Always be in the mood. Beautiful Athens - myths, sights and complicated history

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

The history of these glorious places has 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 the valley with settlements on three sides.

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

The apogee of Athens' glory was reached in the 5th century BC. Actually from 500 to 300 BC. The whole 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 heyday of the Roman Empire.

In the third century AD, Athens loses its former grandeur and becomes a provincial town. Then come the long centuries of constant wars and conquests by foreign troops, leading to the looting, destruction and even burning of Athens. A new round in the history of the city 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 restore 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 acquired its former appearance and in 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held here at the new stadium.

The 20th century is significant for the beginning of archaeological excavations that help restore the heritage of ancient Greece. In the 1920s, the Greeks sign an agreement with the Turks on the exchange of population, as a result of which a wave of immigrants rolls into Athens. To this are added the treaties that were successful for the Greeks on the Balkan Wars, after the conclusion of which the territory and population of the country, incl. Athens, doubled.

During World War II, the city fell under German occupation, but after the war, it again continues 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 solved, 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, brand shops, entertainment centers and tourist hotels here. But above it all still rise ancient acropolis, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Parthenon and the remains of ancient theaters.

Geographic location

Athens is located in 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 almost 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 the plan of the city of Athens is useful to any traveler. The city is very large, so it is quite difficult to move around without a street map.

Population

Everyone knows what a glorious capital Greece has and what the main attractions of Athens are called. But, few people know that the population of the city of Athens is 1/3 of the total population of the country! Just think about it, a third of the population of the state lives in one city.

The resident population in Athens in 2017 is more than 3.5 million people, while the total number of inhabitants of Greece for 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. Approximately their number can be estimated at another 500 thousand people. This is the capacious capital of the Greeks.

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, in fact smoothly turning into spring. Winter frosts are rare in the region.

The area where Athens is located is characterized by low humidity, so the summer heat is tolerated comfortably. Summer temperatures reach +30°С and higher. Rainy days are most common in autumn, while precipitation is very rare in summer.

How to get to Athens

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

The air harbor of the city is called Eleftherios Venizelos. Arriving at Athens airport, it is very easy to go straight to the city center. A metro line runs 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 moor here, as well as an endless stream of local ferries of the most diverse capacity. Please note that in winter period, the schedule of ships is often violated by the vagaries of the weather.

You can drive into Athens by car or bus along numerous highways and routes. Distance, travel time and comfort of the route, of course, depends on the starting point of departure.

The best time of the year to visit Athens is difficult to determine. Spring and summer are the hottest temperatures and the peak season, but the cost of rest is more expensive. In autumn and winter, the demand for recreation is lower, but the weather conditions are worse. However, if you search well, you can find a hot offer and go on vacation in Greece and Athens at a discount. To do this, view the calendar of low prices for air tickets and online services for the selection of 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 tourism practice, i.e. walks around the city. Next, we will talk about the most interesting places Athens and the unique sights of Greece that have been preserved in the capital city. We will also touch upon the nuances and subtleties of Athens tourism and, of course, we will 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 coasts. The following local beaches are the most popular with tourists:

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

best time for beach holiday in the Greek capital July-August. You can get to the coast by public transport. In most cases, it is more convenient to take tram number 3, because lines run along the coastal zone. Bus number 122 runs to Vouliagmeni.

Districts of Athens

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

Plaka

The most historically significant area of ​​the city, located at the foot of the Acropolis. Particularly atmospheric in Anafiotika, the western part of Plaka. Here, narrow cobbled streets and low white houses, traditional for Greek architecture, give the impression of a 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 time of Byzantine and Turkish domination.

Monastiraki

Another oldest district of the city, closely adjacent to the Acropolis.

Monastiraki is actually a large commercial and historical center of the city. Famous sights are located here: Tower of the Winds, Fethiye Mosque, Hadrian's Library. And what a beautiful panorama opens up to the Acropolis from the local Keramiks (ancient cemetery). There is no other such view of Ancient Hellas in the whole city.

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

Thissio

Quiet and peaceful area, actually a park area. Here you can relax from the noisy city bustle and enjoy the coolness of local parks. In the same time, geographical position area allows easy access to the center of Athens, located a few hundred meters to the east.

Thissio also has many places for cultural recreation. In this area you can:

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

And do not forget about local shops, shops, cafes and taverns.

Syntagma

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

Near Syntagma is the National Historical Museum, which is the former parliament building. And on the square itself there is already a modern parliament, which is a kind of attraction of these places. Tourists can see 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.

Security in Athens

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

General rules

The capital of Greece is crowded, and this circumstance sometimes plays into the hands of scammers and robbers. In order not to get into an unpleasant situation, try to always keep an eye on your belongings and follow these small tips:

1. Hold your bags in front, not behind or to the side;
2. Don't put valuables in your back pockets;
3. Do not walk around the city with backpacks (it is easier to steal from the back);
4. Do not wedge into crowds of protesters and demonstrators so that you are not detained by the police.
5. On public transport, be collected and keep your bag in plain sight.

Which areas are best avoided?

Like any major metropolis, Athens is fraught with dangerous quarters and their unreliable inhabitants. There are many beggars, homeless people and thieves on the far streets of the city. In particular, the district of Omonia Square, especially Sofeklos Street, is notorious for Athens. At night, the port streets of Piraeus, the vicinity of the Larissa railway station and Carassaki Square are dangerous for tourists.

Around Athens

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

And if you are not afraid of a distance of 70 km, then you should go to Cape Sounion and see 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 move around the city

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

A single ticket is valid for a bus, trolleybus, tram, metro and train within the city limits. For 1.4 euros, you can make a 90-minute trip with transfers to any type of transport. Also on sale are daily tickets for 4, 5 €, and immediately for 5 days a ticket costs 9 €.

Trams

The total length of Athens tram lines is 27 km. The long line runs along the coast, and in the center of it 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 that the Athenian trams are not afraid of citywide traffic jams.

Buses

By bus you can travel not only in the Greek capital, but also in its suburbs. The bus fleet has 1800 cars, and the number of routes reaches 300.

Of the important remarks, we note that in Greece all stops are made only on demand. 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 the bus on the street, then you should wave your hand to make the driver stop.

Underground

Another mode of transport with which you do not run the risk of getting into traffic jams. The metro unites all major transport hubs: port, railway station and airport. In total, 3 branches operate in the city:

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

Note that there are no turnstiles in the Greek metro. But the ticket must be validated and saved for the entire trip, because There are controllers on the routes.

Taxi

Official taxis are yellow checkered cars with a Ταξί sign. Cars can be different brands, but all of them are equipped with meters, according to which the payment for the trip is made. The main rates are:

• In the city 0.7€ per km;
• Suburb 1, 2€ per km;
• Landing + 1.2 € to the amount of the trip;
• Phone call + 2 € to the amount of the trip.

At night, rates are doubled. When traveling, be careful, because. often there are drivers who want to "earn extra money" on tourists, increasing the bill for the road.

Rent a Car

There are many rental offices in the city, but we would recommend renting a car only for out-of-town trips. There is heavy traffic in Athens, frequent traffic jams and a problem with parking, so a rented car can only become an extra burden. Outside the city, a private car, on the contrary, has an advantage over the inconsistent 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;
• The ship "Averof";
• Museum of Cycladic Art.

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

tourist streets

Churches and temples

Religious buildings in the city are also innumerable. Ancient culture has survived to this day: the Acropolis and its numerous temples. Also in Athens there are many Orthodox churches: Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Daphne Monastery, Church of St. George. There are also Muslim monuments in the city. A striking example is the Tsisdaraki Mosque.

Tours

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 will be an excellent option.

Recreation and entertainment

In Athens, there is something to do in addition to cultural recreation.

Shopping, shops, souvenirs

There are dozens of 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. The original gift will be handmade ceramics or textiles. Prices in Athens are high, but do not forget that the Greeks are always willing to bargain.

Cuisine and restaurants

Metropolitan 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 need best cuisine for fine dining, we recommend visiting Petrino, Lalloudes, Garbi and To Kofenio.

Clubs and nightlife

At night in the capital, life does not stop bubbling. For the regulars of the dance floors and incendiary parties, the best nightclubs of the city work:

• Villa Mercedes;
• Baronda;
• Venue;

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

Young tourists in Athens will be no less interesting than adults. Especially if the family settles in a hotel with a playroom, animators and a children's menu.

