Monsegur – stronghold of Qatar. France.

The road to the castle goes between the mountains.

We ride a minibus past fields with sunflowers, past fields with plants similar to corn, only cut from above. Around is clean, crowded, calm. There is no dynamics of urban life. There are greenery, forests, clean air and occasionally villages.

When approaching Montsegur we ride between the mountains on which are the caps of clouds covering the peaks. We arrived at a parking lot under a mountain in continuous fog.

The air temperature dropped from 23 degrees to 15. The driver asked: “You definitely want to go up the mountain”?
We were determined to go. I would certainly climb up, even in the pouring rain.

A few years ago, I didn’t even dream of visiting here. This Qatari fortress delights with its history and energy, strength and grandeur.

I did it with Montsegur, as well as with Pompeii, Vesuvius and Lavinius. I read a lot about these places and unexpectedly for myself was able to visit these places. Now I ask myself: What else will attract me? In response, I get an avalanche of vivid images.
We go by ear.

In the distance, the bell of the cows rings. The asphalt road goes down, and the path turns left and up. A few minutes later we reach the ticket office with tickets (5 euros), by the way, these tickets are suitable for two more museums located in the village of Moncegur. After 30 minutes of climbing up slippery stones, we arrive at the foot of the castle.

The castle is located at an altitude of 1207 meters.

From the castle there were only walls.

The castle is a continuation of the rocks and inside resembles a ship.

The impression of a ship sailing in the sea or in the clouds intensifies the fog.

In this place the Cathars lived. At the beginning of the 13th century, the Cathars asked Remon de Perey for permission to repair the castle in order to defend themselves from the Roman church, which organized a crusade against the Cathars. The most spiritually advanced, chosen, were called Perfect – several hundred men and women from all Languedoc were saved in the castle. The Qatari world in the castle lasted about 30 years. Everyone who was in the castle was burned down in the valley. Now this valley is called the valley of magicians.
Another legend of the Grail is associated with Montsegur. There is a story that the Cathars owned the Grail and managed to hide the Bowl before the castle fell. The Germans later sought the Holy Grail in the castle during World War II.

I didn’t want to leave the top of the mountain. An obvious place of power with its special energy and history.

The images and spirits of the past come to life here. The energy is strong and giving, despite the tragic ending of the history with the Cathars, good and spiritual growth triumph here. The fog did not give us a review, but thanks to it we concentrated on the castle and its past and present energy.

We sat for a long time inside the castle-ship, and then went around along a narrow path and climbed into a room with a round tower and narrow slots instead of windows. I really liked Montsegur, and what I got while in this place.
09/13/18

Arles is the keeper of Roman times.

I asked the waiter in Arles, is it possible to order a shrine (a dish of legumes and ducks)? The waiter explained slightly offended that this dish should be eaten in Carcassonne, and this is Provence, and here is a completely different cuisine.

In Arles, as if you were in Roman time. Here, as if there is no modern world. Ancient streets and buildings of the great Roman Empire everywhere. We lived a few meters from the huge Roman amphitheater in a tiny 3-storey castle with preserved ancient color – walls made of white soft stone, wooden ceilings with beams and creaky wooden stairs. Sleeping well there, despite the size of the rooms. My bed, in fact, was under the stairs. But, where else, will I sleep in a house that is several hundred years old?
In Arles, we stayed for 2 days. I had ideas to travel from Arles to the nearest towns of Provence. But, Arles was saturated with its interesting objects, and absorbed all our time and attention.

In the morning we arrived at the Roman theater (not to be confused with the amphitheater). We wanted to buy tickets, but we were told that admission is free for 6 objects and issued tickets. I did not understand what it was? Weekend promotion or common business. The theater preserved the atmosphere of ancient Rome, and in the silence and almost complete absence of visitors, comedies and tragedies of past centuries come to life on the local stage.

In this theater in 1651, Venus of Arlesian was found. The statue was created in the 1st century BC. The growth of Venus of Arlesian is 1 m 94 cm. They dug a well in the theater area and at a depth of 2 meters they found first the head, then the torso. A few years later, at the request of King Louis XIV, they searched for the hands of Venus. They rummaged everything, destroying a lot in the theater, but did not find hands. Now the statue of Venus of Arlesian is stored in the Louvre.

The next interesting ancient object of Alyscamps is the ancient necropolis. Van Gogh and other artists came here for inspiration and immersion in the world of eternal peace. A path leads past stone sarcophagi. The sarcophagi are empty.

