The archaeological study of Athens began in the 30s of the 19th century, but excavations became systematic only with the formation of the French, German and English archaeological schools in Athens in the 70s and 80s. Literary sources and archaeological material that have survived to this day help to reconstruct the history of the Athenian polis. Main literary source on the history of Athens during the formation of the state - “The Athenian Polity” by Aristotle (IV century BC).
Encyclopedic YouTube
1 / 5
Ancient Athens (Russian) History ancient world
Athens and Sparta. Athenian democracy
Video lesson on history "In the city of the goddess Athena"
Socrates - ancient thinker, first Athenian philosopher
A.Yu. Mozhaisky. Lecture "Athens in the 7th-6th centuries BC - the establishment of democracy"
Subtitles
Formation of the Athenian state
Hellenistic era
During the Hellenistic period, when Greece became an arena of struggle between major Hellenistic states, the position of Athens changed several times. There were short periods when they managed to achieve relative independence; in other cases, Macedonian garrisons were introduced into Athens. In 146 BC. e. Having shared the fate of all of Greece, Athens fell under the rule of Rome; being in the position of an ally city (lat. civitas foederata), they enjoyed only fictitious freedom. In 88 BC. e. Athens joined the anti-Roman movement raised by the Pontic king Mithridates VI Eupator. In 86 BC. e. The army of Lucius Cornelius Sulla took the city by storm and plundered it. Out of respect for the powerful past of Athens, Sulla preserved their fictitious freedom. In 27 BC. e. after the formation of the Roman province of Achaia, Athens became part of it. In the 3rd century AD. BC, when Balkan Greece began to be invaded by barbarians, Athens fell into complete decline.
Planning and architecture
Hills
- Akropolis Hill.
- Areopagus, that is, the hill of Ares - west of the Acropolis, gave its name to the highest judicial and governmental council of Ancient Athens, which held its meetings on the hillside.
- Nymphaeion, that is, the hill of the nymphs, is southwest of the Areopagus.
- Pnyx - a semicircular hill southwest of the Areopagus; meetings of the ekklesia were originally held here, which were later moved to the Theater of Dionysus.
- Museion, that is, the Hill of Museus or Muses, now known as the Hill of Philopappou - south of the Pnyx and Areopagus.
Acropolis
Initially, the city occupied only the upper area of the steep hill of the Acropolis, accessible only from the west, which simultaneously served as a fortress, political and religious center, and the core of the entire city. According to legend, the Pelasgians leveled the top of the hill, surrounded it with walls and built an outer fortification on the western side with 9 gates located one after another. The ancient kings of Attica and their wives lived inside the castle. Here rose ancient temple, dedicated to Pallas Athena, along with whom Poseidon and Erechtheus were also revered (hence the temple dedicated to him was called Erechtheion).
The golden age of Pericles was also a golden age for the Acropolis of Athens. First of all, Pericles instructed the architect Ictinus to build a new, more magnificent Temple of the Virgin Athena - the Parthenon, on the site of the old Hekatompedon (Temple of Chaste Athena) destroyed by the Persians. Its splendor was enhanced by the numerous statues with which, under the leadership of Phidias, the temple was decorated, both outside and inside. Immediately after the completion of the Parthenon, which served as the treasury of the gods and for the celebration of the Panathenaia, in 438 BC. e. Pericles commissioned the architect Mnesicles to build a new magnificent gate at the entrance to the acropolis - Propylaea (437-432 BC). A staircase made of marble slabs, winding, led along the western slope of the hill to the portico, which consisted of 6 Doric columns, the gaps between which decreased symmetrically on both sides.
Agora
Part of the population, subject to the owners of the fortress (acropolis), eventually settled at the foot of the hill, mainly on its southern and southeastern side. It was here that the most ancient sanctuaries of the city were located, in particular dedicated to Olympian Zeus, Apollo, Dionysus. Then settlements appeared along the slopes that stretch west of the Acropolis. The lower city expanded even more when, as a result of the unification various parts, to which ancient times Attica was divided into one political whole (tradition attributes this to Theseus), Athens became the capital of a united state. Gradually, over the following centuries, the city was also populated with north side Acropolis. It was predominantly home to artisans, namely members of the respected and numerous class of potters in Athens, hence a significant quarter of the city east of the Acropolis was called the Ceramics (that is, the potters' quarter).
Finally, in the era of Peisistratus and his sons, an altar to the 12 gods was built in the southern part of the new Agora (market), which was located at the northwestern foot of the Acropolis. Moreover, from the Agora the distances of all areas connected by roads to the city were measured. Peisistratus also began construction in the lower city of the colossal Temple of Zeus at Olympia, east of the Acropolis, and on the high point Acropolis Hill - Temple of Chaste Athena (Hecatompedon).
