What is Athens? This is the city that is the capital of Greece. Famous for its ancient history and glorious past. It attracts tourists with famous monuments of architecture, myths and legends, as well as unusual culture.
Where is the city of Athens?
Where is this amazing place located? The city of Athens is located in the southeast of Greece, or rather, in the coastal prefecture of Attica. On three sides it is surrounded by mountains:
It is washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. Throughout the year, the capital is warmed by the rays of the Balkan sun. The ancient city of Athens has a very unusual and complex terrain. It was formed from twelve hills and many plains.
History of Athens
They are interested in many as the archaeological and cultural center of antiquity. Beautiful Athens ... Which city in the world can boast such a significant contribution to the culture of mankind like this? According to historical facts, the city was named after the goddess Athena, who was famous for her wisdom and military strategy.
One legend says that a dispute arose between Athena and the god of the sea Poseidon. They both wanted to rule the ancient city. To resolve this issue, the judgment of the gods took place. At it, a decision was made, which was that the ruler would be the one who would bring the city the most valuable gift. Poseidon hit with his trident, due to which a source of sea water appeared in the rock. When the goddess struck with a spear, an olive tree sprouted from the ground. The court decided that the victory must be given to her. And so the famous city of ancient Greece - Athens - appeared.
It was in this city that democracy was born. World-famous sages and philosophers were born here, while others came here to get an education. Answering the question of what Athens is, we can safely say that this is an open-air temple created by the greatest geniuses. Even today, you can look at the remains of architectural masterpieces. Various amphitheaters, sacred temples, beautiful mountains and mysterious caves still surprise tourists. The archaeological site that gave us the Acropolis and not only also cause a sense of admiration for those who came to look at them.
There is no other place like Greece and the city of Athens that would have a huge impact on the history of civilization. It was here that such great philosophers were born as:
- Socrates;
- Aeschylus;
- Plato;
- Euripides;
- Sophocles.
This is one of the oldest cities, because in the 1st millennium BC. e. he was the most influential of all in the state. During this period, the heyday of Greek civilization falls. The "Golden Age of Greece" lasted throughout the V-IV century BC. e. The city was the main cultural and scientific center of the Western worlds. It was thanks to him that Western civilization further developed. The best poets, artists, scientists, philosophers, playwrights and sculptors lived in Athens.
The Greek city of Athens was founded in antiquity. In 490 BC e., when there was a Greek-Persian war, 40 km from Athens, the famous Marathon battle took place. The inhabitants of the city, together with the payers, defeated the Persian army, despite the fact that it was superior in number, and this happened under the leadership of Miltiad.
However, ten years later, Athens was faced with the attack of Xerxes I, as a result of which the sanctuary on the Acropolis was destroyed. In 480 BC e. there was a battle at Salamis, after which on September 20, the Persian fleet was destroyed by Themistocles, and his ruler had to flee.
In 431 BC e. war again came to Greece. Athens and Sparta are the cities between which the confrontation began. Due to the fact that the city suffered from the plague, he failed to win. As a result, the ramparts were completely destroyed. Even in our time, remains of city fortifications are still found, especially on the bank of Piraeus.
After these events, the city began to flourish again and was the center of education and science, but this continued until the late Roman period.
In 86 B.C. e there was another seizure of the city. The army under the command of Sulla arranged a siege for Athens for many months, after which the soldiers robbed the city for three days. Sulla wanted to completely destroy it, but he was visited by a delegation of the Athenians who reminded him of how great this city was in the past. The ruler listened to them and changed his mind.
Due to the fact that the Byzantine Empire adopted Christianity, in 529 AD e. The famous philosophical schools of the city were closed. As a result, the cultural center, which has been such for thousands of years, has lost its value and gradually turned into a provincial town.
At the 11th-12th centuries, the rebirth of the city of Athens falls. The capital acquired many new Byzantine temples, and this period was called the Golden Age in the development of the art of the empire. At this time, the city was enriched by trade, as was Corinth with Thebes. Over time, Athens became the main center for the manufacture of soaps and paints.
Later, the best knights of Italy, Byzantium, and France fought for the rule of the city from the 13th to the 15th centuries. Then the power over Athens passed to the Ottoman Empire, which was then led by Sultan Mahmed the Second Conqueror. It happened in 1458. The Sultan was very impressed by the beauty and grandeur of ancient architecture, so he forbade anyone to touch the ruins. And the Parthenon became the main mosque of Athens.
The Ottoman Empire began to weaken at the end of the 17th century. The population has declined significantly, and the quality of life has become much worse. Because of this, the Turkish government was not so patronized by ancient buildings, and the Parthenon served as a warehouse for weapons. During the Venetian siege of the city, the temple was badly damaged, as a shell hit it. The powder kegs that were stored in it exploded.
When Athens was proclaimed the capital of Greece, their population was 5,000 inhabitants. It happened on September 18, 1883. It was from this day that the city of Athens - the capital of the Greek kingdom. In the next decade, it gradually turned into a modern town.
