I visited Athens only a few weeks ago. Our cabby told us to look out for 2 things: 1. other taxi companies, lol 2. "refugees" as since they've arrived there's been a massive spike in pickpocketing and other minor crimes. We were luckier than you, such a fantastic place!
When I visited London with friends some years ago we experienced the abusive Indo-Pakistani taxi service. 40 pounds and a driver that fell asleep at every traffic light... then some Indians took us of some kinds of 3-wheels chariots towed by an Indian on a bike (2 seats each one but we were in 4 each one so I was with my legs outside sat on my brother) in the London's night traffic, risked an accident. This is what happens when rural/small town people like us are suddenly launched in a metropolis.
@leanderherman639 christian values caused this mess in the first place. Many christian charities are aiding this invasion. But I suppose you'll say some 'no true christian' fallacy.
Let us say you had no need of further offerings since the embodiment of Hermes met you stealthily along your way. As upsetting as it was Tom, the gods were there.
Almost the same thing happened to me and my friends at the airport in Athens. A group of three non-Europeans looked at us as we stopped to smoke after getting off the metro. The first pretended to be on the phone, the second had a winter jacket in extreme heat and the third was just leaning back and looking at us. They obviously had some plans for us because they surrounded us and were looking at our back pockets and so on. Fortunately, I had my back to the wall and was looking at them the whole time, so they gave up on their plans and moved on... Unfortunately, Greece is changing for the worse. Demographic changes are terrifying and bring new "mores".
Most who pickpocket here in Portugal are of "diverse" origin. We used to be one of the safest countries on earth. Pickpocketing was rare 15 or 20 years ago. Now... it's diverse and enriching.
@@Survivethejive That's not to say that there aren't some Portuguese junkies or thieves who do steal but I travel a lot, I know a lot of people, and what I see and what they tell me is the same. The majority are foreigners.
I was on a Portuguese airline, and they had a video on how a singer is trying to push diversity there. I hope that country doesn't succumb to that Ju woo created nonsense. In France, I saw it being pushed more even by the churches.
@@HowieHoward-ti3dxCatholic church is just another corporation so they have to submit to local governmental pressures. Some corporations do it with enthusiasm, others do it against their will, but all that matters is that it's done.
As a greek, thank you for your videos showcasing my country and I apologize for the sh**tskin who robbed you. Sadly we have a lot of those and the courts just let them go when they catch them. In Athens especially, you got to be careful sadly, full of undesirables.
Crazy how Elgin wanted to culturally enrich Britain so he imported classical artwork, while missing the far more obvious choice of importing several million African immigrants.
I visited Athens this March. Perfect temperature, and a relatively low amount of tourists made visiting all the museums and sites highly enjoyable! My GF accidently forgot her phone on a bench around the Acropolis, but luckily a kind soul found it and returned it at the entrance. A stark contrast in character to the lowlife that pickpocketed you Tom!
Oh hail king,so you managed to stand atop Athens finally,though i imagined you would have enjoyed Rome more,eh?! Humor aside,it may have been gypsies that did the deed,and maybe that government official was ashamed of admitting that they had problems with them;or maybe it is like he says and they're "newcomers"-either way,non-europeans,what's the difference at this point?! Is there any way to avoid crowded Acropolis? Can you go early in the morning? I assume if you go out of season is even better.
Your GF's phone was found and returned to the entrance either by a site employee, or a local Greek or a tourist. Tom's wallet was stolen by an immigrant.
@@sassenspeyghel4155 Not really , Germany is another european country who is under attack too. EU elites has nothing to do with Germany Greece, or true European spirit whatever. They are the internationalists who hiding behind the scenes.
Bloody pickpockets. Never happened to me, but happened to a good friend of mine when we were in Rome. As in your case, or as the Greek Minister insisted, we were pretty sure it was a swarthy post-2015 newcomer as opposed to Roma.
I came very close to being pick pocketed in camden once a few years ago by a middle eastern looking woman with a swarm of kids to do the dirty work. I've carried my wallet in my front pockets ever since and give it a tap every so often to check its there. Shame we have to live like this, sorry to hear about your friend's misfortune.
A tall non-European guy who barely spoke French attempted to pickpocket my mother in Saint-Denis once. I caught him in the act; you should see the look on his face, he was like a scolded toddler.
Probably the worst form of iconography theft is the Sword of Valette which is in the Louvre. It was stolen outright, napoleon only held Malta for a short time and he was kicked out because of the thieving so then Malta became a protectorate of Britain so they werent alone for Napoleon's backlash. The sword was never forgotten, it was always central to the history of Malta being the central relic from the siege of Malta which is a major event in their history. Also, Maltese citizens have to pay to see it in the Louvre, whereas The British Museum is free at least.
In all the footage and photos of the Parthenon I've seen in movies, on television and the Internet, none have captured just how imposing it is. I don't know how or why, but this video does just that. Thanks for these videos, my dude.
Beautiful sights. I'd love to go one day... though if I do I'll be sure to secure my pockets. My condolences for your loss to those dirty thieves. Had a similar experience in Paris, practically an army of sneaky little pickpockets there, and that was almost a decade ago. I can't imagine what it's like now.
You are so lucky living so close to so much history. I live in New Zealand. My ancestors left Britain in the early 1800’s. the history here is very new compared to the rest of the planet.
I was lucky to visit this incredible place some 30 years ago. It was late afternoon, with relatively few other visitors around. Found it both inspiring and moving. Funnily enough, as with walking around the rest of Athens, i felt completely safe, no fears about pickpockets. In contrast, a friend recounted to me her visit earlier this year. She was advised by many, including the staff at the hotel, and numerous friendly Greeks whom she met, to be wary of pickpockets working the city, and certainly avoid walking around alone. Sadly, her bag was snatched. What has changed in the glorious nation of Greece since my time there? One word, immigrants. And it is the same all-around Europe.