In the city, children will be entertained by visiting the water park, planetarium, zoo and various attractions. Also, the children do not like to explore the ruins of ancient structures. But here the child must be carefully monitored so that the child does not harm either the ruins or himself.

Popular hotels in Athens

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

Holidays in Athens are varied and exciting, not a single tourist will be bored here. It is impossible to keep silent about the shortcomings of the metropolis: crowdedness, 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!

In contact with

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. The life of 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, on the deck of which the ancient Parthenon is located.

Video: Athens

Basic moments

Athens became 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 inhabitants here almost doubled in one day as a result of the population exchange with Turkey.

Due to the rapid post-war economic growth and the real boom that followed the entry of Greece into the European Union in 1981, the suburbs captured 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 official city limits.

The new dynamic city has undergone a major transformation since the 2004 Olympics. Years of grandiose works modernized and beautified the city. A new airport has been launched, new metro lines have been launched, museums have been updated.

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

Sights of Athens

It is on a small plateau on which the Acropolis is located (4 ha), towering 100 meters above the plain of Attica and the modern city, Athens owes its fate. The city was born here, grew up, met its historical glory. No matter how damaged and incomplete the Acropolis may be, to this day it holds up quite confidently and fully retains the status of one of the greatest wonders of the world, once assigned 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, such as the Parthenon or the temple of Nike Apteros, has not yet been completed, these works take a lot of time and effort.

Areopagus and Bele Gate

The entrance to the Acropolis is located on the western side, at the Bele Gate, a Roman building of 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 where judges used to gather in antiquity.

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 they were supposed to complete, the Propylaea ("in front of entrance") were conceived by Pericles and his architect Mnesicles as the grandest secular building ever built in Greece. Works that began in 437 BC and interrupted in 431 by the Peloponnesian War, were never resumed. The central aisle, the widest, once topped with a railing, was intended for chariots, and steps led to four other entrances intended for mere mortals. The north wing is decorated with images dedicated to Athena by the great artists of the past.

This small temple (421 BC), designed by the architect Kallikrates, built on an earth embankment to the southwest (on right) from the Propylaea. It was in this place, according to legend, that Aegeus was waiting for his son Theseus, who had gone to fight the Minotaur. Not seeing a white sail on the horizon - a sign of victory - he rushed into the abyss, considering Theseus dead. This place offers a magnificent view of Athens and the sea. This building, which seems tiny compared to the Parthenon, was destroyed in 1687 by the Turks, who used its stones to strengthen their own defensive fortifications. The first time it was restored shortly after the country's independence, but recently it was 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 Iktin and Kallikrat, to build this temple on the site of former sanctuaries destroyed by the Persian conquerors. The work, begun in 447 BC, continued for fifteen years. Using Pentelian 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 columns with flutes ten meters high, made up of a dozen drums. For the first time in history, each of the building's four façades was decorated with gables 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 a shield - only a few fragments of the pedestal remain from this composition. It is said 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 solid gold, with a face, arms and legs 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 an Athenian cathedral in the Byzantine era, then a mosque under the rule of the Turks, 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 the 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 in the ancient city and took out a huge number of the most 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 erected by the ancient Greeks on the Acropolis is located on the other side of the plateau, near the northern wall, at 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 unite three sanctuaries under one roof (in honor of Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus) by building a temple on the site of significant fluctuations ground height.

This temple, although smaller than the Parthenon, must have been equal to it in splendor. The north portico is without doubt a work of genius, as evidenced by its dark blue marble frieze, coffered ceiling and elegant Ionic columns.

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

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

Located in the western part of the Acropolis (161-174), the 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 near the odeon, although very ancient, is closely connected with the main episodes of the life of the Greek city. This gigantic building with 17,000 seats, built in the 5th-4th centuries BC, saw the tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides and the comedies of Aristophanes. In fact, this is the cradle of Western theatrical art. Since the 4th century, the city assembly has been meeting here.

New Acropolis Museum

At the foot of the hill (South side) houses 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 had become too cramped, opened its doors in June 2009. This state-of-the-art marble, glass and concrete building was built on stilts as valuable archaeological finds were unearthed 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, its glass floor allows you to watch the ongoing excavations. The second floor houses the permanent collections, which include artifacts found in 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

Acropolis metro station

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

Old lower town

On both sides of the Acropolis, the ancient lower city stretched: Greek in the north, around the market square and the ancient Kerameikos district, Roman in the east on the way to Olympeion (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 bypassing the Acropolis along the large street named after. Dionysius the Areopagite.

Agora

Initially, this term meant "assembly", then it began to be called the place where people did business. The heart of the old city, 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 have been 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 city's main gate, the Dipylon, with the Acropolis. Wagon races were held here, in which, presumably, even cavalry recruits took part.

To date, the agora has hardly survived, with the exception of Teseon (Temple of Hephaestus). This Doric temple in the west of the Acropolis is the best preserved in Greece. He is the owner of a beautiful ensemble of Pentelian marble columns and Parian marble friezes. On each of its sides, the 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, the patron saint of metallurgists, and Athena Organa (Worker), the protector of potters and artisans, it dates from the second half of the 5th century BC. Probably, this temple owes its safety to its transformation into a church. In the 19th century, it even became a Protestant church, where the remains of English volunteers and other European philhellenes rested. (Greek-Filov) who died during the War of Independence.

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, in the direction of the Acropolis, there is a restored small church of the Holy Apostles (around 1000) in Byzantine style. Inside, the remains of frescoes of the 17th century and a marble iconostasis have been preserved.

The portico of Attala, on the east side of the market square, 120 meters long and 20 meters wide, was renovated in the 1950s and is now the Agora Museum. Here you can see some amazing artifacts. 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 invasion of the barbarians in 267 administrative center cities took refuge behind the new walls of decaying Athens. Here you can still see, as well as on the nearby streets, many important buildings.

Built in the XI 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 review ... On the other side of the square, on the embankment, rises the octagonal Tower of the Winds (Aerids) in white Pentelian marble. It was erected in the 1st century BC. Macedonian astronomer Andronik 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 one can discern the hands of an ancient sundial. On the north side is a small inactive mosque of Fethiye (Conqueror), one of the last witnesses to the occupation of the market place by religious buildings in the Middle Ages and then under Turkish rule.

Two blocks from the Roman Agora, near Monastiraki Square, you will find the ruins of Hadrian's Library. Erected during the era of the reign of the emperor-builder in the same year as Olympeion (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 was also the largest cemetery of that time, which operated until the 6th century and is partially preserved. The most ancient graves belong to the Mycenaean era, but the most beautiful, decorated with steles and tombstones, belonged to wealthy Athenians and war heroes of the times of tyranny. They are located in the west of the cemetery, in a corner planted with cypresses and olive trees. Such displays of vanity were forbidden after the establishment of democracy.

The museum exhibits the most beautiful specimens: sphinxes, kouros, 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 hill of Pnyx, the meeting place of the assembly of the citizens of Athens. (ekklesia). 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 delivered speeches here to their compatriots. Later, the assembly moved to the square in front of the theater of Dionysus, which was larger in size. 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 the 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 is a well-preserved tombstone of Philopappos. (or Philoppapu) 12 meters high. It dates from the 2nd century and depicts this "benefactor of Athens" on a wagon.

To mark the boundary between the old Greek city and his own Athens, the Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the erection of a gate facing Olympeion. On one side was written "Athens, the ancient city of Theseus", and on the other - "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 propylaea at the top. The monument, 18 meters high, was erected thanks to the gifts of the inhabitants of Athens.

The temple of Olympian Zeus, 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 started the 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 in triple rows of 8 on the sides. In the sanctuary, a giant statue of Zeus made of gold and ivory and a statue of the emperor Hadrian have been preserved - in the Roman era they were revered equally.

This stadium, nestled in an amphitheater with marble steps near Mount Ardettos, 500 meters east of the Olympeion, was rebuilt in 1896 for the first modern Olympic Games in place of and on the site of an ancient one built by Lycurgus in 330 BC. In the 2nd century, Hadrian introduced games to the arena, bringing thousands of predators for bestiaries. It was here that the marathon of the 2004 Olympic Games finished.

