Maze E: Olympia

OLYMPIA

The original home of the Olympic Games first held in 776 B.C.  I ran the 193.4 meter dash at the Olympia Stadium.  My precision time was more than 2 minutes.  Opa!  Julie from London told me the world record was 19 seconds!



The Temple of Zeus - once housed one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World.

The Temple of Zeus 470-457 B.C.

Architect: Libon the Elean

Doric, peripheral temple with 6 columns at the narrow and 13 columns at the long sides. In the cells was positioned the colossal gold and ivory made cult statue of Zeus (h. 12 m) - one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world - by Athenian sculptor Pheidias. It was destroyed by earthquakes of 522 and 551 A.D.

East pediment: The contest between Pelops and Oinomaos

West pediment: The fight between Lapiths and Centaurs

The labors of Hercules were depicted on the 12 interior slabs (melopae)

Olympia Gymnasium

I'm looking at a souvenir T-shirt with a map of ancient Greece, studying it real carefully.  Ancient Greeks called their land Hellas and themselves Hellenes.  Historians regard the Greeks as the founder of Western civilization for they were the first to develop the democratic way of life.

Greek civilization developed on a rocky and porous mountainous peninsula that juts into the Mediterranean Sea from southeastern Europe.  Ancient Greeks believed that their gods were superhuman beings but did not live in terror of them.  Either the late 70's or early 80's, I quite remember there was an excellent ? (or was it ABC?) made-for-TV movie on the gods and Titans of Mount Olympus.  There was also a TV movie /series on Hercules with : I forgot the name of the actor.

The Greeks built a religious city of temples, treasure housed and other buildings to honor the gods.  The 12 gods worshipped by ancient Greeks are:

1.  Zeus - The principal god of the Greek pantheon, ruler of the heavens and father of the other gods and mortal heroes.

2.  Apollo - The god of the sun, prophecy, music, medicine and poetry.

3.  Dionysus - The god of wine and celebrator of the power and fertility of nature.

4.  Pluto - The god of the underworld.

5.  Hephaestus - The god of fire.

6.  Hermes - The god of commerce, invention and theft, and messenger for the other gods.

7.  Poseidon -  The god of the waters, earthquakes and horses.

8.  Hera - The goddess of marriage and birth, the sister and wife of Zeus.

9.  Aprodite - The goddess of love and beauty.

10.  Artemis - The goddess of hunting.

11.  Athena - The goddess of wisdom and the arts.

12.  Demeter - The goddess of Agriculture, fertility and marriage. 

Olympia Archeological Museum.

Internet Publication:

6/1/10  lib's labyrinth

10/2005  ALT  MSN Group

Maze D: Delphi

Delphi, Mount Parnassus -The Navel of the Earth

Olympic Oracle of Delphi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXM5h9ZK4hk 00:35

Delphi

Temple of Apollo - Where oracles are given during ancient times.  While walking through the ruins, I asked the priestess living underneath temple the future of my family and friends, American politics and the world in general.  In ancient times the age of these priestesses called the Oracle of Delphi were about 13-year-old.  Young but full of wisdom.  I was told I'll continue to have the good life and good health.  Opa!

Temple of Apollo

 Ruins of Delphi

The Treasury

Delphi Museum

The Muses

Hercules

Hercules (Heracles) was one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology.  His father was Zeus, and his mother was Princess Alcmene.  Hera, wife of Zeus, was jealous of Alcmene and hated Hercules.  When Hercules married his first wife Megara, a Theban Princess, Hera made him insane, and he burned his house, killing his wife and children.  When Hercules recovered from his sanity, he sought the help from the Oracle of Delphi.  The Oracle told him to serve his cousin Eurystheus, the King of Argos, for 12 years. 