@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905 How about taking some into your home? No doubt you are keen to display your virtue signalling credentials. Or do you, like so many who have no issue with mass immigration, expect everyone else to deal with the problem. Just as long as your little life remains safe and unaffected. 😁
my room got broken in to last weekend in Athens while I was out visiting Delphi. The line of other tourists at the police station was about as busy as the steps to the Acropolis. Sorry to hear about your misfortune but a quick thanks to you Tom. You posted your video at the ancient Agora shortly after. It helped me break out of my woe is me attitude and get excited for my last day in Greece which was the amazing archeological museum and the ancient Agora (also the remains of Plato's academy but this is a bad idea if you've just been robbed)
Thank you for this intimate look at your visit. Alas, I am on oxygen these days and would never be able to trace your footsteps inside of a week. There was a transcendental feel to this video which I perceived, heightened by the earnestness with which you address ancient religiosity and history. You really tie this crazy modern time seamlessly with the golden past. I suspect the gods in fact were pleased with your unintended sacrifice.
*Pick-pockets,* you say? Only coffee-colored hands could be so thieving. _"New kinds of faces appeared in The Street; swarthy, sinister faces with furtive eyes and odd features, whose owners spoke unfamiliar words and placed signs in known and unknown characters upon most of the musty houses."_ - H.P. Lovecraft, "The Street"
@@iberius9937 Lovecraft lived through something like this, seeing all those swarthy immigrant folk moving to his neighborhood. Reality can be more harrowing than fiction.
I kept my wallet in a zipped pocket when I came there. When I'm in a foreign country I don't wear casual shorts exactly for this reason! Either way sorry to hear this, hope it wasn't too devastating.
When I travel, I leave my mostly empty wallet at the hotel and carry my important cards in my front pants pocket. I never carry anything in my back pants pocket and especially not a coat pocket.
Χαίρε Αθηνά! I really enjoy this informal style of vlogging & enjoyed (and agree) with your thoughts regards Elgin and his marbles especially. The poor British Museum has had a rough year this year and gets quite a lot of misdirected anger on this issue. I'm very sorry you experienced theft whilst on holiday and in such a sacred location. May the Goddess deal with the thieves in her own way.
Love these impromptu style videos...I feel like we learn new insights and get your uncensored/unedited views....much appreciated and thanks for your work! Shame about the thieves! May they be served justice.
I visited Athens myself last summer and I thought the Acropolis museum was the best I've ever been to. It was built in a way that the different pieces of the Parthenon can be exhibited in the same shape as they had when they were in the building itself, as well as having some older pieces that had been replaced millennia ago which were found in the excavations on the lower floors. It's well worth a visit
Thank you for the video! When I was in Greece once I almost got pickpocketed in a church (of all places...) in Thessaloniki. Luckily a woman saw the man coming up behind me and warned me in time. Really have to be careful. Sorry to hear it happened to you...
@@jamesthornton3539 When they say that, I feel sorry for the animals being killed for that food. Environmentalists who say protect the environment are foolish when they endorse mass immigration. More people means less forests and more animals killed.
@@HowieHoward-ti3dx How is it that it’s foolish? At the end of the day it doesn’t matter, because people are still gonna need a place to be with her safe secure, and can move on with their lives…
Yes, the Ottomans often kept gunpowder in important historical buildings, often holding those important buildings hostage, threatening to blow them up if they were attacked. Hungary actually lost its oldest church in such a way in Szekesfehervar, where many kings were buried, resulting in further looting. Now there's a chamber with a massive pile of bones and nobody knows who they belong to, and now using genetic testing they are trying to find out who the bones belong to and put them back together. Likely there are many kings scattered around in those piles of bones.
I'm sorry to hear you had your wallet stolen. I hope there wasn't too much money in it and or/or cards etc. I hope everything was sorted out in the end. All the best STJ.
I had a bad experience in Athens with the infamous 'Bracelet scam' in Monastiraki Square . Brazen , out in the open intimidation and scamming of tourists . Unfortunately southern Europe has a terrible problem with scammers , pickpockets and beggars , with Italy and Greece being the worst affected . Keep your wits about you at tourist sites , train stations , on buses , the metro and be wary of anyone who strikes up a conversation with you in public.
Im glad you explained the truth about the sculpture that was once taken from the Parthenon. I was one of those Americans who believed the "jive" about how they got to the British museum. Also, sorry you got your pocket picked.
The destruction of temples and such isnt to do with religion, but jealousy. Lesser people see sometimes grand and intricate and they see their inferiority and are driven to destroy it.
There is probably lots at play. People understood the power of gods so destroying an enemy's god was probably a display of the power of their own god. I'm sure pure jealousy must have played a part, the people currently trying to re write and destroy our history and achievements don't seem particularly religious. @@LaughingMan44
Very sorry that you were a pickpocketing victim. It's a shame how rife it now is at more or less all of these major historical sites across Europe. Great video nonetheless.
When I was living in Paris I learned to do without a wallet so thieves could not steal everything in one action. I had money in a pocket and papers/credit cards in a different one in a card holder. But there is so much pick pockets they still succeeded to steal my phone one day, I realize it was gone once I got home. Most of the robbers were gypsies from Romania at this time, it was between 2000/2010, it must be different now, I live in a smaller french city now. It was nice until recently with the insane amont of immigrants, there is so much of them they made camps in public parks.
I'd be raging too if I was pickpocketed, you looked pretty calm at the end but it amazes me that the authorities are aware that this goes on at historical sites but have a poor or no CCTV set up or even a portable crime /theft station to monitor it, similar to what we have at football matches.
