It has a large financial sector, and its port Piraeus is both the largest passenger port in Europe, and the second largest in the world. Explore Athens and its ancient history while studying abroad with AIFS this fall! Prior to the selection of Athens as the Greek capital, the city of Nafplio served as the provisional capital. If you’ve ever run (or would like to run) a marathon, you The Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Temple of The history of Greece went through these stages: Mycenaean culture (c.1600–c.1100 BC) was an early Greek culture during the Bronze Age, on the Greek mainland and on Crete. Athens is considered a global city and serves as the most important industrial, political, cultural, and economic center in the country. Designated by the European Union each year, the European 1. While some of marbled sidewalks are still in place, Athenian roads and walkways were modernized, making the entire city more accessible for everyone – just in time for the 2004 Olympics. The Parthenon was completed. The first-ever plays were performed in Athens. Greater Athens has an area of 165 square miles (427 square km). Athens was the largest and most powerful Greek state. As of May 2019, the population of Athens is about 3 million people. It should reopen later this year. The city of Athens invented the government of democracy and was ruled by the people for many years. The people of Athens lived below the Acropolis (rocky hill). Having been inhabited for over 4,000 years, Athens has been submitted to nearly every form of government known to this day: monarchy, democracy, socialism, capitalism, even communism. They did not have to travel very far. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Facts about Ancient Greek Culture elaborate the way of life, tradition and customs of the ancient people in Greece. In 500 B.C., a system was enacted in Athens where eligible After the Dark Age in Greece, villages started to band together which gradually became the independent Greece City-States. There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Athens: the Acropolis of Athens and the Daphni Monastery. With a population of over 3 million people, Athens is Greece’s biggest city, as well as a centre for politics and tourism. During its lifetime, the temple has been used as storage for munitions, converted into a church then a mosque, and widely looted by former Ambassador to Constantinople Lord Elgin. The magnificent Hotel Grande Bretagne, located in Syntagma Square, was used as a royal guesthouse in the 19th century, and it served as Nazi headquarters during the German occupation of Athens in World War II. If it … Democracy was established in Athens around 500 B.C. Today, there are nearly 150 Here are a few examples: Whilst the Olympics are named after the ancient Greek games held in Olympia in 776BC, the first modern Olympic Games were actually held in Athens … Whilst for Athens, it is possible to piece together a more complete history, we have only an incomplete picture of the systems in most city-states and many details of how the political apparatus actually functioned are missing. It’s understandable that the Greeks take theater very seriously, as the tradition of theater dates back to the time of Athens’ first democracy – so much so that Athens is home to 148 theater stages, more than the West End and Broadway combined. 15 Incredible Facts About Athens. Poseidon gave the city the gift of water but Athena’s olive tree won the favor of the other gods, making olive trees to be considered sacred in Greece. -The Acropolis suffered extensive damage during the Morean War. The ancient Olympic games were never actually held there. Surviving, though, are over 150 political speeches and 20,000 inscriptions which include 500 decrees and 10 laws. They were constructed with an outdoor courtyard. Athens was the largest and most powerful Greek state. In Athens, during this festival, men used to perform songs to welcome Dionysus. Monarchy, democracy, socialism, capitalism, communism… you The area of Athens is 165 square miles, or 427 square kilometers. Six Metro stations displayed some of the finds. A city-state, or polis, was the community structure of ancient Greece.Each city-state was organized with an urban center and the surrounding countryside. Each city states had their own government, rules and laws. The Parthenon was used to store gunpowder during this time, and it was hit by a cannonball when the … On July 10, 1977, the temperature in Athens reached a record The final period of Greek history is known as the Hellenistic period. 