The Twelve Labors of Hercules:
1.  He killed the Nemean Lion by thrusting his arm down its throat.  He removed the tough skin and wore it as armor.
2.  He killed the Hydra, a serpent with nine venomous heads, by burning off eight of its head, but the ninth was immortal so he buried it under a stone.  He then dipped his arrows in the Hydra's venom to make them deadly venomous.
3 & 4.  He captured a stag and a wild boar in the Arcadian Mountains and showed them to Eurystheus.
5.  He drove away a great flock of destuctive birds that lived near Lake Stymphalus in Arcadia.
6.  He cleaned the dirty stables of King Augeas of Elis in one day by turning rivers through them.
7.  He went to Crete and caught the savage bull of Minos, the Cretan king.
8.  He captured the man-eating mares of King Diomedes of Thrace.  He then killed Diomedes, fed his flesh to the horses, which then became gentle.
9.  He obtained the girdle of Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazon.  Fighting broke out, killing Hippolyta and Hercules escaped with the girdle.
10.  He got the cattle of the monster Geryon living far to the west, past the Pillars of Hercules (Strait of Gibraltar).
11.  He carried the Apples of the Hesperides to Eurystheus.  Hesperides were the daughters of Atlas and Hesperus (Evening), and they lived at the western end of the world.  They guarded the golden apples which Gaea (Earth) gave to Hera (Juno) when she married Zeus (Jupiter).  A sleepless dragon helped them.
12.  He seized Cerberus, the monster watchdog of the Lower World, and showed it to Eurystheus.  Then Hercules returned to the Lower World.

The last three labors were ways of winning immortality: Geryon and Cerberus represent Death, and the apples were the fruit of the Tree of Life.

Hercules was traveling with second wife Deianira, and he allowed a centaur named Nessus to carry her across a flooded stream.  Nessus was nasty to her, and Hercules shot him with a poisoned arrow.  As Nessus died, he told Deianira to save his blood to use as a love potion.  When Hercules fell in love with Iole, a woman he had captured, Deianira was jealous and dipped a robe in the blood and sent it to him.  When he put it on, the poison ate away his flesh, and in agony, begged his friends to place him on a funeral pyre and light it.  His burned body was taken up into Olympus and welcomed as one of the gods.  At the end of his life, Hercules won immortality.

Click photo to enlarge

Logged 10/6/05  ALT MSN Groups
6/1/10  lib's labyrinth

Maze A: Athens

ATHENS

September 4, 2005: Let me start with us boarding Alitalia overnight transatlantic flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Ahena Hellinikon Airport with few hours stopover in Milan, the fashion capital of Italy.  I must say Alitalia could not even give me a can of my favorite Coke! A bit stingy on drinks for a long international flight would you say? Anyway we got to Athens safely and that's the most important thing.

After checking to Acropolis Hotel near Plaka an tidying up a little bit we took a walk to the nearest ATM to get some euros.  It's past 3 pm ad we're getting quite hungry.  Along the way we met three Pinoys and chatted with them for a few minutes.  It's their Saturday off as caregivers and they went grocery shopping from the supermarket.  I asked the how they like Greece.  One of them has been living in Athens for 21 years and working as a domestic help under the same employer.  They said their apartment was just across our hotel.
Later, after getting the welcoming feel of the city, we met with our experienced tour director Denise at the hotel conference room.  We also met for the first time the others in the tour group.  My first impression was it's going to be a jolly fabulous group.  As days went by I learned they came from England, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
I did not get to log and write my day to day positive and negative experiences as I was so tired by the end of the day.  The jetlag added to my laziness.
Personally, my taste of Greece is very palatable.  This is very important to hungry travelers.  They have the best yummy foods - very fresh grilled white salmon, souvaki (shish kebab), moussaka (eggplant with ground meat), baklava (dessert) and Greek salad.  I had the tastiest spaghetti at our hotel restaurant (no tomato sauce).

Opa Baby with Greek Folk Dancers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUPoBGwRZJA 00:50

ZEIMBEKIKO
Most popular dance in Greek tavernas (to honor Dionysus, God of wine, of Mystery and Love and to thank him for his wine).  There is no choreography, the dancer expresses himself as he wants to.

HASSAPIKO
Formerly called Seiros.  One of the most ancient dances of Greece.  Arms linked together to represent the friendship existing between dancers.

