July 28, 2026 — I was able to visit the Parthenon this week. What an odd thing to write. For most of my life, I’ve seen pictures of this building. To actually see it in person was more than a bit surreal.
As we got closer to it, our taxi driver, who could barely speak any English, pointed it out to us over the tree line. We were coming into the city from the countryside, so I hadn’t seen it until then. The moment I saw it, there was a strange amount of emotion that I felt. Tears came up into my eyes, and I had a bit of difficulty speaking.
I suppose this building represents for me the very essence of Western thought and culture. The notion that our own capital city in the U.S. borrowed so much from this architectural style from a place on the other side of the planet. Yes, this is the very depiction of our roots in free thought.
I made my way up to the structure, and despite hearing that I would be shocked by the sad state of the ruins, I found myself entirely entranced by what I saw: an extraordinary beauty. Lines so amazing, they almost seemed like drawings.
I wasn’t prepared for this. I knew that this was something that I wanted to do while traveling through Greece. But to be moved to tears?
Why did the Parthenon speak to me? What do I have to do with this ancient building that was halfway across the world? I’ve seen it a thousand times — in cheesy pictures hanging in Greek restaurants in the States. But here it was, larger than life. Yelling at me to stop and reflect. Utter amazement.
Update – October 10, 2026
A few days ago, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered an amazing speech. Standing in the Acropolis with the Parthenon in the background, he shared a defense of Western Civilization that I haven’t heard in over 40 years. The references to antiquity and the divergence with the popular modern mindset raised by the Secretary were cogent and compelling. I am sharing the link here:
The Secretary’s speech answered so much about what I felt while I was visiting the Parthenon this summer.
