Athens antiquity. Athens - tourist overview

This truly legendary Greek city is famous throughout the world. The capital of ancient and modern Greece has experienced great ups and no less epic falls throughout its history. Like a Phoenix, Athens was reborn after devastating wars, conquests and natural disasters. At the same time, the Greeks managed to preserve part of the city’s historical heritage: today the ruins of the Acropolis and the remains of ancient sculptures coexist with fashionable hotels and modern shopping centers. The features of the most important Greek polis will be discussed in today’s material.

The history of these glorious places goes back almost ten thousand years. The exact date of the founding of the city of Athens is unknown, but according to the widespread version, settlements appeared here in 7 thousand BC. They were located in the southern part of Attica, where there are low mountains covering a valley with settlements on three sides.

The founder of Athens is considered the first ruler in the Athenian kingdom - King Kekropos, who was half man, half snake. According to legend, when choosing a patron of the city, he asked the gods a simple task: to make a useful gift. Poseidon gave him a fountain, but the water in it turned out to be salty and undrinkable. And the goddess Athena gifted the new polis with a tree with unusual fruits - olives. Kekrop chose a gift from the goddess, in whose honor the city of Athens was named.

Athens reached its apogee of glory in the 5th century BC. Actually from 500 to 300 BC. All of Ancient Greece reached the golden age of development, and its capital became the cradle of culture, economics and politics. However, the political system of the Greek country was such that Athens was not so much the capital of Greece, but acted as an independent state. Polis remained the most important center of ancient times until the rise of the Roman Empire.

In the third century AD, Athens lost its former grandeur and became a provincial town. Then there are long centuries of constant wars and conquests by foreign troops, leading to the looting, destruction and even burning of Athens. A new round of the city’s history begins only in the 19th century, when the Greeks managed to free themselves from the dictates of the Ottoman Empire.

Since 1833, Athens has been the official capital of Greece. Having achieved independence, the Greek kingdom begins to develop rapidly. King Otto of Bavaria intended to return the country to its former greatness and restore the prestige of the capital. To do this, architects were called to Athens who designed several city streets and public buildings in the neoclassical style (including the University of Athens, the National Park, Syntagma Square, etc.). Gradually the city regained its former appearance and in 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held here in the new stadium.

The 20th century is marked by the beginning of archaeological excavations, which help restore the heritage of ancient Greece. In the 1920s, the Greeks signed an agreement with the Turks on the exchange of populations, as a result of which a wave of immigrants rolled into Athens. Added to this are the treaties on the Balkan Wars that were successful for the Greeks, after the conclusion of which the territory and population of the country, incl. Athens doubles in size.

During World War II, the city fell under German occupation, but after the war it again continued its rapid development. The construction and industrial boom of the mid-20th century, at the beginning of the 21st century, leads to transport and environmental problems. To date, some of them have been successfully resolved, which was greatly facilitated by the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Modern Athens is a dynamic city that combines ancient heritage with the vibrant and vibrant life of 21st century Europe. There are many nightclubs, branded stores, entertainment centers and tourist hotels. But above all this, the ancient Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parthenon and the remains of ancient theaters still rise.

Geographical location

Athens is located on mainland Greece, in the south of the Balkan Peninsula. Polis is located on the central plain of Attica, surrounded by mountains and the Saronic Gulf. Over the years of active development and settlement, the city has come close to these natural boundaries. So further expansion of the urban area is practically impossible.

Greece is southeastern Europe, and Athens is one of the southernmost European cities. But you are unlikely to need a map of European countries, but a map of the city of Athens will be useful to any traveler. The city is very large, so getting around without a street map is quite difficult.

Population

Everyone knows what a glorious capital Greece is and what the main attractions of Athens are called. But few people know that the population of the city of Athens accounts for 1/3 of the total population of the country! Just think about it: a third of the state’s residents live in one city.

The permanent population in Athens in 2017 is more than 3.5 million people, while the total number of residents of Greece in the same year is 10.9 million people. At the same time, migrants and part of the local population registered in other regions also live in the capital city. Their number can be approximately estimated at another 500 thousand people. This is how capacious the Greek capital is.

Climate

Like the rest of the country, Athens is influenced by the Mediterranean climate. It provides a consistently sunny, hot summer and a long autumn, which in fact smoothly turns into spring. Winter frosts are rare in the region.

The area where Athens is located has low humidity, so the summer heat can be tolerated comfortably. Summer temperatures reach +30°C and above. Rainy days are most common in autumn, but precipitation is very rare in summer.

How to get to Athens

The Greek capital can be reached by plane, ferry and land transport.

The city's air harbor is called Eleftherios Venizelos. Upon arrival at Athens airport, it is very easy to go straight to the city center. There is a metro line from the terminal, and numerous buses and commuter trains depart from the airport to the city.

The port of Piraeus is the sea gate to the capital Athens. Foreign ships dock here, as well as an endless stream of local ferries of various capacities. Please note that in winter, ship schedules are often disrupted by the vagaries of the weather.

You can get to Athens by car or bus along numerous highways and routes. The distance, travel time and comfort of the route naturally depend on the starting point of departure.

The best time of year to visit Athens is difficult to determine. Spring and summer have the hottest temperatures and peak season, but the cost of holidays is also higher. In autumn and winter, the demand for holidays is lower, but the weather conditions are worse. However, if you search hard, you can find a hot offer and go on vacation in Greece and Athens at a discount. To do this, look through the calendar of low prices for air tickets and online services for selecting tours and accommodation.

Athens travel guide

Here our material about holidays in Athens comes to the equator, and from dry facts and theory we begin to move on to tourist practice, i.e. walks around the city. Next, we will tell you about the most interesting places in Athens and the unique sights of Greece that have been preserved in the capital city. We will also touch on the nuances and subtleties of Athens tourism and, of course, talk about hotels in Athens.

Sea and beaches in Athens

In the suburbs of the capital there are many coastal villages with well-groomed and equipped coastlines. The following local beaches are the most popular among tourists:

• Voula;
• Asteros;
• Faliron;
• Alimas;
• Akti Vouliagmeni.

The best time for a beach holiday in the Greek capital is July-August. You can get to the coast by public transport. In most cases, it is more convenient to take tram No. 3, because the lines run along the coastal zone. Bus number 122 runs to Vouliagmeni.

Districts of Athens

The Greek capital city is divided into seven districts, but tourists are advised to settle only in the center of Athens. This is dictated both by the developed infrastructure and proximity of attractions, and by security issues.

Plaka

The most historically significant area of ​​the city, located at the foot of the Acropolis. It is especially atmospheric in Anafiotika, the western part of Plaka. Here, narrow cobbled streets and low white houses traditional for Greek architecture create the impression of truly Ancient Hellas.

The area has a very developed tourist infrastructure: many cafes, taverns, shops, hotels and entertainment. The historical heritage of the area is also rich. Here you can get acquainted with ancient monuments, as well as sights from the times of Byzantine and Turkish rule.

Monastiraki

Another oldest district of the city, very close to the Acropolis.

Monastiraki is actually a large commercial and historical center of the city. Famous landmarks are located here: the Tower of the Winds, the Fethias Mosque, the Library of Hadrian. And what a beautiful panorama opens onto the Acropolis from the local Keramix (ancient cemetery). You won’t find another such view of Ancient Hellas in the entire city.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the local market and the myriad of shops on Ermou Street. Lovers of shopping and sales should definitely stay here.

Thisio

Calm and peaceful area, actually a park area. Here you can take a break from the noisy bustle of the city and enjoy the coolness of the local parks. At the same time, the geographical location of the area allows easy access to the center of Athens, located several hundred meters to the east.

Thisio also has many cultural options. In this area you can:

• look at the ruins of the Agora complex;
• take a walk along the pedestrian street named after Apostle Paul;
• go to Pnyx Hill;
• visit the Athens Conservatory, Observatory and Dora Stratou Theater.

And don’t forget about the local shops, shops, cafes and taverns.

Syntagma

The name of the area was given by the historical square, which is called the heart of Athens. It is from here that excursions to historical Plaka and Monastiraki, as well as just walks around the city, begin.

Near Syntagma is the National History Museum, which is the former parliament building. And on the square itself there is a modern parliament, which is a kind of landmark of these places. Tourists can examine the facade and some rooms of the building, as well as follow the solemn ritual of the changing of the guard.

Syntagma is also famous for its National Park, where you can enjoy the silence and views of nature.

Safety in Athens

We have already answered the questions about when is the best time to go to Athens and where is the best place to live in the capital. Now let's talk about how to behave in this huge Greek polis.

General rules

The capital of Greece is crowded, and this circumstance sometimes plays into the hands of scammers and robbers. To avoid getting into an unpleasant situation, try to always keep an eye on your belongings and follow these small tips:

1. Keep bags at the front, not at the back or side;
2. Don't put valuables in your back pockets;
3. Don’t walk around the city with backpacks (it’s easier to steal from your back);
4. Do not wedge yourself into crowds of protesters and demonstrators so as not to be detained by the police.
5. When on public transport, be prepared and keep your bag in sight.

Which areas are best not to go to?

Like any large metropolis, Athens is fraught with dangerous neighborhoods and their unreliable inhabitants. There are many beggars, homeless people and thieves on the distant streets of the city. In particular, the area around Omonia Square, especially Sotheklos Street, is notorious for Athens. At night, the port streets of Piraeus, the vicinity of the Larissa railway station and Karassaki Square are dangerous for tourists.

Neighborhoods of Athens

In addition to exploring the capital itself, you can also go on a trip to the suburbs. The capital's surroundings are distinguished by both natural pearls and their own historical attractions. So, here you can see the Averof floating museum, conquer Mount Parnitha, visit the zoological park or take a sea cruise to the islands of Aegina or Hydra.

And if the distance of 70 km does not scare you, then you should go to Cape Sounion and explore the Temple of Poseidon. Even the ruins of the building make a strong impression, and what was here in antiquity is comparable only to the Parthenon.

How to get around the city

It must be said that the transport system of Athens is well developed, but it does not always save you from debilitating traffic jams.

A single ticket is valid for buses, trolleybuses, trams, metro and trains within the city limits. For 1.4 euros you can make a 90-minute trip with transfers to any mode of transport. Also on sale are daily tickets for 4.5 €, and a 5-day ticket costs 9 €.

Trams

The total length of tram lines in Athens is 27 km. A long line runs along the coast, and in the center there is a branch to the Syntagma area. There are 3 routes in the city:

• No. 3 Neo-Falira - Voula;
• No. 4 Syntagma – Neo-Falira;
• No. 5 Syntagma – Voula.

The rails are laid along separate streets, so Athens trams are not afraid of citywide traffic jams.

Buses

By bus you can travel not only around the Greek capital, but also around its suburbs. The bus fleet consists of 1,800 vehicles, and the number of routes reaches 300.

As an important note, we note that in Greece all stops are made only upon request. You need to carefully monitor the road in order to have time to press the “stop” button and get off at your stop. If you are waiting for a bus on the street, then you should wave your hand to get the driver to stop.

Metro

Another type of transport with which you do not risk getting stuck in traffic jams. The metro connects all major transport hubs: the port, railway station and airport. There are 3 branches in total in the city:

• No. 1 Piraeus – Kifissia (green);
• No. 2 Antoupoli – Elliniko (red);
• No. 3 Agia Marina – Airport (blue).

Please note that there are no turnstiles in the Greek metro. But the ticket must be validated and kept for the entire trip, because... Controllers work on the routes.

