Monastery of Daphni (Greece)
Unused, B&W real-photo card, unusually with no printing at all on the reverse. As for the monastery, we’re told: “The Daphni Monastery was founded towards the end of the sixth century A.D. on the site of the Sanctuary of Apollo which had been desecrated by the Goths in 395. The Sanctuary of Apollo was built in the Ionic style using the thinnest and smallest columns. One of the four Ionic columns of the ancient Sanctuary of Apollo remains at the site … The other columns were taken to London by Thomas Bruce, Earl of Elgin (best-known for taking the Parthenon Marbles). The columns, column bases, and column tops from the Sanctuary of Apollo are currently in the possession of the British Museum; they are not on display but can be seen on the museum’s website. The first monastery on the site was constructed in the style of a castle with a basilica in the middle…” Grade: 2