This is the oldest and most interesting residential area of ​​the city. The labyrinth of its streets and stairs, dating back at least three millennia, extends to the northeastern slope of the Acropolis. It is mostly pedestrian. The upper part of the quarter is made for long walks and admiring the beautiful houses of the 19th century, the walls and courtyards of which are densely covered with burgenvilleas 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 both quiet and very lively, it all depends on the place and time.

Churches

Although the towers of the Metropolis, the Cathedral of Plaka (XIX century), located in the northern part of the quarter, inevitably attracts glances, lower your eyes to its base and admire the delightful Small Metropolis. This small 12th century Byzantine church dedicated to St. Eleutrius and Our Lady Gorgoepikoos (“Help soon!”) was built from antique materials. Outside, its walls are decorated with magnificent geometric bas-reliefs. All the priests of Greece gather in the nearby street, Agios Philotheis, to shop at specialty shops. On the high ground 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 examining the embroideries on the ground floor and the amusing carnival costumes on the mezzanine, in the room of Theophilos on the second floor you will find wall paintings, a tribute to this self-taught artist who decorated the houses and shops of his native land. Honoring traditions, he wore a fustanella all his life (traditional men's skirt) and died in poverty and oblivion. Only after his death did he receive recognition. On the third floor, decorations, ornaments and weapons are exhibited; on the fourth - folk costumes of various provinces of the country.

Neoclassical on the outside, ultra-modern on the inside, this contemporary art museum is the only one of its kind in Greece. Here, the permanent collection, the main theme of which is ordinary people, and temporary exhibitions are exhibited alternately. 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 commemorate this event, the patron Lysicrates ordered the erection of this monument in the form of a rotunda. The Athenians called it "the lantern of Diogenes". Initially, inside was a bronze prize received from the city authorities. In the 17th century

Anafiotika

In the highest part of Plaka, on the slopes of the Acropolis, the inhabitants of the Kykpadian island of Anafi have recreated their world in miniature. Anafiotika is a block within a block, a real peaceful haven, where there is no access to cars. It is a few dozen whitewashed houses, buried in flowers, with many narrow alleys and secluded passages. Arbors made of vines, climbing rose hips, pots of flowers - life here turns to you with a pleasant side. 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 a very bizarre and varied collection. (which, 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 get acquainted with musical instruments and traditional Greek melodies. You will learn how bouzouki, lutes, tamburas, guides and other rare examples sound. Concerts are organized in the garden during the summer.

Syntagma Square

To the northeast, Plaka borders 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 that house offices of banks, airlines and international companies.

Here is the hotel "Great Britain", the pearl of Athens of the XIX 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 subway (1992-1994) under the esplanade began the most extensive excavation ever carried out in Athens. Archaeologists have discovered a Peisistratus aqueduct, a very important road, bronze foundries from the 5th century BC. (the period when this place was outside the city walls), cemeteries of the end of the classical era - the beginning of the Roman era, baths and the 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 form of a cross cup.

Parliament (Buli Palace)

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

In front of the building there is a monument to the Unknown Soldier, who is guarded by Evzones (foot soldiers). They wear traditional Greek costumes: fustanella with 400 folds, symbolizing the number of years spent under the Turkish yoke, woolen knee socks and red shoes with pompons.

The changing of the guard takes place 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 peaceful 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 cafe 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, the headquarters of the Olympic Committee was located there. Later, Zappeion 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 quarters and museums

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

A little to the east stretches the very lively Psiri quarter, where wholesalers and blacksmiths have settled - 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 the people of Athens. From here you can walk to Syntagma Square along two large neoclassical-framed streets - Stadiou and Panepistimiou.

Neighborhood Monastiraki

Directly north of the Roman Agora is Monastiraki Square, 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 Museum of Folk Art.

The nearby pedestrian streets are crammed with souvenir shops, antique shops, and junk dealers who gather every Sunday at Abyssinia Square to host a giant flea market.

Markets

The large Athinas Boulevard, which links Monastiraki with Omonia Square in the north, passes by the market pavilions. The “belly of Athens”, which is in constant activity from dawn to mid-afternoon, is divided into two parts: fish merchants in the center and meat merchants around.

In front of the building there are sellers of dried fruits, and on the nearby streets - merchants 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, which has a fabulous collection of artifacts from the great civilizations of ancient Greece. Do not hesitate to spend half a day here contemplating the statues, frescoes, vases, cameos, jewelry, coins and other treasures.

Perhaps the most valuable exhibit of the museum is the posthumous golden mask of Agamemnon, found in 1876 in Mycenae by amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. (hall 4, in the center of the courtyard). In the same room you will see another important object from the Mycenaean era, the Warrior vase, as well as funerary stelae, weapons, rhytons, jewelry and thousands of luxurious items made of amber, gold and even an ostrich egg shell! Cycladic collection (hall 6) also a must see.

Looking around the first floor and moving clockwise, you will pass chronologically from the archaic period, represented by magnificent kouros and kors, to the Roman. Along the way, you will see great masterpieces of classical art, including a bronze statue of Poseidon fished out of the sea near the island of Euboea. (hall 15), as well as statues of the rider Artemision on a war horse (hall 21). Tombstones are presented in large numbers, some of them quite impressive. For example, huge lekythos - vases two meters high. It is also worth mentioning the friezes that adorned the temple of Afeia 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 products of the geometric era to delightful Attic vases. Greek Pompeii - the city of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini, buried in 1450 BC - is dedicated to a separate section (hall 48).

Panepistimiou

The quarter, located between Omonia and Syntagma squares, gives a clear idea of ​​the grandiose ambitions of the post-independence period. Definitely neoclassical, the trio of the University, the Academy and the National Library stretch along Panepistimiou Street. (or Eleftherios Venizelou) and clearly deserves the attention of visitors to the city.

National History Museum

The museum is located in the building of the former parliament, at 13 Stadiou Street, not far from Syntagma Square, and is dedicated to the history of the country since the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans (1453). The period of the War of Independence 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 housed in his former Athenian residence. The exhibition consists of collections collected throughout his life. The museum continues to grow 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 devoted to icons. Second floor (XVI-XIX centuries) covers the period of Turkish occupation, mainly samples of church and secular folk art are exhibited here. Two magnificent reception halls from the 1750s have been restored, along with ceilings and carved wood panels.

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

Museum of Cycladic Art

Here are mainly the collections of Nicolas Goulandris dedicated to ancient art. The most prominent of them is, without a doubt, on the ground floor. Here you can get acquainted with the legendary Cycladic art; figurines, marble household items and objects of religious worship. Don't miss the dove platter, carved from a single piece, the extraordinary figurines of a flutist and a bread peddler, and a 1.40-meter high statue, one of two depicting the great patron goddess.

The third floor is devoted to Greek art from the Bronze Age to the 2nd century BC, on the fourth floor there is a collection of Cypriot artifacts, and on the fifth - the finest ceramics and "Corinthian" bronze shields.

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

The expositions 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 a fine selection of exhibits and reconstructions. The exhibition also highlights the special role of Athens, the center of pagan thought for at least two centuries, until Christianity reigned.

Worth seeing section of Coptic art (especially the shoes of the 5th-8th centuries!), the treasure of Mytilene, found in 1951, amazing 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 the Greek art of the last four centuries. It chronologically presents various movements, from early post-Byzantine painting to the works of contemporary artists. In particular, you will see three mystical paintings by El Greco, a native of Crete, who, along with Velasquez and Goya, was the most famous artist of Spain in the 16th century.

At the northern end of Vassilissis Sofias Boulevard, the rolling 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 cafe in Filikis Eterias Square.

Mount Lycabettus (Lycabettus)

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 Lycabettus, famous for its beautiful panorama, in a few minutes. Sports enthusiasts will prefer the stairs starting at the end of Lukianou Street, a hundred meters to the west (15 minutes rise). The path winds its way through cypresses and agaves. Above, 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 conquer the most famous sites of Attica, the peninsula that separates the Aegean from the Saronic Gulf.

Everyone goes to the beach for the weekend. Located right next to the city walls, Glyfada turned everyone in the belt during the 2004 Olympics: it was here that most of the nautical competitions took place. A chic suburb with numerous boutiques, as well as a seaside resort famous for its marinas and golf courses, Glyfada comes alive in the summer, when discos and clubs open on Possidonos Avenue. The beaches here and in the direction of Voula are mostly private, dotted with umbrellas and packed to the brim at the end of the week. If you are looking for a quieter place, head south to Vouliagmeni, a luxurious and expensive port surrounded by greenery. The coast becomes more democratic only after Varkiza, not far from Cape Sounion.