Taxi

Official taxis are yellow cars with checkered lines and the Ταξί sign. Cars may be of different brands, but they are all equipped with meters, which are used to pay for the trip. The main tariffs are as follows:

• In the city 0.7 € per km;
• Suburban 1.2€ per km;
• Boarding + 1.2 € to the trip amount;
• Phone call + 2 € to the trip amount.

At night, rates double. Be careful when traveling, because... There are often drivers who want to “earn extra money” from tourists by increasing their road bill.

Rent a Car

There are many rental agencies in the city, but we would recommend renting a car only for out-of-town trips. Athens has heavy traffic, frequent traffic jams and parking problems, so a rented car can only become an extra burden. Outside the city, a personal car, on the contrary, has an advantage over the confusing public transport schedule.

Sights of Athens

The Greek capital is incredibly rich in unique monuments and cultural recreation facilities.

Museums

There are more than 250 exhibitions with various exhibits in the city. But the most interesting museums are:

• Acropolis;
• Agora;
• Archaeological Museum;
• Ship "Averof";
• Museum of Cycladic Art.

During high season, museum exhibitions are open to the public every day.

Tourist streets

Churches and temples

There are also countless religious buildings in the city. Ancient culture has been preserved to this day: the Acropolis and its numerous temples. There are also many Orthodox churches in Athens: the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Monastery of Daphne, the Temple of St. George. There are also Muslim monuments in the city. A striking example is the Tsisdaraki mosque.

Excursions

From Athens you can go on an excursion to any corner of Greece. If you do not want to leave the capital for a long time, then a boat trip to the neighboring islands would be an excellent option.

Recreation and entertainment

There is plenty to do in Athens besides cultural recreation.

Shopping, shops, souvenirs

There are several dozen shops on Ermu Street, incl. brand boutiques H&M, Zara, Benetton and much more. Here you can buy quality items from European manufacturers.

It is better to buy souvenirs and gifts in small shops and local markets. Handmade items made from ceramics or textiles will be an original gift. Prices in Athens are high, but don't forget that Greeks are always willing to bargain.

Cuisine and restaurants

The capital's restaurants offer tourists local cuisine and popular dishes from other countries of the world. There are a lot of cafes and taverns in the city, but if you only want the best cuisine with gourmet dishes, we recommend visiting Petrino, Lalloudes, Garbi and To Kofenio.

Clubs and nightlife

At night, life in the capital never ceases to be in full swing. For regulars of dance floors and fiery parties, there are the best nightclubs in the city:

• Villa Mercedes
• Baronda;
• Venue;

Most establishments maintain a dress code (evening wear). Entrance to the parties is paid, and on average is about 10 euros per person.

Young tourists in Athens will find it no less interesting than adults. Moreover, if the family stays in a hotel with a games room, animators and a children's menu.

In the city, children will be entertained by visiting the water park, planetarium, zoo and various attractions. The children also like to explore the ruins of ancient buildings. But here you need to carefully monitor the child so that the child does not harm either the ruins or himself.

Popular hotels in Athens

There are more than 2,000 hotels, inns and apartments of various classes in the Greek capital. It is hardly possible to select the best housing from this list. We can only note those hotels to which tourists express more trust and warm regard. These are establishments such as:

Holidays in Athens are varied and exciting; no tourist will be bored here. The disadvantages of the metropolis cannot be kept silent: crowded conditions, environmental problems, traffic congestion and street hooliganism. But if you take into account the recommendations listed in the material and carefully plan your vacation, the trip will leave only pleasant impressions in your memory. Happy travels and unforgettable adventures!

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Classmates

This is a special city: no other European capital can boast of such a historical and cultural heritage. It is rightly called the cradle of democracy and Western civilization. Life in Athens still revolves around the witness of its birth and prosperity - the Acropolis, one of the seven hills surrounding the city, which rises above it like a stone ship with the ancient Parthenon on its deck.

Video: Athens

Basic moments

Athens has been the capital of modern Greece since the 1830s, the time when an independent state was proclaimed. Since then, the city has experienced an unprecedented rise. In 1923, the number of residents here doubled almost overnight as a result of a population exchange with Turkey.

Due to the rapid post-war economic growth and the real boom that followed Greece's accession to the European Union in 1981, the suburb took over the entire historical part of the city. Athens has become an octopus city: it is estimated that its population is about 4 million inhabitants, 750,000 of whom live within the city's official boundaries.

The new dynamic city was greatly transformed by the 2004 Olympic Games. Years of grandiose work have modernized and beautified the city. A new airport opened its doors, new metro lines were launched, and museums were updated.

Of course, problems of environmental pollution and overpopulation remain, and few people fall in love with Athens at first sight... But one cannot help but succumb to the charm of this amazing mixture of an ancient holy city and a 21st century capital, born of contrasts. Athens also owes its uniqueness to numerous neighborhoods that have an inimitable character: traditional Plaka, industrial Gazi, Monastraki experiencing a new dawn with its flea markets, shopping Psirri entering the markets, working Omonia, business Syntagma, bourgeois Kolonaki... not to mention Piraeus, which is essentially an independent city.

Sights of Athens

It is the small plateau on which the Acropolis is located (4 ha), rising 100 m above the plain of Attica and the modern city, Athens owes its destiny. The city was born here, grew up, and met its historical glory. No matter how damaged and unfinished the Acropolis may be, it still holds up quite confidently to this day and fully retains the status of one of the greatest wonders of the world, once awarded to it by UNESCO. Its name means "high city", from the Greek asgo (“high”, “sublime”) and polis ("city"). It also means "citadel", which, in fact, was the Acropolis in the Bronze Age and later, in the Mycenaean era.

In 2000, the main buildings of the Acropolis were dismantled for reconstruction in accordance with new archaeological knowledge and modern restoration techniques. However, do not be surprised if the reconstruction of some buildings, for example the Parthenon or the Temple of Nike Apteros, is not yet completed; this work takes a lot of effort and time.

Areopagus and the Bele Gate

The entrance to the Acropolis is on the west side, at the Bele Gate, a Roman building from the 3rd century, named after the French archaeologist who discovered it in 1852. From the entrance, steps carved in stone lead to the Areopagus, a stone hill on which judges gathered in ancient times.

The huge staircase that ended the Panathenaic road (dromos), led to this monumental entrance to the Acropolis, marked by six Doric columns. More complex than the Parthenon, which they were meant to complement, the Propylaea ("in front of entrance") were conceived by Pericles and his architect Mnesicles as the grandest secular building ever built in Greece. Works began in 437 BC. and interrupted in 431 by the Peloponnesian War, were never resumed. The central passage, the widest, was once crowned with railings, intended for chariots, and steps led to four other entrances, intended for mere mortals. The northern wing is decorated with images dedicated to Athena by great artists of the past.

This small temple (421 BC), created by the architect Callicrates, built on an earthen embankment to the southwest (on right) from Propylaea. It was in this place, according to legend, that Aegeus waited for his son Theseus, who had gone to fight the Minotaur. Not seeing a white sail on the horizon - a sign of victory - he threw himself into the abyss, considering Theseus dead. From this place there is a magnificent view of Athens and the sea. This building, dwarfed by the size of the Parthenon, was destroyed in 1687 by the Turks, who used its stones to strengthen their own defences. It was first restored shortly after the country's independence, but has recently been dismantled again to be rebuilt with all the subtleties of classical art.

After passing the Propylaea, you will find yourself on the esplanade in front of the Acropolis, topped by the Parthenon itself. It was Pericles who commissioned Phidias, a brilliant sculptor and builder, and his assistants, the architects Ictinus and Callicrates, to build this temple on the site of former sanctuaries destroyed by the Persian conquerors. The work, which began in 447 BC, lasted fifteen years. Using Pentelic marble as a material, the builders managed to create a building with ideal proportions, 69 meters long and 31 meters wide. It is decorated with 46 fluted columns ten meters high, made up of a dozen drums. For the first time in history, each of the four facades of the building was decorated with pediments with painted friezes and sculptures.

In the foreground was a bronze statue of Athena Promachos (“the one that protects”) nine meters high, with a spear and shield - only a few fragments of the pedestal remain from this composition. They say that sailors could see the crest of her helmet and the gilded tip of her spear, sparkling in the sun, as soon as they entered the Saronic Gulf...

Another huge statue of Athena Parthenos, dressed in pure gold, with a face, arms and legs made of ivory and with the head of Medusa on her chest, was in the sanctuary. This brainchild of Phidias remained in its place for more than a thousand years, but was subsequently taken to Constantinople, where it was later lost.

Becoming the Cathedral of Athens during the Byzantine era, then a mosque under Turkish rule, the Parthenon passed through the centuries without much loss until that fateful day in 1687 when the Venetians bombarded the Acropolis. The Turks set up an ammunition depot in the building, and when a cannonball hit it, the wooden roof was destroyed and part of the walls and sculptural decorations collapsed. An even more severe blow to the pride of the Greeks was dealt at the very beginning of the 19th century by the British ambassador Lord Elgin, who received permission from the Turks to excavate the ancient city and took away a huge number of beautiful statues and bas-reliefs of the Parthenon pediment. Now they are in the British Museum, but the Greek government does not lose hope that someday they will return to their homeland.

The last of the sanctuaries built by the ancient Greeks on the Acropolis is located on the other side of the plateau, near the northern wall, on the site of the mythical dispute between Poseidon and Athena over power over the city. Construction lasted fifteen years. The consecration of the Erechtheion took place in 406 BC. An unknown architect was supposed to combine three sanctuaries under one roof (in honor of Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus), having built a temple on a site with significant differences in ground height.

This temple, although smaller in size than the Parthenon, was supposed to be equal to it in magnificence. The north portico is without a doubt a masterpiece of architectural genius, as evidenced by its deep blue marble frieze, coffered ceiling and elegant Ionic columns.

Don't miss the Caryatids - six taller than life-sized statues of young girls supporting the roof of the southern portico. Currently these are only copies. One of the original statues was taken away by the same Lord El-jin, five others were exhibited for a long time in the Small Acropolis Museum (now closed), were transported to the New Acropolis Museum, which opened in June 2009.

Here, do not forget to enjoy the beautiful view of Salamis Bay, located on the western side.

Located on the western side of the Acropolis (161-174), a Roman odeon famous for its acoustics, is open to the public only during the festivities organized as part of the festival in honor of Athena (performances take place almost every day from late May to mid-October). The marble steps of the ancient theater can accommodate up to 5,000 spectators!

The theater located not far from the Odeon, although very ancient, is closely connected with the main episodes of the life of the Greek city. This gigantic structure with 17,000 seats, built in the 5th-4th centuries BC, has seen the tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides and the comedies of Aristophanes. In fact, it is the cradle of Western theatrical art. Since the 4th century, the city assembly has met here.

New Acropolis Museum

At the foot of the hill (South side) is the New Acropolis Museum, the brainchild of Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and his Greek colleague Michalis Fotiadis. A new museum built to replace the old Acropolis Museum (near the Parthenon), which became too cramped, opened its doors in June 2009. This ultra-modern building of marble, glass and concrete was built on stilts, as valuable archaeological finds were discovered at the site when construction began. 4,000 artifacts are displayed on 14,000 sq. m is ten times the area of ​​the old museum.

The first floor, already open to the public, houses temporary exhibitions, and its glass floor allows for observation of the ongoing excavations. The second floor houses the permanent collections, which include artifacts found at the Acropolis from the Archaic period of Ancient Greece to the Roman period. But the highlight of the exhibition is the third floor, whose glass windows give visitors a beautiful view of the Parthenon.

