Ancient Athens terms. Athens in ancient Greece. The Greeks used columns of three different orders in the construction: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian

Ancient Athens was a polis of ancient Greece and one of the important cities of the ancient world in general. The borders of Ancient Athens included most of today's Attica.

The rise of Western civilization began more than 2,500 years ago in Attica, a small Greek state and, in particular, in ancient Athens.

At the beginning of the 5th century BC. Athens was practically destroyed.

The Acropolis, one of the most famous historical monuments in the world, was the religious and political center of the city in ancient times. But 480 B.C. the buildings of the Acropolis were burned to the ground by a 300,000-strong Persian army that invaded the city, under the leadership of the formidable and famous king Xerxes.

The Athenians abandoned the city and the Persians occupied Athens. It seemed that this was the end for Ancient Athens, but over the next 50 years, the city became the cultural capital of the entire Greek world and the cradle of modern Western science and philosophy. The Acropolis was brilliantly rebuilt and by 430 BC. it is adorned with the most beautiful monuments in the world, with the most important being the Parthenon, the Temple of Virgin Athena.

How did the ancient city of Athens rise from the ashes and become one of the largest cities in ancient times?

Who were the leaders, architects and artists who made the unique history of ancient Athens?

Golden Age of Athens

After a brilliant victory over the Persians and their retreat from Athens, a leader came to power in Ancient Athens and made his city a cultural and military force in the Greek world. The name of the outstanding statesman was Pericles, he not only carried out democratic reforms, but also strengthened the army and built some of the most remarkable monuments of all time. Pericles was in power for 30 years, he made a greater contribution to the development of Athenian democracy. The Citadel, which was completely destroyed by the Persians, was restored. The main building was the Parthenon, but other temples were built, which became masterpieces of world art.

Pericles brought the city into the “golden age” and made the name of Athens immortal. This was the century of great artists such as the sculptor Phidias, great philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, famous theater-goers such as Sophocles and Euripides, who laid the foundations of tragedy, comedy and drama.

Pericles died in 429 BC. after the plague, which cost the lives of many inhabitants of Athens. But his achievements remain unsurpassed. Athens at that time was the crown of a dynamic society, and the time of his reign is usually called the “golden age of Pericles.”

Greece is a country with magnificent landscapes. The ancient Greeks believed that gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings lived in forests, mountains and water. They believed in the absolute power of the gods, who could help or harm them. Religious festivals took place throughout the year, during which people made sacrifices to the gods.

The first people appeared on the territory of Greece at the beginning of the Bronze Age, who migrated from the vast territory of Eurasia. The first Greeks were warlike tribes, they constantly fought with each other in order to occupy richer and more fertile places. The first settlements were mostly primitive rural communities. Between 1500 and 1200 BC. There was a population explosion, which led to high cultural and technological achievements. Palaces and temples rose up everywhere, some of the remains of which we can still see today.

This created a suitable background for legends and myths: the poems of Homer, the myths about the “Argonauts” and the “labors of Hercules”. Some have long been considered legends, like the Trojan War, described by Homer. However, in 1870, the German archaeologist Schliemann discovered the ruins of Troy. The city was indeed destroyed by the war, which lasted for a long time.

In areas of Attica, an intense human presence was found during the Neolithic era. Ancient Attica was inhabited by the Ionians, one of the main ancient Greek tribes that settled in southern Greece at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. In Attica, a special Ionic dialect gradually developed, which became the language of literature and art in ancient times. With the arrival of the Dorians, at the end of the 2nd millennium (about 1100 BC), the Ionians defended their borders, Attica was one of the few places in Greece that the Dorians failed to capture.

Modern Athens

The city of Athens lives and prospers to this day. The modern city is centered around the Citadel and includes various ruins from ancient times, proving that this place once reached the pinnacle of its development, influencing the entire European culture.

A city of about 5 million people lives with memories of a world that was lost. In many places we observe different historical periods of Athens, some buildings and buildings still keep the secrets of the ancient Hellenes.

Until now, as in ancient times, the magnificent Acropolis with beautiful temples proudly towers over the city.

Ancient Athens was considered the main city in Attica (Central Greece). Urban settlements were located several kilometers from the sea. They were grouped around a high hill with a citadel towering above it. It was called the Acropolis. The area was extremely picturesque, and the Acropolis was decorated with magnificent buildings.

Ancient Athens on the map of Greece

From tyrants to democracy

The city-state began to gain strength at the end of the 9th century BC. e. In the beginning, Athens was ruled by kings, and then they were replaced by tyrants. Tyranos translated from Greek as ruler. Therefore, no bad meaning was put into this word.

However, over time, city rulers began to oppress and rob the population. It was then that the word “tyrant” began to be understood as a cruel ruler or despot. In this negative meaning it has survived to this day.

At first, the tyrants were tolerated, since they enjoyed the support of the rich and noble Athenians and the Areopagus. Areopagus called the supreme council, which included 9 judges or archons.

Athens Acropolis

In the 7th century BC. e. archon Dragon implemented a whole series of harsh laws. According to them, people were executed for the slightest offense. Stole a bunch of grapes or an onion - death. The Athenians said that Draco wrote his laws in blood and called them draconian.

Property inequality ended with the struggle between aristocrats and commoners in the 6th century BC. e. Unrest and armed clashes began in the city. To stop the bloodshed, they decided to elect an intelligent man as archon so that he could finally restore order.

He turned out to be such a person Solon. He had an excellent reputation and in 594 BC. e. began to carry out reforms. It was on his initiative that the Draco laws and debt slavery were abolished. Laws on freedom of will and inheritance of property were introduced. Craftsmen and traders began to be provided with benefits.

All citizens of Attica, depending on material wealth, were divided into 4 class groups. Each of them was prescribed its own responsibilities and rights. But in this matter, Solon acted as a defender of the aristocracy. He granted the right to hold public office only to wealthy citizens.

The reformer did not encroach on the power of the tyrants. They continued to commit arbitrariness and increasingly antagonized the common people. In 514 BC. e. The tyrant Hipparchus was killed by the conspirators Harmodius and Aristogeiton. These two ancient Greeks went down in history as the first tyrannicides.