We pass the family crypt and go into the old and half-empty temple. On the right in the niche, there is a well-preserved sarcophagus with images of sphinxes, Gorgon jellyfish. In its lower part are figures of a man and a woman. And above the sarcophagus is a Masonic symbol and throughout the room a stucco molding with Masonic symbols. This temple is the island of the dead, and the stairs leading down are the entrances of the kingdom of Hades.

After this place, we noticeably leveled off, calmed down and went to study the next object located on Republic Square. In Arles, everything is close, due to its small area and the large number of historical places. In the Republic Square, the cathedral of St. Trofim attracts attention. Unusually beautiful columns and figures adorn the entrance, and not at all of biblical themes – griffins, strange mythical creatures. Previously, there was a Christian basilica of the V century. During the French Revolution, this cathedral housed the temple of the Supreme Being. In 1178, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa was crowned in the cathedral; in 1365, Emperor Charles IV was crowned here. Inside the cathedral there are many niches with the relics of saints.

Near the cathedral in the city hall building is the entrance to the crypto portico. We descend about 2 floors down into long stone galleries. In some places there are glasses on the floor, under which it is clear that there is another underground floor.

This place looks like an underground city. After going through all the underground corridors and thinking about the purpose of these corridors, we go up and go along one of the streets that extend from the Republic Square.

Suddenly, we get to the square with the famous yellow cafe Van Gogh. We could not get past such a place. We drank coffee in a famous place. I would not say that there is something special here. As always, the ubiquitous people of Chinese appearance were sitting at the adjacent tables, homonizing and creating a crowd.

The next point of our program in Arles was the Van Gogh Museum. They also said that the visit is free and issued entrance tickets. The museum has 3 floors. There are very worthy pictures. And from above there is an observation deck with a view of the red brick roofs of the city.

Finally, we went to the amphitheater next to our house. It was repaired by building a bowl with seats with metal structures and now concerts and events are being held in it.
The amphitheater was built during the reign of Emperor Constantine and is very large, but still smaller than its counterpart in Rome.

In Arles, a few more interesting places remained unseen by us, but an overflow of impressions had already begun. One more day had to be planned for Arles. A special city that has remained in its great past and lives in its own slow, special rhythm of life.
September 14-15, 18g.

Carcassonne is a fabulous walled city.

In the early morning we go to the fortress. We cross the bridge over the river and get into the old part of the city. We welcome Lady Karkas, depicted at one of the entrances to the fortress. Lady Karkas has a historical foundation. She skillfully and cunningly defended the city, and the enemies retreated.

The fortress has an external and internal part. The old, fortified city stands on a rocky hill and is surrounded by two walls of the V and XIII centuries. Here, as if you are in the 12th century. Absolutely unusual sensations of a shift to the past.

We approach the Church of Saints Nazarius and Celsius, built in the XI century in the Romanesque style on the site of the Carolingian Cathedral. For the first time in France, inside the cathedral, I felt good. A state of light and paradise, something higher, unearthly happiness.

Walking around the fortified city, we went to the Inquisition Museum. I, before the museum, and I, after it, are different people. Earlier, I visited various similar museums in other countries and cities, but it was so pervasive here, right down to the very nature. In this museum made models of people in clothes, with hairstyles, with blood. I have seen enough of such instruments of torture that it is even impossible to imagine a normal person. I think that people who are prone to bullying, maniacs, were doing this. A normal person cannot scoff at another person just because he thinks differently, believes in something else.

Here I saw how the intestines from a person are wound on a hanging log. Prior to that, I sometimes said “don’t wrap my guts.” After what I saw, I look at these words differently.
There are a lot of horrors from forceps to pulling out the uterus and putting women on a special pyramid, and the same savagery for the male half of humanity, various squeezing and crucifying, metal spikes in the neck and in the whole body. After all this, I began to understand why the guillotine is the invention of the executioner to facilitate death. After what has been seen, death at the stake, when suffocation from gases quickly comes, seems quick and easy. Many thoughts arose after this museum – how could people who believe in Christ, prove the kindness and sacrifice of their faith, not see the pain and suffering of other people. A maniac can be one, well, two, why then there was a mass phenomenon of the Inquisition, destroying all more or less thinking people and beautiful women. Especially, went to beautiful, smart and red-haired women. They exterminated everyone.

Thank you, the city of Carcassonne, showed life in those days, not only from the beautiful side of the troubadours. knights, beautiful ladies and beautiful castles, but also from the bloody side. We must never forget that the history of mankind is the history of wars, the ruthless extermination of people. It is interesting to understand why and why it happened and is happening on the scale of civilization?

09/14/18

Athens. Acropolis. Temple of Zeus. Temple of Hephaestus.

