What is the name of the Tower of the Winds in Athens? Tower of the Winds in Athens - the oldest meteorological station
The appearance of the structure dates back to the 1st century BC. Historians cannot determine a more exact date: no historical documents have survived to this day that record the exact moment of the construction of the weather station. However, it is known that Andronicus of Cyrrhus, a Greek astronomer, was its author.
There is an assumption that the building was not only a weather station, but also served the inhabitants as sundial. Later, during the Middle Ages, the spread and strengthening of the position of Christianity in European countries influenced the fate of the Tower of the Winds. Taking advantage of the peculiarities of its architecture for their own purposes, the church ministers began to use the tower as a bell tower, and its first purpose - meteorology - was forced to fade into the background, and after that it was completely forgotten.
Time passed, and the antiquity of the building began to affect the state of the weather station. However, the decision to carry out work on the capital restoration of the structure was made only at the beginning of the 19th century.
An interesting fact is that the ancient Greek Tower of the Winds became the prototype for two other structures: in the 18th century, following its example, the Oxford Observatory was built, and in the 19th, a building with the same name, but now in Sevastopol.
Architecture
Pentelian marble was chosen as the material for the construction. The walls are completely composed of it, which are connected into a regular octagon. The number of faces corresponds to the number of winds - heroes ancient Greek mythology. On each side you can see a relief image of one of these eight mythological winds with the attributes inherent in each of them.
The craftsmen placed the reliefs at the very top of the building - on the frieze. Approaching the building from the south, you can look at Nota - an allegorical figure of the south wind. He is depicted with a pitcher full of water. According to the observations of the ancient Greeks, it was this wind that most often brought rain.
On the western side is Zephyr, which most often became a harbinger of warmth, and therefore his figure is complemented by flowers. Northeastern Kekiy, on the contrary, is depicted as raining hail on the city.
The Greeks associated cold with the wind blowing from the north, Boreas. His figure is presented in the form of an old man in warm robes. You can also see allegorical figures here. east wind Apeliot, blowing from the southwest of Lips, southeast of Evra and Skiron, which arrives from the northwest.
Just below the frieze are the divisions of the sundial. IN sunny days by the shadow that fell on them, the Athenians could tell what time it was.
For cloudy weather, another clock was provided in the Tower of the Winds - hydraulic. Interestingly, it was they who gave the building its second name - the Kirrista Clock.
When construction was completed, a weather vane was placed at the very top. He portrayed a triton and helped determine the direction of the wind. However, references to it can only be found in historical documents, the weather vane has not survived to this day.
Tower restoration
Many years of operation, both for its intended purpose and for completely different purposes, have adversely affected the condition of the structure. Under the weight of its own marble walls, its base plunged into the ground to a considerable depth. The foundation was practically hidden from view.
The first work to restore the original appearance of the building began in the middle of the 19th century. A group of archaeologists, historians, architects and other competent specialists set about putting the Tower of the Winds in order. We started by getting rid of the embankment that had formed around, and thus freed the foundation of the building. This work took quite a long time. Therefore, a large-scale plan for the restoration of the building elements themselves began to be implemented much later - in 1976. Within its framework, parts of the facade of the building, decorative reliefs were brought back to their original form. This painstaking work also took quite a long time.
On present stage The restoration has not been completed yet, and specialists still have a lot of work to do. In the plans -
to take up the restoration of the hydraulic clock placed in the tower, and not only return them to their former appearance, but also understand the mechanism itself and try to start it.
How to get there
The Tower of the Winds was built on the territory of the Roman Agora, which is also located in the city center, not far from the Finnish Agora.
The exact address: Aiolou, Athina 105 55, Greece.
Option 1
Metro: on the green line to Monastiraki station (Monastiraki).
On foot: from the station to reach the destination you need to walk only 3-5 minutes.
Option 2
Bus: routes No. 25, 26, 27, 35, 227 and 500 to the Monastiraki Square stop.
On foot: you can walk from it to the Roman Agora in 5-7 minutes.
Option 3
Automobile: it is advisable to focus on the streets of Pelopida, which runs closer to the tower, or Epaminonda, which frames the agora from the opposite side.
