Paul in Athens

Christianity had its real roots in Greece. It was Paul's churches that went on to survive all the turmoil that accompanied the first few centuries of the first millennium.

As a result, Paul's letters became incorporated into the Christian scriptures [New Testament to those still using 'old' language], and all the others were lost to history.





Acts contains a record of Paul in Athens speaking from the Aeropagus of the "unknown God". The Greeks were thorough. So thorough that they had a sacred site to the unknown god, just in case they might have overlooked one!

Good insurance - because Greek mythology makes it clear:  do not make the gods angry as  they can be quite child-like, jealous and vengeful. Just like us I guess.

Here I  am on the Areopagus, just below the Acropolis, where Paul preached to the Athenians.




When Paul came to Athens, he spoke from this site to the Athenians. He introduced this unknown God as the Jewish God - Yahweh, or Jehovah, or possibly Adoni. Perhaps like many Jews of his time, he might never mention a name at all but rather a silence.

It was here that the first Athenians, probably Greeks already attracted to Judaism with its ancient scriptures, were converted to the Jewish Christian slant on the new faith. One of those present became the first bishop of Athens. It would be many more decades before the first 'Christians' emerged from this confused cauldron of faith.

The words Acts record as Paul's words are written on this  bronze plague on the rock wall.

The way up to the top of the rock is via this  treacherous original stone stairway cut in the rock. They are literally polished smooth.

I'm sure that if this site existed in Canada it would be closed to the public as too dangerous. Here however a simple warning is posted and "Darwin takes care of those who are not attentive"

There is a gentler path of to the side- I took it coming down!









Another view of the stone stairway up the rock.











Here is a view from the Acropolis entrance looking down on the rock where Paul spoke.

And yes- it is that steep.

This is one impressive site that pictures hardly begin to capture.

This is the first time I have stood on a Biblical site!

Nice!





This is view of Athens at night looking over the Acropolis and down toward Pireaus in the distance.

In the far distance is the Salamis Strait in front of Salamis Island. It is here where the Athenian navy defeated the Persian navy in a desperate battle over 2500 years ago - and changed the course of world history.

Interesting to note it is within site of Athena's temple. Huuumm, causes you to wonder doesn't it?  Such is Athens.

One does a lot of thinking here!