Aptly called the cradle of western civilisation, Athens is one of the oldest cities of the world. It has a rich historical, cultural and political legacy. The capital of Greece, also a tourist attraction, thanks to its majestic monuments and natural beauty, stands tall, telling tales of a land steeped in cultural churning that changed the world. To find out more, read on…
Democracy started here
1 While Athens experienced almost every form of government, from monarchy and capitalism to democracy, it is believed to be the place where democracy in its true form started. Democracy was established in this Greek city around 500 BC and it was based on a direct democracy system (similar to how it is practiced across the world now) in which eligible citizens directly voted for their political representatives.
City of renowned rulers
2 It is rare to find a city that has seen the birth, rise and fame of so many great people. Notably, prominent rulers were born in Athens. World’s most famous conqueror Alexander the Great lived and ruled the city for a long time.
Iconic philosophers wrote here
3 Philosophers, writers, politicians, and scientists, including Socrates, Aristotle, Pericles, Plato, and Sophocles lived in Athens. Along with his teacher, philosopher Socrates, and his famous student, Aristotle, thinker and philosopher Plato laid the foundations of Western philosophy. Plato’s book ‘The Republic’, penned here, is considered one of the best works on politics and governance.
Top tourist Destination
4 Believed to be over 7,000 years old, the current global city was a powerful city state in ancient times. Athens hosted the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later, welcomed home the much talked about 2004 Summer Olympics. The Greek capital retains its charm even today and has been voted as one of the top five European destinations for 2017 in an online poll. Beat that!
Athens got its name from mythology
5 Various myths and legends abound in Athens, unsurprisingly, because ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. A prominent Greek goddess – Athena – known for her war skills and unsurpassed beauty gave her name to the city of Athens, after saving it from a disaster. Other famous Greek gods are Apollo, Poseidon, Hermes, Hera, Aphrodite, Demeter, Ares, Artemis, Hades, Hephaistos, and Dionysos. Athens’ prominent monument, The Parthenon, was built as a temple dedicated to the mighty goddess Athena.
The glory of Acropolis
6 While The Parthenon is the great landmark in Acropolis, the ruins of Acropolis temple has a long history: it took nine years to be built and took 20 years to be restored after being bombed in a war. Called the symbol of World Heritage by UNESCO, Acropolis is a huge tourist attraction. From here, one can get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful city.
Maximum theatres in world?
7 Yes, Greeks invented theatre as a literary form, and their drama culture dates back to 6th century. Athens is home to around 148 theatre stages. A priest called Thespis is supposed to have been the first actor, which is why actors are also referred to as thespians. The Theatre of Dionysus (with 17,000 spectators capacity) in Acropolis held plays of popular playwright Sophocles.
Home to healthy food
8 Greece overall and Athens, in particular, is famous for its delicious and healthy cuisine. Scientific studies have given a thumbs up to all Greek ingredients as the best suited for a healthy life. From olive oil (olives are grown across the city) to local tomatoes to seafood (fished fresh from the Mediterranean Sea) to a vast array of fresh cheeses – Greek food is super healthy. Of these, the oldest traditional cheese is called Galotiri, which is soft and very flavourful.
What you learnt
- Democracy started in Athens
- Theatre of Dionysus, Acropolis, is world’s first organised theatre
- Alexander the Great lived in Athens for a long time
- Plato wrote ‘The Republic’ here