The Tower of the Winds in the Roman Agora, at night, with Acropolis in the background. Athens, Greece
Walking from Monastiraki on the way to Acropolis, in the heart of the beautiful neighborhood of Plaka, you will find at the edge of the Roman Agora this Octagonal Tower , called "Aerides" (it means the "Winds"), probably the best preserved monument of the Roman Era of Athens. It i also called "horologion "(timepiece. The structure features a combination of sundials, a water clock and a wind vane. In the background you can see part of the Holy Rock of Acropolis, and to be more specific the Erectheion. The octagonal Tower of the Winds (Aerides) is the most appealing and well preserved of the Roman monuments of Athens, keeping time since the 1st century BC. It was originally a sundial, water clock, and weather vane topped by a bronze Triton with a metal rod in his hand, which followed the direction of the wind. Expressive reliefs around the octagonal tower personify the eight winds, called I Aerides (the Windy Ones) by Athenians. Note the north wind, Boreas, blowing on a conch, and the beneficent west wind, Zephyros, scattering blossoms. It was built by a astronomer, named Andronicus of Cyrrhus
Size: 5416px × 3620px
Location: Roman Agora, Plaka, Athens, Greece, Europe
Photo credit: © Hercules Milas / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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