Zappeion, Athens, Greece - SpottingHistory.com

The Zappeion is a palace-like building in the National Gardens of Athens in the heart of Athens. It is generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and private. The cornerstone was laid in 1874. Designed by Danish architect Theophil Hansen, it was finally opened in 1888.

Zappeion was used during the 1896 Summer Olympics as the main fencing hall. A decade later, at the 1906 Intercalated Games, it was used as the Olympic Village. It served as the first host for the organizing committee (ATHOC) for the 2004 Games from 1998 to 1999 and served as the press center during the 2004 games. In 1938, the Athens Radio Station, the country's first national broadcaster, began operating in the premises.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Paw Andersen (2 years ago)
Came past here by chance after a stroll in the national park. A very nice building and a great break from all the ruins.

ivan lee (2 years ago)
A good spot of photo taking. The roads are wide and you can take a good stroll after your meal. Sit by the bench to enjoy the breeze and the fountain. Evening lights would give you the best feel

Miran Sarkissian (2 years ago)
An absolutely terrific architectural feat in Athens. The archaic style opens eyes and heart. One really feels transported to Ancient Athens waiting for Pericles to walk in and begin a debate on politics!

Ian Eastwood (2 years ago)
I found this by accident. It's mainly used for conferences and talks. It's a fantastic building with great architecture. Just outside there's a lovely working fountain. It's clearly used by locals, as you can often see them walking slowly and admiring the various buildings. It's also quite busy for joggers. inside the temperature is lovely and cool on a hot day. For the best photo's, try and get there before 10am as the sun won't be in your camera lens. There's a cafe right next door. I didn't have the time to visit, but it looked very popular with the locals. On you way out - with the Hall on the right, and once you walk through the trees either side of the walkway, I would recommend turning right and walk for about 5 minutes and you will be at Sintagma Square.

Alexander Holyoake (2 years ago)
The gardens and the fountains are nice to walk around, don't be afraid to stick your head round the door and look at the courtyard. There's also a dudes head behind the plaque on the right. Try to ignore the engraved Comic Sans if you can. This is why a star is missing.

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Historic Site of the week

Heraclea Lyncestis

Heraclea Lyncestis was an ancient Greek city in Macedon, ruled later by the Romans. It was founded by Philip II of Macedon in the middle of the 4th century BC. The city was named in honor of the mythological hero Heracles. The name Lynkestis originates from the name of the ancient kingdom, conquered by Philip, where the city was built.

Heraclea was a strategically important town during the Hellenistic period, as it was at the edge of Macedon"s border with Epirus to the west and Paeonia to the north, until the middle of the 2nd century BC, when the Romans conquered Macedon and destroyed its political power. The main Roman road in the area, Via Egnatia went through Heraclea, and Heraclea was an important stop. The prosperity of the city was maintained mainly due to this road.

The Roman emperor Hadrian built a theatre in the center of the town, on a hill, when many buildings in the Roman province of Macedonia were being restored. It began being used during the reign of Antoninus Pius. Inside the theatre there were three animal cages and in the western part a tunnel. The theatre went out of use during the late 4th century AD, when gladiator fights in the Roman Empire were banned, due to the spread of Christianity, the formulation of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the abandonment of, what was then perceived as, pagan rituals and entertainment.

Late Antiquity and Byzantine periods

In the early Byzantine period (4th to 6th centuries AD) Heraclea was an important episcopal centre. A small and a great basilica, the bishop"s residence, and a funerary basilica and the necropolis are some of the remains of this period. Three naves in the Great Basilica are covered with mosaics of very rich floral and figurative iconography; these well preserved mosaics are often regarded as fine examples of the early Christian art period.

The city was sacked by Ostrogoth/Visigoth forces, commanded by Theodoric the Great in 472 AD and again in 479 AD. It was restored in the late 5th and early 6th century. When an earthquake struck in 518 AD, the inhabitants of Heraclea gradually abandoned the city. Subsequently, at the eve of the 7th century, the Dragovites, a Slavic tribe pushed down from the north by the Avars, settled in the area. The last coin issue dates from ca. 585, which suggests that the city was finally captured by the Slavs. As result, in place of the deserted city theatre several huts were built.

The Episcopacy Residence was excavated between 1970 and 1975. The western part was discovered first and the southern side is near the town wall. The luxury rooms are located in the eastern part. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th rooms all have mosaic floors. Between the 3rd and 4th rooms there is a hole that led to the eastern entrance of the residence. The hole was purposefully created between the 4th and 6th century.

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