Greek dancers that looks like godesses

TSAMIKOS

This is danced by men before battle.  It represents the athletic preparation of the warriors.

KALAMATIANOS

It is the National Dance of Greece, and comes from the word Kalamata, in the south of Peloponese.  It is dance in a circle by men and women.

BALLOS
Performed by couples who express their feelings of love and happiness.  It's very popular in weddings, baptisms and festivals.

LA DANCE DE ZORBA
It is the Syrtaki, from the 1965 movie "Zorba the Greek" starring Anthony Quinn.
http://youtu.be/fPWU8hy0McY

SOLO BOUZOKI
One of the most important instruments of Greek music and known in ancient times as Pandouris or Pandours.  It is a strong instrument with 3 or 4 strings doubles.
Kaleemera! Kalespera! Kaleenikta! (Good morning, Good afternoon, goodnight!)

What's happening in Greece today is another one of those Greek tragedies. But the Greeks are there to stay and survive!

To do is to be. *Socrates

To be is to do. *Plato

Do be do be do. * Sinatra




A panoramic view from Acropolis.
My first full day of walking pain - me who's not used to climbing 500 feet of stairs!  I don't walk, I drive.  But I must see the Parthenon and its fascinating museum.  I got there alright and saw nothing but ruins.  Athens is a mess! No surprise, it's more than 2,500 years old.

The theatre.

The Erechtheion.

The Acropolis was erected in 437-432 B.C. by architect Mnesicles. On top, about 200 ft. is the Parthenon Temple (Doric Peristyle) - dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was built in the second half of 5th century B.C. There was a contest between her and Poseidon - she won with her gift of olive tree to Poseidon's gift of horse.  Believe itor not, the olive tree is still where t was - on the west side o Erechtheion.  There used to be 8 columns on the ends and 17 on the sides made with pentelic marbles.  The Trojan Was was depicted on the north side, Lapiths and Centaurs (south), Athenians and Amazons (west) and Battle of Gods and Giants (east).  The Persians (modern day Iran) burned the Acropolis, built as a fortress and sanctuary, in 479 B.C.

Internet Publication:

6/1/10  lib's labyrinth

10/1/05  ALT  MSN Group

Origami

CAN YOU SPARE A DOLLAR OR TWO?

              Two  Dollars     Camera

                       One  Dollar     Battle Tank

                      Two  Dollars     Chinese Dragon

               One  Dollar      Dolphin

                     Two  Dollars      Jacket

                       Two  Dollars     Spider

                  One  Dollar     Scorpion

                     One   Dollar     Scorpion

                    One  Dollar     Toilet

                        
                     One   Dollar     Penguin

                      One  Dollar     Shark

________________________________________

E-mail forwarded by Fely of Toronto

This has got to be one of the cleverest E-mails.  Someone out there either has too much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble.    (Wait till you see the last one)!      DORMITORY:      When you rearrange the letters:      DIRTY ROOM     PRESBYTERIAN:      When you rearrange the letters:      BEST IN PRAYER      ASTRONOMER:      When you rearrange the letters:      MOON STARER       DESPERATION:      When you rearrange the letters:      A ROPE ENDS IT      THE EYES:      When you rearrange the letters:      THEY SEE      GEORGE BUSH:      When you rearrange the letters:      HE BUGS GORE      THE MORSE CODE:      When you rearrange the letters:      HERE COME DOTS      SLOT MACHINES:      When you rearrange the letters:      CASH LOST IN ME       ANIMOSITY:      When you rearrange the letters:      IS NO AMITY      ELECTION RESULTS:      When you rearrange the letters:      LIES - LET'S RECOUNT      MOTHER-IN-LAW:      When you rearrange the letters:      WOMAN HITLER      SNOOZE ALARMS:      When you rearrange the letters:      ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S      A DECIMAL POINT:      When you rearrange the letters:      IM A DOT IN PLACE      THE EARTHQUAKES:      When you rearrange the letters:      THAT QUEER SHAKE      ELEVEN PLUS TWO:      When you rearrange the letters:      TWELVE PLUS ONE

Vicky 

---

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Oldest in the Philippines

University of Santo Tomas    Oldest University

___________________________________

 

Did you know that the Philippines'
coconut geotextile ( a.k.a. coconet) for soil erosion control  has been
chosen as one of the 12 finalists in Newsweek and BBC's (British Broadcasting
Corporation) World's World Challenge?