Acropolis metro station

In the 1990s, during the construction of the second metro line, important excavations were discovered. Some of them were displayed right at the station (amphoras, pots). Here you can also see a replica of the Parthenon frieze representing Helios as he emerges from the sea, surrounded by Dionysus, Demeter, Kore and an unknown headless figure.

Old lower town

On both sides of the Acropolis stretches the ancient lower city: Greek in the north, around the market square and the ancient district of Kerameikos, Roman in the east on the approach to the Olympion (temple of Zeus) and the Arch of Hadrian. Recently, all the sights can be seen on foot, passing through the labyrinth of streets of Plaka or going around the Acropolis along the main street. Dionysius the Areopagite.

Agora

Initially, this term meant “meeting”, then it began to be called a place where people did business. The heart of the old town, filled with workshops and stalls, the agora (market Square) was surrounded by many tall buildings: a mint, a library, a council chamber, a court, archives, not to mention countless altars, small temples and monuments.

The first public buildings on this site began to appear in the 4th century BC, during the reign of the tyrant Pisistratus. Some of them were restored, and many were built after the sack of the city by the Persians in 480 BC. The Panathenaic Road, the main artery of the ancient city, crossed the esplanade diagonally, linking the main gate of the city, the Dipylon, with the Acropolis. Cart races took place here, in which even cavalry recruits supposedly took part.

Today, the agora has hardly survived, with the exception of Theseon (Temple of Hephaestus). This Doric temple in the west of the Acropolis is the best preserved in Greece. It is the owner of a beautiful ensemble of Pentelic marble columns and Parian marble friezes. On each of its sides there is an image of Hercules in the east, Theseus in the north and south, battle scenes (with magnificent centaurs) in the east and west. Dedicated to both Hephaestus, patron of metallurgists, and Organ Athena (To the worker), protector of potters and craftsmen, it dates from the second half of the 5th century BC. This temple probably owes its preservation to its transformation into a church. In the 19th century, it even became a Protestant temple, where the remains of English volunteers and other European philhellenes rested. (Greco-philos) who died during the Revolutionary War.

Below, in the center of the agora, near the entrance to the Odeon of Agrippa, you will see three monumental statues of tritons. In the most elevated part of the area, towards the Acropolis, is the restored small Church of the Holy Apostles (about 1000) in Byzantine style. Inside, the remains of 17th-century frescoes and a marble iconostasis are preserved.

The Portico of Attalus, on the east side of the market square, 120 meters long and 20 meters wide, was reconstructed in the 1950s and is now the Agora Museum. There are some amazing artifacts to see here. For example, a huge Spartan shield made of bronze (425 BC) and, directly opposite, a piece of clerotherium, a stone with a hundred slits, intended for the random selection of jurors. Among the coins on display is a silver tetradrachm depicting an owl, which served as the model for the Greek euro.

Roman agora

In the second half of the 1st century BC. the Romans moved the agora about a hundred meters to the east to create their own central market. After the barbarian invasion of 267, the administrative center of the city took refuge behind the new walls of the decaying Athens. Here, as in the surrounding streets, you can still see many important buildings.

Built in the 11th century BC. The Doric gate of Athena Archegetis is located near the western entrance to the Roman agora. During the reign of Hadrian, a copy of the order regarding the taxation of the purchase and sale of olive oil was placed here for public viewing... On the other side of the square, on an embankment, rises the octagonal Tower of the Winds (Aerids) made of white Pentelic marble. It was built in the 1st century BC. Macedonian astronomer Andronikos and served simultaneously as a weather vane, compass and clepsydra (water clock). Each side is decorated with a frieze depicting one of the eight winds, under which the hands of an ancient sundial can be discerned. On the north side there is a small inactive Fethiye mosque (Conqueror), one of the last witnesses to the occupation of the market square by religious buildings in the Middle Ages and later under Turkish rule.

Two blocks from the Roman agora, near Monastiraki Square, you will find the ruins of Hadrian's Library. Erected during the reign of the builder emperor in the same year as the Olympion (132 BC), this huge public building with a courtyard surrounded by a hundred columns was at one time one of the most luxurious in Athens.

The Keramik quarter, located on the northwestern border of the Greek city, owes its name to the potters who made the famous Attic vases with red figures on a black background here. There was also the largest cemetery of that time, which operated until the 6th century and is partially preserved. The oldest graves date back to the Mycenaean era, but the most beautiful, decorated with steles and funerary monuments, belonged to wealthy Athenians and war heroes from times of tyranny. They are located to the west of the cemetery, in a corner planted with cypress and olive trees. Such displays of vanity were prohibited after the establishment of democracy.

The museum displays the most beautiful examples: sphinxes, kouroses, lions, bulls... Some of them were used in 478 BC. for the hasty construction of new defensive fortifications against the Spartans!

To the west of the agora and the Acropolis rises the Pnyx Hill, the meeting place of the assembly of the inhabitants of Athens (ecclesia). Meetings took place ten times a year from the 6th to the end of the 4th century BC. Famous orators such as Pericles, Themistocles, Demosthenes gave speeches here to their compatriots. Later the assembly moved to a larger square in front of the Theater of Dionysus. From the top of this hill the view of the forested Acropolis is amazing.

Hill of Muses

The most beautiful panorama of the Acropolis and Parthenon still opens from this wooded hill in the southwest of the old center - the mythological bastion of the Athenians in the fight against the Amazons. At the top there is a perfectly preserved tomb monument of Philopappos (or Philoppapu) 12 meters high. It dates from the 2nd century and depicts this "benefactor of Athens" on a cart.

To mark the boundary between the old Greek city and its own Athens, the Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the erection of a gate facing the Olympion. On one side it was written "Athens, the ancient city of Theseus", and on the other - "The city of Hadrian, not Theseus". Apart from this, both facades are absolutely identical; Striving for unity, they combine the Roman tradition at the bottom and the Greek form of propylae at the top. The 18-meter-high monument was erected thanks to gifts from the people of Athens.

The Temple of Zeus the Olympian, the supreme deity, was the largest in ancient Greece - erected, as legend has it, on the site of the ancient sanctuary of Deucalion, the mythical forefather of the Greek people, who thus thanked Zeus for saving him from the flood. The tyrant Peisistratus supposedly began construction of this gigantic building in 515 BC. in order to keep people busy and prevent a riot. But this time the Greeks overestimated their capabilities: the temple was completed only in the Roman era, in 132 BC. Emperor Hadrian, who got all the glory. The dimensions of the temple were impressive: length - 110 meters, width - 44 meters. Of the 104 Corinthian columns, 17 meters high and 2 meters in diameter, only fifteen have survived; the sixteenth, knocked down by a storm, still lies on the ground. The rest were used for other buildings. They were arranged in double rows of 20 along the length of the building and triple rows of 8 on the sides. The sanctuary contains a giant gold and ivory statue of Zeus and a statue of Emperor Hadrian - both were equally revered in the Roman era.

Nestled in an amphitheater with marble steps near Mount Ardettos, 500 meters east of the Olympion, this stadium was restored in 1896 for the first modern Olympic Games to replace and replace the ancient one built by Lycurgus in 330 BC. In the 2nd century, Hadrian introduced arena gaming, bringing thousands of predators for bestiaries. This is where the 2004 Olympic Games marathon finished.

This is the oldest and most interesting residential quarter of the city. Its labyrinth of streets and staircases, dating back at least three thousand years, extends to the north-eastern slope of the Acropolis. It is mostly pedestrian. The upper part of the quarter is perfect for long walks and admiring the beautiful houses of the 19th century, the walls and courtyards of which are densely covered with burganvilleas and geraniums. Plaka is dotted with ancient ruins, Byzantine churches, and at the same time there are many boutiques, restaurants, museums, bars, small nightclubs... It can be either quiet or very lively, it all depends on the place and time.

Churches

Although the towers of the Metropolis, Plaka Cathedral (XIX century), located in the northern part of the quarter, inevitably attracts the eye, lower your eyes to its base and admire the delightful Little Metropolis. This small 12th-century Byzantine church dedicated to St. Eleutrius and Our Lady of Gorgoepikoos (“Coming soon to the assistant!”) was built from antique materials. The outside of its walls are decorated with magnificent geometric bas-reliefs. All the priests of Greece gather on the neighboring street, Agios Filotheis, to shop in specialized stores. On the hills of Plaka is the charming little Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis Theologos (XI century), also worthy of your attention.

This museum in the eastern part of Plaka presents an interesting collection of folk art exhibits. After viewing the embroideries on the ground floor and the funny carnival costumes on the mezzanine, in the Theophilos Room on the second floor you will discover wall paintings, a tribute to this self-taught artist who decorated the houses and shops of his native land. Honoring tradition, he wore fustanella all his life (traditional men's skirt) and died in poverty and oblivion. Only after his death did he receive recognition. Decorations, ornaments and weapons are displayed on the third floor; on the fourth - folk costumes of various provinces of the country.

Neoclassical on the outside, ultra-modern on the inside, this museum dedicated to contemporary art is the only one of its kind in Greece. It alternates between a permanent collection, whose main theme is ordinary people, and temporary exhibitions. Visitors are given the opportunity to look at the great events of the 20th century through the eyes of Greek artists.

In 335 BC, after the victory of his troupe in a theater competition, in order to perpetuate this event, the philanthropist Lysicrates ordered the construction of this monument in the form of a rotunda. The Athenians nicknamed it “the lantern of Diogenes.” Initially, there was a bronze prize inside, received from the city authorities. In the 17th century

Anaphiotika

In the highest part of Plaka, on the slopes of the Acropolis, the inhabitants of the Kikpadian island of Anafi recreated their world in miniature. Anafiotika is a block within a block, a real peaceful haven where cars have no access. It consists of several dozen whitewashed houses, surrounded by flowers, with many narrow alleys and secluded passages. Arbors made of grape vines, climbing rose hips, flower pots - life here turns on a pleasant side for you. Anafiotika can be reached from Stratonos Street.

This museum is located in the westernmost part of Plaka, between the Acropolis and the Roman agora, in a beautiful neoclassical building and houses some very quirky and varied collections. (who, however, are united by belonging to Hellenism), transferred to the state by the Kanellopoulos spouses. Among the main exhibits you will see Cycladic figurines and antique gold jewelry.

Museum of Folk Musical Instruments

Located on Diogenes Street, in the western part of Plaka, opposite the entrance to the Roman agora, this museum invites you to discover musical instruments and traditional Greek melodies. You will learn how bouzoukis, lutes, tambouras, guides and other rare samples sound. Concerts are organized in the garden in summer.

Syntagma Square

To the northeast, Plaka is bordered by the huge Syntagma Square, the heart of the business world, an area that was built according to a plan drawn up the day after independence was declared. The green esplanade is surrounded by chic cafes and modern buildings housing the offices of banks, airlines and international companies.

Here is the Great Britain Hotel, the pearl of Athens of the 19th century, the most beautiful palace in the city. On the eastern slope is the Buli Palace, now the parliament. In 1834 it served as the residence of King Otto I and Queen Amalia.

Subway

Thanks to the construction of the metro (1992-1994) under the esplanade, the largest excavations ever carried out in Athens began. Archaeologists have discovered an aqueduct from the era of Pisistratus, a very important road, bronze foundries of the 5th century BC. (period when this place was outside the city walls), cemeteries from the end of the classical era - the beginning of the Roman era, baths and a second aqueduct, also Roman, as well as early Christian ossuaries and part of the Byzantine city. Various archaeological layers have been preserved inside the station in the shape of a transverse cup.