On the day of our arrival in Athens, there was heavy rain, thunder and lightning flashed. Five large lightning bolts and such thunder were noticed that cars shook with people. Lightning hit the Acropolis in a guard house. Four people were taken to the hospital. Acropolis closed. The work of the archaeological site of the Acropolis the next day was in question. The peculiarity of the situation was that the next day on April 18 was the day of museums, and a large number of visitors was expected. As you know, from history, Zeus owns lightning. What angered him the Acropolis or, conversely, he gave a sign to people, one can only guess. I am inclined to the idea that progress was taking place in the heavenly office (in those days there was a fire in Paris and Jerusalem).

    In the morning the sun was shining and the weather was completely different – friendly and welcoming. Earlier, to avoid crowding, we are going on an excursion to the treasured Acropolis. We take the metro to the Acropolis station. The sun warms, the trees turn green, the lilac smells.

We are walking along a wide road from the metro, and suddenly around the corner a view of the mountain opens with the Acropolis on it.

Tears poured from my eyes from this view. I did not expect this. Impressive and delightful. Undoubtedly, in the Acropolis there is greatness and a shift to the past. On this day I was destined to cry twice – an explosion of feelings and emotions occurred near the Parthenon, also unexpectedly for me. Already now I am analyzing what it was. Entry into the ancient Greek world. Feeling of pleasure, touch of something higher. There is still a part of the soul and life of ancient Greece.

We walk past the temple of Asclepius, the god of healing in ancient Greece.

A large coniferous tree grows next to it. The foundation and several columns have been preserved from the temple.

    Through the propylaea we go up to the Erechtheion Temple.

    This is the strongest place in the Acropolis, in my opinion.

    The temple of the goddess Athena was a spiritual place. Erechthonius is a serpent man who was raised by the goddess Athena from an egg. Many legends are associated with this place. There was a dispute between Athens and Poseidon over the right to patronize the city of Athens. It is here that the olive grows, emerging from the impact of Athena’s spear on the ground. In this place was the source of Poseidon with salt water. Olive tree planted new in the 20th century. We stand in front of the temple and work as a group. I went deep into the past and tuned in to Athena, her female energy and strength, her mind and invincibility. A rare combination of qualities.

    Then I give initiation to the canal of Athens. At first, there were a lot of people around us. A few minutes later I looked around and … taken aback. We were left alone with my student. There were no people around us, within a radius of several meters, despite the fact that a raging sea of people raged around. A high-frequency field was created, which I felt in myself for several days.

    Opposite the Erechtheion is the Parthenon. Too close for such large temples. I think that the place on which the Erechtheion was built is strong in itself. Before him, there were several ancient sanctuaries, which is a sure sign of the natural strength of the place. Therefore, the Parthenon was built so close that it also stood in a strong place.

    The Parthenon played a social role in the Acropolis. Nevertheless, greatness blows from him, despite the fact that he is dilapidated.

    Exiting the Acropolis was more difficult than entering it. Since, on this day, admission was free, there were many visitors. I had to stand in the line of many thousands to get out.

    Next to the columns at the exit, a small temple of Niki, the goddess of victory, perched.

    It was her Athenians who depicted here without wings, so that luck and victory would not fly away from them.

         The next object according to the plan was the temple of Zeus. To do this, you had to go down from the Acropolis, go left past the ancient stadium and cross the street.

    It is impossible not to notice the temple of Zeus. Now he left the foundation and columns in front and behind on a rectangular base.

    In this place also remained the spirit of ancient Greece, the greatness of Zeus and his Olympic team. After yesterday’s lightning and fire, I carefully entered the channel of Zeus.

    But Zeus, not only the lord of lightning, but also universal generosity, help and creation.

        Further our path goes through Plaka street, to the temple of Hephaestus, located in the agora.

    Agora is a market and a place of communication in ancient Greece. There were many temples from which there is little that has been preserved.

    From the temple of Ares, only the foundation remained. I stood in front of him, and thought that the god of war and destruction, which the soldiers worshiped, received a destroyed temple. Monuments to Ares are swords, shields and spilled blood on the battlefields.

    On the map of the agora, the altar of 12 ty gods is indicated. I found a sign with its designation behind the Ares Temple against the wall. Apparently, when they built a railway line, passing behind the wall, they destroyed part of the territory of the altar.

        The exception in the dilapidated temples of Athens was the temple of Hephaestus. Hephaestus – in the Olympic team of the gods is responsible for material wealth and personifies the elements of the earth and structure.

    Maybe that’s why his temple was best preserved. And also because it was remade in time for a Christian church. In the 20th century, it housed an archaeological museum. Interesting friezes at the temple tell of Heracles and his exploits, of the Odyssey, and you can also see images of centaurs there.

