Athens a heritage full of history
Introduction
Athens is from the cities with the greatest historical heritage in the world, and among many monuments you may not know the wind tower. It is located in the Roman Agora, and in fact it is one of the few buildings that stands in this area. At first glance, what will surprise you most will be the friezes in the upper part of the tower. But this construction has its history, because it dates from the 1st century to. C. And he has had several uses in his long life. Today it is a tourist point of Athens, and for a few years you can visit its interior after having finished the restoration. Know the main characteristics of this old building and discover why they call it the wind tower!
Developing
What is the wind tower? The Tower of the Winds of the Roman Agora of Athens measures 12 meters high and has a diameter of 8 meters. Each of its eight walls exceeds three meters. The structure is built on a base that has three steps. The highest part of each sides has a figure represented on its marble walls. Each of them is one of the eight winds that exist, depending on the direction they have: Borea, Kaikias, Euro, Appeals, Noto, Lips, Céfiro and Skiron. You also have the name of each of them.
The walls had rods that thanks to the sun provided the time. These elements are no longer, because they retired in the last great restoration of the wind tower. Water clock: the interior of the wind tower contained a water clock, known as Clepsidra. This tool maintains a regulated water flow that falls into another container and, in this way, measures the same time every time it is used. This is a mechanism of Egyptian origin that was created to complement sun watches during the night. Later he uses it in Rome and Athens, and were used to measure the speakers of the speakers.
History of the Tower of the Winds: The Tower of the Winds has more than 21 centuries of antiquity. As we have already said, he got up in the i A. C. It was the Andronical astronomer of Cirro who devised it, although the main objective of its construction is not known for sure. With the beginning of Christianity, the Tower of the Winds became a church. In fact, next to this structure a cemetery was placed, and the mortal remains that rested there were previously veiled in the tower. It is in the fifteenth century when it begins to receive the name of Torre de los Vientos. Specifically it was Ciriaco de Ancona, the famous traveler and collector who spoke of ‘Temple of Eolo’.
The wind tower has had other very different uses. For example, it was used as a meeting place for the Sufis and Muslim brotherhoods. Specifically, the derviches used it. Later, in the nineteenth century, abandonment caused the Tower of the Winds to remain partly buried. In the middle of this century it was excavated. Later it has been completely restored. This has been given the possibility of visiting the interior for a few years. The other wind tower: there is another monument called Torre de los Vientos. This is also known to the Gregorian tower, which is in the city of the Vatican.
conclusion
In this case, its construction ended in 1580, and the shape of its base is round. Remains on the maps gallery that Belvedere connects with the Apostolic Palace. The objective of its construction was the astronomical study, so there is more than the name that unites these constructions, since as we have said, the Tower of the Winds of Athens was built thanks to an astronomer. Since its inception, he dedicated himself to the study of the Gregorian calendar that spread two years after the inauguration of the tower. At present, this building continues with the function of serving the Vatican, as it is its observatory.
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