Tower of the Winds on the map
Ticket price
Since the Tower of the Winds is one of the attractions of ancient Athens, you can visit it not only with a separate ticket, but also by purchasing a viewing pass. The price of such a subscription is from 15 ( ~1 122 rub. ) up to 30 euros ( ~2 244 rub. ). It gives the right to visit several objects at once.
You can see the Tower of the Winds directly without visiting the Acropolis. In this case, you must pay for the entrance to the Roman Agora, on which the building of the former weather station is located. The ticket price is about 3 euros ( ~224 rub. ).
The Tower of the Winds is an interesting and non-standard monument. He is valuable not only for his appearance, architectural solution and relief decor. This object on the map of Athens is one of the few that can be considered a monument to the first steps in science. This building was not erected for the worship of the gods and not for celebrations. From the moment the first stone was laid, the tower had a very definite applied purpose and for many decades coped with it perfectly.
Acquaintance with this building expands the understanding of Ancient Greece: it becomes clear that the life of the Greeks evolved, by no means, not only around monumental temples and mythology. Even believing in what their myths taught, the inhabitants learned about the world around them and created their own reality at the intersection of science and mythology.
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Walking around ancient Athens, visit an amazing architectural monument - the Tower of the Winds. This attraction also performs a practical function - there is a working weather station.
The Athenian Tower of the Winds has other names. The Athenians themselves often call the Tower of the Winds "Clepsydra" or "Aerides". Note that it is in the word "Aerides" that the emphasis is on the winds, while the name "Clepsydra" indicates another feature of the tower: there is a hydraulic clock that indicates the time by the sun.
The official name of the attraction is the Kirrista Clock, as according to legend, the Tower of the Winds was built by an astronomer from the city of Kirra.
What to see
The Tower of the Winds was built according to the most conservative estimates in the first century BC. Although some scholars believe that she appeared in Athens even earlier. The monument is 12 meters high and 8 meters in diameter.
On the friezes of the tower you can see images that personify the wind rose.
The Tower of the Winds was built from Pentelicon marble, the building rises on a three-stage platform. The conical roof is covered with ceramic roofing. On the friezes of the tower you can see images that personify the wind rose. Moreover, the gods flaunt on those sides of the building from where the corresponding winds blow.
On north side The Tower of the Winds is depicted by Boreas, in the northeast - Kaikiy, in the east - Aphelios, in the southeast - Eurus, in the south - Not, in the southwest - Lips, in the west - Zephyr, in the northwest - Skiron.
It is here that you will find evidence that the Tower of the Winds was once used to measure time. Under the figures of the gods, a dial is marked, which showed the time for sunshine. The Athenians also used a water clock so that the time could be known even when there was no sun.
Scholars believe that the Tower of the Winds became a church in Christian times. With the advent of Muslims in Athens, the abode of dervishes was located here.
Note that the condition of the Tower of the Winds leaves much to be desired. It is destroyed both internally and externally. Therefore, the authorities of Athens decided to restore this architectural monument.
How to get there
The Tower of the Winds is located in the oldest part of Athens - Plaka. It is located near the Roman Agora. Tour of the Roman Agora includes a visit to the Tower of the Winds.
If you decide not to use the services of professional guides and travel around Athens on your own, then in order to get to the Tower of the Winds, you can use the services public transport. To Plaka from the central part modern Athens can be reached by bus number 025 or tram - you need to get off at the Monastiraki stop. You can also get there by metro, Monastiraki station is nearby.
A ticket to the Tower of the Winds along with a visit to the Roman Agora costs 3 EUR. You can also get here with the tickets of the Acropolis.
Prices on the page are for August 2018.
A subscription to the Acropolis costs 20 EUR. On it, you can see six more attractions of Athens for four days: the Ancient and Roman agora, the theater of Dionysus, keramikos, the temple of Zeus, the library of Hadrian.
Practical Information
Address of the Tower of the Winds: Greece, Athens, Eolou / Pepopida Street, Roman Agora.
