2. Information
Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens
dominates the Attica periphery and is one of the world’s
oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400
years. Today a cosmopolitan metropolis, modern Athens
is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and
cultural life in Greece .Today,the power of the whole
country is housed in the Syntagma Square in the building
of the Greek Parliament (Vouli).
3. Population
The Greek capital has a population of
4,013,368 (in 2004).It is the 4th most
populous capital city of the Europe.
4. Development
Athens is home to two UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, the Acropolis of Athens and the medieval
Daphni Monastery. Landmarks of the modern era, dating back
to the establishment of Athens as the capital of the
independent Greek state in 1833, include the Hellenic
Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy consisting of
the National Library of Greece, the Athens University and the
Academy of Athens. Athens was the host city of the first
modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later it
welcomed home the 2004 Summer Olympics. Athens is home
to the National Archeological Museum, featuring the world's
largest collection of ancient Greek antiquities, as well as the
new Acropolis Museum.
5. Culture
BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN
ATHENS
The city also retains a vast variety of
ANCIENT GREEK & ROMAN Byzantine monuments,such as: The Old
ATHENS Metropolis (The Old Cathedral),
The heritage of the classical era is Kapnikarea, Ayia Ekaterini,Metochi
still evident in the city, represented Panayiou Tafou,Pantanassa,Ayioi
Theodoroi and Taxiarches (The church
by a number of ancient
of the Petraki Monastery),as well as a
monuments and works of art, the
smaller number of remaining Ottoman
most famous of all being the monuments,like Mosques,The Turkish
Parthenon.Other famous Bath and Muslim Seminary,wich are
monuments: The temple of projecting the city's long history.
Olympian Zeus,Hadrian's arch, The
Ancient theatre of Dionysos, The
Stoa of Eumenes and The Odeion
of Herodes Atticus.The only Roman
monumet in town is The Roman
Agora.
6. Etymology & Name history
In Ancient Greek, the name of Athens was: Ἀθῆναι [atʰɛ̂ːnai], related tο the
name of the goddess Athena. An etiological myth explaining how Athens
acquired this name was well known among ancient Athenians and even
became the theme of the sculpture on the West pediment of the Parthenon.
Both Athena and Poseidon requested to be patrons of the city and to give
their name to it, so they competed with one another for the honor, offering
the city one gift each. Poseidon produced a salt water spring by striking the
ground with his trident, symbolizing naval power. Athena created the olive
tree, symbolizing peace and prosperity. The Athenians, under their ruler
Cecrops, accepted the olive tree and named the city after Athena.
7. Geography
Athens is in the central plain of Attica .It is
surrounded by four large mountains :
• 1.Mount Aegaleo (to the west)
• 2.Mount Parnitha (to the north) – it is the
tallest of all (1413 m)
• 3.Mount Penteli (to the northeast)
• 4.Mount Hymettus (to the east)
The Saronic Gulf lies in the southwest.
8. Rivers
Athens has 3 rivers, whose main part has been covered with concrete.
These are:
• Eridanos
• Cephissus
• Illissos
Eridanos in March 2008 Cephissus river view from above The only uncanalized part of the Illissos river bed