In 509 BC. e. A popular uprising broke out in Ancient Athens. As a result of this, royal power was destroyed and democratic rule triumphed. All Athenian citizens, regardless of material wealth, received equal political rights, and the most important state issues began to be decided by general voting.

But the republic that arose on the lands of Ancient Greece remained aristocratic. Noble Athenians began to unite into groups and manipulate the votes of people at public assemblies. The aristocrats bribed and won over the people's leaders, who were called demagogues.

The Rise of Ancient Athens

In the 5th century BC. e. Greek city-states defeated Persia. This contributed not only to general prosperity, but also to the victory of democracy. In Argos, Phocis, and Thebes, the ruling aristocratic groups were overthrown. The inhabitants of these cities began to practice democratic freedoms following the example of Athens.

But it was Ancient Athens that reached its greatest prosperity. The port of Piraeus, which they owned, became the main center of trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Athenians also stood at the head of a maritime union, which included 200 poleis (cities). The union had its own treasury, and it was managed by the Athenians. All this strengthened the city and raised its authority.

As for domestic political life, it was characterized by the struggle of two parties - aristocratic and democratic. In 462 BC. e. The power of the Areopagus was significantly limited. People's assemblies began to play an increasingly significant political role. They convened 4 times a month. Laws were passed on them, wars were declared, peace was concluded, and public funds were distributed.

Pericles with his wife Aspasia

During this period, such a historical figure stood out as Pericles. He became a recognized Athenian leader, and in 443 BC. e. he was elected strategos (military leader). This man was in power for 15 years. It was under him that secret voting began to be practiced in the people's assembly.

In all sculptures, Pericles is depicted wearing a helmet. There is speculation that his head had some kind of physical defect. But, despite this, the strategist had a diverse education. He strove to make Ancient Athens the center of education for all of Hellas.

This man's wife was Aspasia from Miletus. She was distinguished by her beauty and intelligence, and in her social activities she sought equality for women. Residents of the city compared Pericles with Zeus, and his wife with Hera - the wife of the thunderer. However, the marriage of this couple was not recognized as official, since Aspasia was not an Athenian. True, two sons from this marriage received Athenian citizenship.

Under Pericles, the city flourished and was the most prosperous and powerful among all the cities of Ancient Greece. In 429 BC. e. the strategist died. After this, the gradual decline of the powerful city-state began.

Sunset of Ancient Athens

In 431 BC. e. War began between Sparta and Athens. It lasted 30 years and was carried out extremely cruelly. Other Greek cities also took part in this war. It went down in history as the name of the union led by Sparta.

The Spartans invaded Attica several times and besieged Athens. In response to this, the Athenians attacked Peloponnesian cities from the sea. A sea voyage to Sicily was also organized. A fleet of 134 triremes (warships) took part in it. But this large-scale expedition did not bring success to the Athenians.

Having suffered a number of serious defeats, the Athenian Maritime Union collapsed. A revolution took place in the city itself. As a result of this, the aristocratic first came to power council of four hundred, and then a smaller group seized power thirty tyrants. As for the People's Assembly, its powers were significantly reduced.

The Peloponnesian War was fought on both land and sea

In 404 BC. e. The Athenians capitulated to the Spartans. They were prohibited from having a navy, and the stone walls of the port of Piraeus were destroyed. But the long war weakened not only Attica, but also other Greek city states.

And at this time, a new powerful enemy appeared in the north. It was Macedonia, which began to claim hegemony over all of Greece. It reached its greatest power in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. under Philip II. He created a well-armed army and began to conquer one Greek city after another.

However, the Athenian lands continued to remain the cultural and commercial center of Hellas. But the city residents understood that the Macedonians would soon reach them. The Athenian orator Demosthenes spoke directly about this. His accusatory speeches were called Philippics, and Philip II himself declared Demosthenes his personal enemy.

The political situation was heating up, and Ancient Athens had no choice but to create a military alliance. It included Thebes, Megara and Corinth. In 338 BC. e. A battle took place near the Boeotian city of Chaeronea between the troops of the military alliance and the army of Philip II. In this battle the allies were defeated.

The winner dictated peace terms to the defeated cities. Since Philip II was a smart man, he formally declared the conquered policies independent, but obliged them to support him in military campaigns. In addition, he placed military garrisons in Attica.

In most of the conquered cities, an aristocracy came to power, currying favor with Macedonia. This ended the classical era, and the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greece began.

During Hellenism, the situation in Athens was constantly changing. The city either achieved independence or again fell under the rule of the Macedonian army. In 146 BC. e. the city found itself under the rule of the Roman Republic as an ally. But freedom was purely formal.

In 88 BC. e. The Athenians supported the anti-Roman movement, which was led by the Pontic king Mithridates VI. But in 86 BC. e. near the city walls there was a Roman army under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. The Romans took the once great city by storm. However, Sulla showed mercy out of respect for the historical past of Ancient Athens: the fictitious freedom of the Athenians was preserved.

In the last quarter of the 1st century BC. e. the city became part of the new Roman province. But only in the 3rd century AD. e. the importance of the once powerful Athens completely disappeared, and the polis fell into complete decay.

OK. 508 BC e. — Democracy is winning in Athens.
461-429 BC e. - the era of Pericles in Athens.
447-438 BC e. - construction of the Parthenon.
431-404 BC e. - Peloponnesian War.

Ancient Athens was the first of many city-states to call for a unified force to jointly defend against further Persian invasions after the Greco-Persian Wars. For this purpose, a powerful fleet was built here.

In Athens, all male citizens had a say in how the city should be governed. They met every ten days to discuss new laws and vote on decisions. This type of government is called democracy, which means "rule of the people". Women, foreigners and slaves were not allowed to vote.

Athens temples

The Greeks built majestic temples of dazzling white marble. Most temples had triangular roofs and rested on rows of columns. The Greeks used three different orders in the construction of columns: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian.

Athens agora

The Athenian Agora is the central square and market in the center of Athens. It is located at the foot of a hill called the Acropolis. The road leading to the Acropolis is called the “sacred path”. At the top of the hill was the temple of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, which was called the Parthenon. Religious processions passed through the main gate of the temple.

Men went to the agora to meet friends. Men usually did their shopping at the market. People from all over Greece came to Athens to purchase pottery from the agora. Residents from other cities could change their money at the trapezit. Market jugglers entertained the crowd.