Sentinel of Athens, holding guard on the top of the rock "Cape of Columns" at the extreme point of Mediterranean Attica, the temple of Poseidon is one of the peaks 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 sailors once entered the bay on their way to Piraeus and 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 in the era of Pericles (444 BC), preserved 16 of the 34 Doric columns. Once upon a time, trireme races were held here, organized by the Athenians in honor of the goddess Athena, to whom the second temple, erected 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-covered slopes of Mount Hymetos, a few kilometers east of Athens, the 11th-century monastery is no longer quiet at the end of the week when picnickers land nearby. In the central courtyard you will find a church whose walls are covered with frescoes. (XVII-XVIII centuries), the dome rests on four ancient 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, in 490 BC witnessed the victory of the 10,000th Athenian army over the Persians, which outnumbered it three times. To deliver the good news, legend has it, a runner from Marathon ran the 40 km separating it from Athens so quickly that he died of exhaustion upon arrival. 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

Located 10 km west of Athens, on the edge of a major road, the Byzantine monastery of Daphni is famous for its 11th-century mosaics depicting the apostles and the mighty Christos Pantokrator watching 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, the Saronic Gulf - the lock of the Corinth Canal - opens the door to Athens. Among the many islands, Aegina is the most interesting and the easiest to reach (1 h 15 min by ferry or 35 min by speedboat).

Most of the ships are docked on the west coast, in the most beautiful port of Aegina. Few people know that it was the first capital of liberated Greece. Fishermen fix their gear here in front of tourists relaxing on cafe terraces and riding in gigs. A narrow pedestrian street leading from the embankment, as if created for walking and shopping. At the northern exit, in Kolon, at the site of archaeological excavations, there are a few ruins of the temple of Apollo (5th century BC). The archaeological museum exhibits artifacts found nearby: donations, pottery, sculptures and steles.

The rest of the island is divided between the pistachio plantations, which are the pride of Aegina, several groves with olive trees and beautiful pine forests, stretching in the east to the very seaside resort 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 banks. The splendor of this Doric monument, perfectly preserved, allows one to guess the former power of the island, which was once a rival of Athens. Erected in 500 BC, it was dedicated to the local goddess Aphaia, the daughter of Zeus, who took refuge in these places, fleeing 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 the era of Antiquity, the town grew up during the high Middle Ages, an era when residents, fleeing from pirate raids, took refuge on the tops of the mountains. Until the 19th century, when the inhabitants left it, Paliochora consisted of 365 churches and chapels, of which 28 survived, and you can still see the remains of beautiful frescoes in them. A little lower is the monastery of Agios Nektarios, the largest on the island.

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When is the best time to go to Athens

Spring and late autumn - the best time to visit Athens. Summers can be very hot and dry. Winters are sometimes rainy with few snowy days. But at the same time, winter can be the perfect time to visit the city, when it is fresh, but not crowded.

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

How to get there

What are the ways to get to Athens from the airport? First of all, a direct metro line was laid from the airport to the city ( of blue color). The final station in the city center is the Monastiraki metro. You can get to the railway 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 follow four routes from the airport.

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Athens is the capital of Greece, its The largest city attracting many tourists from all over the world. Acquaintance with Greece to start with Athens has already become a tradition. And there are many reasons for this.

This is the oldest city in the country, which has experienced and seen a lot: luxury and need, prosperity and decline, majesty and insignificance. Despite such changes, the entire civilized world symbolizes modern Athens with freedom and democracy.

The name of the capital of Greece comes from the name of the goddess of wisdom, Athena. The legend says that the Phoenician Kekrops founded a city on a huge rock in Attica, and the goddess of wisdom Athena and the god of the sea Poseidon fought for the right to patronize him. In order to resolve this dispute, the gods from Olympus invited Athena and Poseidon to make gifts to the city. Poseidon, striking a rock with a trident, gave him water, and Athena, with a blow of a spear on a rock, grew an olive tree. The gods considered the gift of Athena more valuable, so the city was given to the goddess of wisdom.

Athens combines history and modernity, European appearance and ancient harmony. Artists and businessmen, young and old, married and single people fall in love with this romantic city. Athens strikes people on the spot with its stunning rhythm of life. And in numerous theaters, restaurants, shops and hotels, you can always take a break from such a rhythm.

Climate and weather

The climate in Athens, like throughout Greece, is Mediterranean. But there is also a difference - low humidity air. You will never feel the sweltering heat in Athens, although the average temperature during the holiday season reaches +30 °C. The average temperature in winter is +5 °С, almost without snow, but with frequent rains.

Nature

In addition to the magnificent climate, Athens can boast of its rich nature. The Greek capital is located along the coast of the Aegean Sea, and is surrounded by mountains on three sides on land. Throughout the area of ​​​​Athens there are 12 hills, the most significant of them are the Acropolis and Loukavittos. The most important natural attractions of Athens are olive groves, a variety of flowers, numerous vineyards and, of course, luxurious beaches. Despite such a beautiful appearance, the city still has environmental problems.

Attractions

Traveling around Athens, one cannot fail to visit the symbol of the Greek capital - the Acropolis with its main temple, the Parthenon, the temple of the virgin Athena. The old city is very popular among tourists, in particular Place de la Concorde, where the Parliament building, the luxurious royal park and the ruins of the temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch are located. Thanks to the period of prosperity of the Byzantine Empire, Athens had a huge number of churches: the Church of the Holy Apostles, the Church of St. Theodore, Kapnikareya, Panagia Gorgoepikoos, the Church of St. George. Keramikos is the most important monument of ancient Athens, where the ashes of famous Athenians are kept. Also of interest to tourists are the Tower of Fans, the Lantern of Diogenes and, of course, the Arch of Hadrian. All this is just a small list of what is worth visiting in Athens.

Nutrition

In the Greek capital you will find a huge number of taverns, cafes and restaurants. Their highest concentration falls on the areas of Plaka and Psiri - the city center. Here you can find absolutely everything: oriental exotic and European sophistication, small eateries and luxurious restaurants of traditional Greek cuisine.

If you are a little hungry during city tours, you simply don’t have time for long meetings in a restaurant, but you prefer tasty and healthy food, then welcome to Gregory's and Everest, the main Greek fast food chains.

In the evening, after long walks around the city, after swimming and sunbathing, you really want to sit in a good institution with a cozy atmosphere, delicious cuisine and a generous menu ... A glass of excellent wine, traditional Greek dishes, excellent music - all this can be combined in one institution, the Filistron restaurant, which located near the entrance to the city park. BUT main feature institution is a chic view of the Acropolis! Here you will be offered huge selection dishes of national cuisine. The institution is so popular that sometimes a table is booked here for a month! Therefore, we recommend that you visit it on a normal weekday.

There is one feature in alcoholic Greek drinks. Often they contain anise, which can cause allergic reactions or just discomfort.

Accommodation

The most demanding travelers will be happy to meet the NJV Athens Plaza (Grecotel), located in the city center, from the window of which a magnificent view of the Acropolis opens. The building of the Hotel Grande Bretagne has been standing on the same square for 130 years, which adds a touch of antiquity to the establishment, but the service here is modern and first-class. Not far from the Temple of Zeus is the luxurious five-star Royal Olympic Hotel. The leader among the four-star hotels is the Titania hotel, located in the city center between Syntagma and Omonia squares.

Entertainment and recreation

Your vacation in Athens will be filled with an unforgettable contrast. A tour to Athens is quite simple to choose depending on the interests of the tourist. For families with children, playgrounds and water slides on the beach with a shallow sea are equipped.

lovers active rest will also be pleasantly surprised by the wide range of entertainment: diving and water jumps, volleyball and tennis fields.

The most popular among tourists are the largest amusement park in Greece, Allou Fun Park, and one of the largest in the world, the Athens Planetarium. The park is divided into two large areas: for adults and children. The park is open from 10:00 to 24:00. In the planetarium, you can watch 3D films about the distant future, space travel and even the ancient Greek past! Planetarium opening hours: 9:30-16:30. The entrance ticket for children is 5-6 €, for adults - 4-8 €.

Purchases

Among lovers of Greek shopping, the most popular places in Athens are the Monastiraki area and the Ermous pedestrian street near Syntagma Square. It is here that you can visit the largest number of various shops.