       The building of the agora is completely restored.

    We see a marble colonnade in front of us and thank the architects and restorers for this beauty.

    Thanks to their work, we fall into the times and life of people from ancient Greece. I kept thinking: “If the market is not the most elevated place, but so beautiful, then what was in the gardens, parks and houses of the inhabitants of that era”. Marble statues and temples of unsurpassed beauty speak of their high esthetic taste.

    04/18/19

    Delos Island Greece

    Visiting the islands is my favorite pastime. Each island, as a separate world with its own qualities and parameters. Delos Island stands out even from the islands for its uniqueness. For thousands of years he was considered the sacred island of the birth of Apollo and Artemis. The goddess Leto could not give birth to children on the firmament because of the curse of Hera. There was a floating island in the sea. Thanks to him, Apollo, the god of the sun, and Artemis, the goddess of the moon, came to our world. Based on the legend, one can assume the unique qualities of the island of Delos. In order to find out what kind of secrets Delos keeps and feel myself, to understand it as a place of power, I went to the island.

    According to legend, when Apollo was born, streams of sunlight flooded the island. It’s almost always sunny here. In the old port of Mykonos, I take boat tickets to Delos. Worth a trip of 20 euros round trip. Entrance to the island and the museum are paid separately -12 euros.

    At 15 o’clock, all the visitors, to one, whistled some, were put on a ship and sent to Mykonos. On this island, you can’t stay overnight for people. And, in those days when temples were operating here, on Delos it was impossible to give birth to children and die. In the 6th century, BC moved the graves to a neighboring island. Maybe the gods so ordered? It was instituted three thousand years ago. The same rule remains to this day. Now only a few people from the guard live in small houses. I saw archaeologists working in the stone walls and foundations of the island. The rules of the island suggest that in this way the special settings of Delos are preserved here.

    From myths it is known that the goddess Leto gave birth to Apollo in a sacred lake, hugging a single tree. Now the lake has been drained, and in its place grows a small coniferous grove with a tall palm tree that stands out and rises above the trees. Benches set and paths laid. We sat on a bench on the site of a sacred lake, enjoying the harmony and unusualness of this place. Soft and warm earth was felt under my feet.

    On the contrary, lakes stood stone lions. Once upon a time, the inhabitants of the island of Naxos gave lions to Delos. Since then, they faithfully keep the secrets of the lake and protect the island. Those lions that stand now are stone replicas. For real lions we go to the museum, which is a few meters away and is the only major building on the island.

    The museum has very remarkable exhibits. Not so many genuine antique things can be found in our world.

    In addition to large and small lions, there are sphinx and marble statues, more expressive than living people.

      In the museum, I discovered Dionysus, seeing his seated statue expressing masculine power. Marble Dionysus in perfection, in divine male sexuality is a delight. The statue does not have a head and some parts, but even in this form, power gushes out of it.

      In front of the museum, to the right of the entrance, is the temple of Dionysus. From the temple there was a foundation and two columns with masculine virtues. A strong place with masculine energy. It would be nice to bring men here and teach them to understand that there is a man and male energy. I think in ancient times they did. Immediately in the museum, near the statue of Dionysus, there are busts of women, his followers. You can understand them – Dionysus is an ideal man here with a full set of masculine qualities.

      The museum has several statues of the three-faced goddess Hecate. The temple of the goddess Hecate was on Delos. Its remains are located on the opposite side of the mountain and are not yet accessible for visiting.

      Next we go to Mount Kinf. A wide road of steps carved into the rock leads to the top of the mountain. The royal road or the road of the gods. Our steps become solemn, and the surrounding space is changing. The road goes between red rocks, a bizarre rounded shape. In the middle of the path and the height of the cliff is the temple of Isis. From it remained columns with overlapping. Opposite there is a platform with another foundation from the temple and a female statue. This place still stores ancient settings.

      The road leads us further to the very top of the mountain.

      The top in the form of a platform. It can be seen that in ancient times there was a temple. Marble bars lie in rows and can only be walked along them, as steps. On the opposite side of the road and the main city, stone foundations and an unusual round stone, similar to a skull, are visible. Somewhere here is the Temple of Hekate. Hecate keeps his secrets. Hecate – the goddess of the moon and night, magic and spells.

      I looked down from the top of the mountain, and a feeling of solemnity, ceremony filled me, the music sounded almost clearly, as if there was an important reception or a royal ball. I tried to get here, this, that energy and conditions that I felt at a distance. I have a feeling of involvement in the higher world, a natural shift to a high frequency occurs. I didn’t want to leave the top of the mountain. My head and neck were slightly puzzled, but overall, there was a fullness of energy.

