Athens is the capital of which country. Athens in ancient Greece. Highlights of the history of Athens

The age of Athens is two and a half thousand years. The glorious past of the city is still clearly visible: the ancient Acropolis, towering above the city, is literally visible from everywhere. Today Athens is a modern metropolis, home to about four million people. This great city has changed in the twenty-first century. This happened partly thanks to the 2004 Olympic Games. Now Athens is more than a repository of antiquities. The city has changed a lot and, contrary to the perception of it as a city with a polluted environment and unbearable traffic, it leaves an amazing impression.

The construction boom after the end of World War II and the increase in population from 700 thousand to 4 million people turned into an architectural disaster. However, now the appearance of the city is changing: new roads and metro are being built, and the expansion of the pedestrian zone in the city center has already saved Athens from painful traffic jams and even reduced the cloud of smog, which literally poisons the metropolitan atmosphere. The cleaner air is evident in the rediscovery of the views for which Athens was once famous, and despite the skyscrapers and fast-food outlets, the city manages to retain its unique character and charm.

Oriental bazaars compete with fashion boutiques and shops filled with goods from Armani and Benetton. Rapid modernization is balanced by a sense of homely atmosphere in the air: any Greek will tell you that Athens is the most big village in the country. No matter how often you come to Athens, your attention will be attracted by what has been preserved from the classical ancient city - first of all, the Parthenon and other monuments of the Acropolis, as well as the updated one, which presents the best collection of antiquities.

Most of the several million visitors who visit Athens every year limit themselves to visiting these monuments, adding to them perhaps an evening in a romantic atmosphere in one of the Plaka taverns designed for tourists. But in doing so, they miss the chance to see the Athens that the Athenians themselves know and love. Even if you only visited the city for a short time, this does not justify the desire to see in Athens only an accumulation of preserved antiquities and museum exhibits. It would also be worth spending a little time getting to know the outskirts of the capital and visiting near Athens.

The most accessible place for tourists is probably Plaka, an area where Turkish, neoclassical and Greek island architecture is mixed. Next are interesting museums, dedicated to traditional arts and crafts, from ceramics to music. A little to the north are the souks, almost the same as in the Middle East, and the additional reward is the cafes, bars, clubs in Psirri and the rapidly developing, as well as the National Park and the shady and elegant. Not so far from Plaka are the hills Lycabettus and Philopappou, from which the entire city is visible at a glance, and there is a tram (in the summer it will take you to the beach). All of the above attractions can be seen during.

But what surprises visitors most of all in Athens is the bustling life of the city. The cafe is always crowded, during the day and after midnight, the streets are not empty until three, or even four hours mornings, bars and clubs attract night owls. There are also places to eat in a way that will be remembered for a long time: there are many traditional taverns, and chic restaurants await discerning gourmets. In the summer, cafe tables move onto the street pavements, club life moves to the beaches, and you can go to the cinema, attend concerts and performances based on the works of classical ancient Greek drama under open air. Shopping lovers' eyes run wild: lively colorful bazaars and huge shopping spaces in the suburbs, called "malls" in the American style, and, of course, boutiques filled with the creations of the most fashionable fashion designers.

And very good – and also priced – public transport, inexpensive taxis, so you won’t have any special difficulties getting around. Describing the outskirts of Athens - they and the region as a whole will be discussed in other articles - attention is paid here, first of all, to the monuments of antiquity. The most popular place to visit is the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion: that wonderful architectural monument is located on a cliff overlooking the cape. The sanctuaries of Ramne (Ramnus), Eleusis (Elephsina) and Vravrona, as well as the burial mound at Marathon, built in honor of the great victory, are not so well known and not so frequently visited.

Lovers hiking, perhaps, they would like to climb - the mountains surrounded the city, and it is best to climb Mount Parnitha. If it is in the spring, then at the same time you will pick up an armful of a variety of wonderful forest and wildflowers. The beaches on the Attic coast are good enough to attract city-weary Athenians, but if you're visiting the islands, exploring the beaches here isn't necessary. Getting out of Athens is easy: dozens of ferries and hydrofoils leave daily from the Athens suburban port of Piraeus, and also, less frequently, from two other Attic ports with ferry piers - Rafina and Lavrion.

A Brief History of Athens

Athens is a city where life began more than seven thousand years ago. The low rocky hill, which later became the Acropolis of Athens, has attracted people since ancient times as comfortable spot settlements. It rises in the middle of a valley watered by the rivers Cephisus and Ilissos and surrounded by the mountains Hymetta, Penterikon, Parnet and Aigalei. The slopes of the hill, whose height is 156 meters above sea level, are inaccessible, and therefore it is natural that all these advantages were appreciated by the ancient inhabitants of Attica. The Mycenaeans built a palace-fortress on the rock.

Unlike other Mycenaean villages, Athens was neither abandoned nor sacked during the Dorian invasion (circa 1200 BC), so the Athenians always prided themselves on being “pure” Ionians, without Dorian “admixture”. But the Mycenaean-type state did not survive in Athens. Gradually the village turned into a polis ( ancient city-state) And Cultural Center. The rulers of Athens were considered kings - the basilei, who then ceded power to the clan nobility - the eupatrides. Public meetings took place at the Propylaea of ​​the Acropolis. To the west rose the rocky hill of Apec, named after the god of war. Here, on the leveled peak, the Areopagus, the council of elders of the noble families of the city, the Areopagites, gathered. Athens at that time remained in the shadow of large and powerful policies, such as and.

Athens grew richer, and the increased prosperity contributed to the rapid growth of arts and crafts, especially pottery. But economic growth increased political tension: there was growing discontent among farmers and Athenians, who were excluded from public life, but paid taxes and taxes on land that went to the landed aristocracy. The discord could only be stopped by the reconstruction of society, which was aimed at by the laws of Draco (his “Dracontic” code was promulgated in 621 BC) and the election of Solon as ruler (594 BC), who was given powers to carry out radical political and economic reforms.