10:53 Yes, except for that sorry affair when they were scrubbed with metal brushes until the marble white was revealed and in so doing the whole polished surface finish (that made the marble almost resemble the skin in colour) and any remnants of the ancient colourings and painting used were duly brushed and scrubbed away for posterity. That was a major faux pas from the British museum. Imagine if the person in charge at the time had his way with the ancient Egyptian mummies etc.
My husband was pick pocketed in Bucharest a few years back. We were in a restaurant and foolishly he left his jacket on the back of a chair NEXT TO ME! I didn’t even hear the bloke saddle up behind me and take his wallet etc. we spent the next two days at the police station §%! It’s true, we do not realise how dishonest people,E can be. My daughter who lives there said we stuck out a mile because we dressed like Europeans , but we were not over dressed just not in our oldest clothes. Beware everyone…just take your wallet absolutely everywhere with you.
They didn't steal your wallet, they just tried to protect your money because you were ready to spend them in bull shit things. After a few years you might have the chance to pay them and get your wallet back.
Im sorry if this was your first time in Greece and to get pickpocketed, since im from a neighbour Bulgaria. But atleast from now on, you will wear it on more secure places.
We have a similar problem in the US relating to theft, not pickpocketing but people going into stores and robbing them in broad daylight and the employees not doing shit. It’s gotten so bad that some stores are putting their expensive products in locked cases so if you want to buy something from there an employee has to come and unlock it. Are we going to half to start cutting off hands?
I've been fortunate to not have been pickpockets during my many travels. Part of that is that I carry my stuff in a day pack that I wear in front, where my hands and eyes can be always on it; but partly also because I don't look like I have any money 😂.
I love Athens and the Greek people are beautiful people when I visited in summer 2021 there were a lot of south Asian Sinti there unfortunately and there were a lot of robberies reported .
Astounding footage and great commentary. That German invasion - I’ve seen that written up as goths in the 3rd century - but it never made sense to me that the Goths had got that far in the 200s. Heruli - yes - that old pesky question of “what really IS a German?”
i started keeping everything in my front pockets and wear pants with pockets deep enough that nothing pokes out (which is kind of hard given the size of most phones). i don't live in a bad area, but it's not uncommon that i visit tourist areas and i don't need to remind myself to shift everything around as to make pickpocketing harder since i've already formed the habit of keeping my phone, wallet, and keys in front pockets.
Buying something, curating and preserving it and then having the goalposts moved decades later, is not "stealing". Rory Sutherland had an interesting suggestion of loaning them to Greece for a certain temporary duration in a trade for other artefacts and then alternating every year etc
The Heruli did not pillage parts of Rome and Greece alone. They formed alliances together with the Huns (asiatic!). In other words: Attila invaded Europa and subdued Germanic tribes.
When going to crowded places, have a sacrificial wallet with fake money where your normal wallet is, and have your real money somewhere that is hard to get at. With your fake wallet in your normal wallets place, you'll do the unconscious checking that pickpockets look for. Same goes for phones and such.
Greetings, and thank you! Something you ought to consider, Greece is very prone to earthqakes. Many old buildings were simply used as quarryies, a ready source of already dressed stone for new construction by new civilisations who possibly despised their "pagan" origins. Delphi springs to mind and I have seen old columns used to reinforce byzantine walls in Thessaloniki. In Visby, Gotland, after the Reformation, the old Catholic churches vere a ready source of quality stone for later construction. Indeed some monuments like the Pantheon in Rome and indeed the Parthenon itself owe their survival to being reused as Chistian churches. Don´t be too harsh on the Heruli. All the best to you, Billi.
Just wait until you put your cases through Greek Airport Security. Your be lucky to have a pair of pants left by the time those official thieves have finished with it.
LOL Really ? I suppose having 3 cases broke into at your airports on 3 separate occasions and Greece coming in the top 5 places on the planet to have your case stolen or robbed, on Trip Advisor, is all a myth. @@stelios-1821
When I went on holiday to Greece years ago I also came across a tortoise or two hurrying across the road, and the "wild" cats and dogs that nobody seems to specifically own. One thing I laughed at at the Acropolis Museum was how one of the information panels on the Parthenon describes how the Venetians blowing up the munitions completely destroyed the roof, yet Elgin taking the statues apparently caused more damage to the temple.
I am a Christian, however I feel that learning about paganism, particularly of the European variety has been and will continue to be helpful in my constant journey of self understanding.
Sorry to hear you were robbed. Nightmare. Had the pleasure of visit a few weeks back myself. Enjoyed hearing your insights. Certainly agree about the Elgin marble situation. Although I think they need to pay for the many years of world class care they've enjoyed over the years and also with free access to the public. Nice they finally built a museum worthy of them. Although it's built on top of an archaeological site, so I can't see how they didn't destroy lots of archaeological in the process. Oh well.
Wow I was just in all of these places not even a week ago! I would have loved to leave some offerings too. It would be great if there was a small area for it
Tom, your work is representative of the highest order for respect & preservation of European culture. It is truly unfortunate that people who do not understand or respect these principled values are allowed to roam around and prey upon decent folks, with little to no recourse or accountability. I have to walk around with my valued possessions chained to my belt or pack, as well as long knives, walking stick & mace to ward off any criminals or wild animals. This applies to urban streets as well as nature hikes. I cannot relate to people who cannot see that being prepared to protect one's person & property is a basic necessity in the modern world.. I was almost attacked by a pitbull dog today while walking to the store for some drinks. Luckily, I was able to keep him at a distance of about 2 to 3 feet while I asserted my dominance with a series of low, stern voice commands. Another person may not have been so fortunate. Imagine this scenario as a widespread phenomenon, but the majority of people are not equipped with the power to prevent disaster. Stand tall..
