Biblical Sites Expanded Parthenon Athens Greece Maranatha Tours

Biblical Sites Expanded Parthenon -

The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. To the Athenians who built it, the Parthenon and other Periclean monuments of the Acropolis were seen fundamentally as a celebration of Hellenic victory over the Persian invaders and as a thanksgiving to the gods for that victory.

The Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the peak of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC.

The Parthenon itself replaced an older temple of Athena, which historians call the Pre-Parthenon or Older Parthenon, that was destroyed in the Persian invasion of 480 BC. Like most Greek temples, the Parthenon served a practical purpose as the city treasury.

After the Ottoman conquest, it was turned into a mosque in the early 1460s. On 26 September 1687, an Ottoman ammunition dump inside the building was ignited by Venetian bombardment during a siege of the Acropolis. The resulting explosion severely damaged the Parthenon and its sculptures. From 1800 to 1803, Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin removed some of the surviving sculptures, now known as the Elgin Marbles, with the alleged permission of the Turks of the Ottoman Empire.

Since 1975 numerous large-scale restoration projects have been undertaken; the latest is expected to finish in 2020.

In the sixth century A.D., the Christian Byzantines conquered Greece. They outlawed pagan worship of the Greek gods and converted the Parthenon to a Christian church. They blocked the East side entrance and, following the custom of Christianity, forced worshipers to enter the church on the West side.

The massive statue of Athena was gone before the Byzantines arrived. In her place, they put a pulpit and marble bishop’s chair.

The Parthenon remained a Christian church until 1458 A.D., when the Muslim Ottoman Empire seized Athens. The Ottoman Turks converted the Parthenon into a mosque, yet kept many Christian paintings and artifacts intact.

PLEASE AND YOUR WELCOME are the most common phrases you will use when Traveling throughout the Middle East.

Please (to be polite when asking for something)

Hebrew - Bevakasha. (be-vah-kuh-SHAH)
Arabic – Law Samaht(m) Law Samahti (f) (lao sa-maHt or Lao sa-maH-tee)
Greek – Parakalo (Pa-ra-ka-lo)
Italian – Per Favore (Pair fav-aw-ray)

You’re Welcome (response to thank you, it’s nothing, don’t mention it)

Hebrew – Ein bead ma (en-bed-ma)
Arabic – A’fwan (Ah-fwan)
Greek – Tipota (Ti-Po-tah)
Italian – Prego (Pray-go)

Maranatha Tours Tour Guide Travel Book

In the Maranatha Tour Guide you will find itineraries, dates and prices for a few of the tours we have traveling Though The Bible. If after looking at the Tour Guide you find that the dates do not work with your schedule, please let us know. We will then see if we have other tours available that will match your needs. We have groups traveling throughout the year that might be a good fit.
Also, we have listed other trips that our Tour Hosts allowed us to show on our website. Please visit maranathatours.com and click Hosted Tours. Look for the dates you would like to go and see if there is space available on your requested tour. Each Tour Host listed is excited about you joining them on their trip of a lifetime.

If you would like to sign up for one of the enclosed tours, simply fill out the reservation form and return it along with your deposit to our office. We will then send you additional information regarding the tour.

If you are a Tour Host or Clergy: Join us on a ‘Your Tour’ customized to your exact specifications. Tour where and how you like. You can build the cost on a large or small group, with minimal increase for the latter. Other factors such as departure dates, length of tour, additional destinations, classification of hotels, site selection, specific guide requests and special times for study and devotion can be included in the planning of ‘your’ tour. We look forward to hearing from you and serving you on YOUR “Trip of a Lifetime.”

Biblical Sites Expanded Parthenon Athens Greece Maranatha Tours