Solon's reforms provided civil rights wide sections of the population and laid the foundations of a system that over time grew into Athenian democracy. In the middle of the 6th century BC, Peisistratus seized power. Peisistratus is usually called a tyrant, but this only means that he took power by force: his populist policies earned him the loyalty and love of many of his fellow citizens, and he turned out to be a very successful ruler, under whom Athens became much more powerful, richer and more influential. His sons Hippias and Hipparchus were not so happy: Hipparchus was killed in 514 BC, after which Hippias tried to establish a dictatorship.

He was greatly disliked by the people and was overthrown with the help of an army called from Sparta in 510 BC. The new leader Cleisthenes carried out more radical changes: he introduced a government board of 10 strategists, created territorial phyles instead of tribal ones, and each of them sent fifty representatives to the State Council of Bule. Boulet made decisions on issues discussed in the Assembly. All citizens could participate in the Assembly and it performed the functions of both the legislative branch and the supreme court. The reforms proposed by Cleisthenes served as the basis for Athenian democracy, which existed, almost unchanged, until Roman rule.

Around 500 BC, Athens sent a detachment of warriors to Asia Minor to help the Ionian Greeks who rebelled against the Persian Empire, which provoked a retaliatory Persian invasion of Greece. In 490 BC, the Athenians and their allies defeated vastly superior Persian forces at the Battle of Marathon. In 480 BC, the Persians returned, captured and sacked Athens and left almost the entire city burned to the ground. In the same year, however, victory in the naval battle of Athens put an end to the struggle of the Greeks with the Persians, simultaneously securing Athens' position as the leading city-state in the Greek world, and Athens was able to unite the cities of the islands Aegean Sea and central Greece into the Delian League, also called the Athenian Maritime League.

The newfound power gave rise to the so-called classical period, during which Athens reaped the fruits of its successes and the triumph of democracy along with the flowering of the arts, architecture, literature and philosophy, and the influence of this era on world culture is palpable to this day. In the second century BC, power passed to the Romans, who revered Athens as a spiritual source but made little effort to give the city more splendor.

Christians and Turks in Athens

The emergence of Christianity is perhaps the most significant milestone in the process of the long decline of Athens, which lost the glory that the city had known in the classical era. At the end of Roman rule, during which the appearance of the city changed little, Athens lost its role as a connecting link in the Greco-Roman world, and the reason for this was the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western and the formation of Byzantium (Constantinople) as the capital of the eastern Byzantine Empire. In this empire, the new Christian worldview very soon eclipsed the ethics developed by Athens, although Neoplatonism was still taught in the philosophical schools of the city.

In 529, these lyceums were closed, and Justinian I, who put an end to them, ordered at the same time to rededicate the city churches, and all of them, including the Parthenon, became Christian churches. Then Athens almost ceased to be mentioned in chronicles and annals; a hint of revival appeared only during the reign of foreign rulers and the Middle Ages: as a result of the Fourth Crusade, Athens with the Peloponnese and a considerable part of the central part ended up in the hands of the Franks. The ducal court was located on the Acropolis, and for a whole century Athens returned to the mainstream of European life. The Frankish power, however, had almost no one to rely on except the provincial aristocracy.

In 1311, Frankish troops fought with Catalan mercenaries entrenched in Thebes and were driven into a swamp. The Catalans, who organized their own principality, were replaced by the Florentines, and then very briefly by the Venetians, until in 1456 the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II appeared, the conqueror of Constantinople. Athens during the period of Turkish rule was a military settlement with a garrison stationed in it, every now and then (and to the considerable detriment of the buildings of the classical period) finding itself on the front line of battles with the Venetians and other Western powers.

Ties with the West were severed, and only occasionally did French and Italian ambassadors appear in the Sublime Porte. Sometimes rare travelers or curious painters visited Athens. During this period, the Greeks enjoyed some degree of self-government, and the Jesuit and Capuchin monasteries flourished. turned into the residence of the Ottoman ruler, and the Parthenon was converted into a mosque. The areas around the Acropolis returned to the distant past, switched to a partial peasant existence, and the port in Piraeus was forced to be content with servicing a dozen or two fishing boats.

Four hundred years of Ottoman rule ended in 1821, when the Athenian Greeks, along with the inhabitants of dozens of cities in the country, rebelled. The rebels occupied the Turkish areas of the lower city - this is the current one - and besieged the Acropolis. The Turks retreated, but five years later they returned to reoccupy the Athenian fortifications; the Greek rebels had to go deeper into the mainland. When the Ottoman garrison left forever in 1834 and a new, German monarchy arose, 5 thousand people lived in Athens.

Modern Athens

Despite its ancient past and the natural advantages of its location, Athens did not immediately become the capital of modern Greece. This honor initially went to Nafplio in the Peloponnese - the city in which Ioannis Kapodistrias developed plans for the War of Independence, and from where he later led it, and where the first meeting of the country's first parliament, the National Assembly, took place in 1828. And if I. Kapodistrias had not been killed in 1831, it is quite possible that the capital would have remained the same, or maybe it would have been moved from Nafplion to, Corinth or better equipped and quite large cities.

However, after the death of Kapodistrias, the intervention of the Western European “Great Powers” ​​followed, imposing their monarch on the country - he became Otto, the son of Ludwig I of Bavaria, and in 1834 the capital and royal court moved to Athens. The rationale for the move was reduced to symbolic and sentimental reasons, because the new capital was of little significance populated area and was located on the very edge of the territory of the new state - it had yet to include northern, Macedonia and all the islands, except for those that already existed.

In the 19th century, the development of Athens was a gradual and completely manageable process. While archaeologists were ridding the Acropolis of all the architectural layers with which the Turks and Franks had decorated it, the city was gradually being built: the streets intersected at right angles, and neoclassical buildings in the Bavarian style appeared. Piraeus managed to once again turn into a full-fledged port, because until the beginning of the 19th century it was greatly hampered by competitors - largest ports Greece on the islands and. In 1923, at the end of the tragic Greco-Turkish war in Asia Minor, a peace treaty was signed, according to which an “exchange of population” took place: the Turks moved to Greece, the Greeks to Greece, and nationality was determined solely by religion.

