Biblical Geographic

Pallas Athena was the champion of heroes and veterans, and the distinguished virgin-goddess of reasoning. She stood alongside Ares, her brother, the god of war, known for bloodlust and slaughter.  She was the daughter of Metis, the goddess of wisdom joined to Zeus, who attempted to foil the birth of the child.  Legend has various origins of Athena: as coming via Crete, or Plato indicates from the river Triton in Libya, both indicating an early Egyptian origins.  The city of Athens was built in her honour, and so called Athena Parthenos. Plato indicates that the word Athena may contain the idea of “the mind of god”, theou noesis; “This is she who has the mind better than others. Nor shall we be far wrong in supposing that the author of it wished to identify this Goddess with moral intelligence [en ethei noesin], and therefore gave her the name ethonoe” (1) A concept broadened by Justin Martyr: “”They said that Athena was the daughter of Zeus not from intercourse, but when the god had in mind the making of a world through a word (logos) his first thought was Athena” (2)

The image of the standing Athena in the following gallery has been used in the imagery of contemporary Europe. The features of Athena have been minted into a 10 Euro coin, and are seen within the figure on a pillar in front of the Austrian Parliament: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.207977,16.359423&spn=0.001067,0.004281&t=h&z=19

But most definitive visible expression of Athena was Athens (or Athenae) a plural term defining all those who were the sisters of Athena, both as a term for those influenced by her, the inhabitants surrounding Athena and also a term of the geographical location of their dwellings. An ongoing battle for the site of Athens was conducted between Poseidon and Athena, similar to the struggle between Apollo and Poseidon over Conrinthos.

The height of the achievement of Athena was the conquering of the persian fleet under Xerxes at the battle of Salamis in september 480BC. Salamis is an island in the Saronic gulf separated from Athens by a small body of water.

It was to this city that Paul came, alone, agitated that the whole city was given over to idolatry, given over to hearing some new thing, given over to superstition Acts 17:16,22 Paul uses the origins of Athena as part of his argument: “we are his (Zeus) offspring” Acts 17:28 quoting one of the poets. Argument now is what Hero you want: a dead graven statue or a real resurrected life imparting hero Acts 17:30,31

THINGS TO SEE AT ATHENS

• The agora, stoa of Attalos
• The national archeological museum of Athens (including epigraphical museum of Athens;  http://www.namuseum.gr/wellcome-en.html
• The numismatic museum    http://www.nma.gr/index_en.htm
• The Parthenon and Acropolis museum & museum of the Center for the Acropolis Studies   http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/?pname=Home&la=2
• The Jewish museum    http://www.jewishmuseum.gr/en/index.html
• Hadrian’s arch
• Byzantine and Christian museum of Athens http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr/en/
• Keramikos   http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/eh155.jsp?obj_id=3443
• National historical museum of Greece   http://www.nhmuseum.gr/index.php?lang=1&lang=2

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ref: (1) Plato Cratylus 407b  (2) Justin, Apology 64.5. quoted in Robert McQueen Grant, Gods and the One God, vol 1 :155

Additional images and information about the Agora and ancient Athens see: http://www.stoa.org/athens/ and excellent VR images at http://www.agathe.gr/guide/

Modern Corinth is located around 3km to the SW of the ancient city. The main structure that dominates the old city is the temple of Apollo. (See references to Apollo under the Acrocorinth) Images of the standing columns from the temple are illustrated below: Many of the finds from the excavations are housed within the museum of ancient Corinth on the site. Within these finds there are numerous vessels, but most spectacular are the ornate mosaics and the impressive set of roman armour. An overview of the work of the American school of Classical studies at Athens can be seen at:  http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/index.php/excavationcorinth/

To corinthianise means to corrupt, and so prolific was the immoral conduct of Corinth, it became renown through the Greek world.

There was a synagogue at Corinth. Its location was found to be just inside the south-western gate. Remnants that identified the synagogue included these menorah and an inscribed lintel “the synagogue of the hebrews” It’s weight was considerable, and may indicate that the location of the synagogue not far from the agora.

(Titius) Justus’ house was nearby Acts 18:7

The Lechaion road leading to the northern port around 3km away seen here at the ancient city of Corinth, and looking almost from the door of the synagogue.

Cenchrea was the eastern port of Corinth from where Paul departed his long stay in Corinth Acts 18:18 Cenchrea was a sacred town of Poseidon, and a cleberation to the goddess of fortune Tyche is noted above the harbour. The western port was known as Lechaeum on the Corinthian gulf. Before the construction of the Corinthian canal, small vessels and all the goods laden on ships would be carried across the isthmus to set sail again on the eastern sidee.