Gates
Among the main entrance gates of Athens were:
- in the west: Dipylon Gate, leading from the center of the Keramik district to the Academy. The gate was considered sacred because the sacred Elefsinian Way began from it. Knight's Gate were located between the Hill of the Nymphs and the Pnyx. Piraeus Gate- between Pnyx and Museion, led to a road between long walls, which in turn led to Piraeus. The Miletus Gate is so named because it led to the deme of Miletus within Athens (not to be confused with the polis of Miletus).
- in the south: the gate of the dead was located near Museion Hill. The road to Faliron began from the Itonia Gate on the banks of the Ilissos River.
- in the east: the Diochara gate led to the Lyceum. The Diomean Gate received this name because it led to the demo of Diomeus, as well as the hill of Kinosargus.
- in the north: the Acarnian gate led to the deme Acarneus.
Ancient Athens was a polis of ancient Greece and one of the important cities of the ancient world in general. The boundaries of Ancient Athens included most today's Attica.
Heyday Western civilization began more than 2500 years ago in Attica, in a small Greek state and in particular in ancient Athens.
At the beginning of the 5th century BC. Athens was practically destroyed.
Acropolis, one of the most famous historical monuments in the world in ancient times was religious and political center cities. But 480 B.C. the buildings of the Acropolis were burned to the ground by a 300,000-strong Persian army that invaded the city, under the leadership of the formidable and famous king Xerxes.
The Athenians abandoned the city and the Persians occupied Athens. It seemed that this was the end for Ancient Athens, but over the next 50 years, the city became the cultural capital of the entire Greek world and the cradle of modern Western science and philosophy. The Acropolis was brilliantly rebuilt and by 430 BC. it is adorned with the most beautiful monuments in the world, with the most important being the Parthenon, the Temple of Virgin Athena.
How he was reborn from the ashes ancient city Athens and became one of largest cities ancient times?
Who were the leaders, architects and artists who made the unique history of ancient Athens?
Golden Age of Athens
After a brilliant victory over the Persians and their retreat from Athens, a leader came to power in Ancient Athens, who made his city cultural and military force in the Greek world. The name of the outstanding statesman Pericles, he not only introduced democratic reforms, but also strengthened the army, built some of the most remarkable monuments of all time. Pericles was in power for 30 years, he made a greater contribution to the development of Athenian democracy. The Citadel, which was completely destroyed by the Persians, was restored. The main building was the Parthenon, but other temples were built, which became masterpieces of world art.
Pericles brought the city into the “golden age” and made the name of Athens immortal. This was the century of great artists such as the sculptor Phidias, great philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, famous theater-goers such as Sophocles and Euripides, who laid the foundations of tragedy, comedy and drama.
Pericles died in 429 BC. after the plague, which cost the lives of many inhabitants of Athens. But his achievements remain unsurpassed. Athens at that time was the crown of a dynamic society, and the time of his reign is usually called the “golden age of Pericles.”
Greece is a country with magnificent landscapes. The ancient Greeks believed that gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings lived in forests, mountains and water. They believed in the absolute power of the gods, who could help or harm them. Religious festivals took place throughout the year, during which people made sacrifices to the gods.
The first people appeared on the territory of Greece at the beginning Bronze Age who migrated from huge territory Eurasia. The first Greeks were warlike tribes, they constantly fought with each other in order to occupy richer and more fertile places. The first settlements were mostly primitive rural communities. Between 1500 and 1200 BC. There was a population explosion, which led to high cultural and technological achievements. Palaces and temples rose up everywhere, some of the remains of which we can still see today.
This created a suitable background for legends and myths: the poems of Homer, the myths about the “Argonauts” and the “labors of Hercules”. Some have long been considered legends, like Trojan War, written by Homer. However, in 1870, the German archaeologist Schliemann discovered the ruins of Troy. The city was indeed destroyed by the war, which lasted for a long time.
In areas of Attica, an intense human presence was found during the Neolithic era. Ancient Attica was inhabited by the Ionians, one of the main ancient Greek tribes that settled in southern Greece at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. In Attica, a special Ionic dialect gradually developed, which became the language of literature and art in ancient times. With the arrival of the Dorians, at the end of the 2nd millennium (about 1100 BC), the Ionians defended their borders, Attica was one of the few places in Greece that the Dorians failed to capture.
Modern Athens
The city of Athens lives and prospers to this day. Modern city centered around the Citadel, it includes various ruins from ancient times, proving that this place once reached the pinnacle of its development, influencing the entire European culture.
