The history of Classical Athens is a neverending story of human ambition,  courage, deceit and subservience to the pantheon of Greek Gods who held the destiny of Attica in their hands.     Over the past 2 days  I have had the honor of meeting many of them.

No that is not Patrick Swayze, but rather a bronze Poseidon from the 2nd century BC,  cast by the sculptor Lyssipos.

A more traditional view of Poseidon. Personally,  I prefer the Patrick Swayze version!

Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild animals, forests, hunters and girls,  discovered in a shipwreck from the 4th century BC.

Athena,  Goddess and Protectoress of Athens.  This is the most stunning and unblemished statue of Athena on display at the National Archealogical museum.

Sauromates II,  King of the Kimmerian Bosporus in the 2nd century AD, and another stunningly realistic marble in the Acropolis museum.

Half man, half god Alexander the Great.

Alexander’s most influential teacher during his adolescence, and a towering genius of classic Greece, Aristotle.  325 BC in the National Archeological Museum.

Aphrodite, Pan and Eros, from a Greek villa near modern day Beirut, 100 BC.  Attraction, compulsion, mediation and erotocism all in play here in this gorgeous marble. Looks like an ancient #me too moment to me!