The market in the Athenian agora sold a wide range of goods. The stalls sold wool and linen fabric, clay lamps, flowers, olive oil for lamps, and even slaves. There were shops in the building called “stoya”. They sold gold, spices and silk. Food was also sold in the agora: hot food, meat, fruits and vegetables, honey for preparing sweet dishes, eggs, cheese. During sale, the meat was laid out on a marble slab, which kept it chilled. Material from the site

Greek thinkers wondered about the meaning of human existence. The two most famous philosophers, Socrates and Plato, lived in Athens. Scientists tried to explain the structure of the world. They studied plants, animals, the human body, the Sun and stars. Scientists such as Pythagoras discovered laws that are still used in mathematics today. A Greek named Herodotus wrote the first reliable book of history. It was dedicated to the Greco-Persian wars.

Pictures (photos, drawings)

Pericles
Greek warriors. Painting on a vase
Market (agora) in the center of Athens
The Parthenon in Athens - a typical Greek temple
Politician giving a speech to Athenian citizens
The Greeks used columns of three different orders in the construction: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian
Plato
Socrates
Manuscript containing the famous Pythagorean theorem
Herodotus questions veterans of the Greco-Persian wars

This is a special city: no other European capital can boast of such a historical and cultural heritage. It is rightly called the cradle of democracy and Western civilization. Life in Athens still revolves around the witness of its birth and prosperity - the Acropolis, one of the seven hills surrounding the city, which rises above it like a stone ship with the ancient Parthenon on its deck.

Video: Athens

Basic moments

Athens has been the capital of modern Greece since the 1830s, the time when an independent state was proclaimed. Since then, the city has experienced an unprecedented rise. In 1923, the number of residents here doubled almost overnight as a result of a population exchange with Turkey.

Due to the rapid post-war economic growth and the real boom that followed Greece's accession to the European Union in 1981, the suburb took over the entire historical part of the city. Athens has become an octopus city: it is estimated that its population is about 4 million inhabitants, 750,000 of whom live within the city's official boundaries.

The new dynamic city was greatly transformed by the 2004 Olympic Games. Years of grandiose work have modernized and beautified the city. A new airport opened its doors, new metro lines were launched, and museums were updated.

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

Sights of Athens

It is the small plateau on which the Acropolis is located (4 ha), rising 100 m above the plain of Attica and the modern city, Athens owes its destiny. The city was born here, grew up, and met its historical glory. No matter how damaged and unfinished the Acropolis may be, it still holds up quite confidently to this day and fully retains the status of one of the greatest wonders of the world, once awarded to it by UNESCO. Its name means "high city", from the Greek asgo (“high”, “sublime”) and polis ("city"). It also means "citadel", which, in fact, was the Acropolis in the Bronze Age and later, in the Mycenaean era.

In 2000, the main buildings of the Acropolis were dismantled for reconstruction in accordance with new archaeological knowledge and modern restoration techniques. However, do not be surprised if the reconstruction of some buildings, for example the Parthenon or the Temple of Nike Apteros, is not yet completed; this work takes a lot of effort and time.

Areopagus and the Bele Gate

The entrance to the Acropolis is on the west side, at the Bele Gate, a Roman building from the 3rd century, named after the French archaeologist who discovered it in 1852. From the entrance, steps carved in stone lead to the Areopagus, a stone hill on which judges gathered in ancient times.

The huge staircase that ended the Panathenaic road (dromos), led to this monumental entrance to the Acropolis, marked by six Doric columns. More complex than the Parthenon, which they were meant to complement, the Propylaea ("in front of entrance") were conceived by Pericles and his architect Mnesicles as the grandest secular building ever built in Greece. Works began in 437 BC. and interrupted in 431 by the Peloponnesian War, were never resumed. The central passage, the widest, was once crowned with railings, intended for chariots, and steps led to four other entrances, intended for mere mortals. The northern wing is decorated with images dedicated to Athena by great artists of the past.

This small temple (421 BC), created by the architect Callicrates, built on an earthen embankment to the southwest (on right) from Propylaea. It was in this place, according to legend, that Aegeus waited for his son Theseus, who had gone to fight the Minotaur. Not seeing a white sail on the horizon - a sign of victory - he threw himself into the abyss, considering Theseus dead. From this place there is a magnificent view of Athens and the sea. This building, dwarfed by the size of the Parthenon, was destroyed in 1687 by the Turks, who used its stones to strengthen their own defences. It was first restored shortly after the country's independence, but has recently been dismantled again to be rebuilt with all the subtleties of classical art.

After passing the Propylaea, you will find yourself on the esplanade in front of the Acropolis, topped by the Parthenon itself. It was Pericles who commissioned Phidias, a brilliant sculptor and builder, and his assistants, the architects Ictinus and Callicrates, to build this temple on the site of former sanctuaries destroyed by the Persian conquerors. The work, which began in 447 BC, lasted fifteen years. Using Pentelic marble as a material, the builders managed to create a building with ideal proportions, 69 meters long and 31 meters wide. It is decorated with 46 fluted columns ten meters high, made up of a dozen drums. For the first time in history, each of the four facades of the building was decorated with pediments with painted friezes and sculptures.

In the foreground was a bronze statue of Athena Promachos (“the one that protects”) nine meters high, with a spear and shield - only a few fragments of the pedestal remain from this composition. They say that sailors could see the crest of her helmet and the gilded tip of her spear, sparkling in the sun, as soon as they entered the Saronic Gulf...

Another huge statue of Athena Parthenos, dressed in pure gold, with a face, arms and legs made of ivory and with the head of Medusa on her chest, was in the sanctuary. This brainchild of Phidias remained in its place for more than a thousand years, but was subsequently taken to Constantinople, where it was later lost.

Becoming the Cathedral of Athens during the Byzantine era, then a mosque under Turkish rule, the Parthenon passed through the centuries without much loss until that fateful day in 1687 when the Venetians bombarded the Acropolis. The Turks set up an ammunition depot in the building, and when a cannonball hit it, the wooden roof was destroyed and part of the walls and sculptural decorations collapsed. An even more severe blow to the pride of the Greeks was dealt at the very beginning of the 19th century by the British ambassador Lord Elgin, who received permission from the Turks to excavate the ancient city and took away a huge number of beautiful statues and bas-reliefs of the Parthenon pediment. Now they are in the British Museum, but the Greek government does not lose hope that someday they will return to their homeland.