The World Challenge is basically a
competition/search designed at identifying groups or individuals all over the
world whose projects have contributed great impact at grass roots level.


A documentary about Philippine Coconut geotextile or coconet
 industry  will be shown on the BBC World cable channel on September
24  around 8:30 GMT and  will also  be featured in the August 29
special issue of Newsweek.

?The World Challenge? already offers a
tremendous exposure and publicity to our flourishing Philippine coconut
geotextile industry and to our Philippine coconut fiber exporters.   But it
would be great liberation for our country, which has been getting very bad
publicity nowadays, to win this prestigious competition.

To vote, please
open www.theworldchallenge.co.uk and click the
picture of Philippine coconet.

Please help us campaign for more voters
by forwarding this message to your co-worker,  friends and relatives.


Thanks


Published  8/23/05  ALT  MSN Group
Web Page: Please vote for the Philippines

Witty Witty Bang Bang Ads Wordplay

Smart and seasoned
foreign travelers to the Philippines can figure it out right away when they see
- thought-provoking, fun advert signs and witty wordplay in Taglish
(Tagalog-English) in different places and small towns.  Tonyboy O. explains
why so much wit - "We came from a country where
you require a sense of humor to survive.  We have a 24-hr comedy show here
called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of
politicians and bad actors."

CLEVER AND REDESIGNED ADS,
SIGNS AND WORDPLAY

Flower shop in Dilliman, Quezon City
-  PETAL ATTRACTION

Sewing accessories shop - BEADS AND
PIECES

Chinese pastry shops - HOLLAND HOPIA AND
POLAND HOPIA (Holland Hopia is owned by a man named Ho and Poland Hopia is run
by a man name Po.  Another meaning is Ho and Po are Tagalog words of
respectful greetings to each other)

On Congressional Avenue in Manila -
PARKING FOR COSTUMERS ONLY.

A restaurant in Baguio - WANTED: BOY
WAITRESS

On highway in Pampanga - WE MAKE MODERN
ANTIQUE FURNITURE

On the photography window shop in
Cabanatuan - WE SHOOT YOU WHILE YOU WAIT

On the glass wall in an eatery in Panay
Avenue, Manila - WANTED: WAITER, CASHIER, WASHIER  (Juan or Jack of all
trade)

A shoe store in Pangasinan - WE SELL
IMPORTED ROBBER SHOES (Could these be the sneakiest sorts of
sneakers?)

A house in Jaro, Iloilo - HOUSE FOR
RENT, FULLY FURNACED (Call it a 'Summer House')

A ticket window sign at a ferry pier
outside Davao, southern Philippines -

ADULTS: 1 USD

CHILD: 50 CENTS

CADAVERS: SUBJECT TO
NEGOTIATION

LOVE OF THINGS
AMERICA

A Manila Bakery - BREAD
PITT

A bread shop - ANITA
BAKERY

A 24-hour restaurant - DORIS DAY AND
NIGHT

A garment shop - ELIZABETH
TAILORING

A hairdresser - FELIX THE
CUT

A Makati fast-food place selling maruya
(banana fritters) - MARUYA CAREY

A water-engineering firm - CHRISTOPHER
PLUMBING

A boutique - THE WAY WE
WEAR

A video rental place - LEON KING VIDEO
RENTAL

A restaurant in the Cainta district of
Rizal town - CAINTACKY FRIED CHICKEN

A local burger restaurant - MANG
DONALD'S  (Mang is Filipino word for Mister)

A doughnut shop -
MACDONUTS

A shop selling selling lumpia (eggrolls)
in Makati - WRAP AND ROLL

2 butcher shops - MEATING PLACE AND
MEATROPOLIS

Source: The Far Eastern Economic
Review