One and a half million Greek Christians from centuries-old villages in Asia Minor and the Turkic-speaking but Orthodox population of Anatolia arrived in Greece as refugees. And more than half of this flow settled in Athens, Piraeus and nearby villages, changing the appearance of the capital in one fell swoop. The integration of the new settlers and their efforts to survive constituted one of the greatest pages in the history of the city, and this phenomenon itself left deep traces that are noticeable to this day. The names of the areas located on both sides of the metro line connecting Athens with Piraeus testify to the longing experienced by the new settlers for their forever lost homeland: Nea Zmirni (New Smyrna), Nea Yonia, Nea Philadelphia - such names are common for city blocks and streets.

At first, these quarters were villages in which people from the same Anatolian town settled, who built houses from whatever they could find, and it happened that one well or water tap supplied drinking water about two dozen families. The merger of these suburbs with Athens and Piraeus continued until World War II. But the war brought such new worries that all the old ones were temporarily put aside. Athens suffered greatly from the German occupation: in the winter of 1941-1942, according to rough estimates, two thousand people died of starvation every day in the city. And at the end of 1944, when the German occupation ended, the civil war began.

British soldiers were ordered to fight their recent allies in the Greek Resistance Army EL AS because the army was led by communists. From 1946 to 1949, Athens was an island in the stormy sea of ​​war: the roads both to the north and to the north could only be called passable with a very big stretch. But in the 1950s, after civil war, the city began to expand rapidly. A program of powerful capital investments in industry was implemented - the money was invested mainly by Americans who wanted to persuade Greece to enter the US sphere of influence, while at the same time the capital experienced an influx of immigrants from impoverished villages devastated by the war.

The vacant lots between neighborhoods began to be quickly developed, and by the end of the 1960s, Athens had become Big City. Often new developments look dull. Old buildings were demolished; the elements of destruction raged with particular force in 1967-1974, during the junta. Homeowners replaced demolished buildings with multi-apartment residential buildings up to six stories high. The central streets are like canyons - narrow streets seem to be cut between concrete high-rise buildings. Booming industry took over the outskirts, and the combined efforts of city planners and industrialists quickly turned Athens into a polluted megalopolis, suffocating from the toxic fog that descends on it, which is called nefos.

Since the 1990s, in preparation for the Olympics, measures have finally been taken to improve the situation in the city. Although Athens still has a long way to go in terms of green spaces and open spaces, the results of the efforts are already visible. Everything that has survived from the city’s architectural heritage is being restored, public transport is clean, the construction of houses is controlled, new buildings of interesting ultra-modern architecture have appeared (for example, some buildings erected for the Olympics and the unfinished new Acropolis Museum), and the air is not so polluted, like before. I would like to hope that changes in this direction will continue.

In contact with

There is no city in Europe that is like Athens. This applies to ancient monuments and the most complex historical path along which the Greek capital passed. Having been revived, Athens has become a modern cultural center of Greece and a major European city, full of contrasts. Antique ruins It's adjacent to luxury hotels, and the bustling center is just a stone's throw away from idyllic beaches.

Geography of Athens: what the capital of Greece is like

Athens is located in Central Greece (Attica), surrounded by the mountains of Parnitha, Ymittos, Pendeli and Aigaleo. The city and agglomeration cover an area of ​​410 sq. km, and the population with its suburbs totals more than 3 million inhabitants. Although this figure is conditional, because numerous students, repatriates and migrants flock to the Greek capital.

The city is divided into 7 districts. However, it is unofficially customary to divide Athens into historical districts, the most famous of which are Kolonaki, Plaka, Monastiraki and Exarchia.

History of the city of Athens

The history of Athens is so ancient that the exact age of the city cannot be established. We only know that it is the oldest currently inhabited city in Europe. The origins of Athens are linked to mythology. According to legend, they appeared as a result of a dispute between Poseidon and Athena over the right to make the best gift to the first king of the city, Kekrop. The goddess of wisdom won, and she became the patroness of the city.

In antiquity, Athens, along with Sparta, played a leading role in the life of Greece. Here democracy was formed and the art of theater emerged. The city-state was home to outstanding creators, artists, speakers and politicians. Prosperity continued until the Peloponnesian Wars, which resulted in the defeat of Athens. They've lost forever leading position, although they finally turned into a private provincial town with the rise of the Roman Empire and the advent of Christianity.

In the Middle Ages, French, Italian and Byzantine knights claimed the right to own Athens. In the 15th century the city was ceded Ottoman Empire. Subsequently, the wars between the Turks and the Venetians further weakened the city - the population decreased, many historical monuments were destroyed.

Only in 1833 the city managed to become the Greek capital and a new era began. The University of Athens, Syntagma Square and the National Park appeared, the first Olympic Games modernity.

Today Athens is a metropolis and a major transport hub in Greece with vibrant nightlife, ancient monuments, and a host of cultural events. The city has developed trolleybus and bus networks, metro and international Airport, annually receiving 16 million passengers.

Best season to visit Athens

The right time to visit Athens depends entirely on the purpose of the tourist. One thing is for sure: the Greek capital is a year-round destination, attractive in any season.

If you want to explore the city without queues and heat, and also have a large selection of hotels, it is better to come in January-April or October-November. However, it is worth considering that during the low season, some restaurants are closed and attractions change their schedules. June-September are considered the busiest months. Numerous crowds of tourists pour into the bustle of Athens. Although there is no better time to combine sightseeing tourism and relaxation on the coast.