Here is a short list of the most famous stores:

• Hellenic Folk Art Gallery - folk art gallery,
• Stavros Melissinos is a luxury designer shoe store,
• Eleftheroudakis is a unique six-story bookstore located between Omonia and Syntagma squares,
• Mall - the largest shopping center in Athens, located at the Neratziotissa metro station.

And you don’t have to worry about small gifts to friends, because souvenir sellers are always located exactly where there are tourists!

Transport

The fare system in Athens is differentiated depending on your route, its length and type of public transport. The cost of one trip in the metro and bus costs 1 €, tram - --- 0.6 €. A ticket for 24 hours costs 3 €, and for a week - 10 €.

An interesting fact remains that the movement to or from the airport automatically increases the cost of your trip several times. So a single ticket on the metro will already cost 6 €, on the bus - 3.2 €, and the taxi driver automatically adds 3.2 € to the established fare.

The main features of transport in Athens include the following: city buses stop exclusively at the request of passengers, the daily rate for one kilometer taxi trip (0.34 €) doubles at night, you will pay a small surcharge for calling a taxi by phone and heavy luggage .

Connection

Internet services in Greece, and especially in Athens, are excellent. It is enough just to find an Internet cafe or an access point here. For an hour of access to the World Wide Web in an Internet cafe, you will pay from 1.5 to 4 €. But do not rush to quickly pay for the use of this valuable resource! After all, many hotels provide their guests with free access, so do not forget to ask. And Syntagma Square already has a free Wi-Fi hotspot.

Those who wish to stay "always in touch" can purchase a Greek SIM card. SIM cards are sold in the office of a telecom operator, in shopping centers and supermarkets. The cost of a service package can vary from 3 to 20 € depending on the tariff plan. Recharge cards are also easy to buy at any store. Q-Telecom is considered the most profitable operator due to its interesting tariffs, high coverage and various promotions and special offers.

You can also easily use a regular telephone connection. There are telephone booths throughout the city, most of which work with prepaid cards (you can buy them at newsstands). Such a card contains a certain limit of negotiations with any part of the world, its cost is from 4 to 20 €. And in bars and hotels you can find coin operated machines. Their main feature is that they can receive an incoming call.

Security

Athens can definitely be called a safe city. But still, at some points it’s worth keeping an eye out. Firstly, the political life of Greece has recently become especially tense due to the crisis. Strikes, rallies and demonstrations often take place in the city. Therefore, be especially careful and careful in the capital, so as not to get into an unpleasant situation in a foreign city and country. Secondly, in Athens there are not entirely favorable areas, which tourists are not recommended to visit after sunset. These areas include Omonia Square, Larissis railway station and its surroundings, Sophocles, Liossion, Metaxourgio and Filis streets. On some of these streets there are brothels allowed in Greece. In addition, these areas have earned their criminal reputation because of the drug trade.

Business climate

Athens is the center of business activity in Greece. And there are two reasons for this: geographical and historical. World practice confirms that in most countries the capital is the leading link in business. And history reminds us that from ancient times the Athenians were merchants, which remains true to this day. Athenians prefer small family businesses to huge corporations. The business "heart of Athens" is Bottom part Omonia Square. The Stock Exchange is located on Sophocles Street.

The property

Recently, information about the crisis in Greece has been on TV screens and newspapers. Due to this, many believe that investing in Greek real estate is dangerous and short-sighted. It is impossible not to agree that there is a wise grain in such reasoning. But contrary to all the laws of the economy, the demand for real estate in Athens is growing rapidly! Because of this liquidity, many business people choose to invest in Greek real estate. This sector of the Greek economy gives a 100% guarantee of winnings if the purchased housing is rented out. Even buying real estate exclusively for yourself will be profitable here.

Obviously, in Athens, real estate is much more diverse than on the islands. Here you can buy houses, villas and apartments in residential complexes. The estimated cost of housing in the city is from 1000 to 1500 € per square meter, and the luxury suburb sets the price up to 10,000 € for the same square meter.

In Athens, you will have to pay 350-500 € per month for renting a three-room apartment. And the resort area of ​​the capital will add another 70-80% to this cost during the season.

When relaxing alone, be vigilant when accepting an invitation to drink from an outside company. It is possible that you will be taken to a bar or pub, where you will have to pay the bill, no matter what. In such pubs, this is a common rule, and even the police will not be able to help you with anything. Today, in Athens, almost all such "cunning" establishments are closed, except for two - Pub Love and New York Pub, located in Plaka.

Among the capitals of the ancient civilizations of the world there is no city that, like Athens, existed for 15 centuries. And it still exists as the capital of Greece, as the cultural center of the country, as a city in which the past is inextricably linked with the present.

The influence of Athens on European and world culture cannot be overestimated. Literature, religion, philosophy, poetry, theater, architecture, sculpture, first of the Roman Empire, and then of Europe, are the direct heirs of Greek culture. Such global concepts of humanity as democracy and the constitution are also of Greek origin. As well as modern sport, which "originates" from the Greek Olympic Games.

Of course, without Greek culture and its capital, Athens, the modern world would be different.

antique period

In the history of Athens, the myths of ancient Greece are intertwined with reality. No wonder.
The city, named after the beloved daughter of Zeus, already in the era of Mycenaean culture, in the 13th century BC, was a large and famous in the ancient world, the cultural and political center of Greece.

Theseus is considered the founder of Athens. It is he who is credited with the liberation of the Athenians from the tribute that the city paid to Minos, the ruler of Crete. Theseus united the disparate cities - policies around Athens into a single city - the state. But Theseus did not have worthy successors, and after his death, power in Athens passed to several wealthy aristocratic families.

In 594 BC. a significant event took place not only in the history of Athens, but also in the history of all mankind. Athens received a Constitution, a Supreme Court and a People's Assembly.
Three branches of government have survived to our time!

A hundred years later, wars with the Persians began. Athens supported the uprising of numerous Greek cities in Asia Minor. The Persian army landed in small forces in the city of Marathon, not far from Athens.

Running a marathon distance is equal to the distance between the city of Marathon and Athens. The messenger ran through it to warn the city of impending danger, and died, announcing the Persian invasion.

To this day, in memory of this event, a marathon race is held, this discipline is included in the program of the Olympic Games. Thanks to the feat of the Greek who warned the Athenians, and the leadership of the commander Miltiades, the Athenians won this battle.

Ten years later, the great Persian king Xerxes won the Battle of Thermopylae with a huge army. The story of 300 Spartans is one of the episodes of this legendary battle. The brave Spartans held back the army of Xerxes while the Greeks gathered forces. But it did not help.

The Persian army entered Athens, all the beautiful temples of the city were destroyed.

But after the victory in the naval battle, in which the Greeks, under the leadership of the Athenian strategist Themistocles, destroyed the Persian fleet, the war ended in a complete victory for the Greeks.

Themistocles was not only an outstanding commander, but also an excellent politician. On his initiative, Athens was surrounded by defensive walls, the port of Piraeus was built (to this day the most important port in Greece), the city became a strong maritime power.

Golden age

The magnificent monuments of Athens, especially the Parthenon, belong to the period of the highest heyday of the city - the state, the so-called Golden Age. This period refers to the 5th century BC, the reign of Pericles.

The greatest monument of architecture, the Parthenon, was built under Pericles, which made his name legendary.
The golden age of Athens is the time of the great philosophers Anaxagoras and Socrates, historians whose works are still quoted today, after so many centuries, Herodotus and Thucydides.

The poets - playwrights Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus are not only not forgotten, but performances based on their plays are staged even today. Time has no power over the achievements of the great Greeks. Their names are popular and known in the world, along with the names of contemporaries.

Athens after the Golden Age

Unfortunately, the Golden Age of Athens was not long, it was interrupted by two wars with Sparta from 431 to 404 BC. These wars were for supremacy over the Greek states.

With the defeat in these wars, Athens lost its political influence, but remained the cultural capital of the ancient world. The names of Praxiteles, Demosthenes, Plato and Xenophon are associated precisely with this period.

In the 3rd century BC. A new disaster befell Athens. The invasion of the army, which became powerful Macedonia, led by Philip II, and then his son Alexander the Great, led to the decline of Athens.

In 146 BC. Greece was conquered by the Romans. Consul Sulla in 86 BC exported from Athens a huge number of great works of art. But almost 5 centuries after that in Athens there were philosophical schools, which allowed after all the predatory invasions to be the center of the ancient world.

