It is really worth a visit, and to make … Interesting Facts about Athens 1. Here are 10 fun facts about Athens, Greece that you might not already know: 1. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Athens is statistically one of the lowest ranking capital cities when it comes to violent crime. The most important cities in ancient Greek were Sparta and Athens. Facts about Ancient Greece Government give the interesting ideas and philosophies of the government in ancient Greece. It is located in Central Greece in the southern part of the region of Attica. Her temple was the Parthenon. 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). 4. 1. The city was freed in 1833, and in the following 170 years it was the scene of more than a dozen revolutions, another brutal foreign occupation, and a civil war of especial savagery. Around the tenth century B.C., the settlers form… Athens, with its tall buildings and contemporary shops, is the first European city when approached from the Middle East. Athens took its name from the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.Sparta, a town near the river Evrotas, is located in the center of t… Athens is one of the cities with the longest history in the world. The oldest hotel in Athens, The Grand Bretagne, was first the royal guesthouse. Hence, it became a symbol of Athenian economic prosperity. Fun Fact: Every full moon in August, the Acropolis stays open until 2am with live music and theatrical performances; it is free to all. IT’S THE MOST FAMOUS OF MANY ACROPOLEIS. She was the daughter of Zeus; no mother bore her. Many important people wandered its streets throughout time. Updates? The government in Greece especially Athens was made based on the democracy. Back then it was a small town with only 10,000 citizens. It’s Europe’s oldest capital city. The Athenians invented democracy, a new type of government where every citizen could vote on important issues, such as whether or not to declare war. Athens’ origins date back to 3,000 B.C. One of the weird facts about Athens, is that it only became the capital city of Greece relatively recently. Athens is also the capital city and a centre of politics and tourism. When approached from the west, from elsewhere in Europe, what strikes the visitor is the influence of the East—in the food, music, and clamorous street life—perhaps vestiges of a time when Athens was divorced from European society under the yoke of Ottoman rule. The Kifisós River, only a trickle in summer, flows through the western half; the Ilisós River, often dry, traverses the eastern half. 7. According to Homer’s account in the Iliad, Athena was a … Greece welcomed 17,920,000 tourists into the country in 2013, many of whom visited Athens for its ancient history and... Whilst the Olympics are … It is one of the oldest cities in the world, having survived over 3000 years. Six display archaeological treasures uncovered during the metro's construction. The first history of Athens was recorded around 3,400 years ago making it Europe's oldest capital and one of the... 2. Athens was part of the Ottoman Empire (1458-1832) while the rest of Western Europe was experiencing the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution. During the fight for independence, it had been entirely evacuated in 1827, and six years later it held perhaps 4,000 people in the straggle of little houses on the north slope below the Acropolis. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. The city covers a total area of 412 square kilometers (159 square miles). During the time of the Ancient Greeks it was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the world. 2.The Greeks had some strange superstitions about food – some wouldn’t eat beans as they thought t… The people of Athens believed that no one group of people should make the laws and so citizens could choose the government officials, and vote for or against new laws. The Greek Orthodox Church, which is directed by a synod sitting in Athens, was a main force in keeping alive the Greek language, tradition, and literature when such things were forbidden, and most people still support it. 3.8 million. It also had its own Constitution. Nevertheless, it is wrong to say that Athens is a mixture of East and West: it is Greek and, more particularly, Athenian. Athens is the capital and largest city in Greece, With a population of about 3,5 million people and long history, Athens stretches on a large peninsula that is protected by mountains from all sides of the horizon: Mt Egaleo to the west, Mt Parnes to the north, Mt … Athens, Modern Greek Athínai, Ancient Greek Athēnai, historic city and capital of Greece. In this quiz you’ll be presented with the names of 195 capital cities. Weird Fact: The first modern king of Greece was a Bavarian prince and only 17 years old. The Athens metro currently has twenty-eight stations, all of which exhibit artwork by contemporary Greek artists. 11. The first settlers in Athens were from various ethnic groups that were organized in several kingdoms. King Otto (see fact 7) changed it from the Port of Nafplio in 1834 for sentimental reasons related to the city's glorious past. Athens is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, and daughter of Zeus. If it … Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world and has been continuously inhabited for around 7,000 years! By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Other city states in Greece also applied democracy, but the records for the application were abundant in Athens. Athens is the second capital city of Greece. Fun & Interesting Facts about Athens Along with being the capital of Greece, Athens is also the capital of the Attica Periphery and the Athens Prefecture. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 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. Athens also created the world's first known democracy. It is the oldest civilization where the first recorded human inhabitants were in 3000 BC. Athens was the … The city center of Athens is only 15 sq miles or 39 sq kilometers. Raphael School of Athens Facts You Didn’t Know school_of_athens_painting_facts An architect and a relative to Raphael who took him to Pope Julius II, Bramante actually helped Raphael with the architectural elements in the painting , hence so having an awful resemblance to the St. Peter’s Basilica. In modern times, Athens is a large cosmopolitan metropolis and central to economic, financial, industrial, maritime, political and cultural life in Greece. As of May 2019, the population of Athens is about 3 million people. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world as well, with recorded history going back over 3400 years. It was known as a beautiful public buildings, public bath, shops, and busy city. The story of Athena is very similar to the story of the founding of Greece. That act saved it later from destruction of non Christian temples, in times of deep Theocracy. To put its age into perspective: the first... 