A city of about 5 million people lives with memories of a world that was lost. In many places we observe different historical periods of Athens, some buildings and buildings still keep the secrets of the ancient Hellenes.
Until now, as in ancient times, the magnificent Acropolis with beautiful temples proudly towers over the city.
Ancient Athens was considered the main city in Attica (Central Greece). Urban settlements were located several kilometers from the sea. They were grouped around a high hill with a citadel towering above it. It was called the Acropolis. The area was extremely picturesque, and the Acropolis was decorated with magnificent buildings.
Ancient Athens on the map of Greece
From tyrants to democracy
The city-state began to gain strength at the end of the 9th century BC. e. In the beginning, Athens was ruled by kings, and then they were replaced by tyrants. Tyranos translated from Greek as ruler. Therefore, no bad meaning was put into this word.
However, over time, city rulers began to oppress and rob the population. It was then that the word “tyrant” began to be understood as a cruel ruler or despot. In this negative meaning it has survived to this day.
At first, the tyrants were tolerated, since they enjoyed the support of the rich and noble Athenians and the Areopagus. Areopagus called the supreme council, which included 9 judges or archons.
Athens Acropolis
In the 7th century BC. e. archon Dragon implemented a whole series of harsh laws. According to them, people were executed for the slightest offense. Stole a bunch of grapes or an onion - death. The Athenians said that Draco wrote his laws in blood and called them draconian.
Property inequality ended with the struggle between aristocrats and commoners in the 6th century BC. e. Unrest and armed clashes began in the city. To stop the bloodshed, they decided to elect Archon smart person so that he could finally put things in order.
He turned out to be such a person Solon. He had an excellent reputation and in 594 BC. e. began to carry out reforms. It was on his initiative that the Draco laws and debt slavery were abolished. Laws on freedom of will and inheritance of property were introduced. Craftsmen and traders began to be provided with benefits.
All citizens of Attica, depending on material wealth, were divided into 4 class groups. Each of them was prescribed its own responsibilities and rights. But in this issue Solon acted as a defender of the aristocracy. He granted the right to occupy government positions only to rich citizens.
The reformer did not encroach on the power of the tyrants. They continued to commit arbitrariness and increasingly antagonized the common people. In 514 BC. e. The tyrant Hipparchus was killed by the conspirators Harmodius and Aristogeiton. These two ancient Greeks went down in history as the first tyrannicides.
In 509 BC. e. erupted in Ancient Athens popular uprising. As a result of this, the royal power was destroyed, and triumphed democratic government. All Athenian citizens, regardless of material wealth, received equal political rights, and the most important government issues began to be decided by general vote.
But the republic that arose on the lands of Ancient Greece remained aristocratic. Noble Athenians began to unite into groups and manipulate the votes of people at public assemblies. The aristocrats bribed and won over the people's leaders, who were called demagogues.
The Rise of Ancient Athens
In the 5th century BC. e. greek cities-states defeated Persia. This contributed not only to general prosperity, but also to the victory of democracy. In Argos, Phocis, and Thebes, the ruling aristocratic groups were overthrown. The inhabitants of these cities began to practice democratic freedoms following the example of Athens.
But greatest prosperity It was Ancient Athens that reached. The port of Piraeus, which they owned, became the main center of trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Athenians also stood at the head of a maritime union, which included 200 poleis (cities). The union had its own treasury, and it was managed by the Athenians. All this strengthened the city and raised its authority.
As for domestic political life, it was characterized by the struggle of two parties - aristocratic and democratic. In 462 BC. e. The power of the Areopagus was significantly limited. People's assemblies began to play an increasingly significant political role. They convened 4 times a month. Laws were passed on them, wars were declared, peace was concluded, and public funds were distributed.
Pericles with his wife Aspasia
During this period, the following stood out: historical figure How Pericles. He became a recognized Athenian leader, and in 443 BC. e. he was elected strategos (military leader). This man was in power for 15 years. It was under him that secret voting began to be practiced in the people's assembly.
In all sculptures, Pericles is depicted wearing a helmet. There is speculation that his head had some kind of physical defect. But, despite this, the strategist had a diverse education. He strove to make Ancient Athens the center of education for all of Hellas.
This man's wife was Aspasia from Miletus. She was distinguished by her beauty and intelligence, and in her social activities sought equality for women. Residents of the city compared Pericles with Zeus, and his wife with Hera - the wife of the thunderer. However, the marriage of this couple was not recognized as official, since Aspasia was not an Athenian. True, two sons from this marriage received Athenian citizenship.