The destruction of the temple was an act of humiliation. Not only have we captured your city, but we have brought your chief God down as well. Vandals gotta Vandalize
I've been to the one in Nashville. The inside is pretty much an art museum but they still have the inner-most chamber where Athens stands (or sits, I cant remember). Quiet the spectacle in its recreation of the real thing I say.
I wonder what it could mean that the cat in the cut before you switched to the acropolis museum was standing over your shoulder as you spoke about your pickpocketers... It feels of some symbolic significance, though of what I do not know.
When I travel, I keep my wallet in a pouch tucked inside the front of my pants. If a thief wants it, he'll have to dig for it...and he better be armed at the time.
I'm curious, would you support rebuilding such destroyed temples and turn them back into places of worship, or should the original state we're left with be preserved as much as possible?
I visited Athens only a few weeks ago. Our cabby told us to look out for 2 things:
1. other taxi companies, lol
2. "refugees" as since they've arrived there's been a massive spike in pickpocketing and other minor crimes.
We were luckier than you, such a fantastic place!
Any of the cities in Spain, Italy, or Greece, known for pickpocketing. You'll be targeted if you stick out like a sore thumb as a tourist.
Barcelona is full of them, parts of the city felt like Detroit
When I visited London with friends some years ago we experienced the abusive Indo-Pakistani taxi service. 40 pounds and a driver that fell asleep at every traffic light... then some Indians took us of some kinds of 3-wheels chariots towed by an Indian on a bike (2 seats each one but we were in 4 each one so I was with my legs outside sat on my brother) in the London's night traffic, risked an accident.
This is what happens when rural/small town people like us are suddenly launched in a metropolis.
@leanderherman639 christian values caused this mess in the first place. Many christian charities are aiding this invasion. But I suppose you'll say some 'no true christian' fallacy.
@@musashidanmcgrathyup, had to deal with lots of them in Rome and this is a decade ago, before the refugee spike. It’s been an issue for a long time
I can't describe how much I detest thieves.
i am disgusted of em. low beings
I see it says there's one reply to my comment, but I can't see the comment. What's up with this? This happens a lot nowadays.
@@morghe321 You don't want to know what it says mate. It's about your mother and a veiled threat to hunt you down.
@@bearcingetorix6326 Are you serious? You managed to read the message before it was removed? Disgusting! I hope STJ banned them.
Who likes them anyway?
Curses upon the thief
Brits linking the Elgin marbles like:
Let us say you had no need of further offerings since the embodiment of Hermes met you stealthily along your way. As upsetting as it was Tom, the gods were there.
Diversity 💪
Twas Chelone the turtle nymph who cursed him I think.
Almost the same thing happened to me and my friends at the airport in Athens. A group of three non-Europeans looked at us as we stopped to smoke after getting off the metro. The first pretended to be on the phone, the second had a winter jacket in extreme heat and the third was just leaning back and looking at us. They obviously had some plans for us because they surrounded us and were looking at our back pockets and so on. Fortunately, I had my back to the wall and was looking at them the whole time, so they gave up on their plans and moved on... Unfortunately, Greece is changing for the worse. Demographic changes are terrifying and bring new "mores".
If only they could stay in their own continents. Sigh..
Isn't diversity wonderful
@@eclipsez0rlmfao yeah sure, even if it comes at the cost of society degrading
@@morghe321 Send them to Israel. They need all that diversity.
It’s almost like our differences aren’t just skin deep like they’ve been telling us our whole lives.
Most who pickpocket here in Portugal are of "diverse" origin. We used to be one of the safest countries on earth. Pickpocketing was rare 15 or 20 years ago. Now... it's diverse and enriching.
Exactly what the man from minstrel of culture said to me
@@Survivethejive That's not to say that there aren't some Portuguese junkies or thieves who do steal but I travel a lot, I know a lot of people, and what I see and what they tell me is the same. The majority are foreigners.
I was on a Portuguese airline, and they had a video on how a singer is trying to push diversity there. I hope that country doesn't succumb to that Ju woo created nonsense. In France, I saw it being pushed more even by the churches.
@@Survivethejive'Minstrel' what a fortunate turn of phrase.
@@HowieHoward-ti3dxCatholic church is just another corporation so they have to submit to local governmental pressures. Some corporations do it with enthusiasm, others do it against their will, but all that matters is that it's done.
As a greek, thank you for your videos showcasing my country and I apologize for the sh**tskin who robbed you. Sadly we have a lot of those and the courts just let them go when they catch them. In Athens especially, you got to be careful sadly, full of undesirables.
Sh*itskin? What an ignorant and racist attitude. Far worse than the thief.
Judges are probably in private gated neighborhoods
They let them go? Why are they so indifferent?
@@morghe321European governments want them to ruin our lives. It's why they are importing them
@@fullup91 Calling people names is not worse than getting your valuables stolen.
Crazy how Elgin wanted to culturally enrich Britain so he imported classical artwork, while missing the far more obvious choice of importing several million African immigrants.
lmao
Hindus, Ju wwo, and Muslims and Asians.
Elgin didn't need to import people from Africa and Asia, we have the rightists and their capitalist chums flooding our homeland with them.
We prefer the Marbles.
@@Madonnalitta1 Any sane person would
Even now the Greek temples look magnificent, I can only image what they looked like in their full glory.
Wish we had leaders that cared about rebuilding our glorious cities and temples
If the Third World is allowed to continue to pour into Europe unabated the temples will be demolished.
The temples looked very different in the past. For starters, the sculptures were all colourfully painted.