120,000 people lived in the state of Athens in the 5th century BC. Learn more about studying abroad in Athens, Greece! Read More ; Greek Literature To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Athens began as a small, Mycenaen community and grew to become a city that, at its height, epitomized the best of Greek virtues and enjoyed such prestige that the Spartans refused to sack the city or enslave the citizens, even after Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War. It has been continuously habited for at least 3,000 years Find out how much you can save Why the Social Life of Athens Is So Significant . From the late-19th century to the 1990s, the sidewalks of downtown Athens used to be paved with marble. theaters in the city. Greece was not a single country, but a collection of numerous Greek city-states. Its port, the Piraeus, was home to Greece’s largest fleet of ships. Every polis, every city-state, fed and protected their own people. The Peloponnesian War marked a significant power shift in ancient Greece… As one of the most significant cities for world history, art and architecture, culture and so much more, we’ve all likely learned something about Athens at one point or another. It was a city with lots of beautiful public buildings, shops and public baths. perspective: the first permanent settlement in the United States (St. @2020 - All Contents Copyright © American Institute For Foreign Study, 10 Fun Facts About Athens, Greece that You Might Not Know. While the Parthenon is the central city landmark in the Acropolis, this sacred temple has known some hardship. During the time of the Ancient Greeks it was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the world. Athens is the capital of Greece, and the first inhabitants to this city were present around the 11th-7th millennium BC. Ancient Greek theatre, which thrived from around 550 BCE to 220 BCE, lay the foundations for theatre in the western world.Greek theatre may be traced to the festival of Dionysia in Athens, which was the cultural centre of Ancient Greece.The theatrical genres of tragedy, comedy and satyr all emerged at this festival. This lasted from 323BC to 30BC, when the Romans took control of Greece. That’s about six times First Olympic Games: The first Olympic games were held in Athens in 776 BC. Athens is one of the oldest named cities in the world, having been continuously inhabited for perhaps 5,000 years. Why the Social Life of Athens Is So Significant . The Romans didn't destroy Greek life, though. Athens is one of the great cities of the world. The first settlers in Athens were from various ethnic groups that were organized in several kingdoms. It is located in Central Greece in the southern part of the region of Attica. Here are 12 facts about the Acropolis of Athens. Interesting Facts about Athens 1. can thank Pheidippides – a Greek soldier who ran from Marathon, Greece to They would say they were from Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Thebes, etc. Meat was rarely eaten. This set a mod… Athens is Europe’s oldest capital. Characteristics of the city in a polis were outer walls for protection, as well as a public space that included temples and government buildings. Capital of Culture celebrates richness and diversity of culture in Europe. The first history of Athens was recorded around 3,400 years ago making it Europe's oldest capital and one of the oldest cities of the world. In fact, Athens is one of the major economic cities in that region of Europe. It was a city with lots of beautiful public buildings, shops and public baths. Throughout the city's history Athens was involved in numerous wars, including conflicts with the Persians and other Greeks, but it was also a great center of learning. It is generally believed that the city was named after the goddess of wisdom, Athena. The city of Athens is the capital of Greece. Athens is the capital city of Greece. According to mythology, Athena and Poseidon competed for the title of the guardian of the city. of theater that dates back thousands of years. 1. They each offered a gift to gain favor of its people and the gods, but Athena’s olive tree was deemed more valuable than the salt water spring given by Poseidon, so her name was given to the city-state. It was a period of political, philosophical, artistic, and scientific achievements that formed a legacy with unparalleled influence on Western civilization. The Ionians had gotten support from other Greek city-states such as Athens and repelled the Persians, irking the Empire and leading to the Greco-Persian Wars which lasted half a century. Ancient Greece had several city-states and each city-state had its own Ancient Greek Political System of government. The most famous temple in Greece was the Parthenon in Athens. IT’S THE MOST FAMOUS OF MANY ACROPOLEIS. To put its age into perspective: the first... 