      The last boat was at 15 o’clock and had to go down. To the left of the road, if you go from the mountain, is the temple of Hermes. This is a large, well-preserved building. Perhaps the most complete temple on Delos. I have never met the temples of Hermes before. It was possible to enter it, but it was possible to enter only for a few minutes, and I did not want to lose that higher, divine thing, which I managed to touch on the top of the mountain. I stood in front of the Temple of Hermes and continued my descent. Thank you Hermes, patron of travelers and mediator between gods and people.

      Many factors had to develop for me to visit the desired Delos. Sometimes it seemed to me that life tests me, but did I really decide to get to this island? It’s not just about money, although this is a rather expensive undertaking. Most of all I was worried that there would be a storm and the ship would not go from Mykonos to Delos. I was the first to run to the ticket office in the old port of Mykonos, arriving as the first bus from Ornos to the port.

      Finally, I fulfilled one more of my wishes – I washed on the shore of the island of Delos. On the way back on the ship, I fell asleep so hard that I woke up when the ship was almost empty. This is the first time with me. After Delos, I had a feeling of filling and working of my higher bodies. Only 2 weeks after returning, I no longer had dreams that I walk around the island of Delos.

        04/24/2019

      Mykonos island. Greece.

      On the island of Mykonos, about 12 thousand inhabitants. The main city of the island is Mykonos. We arrived in Mykonos because only from it you can get to the island of Delos. We settled in Ornos. Ornos is a bay with a sandy beach and white houses, located a short drive from Mykonos.

      Mykonos is a beautiful island with a long history. Today it is considered one of the most free places in the world. He was chosen by informals of all colors. There are nudist beaches here, by the way, they didn’t catch my eye, they probably hid well. Freedom from clothes and sexual conventions, love and the sea – all these things I wanted to see and feel, since I was on the island. Mykonos is one of the most expensive resorts in the world. Apparently, freedom is expensive.

      I had a feeling that I was making excuses to the people around me for going to Mykonos. So, the owner of the apartment, a decent man, having learned that we were going from Athens to Mykonos, smiled and said: “Mykonos is crazy.” I had to explain to him what interests the island of Delos. The driver, the services we used every day, said that in Mykonos, when they see that a man is walking with a woman, they say: “Fu, he went with the woman.”

      After listening to the tales of Mykonos, I suspected all the men on the island of non-traditional orientation, carefully looked closely. But, either because the summer season did not start, or I was in the wrong places and at the wrong time, I didn’t catch the attention of noteworthy objects. Quite the contrary, the morning on the island began with the work of local residents. It seemed that at 7 in the morning, they were all on their feet: knocking, painting, doing their own thing. And on the streets there are only tourists, normal-looking men and women. We wanted to go to the local museum, but a group of workers reliably protected the entrance to the museum with scaffolding. I noticed a business spirit among the locals for the upcoming summer season. With people resting here, wealth and the desire for a quiet rest and silence are read.

      Another point for my observation was the question: Why is Mykonos considered one of the most expensive islands in the world? What is so here? Why do wealthy people come here to rest?

         A big plus, I set the island for delicious food in a cafe and good, quick service.

      Peerless views and clean beaches are another significant positive factor.

      A separate topic is walking along the streets of old Mykonos, overlooking the old port and promenade in the city. A new landscape with flowers and ladders opens around every turn.

      Once, we just walked along the street and through the open door of the cafe I saw the sea. We entered the cafe, and it was an exit to the seashore with views of the mills and the bay. It looks like the entrance to a fabulous and beautiful world.

      I have never heard loud music on the street or in a cafe. It was a great pleasure to sit in the evening in silence on the veranda and look at the town shining with lights.

      22-24.04. 2019Đł.

      Epidaurus Temple of Asclepius.

      Epidaurus is located at a distance of 50 kilometers from Mycenae. In this city the healer and doctor Asclepius was born.
      We enter the city. The first impression, as if we arrived at a sanatorium – fresh air, coniferous trees, paths, parks.

      The city is surrounded by mountains. Instead of the planned 5 hours in Epidaurus, we got 3 hours. When leaving Athens, we got stuck in traffic for a couple of hours.

      We go up and find ourselves in a large area with foundations. The inscription says that there were houses for guests and pilgrims. I consider myself a pilgrim. I don’t understand where to go further. Epidaurus has a large territory, you can’t figure it out right away without a map. A large stand with a map is in front of the museum.

      The museum did not impress me. Almost all the statues are headless. The museum is interesting for people engaged in medicine. In one of the shop windows, I saw surgical instruments made of black metal.