Only after the schools were closed in 529 AD. Athens fell into final decline. For a long time the great city became a small provincial town of the Byzantine Empire.

Under the Turkish yoke

The Ottoman Empire replaced the Byzantine. The Muslim Turks had little interest in the values ​​of ancient culture. In 1458 they captured Athens. Many ancient buildings, architectural monuments and entire districts were destroyed from the 17th to the 19th century.

The wars between the Ottoman Empire and the Venetian Republic influenced the fate of the city in the most negative way. In the 17th century, during the storming of Athens, the Parthenon was destroyed by the Venetians.

By the end of the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire lost its power, all the countries that were part of it by that time began to fight for independence. Greece was no exception.

In 1833, Athens again became the capital of a country resurgent after the yoke. It was hard to imagine that the ruined and small village was once a great city-state. The time of the monarchy began in the country, which was soon replaced by a constitutional monarchy.

Scientists fought over the mystery of this temple for a long time and after years research, the secret was found in the special arrangement of the columns. The main decoration of the temple - the statue of Athena - in the 5th century BC. taken to Constantinople, and there she died in a fire.

The history of the Acropolis is the legends and myths of Ancient Greece. Here Aegeus, in a fit of despair, in anticipation of the son of Theseus, threw himself into the sea. Where Poseidon argued with Athena, it was built, with the sanctuary of Pandora, magnificent sculptures of Caryatids, which are the columns of the temple.

The favorite food of the Greeks is various meat, fish and seafood.

During the day, tourists usually spend time on excursions. In the evening you can relax in one of the countless restaurants, cafes, bars and taverns.

In the Vari area, where several popular taverns are located, you can taste the lamb on a spit. Superb and cocrezzi are served in all taverns in the area. No wonder these taverns are called "glutton rows." The average bill for four will be about 100 euros.

For lovers of antiquity - the restaurant "Archeon Gevsis" - offers antique cuisine recreated according to the sources.
The interior of the restaurant, the dining room create the illusion of the ancient world. Tourists dress in tunics, wash their feet with rose water, and at the end a laurel wreath is placed on their heads.
Restaurant address: Kodratou, Athens, Greece.
Telephone: +30 210 5239661.

Seafood and seafood dishes can be tasted in taverns near Piraeus. It's not cheap, but very tasty. The average bill, depending on the chosen delicacies, is from 30 euros per person.

The meat restaurant Strofi is located on the roof of an old mansion nearby. Dinner overlooking the Parthenon, delicious meat, local wine - what else can a tired tourist dream of on a hot evening?

Restaurant address: Rovertou Galli 25 P.C. 11742 Athens.
Telephone: +210 92141130.

Athens is a tourist city. Therefore, on routes and in restaurants frequented by tourists, prices are high. But if you deviate a little from the tourist path and find it, then the prices are several times lower.

So the budget prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner are: 162 - 243 rubles, 162 - 324 rubles, 325 - 500 rubles, respectively. A liter of local wine 205 - 285 rubles, 0.33 beer 41 - 164 rubles. Cheap, tasty and satisfying.

Cultural life in Athens

Athens, like antiquity, today is not only the capital of the country, but also the cultural center of Greece.
Here it is National Opera of Greece, concert halls, theaters.

The opera received state status only in 1939. Today it is the largest theater in the country, whose repertoire includes operas, ballets, operettas, symphonic opera concerts, classical music concerts, and children's performances.

Theater address: Greece, Athens, 59 Akadimias st.
Telephone: 30 210 3643725

Lycabettus Theater- unusual. It is located on top of a hill above the city. The theater is not a repertory theater, it does not have its own troupe, but is rented out for concerts of world rock and pop music stars.

Palace of Music built in Athens in 1961.
The appearance of such a modern hall became possible thanks to the participation of many organizations, the Greek government, the National Bank, and individuals.
The Palace has several concert halls, music and multimedia libraries.
During the construction of the Palace of Music, advanced technologies were used. Concerts, which are regularly held here, are a notable event in the cultural life of the capital.

The address: Vassilissis Sofias and Kokkali Avenue, Athens.
Telephone:(+30)21072-82-333.
Web site: www.megaron.gr.

Athens nightlife

The nightlife of Athens is vibrant, varied and interesting. Bars, discos, clubs offer programs for every taste: national Greek music, jazz, rock, soul - whatever your heart desires.

One of the most popular and beloved clubs in Athens "Villa Mercedes", which is located in the city center, offers dance music of various styles.

The club has a good dance floor and a well-equipped stage, where famous DJs Armin Van Buuren, ERIC PRYDZ and David Guetta perform. Themed parties are often held here.

Many tourists spend the evening under the Acropolis. The performance called "Sound and Light" is a beautiful and unforgettable sight. You can see it from the cafe on Plaka. In the taverns of the old city, you can listen to a folklore program.

The club - Berlin Club - is an ordinary cafe during the day. In the evening, this place turns into a wonderful rock and roll club.
The dance floor is always crowded. Often famous DJs work in the club.
There is a bar with a wide range of drinks and snacks.
The club is open until 4 am.
The address: Agias Paraskevis 72, Bournazi Square.
Prices: cocktails in nightclubs in Athens cost from 7 to 12 euros, a bottle of wine from 50-80 to 100 euros, a bottle of whiskey costs from 80 to 200 euros. In most clubs, the entrance ticket entitles you to a free drink.

There are several dozen nightclubs in Athens and the immediate vicinity of the capital, not counting taverns with folklore dance programs.
It is impossible to describe them all. But the perfect end to the evening is a visit to a nightclub where you can dance, listen to music and drink a good cocktail.

Where to stay

There are more than 200 hotels in Athens, designed for all tastes and financial possibilities of tourists. The choice is not easy, but we will try to help you make it.
We offer you to get acquainted with some popular hotels of the Greek capital, located in its very center.

Crowne Plaza Athens City Center Hotel

This five-star hotel is for lovers of luxury.
Located almost 3 kilometers from the city center quiet place. Metro station nearby.

The range of services is typical for a high-star hotel: a fitness room, a sauna, a rooftop pool.
Accommodation price depends on the type of room, and starts from 6715 rubles.
Reservations can be made directly through the hotel's website.

Address: Michalacopoulou Street 50, Athens, 11528 Greece.

Novus City Hotel

Located just a kilometer from the center, not far from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, the Parthenon, the Acropolis. Has a 4 star rating.

Prices for one night in a double room start from 4751 rubles and increase depending on the category of the room up to 7206 rubles. Breakfast is included in the price.
The hotel has a swimming pool, spa services, restaurant, free parking.

The address: 23, Karolou.Str., Athens

Athens Center Square Hotel

A small three-star hotel 400 meters from the city center near the central market is perfect for shoppers.
The market starts right at the door.

The advantage is the magnificent view of the Acropolis, which opens from some rooms - they, of course, are more expensive.
Minimum price for the number 5924 rubles.

Hotel address: 15 Aristogitonos Street & corner of Athinas 7 Kapnikareas, 10552.

Economy Hotel

The 2-star hotel for budget travelers is located just half a kilometer from the most popular sights of the capital - the Parthenon, the Kotzia Museum, the Agora.

Price for a double room per night is 3363 rubles, breakfast is included in the price.

Hotel address: 5, Kleisthenous str, Athens

Alma Hotel

This 2-star hotel is located 900 meters from the very center of Athens and it is probably the most economical of all hotel businesses operating in the heart of the Greek capital.

Double room price is 2810 rubles. Tourists in their reviews note the cleanliness of the rooms and the compliance of the price / quality ratio.
Most tourists go to Athens not at all to spend time in rooms, but for an overnight stay the hotel is quite comfortable.

Address: 5 Dorou Str Gr, 10432, Athens.

Where to go in an emergency

Unfortunately, travel is not always uneventful. You can lose documents, get sick, get into a situation that requires the intervention of the police.
In emergency cases, it is necessary to have telephones to contact the relevant services.

In case of loss of documents, you need to contact the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Greece:
Athens, 152 32 Chalandri, st. Tzawella 5, tel.: 210 671-19-45, tel.: 210 671-19-06, 210 672-88-49, 210 671-19-35, 210 674-97-08.