Under Pericles, the city flourished and was the most prosperous and powerful among all the cities of Ancient Greece. In 429 BC. e. the strategist died. After this, the gradual decline of the powerful city-state began.
Sunset of Ancient Athens
In 431 BC. e. War began between Sparta and Athens. It lasted 30 years and was carried out extremely cruelly. Other Greek cities also took part in this war. It went down in history as the name of the union led by Sparta.
The Spartans invaded Attica several times and besieged Athens. In response to this, the Athenians attacked Peloponnesian cities from the sea. Was also organized sea voyage to Sicily. A fleet of 134 triremes (warships) took part in it. But this large-scale expedition did not bring success to the Athenians.
Having suffered a number of serious defeats, the Athenian Maritime Union collapsed. A revolution took place in the city itself. As a result of this, the aristocratic first came to power council of four hundred, and then a smaller group seized power thirty tyrants. As for the People's Assembly, its powers were significantly reduced.
The Peloponnesian War was fought on both land and sea
In 404 BC. e. The Athenians capitulated to the Spartans. They were prohibited from having a navy, and the stone walls of the port of Piraeus were destroyed. But the long war weakened not only Attica, but also other Greek city states.
And at this time, a new powerful enemy appeared in the north. It was Macedonia, which began to claim hegemony over all of Greece. It reached its greatest power in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. under Philip II. He created well armed army and began to conquer one Greek city after another.
However, the Athenian lands continued to remain cultural and shopping center Hellas. But the city residents understood that the Macedonians would soon reach them. The Athenian orator Demosthenes spoke directly about this. His accusatory speeches were called Philippics, and Philip II himself declared Demosthenes his personal enemy.
The political situation was heating up, and Ancient Athens had no choice but to create a military alliance. It included Thebes, Megara and Corinth. In 338 BC. e. A battle took place near the Boeotian city of Chaeronea between the troops of the military alliance and the army of Philip II. In this battle the allies were defeated.
The winner dictated peace terms to the defeated cities. Since Philip II was a smart man, he formally declared the conquered policies independent, but obliged them to support him in military campaigns. In addition, he placed military garrisons in Attica.
In most of the conquered cities, an aristocracy came to power, currying favor with Macedonia. This ended the classical era, and the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greece began.
During Hellenism, the situation in Athens was constantly changing. The city either achieved independence or again fell under the rule of the Macedonian army. In 146 BC. e. the city found itself under the rule of the Roman Republic as an ally. But freedom was purely formal.
In 88 BC. e. The Athenians supported the anti-Roman movement, which was led by the Pontic king Mithridates VI. But in 86 BC. e. near the city walls there was a Roman army under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. The Romans once captured great city by storm. However, Sulla showed mercy out of respect for the historical past of Ancient Athens: the fictitious freedom of the Athenians was preserved.
In the last quarter of the 1st century BC. e. the city became part of the new Roman province. But only in the 3rd century AD. e. the importance of the once powerful Athens completely disappeared, and the polis fell into complete decline.
The age of Athens is two and a half thousand years. The glorious past of the city is still clearly visible: it is literally visible from everywhere. ancient Acropolis, towering over the city. Today Athens is a modern metropolis, home to about four million people. This great city has changed in the twenty-first century. This happened partly thanks to the 2004 Olympic Games. Now Athens is more than a repository of antiquities. The city has changed a lot and, contrary to the perception of it as a city with a polluted environment and unbearable traffic, it leaves an amazing impression.
The construction boom after the end of World War II and the increase in population from 700 thousand to 4 million people turned into an architectural disaster. However, now the appearance of the city is changing: new roads, metro are being built, and the expansion pedestrian zone in the city center has already relieved Athens of painful traffic jams and even reduced the cloud of smog, which literally poisons the capital’s atmosphere. The cleaner air is evident in the rediscovery of the views for which Athens was once famous, and despite the skyscrapers and fast-food outlets, the city manages to retain its unique character and charm.
Oriental bazaars compete with fashion boutiques and shops filled with goods from Armani and Benetton. Rapid modernization is balanced by a sense of homely atmosphere in the air: any Greek will tell you that Athens is the largest village in the country. No matter how often you come to Athens, your attention will be attracted by what has been preserved from the classical ancient city- first of all, this is the Parthenon and other monuments of the Acropolis, as well as the updated one, which presents the best collection of antiquities.
Most of the several million visitors who visit Athens every year limit themselves to visiting these monuments, adding to them perhaps an evening in a romantic atmosphere in one of the Plaka taverns designed for tourists. But in doing so, they miss the chance to see the Athens that the Athenians themselves know and love. Even if you only visited the city for a short time, this does not justify the desire to see Athens only as a collection of preserved antiquities and museum exhibits. It would also be worth spending a little time getting to know the outskirts of the capital and visiting near Athens.
