New Athos: Temple of Phallus - visual history-5 (40 photos)

Welcome to the temple of the phallus worshipers. Oh yes, you do not have an entrance ticket and a mask on your face ... Then I will show you the secret entrance to this temple. It’s dry now and maybe you’ll be lucky to get there. But let's start in order.

Where does this road go? In fact, to the city of Sukhum, the capital of Abkhazia. But now she will dive into the mountain. A tunnel starts around the bend. But we need the road on the left. Where do you think it leads? Of course, you guessed it (just kidding, you can't know if you haven't been there), this road will lead us to a natural waterfall

It is always cool here, in any weather, even in the most intense heat. There is a lot of shade and icy mountain water. Later we will be able to walk along the very bed of this mountain river. It takes place in a narrow picturesque gorge. There is still no such amount of water as in this waterfall. Apparently, somewhere underground waters join, but it is impossible to go there along the channel (later I will show why this is so).

But what is it? What square is carved into the rock above the waterfall bowl? If you haven't seen my earlier posts, I'll give you a hint. This is the exit from the tunnel, which was built to discharge excess water during the rainy season from the system of lakes of the New Athos caves.

Yes, if you get into this Malevich square and be brave, you can get into the caves and get out somewhere in the area of an underground lake. But I didn’t and I don’t advise you either. I just assumed that. It's easier to pay for the admission ticket and enjoy being inside this wonderful place. By the way, the temple of the worshipers of the phallus is located there.

So you haven't been to the caves? If you're interested, you can check out this post and another post.

Yes, and we're not done with the caves yet. I propose to return and continue our inspection and later we will swim in these waters.

Yes, friends, there is much phallic symbolism in nature. But in my opinion, stalagmites are the most expressive of all. I don't mean mushrooms ...

The passage here is blocked by a lattice, but what can stop a true adept from decorating his favorite symbol with gold chains.

However, there were clearly not enough chains for all the symbols ...
And we will simply admire this natural beauty.
By the way, am I the only one to see this wonderful sculpture? Biggie in rich robes at the edge of a cliff ... how romantic!

I talked about the fence, it is quite high and sometimes interferes with shooting.

So that my chatter does not prevent you from admiring the inner beauty of the cave, I will be silent for a while.

It's time for us to leave the temple of the phalluses and go to the last hall. There are other lighting and other natural decorations. And I will remain silent again.

This is the last and my opinion the most expressive hall. It amazes with the grandeur of the forms. In addition, there is an "underground waterfall". This is the last observation deck and behind it you can see the tunnel leading to the subway cars.

I was planning to return to the waterfall, but I'm afraid you are already tired of the post overloaded with photos. We will return to the waterfall another time when we begin our journey along the gorge with the bed of this mountain river.
In the meantime, I wish you a good day.

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Camera	Sony A57
Lens	Sony 16-105
Location	Russia
Post-production	in LR

Manual processing in Lightroom

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From Russia with Love