Wandering through Plaka, Athens’ oldest neighborhood, you notice people snapping shots of an unusual eight-sided marble tower.

You smile, wondering if they know that’s the world’s oldest weather station, operating since the 1^st century BC.

The Tower of the Winds is the highlight of the Roman Agora, endowed by Emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar.

It’s one of your favorite antiquities in the Greek capital. Form following function as Roman architecture is wont to do.

The tower’s ancient sundials have faithfully answered the eternal question, “What time is it?” for 2,100 years.

Outside, each of the eight sides depicts one of the eight Anemoi, the mythological gods of winds.

Inside, the large open space contains a water clock once supplied by the Roman Aqueduct nearby.

Atop the roof, the working weather vane is motionless in the windless heat.

You smile, preparing to head to the next important sight to see in a city overflowing with important sights.

Then you pause, thinking of life moving faster, changes coming soon, days slipping by.

Now you stroll over to the sidewalk vendor’s cart conveniently parked steps away.

Chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream in hand, you relax on a wrought-iron bench under a leafy shade tree.

And slowly, oh so slowly, savor the sweet taste, the priceless view, the timeless moment.

Reader, here’s to taking time on the journey to pause and cherish the moment.

Until next time,

Travel on, sparkle on, meaningfully✨

Marilee + Paul Kostadimas
Spotlight Sojourns | Slow Travel
​with the Hidden Gemologists

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PS: If you’d like to read more about the Roman Agora, which is different from the Ancient Agora, click HERE for our article, “Hidden Gems in Athens.”​

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