Parliament (Buli Palace)

The name of Syntagma Square evokes the Greek Constitution of 1844, proclaimed from the balcony of this neoclassical palace, seat of parliament since 1935.

In front of the building there is a monument to the Unknown Soldier, who is kept guard by the Evzones (infantry). They wear traditional Greek costumes: a fustanella with 400 folds, symbolizing the number of years spent under the Turkish yoke, woolen socks and red shoes with pom-poms.

The changing of the guard occurs every hour from Monday to Saturday, and once at 10.30 on Sunday. The entire garrison gathers in the square for this beautiful ceremony.

National Garden

Once a palace park, the National Garden is now a tranquil oasis of exotic plants and mosaic pools in the heart of the city. There you can see ancient ruins hidden among shady alleys, a small botanical museum located in a pavilion, a zoo and a pleasant kafenion with a large covered gazebo.

To the south is the Zappeion, a neoclassical building built in the 1880s in the form of a rotunda. In 1896, during the first modern Olympic Games, it was the headquarters of the Olympic Committee. Zappeion later became an Exhibition Center.

To the east of the garden, on Herodes Atticus Street, in the middle of the park, is the Presidential Palace, a beautiful Baroque building guarded by two evzones.

Northern neighborhoods and museums

The Gazi quarter in the north-west of the city, which lives up to its name and is predominantly industrial, does not at first make a very pleasant impression. The former gas plant that gave the neighborhood its name is now a huge cultural center .

Just to the east lies the very lively quarter of Psiri, home to wholesalers and blacksmiths - and, for some time now, a growing number of bars, nightlife and trendy restaurants. Its small streets lead to the markets and Omonia Square, the heart of people's Athens. From here you can walk to Syntagma Square along two large streets in a neoclassical frame - Stadiou and Panepistimiou.

Neighborhood Monastiraki

Directly north of the Roman agora is Monastiraki Square, which is crowded with people at any time of the day. Above it rises the dome and portico of the Tsizdaraki mosque (1795), which now houses the Plaka branch of the Folk Art Museum.

The nearby pedestrian streets are filled with souvenir shops, antique shops and ragpickers who gather every Sunday at Abyssinia Square for a giant flea market.

Markets

The Grand Athenas Boulevard, linking Monastiraki with Omonia Square to the north, passes by market pavilions. The "belly of Athens", which is in constant activity from dawn to midday, is divided into two parts: fishmongers in the center and meat traders around.

In front of the building there are sellers of dried fruits, and on the nearby streets there are sellers of hardware, carpets, and poultry.

Archaeological Museum

A few blocks north of Omonia Square, on a huge esplanade lined with cars, is the National Archaeological Museum, home to a fabulous collection of art from the great civilizations of ancient Greece. Don't hesitate to spend half a day here, contemplating the statues, frescoes, vases, cameos, jewelry, coins and other treasures.

The museum's most valuable item is perhaps the gold death mask of Agamemnon, discovered in 1876 at Mycenae by amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. (hall 4, in the center of the courtyard). In the same room you will see another important Mycenaean object, the Warrior Vase, as well as funerary steles, weapons, rhytons, jewelry and thousands of luxurious objects made of amber, gold and even an ostrich egg shell! Cycladic collection (hall 6) also a must watch.

As you explore the ground floor and move clockwise, you will walk chronologically from the Archaic period, represented by the magnificent kouroi and kora, to the Roman period. Along the way, you will see great masterpieces of art from the classical era, including a bronze statue of Poseidon caught in the sea near the island of Euboea (hall 15), as well as statues of the horseman Artemision on a war horse (hall 21). Tombstones abound, some of them quite impressive. For example, huge lekythos - vases two meters high. It is also worth mentioning the friezes that decorated the temple of Atheia on Aegina, the friezes of the temple of Asclepius (Aesculapius) in Epidaurus and the magnificent marble group of Aphrodite, Pan and Eros in room 30.

On the second floor, collections of ceramics are exhibited: from items from the Geometric era to delightful Attic vases. A separate section is dedicated to the Greek Pompeii - the city of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini, buried in 1450 BC (hall 48).

Panepistimiou

The quarter, located between Omonia and Syntagma squares, gives a clear indication of the grand ambitions of the post-independence period. Definitely belonging to the neoclassical style, the trio consisting of the University, the Academy and the National Library stretches along Panepistimiou Street (or Eleftherios Venizelou) and clearly deserves the attention of city guests.

National History Museum

The museum is located in the former parliament building, at 13 Stadiou Street, near Syntagma Square, and is dedicated to the history of the country since the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans (1453). The Revolutionary War period is presented in great detail. You can even see the helmet and sword of Lord Byron, the most famous of the Philhellenes!

Founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis, a member of a prominent Greek family, the museum is located in his former Athens residence. The exhibition consists of collections collected throughout his life. The museum continues to expand and now offers visitors a complete panorama of Greek art, from the prehistoric period to the 20th century.

On the ground floor there are exhibits from the Neolithic period to the Byzantine era, as well as a fine collection of jewelry and antique gold leaf crowns. A large section is dedicated to icons. Second floor (XVI-XIX centuries) covers the period of Turkish occupation, mainly examples of church and secular folk art are exhibited here. The two magnificent reception halls from the 1750s have been restored, complete with carved wood ceilings and paneling.

Less interesting sections dedicated to the period of awakening of national consciousness and the struggle for independence occupy the two upper floors.

Museum of Cycladic Art

The collections of Nicholas Goulandris dedicated to ancient art are presented here. The most prominent of these is, without a doubt, on the ground floor. Here you can get acquainted with the legendary Cycladic art; figurines, marble household items and religious objects. Don't miss the plate of doves, carved from a single piece, the extraordinary figurines of a flute player and a bread peddler, and a 1.40 meter high statue, one of two depicting the great patron goddess.

The third floor is dedicated to Greek art from the Bronze Age to the 2nd century BC, the fourth floor displays a collection of Cypriot artifacts, and the fifth floor displays the finest pottery and “Corinthian” bronze shields.

The museum later moved to a magnificent neoclassical villa built in 1895 by the Bavarian architect Ernst Ziller (Staphatos Palace).

The exhibitions housed in the museum cover the period from the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century) before the fall of Constantinople (1453) and successfully illuminate the history of Byzantine culture through an excellent selection of artifacts and reconstructions. The exhibition also highlights the special role of Athens, the center of pagan thought for at least two centuries until the rise of Christianity.

The Coptic art section is worth seeing (especially shoes of the 5th-8th centuries!), the treasure of Mytilene, found in 1951, delightful crossbars and bas-reliefs, collections of icons and frescoes exhibited in the Church of the Episcopia of Eurytania, as well as magnificent manuscripts.

National Pinakothek

Significantly modernized in recent years, the Pinakothek is dedicated to Greek art of the last four centuries. It chronologically presents various movements, from early post-Byzantine painting to the works of modern artists. In particular, you will see three mystical paintings by El Greco, a native of Crete who, along with Velazquez and Goya, was the most famous artist of 16th century Spain.

At the northern end of Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, the sloping streets of the Kolonaki quarter form a chic enclave famous for its fashion boutiques and art galleries. All morning, and especially after lunch, there is nowhere for an apple to fall on the terraces of the cafes of Filikis Eterias Square.

Mount Lycabettus (Lycabettos)

At the end of Plutarch Street there is a long line of markets leading to an underground cable tunnel with a funicular that will take you to the top of Lycabetus, famous for its beautiful panorama, in a few minutes. Sports fans will prefer the stairs starting from the end of Lucianu Street, a hundred meters to the west (15 minutes rise). The path, bending, leads through cypresses and agaves. At the top, from the porch of the Chapel of St. George, in good weather you can see the islands of the Saronic Gulf and, of course, the Acropolis.

Around Athens

Situated between the sea and the hills, Athens is the ideal starting point to explore the most famous sites of Attica, the peninsula separating the Aegean Sea and the Saronic Gulf.

On weekends everyone goes to the beach. Located right next to the city walls, Glyfada stole the show during the 2004 Olympic Games: it was here that most of the nautical competitions took place. A chic suburb with numerous boutiques and a seaside resort famous for its marinas and golf courses, Glyfada comes alive in the summer with discos and clubs opening along Possidonos Avenue. The beaches here and towards Voula are mostly private, dotted with umbrellas and packed at the end of the week. If you're looking for a quieter spot, head south to Vouliagmeni, a luxurious and expensive port surrounded by greenery. The coast becomes more democratic only after Varkiza, near Cape Sounion.

The sentinel of Athens, holding guard on the top of the rock of the "Cape of Columns" at the extreme point of Mediterranean Attica, the temple of Poseidon forms one of the vertices of the "sacred triangle", a perfect isosceles triangle, the other points of which are the Acropolis and the temple of Aphaia on Aegina. It was said that once, when entering the bay on the way to Piraeus, sailors could see all three buildings at the same time - a pleasure now inaccessible due to the frequent smog that descends over these places. Sanctuary restored during the era of Pericles (444 BC), retained 16 of the 34 Doric columns. Once upon a time, trireme racing was held here, organized by the Athenians in honor of the goddess Athena, to whom the second temple, built on a nearby hill, is dedicated. The place acquires strategic importance: its fortress, now disappeared, made it possible to simultaneously control the silver mines of Lorion and the movement of ships to Athens.

Built on the pine-clad slopes of Mount Hymetos, a few kilometers east of Athens, the 11th-century monastery is quiet at the end of the week when a landing party of picnickers lands nearby. In the central courtyard you will find a church whose walls are covered with frescoes (XVII-XVIII centuries), the dome rests on four antique columns, and at the other end of the monastery there is an amazing fountain with a ram's head, from which water flows, which is said to have miraculous properties.

Marathon

This place, one of the most famous, witnessed the victory of the 10,000-strong Athenian army over the Persian forces three times larger in 490 BC. To deliver the good news, as legend has it, a runner from Marathon ran the 40 km that separated it from Athens - so fast that he died of exhaustion upon arrival. The 192 Greek heroes who died in this battle were buried on the mound - this is the only credible evidence of this famous event.

Monastery of Daphne

Situated 10 km west of Athens, on the edge of a highway, the Byzantine monastery of Daphne is famous for its 11th-century mosaics depicting the apostles and the mighty Christ Pantocrator watching over them from the central dome. Having received significant damage from an earthquake in 1999, the building is now closed for restoration.

Pressed on one side by Attica and on the other by the Peloponnese Peninsula, the Saronic Gulf - the gateway of the Corinth Canal - opens the door to Athens. Among the many islands, Aegina is the most interesting and easiest to get to. (1 hour 15 minutes by ferry or 35 minutes by speedboat).

Most of the ships are moored on the western shore, in the beautiful port of Aegina. Few people know that it was the first capital of liberated Greece. Fishermen repair their gear here in front of tourists relaxing on cafe terraces and riding in gigs. The narrow pedestrian street leading from the embankment seems to be created for walking and shopping. At the northern exit, in Colon, at an archaeological site, there are a few ruins of the Temple of Apollo (V century BC). The archaeological museum displays artifacts found nearby: donations, pottery, sculptures and steles.

The rest of the island is divided between pistachio plantations, which are the pride of Aegina, several groves with olive trees and beautiful pine forests, stretching in the east to the seaside resort of Agia Marina, on whose beautiful beaches life is in full swing in summer.

From there you can easily reach the Temple of Aphaia, built on a promontory visible from both shores. The splendor of this Doric monument, perfectly preserved, allows us to guess the former power of the island, which was once a rival of Athens. Built in 500 BC, it was dedicated to the local goddess Aphaia, daughter of Zeus, who took refuge in these places to escape the persecution of King Minos.