Among the vast number architectural monuments ancient Greece of special attention, of course, deserves located on the territory of the Roman Agora in Athens famous Tower winds, or Clock tower Andronikos of Cyrus (the Athenians often refer to the tower simply as "Aeridis", which means "wind" in Greek). It is traditionally believed that the tower was built in the middle of the 1st century BC. by the famous Greek astronomer Andronicus from Kirr, although scientists still do not exclude that the structure was erected a little earlier, perhaps in the 2nd century BC.
The Tower of the Winds is an impressive octagonal structure made of Pentelicon marble, about 12 m high and about 8 m in diameter. Unfortunately, the weather vane has not survived to this day, but on the frieze encircling the upper part of the tower, you can still see images of the eight divine winds of ancient Greek mythology - Boreas, Kekia, Apeliot, Evra, Nota, Lips, Zephyr and Skiron. Under the figures of the deities there was a sundial, and inside the tower there was a water clock or the so-called clepsydra, the water to which was supplied from the Acropolis.
In the early Christian period, the Tower of the Winds was used as a church bell tower, and during the Turkish rule as a "tekke" - the abode of dervishes. By the 19th century, when the Athenian Archaeological Society began to study this ancient monument, the tower was almost half covered with earth.
Among the most famous buildings, erected in the image and likeness of the famous Athenian tower, it is worth noting the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford (18th century), the tower of the same name in Sevastopol (1849), the Temple of Carnaby in East Yorkshire (1170) and the Temple of the Winds, towering at the foot of Mount Stewart in North Ireland.
A monument that has come down from time immemorial, the Tower of the Winds in Athens attracts tourists from all over the world to admire the graceful lines of ancient Greek architecture. The artifact, in addition to aesthetic pleasure, causes genuine admiration for human genius. ancient civilization. The structure is a real weather station, which the Greeks effectively used for several centuries, for research purposes.
The exact sciences combined with absolute paganism create an indescribable atmosphere of an alternative reality. Near the Tower, famous myths and legends are no longer perceived as the fantasies of the romantic inhabitants of Ancient Hellas, but as reliable historical facts. And if only for the sake of this magical feeling, it is worth visiting the ancient Agora to carefully study one of the first monuments of Science.
There is no clear consensus in archaeological circles, nor is there hard evidence for when the Tower of the Winds was built. On the basis of secondary data (references in the annals, diaries of contemporaries), it is generally accepted that the ancient architectural structure was built in the 1st century BC. e. astronomer Andronicus of Kirr. From a geometric point of view, this is an octagonal antiprism, the edges of which are precisely oriented to the four cardinal points.
In Ancient Athens, the Tower had two names - "Clepsydra" (ancient Greek Κλεψύδρα water clock) and "Aerides" (ancient Greek Ἄνεμοι wind). Both the first and second names fully conveyed the purpose of the building - determining the direction of the wind and time. Inside there was a clock with a hydraulic mechanism. Time intervals were measured by drops of water flowing out gradually from the opening of the vessel. This is where the catchphrase "Time is up" comes from. In ancient Athens, it had a literal meaning. But that wasn't the only way to find out what time it was. A solar chronometer operated on the outer facade - the dial is clearly visible on the frieze.
At the top of the Tower, a weather vane was installed in the form of the pagan god Triton, the herald of the depths. On the cornice of the building you can see a frieze with allegorical images of the 4 main winds and their assistants:
- Boreas, wrapped in a thick mantle - northern;
- Kekia, bringing snow and hail with mountain peaks- northeast;
- Apeliot, foreshadowing the sunrise - eastern;
- Eurus, chasing the morning star from the sky - southeast;
- Note, cooling heat with saving showers - southern;
- Lips, accompanying sailors - southwestern;
- Marshmallow scattering flowers - western;
- Skiron, an old man with vessels full of ash - northwestern.
When paganism was replaced by Christianity, the Tower from the scientific and applied center of Ancient Athens turned first into a bell tower, then into a church, and in the 18th century it generally became the abode of dervishes. Apparently, believers did not take seriously the astronomical research of the Greeks and in matters of meteorology completely relied on higher powers.
Numerous wars, change of rulers and religions, did not affect the Tower of the Winds, unlike the Acropolis. And only time, which the building faithfully served, covered the foundation and took away the weather vane in the form of Triton. In the middle of the 19th century, the ancient weather station was used as a warehouse for artifacts found during excavations. The three-stage base was previously cleared of soil. A large-scale restoration took place only at the beginning of the 20th century. Separate fragments were restored in 1976. But the building is still in need of renovation.
