Esther's photos with the keyword: archway

This arch in Olympia Greece stands as a testiment to its construction. Olympia is believed to be the home of the what was later know as the first Olympic games. Olympia Greece. Olympia Greece. "Tradition holds that the first Olympic Games were held in 776BC, but they might actually have started way before then. The games were a peace treaty between Sparta and Elis, and it was soon decided that all Greek states could take part in them as long as they respected the sacred truce that must be held during the games. This period of peace was for a month at first, but because so many states took part and people from all over came to watch, it was extended to three months, always during summer. Because the sacred truce gave the kings and leaders from all over Greece a chance to meet unarmed, Olympia became an important place for political discussions and trade. It also enhanced the feeling of unity amongst the Greeks, along with the language and religion. Olympia was to be renovated many times, and new buildings were added through the ages. Famous people came here to watch the games, such and Plato and Aristotle , and before them, in the 6th century BC, Thales of Miletus had died of a heat stroke here. Gelon and Hieron of Syracusae were to compete in the games, and so was Alcibiades , Alexander the Great and Nero. Slaves and women, especially married ones, were strictly forbidden to watch the games, and if a woman was caught as a spectator, she was immediately thrown off Mt. Typaeon.Women could compete though, and besides that, the Heraia were also held here; foot races for young maids in the area." www.katakolon-greece.com/greece-olympia.html ODT: Over and under AIMG_3933

Trogir, Croatia is a medieval town on the Adriatic coast of Croatia. "In architecture, a tympanum (plural, tympana) is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element. In ancient Greek and Roman and in Christian architecture tympana usually contain religious imagery." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tympanum_ (architecture) AIMG_4293

Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia was built by Roman emperor Diocletian at the beginning of the 4th Century as a retirement home. The Romans eventually abandonned the palace and in the 7th century, local residents occupied it to escape from the barbarians. It has remained occupied since then. The enormous basement filled with trash until it was excavated in the middle of the 20th Century to reveal amazingly thick walls and vaulted ceilings. AIMG_4321

Bhaktapur in Nepal was founded in the 12th century and was the capital city of the Greater Malla Kingdom until the 15th century. Thereafter, it was an independent kingdom from then until the 18th century until it became part of Nepal. It isl ocated about 20 km east of Kathmandu in the Kathmandu Valley. The carvings on many of the buildings are exquisite. AIMG_706

The Agra Fort is located across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, A fort stood in Agra since at least 1080 AD. The present fort was built at the sited of the forts ruins. Approximately 1,444,000 workers toiled for eight years to complete it in 1573. The fort is made out of brick and red sandstone and decorated with marble. AIMG_6251