2. Athena was the Goddess of War, the female counterpart of Ares. Here are 12 facts about the Acropolis of Athens. Acropolis holds the world’s oldest weather station 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. 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. The ancient heroes, too, were vain about both themselves and honour, boasting as much about outwitting the enemy as about outfighting him. 1. It is the birth place of democracy and the heart of the Ancient Greek civilization. 5. 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. City Of Athens Facts 42. 2. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. She was Zeus’s favorite child. Looking for amazing facts and informations about Athens? The Romans, the Byzantines, the Latin crusaders, the Ottomans, and finally the modern Greek state, all left their mark on the rocky hill. The origins of Athens date back to 3000BC, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Athens - Athens - The city plan: In 1833 there was almost no Athens at all. Below you can discover eleven curiosities that are real, even if they are weird or funny, so please make sure to vote what you think is interesting! It was a recreation of the route used by the legendary runner, Pheidippides, in 490 BC to announce the Athenian victory against the Persians at the battle of Marathon 25 miles away. According to the Greek mythology, Cecrops, who was half man and half serpent, founded Athens and became the first king. The city was home to Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. In addition to building a raft of new sports venues and facilities (including a stadium designed by Santiago Calatrava), Athens undertook massive transportation infrastructure improvements that included dramatic expansion of public transportation and the construction of a new international airport. How well do you know the world’s capital cities? The Horologium and the Orthodox cathedrals, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Athens, Greece, Athens - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Athens - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Athens was a great center for art, literature, philosophy, and education. Athens remains on the world stage to this day. The Athens Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) is said to be the 8th most populated LUZ in the European Union. Athens is the capital of Greece and also its largest city. 9. It was known for the amount of learning that happened there. For treatment of the city in its regional setting, see Greece; historical and cultural aspects are treated further in the article ancient Greek civilization. 3. The reason for this, is that Ancient Greece was not a country, but a collection of independent city states. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The climate of the city permits outdoor activity the year round and has had an important effect on both the style of architecture and the life and political institutions of the city. Fact 27: Athena was the guardian of Athens. Athens is the symbol of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. Of course, the poetic impulse to make a good story better leads to considerable exaggeration in daily conversation, suiting a vanity that goes with a sharp-edged sense of personal and family honour and the spoiling of children. Some three centuries after the death of Pericles (429 bce), Athenians entered upon a period of bondage that lasted almost 2,000 years. 8. Athena is one of the 12 Olympian Gods who resided atop Mount Olympus.The Olympians are a race of deities who are a third or fourth generation of immortal beings and they were worshiped as the principal deities of the Greek pantheon.The Olympians managed to become the supreme deities after a 10 year long struggle … Both Athens and Sparta hold historic value for Greece and the world. Athens is Europe’s oldest capital. 10 Facts About Athens To Know About. Today, the population of Athens including its parent state Attica, reaches the number of approx. The city started to decline in 529, when the Emperor Justinian I closed its philosophical schools. Athens is the largest city of Greece, apart from being one of the oldest cities of the world. It Was Settled In Prehistoric Times Acropolis is a rocky hill and most of … 10. This long history of passion and suffering has had considerable effect on the Athenian character. Athens Facts For Kids – Ancient Greek History. The climate of Athens is benign: frost is rare (the minimum temperature is 32 °F, or 0 °C) and snow seldom lies, while the summers, though hot (maximum temperature is 99 °F, or 37 °C), are dry, and a fresh northeasterly wind often blows by day. Facts about Ancient Athens will inform you about the largest city of Greece. So, let’s take a look at 12 facts about the sacred hill of Athens. Before hosting the 2004 Olympic Games, all of the street signs of Athens had to be changed to include a Latin spelling under the Greek. 12. 12. The city of Athens, Greece, with its famous Acropolis, has come to symbolize the whole of the country in the popular imagination, and not without cause. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 3. Facts about Athena. Athens was the largest and most influential of the Greek city-states. Athens, now the capital of Greece, is located on a peninsula that stretches southeastward into the Aegean Sea. Athens is the capital of Greece. Professor of Archaeology, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1949–71. It had many fine buildings and was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. They established themselves near the crag, which later would become the Acropolis. It was also the first Greek city-state to adopt a fully democratic system of government. Hitler and Rommel were there on the eve of the Soviet Invasion. There were many important city-states in Ancient Greece, but Athens was perhaps the most important and the most powerful. Athens was a powerful city in Classical times. It has been continuously habited for at least 3,000 years Find out how much you can save The sacred hill of Athens continued changing with every new civilization that passed from the city. The people of Athens chose their ruler. The kings ruled both cities. Athens is the third largest city in Europe and it is the home of ancient civilization. The Parthenon was made a Christian church. 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. Greater Athens has an area of 165 square miles (427 square km). It is generally believed that the city was named after the goddess of wisdom, Athena. The ancient Olympic games were never actually held there. During this time it grew from a small fishing village to the most important city in the ancient world. It became capital during the reign of King Otto in 1834. Athens is one of the great cities of the world. Notably, in 2004 the world came to the city for the Olympic Games, which spurred a dramatic makeover for Athens. 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