The most accessible place for tourists is probably Plaka, an area where Turkish, neoclassical and Greek island architecture is mixed. Next are interesting museums, dedicated to traditional arts and crafts, from ceramics to music. A little further north are the bazaars, almost the same as in the Middle East, and the additional reward is the cafes, bars, clubs in Psirri and the rapidly developing, as well as National Park both shady and elegant. Not so far from Plaka are the hills Lycabettus and Philopappou, from which the entire city is visible at a glance, and there is a tram (in the summer it will take you to the beach). All of the above attractions can be seen during.
But what surprises visitors most of all in Athens is the bustling life of the city. The cafe is always crowded, during the day and after midnight, the streets are not empty until three, or even four hours mornings, bars and clubs attract night owls. There are also places to eat in a way that will be remembered for a long time: there are many traditional taverns, and chic restaurants await discerning gourmets. In the summer, cafe tables move onto the street pavements, club life moves to the beaches, and you can go to the cinema, attend concerts and open-air performances based on the works of classical ancient Greek drama. Shopping lovers' eyes run wild: lively colorful bazaars and huge shopping spaces in the suburbs, called "malls" in the American style, and, of course, boutiques filled with the creations of the most fashionable fashion designers.
And very good - and for the price too - public transport, an inexpensive taxi, so you won’t have any special difficulties getting around. Describing the outskirts of Athens - they and the region as a whole will be discussed in other articles - attention is paid here, first of all, to the monuments of antiquity. The most popular place to visit is the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion: that wonderful architectural monument is located on a cliff overlooking the cape. Not so well known and not so frequently visited are the sanctuaries of Ramne (Rhamnus), Eleusis (Elephsina) and Vravrona, as well as the one built in honor of great victory burial mound near Marathon.
Fans of hiking may want to climb - the mountains have encircled the city, and it is best to climb Mount Parnitha. If it is in the spring, then at the same time you will pick up an armful of a variety of wonderful forest and wildflowers. The beaches on the Attic coast are good enough to attract city-weary Athenians, but if you're visiting the islands, exploring the beaches here isn't necessary. Getting out of Athens is easy: dozens of ferries and hydrofoils leave daily from the Athens suburban port of Piraeus, and also, less frequently, from two other Attic ports with ferry piers - Rafina and Lavrion.
A Brief History of Athens (Greece)
Athens is a city where life began more than seven thousand years ago. The low rocky hill, which later became the Acropolis of Athens, has attracted people since ancient times as comfortable spot settlements. It rises in the middle of a valley watered by the rivers Cephisus and Ilissos and surrounded by the mountains Hymetta, Penterikon, Parnet and Aigalei. The slopes of the hill, whose height is 156 meters above sea level, are inaccessible, and therefore it is natural that all these advantages were appreciated by the ancient inhabitants of Attica. The Mycenaeans built a palace-fortress on the rock.
Unlike other Mycenaean villages, Athens was neither abandoned nor sacked during the Dorian invasion (circa 1200 BC), so the Athenians always prided themselves on being “pure” Ionians, without Dorian “admixture”. But the Mycenaean-type state did not survive in Athens. Gradually the village turned into a polis (ancient city-state) and Cultural Center. The rulers of Athens were considered kings - the basilei, who then ceded power to the clan nobility - the eupatrides. Public meetings took place at the Propylaea of the Acropolis. To the west rose the rocky hill of Apec, named after the god of war. Here, on the leveled peak, the Areopagus, the council of elders, gathered noble families cities, Areopagites. Athens at that time remained in the shadow of large and powerful policies, such as and.
Athens grew richer, and the increased prosperity contributed to the rapid growth of arts and crafts, especially pottery. But the economic growth increased political tension: growing discontent among farmers and Athenians, who were excluded from public life, but they paid taxes and taxes on the land that went to the landed aristocracy. The discord could only be stopped by the reconstruction of society, which was aimed at by the laws of Draco (his “Dracontic” code was promulgated in 621 BC) and the election of Solon as ruler (594 BC), who was given powers to carry out radical political and economic reforms.
Solon's reforms provided civil rights wide sections of the population and laid the foundations of a system that over time grew into Athenian democracy. In the middle of the 6th century BC, Peisistratus seized power. Peisistratus is usually called a tyrant, but this only means that he took power by force: his populist policies earned him the loyalty and love of many of his fellow citizens, and he turned out to be a very successful ruler, under whom Athens became much more powerful, richer and more influential. His sons Hippias and Hipparchus were not so happy: Hipparchus was killed in 514 BC, after which Hippias tried to establish a dictatorship.