The year 1896 was remembered in history as the year of the First Summer Olympic Games. Then in the 1920s there was another rapid growth of the city. At that time, many new neighborhoods were built that were intended for Greek refugees. As a result of World War II, the capital was occupied, so for some time there was a shortage of food.
The city's attractions
What is Athens? First of all, it is an ancient city, which was the scientific and cultural center of Greece. It is famous for many interesting sights that come to see from around the world. Let us consider in more detail the most famous attractions in Athens in Greece, photos of which will be presented below.
Plaka District
Athens is the city of the state of Greece, whose history is connected with antiquity. Therefore, it is necessary to get acquainted with it from a tour of its most famous sights. The Plaka area refers to them. It is located under the ancient hill of the Acropolis.
This is the most beautiful and oldest historical area of Athens. Walking along the narrow streets decorated with flowers and greenery, the tourist seems to be returning to the past, and time stops. Every traveler must visit this area to see how traditional Greek houses looked like before.
You should also visit some small tavern to experience all the hospitality of Greece.
Famous acropolis
After a walk through the old district, you need not be too lazy and climb the famous Acropolis. Most likely, you heard about this rock, which has a flat top, and on it is a classical Greek temple. In the past, there were many different sculptures and sanctuaries on the mountain, but only temples such as the Erechtheion, the Parthenon and the temple of Niki Apteros have survived to this day.
In addition, from the hill offers an amazing view of the entire capital, which seems to be scattered below. Inspecting the temples, you can get acquainted with the ancient culture of ancient Greece, as well as learn a lot of interesting things about its history.
Archaeological Museum of Athens
The country itself and its capital are called a large open-air museum, which is not surprising. However, in order to better get acquainted with the rich architectural and cultural heritage, you should visit the archaeological museum of the city. It has more than 20,000 exhibits that will tell you about different eras, from the early civilizations to antiquity.
There are a large number of figurines, bronze items and jewelry, household utensils, as well as ancient ceramics. Therefore, everyone needs to visit it in order to learn more about the ancient Greek culture and history of the city of Athens.
Dionysus Theater
Many people know about the existence of Greek amphitheaters, and the oldest of them is located in Athens. A photo of him is presented below. The famous Dionysus Theater was erected in the 5th century BC. e. The room is designed for 17,000 spectators who visited it to look at the productions of Aristophanes, Sophocles and Aeschylus.
Nowadays, tourists like to visit the theater in order to test its fantastic acoustics. For example, if one person says something while standing in the orchestra, then the other, who is on the top row, will definitely hear it. If you do not believe, then check for yourself.
Tower of the Winds
Despite its romantic name, the purpose of the tower of the winds was more than mundane - it is a weather station. This valuable architectural monument was built in the 1st century BC. e., so it must be visited.
There is also a hydraulic clock that indicates the time in the sun. Particular attention should be paid to the friezes of the tower, which depict the gods of the wind, and below them is the marking of the dial, since the tower once served as a giant clock.
Parthenon Temple
First of all, it is the greatest monument of ancient Greek culture, which amazes with its size, as well as its magnificent view.
Created from marble, it was dedicated to Athena. According to legend, Zeus wanted to get rid of his daughter, who was still in the womb, so he decided to swallow them whole. However, she did not give him rest. Because of this, the supreme god wanted to remove it from his head. When this happened, Athena was in armor, and in her hand held a sword and shield. The father decided to build a huge temple for his warlike daughter, the construction of which lasted for fifteen years.
Port of piraeus
Is it possible to imagine Greece without the sea? The history of the state is closely connected with this element. If you visited Greece, then be sure to go to the Athenian port of Piraeus. Book yourself a walking tour of the port to find out interesting stories and stories about its past and present life.
It also offers a magnificent view of the capital. Fresh sea air, the blue of the sky, the sound of the sea and a beautiful view of the scattered white houses will not leave anyone indifferent.
National garden
The National Garden is one of the quietest places in the city where you can relax and calm down. It will not be difficult to get to it, because the garden is located near Syntagma Square, almost immediately behind the Parliament.
There is a pond that gives its coolness, as well as shady alleys that hide tourists from the heat. The garden is proud of its ancient ruins, the remains of ancient mosaics and columns that have survived to this day. In addition, you can visit the Botanical Museum, as well as a mini zoo, so there will definitely be something to do here.
Museum of Folk Art
Greece is not just a place where many ancient temples and statues have gathered. To learn this state on the other hand, you need to visit the museum, which displays exhibits of Greek folk art.
Only here you can appreciate the diversity of Greek folk crafts. Here are various metal, wood, and clay products that are decorated with inlay and carvings. There is a whole room that is completely filled with traditional carnival costumes. Among other things, there is a weapon and an exhibition of silver products. There are also presented dolls of the national theater called Karagasis, which depict scenes taken from the daily life of the city and its inhabitants.
Museum of Cycladic Art
Lovers of constantly learning something new must visit the Cycladic art museum. With it, you can learn about the culture and life of those civilizations that lived on the coast of Cyprus and the Aegean Sea.