I visited Athens this March. Perfect temperature, and a relatively low amount of tourists made visiting all the museums and sites highly enjoyable! My GF accidently forgot her phone on a bench around the Acropolis, but luckily a kind soul found it and returned it at the entrance. A stark contrast in character to the lowlife that pickpocketed you Tom!
Oh hail king,so you managed to stand atop Athens finally,though i imagined you would have enjoyed Rome more,eh?!
Humor aside,it may have been gypsies that did the deed,and maybe that government official was ashamed of admitting that they had problems with them;or maybe it is like he says and they're "newcomers"-either way,non-europeans,what's the difference at this point?!
Is there any way to avoid crowded Acropolis? Can you go early in the morning? I assume if you go out of season is even better.
Your GF's phone was found and returned to the entrance either by a site employee, or a local Greek or a tourist.
Tom's wallet was stolen by an immigrant.
As i Greek i feel sad for this incident and i want to express an apologise to you. You see Greece is under attack by globalization.
@@sassenspeyghel4155 Not really , Germany is another european country who is under attack too. EU elites has nothing to do with Germany Greece, or true European spirit whatever. They are the internationalists who hiding behind the scenes.
Well all are my friend. All of us are under attack by globalism. What irony if it united us all in opposition to it.
Diogenes was never pickpocketed. Not even by Alexander the Great, who "pickpocketed" many people.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 “Greece is under attack by globalization“ LMFAO…
@@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905 Said the stupid...
You’re producing such outstanding work. Sorry that you got pickpocketed.
Bloody pickpockets. Never happened to me, but happened to a good friend of mine when we were in Rome. As in your case, or as the Greek Minister insisted, we were pretty sure it was a swarthy post-2015 newcomer as opposed to Roma.
f
I came very close to being pick pocketed in camden once a few years ago by a middle eastern looking woman with a swarm of kids to do the dirty work. I've carried my wallet in my front pockets ever since and give it a tap every so often to check its there. Shame we have to live like this, sorry to hear about your friend's misfortune.
A tall non-European guy who barely spoke French attempted to pickpocket my mother in Saint-Denis once. I caught him in the act; you should see the look on his face, he was like a scolded toddler.
They were pickpockets in Rome in 2001.
@@HowieHoward-ti3dxenglish
Probably the worst form of iconography theft is the Sword of Valette which is in the Louvre. It was stolen outright, napoleon only held Malta for a short time and he was kicked out because of the thieving so then Malta became a protectorate of Britain so they werent alone for Napoleon's backlash.
The sword was never forgotten, it was always central to the history of Malta being the central relic from the siege of Malta which is a major event in their history. Also, Maltese citizens have to pay to see it in the Louvre, whereas The British Museum is free at least.
The siege of Malta never gets the attention it deserves. Pity about the sword.
In all the footage and photos of the Parthenon I've seen in movies, on television and the Internet, none have captured just how imposing it is. I don't know how or why, but this video does just that. Thanks for these videos, my dude.
Beautiful sights. I'd love to go one day... though if I do I'll be sure to secure my pockets. My condolences for your loss to those dirty thieves. Had a similar experience in Paris, practically an army of sneaky little pickpockets there, and that was almost a decade ago. I can't imagine what it's like now.
It's worse
Any big city, any crowd of tourists who are relaxed and less alert, will be a draw for pickpockets
You weren't enpoored, you were enriched. The pickpocket experience is worth what you pay, it's an exciting and exotic phenomenon.
You must be rich AND stoopid
You are so lucky living so close to so much history. I live in New Zealand. My ancestors left Britain in the early 1800’s. the history here is very new compared to the rest of the planet.
Come home and enjoy your ancestors history
And you are lucky living in an extraordinarily beautiful country!
@@BellBeakerBlokecomparing the geography of Britain and New Zealand is a bit of a stretch 😅
@@jaredsmith112 Both were by by Brits.
There are numerous ancient sites in New Zealand
I was lucky to visit this incredible place some 30 years ago. It was late afternoon, with relatively few other visitors around. Found it both inspiring and moving. Funnily enough, as with walking around the rest of Athens, i felt completely safe, no fears about pickpockets. In contrast, a friend recounted to me her visit earlier this year. She was advised by many, including the staff at the hotel, and numerous friendly Greeks whom she met, to be wary of pickpockets working the city, and certainly avoid walking around alone. Sadly, her bag was snatched. What has changed in the glorious nation of Greece since my time there? One word, immigrants. And it is the same all-around Europe.
Oh no immigrants whatever shall we do…😂😂😂😂😂
@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905 How about taking some into your home? No doubt you are keen to display your virtue signalling credentials. Or do you, like so many who have no issue with mass immigration, expect everyone else to deal with the problem. Just as long as your little life remains safe and unaffected. 😁
my room got broken in to last weekend in Athens while I was out visiting Delphi. The line of other tourists at the police station was about as busy as the steps to the Acropolis. Sorry to hear about your misfortune but a quick thanks to you Tom. You posted your video at the ancient Agora shortly after. It helped me break out of my woe is me attitude and get excited for my last day in Greece which was the amazing archeological museum and the ancient Agora (also the remains of Plato's academy but this is a bad idea if you've just been robbed)
Thank you for this intimate look at your visit. Alas, I am on oxygen these days and would never be able to trace your footsteps inside of a week.
There was a transcendental feel to this video which I perceived, heightened by the earnestness with which you address ancient religiosity and history. You really tie this crazy modern time seamlessly with the golden past.
I suspect the gods in fact were pleased with your unintended sacrifice.