The Tower of the Winds became the prototype of the famous Oxford Observatory, built in 1774 on the initiative and at the expense of John Radcliffe. And the building of the same name in Sevastopol, erected in 1849 to ventilate the archives of the Maritime Library.
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Tower of the Winds in Athens - how to get there, work schedule
The ancient weather station is located on the territory of the Roman Agora - in the very center of Athens. The exact address is Aiolou, Athina 105 55, Greece. Finding it is not difficult, you just need to stick to the main tourist destination- Acropolis.
You can get there by subway on the green line. End station Monastiraki and 2-3 minutes walk following the signs.
For those who do not want (do not love, are afraid) by metro, they go to Monastiraki Square Shuttle Buses. Only 5 minutes walk separates the stop from the Tower.
You can visit the significant landmark of Athens by single ticket to the Acropolis, the cost is 15-30 euros, depending on the quantity historical sites that you want to see. Opening hours daily, from 8 to 18 in summer and from 8 to 14 in winter period. If the main ruins of Greece have been visited repeatedly and the main goal of the tour is the Tower of the Winds, then you will only need to pay 3 euros for visiting the Roman Agora and enjoy the impressions exclusively from the ancient weather station.
What to see nearby
It is convenient to combine a visit to the Tower of the Winds with a tour of the nearby monuments of an ancient civilization. The Roman Agora, where the monument itself is located, is in itself interesting object for studying. Fragments of the colonnade, the Gate of Athena Archegetis, part of the ancient Roman fountain on south side. In the northern part of the agora rises the Fethiye Mosque, built in the 17th century on the ruins of a Christian temple.
Nearby is the Museum of Greek Folk musical instruments. The exposition includes more than 1200 titles.
On Monastiraki Square there is another interesting museum- Decorative arts. Main Feature is the building - this is the Ottoman mosque of Tsisdaraki, built in 1759.
In contact with
Classmates
The Tower of the Winds is located in the very cradle of European civilization, right at the foot of the Athenian Acropolis. Unfortunately, not all guests know about it. Greek capital, and therefore often pass by, not even suspecting that the oldest meteorological monument in Europe is located very close by.
The poetic, almost fantasy-like name of the structure is intended mainly for encyclopedias and guidebooks. The Greeks themselves prefer to call him Aerides, or even the word “Clepsydra”, which is not too euphonious for our ears. Each of these names very accurately reflects the purpose of the tower, which was created to monitor the time and weather. Klepsydra is a unique water clock, and the word "Aerides" is translated into Russian as "wind". And if we are to be completely objective, then the Tower of Winds should be called the “Clock of Kirrist”, but first things first.
Controversy about the time of construction
Official historical sources claim that the Tower of the Winds was erected in the 1st century BC by a certain Andronicus from Kirr, a scientist who was very knowledgeable in the field of astronomy. Very little is known about him, and most of This meager information refers specifically to the period of his life in Athens.
However, some historians strongly doubt that the tower was created by Andronicus. In their opinion, this amazing building could have been built much earlier, by some mysterious astronomer with unique knowledge in the field of exact sciences for his time. Convincing evidence of this bold theory has not yet been found, and it is not known whether they will ever be, so now it is Andronicus who is considered the creator of the Athenian weather tower.
Tower of Wind Device
The structure is a free-standing 12-meter octagonal tower, standing within the Roman Agora. In many photographs, right behind it, on a high hill, you can see the outlines of the Acropolis.
The building is precisely oriented to the cardinal points, which indicates a high level of development of astronomy in Greece, especially when you consider that, according to the most conservative estimates, the tower was built more than two thousand years ago.
In ancient times, the dome of the tower was crowned with an amazing weather vane in the form of a triton, but, unfortunately, it has not survived to this day. The only surviving decorative detail was a large frieze, encircling the perimeter of the entire upper part of the structure.
The frieze depicts allegories of the winds, each of which corresponds to a certain side of the world. Looking at them, one could determine exactly what to expect from the weather in the coming days.