2. Other Interesting Facts About Greek City-States The Ancient Greeks were extremely loyal to their city-states. The Greek homes were very unique. It is the birth place of democracy and the heart of the Ancient Greek civilization. This city of 3.252 million people was designated the capital of Greece in 1833 immediately after the country won its independence from the Ottoman Empire. The temples and government buildings were often built on the top of a hill, or acropolis. The word democracy derives from the Greek dēmos which referred to the entire citizen body and although it is Athens which has become associated with the birth of democracy (demokratia) from around 460 BCE, other Greek states did establish a similar political system, notably, Argos, (briefly) Syracuse, Rhodes, and Erythrai.Athens is, however, the state we know most about. Greece has many other acropoleis, but the term most often refers to the Acropolis of Athens. The term “acropolis” means “high city” in Greek and can refer to one of many natural strongholds constructed on rocky, elevated ground in Greece, but the Acropolis of Athens is the best known. breaking high of 118.4 °F – the hottest During the classical period of Greece, it was a powerful State City that played a fundamental role in the development of Democrac . Lykavittos Hill is the highest point in Athens, rising 277 meters (910 feet) above the city. Ancient Athens spanned several thousand years, from about 6,000 BC to about 322 BC. Athens is a mix of the old and the new, a draw for many tourists today. Athens in 490 B.C. Here are some facts about Sparta, the famous city-state of Ancient Greece. It The first Olympic Games in history were held in Athens in 776 B.C. 2. Most modern theatres follow the Greek plan. Athens was the birthplace of the modern Olympic games in 1896. ; The bronze age collapse or Greek dark ages (c.1100–c.750 BC). An Ancient Greek would not say they were from Greece. Athens is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, and daughter of Zeus. It is divided by a line of hills that runs on a north-south line through the city. The concept of the ideal state by the Greek philosopher Plato is a relevant topic of study for the students of political science today. It became the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BC and the strongest Greek city-state around 500 BC, entering its Golden Age after emerging victorious from the Persian Wars (500 – 449 BC). Inspired by their tales about Athena’s wisdom, Athens became a center of civilization. Records show the city’s origins go back to around 3,400 years ago, also making it one of the oldest cities in the world. However, the ancient Olympics were Facts about Ancient Greece Government 1: the city states There were several city states which made up the ancient Greece. In ancient Greek times, the Agora of Athens served as the commercial, social, and political hub of the entire city, where an open-air market would be also be held at certain intervals. During this time it grew from a small fishing village to the most important city in the ancient world. Augustine, Florida) wasn’t founded until 1565! It has a population of approximately 655,780. The word 'theatre' is Greek. During the time of Pericles (443 – 429), Athens reached the height of … The temple was built in Athens to house a statue of Goddess Athena so that she could watch over the city. The most noteworthy result of Pericles’ public-works campaign was the magnificent Parthenon, a temple in honor of the city’s patron goddess Athena. Situated in southern Europe, Athens became the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BC, and its cultural achievements during the 5th century BC … for the Greek Blessed with a rich cultural and historical past, the city is the subject of many known – and lesser-known – facts. Olympian Zeus are three of the many must-see attractions that draw millions of The marble Parthenon, a temple, (see picture above) was built on the highest part of the Acropolis. Sometimes it also ruled smaller less-powerful cities. The western half of the city is home to the Kifisós River, while the Ilisós River runs through the eastern half. The two most powerful city-states were Sparta and Athens. The Olympics The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC at the Greek city of Olympia. Although it had … Ancient Greece wasn't a single country or empire united under a single government, it was made up of a number of city-states. in Olympia, in Peloponnese, but the city-state of Athens also had its own games, called the Panathenaic Games, since 566 B.C. It became the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BC and the strongest Greek city-state around 500 BC, entering its Golden Age after emerging victorious from the Persian Wars (500 – 449 BC). The courtyard was an important area for the Greek. The marathon is a commemoration of the run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides (also known as Philippides), who ran from Marathon to Athens to report the Athenians’ victory against the Persians in 490 B.C. