 
The
history of Attica is in its major part the history of Athens. The olive
tree has been treated as
sacred in the ancient ages since, according to mythology, goddess Athena
(Minerva is another name of hers) gave the city an olive tree as a token
of her protection of the city after her conflict with god Poseidon
(Neptune).
Another important gift
from the Gods was the vine tree, which God Dionyssos gave the Athenians.
The myths and traditions about the ancient and continuous history of
Attica have been substantiated by the findings of Prehistoric years that
have been retrieved on the Acropolis and around other parts of Attica.
There is a possibility for the old myths to reflect the wars the leaders
of Acropolis made in order to achieve total ruling of the territories
around Athens.
However, the total
merging of the territories in Attica with Athens happened much later,
around year 800 B.C., a fact reflecting in the myths of Theseas and
population of Athens around him.
Athens developed to a
great industrial and naval force during the 8th and 7th century B.C. A
milestone in the city's history has been the period of Pisistratus
tyrrany. The exporting commerce of Athens reached then Sicily, Egypt and
the Black Sea. New monuments were built and the city experienced its
first cultural and artistic spring.
Athens was also the
prime actor during the war with Persia. This activity aided by the
appearance of democratic governing helped Athens become Greece's leading
city and the center of an allied state.
The quest for success
for Athens reached its climax during Perikleus "Golden Age"
period. During those years Athens was famous to the world for its power,
its civilization, its culture and science. This was the period that the
Ancient Athenian Wonder was achieved, to be stopped from the destructive
Peloponnesian War, since that war resulted in the destruction of Aticas'
naval forces and the restriction of the state to Athens and island
Salamina.
The territory was not
powerful enough to avoid the Macedonian King Fillipe II (338 B.C.) to
include Attica to the Macedonian states. In 146 B.C. Athens was
occupied, together with the rest of Greece, by the Romans, who although
they actually were conquerors, they showed respect to the city's
personality.
After the first years
A.C. , Gothic tribes brought destructive invasions and looting to
Athens. The gradual integration with the Byzantine Empire was completed
with the shut down of Philosophic Schools, the modification of shrines
to Christian temples and the general rural confrontation of Athens.
After year 1214, when
Konstaninople was occupied by the Franks, Athens was given to French
dukes. Teir successors were Catalans, Napolitans and finally in 1456 the
Turks who were the first after all these years to transform Acropolis to
a Muslim Temple "Tzami", and the Erehthion to a harem.
Until 1834, one year
after its revolution from the Turks, when Athens was proclaimed capital
of Greece, it was a miserable village with very few people and piles of
ancient ruins and stones. Nevertheless it was accepted as a place with a
very strong presence of memories of the past. Since it was made the
capital, its rebirth from the ruins was initiated. New buildings were
built in a close architectural connection with the ancient Greek style,
and Acropolis and the rest of the ancient monuments were restored.
People who visit or
spend their vacation in Greece need not - in case of a limited time
schedule - advance further from the limits of Attica in order to get
acquainted with the basic periods of Greek history. Ancient, Roman,
Byzantine, Frank, Turkish Occupation, Modern Greek!
Sightseeing
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Facts
about Greece
Area: 131.940 sq km (smaller than Alabama)
Population: 10,700,135
(July 1999 est.)
Population growth:0.41% (1999 est.)
Capital city: Athens
People: Greek 98%, other 2%
Language: Greek 98%, other 2%
Religion: Greek
Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Government type: Parliamentary
republic |
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The
monument of "The unknown soldier" located in Sindagma sq. , by
the Greek Parliament building. The guards, dressed in the traditional
uniform of "Tsolias" present an interesting sight and have been
a part of millions of tourists photograph collections.
The
Greek Parliament building, located also in Sindagma sq., is a neoclassical
building that used to be Othon's Residence.
The
National Garden, located beside The Parliament House, is a garden with
many trees and plants, many of which are centuries old.
Panathinaikon
Stadium, on Mets Hill, is the Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games
were held in 1896.
Lycabettus
Hill, with St. George's chapel on its top has a great view to Athens city.
Plaka,
the old neighborhood of Athens, stretched around Acropolis. The oldest and
more picturesque part of Athens. Narrow streets and alleys, single story
houses, neoclassical villas, taverns and cafeterias, many tourist shops.
Monastiraki,
the neighborhood next to Plaka, is famous for its traditional "Flea
Market". In there you can find antiquities, and traditional handcraft
items.
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