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Athens
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Athens,
the cradle of democracy, philosophy and the Western civilization as we
know it today, begun as a small fortified village built on top of the
Acropolis rock as far back as 3.000 years B.C. Through the years, Athens
became one of the most powerful city-states of the ancient world and produced
the first and most influential philosophers, poets and scientists, like
Plato, Sophocles, Euripides and Socrates. Athens became the symbol of
freedom, thinking and art.
In
Athens, just wake up, take a glance to the Acropolis and you will see
immortal Gods and Heroes reviving in front of your eyes…
Beneath the Acropolis lies Plaka, and the Ancient Agora and the Roman
market.
Athens, a city with its narrow paths, cobbled streets, classical mansions,
picturesque taverns, friendly people and a happy atmosphere Adventure
through Athens to discover the contrast between the old world with the
new, walk through them and let them capture your imagination...
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Athens General
Athens is the capital city of Greece. It is situated at the southeastern tip of Greece's mainland.
Athens population is 3,192,606 (according to 2001 census, about 5 millions today)
Language: Greek - usage of the Greek language spans three and a half millennia. The Greek language and alphabet has been essential for the development of many western languages. The first writing sample was found on Crete and is called Linear B
Currency: Euro since January 2002
Telephone: area code 210, country code 30 210
Sites of Interest
The city of Athens has a rich and long history. It holds a prominent place in Greek mythology.
In the 5th century BC, the golden age of Athens, the Parthenon on the Acropolis was built.Athens is the capital of Greece, to appreciate this capital , it is important to know of its turbulent history.
Athens , has been a city for 3.500 years but , its greatest Glory was during the Classical period of ancient Greece, from which so many buildings and artifacts still survive. The 5th Century B.C. in particular was a golden age , when Periklis oversaw the building of the Acropolis.Acropolis is a direct translation , of "city on the edge" in which the Parhenon is situated. The Parthenon designed by Phidias, built by Kallikrates and Iktinos between 447 and 438 B.C. The Acropolis was first at stronghold, but later on it became the political center of Athens where the Athenians were allowed to vote.
Whatever its function was, the Acropolis has always been the heart of Athens and is seen by many as the crown of Greek civilization.
The Acropolis witnessed the destruction of Athens by invading Persians, but on the same place the best architects and builders constructed buildings which came close to the perfection of Greek ideals.
The most impressive and characteristic building on the Acropolis is dedicated to the patron goddess of Athens: Pallas Athena. The Persians destroyed the first Parthenon while it was being constructed, but under Pericles it was rebuilt and became the jewel of the Acropolis. With both Doric and Ionic aspects it is a perfect balance of power and refinement.
Even by today’s standards, the technology and materials available to us , we are still unable to recreate what the ancient Greek’s achieved.Hidden behind the Parthenon at the south-east corner of the Acropolis, the Acropolis museum houses a great collection of Greek sculpture from excavations on the hill, primarily from the area filled with the rubble left after the destruction of all temples by the Persians in 480 B.C. Founded in the middle of the 19th century, the museum was renovated between 1949 and 1953 and today consists of 9 exhibition rooms.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is situated at the western end of the southern slope of the Acropolis, and is the last of the large imposing buildings built in this area, which for centuries has been dedicated to music and dramatic arts. The building of the Odeon began in 160 A.D. by the famous Roman benefactor and sophist Herodes Atticus, in honor of his deceased wife Regilla. As a patron of the arts, he designed and dedicated it to musical and cultural events.
The building was designed as an amphitheatre. The scene or monumental theatrical backdrop was three stories and partially roofed. The theatre consists of magnificent marble. The architectural sculpture and detailing is constructed with precision among this edifice. The Odeon is still in use today for performances, has a diameter of 80m and holds a capacity of 5.000 people.
Amongst the Acropolis and the Herodion Theatre, you can also see the Ancient “Agora “ (Market ). "Agora", was the main meeting place in ancient times in Athens, where people from all classes from Politicians to market traders would gather together to be heard and share information. Inside “Agora “ there is the “stoa of Attalos” , which was built by King Attalos II of Pergamum, Temple of Hephaestus ( on the edge of Agora ) , the temple of Appollo and so many ancient monuments.
Useful information about the historical sights in Athens can be found at cityofathens.gr.
See also The Acropolis Restoration Project.
A map of the Archaeological sites of Athens can be found at culture.grGetting to Athens and moving around
Getting to Athens is easy. Athens has a new international airport.
There are also regular ferry services to domestic and international destinations. The central rail hub linking the capital to the rest of Greece and Europe is also situated in Athens.When in Athens, the quickest way to move around central locations is the Athens Metro. Connected to the Metro is an underground train linking the northern suburb of Kifissia to the port of Piraeus where all boats leave for theGreek islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Ios, Rhodes, Crete. Buses and trolleys also cover most of Athens. Taxi companies operate in the greater Athens area.