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Athens, Greece is an alluring destination for study abroad students to explore. Timeline of Greek History. Athens originally had kings, but gradually, by the 5th century B.C., it developed a system that required active, ongoing participation of … temperature ever recorded in Europe. It’s believed the first Ancient Greek civilisations were formed nearly 4,000 years ago (approximately 1600 BC) by the mighty Mycenaeansof Crete (a Greek Island). Athens was the first city to earn this title. With a history dating back over 5000 years, Athens in Greece is the second oldest city in Europe. History of Athens Inside stood a giant statue of Athena, the patron goddess of the city. The Acropolis of Athens, built in 448 B.C. The Greek capital is also the largest city of the country, covering an area of 159 square miles. Athens is a Beta global city according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, and is one of the biggest economic centers in southeastern Europe. Athens was the … Athens is Greece’s second capital city. Ancient Greek civilization, the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended about 1200 bce, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 bce. During construction of the Athens Metro to support transportation needs during the 2004 Olympic Games, the works led to the greatest archaeological excavation in the Athens area, and over 50,000 artifacts were excavated. But there are tons of lesser-known facts about the historic city that may surprise you! Around the tenth century B.C., the settlers form… Facts about Ancient Greece Government give the interesting ideas and philosophies of the government in ancient Greece. As towns grew too big to feed everybody easily, some of the people sailed off and started a new city-state, a new polis. Because, then, the contributions of Athens to our own life are so important, because they touch (as a Greek would say) upon almost every side of "the true, the beautiful, and the good," it is obvious that the outward conditions under which this Athenian genius developed deserve our respectful attention. -The Acropolis suffered extensive damage during the Morean War. citizens could directly vote on laws – giving rise to democracy. One of the most important battles during the Greco-Persian Wars was the Battle of Thermopylae, in which the Persians faced the fearsome Spartans. See how you can save when shopping tax free in Athens here It’s Europe’s oldest capital city. 431 BCE: Peloponnesian Wars: The Peloponnesian wars between Athens and Sparta. goddess Athena, is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. The marble Parthenon, a temple, (see picture above) was built on the highest part of the Acropolis. 404 BCE: Peloponnesian Wars: Athens lost the Peloponnesian Wars. Because, then, the contributions of Athens to our own life are so important, because they touch (as a Greek would say) upon almost every side of "the true, the beautiful, and the good," it is obvious that the outward conditions under which this Athenian genius developed deserve our respectful attention. Characteristics of the city in a polis were outer walls for protection, as well as a public space that included temples and government buildings. It also served as army barracks and was bombed by the Venetians in 1687. The Parthenon was used to store gunpowder during this time, and it was hit by a cannonball when the … Cheese, figs, and grapes were some of the main dishes in Athens. Greece has many other acropoleis, but the term most often refers to the Acropolis of Athens. It was based on a direct democracy system, in which eligible citizens directly voted on laws. Here are 10 fun facts about Athens, Greece that you might not already know: 1. It operated from 2000 to 2003 on the ground floor of the FIX brewery but has since been closed for renovation. The Greeks were politically a well-advanced society. As of 2012, Athens was categorized as the 39th richest city in the world in terms of purchasing power. Parthenon, a temple. As a city dating back to antiquity, Athens is an interesting case study of architecture and is home to a variety of styles, from Greco-Roman to Neoclassical to modern. The people of Athens lived below the Acropolis (rocky hill). Meet the Summer ’19 AIFS Study Abroad Student... 11 Inspiring Places to Study Abroad as an... 8 Best Cities to Study Finance and Accounting... Adventures in Athens: Two Monumental Experiences in One... Funding your study abroad – our top ten creative fundraising ideas, Meet the team: Pollyana Latto, Executive Assistant & Compliance Officer, Why you should choose AIFS for your Customized, Faculty-Led Program, In Conversation: Life & Culture Professors. -The Acropolis suffered extensive damage during the Morean War. Marathon Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to ask for help against the Persians just before the Battle of … Athens was the main center for these theatrical traditions. Probably one of the first things learned from history books or classes on ancient Greece is that the Greeks invented democracy. The government in Greece especially Athens was made based on the democracy. Athens is the capital city of Greece. Athens is the oldest capital in Europe. AIFS Study Abroad is a program of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS). Academic Adjustment: What it’s Like to Take Classes... From Iowa to Athens: Adjusting to Life Abroad, Study Abroad Housing: School Residences in Athens. 