The last of the sanctuaries built by the ancient Greeks on the Acropolis is located on the other side of the plateau, near the northern wall, on the site of the mythical dispute between Poseidon and Athena over power over the city. Construction lasted fifteen years. The consecration of the Erechtheion took place in 406 BC. An unknown architect was supposed to combine three sanctuaries under one roof (in honor of Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus), having built a temple on a site with significant differences in ground height.

This temple, although smaller in size than the Parthenon, was supposed to be equal to it in magnificence. The north portico is without a doubt a masterpiece of architectural genius, as evidenced by its deep blue marble frieze, coffered ceiling and elegant Ionic columns.

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

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

Located on the western side of the Acropolis (161-174), a Roman odeon famous for its acoustics, is open to the public only during the festivities organized as part of the festival in honor of Athena (performances take place almost every day from late May to mid-October). The marble steps of the ancient theater can accommodate up to 5,000 spectators!

The theater located not far from the Odeon, although very ancient, is closely connected with the main episodes of the life of the Greek city. This gigantic structure with 17,000 seats, built in the 5th-4th centuries BC, has seen the tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides and the comedies of Aristophanes. In fact, it is the cradle of Western theatrical art. Since the 4th century, the city assembly has met here.

New Acropolis Museum

At the foot of the hill (South side) is the New Acropolis Museum, the brainchild of Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and his Greek colleague Michalis Fotiadis. A new museum built to replace the old Acropolis Museum (near the Parthenon), which became too cramped, opened its doors in June 2009. This ultra-modern building of marble, glass and concrete was built on stilts, as valuable archaeological finds were discovered at the site when construction began. 4,000 artifacts are displayed on 14,000 sq. m is ten times the area of the old museum.

The ground floor, already open to the public, houses temporary exhibitions, and its glass floor allows for observation of ongoing excavations. The second floor houses the permanent collections, which include artifacts found at the Acropolis from the Archaic period of Ancient Greece to the Roman period. But the highlight of the exhibition is the third floor, whose glass windows give visitors a beautiful view of the Parthenon.

Acropolis metro station

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

Old lower town

On both sides of the Acropolis stretches the ancient lower city: Greek in the north, around the market square and the ancient district of Kerameikos, Roman in the east on the approach to the Olympion (temple of Zeus) and the Arch of Hadrian. Recently, all the sights can be seen on foot, passing through the labyrinth of streets of Plaka or going around the Acropolis along the main street. Dionysius the Areopagite.

Agora

Initially, this term meant “meeting”, then it began to be called a place where people did business. The heart of the old town, filled with workshops and stalls, the agora (market Square) was surrounded by many tall buildings: a mint, a library, a council chamber, a court, archives, not to mention countless altars, small temples and monuments.

The first public buildings on this site began to appear in the 4th century BC, during the reign of the tyrant Pisistratus. Some of them were restored, and many were built after the sack of the city by the Persians in 480 BC. The Panathenaic Road, the main artery of the ancient city, crossed the esplanade diagonally, linking the main gate of the city, the Dipylon, with the Acropolis. Cart races took place here, in which even cavalry recruits supposedly took part.

Today, the agora has hardly survived, with the exception of Theseon (Temple of Hephaestus). This Doric temple in the west of the Acropolis is the best preserved in Greece. It is the owner of a beautiful ensemble of Pentelic marble columns and Parian marble friezes. On each of its sides there is an image of Hercules in the east, Theseus in the north and south, battle scenes (with magnificent centaurs) in the east and west. Dedicated to both Hephaestus, patron of metallurgists, and Organ Athena (To the worker), protector of potters and craftsmen, it dates from the second half of the 5th century BC. This temple probably owes its preservation to its transformation into a church. In the 19th century, it even became a Protestant temple, where the remains of English volunteers and other European philhellenes rested. (Greco-philos) who died during the Revolutionary War.

Below, in the center of the agora, near the entrance to the Odeon of Agrippa, you will see three monumental statues of tritons. In the most elevated part of the area, towards the Acropolis, is the restored small Church of the Holy Apostles (about 1000) in Byzantine style. Inside, the remains of 17th-century frescoes and a marble iconostasis are preserved.

The Portico of Attalus, on the east side of the market square, 120 meters long and 20 meters wide, was reconstructed in the 1950s and is now the Agora Museum. There are some amazing artifacts to see here. For example, a huge Spartan shield made of bronze (425 BC) and, directly opposite, a piece of clerotherium, a stone with a hundred slits, intended for the random selection of jurors. Among the coins on display is a silver tetradrachm depicting an owl, which served as the model for the Greek euro.

Roman agora

In the second half of the 1st century BC. the Romans moved the agora about a hundred meters to the east to create their own central market. After the barbarian invasion of 267, the administrative center of the city took refuge behind the new walls of the decaying Athens. Here, as in the surrounding streets, you can still see many important buildings.

Built in the 11th century BC. The Doric gate of Athena Archegetis is located near the western entrance to the Roman agora. During the reign of Hadrian, a copy of the order regarding the taxation of the purchase and sale of olive oil was placed here for public viewing... On the other side of the square, on an embankment, rises the octagonal Tower of the Winds (Aerids) made of white Pentelic marble. It was built in the 1st century BC. Macedonian astronomer Andronikos and served simultaneously as a weather vane, compass and clepsydra (water clock). Each side is decorated with a frieze depicting one of the eight winds, under which the hands of an ancient sundial can be discerned. On the north side there is a small inactive Fethiye mosque (Conqueror), one of the last witnesses to the occupation of the market square by religious buildings in the Middle Ages and later under Turkish rule.

Two blocks from the Roman agora, near Monastiraki Square, you will find the ruins of Hadrian's Library. Erected during the reign of the builder emperor in the same year as the Olympion (132 BC), this huge public building with a courtyard surrounded by a hundred columns was at one time one of the most luxurious in Athens.

