ATHENS is the capital and largest city of Greece. In the fifth century B.C, during the time of Pericles, it was at the height of its cultural achievements and imperial power. Athens became the capital of modern Greece in 1834, two years after the country achieved its independence from Turkey. Population: 762,000.
ACROPOLIS
For thousands of years the Acropolis has been the symbol of Athens, the sacred rock, the link that connects the magnificent ancient civilization with the modern. The Acropolis and its monuments, its history and the myths that are connected with it are rightly the pride and the glory of this city, the envy of all other cities in the world. There is no Greek or foreign visitor who does not want to make the pilgrimage to the sacred rock and absorb its magnificence and beauty. If you have never been to the Acropolis we assure you it is a unique and unforgettable experience. Site Monuments: parthenon, erechtheion, propylaea, temple of athena nike, brauronion, temple of rome and augustus, pedestal of agrippa, beule gate, acropolis fortification wall, old temple of athena, chalkotheke.
ANCIENT GREEK AGORA
Was the civic, religious and commercial center of the Athenian life set with appropriate buildings. Among these was the stoa of Attalus erected by Attalus II, king of Pergamum [159-138 B.C]. Now, since its restoration, is used as a Museum housing interesting findings, especially from the excavations in the area of the Museum housing interesting findings, especially from the excavation in the area of the Agora.
AREOPAGUS
It is the most ancient court of law. Here was the seat of the first aristocratic parliament of ancient Athens. In ancient time this parliament started to lose its political power and from the second half of the 5th century B.C. it had only judicial responsibility and particularly that of trying murderers. In this court, as is described in Oresteia, Orestes was judged for the murder of his mother Clytaemnestra and her lover Aegisthos. It was from this spot, as we learn from the bronze tablet at the base of the rock, that Saint Paul delivered his first sermon to the Athenians, in AD 51.
HADRIAN'S ARCH
This marked the boundary between the ancient city of Theseus and the new city built by Hadrian [corner of Vassilissis Olgas and Amalias Avenues].
HEROD ATTICUS ODEON
The famous Herod Atticus Odeon dominates the western end on the south slope of the Acropolis. It was the third Odeon constructed in ancient Athens after the Pericles Odeon on the south slope (5th century) and the Agrippa's Odeon in the ancient Agora (15 BC). The construction of the monument during the second century AD was sponsored by Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus, renowned offspring of an important Athenian family and a benefactor.
PHILOPAPPUS MONUMENT
This was erected as a monument of Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappus, a benefactor of Athens, on a hill opposite to the Acropolis with a splendid view over the entire basin of Attica.
PANATHENAIC STADIUM (KALIMARMARO)
It was originally a natural hollow part of the ground between the two hills of Agra and Ardettos, over Ilissos river. It was transformed into a stadium by Lykourgos in 330-329 BC for the athletic competitions of the Great Panathinaea Festivities. Between 140 and 144 AD, Herodes Atticus restored the Stadium, giving it the form that was found at the 1870 excavation: the horseshoe construction with a track 204,07 meters long and 33,35 meters wide. It is believed that the Stadium had a seating capacity of 50.000 people.
PNYX HILL
The Pnyx is situated between the Hill of the Muses, upon which stands the Monument of Philopappou, and the Hill of the Nymphs, where the tomb of Kimon was found and where the Observatory stands today. This semi-circular area was the place of gathering for all the citizens of ancient Athens. They gathered here in order to hear the famous orators who spoke from the stone-cut tribune in its middle. It is believed that it could accommodate up to 10,000 people at a time.
THE ROMAN AGORA
Located at the beginning of Eolou Str. The clock of Andronikos Kyrrhestes. This is an octagonal marble tower near the west gate of the Roman Market. Its sides are adorned with reliefs representing the winds [thus tower of winds].
TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS
The Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Olympieion, is a colossal ruined temple in the centre Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD some 650 years after the project had begun. During the Roman periods it was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world.
THEATER OF DIONYSUS
Pass through the entrance to the archaeological site at the southern slope of the Acropolis in Dionysiou Aeropaghitou Street and start climbing. On your left you will see the oldest of all known theatres in the world, the theatre of Dionysus. Here, the four greatest ancient Greek poets, Aeschylos, Aristophanes, Euripides and Sophokles, saw their plays being performed for the first time, in the 5th century B.C. The koilon (cavea) and the proskoinion (stage) were originally of wood. They were reconstructed of marble during the 4th century B.C. Today only parts of the stone koilon have survived. Experts estimate that the theatre could accommodate 17,000 spectators.
KERAMEIKOS CEMETERY
This was the ancient burial ground of the city of Athens.
BRAURON
Is an early sanctuary site on the east coast of Attica. Site monuments: Temple of Artemis and the Stoa of Arktoi [bears] the little girls dedicated to the worship of the goddess. The local museum contains interesting finds.
MARATHON
The burial mound was raised in honor of the Athenian Warriors who fell in the battle of the Marathon in 490 B.C. There is also a museum on the site. Finally, the lake reservoir, with the allmarble dam, supplies Athens with water (there is a cafeteria near the Marathon lake where you can have a coffee break).
RAMNOUS
Temple of Nemesis [5th century B.C] designed by the same architect who built the temple of Hephaestus [Theseion] and that of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.
AMPHIARAIN
The sanctuary was dedicated to the healer good-soothsayer Amphiaraos Eleusis. This is one of the most important sanctuaries. Dedicated to the worship of Demetra and her daughter Persephone, it is associated with the Eleusinian mysteries cult. The museum house findings from the site itself and the surrounding countryside.
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