Athens - attractions

The goal of any tourist in Athens is the Acropolis with its many historical monuments. Among the main ones is the Theater of Dionysus, which hosted competitions for the authors of tragedies and other cultural events in Athens. The outstanding monument of the Acropolis, the Erechtheion, will give a complete picture of the architecture of the Ionian order. And the scale of the Parthenon will allow you to appreciate the works of the best architects and builders of antiquity. All the original finds of the Acropolis can be seen in its New Museum, which owns a huge collection of statues, bas-reliefs and religious objects.

However, beautiful ancient structures have been preserved not only on the Acropolis. On the Agora, which in ancient times was considered the center of city life, is the Temple of Hephaestus. It survived largely due to the fact that a church was organized here in Byzantine times. At the southern end of the Agora is the Odeon, which resembles a Roman amphitheater. The Athens Festival is held here every year.

Tourists enjoy spending time in Plaka. This is the oldest district of Athens with colorful architecture, many ancient buildings, narrow streets and shops. The laid-back atmosphere makes Plaka one of the most charming places in the city.

65 km from the city is Cape Sounion, which is worth visiting for two reasons. Firstly, the temple of Poseidon and fragments of the temple of Athena have been preserved here. Secondly, in Sounion you can watch sunsets of amazing beauty. In addition, the cape is shrouded in legends. It was in this place, according to myths, that Aegeus threw himself into the sea.

Athens: sea and beaches

Near the metropolis there is a number good beaches, to which Athenians gather after work or on weekends. The suburb of Glyfada is the most popular destination. Sandy coast this resort is ideal for family vacation. Some beaches are free, others are well equipped and charge a fee to visit.

In the suburbs of Athens there is Mati Beach and the adjacent Agios Andreas. The coast is strewn with pebbles and equipped with sun loungers. There are taverns and water attractions here.

The beaches of Vouliagmeni invite you to relax after a long day. They are 23 km away from the city. On the coast there are restaurants and tennis courts, and children's playgrounds are equipped. For lovers wild beaches on Vouliagmeni you will like the place of Limanaki with its exotic nature and clear sea.

How to get to Athens

The main transport gates of the Greek capital are the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and the port of Piraeus. The most convenient way to get to Athens is by air. The airport receives regular flights and charters from many countries. Directly from the terminal, several points in Athens can be reached by any of the six buses that operate.

Taxi at Eleftherios Venizelos airport.

Port of Piraeus.

Piraeus connects Athens with all popular destinations within Greece and beyond. From the port to the center you can take buses No. 49, 40 (to Syntagma and Omonia) or prefer the metro (Green Line).

The archaeological study of Athens began in the 30s of the 19th century, but excavations became systematic only with the formation of the French, German and English archaeological schools in Athens in the 70s and 80s. Literary sources and archaeological material that have survived to this day help to reconstruct the history of the Athenian polis. The main literary source on the history of Athens during the period of state formation is Aristotle’s “The Athenian Polity” (IV century BC).

Encyclopedic YouTube

1 / 5

✪ Ancient Athens (Russian) History ancient world

✪ Video lesson on the history "In the city of the goddess Athena"

✪ Athens and Sparta. Athenian democracy. Video lesson on General History, grade 10

✪ History video lesson "The Birth of Democracy in Athens"

✪ The birth of democracy in Athens. Video lesson on General History 5th grade

Subtitles

Formation of the Athenian state

Hellenistic era

During the Hellenistic period, when Greece became an arena of struggle between the major Hellenistic states, the position of Athens changed several times. There were short periods when they managed to achieve relative independence; in other cases, Macedonian garrisons were introduced into Athens. Probably the most disastrous thing for Athens in that period was the defeat in the Chremonides War from the Macedonian king Antigonus II. 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 (lat. civitas foederata), they enjoyed only fictitious freedom. In 88 BC. e. Athens joined the anti-Roman movement raised by the Pontic king Mithridates VI Eupator. In 86 BC. e. The army of Lucius Cornelius Sulla took the city by storm and plundered it. Out of respect for the powerful past of Athens, Sulla preserved their fictitious freedom. In 27 BC. e. after the formation of the Roman province of Achaia, Athens became part of it. In the 3rd century AD. BC, when Balkan Greece began to be invaded by barbarians, Athens fell into complete decline.

Planning and architecture

Hills

• Akropolis Hill.
• Areopagus, that is, the hill of Ares - west of the Acropolis, gave its name to the highest judicial and government council of Ancient Athens, which held its meetings on the hillside.
• Nymphaeion, that is, the hill of nymphs, is southwest of the Areopagus.
• Pnyx - a semicircular hill southwest of the Areopagus; meetings of the ekklesia were originally held here, which were later moved to the Theater of Dionysus.
• Museion, that is, the Hill of Museus or Muses, now known as the Hill of Philopappou - south of the Pnyx and Areopagus.

Acropolis

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

The golden age of Pericles was also a golden age for the Acropolis of Athens. First of all, Pericles instructed the architect Ictinus to build a new, more magnificent Temple of the Virgin Athena - the Parthenon, on the site of the old Hekatompedon (Temple of Chaste Athena) destroyed by the Persians. Its splendor was enhanced by the numerous statues with which, under the leadership of Phidias, the temple was decorated, both outside and inside. Immediately after the completion of the Parthenon, which served as the treasury of the gods and for the celebration of the Panathenaia, in 438 BC. e. Pericles commissioned the architect Mnesicles to build a new magnificent gate at the entrance to the acropolis - Propylaea (437-432 BC). A staircase of marble slabs, winding, led along the western slope of the hill to the portico, which consisted of 6 Doric columns, the spaces between which symmetrically decreased 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. This is where they were ancient sanctuaries cities, in particular dedicated to Olympian Zeus, Apollo, Dionysus. Then settlements appeared along the slopes that stretch west of the Acropolis. The lower city expanded even more when, due to the unification of various parts, into which ancient times Attica was divided into one political whole (tradition attributes this to Theseus), Athens became the capital of a united state. Gradually, over the following centuries, the city was also settled on the northern side of the Acropolis. It was predominantly home to artisans, namely members of the respected and numerous class of potters in Athens, hence a significant quarter of the city east of the Acropolis was called the Ceramics (that is, the potters' quarter).