The harsh northern Boreas, which has never brought anything good to anyone, is depicted as an old man, chilly wrapping himself in warm clothes.
Northeastern Kekiy, most often brought bad weather to Greece, and therefore on the frieze it generously showers the earth with hail.
Soft oriental Apeliot, looks like a young man with a cloak full of juicy fruits.
The storm-bearing southeastern Eurus has always been a danger to sailors, and therefore looks like a repulsive old man in long robes.
Southern Not threatened Attica heavy rains, and therefore a jug of water became its invariable attribute.
But the southwestern Lips has always been considered one of the most affectionate and convenient for navigation. He is represented on the frieze as a young man pushing a ship.
Delicate western Zephyr, immersed in flowers, as it always brought warmth, spring and joy to Greece.
And finally, the northwestern Skiron, bringing heat and drought to the inhabitants of Attica, is represented in the form of a bearded man with a pot of hot coals.
Directly below the figures of the winds is the markup for the sundial. As soon as the sun appeared on the horizon, the shadow from its rays fell on this peculiar dial, and the inhabitants of Athens could easily find out what time it was.
But even in blessed Hellas there were days when the sun hid behind the clouds. However, even in this case, the Athenians had the opportunity to navigate in time using the water clock located here, the very “clepsydra” mentioned above.
The principle of operation of a water clock is extremely simple. Clepsydra is a kind of vessel from which water slowly, drop by drop, flows out. The vessel is completely empty for a certain time period, and it is from here that the popular expression “Time is up” came from.
The springs of the Acropolis were used to power the Athenian water clock. Of course, it is very tiring to constantly monitor time in this way, but with the measured course of ancient life, such a primitive chronometer was enough for people.
Since not a single building of ancient Greece could do without divine patronage, in architectural complex The Tower of the Winds, in addition to itself, also included a sanctuary. It was very close and was a small elevation with columns and a pedestal. Like most buildings in the capital of Attica, the Tower of the Winds was dedicated to the goddess Athena, who in this case was called Athena the Archegidite.
After the Greeks
And everything would be fine if the golden ages of antiquity lasted forever, but, unfortunately, troubled times came even to fertile Greece, and the conquerors followed them.
At first, the enlightened Hellenes were replaced by the harsh Christian Byzantines, who immediately decided to repurpose the ancient meteorological tower into a simpler and more understandable bell tower for the people. The holy fathers believed that heat or bad weather happens solely by the will of God, and rather than trying to predict the rampant elements, it is better to pray.
Several more centuries passed, and Greek land new troubles struck. This time in the face of the Ottoman Turks. They treated the ancient scientific monument with unexpected respect, allowing it to remain in its place safe and sound. However, just like the Christians, the Turks did not use the Tower of the Winds for its intended purpose, but turned it into a kind of sanctuary where devout Muslims could offer prayers to Allah. During the entire period of Ottoman domination, the tower was completely hidden under green panels and decorated on all sides with Muslim symbols.
After Greece was liberated from the Turkish yoke, the followers of Christ came to Athens again, who this time turned the tower into a baptistery, that is, a place for baptism.
And only in the 19th century it was decided to restore the Tower of the Winds in all its former ancient splendor and return it to its original scientific function. True, in the two centuries that have passed since that moment, the restoration process has not progressed very far.
Tower today
During the entire period of restoration, archaeologists managed to completely free the tower from centuries-old layers, but it will take a very long time to wait for the time when it will reveal itself to the world in all its glory.
By the 70s of the twentieth century, in the course of large-scale restoration work, only some details of the facade were restored. The legendary Clepsydra, with its complex mechanism, requires much longer recovery time, so no one has even tried to start the antique water clock again. Talks about this are underway, and subject to sufficient funding, work can begin in the very near future. Also in the plans of the restorers is the restoration of the long-lost triton weather vane.
In the meantime, we can only admire the Tower of the Winds from the outside and check the time exclusively by the sundial.
Interestingly, copies of the Athenian tower can be found in two more European cities. In its image and likeness, in particular, the building of the famous Oxford Radcliffe Observatory was built, and the second clone is located in our Sevastopol, where it is also called the Tower of the Winds.