      On the map we go past the ancient stadium into the space of the remains of temples, completely covered with flowers.

      What temples there are! First of all, Asclepius, Apollo, Artemis and Athens.

      A colonnade was visible in the distance. Another tablet says that this is the place where the operations and treatment were carried out. Between the temple of Asclepius and the hospital there is a round structure, supplemented by modern floodlights from above. Here, judging by the inscription, healing was performed by sound and music. We sat at the temple of Asclepius, tuned in for a long time, on how people were treated here. This place still preserves the old settings related to healing, with the healing of the body and soul.

      In the city of Asclepius, Epidaurus was treated on all planes – the physical body was trained in the stadium, mental wounds were healed by nature and music. If necessary, they cleaned thin bodies. Treated through sleep. They performed operations and were admitted to the hospital.

      Now all the ruins are overgrown with a healing small chamomile and its smell filled the surrounding space. I, I think chamomile is the best plant for the treatment of many diseases. Chamomile is a powerful antiseptic and versatile anti-inflammatory agent. Healing chamomile was also used by druids. Maybe chamomile grew here before our era and treated people with it. I picked up some flowers to bring home.

      Before and after Epidaurus there are two different states. In this place, as if the energy of life filled a dense green river in my physical and emotional bodies.

          And as if, in response to the saturation of the body with vitamins and the activation of the healing program that began in Epidaurus, after a few kilometers we stop at an orange grove and buy a bag of orange for four euros. Oranges had to be eaten in the evening and morning, since the next day there was a transfer to the island of Mykonos. In order not to take too much with us, we made fresh oranges, dined with them and had breakfast. This is what I understand. Thank Asclepius!

      On the way we stopped at a workshop with clay plates and a Pythagorean bowl. I could not resist and bought a vase in the Mycenaean style. It was not finished yet, it did not shine. I look at the vase and think – what is it for? Should she have some purpose? Maybe, you know?

       21.04.19Đł

      Mycenae. Peloponnese.

      From Athens we go by minibus to Argolida – the area in the Peloponnese. The road goes past orange and olive groves. We stop at Corinth.

      Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean and Ionian Seas. It began to be built even by Periander in the 7th century BC, his business was continued by Julius Caesar, Caligula and Nero. The construction of the canal was completed in 1893. That’s what I understand, a long construction! Millennium-long construction. The height of the walls of the channel is 76 meters, the water depth in it is 8 meters. The length of the channel is 6 kilometers. The blue of its water and depth takes my breath away and it’s a little scary that the phone will fall down and I will fall with it.

      We drive through low and green mountains and valleys.

      Here is the long-awaited Mycenae – a city that is 3000 years old. The heyday of Mycenae came in the 13th century BC. According to one legend, the city of Mycenae was founded by Perseus. From 1700 to 1001 BC e. Mycenaean civilization developed and lived its tumultuous life. Her material traces can be seen in the local museum. Mycenae was excavated and pulled out of oblivion by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876. After he discovered Troy, following his belief in myths and intuition, he went to search for Mykonos gold. I think that Heinrich Schliemann had inclusions and experience of past lives in these cities. Mycenae and Troy were fortress cities, so to speak, of the same order. They existed at one time. As we know from history, residents visited each other. On one of these visits, the Trojans led by Paris, the city of Sparta, whose king was Menelaus, the son of Atreus, was abducted by Elena. Atreus is the legendary Mycenaean ruler mentioned in the history of Herodotus. His sons Menelaus – the king of Sparta and the husband of Helen of Troy and Agamemnon – the king of Mycenae. Kings Menelaus and Agamemnon fought together against Troy and returned home victorious. Troy was the richest city of the time. The brothers did not return home empty-handed. Agamemnon was a prominent figure in the Trojan War – he led the Greek army. The king was killed by his wife Clytemnestra, who avenged him for the sacrificial murder of their daughter Iphigenia and for the murder of the first child and husband of the queen.

      Mycenae is a fortress on a mountain, surrounded by a cyclopean wall, 14 meters high. The Lion Gate is the entrance to the Acropolis.

      There are tombs in front of the wall. It used to be that the dead guard the living. Heinrich Schliemann discovered here 6 large stone wells in which 19 skeletons in masks made of pure gold were found. One skeleton was in the form of a mummy. Also found here swords, bowls, gold discs. The largest discovery by archaeologists in Mycenae is 9 domed tombs, of which the largest king Atreus, then the tomb of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, his wife.

      Through the lion’s gate we enter the city. The road to the city leads past the tombs and treasures of Atreus. There are not many cities of the age of Troy on earth. We rise to the very top of the hill. it offers views of the city and the mountains with the gorges surrounding it.