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

Gates

Among the main entrance gates of Athens were:

• in the west: Dipylon Gate, leading from the center of the Keramik district to the Academy. The gate was considered sacred because the sacred Elefsinian Way began from it. Knight's Gate were located between the Hill of the Nymphs and the Pnyx. Piraeus Gate- between Pnyx and Museion, led to a road between long walls, which in turn led to Piraeus. The Miletus Gate is so named because it led to the deme of Miletus within Athens (not to be confused with the polis of Miletus).
• in the south: the gate of the dead was located near Museion Hill. The road to Faliron began from the Itonia Gate on the banks of the Ilissos River.
• in the east: the Diochara gate led to the Lyceum. The Diomean Gate received this name because it led to the demo of Diomeus, as well as the hill of Kinosargus.
• in the north: the Akarnian gate led to the deme Akarney.

- a state whose history dates back to 8,000-10,000 years ago, and during this time its capital remained unchanged - Athens. This legendary city has survived many wars and natural disasters, each time being reborn with a new look, but preserving traces of past misfortunes for the edification of descendants. It's no surprise that Athens is full of historical monuments juxtaposed with modern hotels and shopping centers. Such an unusual neighborhood attracts millions of tourists every year who want to relax under the warm Greek sun and become familiar with the history of the country.

Historical reference

The date of formation of the capital of Greece is not known, but the first mention of it appeared in documents dating back to 7,000 BC. During this period, the ruling king was Kekroptus, he is considered the founder of the city of Athens.

There is a legend that the gods themselves competed with each other, wanting the settlement to be named after them. And then the king gave them a task - to make a beautiful and useful gift. The gifts were varied, but many were not particularly beautiful, and some were useless to the people, for example, Poseidon's fountain with water not suitable for drinking. Then Athena gave the city a small tree. It grew and began to bear fruit with olives - a fishery that still remains one of the main ones in Greece. For the most useful gift, the goddess was honored, and the city was named after her.

Growing rapidly, Athens reached the height of its glory by 5000 BC. and maintained this reputation until 300 BC, when science and culture spread throughout Greece. The capital was rightfully considered the cradle of all knowledge, and was so ahead of the nearby provinces that at times it was mistaken for a separate state. This political and living way of life persisted until the advent of our era, when Greece was mired in warriors, and foreign invaders successively replaced each other. Each new ruler took more and more, leaving only a small cultural heritage, so Greece quickly fell into decline. But everything changed at the beginning of the 19th century - legendary country freed from the oppression of the Ottomans and was reborn again.

Athens today

In 1833, it was officially announced that Athens was the capital of modern Greece. Its new development was taken up by King Otto of Bavaria, who dreamed that the country would regain its former glory and again become the cradle of science and culture. For this purpose, the world's best architects were summoned to the city, their works laid the foundation for its new appearance. Otto brilliantly succeeded in making his dream come true, because already in 1896 Greece was able to host the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, the wise ruler failed to see this.

In the 20th century, large-scale construction continued, but in addition, archaeological excavations began to restore the heritage of the once greatest country. Favorably signed peace treaties support this direction, expanding the territory of what is now modern Greece almost twice.

The Second World War could have destroyed all the undertakings of the Greek rulers, but this did not happen - after the German occupation, the construction boom began with renewed vigor, and hotels, theaters, museums, and stadiums known to many travelers appeared. At the same time, in modern city harmoniously combines the ancient heritage and technical progress, a wave that covered everything the developed countries peace.

Geography

As you know, Greece is located on the mainland and is washed by the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, and its influence extends to some islands. Athens is located in the center of the country and has no access to the sea, but active development will soon lead to the city expanding to the Saronics Gulf. On the other hand, it is limited by a natural barrier in the form of the Attic mountains, so it will no longer be possible to expand the capital even further without creating artificial embankments on the water.

Most modern megacities are built according to a single principle, usually linearity, when the main streets run parallel to each other. But there are places built according to the “sun” type, that is, from its center the main streets branch out like sun rays - this principle was popular in ancient times, therefore it was preserved in regions with rich historical heritage. Athens combines both types of development, so it can be very difficult for a tourist to understand the interweaving of streets and alleys.

Experienced travelers recommend stocking up on a map for everyone who comes here to explore the sights, since even local residents cannot always show the way correctly, and without knowledge of the language it will be difficult for them to ask a question.

Population

Athens is notable for being home to a third of the country's population, with young people from the provinces continuing to flock here for education and job opportunities.

According to the 2017 census, the total number of inhabitants of the Greek capital is 3.5 million - and this is only officially registered Athenians, not counting migrants and persons registered in other regions of the country. It turns out that at least 4 million people permanently live in the capital of Greece, and if you take into account the number of tourists, it becomes clear why there is such dense traffic on the streets, not only vehicular traffic, but also pedestrian traffic.

Climate

The Greek capital has a mild climate, driven by Mediterranean Sea– the hot summer here smoothly gives way to a warm autumn, smoothly flowing into a mild spring and again into summer. Winter frosts do occur, but they are so rare that every time they come as a surprise to local residents. Athens in winter will delight tourists who dream of seeing the sights without too much fuss - the main tourist season has long ended, so the streets become much freer.

How to get there

The easiest and fastest way to get to Athens is by airline. The hospitable Eleftherios Venizelos Airport welcomes all inquisitive tourists, and so that traffic is not too noticeable at its work, a metro line leads directly from the terminal. In addition, buses constantly run to popular hotels, and trains are ready to take you to the suburbs.

If the task is to get to the capital of Greece from the sea, the port of Piraeus will help with this. In summer, the ship schedule is stable, but in winter it often changes due to bad weather - this point must be taken into account when planning to get to the nearest islands for the sake of day excursion. It may turn out that it will not be possible to return to the mainland on the same day.

