The Educational Travel Blog by Explorica

Ever wondered what the White House (the very one now occupied by Barack and Michelle) is modeled after? See for yourself on our Athens, Istanbul and Aegean tour where you’ll survey the foundational architecture of Western civilization. After all, democracy is an invention of ancient Greece, so experience its birthplace on the Athens sightseeing walk. When visiting the Acropolis, notice the dominant Doric columns, similar to the ones at the White House, that hold up their stately facades. The golden years of the Acropolis were from 460–430 B.C. when buildings like the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike were built. These doric columns are a foundational feature of Classical architecture from which all later Western architectural styles have followed. Even your high school is likely derived from the Greek original order as that style was developed in contrast to Classical architecture. It’s no accident that the White House is in a Classical style, meant to symbolize the roots of democracy. Michelle Obama’s dramatic fashion sense is perhaps a throw back to the Goddess Athena Nike’s powerful sweeping robes. (Check Athena out amongst the Doric columns of her temple.)

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