ACTS
The continued Life of Jesus through the Apostles

Harbor of Piraeus

Most scholars believe that Paul traveled to Athens by boat from Berea and thus it is likely that he entered the city through its large port of Piraeus.

The port was originally built in the 5th c. B.C. and still thrives today. In ancient times Piraeus was connected to Athens (6 mi. distant) by the Long Walls, two parallel walls 600 feet apart.

Mars' Hill

On his visit to Athens, Paul gave a speech to the learned men of the city at the Areopagus (Mars' Hill).  

Mars' Hill is a prominent site located 140 ft below the Acropolis and in Paul's day was the meeting place of the main governing body of the city.  While some think that Paul's appearance here indicates some sort of judicial proceeding, most see the reference as only the location of his preaching (Acts 17).

Temple of Zeus

Begun in the 6th c. B.C., this temple was finally completed during Hadrian's reign in the 2nd c. A.D.  Antiochus Epiphanes of Seleucid rule did much construction on the site between 174-165 B.C.  Today 15 of the original columns are still standing.

Stoa of Attalus

This two-tiered covered colonnade was a gift to the city by the king of Pergamum, Attalus II (159-138 B.C.)

The stoa was restored in 1953-56 so that it might house the artifacts from the Athens' excavations being carried out by the American School of Classical Studies. It served as an example for the Holyland Hotel's model of the Royal Stoa in Jerusalem.