*Pick-pockets,* you say? Only coffee-colored hands could be so thieving. _"New kinds of faces appeared in The Street; swarthy, sinister faces with furtive eyes and odd features, whose owners spoke unfamiliar words and placed signs in known and unknown characters upon most of the musty houses."_ - H.P. Lovecraft, "The Street"
What a nice extract. I wonder what his cat was called?
We wuz Lovecraft's cat n'shieet.
I will look for The Street in my Lovecraft book that has all of his stories. What is that called again? This reminds me of the Horror at Red Hook.
No fucking way. This is so god-damned prophetic its scary.
@@iberius9937
Lovecraft lived through something like this, seeing all those swarthy immigrant folk moving to his neighborhood. Reality can be more harrowing than fiction.
It’s 3 AM in California and I’m nursing a nasty flu bug. Thanks for the update.
I appreciate all your videos and I love your merchandise brother, please keep continuing to keep our history alive
I kept my wallet in a zipped pocket when I came there. When I'm in a foreign country I don't wear casual shorts exactly for this reason! Either way sorry to hear this, hope it wasn't too devastating.
When I travel, I leave my mostly empty wallet at the hotel and carry my important cards in my front pants pocket. I never carry anything in my back pants pocket and especially not a coat pocket.
Χαίρε Αθηνά!
I really enjoy this informal style of vlogging & enjoyed (and agree) with your thoughts regards Elgin and his marbles especially. The poor British Museum has had a rough year this year and gets quite a lot of misdirected anger on this issue.
I'm very sorry you experienced theft whilst on holiday and in such a sacred location. May the Goddess deal with the thieves in her own way.
Sorry to hear about you getting pickpocketed. Thank you for the video!
Love these impromptu style videos...I feel like we learn new insights and get your uncensored/unedited views....much appreciated and thanks for your work!
Shame about the thieves! May they be served justice.
i am very sorry to hear that you lost your wallet thomas i hope you find a better one very soon
This guys passion is unmatched in modern anthropology and history! We appreciate you!
I visited Athens myself last summer and I thought the Acropolis museum was the best I've ever been to. It was built in a way that the different pieces of the Parthenon can be exhibited in the same shape as they had when they were in the building itself, as well as having some older pieces that had been replaced millennia ago which were found in the excavations on the lower floors.
It's well worth a visit
Thank you for the video! When I was in Greece once I almost got pickpocketed in a church (of all places...) in Thessaloniki. Luckily a woman saw the man coming up behind me and warned me in time. Really have to be careful. Sorry to hear it happened to you...
Enjoying the vlog style. I like the more lively unscripted feel.
Please us the correct terminology: you were 'culturally enriched'......and not by the native Greeks.
Just think of all the great food!
@@jamesthornton3539 When they say that, I feel sorry for the animals being killed for that food. Environmentalists who say protect the environment are foolish when they endorse mass immigration. More people means less forests and more animals killed.
F
@@HowieHoward-ti3dx How is it that it’s foolish? At the end of the day it doesn’t matter, because people are still gonna need a place to be with her safe secure, and can move on with their lives…
@@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905 You obviously don't have critical thinking skills. Reread my comment and that should answer your question.
Super cool video Tom, and seeing your POV perspective at the actual sites themselves is remarkable.
Tom whispering TND under his breath as he walks around Athens like:
Pray for this, please
Great pair of videos. Sorry you were pickpocketed, the camera distracted you and you suffered for your art in order to educate and inform. Thank you
Indeed
Another advert for strong borders and law and order.
Best wishes to you.
Squaring up against that turtle/tortoise and making it back down made me laugh heartily haha
Lucky it wasn't a Snapper, it wouldn't have retracted!
Yes, the Ottomans often kept gunpowder in important historical buildings, often holding those important buildings hostage, threatening to blow them up if they were attacked. Hungary actually lost its oldest church in such a way in Szekesfehervar, where many kings were buried, resulting in further looting. Now there's a chamber with a massive pile of bones and nobody knows who they belong to, and now using genetic testing they are trying to find out who the bones belong to and put them back together. Likely there are many kings scattered around in those piles of bones.
I'm sorry to hear you had your wallet stolen. I hope there wasn't too much money in it and or/or cards etc. I hope everything was sorted out in the end. All the best STJ.
I had a bad experience in Athens with the infamous 'Bracelet scam' in Monastiraki Square . Brazen , out in the open intimidation and scamming of tourists . Unfortunately southern Europe has a terrible problem with scammers , pickpockets and beggars , with Italy and Greece being the worst affected . Keep your wits about you at tourist sites , train stations , on buses , the metro and be wary of anyone who strikes up a conversation with you in public.
They are also 100% of the time the usual suspects
As said before really sorry to hear that you were pickpocketed by those scumbags. I hope the thief be cursed
Hey You're the guy that made those indo european edits
@@Hindustaniyoddha089 yup that's who I am
@@ceohadenough894 the first edit had sumerian music even though sumerians arent indo europeans
@@Hindustaniyoddha089 capitalizing popular memes
Thank you for making and sharing this video. Sorry that your wallet was nicked.
Have you visited the National archaeological museum in Athens? It's got an amazing collection of Mycenaean artifacts!
Yes
I saw all those sights on my honeymoon, what a wonderful country.
Im glad you explained the truth about the sculpture that was once taken from the Parthenon.
I was one of those Americans who believed the "jive" about how they got to the British museum. Also, sorry you got your pocket picked.
Sorry you were robbed, but prior to that, it's good to see you having a nice time. Always enjoy your informative work.
23:25 Tom asks dark-skinned guy if he can video his tattoo. Guy says, "Sure."
Tom: "You're Greek?"
Guy: "No, English."
Tom: Silence.