He was greatly disliked by the people and was overthrown with the help of an army called from Sparta in 510 BC. New leader Cleisthenes carried out more radical changes: he introduced a government collegium of 10 strategists, created territorial phyles instead of tribal ones, and each of them sent fifty representatives to the State Council of Bule. Boulet made decisions on issues discussed in the Assembly. All citizens could participate in the Assembly and it performed the functions of both the legislative branch and the supreme court. The reforms proposed by Cleisthenes served as the basis Athenian democracy, which existed, almost unchanged, until Roman rule.
Around 500 BC, Athens sent a detachment of warriors to Asia Minor- to help the Ionian Greeks who rebelled against Persian Empire, which provoked a retaliatory Persian invasion of Greece. In 490 BC, the Athenians and their allies defeated vastly superior Persian forces at the Battle of Marathon. In 480 BC, the Persians returned, captured and sacked Athens and left almost the entire city burned to the ground. In the same year, however, victory in naval battle At the same time, Athens was able to unite the cities of the islands of the Aegean Sea and central Greece into the Delian League, also called the Athenian Maritime League.
The newfound power gave rise to the so-called classical period, during which Athens reaped the fruits of its successes and the triumph of democracy along with the flowering of the arts, architecture, literature and philosophy, and the influence of this era on world culture is palpable to this day. In the second century BC, power passed to the Romans, who revered Athens as a spiritual source but made little effort to give the city more splendor.
Christians and Turks in Athens (Greece)
The emergence of Christianity is perhaps the most significant milestone in the process of the long decline of Athens, which lost the glory that the city knew in classical era. At the end of Roman rule, during which the appearance of the city changed little, Athens lost its role as a connecting link in the Greco-Roman world, and the reason for this was the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western and the formation of Byzantium (Constantinople) as the capital of the Eastern Byzantine Empire. In this empire, the new Christian worldview very soon eclipsed the ethics developed by Athens, although Neoplatonism was still taught in the philosophical schools of the city.
In 529, these lyceums were closed, and Justinian I, who put an end to them, ordered at the same time to rededicate the city churches, and all of them, including the Parthenon, became Christian churches. Then Athens almost ceased to be mentioned in chronicles and annals; a hint of revival appeared only during the reign of foreign rulers and the Middle Ages: due to the Fourth Crusade Athens with the Peloponnese and a considerable part of the central part ended up in the hands of the Franks. The ducal court was located on the Acropolis, and for a whole century Athens returned to the mainstream of European life. The Frankish power, however, had almost no one to rely on except the provincial aristocracy.
In 1311, Frankish troops fought with Catalan mercenaries entrenched in Thebes and were driven into a swamp. The Catalans, who organized their own principality, were replaced by the Florentines, and then very briefly by the Venetians, until in 1456 Turkish Sultan Mehmed II, conqueror of Constantinople. Athens during the period of Turkish rule was military settlement with a garrison stationed in it, every now and then (and to considerable damage to buildings classical period) finding himself on the front lines of battles with the Venetians and other Western powers.
Ties with the West were severed, only occasionally French and Italian ambassadors in the Sublime Porte. Sometimes rare travelers or curious painters visited Athens. During this period, the Greeks enjoyed some degree of self-government, and the Jesuit and Capuchin monasteries flourished. turned into a residence Ottoman ruler, and the Parthenon was converted into a mosque. The areas around the Acropolis returned to the distant past, switched to a partial peasant existence, and the port in Piraeus was forced to be content with servicing a dozen or two fishing boats.
Four hundred years of Ottoman rule ended in 1821, when the Athenian Greeks, along with the inhabitants of dozens of cities in the country, rebelled. The rebels occupied the Turkish areas of the lower city - this is the current one - and besieged the Acropolis. The Turks retreated, but five years later they returned to reoccupy the Athenian fortifications; the Greek rebels had to go deeper into the mainland. When the Ottoman garrison left forever in 1834 and a new, German monarchy arose, 5 thousand people lived in Athens.
Modern Athens (Greece)
Despite its ancient past and the natural advantages of its location, Athens did not immediately become the capital of modern Greece. This honor initially went to Nafplio in the Peloponnese - the city in which Ioannis Kapodistrias developed plans for the War of Independence, and from where he later led it, and where the first meeting of the country's first parliament took place in 1828 - National Assembly. And if I. Kapodistrias had not been killed in 1831, it is quite possible that the capital would have remained the same, or maybe it would have been moved from Nafplion to, Corinth or better equipped and quite large cities.