For health problems:

You must contact the phone numbers that are indicated in the health insurance policy, which is mandatory for obtaining a Schengen visa.
Only doctors called by these phones provide medical care free of charge! Any other medical services for Russian tourists are paid.

Police phone 100, fire department 199, roadside assistance 104. However, do not forget that not everyone in Greece knows English.

Athens is one of the most interesting tourist cities in the world. The richest history, architectural monuments, museums, restaurants and taverns, beaches and nightclubs - everything in the capital is conducive to a varied, interesting vacation.

Ancient Athens

The archaeological study of Athens began in the 30s of the 19th century, however, excavations became systematic only with the formation in Athens in the 70s-80s of the French, German and English archaeological schools. Literary sources and archaeological material that have survived to this day help to recreate the history of the Athenian policy. The main literary source on the history of Athens during the formation of the state is Aristotle's "Athenian polity" (4th century BC).

The formation of the Athenian state

Theseus fighting the Minotaur

According to the Athenian tradition, the polis arose as a result of the so-called Sinoikism - the unification of the isolated tribal communities of Attica around the Athenian Acropolis (where in the Mycenaean era there was a fortified settlement and a "palace" in the 16th - 13th centuries BC). Ancient Greek tradition attributes the conduct of Sinoikism to the semi-mythical king Theseus, the son of Aegeus (according to tradition, around the 13th century BC; in reality, the process of Sinoikism proceeded over several centuries from the beginning of the 1st millennium BC). Theseus is credited with introducing ancient order the Athenian community, the division of its population into eupatrides, geomors and demiurges. Gradually, large land plots were concentrated in the hands of the tribal aristocracy (that is, eupatrides), and most of the free population (small landowners) became dependent on it; debt bondage grew. Insolvent debtors were responsible to creditors not only with their property, but also with the personal freedom and freedom of their family members. Debt bondage served as one of the sources of slavery, which was already gaining significant development. Along with slaves and free people in Athens, there was an intermediate layer - the so-called meteki - personally free, but deprived of political and some economic rights. The old division of the demos into phyla, phratries and genera was also preserved. Athens was ruled by nine archons, who were annually elected from among the aristocrats, and the Areopagus - a council of elders, which was replenished by archons who had already served their term of office.

First reforms. Age of Solon

With the growth of property inequality, socio-economic contradictions deepened and the struggle between the tribal aristocracy and the demos intensified, seeking equal rights, redistribution of land, cancellation of debts and abolition of debt bondage. In the middle of the 7th century BC. e aristocrat Cylon made an unsuccessful attempt to seize power. Around 621 BC That is, under Archon Draco, legislative customs were first recorded, which somewhat limited the arbitrariness of aristocratic judges. In 594-593 BC. That is, under the pressure of the demos, Solon carried out reforms: they significantly changed the whole system of the socio-political life of Athens, as a result of which debt bondage was destroyed, the sale of citizens for debts into slavery is now prohibited, land debts (which weighed on small farmers) were annulled, freedom of will, which contributed to the development of private property; a new state body was established - the Council of Four Hundred, a number of measures were taken that encouraged craft and trade. Solon is also credited with the division of all citizens by property qualification into 4 categories, belonging to which now began to determine their rights and obligations to the state. Solon also reformed the Attic calendar by introducing the octaetherides system. However, the socio-political struggle did not stop. The reforms were dissatisfied with both the peasants, who had not achieved the redistribution of land, and the tribal nobility, who had lost their former privileged position.

Athenian democracy

The Age of Peisistratus and Cleisthenes

Around 560 BC e. in Athens, a political upheaval took place: the tyranny of Peisistratus was established, who pursued a policy in the interests of the peasantry and the trade and craft layers of the demos against the clan nobility. Under him, Athens achieved great foreign policy successes: they extended their influence to a number of islands in the Aegean Sea, strengthened themselves on both banks of the Hellespont. Athens grew, adorned with new buildings and statues. A water pipe has been built in the city. During the reign of Peisistratus and his sons, the best poets were invited to the court. After the death of Peisistratus in 527 BC. e. power passed to his sons Hippias and Hipparchus, but, as in all of Greece, the tyranny in Athens was short-lived: Hipparchus was killed by conspirators, and Hippias was overthrown in 510 BC. e. An attempt by the tribal nobility to seize power caused in 508 BC. e. a revolt of the demos led by Cleisthenes. The victory was secured by reforms: the former 4 tribal phyla were replaced by 10 new ones built on a territorial basis. New governing bodies have been created: the Council of Five Hundred and the College of 10 Strategists. As a result of Cleisthenes' reforms, the last remnants of the tribal system were destroyed, and the process of the formation of the state as an apparatus of domination of the slave-owning class was completed.

Greco-Persian Wars

In the Greco-Persian wars (500-449 BC), Athens played a leading role. They were one of the few Greek policies that supported the uprising of the Ionian cities, won a brilliant victory over the Persians at Marathon (490 BC) (see the Battle of Marathon), and were among the first to enter into a defensive alliance of Greek states. The Battle of Salamis (480 BC), which became a turning point in the course of the war, took place precisely on the initiative of the Athenians and, above all, thanks to them and the strategist Themistocles, ended with the complete defeat of the Persian fleet. No less significant was the role of Athens in 479 BC. e. at the Battle of Plataea and at Cape Mycale. In subsequent years, Athens, who led the Delian Union (soon, in fact, turned into the Athenian maritime power - the Athenian arche), completely took the leadership of military operations into their own hands.

At this time, Athens entered a period of greatest upsurge. Piraeus (the harbor of Athens) became a crossing point trade routes many countries of the ancient world. On the basis of developed crafts, trade and navigation, in an atmosphere of acute struggle between the oligarchic (headed by Aristides, then Cimon) and democratic (headed by Themistocles, later Ephialtes and Pericles) groups in Athens, the most progressive for that time state system of the ancient slave-owning democracy - the Athenian democracy , which reached its peak during the reign of Pericles (strategist in 444/443 - 429 BC). The supreme power passed to the People's Assembly, all other bodies were subordinate to them, legal proceedings were carried out in a jury - helie - elected from citizens by lot. For the performance of public duties after the election, remuneration from the treasury was established, which opened up a real opportunity for political activity to low-income citizens as well. A theorikon was also established - the issuance of money to citizens to visit the theater. The increased costs of all this were covered by a tax - foros, which the allied cities that were part of the arche had to pay regularly.

Athenian hegemony

In the second half of the 5th century BC. e is the period of the greatest cultural flourishing of Athens - the so-called golden age of Pericles. Outstanding scientists, artists and poets lived and worked in Athens, in particular the historian Herodotus, the philosopher Anaxagoras, the sculptor Phidias, the poets Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, the satirist Aristophanes. The political and judicial eloquence of the Athenians was imitated by the orators of all Greek cities. The language of Athenian writers - the Attic dialect - became widespread, became the literary language of all Hellenes. Huge construction was carried out in Athens: according to the Hippodamus system, Piraeus was rebuilt and connected by the so-called long walls with the city fortifications into a single defensive fortification, the construction of the main structures that made up the ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis, a masterpiece of world architecture, was completed. The Parthenon Temple (built in 447-438 BC by the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates), the statues of Phidias and other works of Athenian visual art of the 5th century served as models for many generations of artists of subsequent centuries.

Peloponnesian War. Under Macedonian rule

Map of Athens at its peak, around 430 BC. e., on the eve of the Peloponnesian War

However, the "golden age" did not last long. The well-being of Athenian citizens was based not only on the exploitation of slaves, but also on the exploitation of the population of the allied cities, which gave rise to constant conflicts within the Athenian arche. These conflicts were exacerbated by the unbridled desire of Athens to expand the scope of its political and economic dominance, which led to clashes with other groups of Greek policies, in which the oligarchic order had an advantage - the Peloponnesian Unionled by Sparta. Ultimately, the contradictions between these groups led to the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), which was disastrous for the whole of Greece - the largest war in the history of Ancient Greece. Having suffered a defeat in it, Athens has already forever lost its leading position in Greece. In the first half of the 4th century BC. e. Athens from time to time managed to improve its position and even achieve success. So, during the Corinthian War of 395-387 BC. e Athens, largely on Persian subsidies, managed to revive its fleet and restore the fortifications around the city (pitted under the terms of the surrender of 404 BC). In 378-377 BC. e revived, though in a narrowed form, the Athenian Maritime Union, which did not last long. After the defeat at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. e. as part of the anti-Macedonian coalition led by the Athenian politician Demosthenes, Athens, like the rest Greek policies, had to submit to the hegemony of Macedonia.