Most attention is drawn to the collection of figures that depict everyday scenes from the life of ancient people. For example, household activities, hunting, family skits. Also here is the rarest Cypriot antiques - gold, bronze, silver and glass products of amazing work.
Temple of Zeus
The largest temple of Athens, whose photo can be seen below, is the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The width of the temple was 40 m, and the length was 96 m. The construction of the building began in the VI century BC. e., and completed work in the II century BC. e. The temple had columns whose height reached 104.17 m. Today you can see only 15 columns, the 16th fell to the ground due to a storm that occurred in 1852. She still lies in the same place.
The construction was first excavated in 1889-1896. Subsequently, Greek and German archaeologists worked on the excavations. Nowadays, its ruins are considered one of the most important historical sights of the city.
Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon
Locals and tourists love visiting Cape Sounion. Walking in this romantic place is recommended in the evening.
People come here to watch the beautiful sunset, which becomes even more unique due to the nearby ruins of the temple of Poseidon. By the way, one of the columns of the temple has an autograph that belongs to Lord Byron.
Lycavitos Hill
For lovers of climbing the peaks, the city has the highest hill called Likavitos. Its height reaches 277 m above sea level.
The Acropolis and Lycavitos can be compared with two huge pillars that rise above the capital of Greece. This place offers amazing views of the city and the Acropolis, which is beautifully illuminated by spotlights in the evening. Also on the top of the hill is the white stone chapel of St. George, which was built in the 19th century.
Amazing agora
If you were on the Acropolis, then, going down from it from the north side, you must visit the Agora. This attraction takes third place in the list of those interested in the history of the city.
In the past, there was a market square, so Agora in our time is an important center of public life of the ancient city. Here you should look at the Temple of Hephaestus, which is very well preserved, as well as the Attal Gallery.
Acropolis Museum
Attention should be paid to the history of the construction of this structure. One of the reasons it was decided to build the museum was because Greece had long wanted to regain artifacts. The latter were stored in the British Museum, and got there due to the fact that they were taken out of the country by Lord Elgin.
The British did not want to return the artifacts, explaining this by the fact that in Greece there is no special building that can provide decent conditions for the preservation of valuable things. Therefore, the Greeks built a museum that corresponded to all modern technologies, but failed to return the lost.
However, despite this, the museum has something to see, so it is worth a visit. In addition, the building has a very interesting design, which seems to soar in the air. This was done so as not to harm the ancient artifacts that are under it.
Temple of Hephaestus
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Athens, the photo of which is below. It is located on the northwest side of the Agora. For centuries, the temple was similar to the Orthodox Church. Over time, it was recognized as a national historical monument, inside which a museum was equipped. In the last century, the building was returned to its original form.
This temple managed to survive best of all. It is built of durable marble. Previously, historians as well as archaeologists were convinced that the temple was erected in honor of Theseus. This is due to the fact that on the walls of the building there are his images. However, later, statues of Athena and Hephaestus were discovered inside the attraction, so experts abandoned previous statements.
Near the temple there is a souvenir shop in which tourists can buy an interesting and unusual thing that reminds them of the grandeur of this place.
Constitution Square
Syntagma is the tourist center of Athens. Also called Constitution Square. This place will not pass by any tourist, because it is located in the very center of the city.
The square has its own attraction - a monument to the unknown soldier, which was erected in 1932, when the country celebrated Independence Day.
The favorite entertainment of tourists is to watch the change of the guard of the National Guard guards who are dressed in military uniforms. The guard changes every hour, so be sure to look at this colorful performance.
Stay recommendations
In order to see all the attractions that were planned, as well as spend the rest calmly and without problems, you need to familiarize yourself with some recommendations for a stay in Greece:
- Check the opening hours of city exhibitions and museums in advance. After all, the schedule of their work can change, and on some holidays they can be closed at all.
- When crossing the street, be very careful, as local drivers are not very familiar with the rules of the road.
- Here is the most expensive taxi in all of Greece. If the driver can not tell you the exact amount of the trip, while asking for more than 30 euros, then it is better to refuse it.
- This is a very calm city, where you can walk even at a later time and not be afraid that something bad will happen. There are many round-the-clock establishments that you must visit to enjoy the nightly Athens.
- Any attendants must be rewarded for the services that were provided to you. In cafeterias and restaurants, tips are approximately 10-15%.
- In this city, smokers can be completely calm, as smoking is allowed everywhere. Finding prohibition signs is almost impossible.
- In city pharmacies, you will not only be advised, but they will also measure your blood pressure for free.
- Most of the beaches here are state-owned. But pay attention to the fact that if there are umbrellas and deck chairs on the coastal zone, then most likely you need to pay for equipment rental.
- Women should abandon lonely walks in remote areas of Athens. It is recommended to do this, accompanied by any.
Now you know what Athens is. An amazing city whose history is admirable. Ancient sights reminiscent of its majesty and significance, you will certainly enjoy. If you like to travel, then be sure to visit here to feel the spirit of antiquity and admire the best creations of great people.