General information about Athens
Athens is the capital of Greece. It is located in central Greece, on the plains of Attica between the Kifisos and Ilissus rivers. Athens is Greece's largest city with a population of  approximately 4 million people. It is considered to be the birthplace of western civilization. Greek is the language spoken in Athens as well as throughout Greece.

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Brief history of Athens
 
 

Athens was first inhabited in the neolithic years by the first Greeks, then known as "Pelasgoi". Thiseas, the first king of the ancient city of Athens, brought together the small settlements that existed separately in the region and established the first "city-state" in the world. Farming, fishing, and shipping were the major occupations of the first inhabitants of the city.

In 594 BC, Solonas, a prominent Greek lawyer, created the first parliament in the world, which consisted of 400 MPs. Eighty-six years later, in 508 BC, the first democratic system of the world was established in Athens. Under this first democracy, the power was in the hands of the people ("demos"). In particular, the population of the city was divided into ten groups, each of which could elect fifty representatives in the parliament. The parliament was the highest law-making and monitoring body of the city.

Athens's development into a city-state and artistic center reached its apotheosis in the Classical period of the fifth century BC, with a flourish of art, architecture, literature, and philosophy. This period is known as the Golden Age, and it is largely because of the productivity of that period that Athens is considered the birthplace of Western civilization.

In 146 BC, Athens was occupied by the Romans and this period saw the creation of the Hellenic-Roman civilization. Following that period were the Byzantine and Othoman periods. During those years, Athens lost its importance and prosperity.

After the 1821 revolution against the Othoman rule and the establishment of the new Greek state, Athens became the capital of Greece. During the following years, Athens became the center of the political, economic, and cultural life of Greece. Since World War II, the city's population has risen from 700,000 to 3.8 million – more than a third of Greece's population.

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Would you like to know how Athens got its name?
 

Athena	Poseidon

Athens got its name from the name of the ancient goddess of wisdom, Athena. In ancient times,  Athenians, believed that the goddess Athena was protecting the city from enemies, illnesses, and any other kind of undesirable event. According to mythology, Poseidon the god of the sea, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, were laying claim to the city. Poseidon struck the rock of the Acropolis with his trident and at that point a horse sprang out from the rushing water. Athena replied by striking the rock right next to it with her spear and the first olive tree sprang forth. The gods declared Athena the protectress of the town, which took her name.

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Did you know that the Olympics originated in ancient Greece?
 
 

Olympics were held every four years in Olympia in honor of Zeus. Athletes trained hard for months before the games. Discipline was strict and breaking the rules was harshly punished. But for the winners it was all worthwhile. Their prize was a simple olive crown, cut from the sacred tree, and a hero's welcome, fame, and fortune awaited them at home.

To learn more about the ancient Olympics click here
 
 

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