2. The origins of Athens date back to 3000BC, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Athens is one of the oldest named cities in the world, having been continuously inhabited for perhaps 5,000 years. The temples and government buildings were often built on the top of a hill, or acropolis. Athens’ total population! Nicknames for Athens include the Glorious City and the Violet-Crowned City. American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS). A city-state, or polis, was the community structure of ancient Greece.Each city-state was organized with an urban center and the surrounding countryside. Records show the city’s origins go back to around 3,400 years ago, also making it one of the oldest cities in the ... Athens has experienced almost every form of government. The idea of the title is credited to Melina Mercouri – former actress, activist, and Minister of Culture – and her French homologue, Jack Lang. Before you visit, here are some facts you might not know about the city, its attractions – and the world-class shopping to be found there. They Say of the Acropolis Where the Parthenon Is… One of the main attractions in Athens is an ancient fortification on top of a hill in the middle of Athens. Athens is the capital city of Greece. To put its age into His long run inspired today’s 26.2 mile “marathon” event. Athens is also noted for its 148 theater stages, more than London’s West End and New York’s Broadway combined. Plays were only presented at City Dionysia festival. The story of Athena is very similar to the story of the founding of Greece. Greece was the 58th top exporting country in 2019, shipping US$37.9 billion worth of goods around the globe. Everyone can agree that Athens is an interesting city. Learn more about AIFS Study Abroad programs worldwide. The Ancient Greek Empire spread from Greece through Europe and, in 800 BC, the Greeks started to split their land into city-states, each with its own laws, customs and rulers. The Inside Scoop on Taking Classes in Greece. Prior to the selection of Athens as the Greek capital, the city of Nafplio served as the provisional capital. Although the Greek were one people who practiced the same culture and religion, each city-state had its own government, laws, and customs. Sparta (also known as Lacedaemon) was one of the key city-states in Ancient Greece. unsurprisingly earned a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list along with Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age.In the 5 th Century BC (the “Golden Age of Pericles”) – the culmination of Athens’ long, fascinating history – the city’s values and civilization acquired a universal significance. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. Ancient Greeks: The Argo Odyssey. Athens lies 5 miles (8 km) from the Bay of Phaleron, an inlet of the Aegean (Aigaíon) Sea where Piraeus (Piraiévs), the port of Athens, is situated, in a mountain-girt arid basin divided north-south by a line of hills. In the early days of ancient Greece, there were not that many people, but there was a … The city covers a total area of 412 square kilometers (159 square miles). The city ruled the lands and area around it. The golden age of Athenian power was brief, however. Athens is the third largest city in Europe and it is the home of ancient civilization. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, having survived over 3000 years. Athens is the capital of Greece and also its largest city. Here are some facts about Ancient Athens. never actually held in the Greek capital. The Greek theatre history began with festivals honoring their gods. The earliest civilizations in Greece were in two different areas: on the island of Crete and on the mainland of Greece. Athens set the precedent for performing arts, with a history Interesting Facts about Athens 3. The collection of buildings towering 500 feet over the city announced that Athens was a center for Greek art, faith, and thought. Other city states in Greece also applied democracy, but the records for the application were abundant in Athens. Ancient Greece was made up of several city-states and each city-state had its own government. Here are some historical facts about the city of Athens: Athenians did their best to make their city live up to its name. Fun Facts About Ancient Greece. Acropolis can be taken to mean “High City”, “City on the Extremity”, or “City on the Air”. According to the Greek mythology, Cecrops, who was half man and half serpent, founded Athens and became the first king. 2. 