      If we talk about places of power, then, of course, there is an unusual energy. In this place one feels something different from the Acropolis and Greek civilization.

      This is especially noticeable in the museum: other ornaments on vases, differently made weapons and faces of clay figures and the figures themselves look unusual for us.

      In Mycenae, I realized that Troy and Mycenae had much in common and were strongholds that survived from previous, even earlier civilizations. I had a feeling of touching something powerful, higher, not like our world.

      We leave from Mycenae through the north gate. From here you can see a thick stone wall encircling the city. Now this wall is not too high, but it is clear that it has gone deep into the ground.

      Then we approach the museum, and after it, on the road going down, we go to the treasury of Tsar Atreus. It is a stone pyramid or barrow. Its shape reminds me of the inside of the Red Pyramid in Egypt and the royal mound in Kerch.

      I realized that I had never met the mention of so many legendary personalities at once – Perseus, Atreus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Elena the Beautiful. Homer and Herodotus described the events of the Mycenaean era. The life of King Mycenaean Agamemnon is associated with the most legendary inhabitants of the ancient world – Odysseus and Achilles, Tyndareus and Cassandra. I look at the posthumous golden mask from the Mycenaean tomb and see other facial features and characters. To understand and feel the difference of that life allowed the current Mycenae.
      21.04.19Đł.

      Eleusis. Greece.

      The archaeological area of ​​ancient Eleusis occupies a small rectangular area on the outskirts of Athens. It is easily and inexpensively accessible from the center of Athens. We took the Megara bus at the Tisio metro station, which in 30 minutes brought us directly to Eleusis. It is only necessary to cross the road and climb a hundred meters up. It cost 2 euros one way. Here, during the time of ancient Greece, Eleusinian mysteries were held, associated with the cult of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter came to Eleusis after the abduction of her daughter Persephone by the god of the kingdom of the dead by Hades. Demeter sat and grieved in a grotto in Eleusis. From her sadness the world froze: trees and flowers stopped growing, animals, birds and fish died. Then Zeus sent Hermes to Hades with the order to return Persephone to his mother. Hades let the queen eat a pomegranate seed. He knew that whoever eats something in the world of the dead should return there. Therefore, Persephone spends two-thirds of the year on earth with his mother. and one third with her husband. When Persephone with her mother on the earth everything blooms, grows and bears fruit. .When Persephone returns to Hades, winter comes on earth.

      Persephone returned to life from the realm of death. A myth that gives hope to people, saying that there is a reincarnation of the soul, that death is the end for the physical body, but not for the spirit. After death, a new life begins. In antiquity, seriously ill people were brought to Eleusis, and their stay in this place made it easier for them to leave the physical plane.

      Not far from the entrance there is a well, next to it there is an inscription saying that around the well there were dancers and sacrifices.

      We go further into the archaeological park, we pass by the marble base with high steps, inherited from the ancient temple. To his left are underground structures. There is water in them below, and I get the feeling of entering an underground city.

      To the right of the marble base of the temple, in the rock you can see the grotto or cave of Demeter. It was here that Demeter sat when she was sad about her daughter Persephone. In front of the grotto there is a stone block and smaller stones scattered around. It looks like a place where the mystes could sit. But it is fenced off with a rope.

      There is also a well through which Persephone left and came. In this place, the previous settings remained and the well is a passage into the world of Persephone, into the world of the dead.

      We sat opposite the grotto, next to the well, on the protruding stones. Previously asked permission from the employee of the museum park. There were few visitors, there was practically no one but us, so the employee stood at a distance of two hours of our work and watched us. As it turned out, I watched carefully. A small dog came to us and I treated her with my sandwich. But, as soon as I began to eat the rest of the bread and cheese myself, she remarked to me that it was impossible to eat here.

      When we finished work, other visitors came to the cave right away, apparently for the same purpose – to tune in to Persephone and Demeter.

      Two hours later, having completed the entire program, we went to the museum upstairs. There are marble bas-reliefs, statues and utensils found in Eleusis. Little is known about the Eleusinian Mysteries. After all, the Mists vowed to keep a secret. I hoped that the museum would learn something new about what was happening here. The museum has images and statues of Demeter and Persephone. A lot of different dishes. Apparently it brought gifts.

      I didn’t like Eleusis very much by its humanity and by the fact that a piece of past Eleusinian mysteries was preserved here.

        04/20/19

      Delphi. Temple of Apollo. Temple of Athena.

      The road from Athens to Delphi goes between the mountains. Clouds hang over the mountains and there are vertical white columns of steam.