For tourists traveling around Europe by personal transport, the path is open through highways and highways. Some roads have better infrastructure than others - it's all on the maps, so it's worth studying the route carefully before starting your trip.

Sea and coastline

Although Athens itself is not yet landlocked, the suburb is known for its beaches equipped with everything necessary for have a nice rest– these include sun loungers with umbrellas, showers, changing rooms, and storage lockers.

To truly enjoy beach holiday, it is preferable to go here in the summer months. Tourist peak occurs in July and August. To get to the sea, you don’t have to rent a car or pay considerable sums for a taxi - trams and buses run from the city along the entire coastline.

Districts

In total, the city is divided into 7 regions, three of which are not distinguished by an abundance of attractions and good infrastructure - these are residential areas, industrial or under construction, so tourists are not recommended to settle on their territory. The remaining four parts have historical significance and are most often visited by tourists.

Plaka

The area, located in close proximity to the Acropolis, has a special atmosphere and architecture. Along the paved narrow streets there are low white houses made in the Hellas style. The abundance of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels clearly indicates that this is one of the tourist areas. To get acquainted with the monuments of the times of the Turks or Byzantines, you don’t have to go to any specific place - just walk along the streets and look around.

Monastiraki

It is located on the other side of the Acropolis and is a trade historical Center. There are architectural monuments such as libraries, towers and mosques here. On the territory of Monastiraki lies local market, which displays all kinds of goods, and quality items at low prices can be found in boutiques on nearby Ermou Street. Those who settle in the Monastiraki area do not look for souvenir shops and do not bring magnets from their trips, because there are many more interesting items in the ruins.

Thisio

If you are planning a holiday with children, you should settle in the Thisio area. This is an island of the city rich in parks, which is peaceful and quiet compared to other parts of the capital. Thisio is geographically located a little distance from the center, good developed infrastructure allows you to quickly get to any attraction. And if you don’t want to travel far, there are also interesting places and historical monuments within walking distance.

Syntagma

The area is named after the square located in the center of Athens. There is a modern parliament, a history museum and national park. Many excursions to the sights of the capital of Greece start here.

Safety

Athens, although a historical center, is a modern metropolis with its own laws and orders. Everyone is obliged to comply with them - both local residents and tourists. To avoid getting into trouble, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules of behavior at the planning stage of your trip.

General rules

First of all, we must remember that crowded conditions always play into the hands of robbers, of whom there are plenty in the metropolis, so you must always keep a close eye on things, especially documents and money, especially in crowded tourist areas. Help to preserve property simple rules behavior:

• It is better to keep the bag in front;
• It is better to place valuable items in the inside pockets of clothing or the front pockets of trousers;
• It is convenient to travel with a backpack, but it is from the back that most thefts occur, so you should not put documents and money there;
• Rallies and demonstrations in Athens are not uncommon, and particularly violent participants are dispersed by the police, so you should not wedge yourself into their ranks;
• IN public transport During rush hour, it is recommended to always keep your bag in sight.

Following personal safety rules will help you avoid unpleasant moments during travel and have a good rest.

Where you shouldn't go

In addition to tourist areas and historical important centers At the resort, like in any other metropolis, there are dangerous areas. Travelers are advised to avoid deserted streets, Omonia Square, the port at night and the surrounding area railway station with the onset of dusk.

Neighborhood

If the capital has been explored, it's time to head to the suburbs. The following places are popular among tourists:

• Averof – floating museum;
• Islands of Hydra and Aegina;
• Zoology Park;
• Temple of Poseidon;
• Mount Parnitha.

Some attractions are located near the city, others require a journey of up to 100 km, and boats or yachts deliver to the islands, but no difficulties frighten travelers in their desire to see as much as possible interesting places and get acquainted with the history of Greece.

Ways to get around the city

The well-developed transport system in Athens does not always allow you to get to your destination quickly - traffic jams here can be as long as in other megacities.

Within the city, tariffs for public transport are the same regardless of its type. A ticket can be purchased for 1.5 hours, a day or 5 days, which will cost 1.5, 4.5 and 9 euros, respectively.

Trams

Modern tram cars travel on rails with a total length of 27 km. The main line runs along the coast, and there is also an additional branch to Syntangma. There are three tram routes in total:

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

A distinctive feature of trams is that they never get stuck in traffic jams, since the rails are laid not along the main, but additional streets, where cars and buses are not allowed to travel.

Buses

There are 100 times more bus routes than tram routes. This is the most common type of transport, helping to get to any point not only in Athens, but also outside the city. To reduce travel time, drivers do not stop at all stops, but only at the request of passengers or if they see a signal from people waiting for transport - this point must be taken into account when making bus trips.

If you plan to travel by public transport frequently. It is better to purchase an appropriate route map to track stops along the way.

Metro

A big plus of the metro, like trams, is the absence of traffic jams. However, the drawback is the same - there are only three branches connecting the main transport hubs:

• Green line from Piraeus to Kifissia;
• Blue from Agia Marina to the Airport;
• Red from Antoupoli to Elliniko.

Residents of large cities with well-developed metro systems are unlikely to get lost in the Athens metro. What is surprising is the lack of turnstiles. Tourists often make the mistake of traveling as a “hare”, not knowing that inspectors are constantly working in the metro, fining free riders.

Mapmetro

• The suburban railway is marked in yellow on the map.
• The airport and port have corresponding aircraft and ship icons.
• The letter T indicates places where the metro intersects with the tram line, that is, you can make a transfer.

Taxi

An official taxi service runs around the city. Traditionally, these are cars painted yellow and complemented by black checkered stripes. Athens taxis do not adhere to any specific models, so the cars can be either economy or premium class. The cars are equipped with a meter that calculates the cost of the trip.

To travel within the city, a passenger will have to pay 0.7 euros per kilometer; when traveling to the suburbs, the tariff increases to 1.2 euros. Additionally, the landing amount is calculated - this is another plus of 1.2 euros. And if a tourist calls a car by phone, but doesn’t catch it on the street, he will have to pay an additional 2 euros. At night, all prices can be safely multiplied by 2.

