Yourhistoryguide

Yourhistoryguide Traveller, history buff, and diarist of ancient Europe. Exploring the lesser seen places, forgotten antiquities and stories hiding beyond the tourist trail.
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No AI images … only real places, real history, captured in person.

Having climbed to the top of the Athens Acropolis, I couldn’t help but wonder how many have stood on this spot over mill...
01/09/2026

Having climbed to the top of the Athens Acropolis, I couldn’t help but wonder how many have stood on this spot over millennia and feared the incoming storm. For me, on this day, it was the literal, meteorological type as the wind picked up and the skies began to darken. Here we are looking to Piraeus.

As the highest point in the ancient city, once the city walls were breached, the Acropolis would have been the line of last defence. Throughout its history, men and women would have stood watching as the city below was sacked and feared what was to come for them … from the Persians in 480BC and Spartans in 404BC, through Sulla in 87BC to the Heruli in 267AD.
Later it was besieged by the Ottomans, the Venetians and as late as the Greek wars of independence (1821-27) by both Greeks and Ottomans.

I like to think that the triumphant Persians stood here in 480BC, with the smouldering ruins around them … watching their fleet being destroyed by the Athenians at the Battle of Salamis.

Picture taken November 2023

On the walk up to the Acropolis in Athens in December 2018. Through the doorway of the Roman era Beulé Gate, you can see...
01/09/2026

On the walk up to the Acropolis in Athens in December 2018. Through the doorway of the Roman era Beulé Gate, you can see the Propylaia … the monumental ceremonial gateway to the Acropolis of Athens.

I’m tracing the route up to the summit of the Acropolis in Athens, and on the climb, you encounter the magnificent Odeon...
31/08/2026

I’m tracing the route up to the summit of the Acropolis in Athens, and on the climb, you encounter the magnificent Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Herodes Atticus was a great benefactor of Greece, particularly in Athens, and he commissioned this magnificent theatre, which was completed in 161 AD.

Born into an immensely wealthy Athenian family, he became a celebrated orator and prolific author, although nothing unquestionably authentic survives of his writings.

A friend of Hadrian, he later became a consul and tutor to the future emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. His illustrious life was not without controversy however. In circa 160 AD, his wife, Regilla, died following a miscarriage late in her pregnancy. His expressions of grief did little to dispel suspicions that he had a hand in her death. Well known for his outbursts of anger, it was speculated that a freedman tasked with punishing his wife may have gone too far.

Whatever the merits or weaknesses of the case against him, Marcus Aurelius decided that he was not to be punished for her death.

Pictures taken November 2023.

Here trod Sophocles, Aristophanes and Euripides; maybe with trepidation and anxiety as their legendary plays were first ...
31/08/2026

Here trod Sophocles, Aristophanes and Euripides; maybe with trepidation and anxiety as their legendary plays were first presented to the world. This is Athens, and we are at the foot of the Acropolis. Theatre as we understand it is commonly thought to have started right here!

The Theatre of Dionysus is the prototype for all the theatres that followed. By the mid 4th century BC it had taken the form we would recognise now, wooden benches replaced by raked tiers of stone seats, with a capacity of 17000 bottoms.

Nero is known to have made changes to the theatre which he, no doubt, considered improvements and included a raised stage.

Sadly, it fell into disuse by the 4th century AD, and decay followed. The phrase “rediscovered” in 1765 implies it had become buried under debris and forgotten. What a wonderful find for those involved.

Picture taken Dec 2018

A new week brings a new focus, and this week we’re touring the sights of ancient Athens, as captured across three visits...
31/08/2026

A new week brings a new focus, and this week we’re touring the sights of ancient Athens, as captured across three visits since 2017.

I suppose the first has to be the Acropolis, and I was fortunate to get a great room on my second visit, with a balcony view to die for! I spent a bit of time here with a glass or two of wine.

We will come to the history as we move forward, but for now, I hope you enjoy one of the most iconic sites of the ancient world at night.

“Places themselves have such power to stimulate the imagination and bring to life our ideas of famous men.” Cicero on Athens.

Taken April 2022.

As I wrap up this week’s focus on the villas of Stabiae, I’m conscious that I still have many more pictures of the two s...
30/08/2026

As I wrap up this week’s focus on the villas of Stabiae, I’m conscious that I still have many more pictures of the two sites that I haven’t posted, as well as some of the wonderful Museo Archeologico di Stabiae Libero D’Orsi, where many treasures from these sites are now protected and displayed.

Before we move away from the Vesuvian sites to Greece for next week’s focus, I thought you might appreciate a taste of the many frescoes at the museum. These were all taken in March 2025, and all were excavated from the Villa San Marco.

Over the years, I have seen many household shrines (lararium), but this one at the Villa San Marco at Stabiae is of a di...
30/08/2026

Over the years, I have seen many household shrines (lararium), but this one at the Villa San Marco at Stabiae is of a different order in terms of size and decoration.

Marble steps elevate the shrine from the atrium, and the room is richly decorated with frescoes. I couldn’t help but muse why frescoes were used to represent marble when the owners clearly were not short of a penny or two … marble wouldn’t have been a stretch in such wealthy surroundings.

Despite the obvious comparison to a “fitted kitchen” made when I first posted this (a similarity I hadn’t seen until it was mentioned, and now can’t “un-see”), I really enjoyed this room.

Picture taken March 2025 at the Villa San Marco.

I discovered this map while doing my research and enjoyed it enough to share.It is the bay of Naples as depicted on wall...
29/08/2026

I discovered this map while doing my research and enjoyed it enough to share.

It is the bay of Naples as depicted on wall paintings in the Vatican circa 1580.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that Pompeii was represented here long before the Bourbon excavations and even longer before the modern town existed.

So, it is maybe saying .. “ancient Pompeii was here”? Herculaneum is not represented.

Two views of the breathtaking main peristyle of the Villa San Marco near Stabiae. Richly decorated, the rooms surroundin...
29/08/2026

Two views of the breathtaking main peristyle of the Villa San Marco near Stabiae. Richly decorated, the rooms surrounding it are likewise beautifully appointed, and this all frames the large pool and gardens previously featured; this is an amazing space!

Picture taken March 2025 at Stabiae

It is not until you reach this part of the Villa San Marco that you can really appreciate the scale of the villa. With a...
28/08/2026

It is not until you reach this part of the Villa San Marco that you can really appreciate the scale of the villa. With a surface area of 11,000 square metres, it is amongst the largest in the Vesuvian area, but to my mind, it was here that the scale really struck home.

A large pool and garden, surrounded by elegant peristyles, with a large nymphaeum at its head. Unfortunately, the nymphaeum was inaccessible during my visit, hidden beneath scaffolding. The peristyles were accessible, however, and I shall post more of these over the weekend.

Picture taken in March 2025 at Villa San Marco, Stabiae.

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