The Keramik quarter, located on the northwestern border of the Greek city, owes its name to the potters who made the famous Attic vases with red figures on a black background here. There was also the largest cemetery of that time, which operated until the 6th century and is partially preserved. The oldest graves date back to the Mycenaean era, but the most beautiful, decorated with steles and funerary monuments, belonged to wealthy Athenians and war heroes from times of tyranny. They are located to the west of the cemetery, in a corner planted with cypress and olive trees. Such displays of vanity were prohibited after the establishment of democracy.

The museum displays the most beautiful examples: sphinxes, kouroses, lions, bulls... Some of them were used in 478 BC. for the hasty construction of new defensive fortifications against the Spartans!

To the west of the agora and the Acropolis rises the Pnyx Hill, the meeting place of the assembly of the inhabitants of Athens (ecclesia). Meetings took place ten times a year from the 6th to the end of the 4th century BC. Famous orators such as Pericles, Themistocles, Demosthenes gave speeches here to their compatriots. Later the assembly moved to a larger square in front of the Theater of Dionysus. From the top of this hill the view of the forested Acropolis is amazing.

Hill of Muses

The most beautiful panorama of the Acropolis and Parthenon still opens from this wooded hill in the southwest of the old center - the mythological bastion of the Athenians in the fight against the Amazons. At the top there is a perfectly preserved tomb monument of Philopappos (or Philoppapu) 12 meters high. It dates from the 2nd century and depicts this "benefactor of Athens" on a cart.

To mark the boundary between the old Greek city and its own Athens, the Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the erection of a gate facing the Olympion. On one side it was written "Athens, the ancient city of Theseus", and on the other - "The city of Hadrian, not Theseus". Apart from this, both facades are absolutely identical; Striving for unity, they combine the Roman tradition at the bottom and the Greek form of propylae at the top. The 18-meter-high monument was erected thanks to gifts from the people of Athens.

The Temple of Zeus the Olympian, the supreme deity, was the largest in ancient Greece - erected, as legend has it, on the site of the ancient sanctuary of Deucalion, the mythical forefather of the Greek people, who thus thanked Zeus for saving him from the flood. The tyrant Peisistratus supposedly began construction of this gigantic building in 515 BC. in order to keep people busy and prevent a riot. But this time the Greeks overestimated their capabilities: the temple was completed only in the Roman era, in 132 BC. Emperor Hadrian, who got all the glory. The dimensions of the temple were impressive: length - 110 meters, width - 44 meters. Of the 104 Corinthian columns, 17 meters high and 2 meters in diameter, only fifteen have survived; the sixteenth, knocked down by a storm, still lies on the ground. The rest were used for other buildings. They were arranged in double rows of 20 along the length of the building and triple rows of 8 on the sides. The sanctuary contains a giant gold and ivory statue of Zeus and a statue of Emperor Hadrian - both were equally revered in the Roman era.

Nestled in an amphitheater with marble steps near Mount Ardettos, 500 meters east of the Olympion, this stadium was restored in 1896 for the first modern Olympic Games to replace and replace the ancient one built by Lycurgus in 330 BC. In the 2nd century, Hadrian introduced arena gaming, bringing thousands of predators for bestiaries. This is where the 2004 Olympic Games marathon finished.

This is the oldest and most interesting residential quarter of the city. Its labyrinth of streets and staircases, dating back at least three thousand years, extends to the north-eastern slope of the Acropolis. It is mostly pedestrian. The upper part of the quarter is perfect for long walks and admiring the beautiful houses of the 19th century, the walls and courtyards of which are densely covered with burganvilleas and geraniums. Plaka is dotted with ancient ruins, Byzantine churches, and at the same time there are many boutiques, restaurants, museums, bars, small nightclubs... It can be either quiet or very lively, it all depends on the place and time.

Churches

Although the towers of the Metropolis, Plaka Cathedral (XIX century), located in the northern part of the quarter, inevitably attracts the eye, lower your eyes to its base and admire the delightful Little Metropolis. This small 12th-century Byzantine church dedicated to St. Eleutrius and Our Lady of Gorgoepikoos (“Coming soon to the assistant!”) was built from antique materials. The outside of its walls are decorated with magnificent geometric bas-reliefs. All the priests of Greece gather on the neighboring street, Agios Filotheis, to shop in specialized stores. On the hills of Plaka is the charming little Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis Theologos (XI century), also worthy of your attention.

This museum in the eastern part of Plaka presents an interesting collection of folk art exhibits. After viewing the embroideries on the ground floor and the funny carnival costumes on the mezzanine, in the Theophilos Room on the second floor you will discover wall paintings, a tribute to this self-taught artist who decorated the houses and shops of his native land. Honoring tradition, he wore fustanella all his life (traditional men's skirt) and died in poverty and oblivion. Only after his death did he receive recognition. Decorations, ornaments and weapons are displayed on the third floor; on the fourth - folk costumes of various provinces of the country.

Neoclassical on the outside, ultra-modern on the inside, this museum dedicated to contemporary art is the only one of its kind in Greece. It alternates between a permanent collection, whose main theme is ordinary people, and temporary exhibitions. Visitors are given the opportunity to look at the great events of the 20th century through the eyes of Greek artists.

In 335 BC, after the victory of his troupe in a theater competition, in order to perpetuate this event, the philanthropist Lysicrates ordered the construction of this monument in the form of a rotunda. The Athenians nicknamed it “the lantern of Diogenes.” Initially, there was a bronze prize inside, received from the city authorities. In the 17th century

Anaphiotika

In the highest part of Plaka, on the slopes of the Acropolis, the inhabitants of the Kikpadian island of Anafi recreated their world in miniature. Anafiotika is a block within a block, a real peaceful haven where cars have no access. It consists of several dozen whitewashed houses, surrounded by flowers, with many narrow alleys and secluded passages. Arbors made of grape vines, climbing rose hips, flower pots - life here turns on a pleasant side for you. Anafiotika can be reached from Stratonos Street.

This museum is located in the westernmost part of Plaka, between the Acropolis and the Roman agora, in a beautiful neoclassical building and houses some very quirky and varied collections. (who, however, are united by belonging to Hellenism), transferred to the state by the Kanellopoulos spouses. Among the main exhibits you will see Cycladic figurines and antique gold jewelry.

Museum of Folk Musical Instruments

Located on Diogenes Street, in the western part of Plaka, opposite the entrance to the Roman agora, this museum invites you to discover musical instruments and traditional Greek melodies. You will learn how bouzoukis, lutes, tambouras, guides and other rare samples sound. Concerts are organized in the garden in summer.