      We overcome the distance of 240 kilometers on a rented mini Van in 3 hours.

      In the ancient world, every self-respecting person came to Delphi. In past times, works of art and jewelry from all over Hellas – gifts from cities and islands were collected here. What was not there – the Sphinx and the Lions, the golden statue of Apollo, the rich treasury and utensils, temples and columns.

      I kept thinking how many days did it get here from Asia Minor, from island states in the Aegean and Ionian Seas? In Delphi there were Midas of Lydia, Tarquinius the Proud, Croesus, Alexander of Macedon.

      What were Delphi famous for? Here in the temple of Apollo, the Pythia broadcasted the future, gave answers to questions, conveyed to people the will of the gods. From the temple there was an exit to a crevice in the mountains, in which, under the influence of special fumes, the Pythians entered into a trance and transmitted messages in verse.

      Delphi flourished in the 5th – 3rd centuries BC. Even before the foundation of the temple, according to local legend, shepherds grazed goats on Mount Parnassus. The goats at the crevice of the cave began to behave strangely: they bleated with almost human voices.

      Another legend is connected with the god of the sun, art and divination – Apollo. As soon as he was born on the island of Delos, he immediately took a bow and golden arrows and flew to Parnassus to fight the monster Pithon. He killed Python and for 8 years atoned for the sin of murder. In ancient Greece, only people with an unsullied reputation were allowed into Delphi.

      At the foot of the mountain is Kastalsky spring with sacred water. Before entering the Delphic Temple, travelers were washed in the waters of the Kastalsky spring. Then they went to the temenos – a sacred piece of land. There was the temple of Apollo and the oracle.

      Myths say that Apollo leads dances with nymphs at the waters of the Kastalsky spring. When he leads round dances the earth and the gods rejoice.

           I washed my face with running water at Kastalsky spring. A tree grows next to it, it seemed strange to me.

      Already when we left twice, I returned to the tree. The tree attracted my attention, and the most understandable thing I can say: As if the tree has grown together with a rational being.

      We climb the Via Sacra – the sacred road. The first interesting object on our way is the Omphalos stone – the navel of the earth, or the center of the world. Now, a smooth gray stone with white veins is installed in this place, resembling half an egg cut horizontally. At the local museum, I saw another Omphalos in brown floral patterns.

      According to legend, Zeus released two eagles and at this point the eagles met.

          What is a navel? This is the place through which the child is connected with the mother and the main source of nutrition for the child. Maybe a closer contact with the planet is being established here and a person receives help and better options for his future?

      We climb higher to Mount Parnassus and before us appears the temple of Apollo in the form of several columns on a stone foundation. Its dimensions are 60 by 23 meters. It was built in the style of the peripter and had 15 columns in length and 6 in width. Now he has left the foundation and several columns.

      From this place opens a unique, one of the most beautiful views of the mountains and the valley.

      I was wondering where is the cleft in the rock, near which the Pythian priestess sat and spoke her prophecies. In front of me was a rectangle of a temple, next to stone blocks. In the side facing down, in the rear, stone masonry was visible in the ground.

      A feature of Greek museum parks is the people whistling a whistle. You can’t sit on ancient stones, you can’t touch with your hands, everything around is closed and tied with ropes. On the one hand, it makes sense because there are too many visitors and everyone will be trampled, and the marble will turn black. I wanted to see what’s down there. After all, history accurately says that there was an exit to the cave in the temple connected with a crevice. Together with the student, we went down and went behind the temple. I looked in, and there was a rectangular stone box underground, the size of a room. Then we whistled, and had to leave. I managed to see that there is no crevice in the rock anywhere. Could be bombarded in this stone box?

      At the very top of the mountain is a stadium, quite well preserved. It held the Pythian Games in honor of Apollo.

      Not far from the temple of Apollo is a museum with what survived from being pulled by all who could.

      Only Emperor Nero took 500 marble statues from here to his palaces.

      In the museum I liked the sphinx and the statue of Nicky – the goddess of victory. The statue was originally located at the very top of the temple of Apollo, and as if emitted the light with which it has been saturated for hundreds of years.

      If you go down from the Kastalsky spring, then after a few meters the road begins leading to the temple of Athena. The temple has an unusual round base.

      Beautiful place

      Especially in the spring, in a bright yellow carpet of wild flowers.

      Delphi is an amazing place. It breathes differently. It has its own beauty and harmony. Maybe millennia-old pilgrimages created a special halo, maybe nature itself with crevices, vapors and greenery of mountains and valleys tried, in any case, Delphi stand out and remember forever.

        04/19/19