Tourism through the Ages - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 33

The Acropolis of Athens, the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art — the
Parthenon, the Propylaca, the Erechteum, and the Temple of Athena Nike — illustrates the civilizations,

myths, and religions that flourished in Greece over a period of more than 1,000 years. The Acropolis is a

UNESCO World Heritage Site and was proclaimed as the preeminent monument of the European Cultural
Heritage list of monuments in 2007. PhotocourtesyofCorbisDigitalStock.

athletic events, and the second-largest theater in Greece. The Greeks recognized rest and diversion as
important elements in treatment of the sick. People also traveled to seek advice of the oracles,
especially those at Dodona and Delphi. Statesmen, generals, and other powerful figures sought advice
before taking an important action. Socrates

' disciple inquired about his master ' s wisdom at the temple

of Delphi. 21
Although festival visitors, businessmen, the sick, and advice seekers comprised the bulk of travelers
in the fifth and fourth centuries B . C . E ., there was also another small category, the tourist. Greece ' s

'' Herodotus, would undoubtedly have quali ed for the top category of frequent-

traveler miles if such awards had been given.
In addition to traveling all over Greece and the Aegean Islands, he sailed to Cyrene in North Africa,
explored southern Italy and Sicily, and sailed from Ephesus on the west coast of Asia Minor to Sardis.
He got as far east as Babylon by sailing to Syria, then striking east to the Euphrates and following a
caravan track for weeks. There he looked upon the ancient city of Babylon:

Father of History, ''

square in shape, with each side 14 miles long, a total of 56 miles. Babylon is not only of
enormous size; it has a splendor such as no other city of all we have seen. The city wall is 85 1 / 2
feet wide and 342 high. Its circuit is pierced by one hundred entrances, with gates, jambs, and
lintels of bronze. The town is full of three- and four-storey houses and is cut through with
streets that are absolutely straight, not only the main ones but also the side streets going down
to the river. 22

His figures are in ated, probably because he got them from his guides. He loved doing the sights
and, like most modern tourists, was dependent on guides for information. A Greek entering Asia Minor
would encounter strange tongues and Oriental ways.
Not until Alexander conquered the Persian Empire would the Greek ways spread into the
ancient East.