Parthenon and Delphi among the greatest ancient settlements in the world

The journalist states that he is amazed by these world famous archaeological sites

The UK edition of the National Geographic Traveller magazine published an article entitled “Lost cities: The world’s greatest ancient settlements” highlighting the Parthenon and the Oracle of Delphi in Greece.

National Geographic Traveller’s journalist Ben Lerwill visited Greece during the summer in order to see the country’s “key classical sites” and he started his visit from “the city that gave the world democracy”, Athens.

parthenonas

The journalist describes his experience of visiting Acropolis and Parthenon and notes “Modern-day Athens remains a singular sight… It’s almost 2,500 years since the celebrated statesman Pericles rebuilt the city after a series of wars with Persia and ushered in its so-called Golden Age. At a time when much of Europe was still scratching around in hovels, he commissioned the lofty temples and neatly proportioned buildings that still capture the imagination today. The Parthenon is, of course, the best known of these”.

Then, the journalist drove three hours north of Athens in order to visit Delphi, a place which was considered the center of the world for a long time.

delphi

“In legend, Zeus released two eagles from different ends of the earth to meet at its midpoint,” mentions Lerwill repeating the words of his guide. “They came together in the skies right here.”

“For over 1,000 years, leaders, dignitaries and warriors came to this remote spot to present offerings and ask questions of the Delphi oracle, a local woman who, it was believed, acted as the gods’ mouthpiece” he states in his article.