However, after the death of Kapodistrias, the intervention of the Western European “Great Powers” followed, imposing their monarch on the country - he became Otto, the son of Ludwig I of Bavaria, and in 1834 the capital and royal court moved to Athens. The rationale for the move came down to symbolic and sentimental reasons because new capital was insignificant populated area and was located on the very edge of the territory of the new state - it had yet to include northern, Macedonia and all the islands, except for those that already existed.
In the 19th century, the development of Athens was a gradual and completely manageable process. While archaeologists were ridding the Acropolis of all the architectural layers with which the Turks and Franks had decorated it, the city was gradually being built: the streets intersected at right angles, and neoclassical buildings in the Bavarian style appeared. Piraeus managed to turn into a full-fledged port again, because before early XIX centuries he was greatly hampered by competitors - largest ports Greece on the islands and. In 1923, at the end of the tragic Greco-Turkish war in Asia Minor, a peace treaty was signed, according to which an “exchange of population” took place: the Turks moved to Greece, the Greeks to Greece, and nationality was determined solely by religion.
One and a half million Greek Christians from centuries-old villages in Asia Minor and the Turkic-speaking but Orthodox population of Anatolia arrived in Greece as refugees. And more than half of this flow settled in Athens, Piraeus and nearby villages, changing the appearance of the capital in one fell swoop. The integration of the new settlers and their efforts to survive constituted one of the greatest pages in the history of the city, and this phenomenon itself left deep tracks, noticeable to this day. The names of the areas located on both sides of the metro line connecting Athens with Piraeus testify to the longing experienced by the new settlers for their forever lost homeland: Nea Zmirni (New Smyrna), Nea Yonia, Nea Philadelphia - such names are common for city blocks and streets.
At first, these neighborhoods were villages in which people from the same Anatolian town settled, who built houses from whatever they could find, and it happened that one well or water tap supplied drinking water to a dozen or two families. The merger of these suburbs with Athens and Piraeus continued until World War II. But the war brought such new worries that all the old ones were temporarily put aside. Athens suffered greatly from the German occupation: in the winter of 1941-1942, according to rough estimates, two thousand people died of starvation every day in the city. And at the end of 1944, when German occupation ended, the civil war began.
British soldiers were ordered to fight their recent allies in the Greek Resistance Army EL AS because the army was led by communists. From 1946 to 1949, Athens was an island in the stormy sea of war: the roads both to the north and to the north could only be called passable with a very big stretch. But in the 1950s, after civil war, the city began to expand rapidly. A program of powerful capital investments in industry was implemented - the money was invested mainly by Americans who wanted to persuade Greece to enter the US sphere of influence, while at the same time the capital experienced an influx of immigrants from impoverished villages devastated by the war.
The vacant lots between neighborhoods began to be quickly developed, and by the end of the 1960s, Athens had become Big City. Often new developments look dull. Old buildings were demolished; the elements of destruction raged with particular force in 1967-1974, during the junta. Homeowners replaced demolished buildings with multi-apartment residential buildings up to six stories high. The central streets are like canyons - narrow streets seem to be cut between concrete high-rise buildings. Booming industry took over the outskirts, and the combined efforts of city planners and industrialists quickly turned Athens into a polluted megalopolis, suffocating from the toxic fog that descends on it, which is called nefos.
Since the 1990s, in preparation for the Olympics, measures have finally been taken to improve the situation in the city. Although Athens is still far from or in area green spaces and open spaces, but the results of the efforts are already visible. Everything that has survived from the city architectural heritage, is being restored, public transport is clean, the construction of houses is controlled, new buildings of interesting ultra-modern architecture have appeared (for example, some buildings erected for the Olympics and the unfinished new Acropolis Museum), and the air is not as polluted as before. I would like to hope that changes in this direction will continue.
In contact with
There is no city in Europe that is like Athens. This applies to ancient monuments and the most complex historical path along which the Greek capital passed. Having been reborn, Athens has become a modern cultural center of Greece and a major European city full of contrasts. Here, ancient ruins coexist with luxury hotels, and the bustling center is just a stone's throw away from idyllic beaches.
Geography of Athens: what the capital of Greece is like
Athens is located in Central Greece (Attica), surrounded by the mountains of Parnitha, Ymittos, Pendeli and Aigaleo. The city and agglomeration cover an area of 410 sq. km, and the population with its suburbs totals more than 3 million inhabitants. Although this figure is conditional, because numerous students, repatriates and migrants flock to the Greek capital.