If you have some time, visit the ruins of Paliochora, the former capital of Aegina, built on a hill in the interior of the island. Founded in Antiquity, the town grew up during the High Middle Ages, an era when residents took refuge on mountain tops to escape pirate raids. Until the 19th century, when its inhabitants abandoned it, Paliochora had 365 churches and chapels, of which 28 have survived, and in them you can still see the remains of beautiful frescoes. Just below is the monastery of Agios Nektarios, the largest on the island.

Hotel deals

When is the best time to go to Athens

Spring and late autumn are the best times to visit Athens. Summers can be very hot and dry. Winter is sometimes rainy, with few snow days. But at the same time, winter can be an ideal time to visit the city, when it may be fresh, but there are no crowds.

Very often there is smog over the city, the reason for which is the geography of the city - due to the fact that Athens is surrounded by mountains, exhaust and pollution from cars very often linger over the city.

How to get there

How can I get to Athens from the airport? First of all, there is a direct metro line (blue) from the airport to the city. The final station in the city center is Monastiraki metro station. You can get to the train station in Athens by commuter train. A convenient and comfortable way is to call a taxi. A more economical ground transport is a bus; buses from the airport follow four routes.

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Athens is named after the goddess of wisdom, who patronized the polis. The city-state achieved such enormous development that it determined many trends in the further development of all of Europe. This is where democracy and philosophy and the Olympics began. Read on, the sights of Ancient Athens.

About the city of Athens

Athens is not just a capital; classical Greece and Western civilization as a whole appeared here. The first people settled in this area as early as 3000 BC. In the 19th century, after many years of Ottoman rule, Athens was a pitiful settlement, more like an ordinary village. Now it is an agglomeration that includes the old city, several central areas, suburbs and the port of Piraeus. All this is surrounded by mountains. Now a third of the country’s total population lives here, the density is more than 8 thousand people per 1 square kilometer. It may take a whole month to explore all the interesting places.

Athens on the map

Acropolis of Athens Greece

Each Greek polis had its own acropolis, but the Athenian one was never surpassed in scale, layout and the number of monuments located on its territory. This is a real mecca for tourists, everything here looks majestic and amazes with its beauty and grace. Initially, the imperial palace was located on this hill; in the 7th century BC the first stone was laid for the construction of the Parthenon Temple. The special layout allows you to view this building in volume; this can be seen from the side of the central gate, when three walls are visible at once.

The secret is that the columns are built here at different angles in relation to one another. According to myths, a dispute once took place in Erechtheinon between Poseidon and Athena. Now here you can see statues of the Caryatids - columns in the form of female figures, and in some places a mosaic has been preserved.

Near the temple of the goddess Nike is the ancient Theater of Dionysus, where performances by famous Greek playwrights, including Aristophanes, Aeschylus and Sophocles, took place. Previously, access to the Acropolis was possible through a huge gate, which housed the first art gallery in the world. Entrance costs 20 euros. To save money, it is better to purchase a so-called special ticket for 30 euros, which allows you to visit about 10 attractions, including the archaeological museum. The next day when you can visit this place for free is May 18th. Opening hours from 8:00 to 20:00 daily.

Official site

http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2384

Acropolis on the map

Temple of Hephaestus Athena

Tourists love this place because here you can plunge headlong into the era of Ancient Greece; you cannot ignore this ancient building when describing the sights of Ancient Athens. This is one of the best preserved structures that has survived to this day. The estimated date of construction is 449 BC. But only 19 centuries after its construction, from 1834, the temple was used as an Orthodox church. The Greeks themselves treated this building with great trepidation, as evidenced by the fact that the columns, all the pediments without exception, and part of the roof remained in their original form. The only thing is that over the centuries, all the jewelry that was here was plundered.

The temple is one of the most valuable monuments in the country. Built in the Doric style, like the Parthenon, it is 31 meters long and 14 meters wide. This is the first structure in Greece that was built from marble. Numerous sculptures have been preserved, which are called metopes, for example metopes that tell about the exploits of Hercules and Theseus.

Entrance costs 12 euros for adults, children are free. From November to March, on Sundays you can enter the temple for free. Open from 8:00 to 18:00 hours.

Temple of Hephaestus official website

http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=6621

Temple of Hephaestus on the map

Temple of Zeus in Olympia Greece

The construction of this giant began several hundred centuries BC at the instigation of the then ruler, the tyrant Pisistratus. There was only one plan, but a very ambitious one - to outshine all the wonders of the World. However, it was fulfilled, albeit with one caveat, after the death of the tyrant. According to historians, society at that time was hostile to such an idea. The nobles and rich were inclined to think that this was simply arrogance, and ordinary citizens thought that this was simply a way to immortalize themselves in history. The construction was finally completed by another ruler - Emperor Hadrian. In total, the duration of construction lasted for 6 centuries, considering that the building stood for only three and was destroyed by an earthquake, it can be classified as a dubious project.

Now only ruins are visible to travelers, but they also impress with their gigantomania. The columns reach a height of 17 meters; initially there were more than a hundred of them. The perimeter of the structure was 96 and 40 meters. The interior decoration can only be judged by the stories contained in various written sources. They indicate that the central decoration was a huge statue of Zeus, made of ivory and decorated with gold. One of the legends says that Caesar tried to transport her to Rome.

You can explore the ruins every day, from 8:00 to 19:30. An entrance ticket for one adult will cost 20 euros.

Official site

http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=500

Temple of Zeus on the map

Theater of Dionysus in Athens

Great Greek writers were shown on the stage of this theater for the first time. This stage area, which is located directly in the open air, is one of the oldest on Earth, having appeared here in the 5th century AD. Initially, the theater was built of wood; the main function it served was to host various celebrations. Performances were held twice a year, during such Dionysias, and theatrical competitions were a separate item on the program. As a rule, three playwrights competed, each staging several tragedies and one comedy. The results, by the way, were strictly recorded, they were called didascalia and were then deposited in the local archive.

Among the modern entertainments offered to visitors is an acoustics test. To do this, one person remains in the center of the orchestra and tries to say something, the other rises to the furthest row and tries to listen. The theater became a stone theater only in 330 BC. Spectators were seated in 67 rows, the total capacity was 17 thousand people, then this was exactly one second of the population of the entire city. Nowadays you can see parts of the very last rows. The first row contained 67 marble chairs for VIPs, with names and positions carved into the seats. The emperor himself sat in the second row. During Roman rule, the theater was rebuilt and repurposed for gladiatorial fights, for example, then a high side appeared near the first row, which served for the safety of spectators.

You can visit every day from 8:30 to 18:00. The entrance fee is 12 euros.

Official site

http://www.visit-ancient-greece.com/theatre-of-dionysus.html

Theater of Dionysus on the map

Hadrian's Library

It is considered a unique architectural complex; this place received this name due to its great external resemblance to the Roman Forum. Emperor Hadrian went down in history as a passionate admirer of culture; he was one of the first rulers to grow a beard in order to have an external resemblance to the Hellenic sages. It was thanks to him that many cultural institutions appeared in the city, one of them is this complex. At the time of completion of construction, not only books were stored here, it was a large cultural center. There were several lecture halls, translation rooms and a small stage. The book fund consisted of 16 thousand copies, among which there were many rare manuscripts. The marble walls served as a cool oasis and had very good acoustics. The shape of the building was erected in the shape of a rectangle, of which one wall was marble and the rest from local sandstone. The marble colonnade has survived to this day. The library was barbarously plundered by the Romans, who turned the structure into part of a defensive wall. Later, in the 4th century, the institution was again restored, during the Turkish occupation it served as a barracks for the royal army. After a large-scale reconstruction, which was completed in 2004, the library is again open to the public.

You can visit the institution from 8:00 to 19:30, the visit will cost 20 euros per person.

Official site

http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp

Library on the map

Tower of the Winds in Athens

This tower is considered an amazing architectural monument, which also has a practical function; it houses a working weather station. The Greeks themselves call this structure Clepsydra, because of its peculiarity, which is that on the tower there is a hydraulic clock mechanism that indicates the time according to the sun. There is also an official name - the Clock of Kirrista, according to scientists, it was built by an astronomer from a town called Kirra. Researchers date the construction time to the 1st century BC; the tower is 12 meters high and has a diameter of 8 meters. Interesting decorations can be seen on the friezes of the building, which symbolizes the compass rose. The gods are painted on those sides of the tower walls from where the winds blow, for example, Boreas is depicted on the north side.

The construction material was marble; the building below is located on a three-stage platform. The roof is cone-shaped and covered with ceramic tiles. In ancient times, the tower served to measure time; the main clock was a sun clock, but when the weather was cloudy, a water clock was used. You can see this building in the old part of the city, which bears the name Plaka.

You can get to this place every day, from 8:00 to 19:00.

The entrance fee is 3 euros and gives you the right to visit the Agora at the same time.

Tower on the map

Odeon of Herodes Atticus - Sights of Ancient Athens

This famous object is located on the southern slope of the Athenian agora. When exploring the sights of Ancient Athens on your own, be sure not to miss the opportunity to visit here. Despite its great age, the concert venue is not only still used for its intended purpose, it is also the main city venue. The Odeon was erected in Athens in the 2nd century, thanks to the philosopher Herodes. Legend has it that he was such a rich man that the emperor himself tried to take his life for money. He was a sponsor of many cultural institutions that were erected during his lifetime. In ancient Greece, the Odeon was the name given to the place where concerts and other musical events were held.

Outwardly, the Athenian Odeon resembles a Roman amphitheater, of which there are about a dozen preserved in the world, but the Greeks, naturally, find many differences. The rows for spectators were made in the shape of a semicircle, in the middle there was a large stage, behind which there was a marble wall, richly decorated, but its main purpose was to improve acoustics. The roof was wooden, made from expensive Lebanese cedar. To this day, everything has survived except the roof and walls. Large-scale reconstruction was completed here in the 50s of the last century. Now, in addition to numerous musical events, this arena hosts the annual Athens Festival, which begins in May and ends in October.

You can only get into the Odeon if you purchase a ticket to one of the festival events.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the map

Standing Attalus

Long before our era, by order of the Pergamon king Attalus, this structure was erected, which served as a commercial center. The structure is a covered pavilion, one facade wall of which was crowned with rows of columns, while the remaining walls were made blank. The building consisted of two floors and several dozen porticoes in the form of arches, inside which retail outlets operated. In this original form, the building existed for several centuries and was not even destroyed during the barbarian invasion. Currently, the building available to visitors is a replica, or in other words, a full-scale model, where they tried to recreate the details of the original building as closely as possible. This happened thanks to the preserved ruins. The model contains an ancient foundation and the remains of antique columns. A stone quarry was opened specifically for the restoration of this object. Restoration work was completed in 1956. This design was ideal for a huge crowd of people; on the one hand, it protected from bad weather, on the other, there was always a lot of free space and fresh air. Now there is an archaeological museum with a rich collection of antique objects. You can visit this institution daily from 8:00 to 20:00. The entrance fee is 8 euros.

Official site

http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=10303

Stoya Attalus on the map

Athens attractions photos and descriptions:

Museums

There are several dozen museums in Athens; to tell about everything, you will need to write a separate review, but some are worth mentioning when reviewing the sights of Ancient Athens.