Of course, traveling by taxi is more convenient than using any other public transport, but taking into account the mileage, the trip will not be cheap, and dishonest drivers quote the final amount as more than it actually is, in the hope that the unlucky passenger will not notice errors in the calculations.

Rent

There are more than enough car rental offices in Athens, but heavy traffic in summer makes this type of transport not a privilege, but a burden. The situation changes radically if you go out of town or see the sights in winter - driving through half-empty streets in a rented car is a pleasure.

Attractions

Thanks to its colorful past, the capital of Greece is rich in art objects and ancient monuments, which tourists and bright minds from all countries come to see. Acquaintance with ancient monuments is carried out both in the capital itself and beyond its borders, and there is not enough time to explore every corner during a standard two-week vacation, so it is recommended to make a list of the most interesting places in advance.

Museums

In total, there are about 2.5 hundred Byzantine and Christian museums and exhibitions in the city, but the most valuable are:

• Agora;
• Museum of Archeology;
• Acropolis;
• Averof;
• Exhibition of Cycladic art.

From May to October, all exhibitions are open to the public every day. During the off-season and winter, viewing hours are greatly reduced, but the attractions still remain accessible to local residents and rare tourists.

Streets

Since many streets have been reconstructed, they are considered historical heritage. And although small shops sell traditional goods, they are closely intertwined with memorable places and buildings, so to get acquainted with the history, a slow walk around the Plaka area or Ermou Street is enough.

Religious buildings

Athens is famous for its ancient temples and churches, so when you visit here, you can’t help but visit at least one historically significant religious building. Of course, the most famous monument architecture is the Acropolis and the temples located near it.

Followers of Christianity will find it interesting to visit the Church of the Virgin Mary or St. George. The reign of the Ottoman Empire did not go unnoticed for Athens - occasionally mosques can be found in the city, for example, Tsisdaraki.

Monuments

Since the capital of Greece is the cradle of science and culture, there are monuments dedicated to many ancient scientists, such as Socrates or Plato, as well as rulers. The monument to Philopappus, the heir who never accepted the throne, deserves special attention because the Roman Empire seized power. But this did not stop Philopappus from achieving a certain level of power and influencing the life of the city, making it better. Not only was a monument erected in his honor, but the hill where the two-level building stands was also named.

Excursions

Since Athens is a metropolitan metropolis, it is not surprising that people walk from here sightseeing tours to any corner of Greece. There are day trips to nearby islands and other attractions, and sometimes people go to remote corners by plane for 2-3 days.

When planning an active cultural holiday with visits to tourist areas at a considerable distance from each other, experienced tourists recommend taking a minimum of things with them and thinking through the route in advance. The hotel is chosen at the point of current research, so as not to be tied to the same place.

Entertainment

For most guests, priority is cultural recreation, although sometimes you want to step back from it and relax a little. The capital of Greece is ready to offer travelers a variety of entertainment for every taste.

Shopping

People rarely go to Greece for shopping, since the European brands here do not differ in quality and price from those sold in big cities around the world. If you want to buy souvenirs, it is more profitable to do it at the market. True, if you don’t want to bargain, you’ll have to donate a round sum for gifts for friends. This rule applies to both factory-made products and hand-made goods.

Gastronomic holiday

Greek cuisine is rightfully considered one of the most harmonious and healthy, so it is not surprising that cafes and restaurants serving Greek cuisine predominate on the streets. However, in Athens it is not difficult to find popular dishes from different countries peace. Such establishments as Lalloudes and To Kofenio enjoy particular success.

Nightlife

Nightlife lovers will have plenty to do in the Greek capital. Some of the best nightclubs include Venue, villa Mercedes and Baraonda. The music here does not stop until the morning. Almost all establishments have a moderately strict dress code - guests are required to wear evening attire.

Athens for children

Young tourists will not be bored. Experience has shown that even trips to historical sites are interesting to them. Still, most of all children like water parks, zoos, planetariums and amusement parks, of which there are a lot in the capital of Greece.

Tour guides advise parents who take their children to explore ancient temples and ruins to closely monitor their children so that in their search for new knowledge they do not harm themselves or centuries-old structures.

Helpful information

Many tourists when visiting Athens prefer to abandon the services of travel agencies in favor of independent rest. This is an excellent solution, because individual planning will allow you to see many attractions and visit places that are closed to large excursion groups.

The first thing you need to write down in your guidebook is the address and telephone number of the Russian consulate. People come here for questions and problems arising with the Athenian authorities. The consulate is located at: Halandri, st. Tzavela, no. 5. Phones:

• 210-671-19-35;
• 210-671-19-06;
• 210-674-97-08.

The consulate is open only on weekdays in the morning. Russian public holidays are days off for consulate employees.

In addition, independent tourists may need help. emergency services. It is easy to contact them as follows:

• 104 or 154 – road assistance;
• 170 - anti-terrorism service;
• 108 - coast guard;
• 112 – unified rescue service;
• 197 – emergency care;
• 199 – fire service
• 166 – ambulance;
• 100 – police;
• 107 – 24-hour pharmacy help desk.

The city of Athens reminds tourists to exercise caution and closely monitor their health and property during their holidays. If emergency situations occur, you must contact the appropriate emergency service.

Watch a video about Athens

The city of Athens, the capital of sunny and beautiful Greece, shrouded in many myths and legends, is located on the plain of Attica, and its coast is washed by the picturesque Saronicos Gulf.

Content:

Short description

A city, the mention of which brings to mind amazing ancient greek myths with their passions and battles of the gods, is one of favorite places travelers from all over globe. A huge number of cultural monuments, exquisite and unique National cuisine, the gentle waters of the Aegean Sea, a developed entertainment infrastructure and, of course, the ancient ruins of temples and sanctuaries attract to Athens all, without exception, connoisseurs of ancient attractions and tourists who want to have a quality and inexpensive holiday.