Syntagma Square

To the northeast, Plaka is bordered by the huge Syntagma Square, the heart of the business world, an area that was built according to a plan drawn up the day after independence was declared. The green esplanade is surrounded by chic cafes and modern buildings housing the offices of banks, airlines and international companies.

Here is the Great Britain Hotel, the pearl of Athens of the 19th century, the most beautiful palace in the city. On the eastern slope is the Buli Palace, now the parliament. In 1834 it served as the residence of King Otto I and Queen Amalia.

Subway

Thanks to the construction of the metro (1992-1994) under the esplanade, the largest excavations ever carried out in Athens began. Archaeologists have discovered an aqueduct from the era of Pisistratus, a very important road, bronze foundries of the 5th century BC. (period when this place was outside the city walls), cemeteries from the end of the classical era - the beginning of the Roman era, baths and a second aqueduct, also Roman, as well as early Christian ossuaries and part of the Byzantine city. Various archaeological layers have been preserved inside the station in the shape of a transverse cup.

Parliament (Buli Palace)

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

In front of the building there is a monument to the Unknown Soldier, who is kept guard by the Evzones (infantry). They wear traditional Greek costumes: a fustanella with 400 folds, symbolizing the number of years spent under the Turkish yoke, woolen socks and red shoes with pom-poms.

The changing of the guard occurs every hour from Monday to Saturday, and once at 10.30 on Sunday. The entire garrison gathers in the square for this beautiful ceremony.

National Garden

Once a palace park, the National Garden is now a tranquil oasis of exotic plants and mosaic pools in the heart of the city. There you can see ancient ruins hidden among shady alleys, a small botanical museum located in a pavilion, a zoo and a pleasant kafenion with a large covered gazebo.

To the south is the Zappeion, a neoclassical building built in the 1880s in the form of a rotunda. In 1896, during the first modern Olympic Games, it was the headquarters of the Olympic Committee. Zappeion later became an Exhibition Center.

To the east of the garden, on Herodes Atticus Street, in the middle of the park, is the Presidential Palace, a beautiful Baroque building guarded by two evzones.

Northern neighborhoods and museums

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

Just to the east lies the very lively quarter of Psiri, home to wholesalers and blacksmiths - and, for some time now, a growing number of bars, nightlife and trendy restaurants. Its small streets lead to the markets and Omonia Square, the heart of people's Athens. From here you can walk to Syntagma Square along two large streets in a neoclassical frame - Stadiou and Panepistimiou.

Neighborhood Monastiraki

Directly north of the Roman agora is Monastiraki Square, which is crowded with people at any time of the day. Above it rises the dome and portico of the Tsizdaraki mosque (1795), which now houses the Plaka branch of the Folk Art Museum.

The nearby pedestrian streets are filled with souvenir shops, antique shops and ragpickers who gather every Sunday at Abyssinia Square for a giant flea market.

Markets

The Grand Athenas Boulevard, linking Monastiraki with Omonia Square to the north, passes by market pavilions. The "belly of Athens", which is in constant activity from dawn to midday, is divided into two parts: fishmongers in the center and meat traders around.

In front of the building there are sellers of dried fruits, and on the nearby streets there are sellers of hardware, carpets, and poultry.

Archaeological Museum

A few blocks north of Omonia Square, on a huge esplanade lined with cars, is the National Archaeological Museum, home to a fabulous collection of art from the great civilizations of ancient Greece. Don't hesitate to spend half a day here, contemplating the statues, frescoes, vases, cameos, jewelry, coins and other treasures.

The museum's most valuable item is perhaps the gold death mask of Agamemnon, discovered in 1876 at Mycenae by amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. (hall 4, in the center of the courtyard). In the same room you will see another important Mycenaean object, the Warrior Vase, as well as funerary steles, weapons, rhytons, jewelry and thousands of luxurious objects made of amber, gold and even an ostrich egg shell! Cycladic collection (hall 6) also a must watch.

As you explore the ground floor and move clockwise, you will walk chronologically from the Archaic period, represented by the magnificent kouroi and kora, to the Roman period. Along the way, you will see great masterpieces of art from the classical era, including a bronze statue of Poseidon caught in the sea near the island of Euboea (hall 15), as well as statues of the horseman Artemision on a war horse (hall 21). Tombstones abound, some of them quite impressive. For example, huge lekythos - vases two meters high. It is also worth mentioning the friezes that decorated the temple of Atheia on Aegina, the friezes of the temple of Asclepius (Aesculapius) in Epidaurus and the magnificent marble group of Aphrodite, Pan and Eros in room 30.

On the second floor, collections of ceramics are exhibited: from items from the Geometric era to delightful Attic vases. A separate section is dedicated to the Greek Pompeii - the city of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini, buried in 1450 BC (hall 48).

Panepistimiou

The quarter, located between Omonia and Syntagma squares, gives a clear indication of the grand ambitions of the post-independence period. Definitely belonging to the neoclassical style, the trio consisting of the University, the Academy and the National Library stretches along Panepistimiou Street (or Eleftherios Venizelou) and clearly deserves the attention of city guests.

National History Museum

The museum is located in the former parliament building, at 13 Stadiou Street, near Syntagma Square, and is dedicated to the history of the country since the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans (1453). The Revolutionary War period is presented in great detail. You can even see the helmet and sword of Lord Byron, the most famous of the Philhellenes!

Founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis, a member of a prominent Greek family, the museum is located in his former Athens residence. The exhibition consists of collections collected throughout his life. The museum continues to expand and now offers visitors a complete panorama of Greek art, from the prehistoric period to the 20th century.

On the ground floor there are exhibits from the Neolithic period to the Byzantine era, as well as a fine collection of jewelry and antique gold leaf crowns. A large section is dedicated to icons. Second floor (XVI-XIX centuries) covers the period of Turkish occupation, mainly examples of church and secular folk art are exhibited here. The two magnificent reception halls from the 1750s have been restored, complete with carved wood ceilings and paneling.

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

Museum of Cycladic Art

The collections of Nicholas Goulandris dedicated to ancient art are presented here. The most prominent of these is, without a doubt, on the ground floor. Here you can get acquainted with the legendary Cycladic art; figurines, marble household items and religious objects. Don't miss the plate of doves, carved from a single piece, the extraordinary figurines of a flute player and a bread peddler, and a 1.40 meter high statue, one of two depicting the great patron goddess.