Athens City Museum

The exhibitions in this museum tell the story of what the Greek polis was like in the 19th century, and what it has become in our modern days. The collections consist of works of art, there are installations in the form of entire rooms of the Greek nobility. For example, in one of the halls the furniture of King Otto is displayed. The building that the museum itself occupies is considered one of the most beautiful in the city; it is a former mansion where the first Greek king and his wife lived. The second name that is used in relation to this building is the Old Palace. The palace is connected by a covered gallery to another building, which was built 16 years after the construction of the palace. Visitors saw the museum exhibition for the first time in 1980. Opening hours: except Tuesday from 9:00 to 15:00, Wednesday and Friday until 16:00. The entrance ticket here costs 5 euros.

Official site

http://www.athenscitymuseum.gr/en/

Museum on the map

Numismatic Museum of Athens

This exhibition institution is one of the most popular and visited among tourists. The core of the collection, which is considered unique of its kind, consists of coins found during archaeological excavations. This museum is located in the building of the Ilion Palace, which is a landmark in itself; the famous archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann was among its owners. Inside this establishment you can not only examine ancient coins, but also feel like a minter. The museum has been operating for several hundred years, the first opening took place in 1834, although it is worth noting that it acquired its own building quite recently - in 1999. In addition to the coins themselves, in the first hall you can see old tapestries that are dedicated to Schliemann; besides them, they will introduce you to what numismatics is, tell you about counterfeiters and ask you to distinguish a fake from the original with your own hands. In other rooms, in addition to coins, you can see precious stones and various medals, and not only from Ancient Greece. On the ground floor of the museum there is a shop where you can buy replicas of ancient coins. The open-air garden café offers a cup of coffee and a snack.

Opening hours: 9:00 to 16:00 except Mondays.

The entrance ticket costs 6 euros.

The city of Ancient Greece with the famous Acropolis, Athens, became a symbol of ancient civilization and occupied a central place in the life of the Greeks. The construction of Athens began in the Mycenaean era with the construction of the Peloponnesian palaces. The city grew and over time began to personify all the Greek virtues and enjoy undoubted authority, so that even after the defeat in the Pelononnesian War, the Spartans refused to destroy the city and enslave the citizens.

History of the emergence of the Athenian Empire

Evidence of a historical settlement on the Acropolis has been found near the site of Agora. There is an assumption that it was inhabited as early as 5000, and possibly as early as 7000 BC. According to legend, the Athenian king Kekrops named the city in his honor, but from Olympus it was clear that this city was so beautiful that it deserved an immortal name.

Poseidon struck the rock with his trident, from which water gushed out, and he assured the people that now they would never suffer from drought.

Athena was the last, she sowed a seed into the ground, from which an olive tree quickly grew. The ancient Greeks believed that the olive tree was more valuable than water since it was salty from the kingdom of Poseidon. And Athena was chosen as the patroness of the city, and it was named after her.

The main means of subsistence for the city of Ancient Greece were agriculture and trade, mainly by sea. During the Mycenaean era (circa 1550-1100 BC), massive construction of massive fortresses began throughout Greece, and Athens was no exception. The ruins of the Mycenaean court can still be seen today at the Acropolis.

Homer in the Iliad and Odyssey portrays the Mycenaeans as great warriors and seafarers who traded in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. In 1200 B.C. The Sea Peoples invaded the Greek Aegean archipelago from the south, while the Dorians simultaneously arrived from the north of mainland Greece. When the Mycenaeans invaded Attica (the area surrounding Athens), the Dorians withdrew from the city leaving the ancient Greek city untouched. Although, as in other parts of ancient civilization, after the invasions there was an economic and cultural decline. The Athenians then began to claim a special status in the Ionian Sea.

The Rise of Democracy in Ancient Greece

Wealthy aristocrats established control over the lands; over time, poorer landowners were enslaved by wealthy citizens. The reason for this was the different understanding of the laws of the city of Ancient Greece. One piece of legislation, represented by the writings of the statesman Draco, was considered too difficult to enforce, since most violations carried the death penalty.

The great legislator Solon called for them to be reviewed and changed. Solon, although he himself belonged to aristocratic circles, issued a series of laws that granted the right to vote in political matters to citizens. In doing so, he laid the foundation for democracy in Athens in 594 BC.

After Solon withdrew from government affairs, various factional leaders began to share power. Ultimately, Peisistratus won, recognizing the value of Solon’s laws and calling for them to be carried out unchanged. His son, Hypipios, continued his political path until his younger brother, Hipparkos, was killed in 514 BC. by order of Sparta. After the coup d'etat in Ancient Greece and the settlement of issues with the Spartans, Cleisthenes was appointed to reform the government and legal framework. In 507 BC. he introduced a new form of government, which is today recognized as a democratic regime.

According to historian Waterfield:

“The pride that the citizens of Athens could now participate in public life gave a huge impetus to their development of the city.”.

The new form of government provided the stability necessary for Athens to flourish as the cultural and intellectual center of the ancient world."

The Age of Pericles in Athens

Under Pericles, Athens entered a golden age, which was marked by a cultural upsurge that accompanied the emergence of great thinkers, writers and artists.

After the Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, and were freed from a second Persian invasion at Salamis in 480 BC, Athens came to be considered the center of naval power in ancient Greece. . The Delian League was formed to create a cohesive defense of the city-states of the ancient civilization to prevent attacks from the Persians. Under the leadership of Pericles, Athens earned such authority that it could make its own laws, introduce customs and trade with its neighbors in Attica and the islands of the Aegean Sea.

The period of Pericles' reign went down in the history of ancient Greece as the golden age of philosophy, artistic and literary arts, and the heyday of Athens. Herodotus, "father of history", wrote his immortal works in Athens. Socrates, "father of philosophy", taught in Athens. Hippocrates, the "father of medicine", practiced in the capital of the ancient civilization. Sculptor Phidias created his best works for the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus and Olympia. Democritus conducted research and found out that the universe consists of atoms. Aeschylus Eurypylus, Aristophanes and Sophocles wrote their famous plays. Plato created an academy of sciences near Athens in 385 BC, then Aristotle founded the Lyceum in the city center.

Combat battles of Athens

The power of the Athenian Empire posed a threat to neighboring states. After Athens sent troops to help the Spartan forces to suppress the Helot rebellion, Sparta invited the ancient Greeks to leave the battlefield and return home. The incident sparked a war that had been brewing for a long time.

Later, when the Ancient Greek city sent its fleet to protect Sosug's ally (Confu) against a Corinthian invasion during the Battle of Sybota in 433 BC, this was interpreted by Sparta as aggression rather than assistance, since Corinth was an ally of Sparta .

The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) between Athens and Sparta, in which all the cities of Ancient Greece were involved in one way or another, ended in defeat for Athens.

All cultural monuments were destroyed. In the city, which has a reputation as an educational center and the culture of the entire civilization, such a phenomenon as the enslavement of the population arose. Athens struggled to maintain its position as an independent state until it was finally defeated in 338 BC. Macedonian troops under the leadership of Philip II in Chaeronea.

After the defeat at the Battle of Sinosephalos in 197 BC. The Roman Empire began its gradual conquest of Ancient Greece. Legend has it that the Roman general Sulla, who was dismissed from a high position in Athens in 87 BC, was the organizer of the massacre of the city's citizens and the burning of the port of Ripaeus.

In the modern world, Athens preserves the heritage of classical art, poetic and artistic achievements. While the Parthenon at the Acropolis continues to symbolize the golden age and heyday of Ancient Greece.

Video of Athens Acropolis of ancient Greece

“Athens is one of the greatest Greek cities. In people's minds it is associated with all of Ancient Greece. In part, this is deserved, because many of the achievements of Hellenic civilization appeared in Athens. The city gave Greece dozens of philosophers, poets, playwrights, orators, historians, and politicians. Athens powerfully attracted the best people of Greece. Even the Roman conquerors paid tribute to the city, sparing rebellious Athens for the sake of the glory of their ancestors.”

Mycenaean and Homeric Greece

The area of ​​Athens has been inhabited since the Neolithic era. By the 15th century BC. e. They attribute the appearance of an Achaean city on this site. There was a citadel and a palace on the Acropolis. But Bronze Age Athens was never a major political center like Mycenae, Tiryns or Pylos.

It is unclear whether the city suffered from the Dorians. The Athenians themselves were always proud of the fact that they were the autochthonous population of this land, and not migrants like other Hellenes. However, the beginning of Homeric Greece was a period of declining economic development in Athens. In the 11th century BC. e. The Ionian migration began, many Athenians went overseas and founded new cities on the coast of Asia Minor.

From about 900 BC, Athens became a major center of trade. During the “Dark Ages” and the Archaic era, Athens developed like other Greek states. According to tradition, the state was ruled by kings for a long time. Historical tradition dates the abolition of royal power to 752 BC. e., when the hereditary basileus was replaced by three officials - basileus, polemarch and archon. The first was responsible for the religious sphere, the second was the commander of the army, and the third was in charge of the internal affairs of the state.

Aristotle wrote that at first the positions of three archons were introduced, and later their number was increased to nine. Former archons filled the council of the Areopagus, which was influential in Archaic Athens. Membership in this council was for life. The monarchy in the polis was replaced by an aristocratic republic. In the 9th-8th centuries the population of Attica grew. The burials of that time became richer, and luxury items were found in them. But at the end of the 8th century something happened, and the polis began to decline. There have been theories about an epidemic or drought at this time. The same years include an increase in the number of finds in religious places. Natural disasters could have caused the increase in religiosity of the inhabitants of Attica. Trade declined and the Athenians began to focus more on agriculture.

Synoicism and the annexation of Eleusis

An important process that allowed Athens to become a powerful polis was synoicism. This word was used to describe the union of several communities into one. Athenians managed to create a single state, the territory of which was comparable to the territory of neighboring Boeotia, where there were several separate city-states. The ancients attributed synoicism to the legendary king Theseus. According to them, the hero united Attica, which consisted of twelve independent states. Sinoicism did not involve the relocation of the inhabitants of Attica to the city at the foot of the Acropolis. It consisted in the elimination of all local authorities, the place of which was now occupied by one general council in Athens.

In the West Attica the policy was located Eleusis. It has existed since Mycenaean times. In the VIII-VII centuries BC. e. Athens fought with Eleusis, and the fight ended with the inclusion of this policy into the Athenian state. Sources close to the events report very sparingly about the war. The legends of the Greeks told of a war where the Athenians were commanded by the legendary king Erechtheus, and the Eleusinians by king Eumolpus. According to another version, Eleusis was subjugated by Erechtheus’ grandson Ion. During excavations in Attica, the remains of an old border wall between the territories of two policies were found. It is likely that the conflict was not resolved in one battle, but dragged on for many years. In the 7th century BC. e. the city became part of the Athenian polis. After submission, Eleusis retained its governing bodies, which dealt with internal affairs. The nobility of the city, which was associated with the cult of the Mysteries, retained a high position in the Athenian state. The Temple of Eleusis was built in Athens, and the festival of the Mysteries henceforth began there. But the mysterial sacraments themselves remained under the control of the Eleusinian clans.

VII-VI centuries BC e.: legislators and tyrants

By the end of the 7th century BC. e. Athens was an aristocratic republic. The inhabitants were divided into four phyla: Heleonts, Egikorei, Argadians and Hopletians. Their eponyms were the sons of the legendary Ion. Each phylum consisted of three trittia. At the head of the philos were the philobasilei, who were elected from among the noblest citizens. By class, the population was divided into three categories - noble eupatrides, geomora farmers and demiurge artisans.