Athens Acropolis

Prices for holidays in Greece, in particular in Athens, are really low when compared with prices for holidays in other EU countries.

Currently, the population of the capital of Greece, including small suburbs, is just over 4,000,000 people. In addition, due to the availability of jobs, about half a million people from other countries live in Athens non-permanently. Greece cannot be called a populous country; more than a third of the population now lives in its capital and nearby suburbs. If you look at a map of Athens, you will notice that from the land side the city is surrounded by mountains: Imito, Pendeli and Parnitha.

We can say that the city is located in a kind of pool created by nature itself. On the one hand, this is the natural protection of the city, and on the other hand, the mountains and the Saronic Gulf limit the area of ​​Athens and do not allow them to go beyond natural barriers. Due to the city's high population density and technological progress, Athens suffers from a temperature inversion effect. In summer it is very hot in Greece, tourists should definitely remember this, especially those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. But winter here can sometimes be frosty, and snow is nothing new for Athenians.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

History of the name of the city

The overwhelming majority of historians say that the name of the capital of Greece comes from the name of the goddess Pallas Athena, although, in fairness, it is worth noting that there is another version. A very interesting myth is that it tells how exactly the city got its name. In ancient times, a settlement near the Gulf of Saronicos was ruled by a king named Kekropos. He was only half human; instead of legs, he had a snake's tail. The ruler, born of the goddess Gaia, had to solve a rather difficult problem and choose who would be the patron of his village. After thinking, he said that whoever of the gods gives the best gift to the city will become its patron. Immediately Zeus’s brother Poseidon appeared before the people and struck the rocky ground with his trident with all his might. A huge fountain soared up from this place: people ran up to it, but immediately returned back with gloomy faces: the water in the fountain was the same as in the sea, salty and undrinkable. After Poseidon, the beautiful Pallas Athena appeared to the inhabitants; she showed people an olive tree that quickly grew from the ground. Kekrop and the population of the city rejoiced and recognized Athena as the patroness of the city.

Temple of the Erechtheion

Thus, the city, surrounded by three mountains and located near a sea bay, received its name - Athens. After this, Poseidon was angry with Athens, and the shortage of life-giving moisture is felt in the city even today (and all this in a subtropical semi-desert climate). Sacrifices, gifts and the construction of the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion did not help. Some historians do not agree with this myth and insist that the name of the capital of Greece occurred as a result of a slight change in the word “Athos,” which can be literally translated into Russian as flower.

Athens - a little history

Back in 500 BC, Athens flourished: the city's inhabitants were rich, culture and science were developing. The prosperity of the center of Ancient Greece was put to an end by the Great Roman Empire around the beginning of the 300s BC. 500 years after the Savior came to our world, the Byzantine Empire decided to close numerous philosophical schools in Athens and put an end to the prosperity of pagan cults. It was from this period of time that the capital of Greece turned from a rich city into a small one. provincial town, over which the French and Italians have been at war for many centuries. It could not be otherwise; from Athens it was possible to go out to the open sea and conduct profitable trade. Strategic location ancient city It’s hard to overestimate even today.

Academy of Athens

A serious blow to Athens came in 1458, the year when the city was captured by the Turks and was included by them in the vast Ottoman Empire. In those days, most of the inhabitants of Athens died from overwork for the benefit of the Ottoman Empire and from hunger. At this time, the Byzantines tried to regain control of Athens, and the city often became the scene of bloody battles. During them, many priceless historical and architectural monuments were destroyed, in particular, the well-known ancient Greek temple of the Parthenon.

Only 1833 brought relief to the small population of Athens, when the city finally became again the capital of the free Greek Kingdom. By the way, at that moment less than 5,000 (!) people lived in the capital. The population grew rapidly to 2,000,000 people already in 1920, when the descendants of native Athenians, who had been expelled by the Turks to Asia Minor, began to return to their homeland. The beginning of the 20th century was also marked by increased interest in the city’s many attractions: great amount archaeologists began to carry out excavations on the territory of Athens, and restorers tried to return architectural monuments to at least a semblance of their former greatness. Work was stopped only during the Second World War: the Nazis needed access to the sea and they occupied Greece in a short period of time.

Temple of Hephaestus

Modern Athens

No matter how strange it may sound, it was the Second World War, or rather its end, that marked the beginning of the new prosperity of Athens. Industry is developing rapidly in the capital and there is active trade with many countries of the world. Greece flourished until 1980: huge number tourists interested in ancient sights and the history of the country bring significant income to the budget. In 1981, as everyone knows, Greece joined the European Union, which brought the Athenians not only the joy of affordable loans and a rapidly developing economy, but also problems with overpopulation and movement around the city.

At the moment, Athens attracts travelers from all over the globe with its attractions, among which are the Theater of Dionysus, the Temple of Hephaestus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Athenian Agora and, of course, the majestic Acropolis. The city has more than 200 large museums, where you can see unique exhibits dating back to the 500s BC. The first museum to travel agencies We recommend paying your attention to the Benaki Museum, where you can get acquainted with cultural objects and ethnographic materials that will “tell” the history of the once great, powerful, invincible Athens, famous for its philosophers.

Arch of Hadrian

In addition to numerous attractions, a traveler who is brought to Athens will be able to appreciate what it is like to be incessant, cheerful and shimmering with thousands of neon lights, “ night life" The capital of Greece has a huge number of restaurants, large and small bars, discos and nightclubs. Everything in the city is done to ensure that a tourist who comes to Athens feels as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

The problem of transport these days is not as acute as it was in the 70-80s. years of the last century: you can quickly get to any place in the city by metro, which includes three lines, or by high-speed (!) tram. Surprisingly, trams in Athens move strictly on schedule, the break between the supply of transport is as accurate as in the metro.

Athens - indeed amazing place For tourist trip. However, to be completely frank, there is one “but”... The Greek economy in the 21st century began to gradually decline: huge loans, economically stronger EU countries - all this forced the government to save on its citizens.