The Porch of the Caryatids on the Acropolis of Athens. A caryatid is basically a column sculpted like a woman. Those on the Erechtheion are arguably the most famous in the world. What you see are very careful restorations to preserve the remaining statues. Five of the original statues were moved to the Acopolis Museum for safe keeping. The other one was controversially removed by Thomas Bruce to his home in Scotland before selling it to the British Museum.

I was given warnings that there ‘wasn’t a lot of old stuff’ in Athens and that it was mostly just a normal large city. I was also told, it was ‘very poor and dirty, with graffiti everywhere and very sad.’ All of that is garbage. Someone in a five-star hotel got their panties in a bunch and stayed inside without looking around. Athens is amazing and I can’t wait to go back. From the innumerable ruins and museums, to the shops, eateries, and nightlife, Athens is wonderful. There is lots of graffiti though. As with so many places, don’t sit in your hotel. Go. Explore!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caryatid

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erechtheion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acropolis_of_Athens

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens

http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bruce,_7th_Earl_of_Elgin