Cenchrea was the home town of Phoebe Rom 16:1,2 and  it was here that Paul would set sail on his final voyage back to Jerusalem. He would undertake a vow here, shaving his head in the same manner as the Nazarite Num 6.

Rising to the north of Corinth was the Acrocorinth (short for Acropolis-corinth or upper city of Corinth) It is considered the most remarkable acropolis within Greece. The upper city was infamousy renowned for it’s temple and the associated temple prostitutes. The temple was built adjacent to a spring (upper Pirene spring) where legend has Zeus lay with Aegina.[the rival god to Athena] Sexual promiscurity and interaction was profound here, heightened by the arrival at the ports of Corinth by numerous sailors. This led to a longstanding problem within the Corinthian ecclesia of immorality.

Another greek legend had a conflict between Posiedon (greek god of the sea) and Helios  (also known as Apollo) over the ownership of the isthmus of Corinth. It was resolved with Posiedon owning the isthmus, and Apollo the Acrocorinth. This may have led to the background of the language used by Paul regarding the division within the ecclesia between Apollos (given by Apollo) and Cephas (rock). 1Cor 1:11-13; 3:21

Apollo or the pagan deity Apollon (or fully Apollo Helios meaning Apollo of/from the sun) was the name of a place called Apollonia Acts 17:1 and also the basis for the name of Apollos (given by Apollos) Acts 18:24; 19:1; 1Cor 1:12; 3:4,5,6,22; 4:6; 16:12; Titus 3:13

As the town was named after Apollo, it finds itself in the company of numerous other locations not only within Greece, but scattered within neighbouring lands. The city that Paul visited was Apollonia (Mygdonia) in Macedon and identified by the description that it was on the road (via egnatia) between Thessalonica and Amphipolis Acts 17:1 It is one of three towns of the same name located south of Lake Bolbe and north of the Chalcidian mountains. All that remains of the city is a small mound, that has been almost untouched archeologically. A few (three?) coins have been found with the name.

His full title as Apollon Helios containing relation to the sun is reflected in further names given to Apollo, those being Helios (greek sun) Aegletes (greek light of the sun) or Phaeneus (greek bringing to light). These full titles describe Apollo as the patron god of Dephi, and as such became known as the mouth piece or oracle, and also the choir-master of celebrations as the celebrated patron god of the muse or musician.  He had a son called Asclepius who was the god of healing,  and as such the work of Apollo was associated with that of his son. [his name apolysis, greek  to redeem or apolusis, greek to purify] He was also considered the god that could bring ill health or the plague [his name apollymi , greek to destroy]

There is no record of the establishing of an ecclesia at Apollonia. Possibly there was no perceived need as the local greeks saw the position of Apollo as the spokesman of the gods as being their champion.

Overlooking Samos, Greece, only 1.6km away across the Myclae strait. Paul passed here Acts 20:17 Samos was famous for it’s engineering marvels, in particular the Eupalinian Aqueduct; Pythagorus the mathematician, Herodotus who lived here for a while, Aristarchus the astronomer who first claimed the earth revolved around the sun and Theodosius who formed the method of casting bronze sculptures. But most important and persausive of greek thought was Epicurus, the father of the idea of Epicureanism. He claimed that nothing should be believed, but tested. There was a claim that men should seek pleasure and the absence of pain, which was the pinnacle of goodness. It left out the need for God: “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

It became part of a philiosophy addressed by Paul that a man “should eat, drink for tomorrow we die”  1Cor 15:32 But this was no new philosophy, as Solomon explained this as the best position a man could obtain without the presence of God Eccl 8:15 It was also the philosophy of Shebna, who in the face of the impending invasion of Sennacerib had built himself a fine tomb! and gave up hope Isa 22:13 This is important, as this was a leader in the ecclesia of Hezekiah! Such an impact did this have on the king, appearing at the time of the invasion and the onset of hideous disease, that the king dispared of how atonement with God and spiritual leadership would ever be accomplished again in Israel. In response he turned to the wisdom of the ancients Prov 25:1, and collated the proverbs of Prov 25-29 The answer was: It is not good to eat much honey, so for men to search out their own glory is not glory, He that hath no rule over his own spirit (given over to Epicureanism) is like a city that is broken down and without walls  Prov 25:27,28

Paul met the Epicureans in Athens Acts 17:18

Today Samos is still is famous for it’s extensive vineyards and the Muscat wine produced.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Samos,+Greece&aq=0&sll=33.511289,36.307046&sspn=0.005331,0.013057&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Samos,+Greece&ll=37.686537,27.023621&spn=0.32386,1.095886&t=h&z=11