Athens in a Nutshell
Athens (pronounced Athēna in Greek) is Greece's largest city and its administrative, economic, and cultural center. The city is named after Athena - the goddess of wisdom - who, according to legend, won the city after defeating Poseidon in a duel. The goddess’ victory was celebrated by the construction of a temple on the Acropolis, the site of the city’s earliest settlement in Attica.
As a city state, the coastal capital of Athens reached its heyday in the
fifth century BC. The office of the statesman Pericles saw an
unprecedented spate of construction resulting in many of the great
classical buildings - the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Hephaisteion and
the temple at Sounion - now regarded as icons of ancient Greece.
Physical evidence of the city’s success was matched by
achievements in the intellectual arts. Democracy was born, drama
flourished and Socrates conceived the foundations of Western
philosophy. Although the cultural legacy of this period has
influenced Western civilization ever since, the classical age in
Athens only lasted for five decades. Under the Macedonians and
Romans, the city retained a privileged cultural and political
position but became a prestigious backwater of the Empire rather than
a major player. The birth of Christianity heralded a long period of
occupation and decline, culminating in 1456 and four centuries of
Turkish domination, which has left an indelible cultural mark on the
city. By the end of the 18th century Athens was also suffering the
indignity of having the artistic achievements of its classical past
removed by looting collectors.
Modern Athens was born in 1834,
when the city was restored as the capital of a newly independent
Greece. The metropolitan area, including the port at Piraeus, is the
industrial and economic powerhouse of the country. At the same time,
Athens is home to some of the finest museums in the world and many
areas of surprising beauty. Despite the traffic, an appealing
village-like quality becomes evident in the cafιs, tavernas,
markets and streets around Plaka. Psirri is another district nearby
that’s up and coming, while upscale Kolonaki is a quiet retreat
from the hectic pace of the city, especially in the hot summer
months. Moreover, Athens has the finest restaurants and the most
varied nightlife in the country and remains a major European centre
of culture, celebrated each year at the Athens Festival. Athens is
also the seat of several major Universities and Polytechnic Schools
and of the Academy of Sciences. The return of the Olympic Games in
2004 has prompted a spate of urban development. Major projects
include the recently opened Eleftherios Venizelos International
Airport, the extension of the Athens metro system, the building of
new sports venues and the upgrading of hotel accommodation. In
addition, ancient sites within the city centre are currently being
linked by a traffic-free “archaeological promenade” that
is intended to enhance the urban environment for locals and visitors
alike.
In September, the average temperature ranges from 25o C to 32o C. For outdoor evening events, a light sweater might be necessary.
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