On our final evening in Greece, my daughter and I walked a mile, or so, from our hotel to the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. Less than a mile from the King George Hotel, just past the Royal Gardens, the Temple is easy to navigate to as it stands tall in the Athen's night.

What was the largest of all the temples in ancient Greece, only 16 of the likely 104 columns remain standing. Much of the original marble was pillaged from the site for other projects over the ensuing centuries. Located next to Hadrian's Gate, the Temple looms over the center of Athens, illuminated brightly against the cobalt, night sky and green, spring grass.

Destroyed just a few centuries after its construction, the Temple has been a prominent ruins in Athens for the millennia. It is interesting to think that many Greeks in the time of the full flower of the Parthenon had their own ruins to ponder.

An interesting note, all around the perimeter of the Temple, feral cats roam the grounds. As my daughter and I viewed the site, we were observed by these felines, most of which would not approach us, but would walk by as if monitoring our view of the temple.

This little friend, however, immediately jumped into my daughter's lap, curled up there, and seemed content to view the site with us. At long last, we found a true friend in Greece...

Although I am sure there are tours available, the Temple is free to view from afar. It's majesty, even in its deteriorated state, remains proud and stoic in this wondrous city of Athens.

Cheers!

All images are mine.