Athens is the city that comes to mind when people think of Greece. Millions of tourists visit it every year. Even if Athens isn’t on your travel list right now, you can take this quick tour of the city’s landmarks without having to set foot on an airplane.
THE ACROPOLIS
One of Athens’ hills, the Acropolis, is one of the most familiar landmarks in the world. Perched on this steep, rocky hill is an ancient Greek group of monuments, including the Parthenon, which was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, and the Erechtheion, a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. These and other temples, most of them in ruins, are still amazing examples of classical architecture.There are also fortresses, walls, and gates built 24to defend the hill in ancient times. From the top of the Acropolis, visitors can look out over much of the city of Athens.
THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
Before the 17th century, many of the buildings on the Acropolis were still intact. But wars, the need for building materials, and even souvenir-seeking tourists took a toll on the site and its artifacts. In 1865, the Acropolis Museum was built just to protect the artifacts and other materials that were part of the Acropolis. It quickly outgrew its space and has been continually expanded. The museum handles a huge number of visitors and protects many of the valuable relics of the Acropolis. A glass floor allows visitors to see an ancient Roman settlement discovered during the digging of the museum’s foundations. The museum also hopes to display the Elgin Marbles, which were removed from the Parthenon by the Englishman Lord Elgin in the 19th century and which Greece hopes to have returned.
TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS
Another famous Greek temple is located in the center of Athens. It is dedicated to the Greek god Zeus, and it took several centuries to complete. It is one of the most massive temples ever built, and 15 of its original 104 huge columns, each nearly 57 feet tall, are still standing. At one time, it held a gigantic gold and ivory statue of Zeus.
This story is from the November/December 2017 edition of Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November/December 2017 edition of Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Animal Central
From golden frogs to big cats to colorful birds, the national animals of Central America represent the geography and cultures of the region. For a quick sampling of creatures plain and beautiful, common and rare, read on.
31 Countries Biosphere
The Trifinio Fraternidad Biosphere Reserve is located at a spot where El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras converge. A biosphere is the layer of planet Earth where life exists.
THE LEGEND OF THE QUETZAL BIRD
A Mayan Tale retold by Pat Betteley illustrated by Amanda Shepherd
Semana Santa GUATEMALA'S HOLY WEEK
What if Easter preparations meant dyeing sand, collecting pine needles, and staying up all night to work on an art project that you knew would be ruined the very next day? Well, welcome to Guatemala’s Semana Santa, or Holy Week.
ME OH-MAYA!
The Maya are groups of people who live in parts of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Their ancestors created a great society. At its peak, from 600-900 C.E., the Maya civilization was more advanced than its neighbors in the Americas.
Playing Games Honduras-style
Would you play the same games in Honduras that you do in the United States? You might. Children in Honduras enjoy many of the same games North Americans do. They go fishing and shoot baskets. They play sandlot baseball—called bate (BAH tay). They fly kites and ride bikes. Their parents may go horseback riding or play golf or tennis.
LIVING A LONG LIFE IN THE Blue Zone
Most people would like to live as long a life as possible. No one really knows why some people live longer than others, but did you know that where you live can play a big part in how many years you’ll be alive? If you live in a Blue Zone, chances are that you will live much longer than people in other parts of the world.
ATTENTION WORLD: Belize Saves Their Coral Reef
Sea turtles float in clear waters, colorful corals hug the ocean floor, and aquatic animals glide among the mangrove roots. Welcome to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second-largest coral reef in the world (Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is number one). Several years ago, this reef was in crisis, heading toward destruction. But the people of Belize fought back to save their reef’s health.
The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a 51-mile long canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
This is Central America!
It’s time to visit Central America. But first, it helps to know exactly where Central America is. Despite its name, it is the southernmost part of North America, which can seem a little confusing. It makes up most of the isthmus dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and has water on both sides.
