks Indians were those to master these lands.

In the winter of 1806-1807, John Colter left the Americans Lewis and Clark expedition and began to explore one area. Colter spent three years in the wilderness area, returning, finally, to St.Louis and storying about the beauties and wonders seen in Yellowstone. Unfortunately, his stories were considered by his fellow citizens as hallucinations of a madman.

The expedition, which finally laid the important region, organized by the explorers was the Washburn, Langford and Doane, in 1870, when there were discovered the waterfalls of the Yellowstone river, mud volcanoes, Yellowstone Lake and Great Fountain Geyser. After the expedition reports were prepared, and published articles about particular phenomenons occurring in the area. Thus, two years later, the region was declared a national park and one of the expedition’s members, Nathaniel Langford, became the first manager of the park.

In terms of geology, Yellowstone crossed three active volcanoes periods, which began 2.1 million years ago, and which generated a volcanic plateau located at approximately 1.950-2.550 m altitude above sea level. The most important feature of the park is given by the geothermal phenomenon: geysers, hot springs, mud volcanoes and mofettes.

Traveler’s eyes are attracted by four major points of tourist interest: the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone river, Thermal springs of Mamut , geysers and Yellowstone Lake.

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