can thank Pheidippides – a Greek soldier who ran from Marathon, Greece to never actually held in the Greek capital. Lykavittos Hill is the highest point in Athens, rising 277 meters (910 feet) above the city. Most modern theatres follow the Greek plan. The first settlers in Athens were from various ethnic groups that were organized in several kingdoms. As of 2012, Athens was categorized as the 39th richest city in the world in terms of purchasing power. The Peloponnesian War marked a significant power shift in ancient Greece… Interesting Facts about Athens Other city states in Greece also applied democracy, but the records for the application were abundant in Athens. It is divided by a line of hills that runs on a north-south line through the city. Fun Facts About Ancient Greece. Athens is considered a global city and serves as the most important industrial, political, cultural, and economic center in the country. 404 BCE: Peloponnesian Wars: Athens lost the Peloponnesian Wars. It’s believed the first Ancient Greek civilisations were formed nearly 4,000 years ago (approximately 1600 BC) by the mighty Mycenaeansof Crete (a Greek Island). Meet the Summer ’19 AIFS Study Abroad Student... 11 Inspiring Places to Study Abroad as an... 8 Best Cities to Study Finance and Accounting... Adventures in Athens: Two Monumental Experiences in One... Funding your study abroad – our top ten creative fundraising ideas, Meet the team: Pollyana Latto, Executive Assistant & Compliance Officer, Why you should choose AIFS for your Customized, Faculty-Led Program, In Conversation: Life & Culture Professors. 2. 2. Capital of Culture celebrates richness and diversity of culture in Europe. Since 1964, AIFS has been the leading provider of cultural exchange and educational opportunities for more than 1.5 million people. The earliest civilizations in Greece were in two different areas: on the island of Crete and on the mainland of Greece. During the time of Pericles (443 – 429), Athens reached the height of … It was located in the Laconia region, in the Peloponnese, on the bank of the Eurotas River. ; The archaic period (c.750–c.500 BC). Athens’ origins date back to 3,000 B.C. Athens was at the centre of an area known as Attica. Ancient Greece had several city-states and each city-state had its own Ancient Greek Political System of government. That makes it one of the world's oldest cities. The city covers a total area of 412 square kilometers (159 square miles). Six Metro stations displayed some of the finds. It became the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BC and the strongest Greek city-state around 500 BC, entering its Golden Age after emerging victorious from the Persian Wars (500 – 449 BC). Parthenon, a temple. According to mythology, Athena and Poseidon competed for the title of the guardian of the city. Athens is the capital of Greece, and the first inhabitants to this city were present around the 11th-7th millennium BC. Explore Athens and its ancient history while studying abroad with AIFS this fall! The city of Athens invented the government of democracy and was ruled by the people for many years. Ancient Greek civilization, the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended about 1200 bce, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 bce. It operated from 2000 to 2003 on the ground floor of the FIX brewery but has since been closed for renovation. goddess Athena, is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. in Olympia, in Peloponnese, but the city-state of Athens also had its own games, called the Panathenaic Games, since 566 B.C. perspective: the first permanent settlement in the United States (St. theaters in the city. Greece has many other acropoleis, but the term most often refers to the Acropolis of Athens. The western half of the city is home to the Kifisós River, while the Ilisós River runs through the eastern half. Because, then, the contributions of Athens to our own life are so important, because they touch (as a Greek would say) upon almost every side of "the true, the beautiful, and the good," it is obvious that the outward conditions under which this Athenian genius developed deserve our respectful attention. In Athens, the capital of Greece, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, moderately rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.The city is located near the 38th parallel, but in winter, from December to mid-March, it's sometimes subject to outbreaks of cold air from the Balkan Peninsula, which can bring cold and rain for some days, and sometimes even snow. Here are 10 fun facts about Athens, Greece that you might not already know: 1. The city of Athens is the capital of Greece. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. It has a population of approximately 655,780. Characteristics of the city in a polis were outer walls for protection, as well as a public space that included temples and government buildings. The remnants of the past provide visitors with a fascinating insight into the city's rich history. Greater Athens has an area of 165 square miles (427 square km). A city-state, or polis, was the community structure of ancient Greece.Each city-state was organized with an urban center and the surrounding countryside. In the early days of ancient Greece, there were not that many people, but there was a … The Romans didn't destroy Greek life, though. Athens was the birthplace of the modern Olympic games in 1896. temperature ever recorded in Europe. breaking high of 118.4 °F – the hottest History of Athens It is generally believed that the city was named after the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Athens is the oldest capital in Europe. Why the Social Life of Athens Is So Significant . Poseidon gave the city the gift of water but Athena’s olive tree won the favor of the other gods, making olive trees to be considered sacred in Greece. American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS). Everyone can agree that Athens is an interesting city. Here are some facts about Ancient Athens. In ancient Greek times, the Agora of Athens served as the commercial, social, and political hub of the entire city, where an open-air market would be also be held at certain intervals. Inspired by their tales about Athena’s wisdom, Athens became a center of civilization. This city of 3.252 million people was designated the capital of Greece in 1833 immediately after the country won its independence from the Ottoman Empire. Surviving, though, are over 150 political speeches and 20,000 inscriptions which include 500 decrees and 10 laws. It has a large financial sector, and its port Piraeus is both the largest passenger port in Europe, and the second largest in the world. Political thinkers and philosophers flourished. Olympian Zeus are three of the many must-see attractions that draw millions of Whilst the Olympics are named after the ancient Greek games held in Olympia in 776BC, the first modern Olympic Games were actually held in Athens … During the time of Pericles (443 – 429), Athens reached the height of … The word democracy derives from the Greek dēmos which referred to the entire citizen body and although it is Athens which has become associated with the birth of democracy (demokratia) from around 460 BCE, other Greek states did establish a similar political system, notably, Argos, (briefly) Syracuse, Rhodes, and Erythrai.Athens is, however, the state we know most about. 15 Incredible Facts About Athens. The marble Parthenon, a temple, (see picture above) was built on the highest part of the Acropolis. Here is a compilation of 15 interesting facts you should know about Athens. Academic Adjustment: What it’s Like to Take Classes... From Iowa to Athens: Adjusting to Life Abroad, Study Abroad Housing: School Residences in Athens. It should reopen later this year. Ancient Greece wasn't a single country or empire united under a single government, it was made up of a number of city-states. The Acropolis of Athens, built in 448 B.C. Throughout the city's history Athens was involved in numerous wars, including conflicts with the Persians and other Greeks, but it was also a great center of learning. As towns grew too big to feed everybody easily, some of the people sailed off and started a new city-state, a new polis. With a population of over 3 million people, Athens is Greece’s biggest city, as well as a centre for politics and tourism. Here are 12 facts about the Acropolis of Athens. Facts about Ancient Greece Government 1: the city states There were several city states which made up the ancient Greece. His long run inspired today’s 26.2 mile “marathon” event. This city of 3.252 million people was designated the capital of Greece in 1833 immediately after the country won its independence from the Ottoman Empire. They Say of the Acropolis Where the Parthenon Is… One of the main attractions in Athens is an ancient fortification on top of a hill in the middle of Athens. Before you visit, here are some facts you might not know about the city, its attractions – and the world-class shopping to be found there. Although it had … Records show the city’s origins go back to around 3,400 years ago, also making it one of the oldest cities in the ... Athens has experienced almost every form of government. Athens originally had kings, but gradually, by the 5th century B.C., it developed a system that required active, ongoing participation of … The first-ever plays were performed in Athens. They were constructed with an outdoor courtyard. In fact, Athens is one of the major economic cities in that region of Europe. Ancient Greeks: The Argo Odyssey. The famous city states in Greece included Athens and Sparta. The Ionians had gotten support from other Greek city-states such as Athens and repelled the Persians, irking the Empire and leading to the Greco-Persian Wars which lasted half a century. The marble Parthenon, a temple, (see picture above) was built on the highest part of the Acropolis. The marathon is a commemoration of the run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides (also known as Philippides), who ran from Marathon to Athens to report the Athenians’ victory against the Persians in 490 B.C. name it, Athens has experienced it. The magnificent Hotel Grande Bretagne, located in Syntagma Square, was used as a royal guesthouse in the 19th century, and it served as Nazi headquarters during the German occupation of Athens in World War II. The city ruled the lands and area around it. Athens lies 5 miles (8 km) from the Bay of Phaleron, an inlet of the Aegean (Aigaíon) Sea where Piraeus (Piraiévs), the port of Athens, is situated, in a mountain-girt arid basin divided north-south by a line of hills. The history of Athens stretches over 3000 years, making it one of the oldest inhabited cities. Learn more about AIFS Study Abroad programs worldwide. The government in Greece especially Athens was made based on the democracy. Inside stood a giant statue of Athena, the patron goddess of the city. It has been continuously habited for at least 3,000 years Find out how much you can save The Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Temple of Athens’ total population! To put its age into perspective: the first... 2. Greece has many other acropoleis, but the term most often refers to the Acropolis of Athens. Greece was not a single country, but a collection of numerous Greek city-states. Athens is the capital city of Greece. 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