The third floor is dedicated to Greek art from the Bronze Age to the 2nd century BC, the fourth floor displays a collection of Cypriot artifacts, and the fifth floor displays the finest pottery and “Corinthian” bronze shields.

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

The exhibitions housed in the museum cover the period from the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century) before the fall of Constantinople (1453) and successfully illuminate the history of Byzantine culture through an excellent selection of artifacts and reconstructions. The exhibition also highlights the special role of Athens, the center of pagan thought for at least two centuries until the rise of Christianity.

The Coptic art section is worth seeing (especially shoes of the 5th-8th centuries!), the treasure of Mytilene, found in 1951, delightful crossbars and bas-reliefs, collections of icons and frescoes exhibited in the Church of the Episcopia of Eurytania, as well as magnificent manuscripts.

National Pinakothek

Significantly modernized in recent years, the Pinakothek is dedicated to Greek art of the last four centuries. It chronologically presents various movements, from early post-Byzantine painting to the works of modern artists. In particular, you will see three mystical paintings by El Greco, a native of Crete who, along with Velazquez and Goya, was the most famous artist of 16th century Spain.

At the northern end of Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, the sloping streets of the Kolonaki quarter form a chic enclave famous for its fashion boutiques and art galleries. All morning, and especially after lunch, there is nowhere for an apple to fall on the terraces of the cafes of Filikis Eterias Square.

Mount Lycabettus (Lycabettos)

At the end of Plutarch Street there is a long line of markets leading to an underground cable tunnel with a funicular that takes you to the top of Lycabetus, famous for its beautiful panorama, in a few minutes. Sports fans will prefer the stairs starting from the end of Lucianu Street, a hundred meters to the west (15 minutes rise). The path, bending, leads through cypresses and agaves. At the top, from the porch of the Chapel of St. George, in good weather you can see the islands of the Saronic Gulf and, of course, the Acropolis.

Around Athens

Situated between the sea and the hills, Athens is the ideal starting point to explore the most famous sites of Attica, the peninsula separating the Aegean Sea and the Saronic Gulf.

On weekends everyone goes to the beach. Located right next to the city walls, Glyfada stole the show during the 2004 Olympic Games: it was here that most of the nautical competitions took place. A chic suburb with numerous boutiques and a seaside resort famous for its marinas and golf courses, Glyfada comes alive in the summer with discos and clubs opening along Possidonos Avenue. The beaches here and towards Voula are mostly private, dotted with umbrellas and packed at the end of the week. If you're looking for a quieter spot, head south to Vouliagmeni, a luxurious and expensive port surrounded by greenery. The coast becomes more democratic only after Varkiza, near Cape Sounion.

The sentinel of Athens, holding guard on the top of the rock of the "Cape of Columns" at the extreme point of Mediterranean Attica, the temple of Poseidon forms one of the vertices of the "sacred triangle", a perfect isosceles triangle, the other points of which are the Acropolis and the temple of Aphaia on Aegina. It was said that once, when entering the bay on the way to Piraeus, sailors could see all three buildings at the same time - a pleasure now inaccessible due to the frequent smog that descends over these places. Sanctuary restored during the era of Pericles (444 BC), retained 16 of the 34 Doric columns. Once upon a time, trireme racing was held here, organized by the Athenians in honor of the goddess Athena, to whom the second temple, built on a nearby hill, is dedicated. The place acquires strategic importance: its fortress, now disappeared, made it possible to simultaneously control the silver mines of Lorion and the movement of ships to Athens.

Built on the pine-clad slopes of Mount Hymetos, a few kilometers east of Athens, the 11th-century monastery is quiet at the end of the week when a landing party of picnickers lands nearby. In the central courtyard you will find a church whose walls are covered with frescoes (XVII-XVIII centuries), the dome rests on four antique columns, and at the other end of the monastery there is an amazing fountain with a ram's head, from which water flows, which is said to have miraculous properties.

Marathon

This place, one of the most famous, witnessed the victory of the 10,000-strong Athenian army over the Persian forces three times larger in 490 BC. To deliver the good news, as legend has it, a runner from Marathon ran the 40 km that separated it from Athens - so fast that he died of exhaustion upon arrival. The 192 Greek heroes who died in this battle were buried on the mound - this is the only credible evidence of this famous event.

Monastery of Daphne

Situated 10 km west of Athens, on the edge of a highway, the Byzantine monastery of Daphne is famous for its 11th-century mosaics depicting the apostles and the mighty Christ Pantocrator watching over them from the central dome. Having received significant damage from an earthquake in 1999, the building is now closed for restoration.

Pressed on one side by Attica and on the other by the Peloponnese Peninsula, the Saronic Gulf - the gateway of the Corinth Canal - opens the door to Athens. Among the many islands, Aegina is the most interesting and easiest to get to. (1 hour 15 minutes by ferry or 35 minutes by speedboat).

Most of the ships are moored on the western shore, in the beautiful port of Aegina. Few people know that it was the first capital of liberated Greece. Fishermen repair their gear here in front of tourists relaxing on cafe terraces and riding in gigs. The narrow pedestrian street leading from the embankment seems to be created for walking and shopping. At the northern exit, in Colon, at an archaeological site, there are a few ruins of the Temple of Apollo (5th century BC). The archaeological museum displays artifacts found nearby: donations, pottery, sculptures and steles.

The rest of the island is divided between pistachio plantations, which are the pride of Aegina, several groves with olive trees and beautiful pine forests, stretching in the east to the seaside resort of Agia Marina, on whose beautiful beaches life is in full swing in summer.

From there you can easily reach the Temple of Aphaia, built on a promontory visible from both shores. The splendor of this Doric monument, perfectly preserved, allows us to guess the former power of the island, which was once a rival of Athens. Built in 500 BC, it was dedicated to the local goddess Aphaia, daughter of Zeus, who took refuge in these places to escape the persecution of King Minos.