Hellenistic era

During the Hellenistic period, when Greece became the arena of struggle between the major Hellenistic states, the position of Athens repeatedly changed. There were brief periods when they managed to achieve relative independence, in other cases Macedonian garrisons were introduced into Athens. In 146 BC e., having shared the fate of all Greece, Athens fell under the rule of Rome; being in the position of an ally city (civitas foederata), they enjoyed only fictitious freedom. In 88 BC e. Athens joined the anti-Roman movement raised by the Pontic king Mithridates VI Eupator. In 86 BC e. The army of Cornelius Sulla took the city by storm and sacked it. Out of respect for the mighty past of Athens, Sulla kept them a fictitious freedom. In 27 BC e. after the formation of the Roman province of Achaia, Athens became part of it. From the 3rd century AD e, when the Balkan Greece began to be subjected to barbarian invasions, Athens fell into complete decline.

Planning and architecture

hills

Areopagus Hill, Modern Athens

• Areopagus, that is, the hill of Ares - west of the Acropolis, gave its name to the highest judicial and government council of Ancient Athens, which held its meetings on the hillside.
• Nympheion, that is, the hill of nymphs, is southwest of the Areopagus.
• Pnyx is a semicircular hill southwest of the Areopagus. It originally hosted ecclesia meetings, which were later moved to the theater of Dionysus.
• Museion, that is, the Hill of Musaeus or Muses, now known as the Hill of Philopappou - south of Pnyx and the Areopagus.
• Hill Acropolis.

Acropolis

Initially, the city occupied only the upper area of ​​the steep hill of the Acropolis, accessible only from the west, which served simultaneously as a fortress, political and religious center, the core of the entire city. According to legend, the Pelasgians leveled the top of the hill, surrounded it with walls and built an outer fortification on the western side with 9 gates located one after another. Inside the castle lived the ancient kings of Attica with their wives. Here stood an ancient temple dedicated to Pallas Athena, along with whom Poseidon and Erechtheus were also revered (hence the temple dedicated to him was called the Erechtheion).

The golden age of Pericles was also a golden age for the Acropolis of Athens. First of all, Pericles instructed the architect Iktin on the site of the old Hekatompedon (Temple of the Chaste Athena) destroyed by the Persians to build a new, more magnificent Temple of Athena the Virgin - Parthenon. Its magnificence was enhanced by the numerous statues with which, under the direction of Phidias, the temple was decorated, both outside and inside. Immediately after the completion of the construction of the Parthenon, which served as the treasury of the gods and for the celebration of the Panathenaic, in 438 BC. e. Pericles commissioned the architect Mnesicles to build a magnificent new gate at the entrance to the acropolis - the Propylaea (437-432 BC). A staircase made of marble slabs, meandering, led along the western slope of the hill to the portico, which consisted of 6 Doric columns, the gaps between which decreased symmetrically on both sides.

Agora

Part of the population, subject to the owners of the fortress (acropolis), eventually settled at the foot of the hill, mainly on its southern and southeastern side. It was here that the oldest sanctuaries of the city were located, in particular those dedicated to Olympian Zeus, Apollo, Dionysus. Then there were settlements on the slopes that stretch west of the Acropolis. The lower city expanded even more when, as a result of the unification of the various parts into which Attica was divided in ancient times, into one political whole (tradition attributes this to Theseus), Athens became the capital of a united state. Gradually, over the following centuries, the city was also populated from the northern side of the Acropolis. Craftsmen mainly settled here, namely members of the respected and numerous class of potters in Athens, therefore, a significant quarter of the city to the east of the Acropolis was called Keramik (that is, the quarter of potters).

Finally, in the era of Peisistratus and his sons, an altar to 12 gods was built in the southern part of the new Agora (market), which was located at the northwestern foot of the Acropolis. Moreover, from the Agora, the distances of all areas connected by roads with the city were measured. Peisistratus also began construction in the lower city of the colossal Temple of Olympian Zeus to the east of the Acropolis, and on the highest point of the Acropolis hill, the Temple of Athena the Chaste (Hekatompedon).

Gates

Among the main entrance gates of Athens were:

• in the west: Dipylon gate leading from the center of the Keramik district to the Academy. The gates were considered sacred, since the sacred Elefsinsky Way began from them. Knight's Gate were located between the Hill of the Nymphs and the Pnyx. Piraeus gate- between Pnyx and Mouseyon, led to the road between the long walls, which in turn led to Piraeus. The Miletus gates are so named because they led to the Deme Miletus within Athens (not to be confused with the policy of Miletus).
• in the south: the gates of the dead were near the hill Museion. The road to Faliron began from the Itonia Gate on the banks of the Ilissos River.
• in the east: the gate of Diohara led to the Lyceum. The Diomean Gate got its name because it led to the deme Diomei, as well as the hill of Kinosargu.
• in the north: the Acarni gate led to the Deme Akarney.

Districts

Temple of Olympian Zeus, today

• Inner Keramik, or "Potters' Quarter".
• Dem Milet in the western part of the city, south of Inner Keramik.
• Dem Hippias Kolonos - was considered the most aristocratic among all the demes of the policy of Ancient Athens.
• Dem Scambonide in the northern part of the city and east of Inner Keramik.
• Kollitos - the southern district of the city, lay south of the Acropolis.
• Koele is a district in the southwest of the city.
• Limna - the area to the east of the Miletus deme and the Kollitos area, occupied the territory between the Acropolis and the Ilissos river.
• Diomea - an area in the eastern part of the city, next to the Diomei gates and Kinosarg.
• Agra is a region south of Diomei.

Suburb

• Outer Keramik, located northwest of the city, was considered the best suburb of Athens. Athenians who fell in the war were buried here, and at the far end of the district there was an Academy at a distance of 6 stadia from the city.
• Kinosarg was located east of the city, opposite the Ilissos River, bordered on the Diomean Gate and the gymnasium dedicated to Hercules, where the cynic Antisthenes taught.
• Likey - located east of the city. In this area there was a gymnasium dedicated to Apollo Lyceum, famous for the fact that Aristotle taught his students there.

Streets

Among the most important streets of Athens were:

• Piraeus street, which led from the Piraeus gate to the Athenian agora.
• The Panathenaic Way led from the Dipylon Gate through the Agora to the Acropolis of Athens. The Panathenaic way was a solemn procession during the Panathenaic holidays.
• Trinog Street was located east of the Acropolis.

Public buildings

• Temples. Of these, the most important was the Olympeion, or Temple of Olympian Zeus, located southeast of the Acropolis, near the Ilissos River and the Kalliroe Fountain. Other temples of Athens include: Temple of Hephaestus - located to the west of the agora; Temple of Ares - in the north of the agora; The Metroon, or Temple of the Mother of the Gods, is on the western side of the agora. In addition to these main ones, there were many smaller temples in all parts of the city.
• Buleftherion was erected in the western part of the agora.
• Tholos - a rounded building near Buleftherion, built in 470 BC. e Kimon, who was elected to the Council of Five Hundred. In Tholos, the members of the council ate and also performed sacrifices.

Panathinaikos Stadium, modern view

• Stoas - open colonnades, used by the Athenians as a place of rest at the height of the day, there were several of them in Athens.
• Theatres. The very first theater in Athens was the theater of Dionysus on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis, for a long time it remained the largest theater in the Athenian state. In addition, there was an Odeon to participate in vocal competitions and perform instrumental music.
• The Panathinaikos Stadium was located on the banks of the Ilissos River in the Agra region and hosted the sporting events of the Panathenaic Celebrations. The Panathinaikos Stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Sources

• Buzeskul V.P., Aristotle's Athenian polity as a source for history political system Athens until the end of the 5th century, Har., 1995;
• Zhebeleva S. A., From the history of Athens (229-31 BC), St. Petersburg. 1898;
• Kolobova K. M., The ancient city of Athens and its monuments, L., 1961;
• Zelyin K.K., The struggle of political factions in Attica in the VI century. BC e., M., 1964;
• Dovatur A., Politics and polities of Aristotle, M.-L., 1965;
• Ferguson W.S., Hellenistic Athens, L., 1911;
• Day J., An economic history of Athens under Roman domination, N. Y., 1942.

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