LOL
I mean he seemed like a nice fella, and there are some (real) british guys who are quite swarthy. But I was a bit baffled aswell haha.
im greek and he makes me look nordic in comparison 😂
He's not even dark lol. You guys are obsessed.
Metatron screaming at you when you call the roman and greek gods the same hahaha
Came for the historical tour.
Stayed for the angry rage.
The destruction of temples and such isnt to do with religion, but jealousy. Lesser people see sometimes grand and intricate and they see their inferiority and are driven to destroy it.
that doesn't explain why they mainly targeted temples and not other beautiful buildings
@@Survivethejive typically the most beautiful buildings are those of religious significance, like cathedrals in Europe
@@LaughingMan44it’s a staple of abrahamic faiths to burn down natives sacred sights and build gaudy churches and mosques on the remains.
There is probably lots at play. People understood the power of gods so destroying an enemy's god was probably a display of the power of their own god. I'm sure pure jealousy must have played a part, the people currently trying to re write and destroy our history and achievements don't seem particularly religious. @@LaughingMan44
Like the blacks
Very sorry that you were a pickpocketing victim. It's a shame how rife it now is at more or less all of these major historical sites across Europe. Great video nonetheless.
When I was living in Paris I learned to do without a wallet so thieves could not steal everything in one action. I had money in a pocket and papers/credit cards in a different one in a card holder. But there is so much pick pockets they still succeeded to steal my phone one day, I realize it was gone once I got home. Most of the robbers were gypsies from Romania at this time, it was between 2000/2010, it must be different now, I live in a smaller french city now. It was nice until recently with the insane amont of immigrants, there is so much of them they made camps in public parks.
la France est foutue
Lovely video, despite the theft (sorry to hear about that). That chaps tattoos were awesome!
I'd be raging too if I was pickpocketed, you looked pretty calm at the end but it amazes me that the authorities are aware that this goes on at historical sites but have a poor or no CCTV set up or even a portable crime /theft station to monitor it, similar to what we have at football matches.
In Germany it is called " Kulturbereicherer" ! Greetings from Westphalia !
"Kulturberiger" in Denmark
fast gleich ! liebe grüße nach Danmark !@@AlbionSupreme
10:53 Yes, except for that sorry affair when they were scrubbed with metal brushes until the marble white was revealed and in so doing the whole polished surface finish (that made the marble almost resemble the skin in colour) and any remnants of the ancient colourings and painting used were duly brushed and scrubbed away for posterity. That was a major faux pas from the British museum. Imagine if the person in charge at the time had his way with the ancient Egyptian mummies etc.
True
My husband was pick pocketed in Bucharest a few years back. We were in a restaurant and foolishly he left his jacket on the back of a chair NEXT TO ME! I didn’t even hear the bloke saddle up behind me and take his wallet etc. we spent the next two days at the police station §%! It’s true, we do not realise how dishonest people,E can be. My daughter who lives there said we stuck out a mile because we dressed like Europeans , but we were not over dressed just not in our oldest clothes. Beware everyone…just take your wallet absolutely everywhere with you.
Romanians also are Europeans
@@napoleonfeanor They are the scum of Europe.
Gypse lol
I love greece and the greek people. I await visiting again myself
They didn't steal your wallet, they just tried to protect your money because you were ready to spend them in bull shit things. After a few years you might have the chance to pay them and get your wallet back.
Happens to the best of us..... i got 'Gypsy switched" in Napoli... and i thought i was 'street wise'.these people are professionals...
Im sorry if this was your first time in Greece and to get pickpocketed, since im from a neighbour Bulgaria. But atleast from now on, you will wear it on more secure places.
Lived in África most of my life. Unless something is welded down It will go...very quickly.
We have a similar problem in the US relating to theft, not pickpocketing but people going into stores and robbing them in broad daylight and the employees not doing shit. It’s gotten so bad that some stores are putting their expensive products in locked cases so if you want to buy something from there an employee has to come and unlock it. Are we going to half to start cutting off hands?
No, just get rid of the diversity
@@RedWolfensteinThe U.S. was doomed from the start when it started bringing in African slaves.
Somebody’s trying to spread unnuanced propaganda… Good for you!…
@@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905 What?
@@jbstarkiller4626 You heard me what are you being confused about your spreading lies, that’s what I’m trying to say…
I've been fortunate to not have been pickpockets during my many travels. Part of that is that I carry my stuff in a day pack that I wear in front, where my hands and eyes can be always on it; but partly also because I don't look like I have any money 😂.
One day I have to visit Greece!
Go while it’s still Greece
You are a lovely specimen of being human.
I love Athens and the Greek people are beautiful people when I visited in summer 2021 there were a lot of south Asian Sinti there unfortunately and there were a lot of robberies reported .
I'm sorry that happened to you. I had a camera stolen many years ago,and I felt unsafe, attacked, and that people who didn't even know me hated me.
Astounding footage and great commentary. That German invasion - I’ve seen that written up as goths in the 3rd century - but it never made sense to me that the Goths had got that far in the 200s. Heruli - yes - that old pesky question of “what really IS a German?”
Any Germanic language speaker is a German at that point in history
i started keeping everything in my front pockets and wear pants with pockets deep enough that nothing pokes out (which is kind of hard given the size of most phones). i don't live in a bad area, but it's not uncommon that i visit tourist areas and i don't need to remind myself to shift everything around as to make pickpocketing harder since i've already formed the habit of keeping my phone, wallet, and keys in front pockets.
That's not very Indo-European behavior.
Can't believe you got robbed by a tortoise.
Buying something, curating and preserving it and then having the goalposts moved decades later, is not "stealing". Rory Sutherland had an interesting suggestion of loaning them to Greece for a certain temporary duration in a trade for other artefacts and then alternating every year etc
The Heruli did not pillage parts of Rome and Greece alone. They formed alliances together with the Huns (asiatic!). In other words: Attila invaded Europa and subdued Germanic tribes.
