The history of Athens is rich and varied. Athens had been
occupied from 3,000 BC onward, but not until the height of Mycenean rule (1,400
BC to 1,200 BC), did the city begin to create the buildings commonly associated
with it. Originally situated on the rocky mount known as the Acropolis, the
city began to spread southward. As Athens expanded physically, so too did it
expand from a political standpoint. As the Dorians and the Greek Dark Ages
began to slowly relinquish their hold upon Greece, a change in political
thought came to Athens. The aristocratic families which had lost most of their
power due to the monarchy of the Dark Ages, elected a statesman who would
represent the city for one year. This practice carried on to create a
democratic tradition within Greece, the remnant of which still serves as a
model within the present.
By 600 BC, the growth of Greece had lent itself to beautiful works of sculpture and architecture throughout the Acropolis. As the expansion of Greece continued, it was only halted by the Persians in 480 BC. The Persians ransacked the city, burning temples and homes. It wasn't until 449 BC that peace with Persia was attained and the destroyed temples and buildings were reconstructed. From 400 BC onward, the city of Athens began to take on the facade of classical Golden Age Greece. Within this time in Athens, the Agora, which is the area below the citadel, became the center of civic life. The Agora was the marketplace and meeting place where the Athenians could speak of civic and public affairs. On both sides of the Agora were important centers of Athenian life: the Areopagus and the Pnyx. The Areopagus was where the high court sat and the Pnyx was where the Athenian Assembly convened.
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| Click on a section of the image to see a description of the city monument. |
The Acropolis rose above the city of Athens, where the city's true artistic and cultural achievements can be found. Amid the largest and most apparent achievement of Athens, is the marble Parthenon situated at the highest point of the Acropolis. The Parthenon, in total, held several temples to the goddess Athena, including temples to Artemis, Brauronia (Brauronia is a bear goddess who was worshipped by young women) and Zeus. The area surrounding the Acropolis was host to many events including, theater, ritual acts ,and sacrifices, as well as many other traditions of the Athenians. For more information click on the image map to the right.
| The Arios Pagos | The Arios Pagos is located NW of Acropolis. It is a rock with an artificially leveled top, lower than the Acropolis Rock. The ancient Parliament went to session here. |
| The Ancient Market | The site of the Ancient Market is located on the bottom of the Holy Rock, Hifaistos' temple (Thisio) and Attalus' tunnel. The Persians destroyed all of the buildings in the Ancient Market 2500 years ago, however the buildings were rebuilt later. |
| Adrianus Library | Located near the Roman Market, the Adrianus Library was a gift to Athens from Emperor Adrianos, built in the second century. The archaeological site is fenced, but all of the ruins are visible from the outside. |
| Ceramicus | Ceramicus is the ancient graveyard of Athens. It includes part of the city's ancient wall. |
| Filopappou Hill | Filopappou Hill was built opposite from the Acropolis in the second century. It houses the monument of the Roman benefactor of Athens, Gaius Julius Antiochus Filopappou. |
| Lysikratous Monument , or Diogenis' Lantern | Lysikratous Monument, also known as Diogenis' Lantern, is a monument built about 2400 years ago. It is in Plaka and is an open archaeological site. |
| Pnyka | Located opposite of Arios Pagos right next to Filopappou Hill, Pnyka Hill was where the Municipality's sessions were held. |
| Adrianos' Gate | Adrianos' Gate was built by Emperor Adrianus about 2200 years ago. Behind it remain the ruins of Olympian Zeus' Temple, the largest Temple of Ancient Greece. |
| Roman Market | Located east from Aiolou Street, construction on the Roman Market was started by Julius Caesar but it was finished by Emperors Adrianus and Traianus. |
The Myth of Athens begins with Athena (also known as the Roman god Minerva) and Poseidon (god of the seas). Athena and Poseidon both wanted to be the protectors of Athens. To keep the two from arguing, Kekrops (also called an earth child who was a demigod), was pronounced as an arbitrator. The two gods, Athena and Poseidon, had to create something valuable for Athens. Poseidon created a well (though some sources say he gave the city a horse) and Athena created the olive tree. In the end it was the olive tree which won out as a symbol of peace and prosperity, and Athens was thenceforth named after the Goddess Athena, and Kekrops became the first king of Athens. Athens was also blessed with the vine tree, given by the god Dionyssos (god of wine). Wine, being integral to trade and life in Athens, was not native to mainland Greece, but migrated originally from Crete. Wine was used in many religious ceremonies, and was fundamental to many of the wine cults which formed through out Greece.
The myths and traditions about the ancient and continuous history of Attica (the cultural area surrounding Athens), and Athens have been, in part, substantiated by the findings of prehistoric artifacts retrieved from the Acropolis and around other parts of Attica. The old myths of Athens and Attica, are thought to reflect the wars which the leaders of Acropolis led in order to achieve total ruling of the territories around Athens. The total merging of the territories in Attica with Athens happened in roughly 1400 BC. This merging is reflected in the myths of Theseus and the portrayal of the population of Athens in the myths.
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