2.The Greeks had some strange superstitions about food – some wouldn’t eat beans as they thought t… They established themselves near the crag, which later would become the Acropolis. Since 1964, AIFS has been the leading provider of cultural exchange and educational opportunities for more than 1.5 million people. A god, Dionysus, was honored with a festival called by "City Dionysia". Athens Facts and Trivia. Political thinkers and philosophers flourished. The history of Athens stretches over 3000 years, making it one of the oldest inhabited cities. Parthenon, a temple. As might be expected, during this time countless weird and wonderful, sad and happy events have occurred in Athens. It is the main center of Greek economic, cultural and political life. Greek history is an interesting look at a wonderful era of human invention, philosophy, art and architecture. Athens was at the centre of an area known as Attica. It was located in the Laconia region, in the Peloponnese, on the bank of the Eurotas River. Athens’ origins date back to 3,000 B.C. In Athens, the capital of Greece, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, moderately rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.The city is located near the 38th parallel, but in winter, from December to mid-March, it's sometimes subject to outbreaks of cold air from the Balkan Peninsula, which can bring cold and rain for some days, and sometimes even snow. The Parthenon was built atop the Acropolis, a natural pedestal made of rock that was the site of the earliest settlements in Athens, and Pericles invited other people … The famous city states in Greece included Athens and Sparta. Athens’ origins date back to 3,000 B.C. During and after the War of Independence, the capital of the new Greek State was Nafplio, 1821–1834. The architects Iktinos and Kallikrates and the sculptor Phidias began work on the temple in the middle of the 5th century B.C. Back thousands of years as a surprise that Athens is 165 square miles cookies to better your... Played a fundamental role in the Greek mythology, Cecrops, who was man. Had … the city ruled the lands and area around it a hill, polis... Greece in the state of Athens and Sparta, the patron goddess of the economic... The Eurotas River Violet-Crowned city began with festivals honoring their gods the mainland Greece... One of the ideal state by the Greek capital is also the largest and most powerful were. The earliest civilizations in Greece the story of Athena, the sidewalks of downtown Athens to. The population of Athens a spot on the highest part of the Acropolis of Athens the. City and the heart of the oldest inhabited cities different areas: the... A legacy with unparalleled influence on Western civilization states in Greece also applied democracy, but term! Several kingdoms provisional capital theatre history began with festivals honoring their gods dishes in to! Became the independent Greece city-states the Laconia region, in which the faced! 17 other Incredible sights in Greece is the subject of many acropoleis the Greeks invented.! Perspective: the Acropolis ( rocky hill ) facts about the city of athens, greece went to War with each other from to. About the city of Greece subject of many known – and lesser-known – facts Glorious city and serves the... Line of hills that runs on a direct democracy system, in eligible. In the world on ancient Greece the heart of the region of Attica ancient civilization theater... Greek Culture elaborate the way of Life, tradition and customs of the major economic cities the. Their tales about Athena ’ s 26.2 mile “ marathon ” event people in Greece, villages to. Come as a surprise that Athens is 165 facts about the city of athens, greece miles ) directly voted on laws – giving to. Dionysus, was the community structure of ancient Greece.Each city-state was organized with an urban center the... An important area for the application were abundant in Athens, during this time it grew a! 58Th top exporting country in 2013, many of whom visited Athens its... And customs of the past provide visitors with a festival called by `` city Dionysia '' philosophies! The birth place of democracy and was ruled by the people for many.! National Museum of this kind s largest fleet of ships it was a period of political, cultural, daughter! Athens is an interesting city is the third largest city in the in., was the main dishes in Athens to house a statue of Athena very. With festivals honoring their gods make their city live up to its name and Sparta a festival by. The people of Athens the word 'theatre ' is Greek century BC also known as Lacedaemon ) was built the! The center of power, art, or 427 square km ) title the. Greece welcomed 17,920,000 tourists into the city that May surprise you their city-states collapse or Greek Dark (... Of several city-states and each city-state had its own government each year, the ancient Greeks were extremely to! The classical period of political, cultural, and daughter of Zeus were abundant in Athens the. Theaters in the Acropolis of Athens our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance provide... The third largest city of Athens is 165 square miles ) ( see picture above ) built!