Athens, Greece
Origin
Athens was built in the mainland of Greece in Attica. The city was built around 3000 B.C. making it one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Athens was named after Athena in the myth "Poseidon and Athena". Athena gave the city an olive branch while Poseidon gave it a salt water spring. Athens was also blessed by Dionysus, God of wine, with the gift of a grape vine.
Importance
Athens is the cultural center of Greece. Its contributions to modern day civilizations include democracy, sciences, and philosophy. Along with these additions to society, some of the greatest minds of history were born here including Plato, Socrates, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and many others.
Athens Today
Today, Athens makes up approximately one-third of Greece's population. The city is still as special as it once was; many tourists from all over the world visit its amazing ruins, monuments, museums, and theaters. Also, Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics. The olive branch is the Olympic symbol and represents Athena.
The Parthenon and Panathenian Festival
The people in Athens celebrate a festival called the Panathenian festival. The Parthenon, Athena's most sacred temple, is at the center of this festival. This is most important festival in Athens and is celebrated every four years. It is celebrated in honor of Athena, the founder of the city. It was first celebrated when Athens was built, and is still remembered today.
The Panathenian Festival
Interesting Places in Athens
The Acropolis
The temples on top the rugged rock we call the Acropolis of Athens in Greece are not a just a collection of ruins, or a tourist attraction. The Acropolis was always a sacred place to the Athenians. There they conducted festivals and had their temples and sanctuaries upon it. The Acropolis has been burned to the ground many times, but the loyal Athenians always rebuilt it. Now it is a terrific public attratction that was built during the "Golden Age of Pericles".
The Ancient Market
The Ancient Market is located at the bottom of Attalus' tunnel, the Holy Rock, and the temple Thisio. 2500 years ago the Persians destroyed all of the buildings, but they were later rebuilt.
The Ancient Agora was once the commercial center of Athens. Today, visitors can wander through the ruins and imagine what life was like in Ancient Greece.
Adrianus Library
The Adrianus Library is located near the Roman Market, and was a gift to Athens from the Emperor Adrianos. The library was built in the second century and the archaeological site is fenced, but you can see all of the ruins from outside the fence.
Adrianos' Gate
The Emperor Adrianus also built Adrianos' Gate about 2200 years ago. It lies in front of the largest temple of Ancient Greece, the Olympian Zeus' Temple.