During the Archaic era, in many Greek city-states, ambitious people seized power and became tyrants. In Athens, an aristocrat tried to become a tyrant Quilon. He was a young man from a noble family, the son-in-law of the tyrant Megar Theagenes. In 640 BC. e. Quilon won the Olympic Games. In that era, victory at Olympia gave its owner a status close to sacred. The Delphic oracle gave the young man a prophecy to capture the Acropolis on the day of the greatest holiday in honor of Zeus. Cylon believed that the Olympic Games were this holiday, and with a group of supporters he captured the Acropolis. The Athenians did not accept the tyrant and, under the leadership of the archons, besieged Cylon and his comrades. After a long siege, the would-be tyrant and his brother fled, and their comrades surrendered.

In 621 BC. e. The famous laws of Draco were adopted in Athens. Almost nothing is known about this man. He did not hold the office of archon when his laws were written down. From the Draco Codex, only the section on murder has survived. The legislator made a distinction between intentional and unintentional murder. The code of laws made it possible for the murderer and the relatives of the murdered to make peace.

About the rest of the laws Drakonta there are only references that speak of the extraordinary severity of the laws. Draco's laws on murder were in effect as early as the 4th century BC. e., but it is assumed that the rest of the vault was canceled. Draco's legislation was not a reform, but a recording of the customary law of the Athenians, which was in force before him.

Draco's legislation did not resolve the contradictions in the polis, and in the first decade of the 6th century BC. e. a new legislator appeared on the scene - Solon. This man came, like all the leaders of that time, from a noble family. In ancient times he had a reputation as a sage. Poems by Solon have been preserved, where he talks about his activities. Among his legislative measures was the division of the Athenians into four groups based on property qualifications. People from different property groups had unequal political rights. Representatives of the first two groups were elected to the position of archon. The poorest citizens, the fetas, generally only had the right to access to the people's assembly and courts. The legislator also took measures to free the Athenians who fell into debt bondage.

After Solon's reforms, the life of the polis went on as usual - politicians who came from noble families competed for power. One of them was destined to become the ruler of Athens.

Pisistratus born around 600 BC. e. in a noble family that traced its origins to the king of Pylos, Nestor. In the 560s BC. e. the future tyrant became famous as a commander: during the war with the Megaras, he captured their fortification of Nisei. After his victory, Peisistratus became one of the three most powerful politicians in Athens. In 560 BC. e. he received a detachment of bodyguards from the people and with their help seized power. He was soon removed from power. Then Peisistratus, having concluded an alliance with Megacles from the Alcmaeonid family, returned. Soon he was again forced to leave Athens.

Ten years later, Pisistratus decided to return power by force. In 546 BC. e. he landed near Marathon with an army of mercenaries and volunteers from several cities of Greece - Thebes, Eretria, Argos, Naxos. The inhabitants of the part of Attica where he landed supported the tyrant and strengthened his army. After this, in one battle, Peisistratus easily defeated the Athenian militia. His soldiers suddenly attacked the Athenians and put them to flight. At the same time, supporters of Pisistratus tried not to shed the blood of their fellow citizens.

The tyrant occupied Athens. The Alcmaeonids were forced to leave the city. Peisistratus quietly ruled the polis for almost twenty years. Ancient writers spoke of him as a humane and fair ruler who cared about both the nobility and the common people.

Pisistratus expanded Athenian possessions in Thrace, conquered Sigea from Mytilene, and captured Delos. The Great Dionysia began to be widely celebrated in Athens. At the end of his life, the tyrant decided to erect a majestic temple in the city dedicated to the supreme god. On the outskirts of Athens, work began on the construction of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. But the creation of this temple was completed not under Pisistratus or his sons, but only seven centuries later, when Greece was already a Roman province. By order of the Athenian tyrant, a commission was created that recorded the texts of Homer's poems.

In 527 BC. e. the tyrant died of old age, and his sons received power in Athens. Hippias and Hipparchus ruled in Attica; another son, Hegesistratus, ruled Sigeum, a dependent of Athens, during his father’s lifetime. At first, the Pisistratids ruled in the spirit of their father. The exiled aristocrats were allowed to return to the polis. Cleisthenes from the Alcmaeonid family even held the position of archon. At the court of Pisistratus and his sons lived prominent Greek poets - Anacreon and Simonides of Keos, the Orphic poet Onomacritus. In 514 BC. e. Hipparchus died at the hands of the conspirators Harmodius and Aristogeiton. The murderers acted for personal reasons, but the ideology of democratic Athens made them fighters against tyranny. Later, bronze statues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton stood in a place of honor in the city.

Supporters of the conspirators were executed, and Hippias began to rule more harshly. The aristocrats were again forced to leave Athens. Soon after this, the Alcmaeonids attempted to overthrow the tyranny. They occupied the fortress of Lipidria in Attica. But the troops of Hippias managed to drive out the Alcmaeonids and their supporters from there. Aristotle quotes the table poems of the Athenian aristocrats, which glorify the bravery of the Eupatrides who died defending the fortress.

During the years of exile, the Alcmaeonids lived in Delphi. Using their own funds, they rebuilt the temple of Apollo. The priesthood of this city convinced the Spartans to help the exiles. Finally, the army of Lacedaemon under the command of King Cleomenes entered Attica and defeated the supporters of Hippias. The tyrant surrendered, having the opportunity to leave Athens safely.

After the fall of tyranny in the city, aristocratic politicians Isagoras and Cleisthenes fought for power. The latter managed to win over the people of Athens by promising reforms. Having won the political struggle, Cleisthenes carried out a series of reforms.

The purpose of Cleisthenes' reforms was to combat the old clan orders. He created ten phylas instead of the previous four. Fifty representatives of each phylum formed a council of five hundred. The reformer divided the hundred demomes of Attica into trittii. Each trittiya included a deme of the city, coastal and central parts. Three trittia were included in the phylum. The main territorial unit was the dem. Cleisthenes created a college of ten strategists, in whose hands was the military leadership of the polis. In the V-IV centuries BC. e. the position of strategist became the most important in Athens.

5th century BC e.: rise and fall

In 507 BC. e. The Athenian embassy visited Persia. U Greeks There had been contacts with the rulers of the Asia Minor monarchies before, so there was nothing unusual about him. But, not knowing Persian customs, the Athenians provided the Persians with “land and water,” which meant formal submission to the empire. During the Ionian Revolt 500-494 BC. e. The Athenians sent a small detachment of ships to help their relatives. The Athenian ships did not take part in the battles and soon returned. But both of these events gave the Persians a reason for war.

In 490 BC. e. The Persian army landed in Attica. The Athenians managed to win thanks to the military genius of their commander Miltiades. Immediately after the victory at Marathon, the commander proposed to punish the Greek islanders who supported the Persians. Miltiades led an expedition against Paros, but was defeated. In the 480s BC. e. The leading role in Athens belonged to a man named Themistocles. He came from the aristocratic family of the Lykomids, which was inferior in nobility and wealth to the families whose representatives set the tone in the politics of that time - the Alcmaeonids, Philaides, Kerikas.

First Themistocles was archon in 493 BC. e.. In this position, he began work on the creation of the harbor of Athens in the deme of Piraeus. Back in town Miltiades pushed Themistocles into the background, but in the 480s BC. e. he regained his former influence. At the suggestion of Themistocles, silver was discovered in 487 BC. e. the veins were used not for distribution to the people, as usual, but for the construction of a fleet. The Athenians managed to equip two hundred combat triremes, and this was the largest fleet in Greece. During the Persian invasion of 480-478 BC. e. Themistocles stood at the head of the Athenian contingent as part of the pan-Greek fleet. He was the second man in the fleet. But it was thanks to the decisions of Themistocles that the Battle of Salamis was won.

During the war, the Athenians evacuated the population of their city. They sent some of the civilians to Troezen in the Peloponnese, and some to the island of Salamis. Empty Athens was occupied by the Persian army and destroyed. After returning to the city, on the initiative of Themistocles, the Athenians built Long Walls around the city and Piraeus, which made Athens impregnable.

After victories at Salamis and Plataea, the Athenians continued to fight against Persia. The war was fought outside of Greece: in Thrace, Asia Minor, Cyprus, and Egypt. The final peace between Athens and the Achaemenid Empire was concluded in 449 BC. uh..

During the Greco-Persian Wars, Athens founded the Delian Symmachy. Later it was transformed into Athens Maritime Union. It united more than 200 Greek city states of the Balkans, islands, and Asia Minor. The allies had to pay Athens a tax called foros.

Led Athens after the expulsion of Themistocles around 476 BC. e. there were several prominent politicians. Aristides, a rival of Themistocles, played a major role in organizing the union. Naval campaigns against the Persians until his death in 450 BC. e. led by Cimon son of Miltiades.

Two decades after 449 BC. e. were the times when Athens was led by a politician Pericles. Under him, work was carried out to rebuild the Acropolis: the hill above the city was decorated with the majestic temples of the Parthenon and Erechtheion. By this time, a democratic form of government had developed in the city, but Pericles wisely knew how to direct the will of the people in the direction they needed.

In 457-446 BC. e. Athens And Sparta fought. Then it was possible to conclude peace on acceptable terms. But in 431 BC. e. the war broke out again. A new conflict that went down in history as Peloponnesian War, lasted until 404 BC. e.. It ended with the complete defeat of Athens and the dissolution of the Athenian Maritime League. During a meeting of the Spartans and their allies, representatives of Thebes openly demanded the destruction of the city and the sale of its inhabitants into slavery.

School of Hellas: features of the cultural life of Athens

During the Classical era, the most important achievements of the artistic culture of Athens were created. Tragedies and comedies were staged at the Great Dionysia, Lenaia and Anthesteria.

The philosopher Plato put theater on a par with courts and the people's assembly among the institutions that ensure a democratic form of government. There was a special fund in the city, Theorikon, from which the poorest Athenians were given money to buy tickets. Speaker Demade called this money the cement of democracy.

It is believed that the distribution of “theater money” was started by Pericles. It is reliably known that they existed during the times Demosthenes. There were no mentions of the theorikon after the subjugation of Athens to Macedonia in 322 BC. e. No. Most likely, it was abolished.

An official was elected to manage the theorikon. In the 350s BC. e. the politician Eubulus, who held this post, passed a law according to which all monetary surpluses replenished the theorikon. This law established the death penalty for proposing to use the money of the entertainment fund for other purposes. After a long struggle, shortly before the Battle of Chaeronea, Demosthenes was able to get this law repealed.

In the 380s BC. e. Plato, a former student of Socrates, created his own philosophical school. The place for it was a grove near Athens, dedicated to the hero Academ. In honor of him, Plato's school received its name - the Academy. The classes included lectures from mentors and conversations. It is unknown how long the training at the Academy took - presumably one to two years. But Aristotle was Plato's listener for about twenty years.

Disciples flocked to Plato from all over the Greek world. Around 370 BC e. Aristotle arrived there from provincial Stagira. After twenty years of living in Athens, he traveled for some time, and in 335 BC. e. founded his own school. It was called the Lyceum after the place where it was founded.

In the summer, Panathenaea was celebrated in the city. Initially they were celebrated for one day, then the celebrations were extended to three. The earliest mentions of Panathenaea date back to the 7th century BC. e.. The Athenians called the founders of the holiday the legendary king Cecrops or the hero Theseus. It was also assumed that Theseus made Panathenaea a holiday common to all Attica.

Initially, the celebration consisted of presenting a new peplos to the goddess. In 566 BC. e. Panathenaea began to be accompanied by sports competitions. From that time on, Panathenaea began to be celebrated annually, and once every four years - Great Panathenaea, accompanied by the offering of peplos and competitions. To organize the holiday, ten aflofets were elected in the People's Assembly, one from each phylum. They held this position for four years. Under Pisistratus, the Great Panathenaea began to include competitions of rhapsodes performing Homer's poems. Later, musicians' competitions were added to them.