If you have some time, visit the ruins of Paliochora, the former capital of Aegina, built on a hill in the interior of the island. Founded in Antiquity, the town grew up during the High Middle Ages, an era when residents took refuge on mountain tops to escape pirate raids. Until the 19th century, when its inhabitants abandoned it, Paliochora had 365 churches and chapels, of which 28 have survived, and in them you can still see the remains of beautiful frescoes. Just below is the monastery of Agios Nektarios, the largest on the island.

Hotel deals

When is the best time to go to Athens

Spring and late autumn are the best times to visit Athens. Summers can be very hot and dry. Winter is sometimes rainy, with few snow days. But at the same time, winter can be an ideal time to visit the city, when it may be fresh, but there are no crowds.

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

How to get there

How can I get to Athens from the airport? First of all, there is a direct metro line (blue) from the airport to the city. The final station in the city center is Monastiraki metro station. You can get to the train station in Athens by commuter train. A convenient and comfortable way is to call a taxi. A more economical ground transport is a bus; buses from the airport follow four routes.

Calendar of low prices for air tickets

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Natural conditions of Attica. Attica is the name given to the region located in the east of Central Greece. This is a small peninsula washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. Its shores are indented with many bays, very convenient for navigation. Most of Attica is occupied by low mountains. The soil here is rocky and there is very little land suitable for crops. There are no full-flowing rivers, only streams and small rivulets that dry up in summer. In dry years, farmers' crops often suffered due to lack of moisture.

The mountains of Attica are rich in minerals. Since ancient times, iron, lead and excellent marble have been mined here. The peninsula also contained the richest deposits of silver in Greece, as well as large reserves of clay used in pottery. In the center of the peninsula, among a wide plain, is the main city of Attica - Athens. He gave the name to the state that emerged here.

Rice. Ancient Athens

Using a map and text, talk about the geographical location and natural conditions of Attica.

This is what the legend said about the origin of the name of Athens. The goddess Athena and the god Poseidon once argued over which of them should be the patron of the greatest city in Greece. To resolve their dispute, they agreed that the patron would be the one who gave its residents the best gift. He will also give the city his name. Poseidon struck the rock of the Acropolis with his trident, and water flowed from that place. The people were happy, but this water turned out to be salty, like the sea. Then Athena stuck her spear into the ground, and it turned into an olive tree. People tried its fruits and decided that this gift was priceless. The city was named after Athena, who became its patroness.

Rice. Sacrifice in honor of the gods. Ancient Greek drawing

Main occupations of the population. One of the most important occupations of the inhabitants of Attica was agriculture. In river valleys and on the plateaus they grew barley, wheat, beans, and on the mountain slopes - grapes and olive trees.

The grapes were mainly used to make homemade wine. Olive oil was used for food and for lighting homes. It was also used instead of soap, which was unknown at that time. The oil was part of many medicines. The Greeks anointed their bodies with it before physical exercise. Olives, along with bread and fish, were the main food of people. They were eaten dried, salted and soaked in vinegar. Herds of cows, sheep, and goats grazed on the slopes of wooded mountains. Cheese was produced from their milk, which was also one of the most important food products for local residents.

List the main occupations of the inhabitants of Attica.

They grew little of their own grain in Attica, and there was always a shortage of it. Grain had to be bought from neighbors or imported from overseas. There it was exchanged for wine, olive oil, and handicrafts. The products of Athenian potters were most valued. The painted vases, plates, cups, and amphoras that came out of their hands were eagerly bought up everywhere. Wine made in Attica was also valued. The Greeks drank wine to quench their thirst, diluting it by two-thirds with spring water. The need to import grain to Attica contributed to the fact that its inhabitants were engaged in trade and navigation since ancient times. They were also engaged in fishing, which was greatly facilitated by the presence of convenient bays that abounded on the shores of Attica. This circumstance made it easier for them to practice sailing.

Government structure of Ancient Athens. As in other policies, the highest authority in Athens was the People's Assembly. But over time, it began to lose its meaning. The highest power was in the hands of a special council, which included only aristocrats. It usually gathered on a hill dedicated to the god of war Ares, hence its name - the Areopagus. This council passed laws, settled disputes among the Athenians, and judged them. The Areopagus elected the highest officials of the state. In Athens they were called archons. Among them were the high priest, judges, and the commander of the Athenian army.

Rice. Amphora from Attica

They lived in Athens according to the laws that at the end of the 7th century BC. e. were established by Archon Draco. These laws provided for cruel punishments for all, even the most minor, crimes. Most often - the death penalty. She was even punished for stealing vegetables from the garden. The Athenians said about the Draconian laws that they were written not in ink, but in blood.

The situation of Athenian farmers. The most fertile lands in Attica were eventually captured by the nobility. Aristocrats owned vast fields, vineyards, and olive groves. The plots of ordinary people were small. Their harvest was barely enough to make ends meet. When farmers' crops suffered from drought, many of them borrowed grain from rich neighbors. For each bag taken, much more had to be returned a year later. The owner of the grain placed a debt stone on the debtor's land. It was engraved on it how much and when to return it. If a farmer could not pay on time, his land was taken away to pay off the debt. True, he could continue to work on it, but now he had to give a significant part of the harvest to the new owner. I had to get into new debts. If the farmer again could not pay them, he sold his family or himself into slavery. The owner could sell the slave or force him to work on his farm. Unlike Sparta, there were much fewer slaves here, and they were highly valued. In addition, the laws of Athens prohibited killing them.

Rice. Ancient Greek bronze mirror

Over time, more and more Athenian citizens lost both land and freedom. But they had no one to complain to. Draco's laws protected mainly the interests of rich people. In addition, the judges who heard disputes were elected from among the aristocrats. The common people, who in Athens were called demos, were dissatisfied with their powerless situation.

Do you think a citizen of Sparta could have been sold into slavery for debt? Justify your answer.

Let's sum it up

Initially, the supreme power in the Athenian state belonged to the People's Assembly. But over time, aristocrats began to lead the state.

Amphora- ceramic vessel for storing oil and wine.

End of the 7th century BC e. Introduction of the laws of Draco in Athens.

Questions and tasks

Compare the natural conditions of Attica and Laconia. How did they influence the occupations of the inhabitants of these areas?
Tell us how the Athenian state was governed.
Why did Athenian farmers lose their land and become slaves?
Compare the government structure and position of various segments of the population in Sparta and Athens. What do they have in common, what are the differences?