The city is divided into 7 districts. However, it is unofficially customary to divide Athens into historical districts, the most famous of which are Kolonaki, Plaka, Monastiraki and Exarchia.
History of the city of Athens
The history of Athens is so ancient that the exact age of the city cannot be established. It is only known that this is the oldest populated cities Europe. The origins of Athens are linked to mythology. According to legend, they appeared as a result of a dispute between Poseidon and Athena over the right to make the best gift to the first king of the city, Cecrops. The goddess of wisdom won, and she became the patroness of the city.
In antiquity, Athens, along with Sparta, played a leading role in the life of Greece. Here democracy was formed and the art of theater emerged. The city-state was home to outstanding creators, artists, speakers and politicians. Prosperity continued until the Peloponnesian Wars, which resulted in the defeat of Athens. They've lost forever leading position, although they finally turned into an ordinary provincial city with the rise of the Roman Empire and the advent of Christianity.
In the Middle Ages, French, Italian and Byzantine knights claimed the right to own Athens. In the 15th century the city was ceded Ottoman Empire. Subsequently, the wars between the Turks and the Venetians further weakened the city - the population decreased, many historical monuments were destroyed.
Only in 1833 the city managed to become the Greek capital and a new era began. The University of Athens, Syntagma Square and the National Park appeared, the first Olympic Games modernity.
Today Athens is a metropolis and a large transport node Greece with bright nightlife, ancient monuments, a lot of cultural events. The city has developed trolleybus and bus networks, a metro and an international airport, which annually receives 16 million passengers.
Best season to visit Athens
The right time to visit Athens depends entirely on the purpose of the tourist. One thing is for sure: the Greek capital is a year-round destination, attractive in any season.
If you want to explore the city without queues and heat, and also have a large selection of hotels, it is better to come in January-April or October-November. However, it is worth considering that during the low season, some restaurants are closed and attractions change their schedules. June-September are considered the busiest months. Numerous crowds of tourists pour into the bustle of Athens. Although there is no better time to combine sightseeing tourism and relaxation on the coast.
Athens - attractions
The goal of any tourist in Athens is the Acropolis with many historical monuments. The main ones include the Theater of Dionysus, which hosted competitions for authors of tragedies and other cultural events Athens. The outstanding monument of the Acropolis, the Erechtheion, will give a complete picture of the architecture of the Ionian order. And the scale of the Parthenon will allow you to appreciate the works the best architects and builders of antiquity. All the original finds of the Acropolis can be seen in its New Museum, which owns a huge collection of statues, bas-reliefs and religious objects.
However, beautiful ancient structures have been preserved not only on the Acropolis. On the Agora, which in ancient times was considered the center of city life, is the Temple of Hephaestus. It survived largely due to the fact that a church was organized here in Byzantine times. At the southern end of the Agora is the Odeon, which resembles a Roman amphitheater. The Athens Festival is held here every year.
Tourists enjoy spending time in Plaka. This is the oldest district of Athens with colorful architecture, many ancient buildings, narrow streets and shops. The laid-back atmosphere makes Plaka one of the most charming places in the city.
65 km from the city is Cape Sounion, which is worth visiting for two reasons. Firstly, the temple of Poseidon and fragments of the temple of Athena have been preserved here. Secondly, in Sounion you can watch sunsets of amazing beauty. In addition, the cape is shrouded in legends. It was in this place, according to myths, that Aegeus threw himself into the sea.
Athens: sea and beaches
Near the metropolis there are a number of good beaches that Athenians flock to after work or on weekends. The suburb of Glyfada is the most popular destination. The sandy coast of this resort is ideal for a family holiday. Some beaches are free, others are well equipped and charge a fee to visit.
In the suburbs of Athens there is Mati Beach and the adjacent Agios Andreas. The coast is strewn with pebbles and equipped with sun loungers. There are taverns and water attractions here.
The beaches of Vouliagmeni are conducive to relaxation after have a long day. They are 23 km away from the city. On the coast there are restaurants and tennis courts, and children's playgrounds are equipped. Fans of wild beaches on Vouliagmeni will love the town of Limanaki with its exotic nature and clear sea.
How to get to Athens
The main transport gates of the Greek capital are the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and the port of Piraeus. The most convenient way to get to Athens is by air. The airport receives regular flights and charters from many countries. Directly from the terminal, several points in Athens can be reached by any of the six buses that operate.
Taxi at Eleftherios Venizelos airport.
Port of Piraeus.
Piraeus connects Athens with all popular destinations within Greece and beyond. From the port to the center you can take buses No. 49, 40 (to Syntagma and Omonia) or prefer the metro (Green Line).