Sports competitions included running, pentathlon, fist fighting, and pankration. There were three age categories of participants - boys, young men, adult men. The winners were awarded amphorae with olive oil. The musicians were awarded a gold wreath and a sum of money.

Chariot races were taking place outside the city. The team competition was a dance performance in full armor. During the Great Panathenaic The trireme race was taking place. Each phylum fielded one ship with a crew, and they competed in speed between the harbors of Piraeus and Munichia.

The offering of the peplos was a solemn procession that left the Keramic region at dawn and went to the Acropolis. The robe for Athena was carried on a cart. The peplos itself was woven nine months before the Panathenaia by girls from noble families of the polis. To lead the work, the archon-basil chose two girls aged 7-11 from noble families. A pattern was embroidered on the robe, depicting the exploits of the goddess in the battle with giants.

At the head of the procession at the Panathenaea were girls weaving peplos. Behind them are girls with vessels and incense burners for rituals and soldiers of the Athenian militia. The procession included many Athenians, Metics and citizens of the allied policies. A separate category were canephor girls (“basket bearers”), who carried sacrificial equipment in baskets. To become a canephora, a girl had to come from a good family, be beautiful and have an unblemished reputation. The canefor fathers received honors and rewards from the state. Girls who repeatedly performed this duty (not only at Panathenaia) were awarded honorary decrees and even statues.

Difficulties of the 4th century

The year after the Peloponnesian War became a time of new tyranny for Athens. After peace was concluded, a commission of 30 Athenian citizens became the head of the city. It was declared that they should draw up new laws for Athens. Contemporaries called them the Thirty, but later the Greeks and Romans gave this government a more catchy name - “thirty tyrants.”

At the head of the Thirty was the Athenian Kritias, son of Callescher. He came from a noble family of Codrides. His father was one of the members of the Four Hundred coup that tried to overthrow democracy. Critias himself in his youth was a student of Socrates, was friends with Alcibiades, even his epigram has been preserved, in which he claims that he made a proposal to return the disgraced commander from exile. Later he himself was expelled, lived in Thessaly, where he participated in some troubles.

Critias did not hide his contempt for the bulk of the people and the metics. Under him, the Government of the Thirty established a regime of real terror in the polis: metics were arrested and executed without trial, and their property was appropriated. Only three thousand Athenians were considered full citizens. Critias was known as a fan of the Spartan order, and his actions are seen as an attempt to rebuild Athens in the likeness of Sparta. Three thousand are an analogue of the Spartan Gomoys, the rest of the population of Athens are not full-fledged Perieki.

Theramenes, another outstanding member of the government, criticized the actions of the head of the Thirty. But Critias, during a meeting of the assembly of three thousand, forced his colleague to commit suicide. Feramen courageously took the cup of poison, splashed some of its contents on the ground, as if playing kottab, and drank the rest.

Thrasybulus, another friend of Alcibiades, took refuge in Thebes. From there he left with 70 comrades and occupied the fortress of Phil. It became a center where Athenians began to flock, ready to fight the tyrants. The defenders of Philae repulsed the attack of the Thirty warriors, and then gave them a battle in which Critias died. Three thousand drove out the surviving members of the government and organized a new one, wanting to continue the fight against Thrasybulus. After negotiations, both sides managed to make peace. In 403 BC. e. Democratic government was restored in Athens. The People's Assembly decreed that no one has the right to question another for his actions during the reign of the Thirty and the civil war. An exception was made for surviving members of the government, but even they could justify themselves by giving an account of their actions. Separate trials took place, and the philosopher Socrates became the victim.

In 395 BC. e. Athens, Thebes, Argos and Corinth began war against Sparta. When in 399 BC. e. When the war between Sparta and Persia began, the Athenian strategist Conon, who lived at the court of the ruler of Cyprus, Evagoras, offered his services to the Persians. In 394 BC. e. Conon and the satrap Pharnabazus defeated the Spartans at sea near the island of Cnidus. After this, the Athenian returned to his homeland with Persian gold, with which they restored the fleet and the Long Walls of Piraeus.

At the end of the war, Persia began to support Sparta, and in 386 BC. e. With her participation in Susa, the Greeks concluded a peace treaty. He prohibited inter-policy associations, but transferred the islands of Lemnos, Imbros and Skyros to the authority of Athens.

The next thirty years were for Athens time of maneuvering between Persia, Sparta and Thebes. In 378 BC. e. Athens and Thebes started a war with Sparta. This year it was created Second Athens Maritime League. The decree on its creation declared the non-interference of the Athenians in the internal affairs of the members of the union. In 377-376 BC. e. Athenian mercenaries under the command of the famous strategist Chabrias defended Boeotia from the Spartans. In 371 BC. e. The Thebans defeated the Spartans at Leuctra, and this victory made Boeotian League the strongest state in Greece.

At the same time, Athens resumed its old ways in relation to its allies. There were cases of interference in the internal affairs of cities. In 357 BC. e. The Allied War began. The city of Pallas was opposed by former members of the union - Byzantium, Rhodes, Chios, who were supported by the Carian ruler Mausolus. Athens lost this war, but the Second Athenian Maritime League existed in a truncated form for another two decades.

The allied war coincided with the first conflict between Athens and King Philip II of Macedonia. The struggle was for control of the cities of the Halkidiki peninsula. The confrontation between Athens and Macedonia ended with the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. uh..

The Athenians lost the battle but retained their independence. During the reign of Alexander the Great, the leader of Athens was the politician Lycurgus. Thanks to his financial genius, the policy, without receiving income from foros, was able to increase its income several times. The Athenians accumulated strength - new ships were built (the Athenian fleet was never as large as in these years).

After the death of Alexander, Athens and some other policies decided to give battle to Macedonia. Thus began the Lamian War of 323-322 BC. e.. Under the command of talented strategists Leosthenes and Antiphilus, the Athenians achieved some success, but were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Crannon. At the same time, the Macedonians defeated the Athenian fleet three times, which was no longer revived as a serious military force.

Oligarchic rule was imposed on the city, which was soon overthrown. In 317 BC. e. One of Alexander’s generals, Cassander, imposed his protege on Athens, Demetrius of Phalerus, who ruled the city for ten years.

In 307 BC. e. Athens was liberated by Prince Demetrius, son of Antigonus, and Demetrius of Phalerum fled. The Athenians restored a democratic constitution, destroyed the statue of the deposed ruler, and repealed some of his laws.

For the first time in the history of the polis, they awarded divine honors to the kings, and this marked the beginning of a tradition in the history of Hellenistic Athens. The cult of the savior gods Antigonus and Demetrius was established in the city, and games were held in their honor. The priest was responsible for the cult of the new gods. To the ten phyla, two more were added - Antigonida and Demetrias, which received first place in the list of phyla. The podium where the statues of the eponymous heroes stood was expanded and statues of the kings were placed on it. Other statues of them were erected next to the monument to Harmodius and Aristogeiton.

In subsequent years, the Athenians retreated from Poliorketes and again swore allegiance to him. In 287 BC. e. Athens rebelled and drove the king's garrison out of the city. But Piraeus and some Attica fortresses remained under Macedonian control. For the next 25 years the policy was independent. In 267 BC. e. Athens took the risk of challenging Macedonia in alliance with Sparta and Egypt. The war was unsuccessful, and Athens again became dependent on Macedonia. But in 229 BC. e. The Athenians managed to peacefully, with the help of a sum of money, force the foreign garrisons to leave Athens, Piraeus and other fortresses in Attica.

After regaining independence, the Athenians established a state cult of Demos. His hereditary priests were the descendants of Mikion and Euryclid, through whose efforts in 229 BC. e. freedom was achieved. Statues of citizens who had distinguished themselves before Athens began to be dedicated to the temple built by Demos.

In 224 BC. e. The king of Egypt, Ptolemy III, was awarded divine honors. A state cult was established for him and the position of priest was introduced. The thirteenth phylum of Ptolemais was established. The number of members of the Bule increased to 650. One deme from other phyles was assigned to the fille, and the deme of Berenicidas was also established in honor of Ptolemy's wife. The statue of the king took its place among the statues of the eponymous heroes of the Athenian phyla. A Ptolemaic public holiday was established.

On the eve of the war with Macedonia in 200 BC. e. King Attalus of Pergamum arrived in Athens. The city residents received him with honor. The Athenians established a new phylum, Attalida, in honor of the king, and within it the dem Apollonia, named after Attalus’s wife.

At the end of the 3rd century BC. e. a new power appeared in the Balkans - Rome. During the 2nd century BC. e. Athens was an ally of the Roman Republic, which was increasing its influence on the peninsula. In 88 BC. e. Athens risked supporting King Mithridates VI of Pontus in his war with Rome. At first, the Peripatetic philosopher Athenion became the head of the anti-Roman movement in the city. Later he was replaced by another native of Athens, Aristion, a follower of the philosophy of Epicurus. He was sent to the city by Mithridates.

The Pontic commander Archelaus made Piraeus his headquarters. In 87 BC. e. Attica became a battlefield. The Roman general Sulla besieged Athens and Piraeus. Archelaus was a capable commander, and the siege of the port was difficult. By order of the Roman, the groves of the Academy and Lyceum were cut down and siege engines were made from the trees. In March 86 BC. e. Legionnaires captured the city with a night attack. A massacre began in Athens, but Sulla, at the request of exiles and senators from his headquarters, stopped it, declaring that he was sparing the living for the sake of the dead. Aristion and his loyal people defended the Acropolis for some time, but hunger forced him to surrender. The philosopher, his guards, and the magistrates of Athens that year were executed. Archelaus and his army escaped from Piraeus by sea.

Having finished the war, Sulla returned to Athens. There, the honors of the Athenians awaited him: they glorified him as a liberator from the tyranny of Aristion, held the Syllea festival in his honor, and erected a statue of the commander.

During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Greece became the battlefield, and its policies supported Pompey. Several Athenian ships strengthened his fleet, and Athenian hoplites joined his army and fought at Pharsalus. After Caesar's victory, the Athenian embassy arrived to ask for his mercy. Julius Caesar forgave the city for the glory of the Athenians' ancestors. The Athenians customarily erected a statue of the Roman, on the pedestal of which they glorified him as a savior and benefactor. A few years later, the Athenians were again drawn into the Roman civil wars. After Caesar's assassination, Athens supported his killers. In October 44 BC. e. Brutus and Cassius sailed to Greece. In its cities, honorary decrees were passed in honor of Caesar's murderers, and the Athenians erected bronze statues of them next to the statues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton.

Brutus lived for some time in Athens. He attended lectures by philosophers at the Academy and Lyceum. At the same time, he worked to gather forces and attracted influential Romans who held posts in the Balkans to his side.

After the defeat of Brutus and Cassius, Mark Antony lived in Athens for some time. He tried to win over the inhabitants of the ancient city and took pleasure in being called “friend of the Athenians.” In 39-37 BC. e. Mark Antony lived in Athens with his wife Octavia, whom the townspeople loved very much.

In 32 BC. e., when the war with Octavian began, Antony and Queen Cleopatra visited Athens. Remembering Octavia’s popularity, the ruler of Egypt tried to win over the citizens of the polis with gifts. After the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. e. Augustus occupied the city without a fight. This ended the period of independence of Athens, which was to become part of a province of the Roman Empire. Achaia.