Keep your stuff in your backpack and wear your backpack in front while travelin in crowded places 😊
Frontpacķ?
When going to crowded places, have a sacrificial wallet with fake money where your normal wallet is, and have your real money somewhere that is hard to get at. With your fake wallet in your normal wallets place, you'll do the unconscious checking that pickpockets look for.
Same goes for phones and such.
Greetings, and thank you! Something you ought to consider, Greece is very prone to earthqakes. Many old buildings were simply used as quarryies, a ready source of already dressed stone for new construction by new civilisations who possibly despised their "pagan" origins. Delphi springs to mind and I have seen old columns used to reinforce byzantine walls in Thessaloniki. In Visby, Gotland, after the Reformation, the old Catholic churches vere a ready source of quality stone for later construction. Indeed some monuments like the Pantheon in Rome and indeed the Parthenon itself owe their survival to being reused as Chistian churches. Don´t be too harsh on the Heruli. All the best to you, Billi.
Just wait until you put your cases through Greek Airport Security. Your be lucky to have a pair of pants left by the time those official thieves have finished with it.
you left your items/clothing in the closet in your hotelroom. dont blame the airport people
If your a moron don't blame your parents. @@yellowstoneisthecoolestparkeve
LOL Really ? I suppose having 3 cases broke into at your airports on 3 separate occasions and Greece coming in the top 5 places on the planet to have your case stolen or robbed, on Trip Advisor, is all a myth. @@stelios-1821
Very cool video!
Thank you very much!
When I went on holiday to Greece years ago I also came across a tortoise or two hurrying across the road, and the "wild" cats and dogs that nobody seems to specifically own.
One thing I laughed at at the Acropolis Museum was how one of the information panels on the Parthenon describes how the Venetians blowing up the munitions completely destroyed the roof, yet Elgin taking the statues apparently caused more damage to the temple.
some very biased anti British stuff in the museums in Athens due to socialist influences
same happened with the pergamon temple in berlin...actually its protected there...though,its sad we couldnt preserve our treasure and culture
People involved in riots also tend to destroy property. It seems like some collective destructive possession overtakes people in such situation.
Some groups have a tendency toward creation, others have a tendency to destroy
@@proudsaiyanprince2651okay what about the German tribe who destroyed Athens and that temple that he mentions? Goofball.
@@ProfessorShnacktime Germans can’t go 50 years without trying to destroy Europe. My point remains, silly billy.
@@ProfessorShnacktimemaaan let them live their dream.
I am a Christian, however I feel that learning about paganism, particularly of the European variety has been and will continue to be helpful in my constant journey of self understanding.
Bit of Anglo Jewry but at least the marbles are intact.
I was pick-pocketed in the London Underground. Learned my lesson there.
Whenever ancient sites are destroyed, we all lose the information of our joint past. This always makes me sad.
Sorry to hear you were robbed. Nightmare. Had the pleasure of visit a few weeks back myself. Enjoyed hearing your insights. Certainly agree about the Elgin marble situation. Although I think they need to pay for the many years of world class care they've enjoyed over the years and also with free access to the public. Nice they finally built a museum worthy of them. Although it's built on top of an archaeological site, so I can't see how they didn't destroy lots of archaeological in the process. Oh well.
Wow I was just in all of these places not even a week ago! I would have loved to leave some offerings too. It would be great if there was a small area for it
Inadvertantly you did make an offering. Pretty sure it counts.
A history channel I watch had the host robbed in Greece of all his camera gear.
Poor guy
Tom, your work is representative of the highest order for respect & preservation of European culture. It is truly unfortunate that people who do not understand or respect these principled values are allowed to roam around and prey upon decent folks, with little to no recourse or accountability. I have to walk around with my valued possessions chained to my belt or pack, as well as long knives, walking stick & mace to ward off any criminals or wild animals. This applies to urban streets as well as nature hikes. I cannot relate to people who cannot see that being prepared to protect one's person & property is a basic necessity in the modern world.. I was almost attacked by a pitbull dog today while walking to the store for some drinks. Luckily, I was able to keep him at a distance of about 2 to 3 feet while I asserted my dominance with a series of low, stern voice commands. Another person may not have been so fortunate. Imagine this scenario as a widespread phenomenon, but the majority of people are not equipped with the power to prevent disaster. Stand tall..
The destruction of the temple was an act of humiliation. Not only have we captured your city, but we have brought your chief God down as well. Vandals gotta Vandalize
I've been to the one in Nashville. The inside is pretty much an art museum but they still have the inner-most chamber where Athens stands (or sits, I cant remember).
Quiet the spectacle in its recreation of the real thing I say.
So sorry that happened to you.
On a lighter note, just from the frequency of how loud the voices were, I could spot the Americans lol
I wonder what it could mean that the cat in the cut before you switched to the acropolis museum was standing over your shoulder as you spoke about your pickpocketers... It feels of some symbolic significance, though of what I do not know.
When I travel, I keep my wallet in a pouch tucked inside the front of my pants. If a thief wants it, he'll have to dig for it...and he better be armed at the time.
I live in Tennessee and have been to the parthenon many times. Its an amazing place. One day, im hoping to visit Europe.
I'm curious, would you support rebuilding such destroyed temples and turn them back into places of worship, or should the original state we're left with be preserved as much as possible?
Turn them back to places of worship
@@Survivethejive based
@@Survivethejive I always liked ancient Greek and Roman cultures If I were not Christian, I would join those religions, if they existed.
Great video! I hope to make it there myself one day.