Ancient Athens. School of Hellas: features of the cultural life of Athens

Ancient Greek Athens It is a majestic and revered city. It had a huge number of inhabitants. The area has excellent architecture. Athens is also the center of the arts and culture of the Greeks. The main city of Attica is not located on the seashore, as was customary since ancient times, but a few kilometers from the body of water. The settlement was founded around a large hill, on top of which, in a picturesque area, stood a fortress of unprecedented beauty - the Acropolis.

foundation of the foundations

Legend has it that the city was named after the warrior maiden Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom, patronized the arts and crafts, all kinds of sciences, but at the same time she was a great supporter of battles and battles.
The city was born so long ago that history hides the true date from contemporaries. There is evidence that Athens existed during the Mycenean era and even long before it. Athens was sung in his teachings by Plato and his associates.
Athens, like other cities in Greece, was a polis. This city-state reached its peak in the 9th century BC. During this period, Athens was no longer ruled by kings, but by tyrants. But the inhabitants did not see anything wrong with the definition of this name. Translated from the Greek "Tyranos" - the ruler. However, at first everything was perfect, but over the years, the rulers began to take away the most valuable things from people. The population was periodically looted. Since then, the word "tyrant" has become almost a dirty word. By him was meant a cruel ruler.
The inhabitants tolerated tyrants, because they enjoyed the patronage of the nobility and the highest council of elders (Areopagus).
First population
It is believed that at first Athens was inhabited by some Pelasgians, and the first king, according to mythology, was Kekrops. This time is dated 2-3 millennia BC. Later, the Ionians arrived in Athens. By the way, according to legend, the majestic Athena gave the inhabitants of the city an olive tree much later than the moment when the policy began to flourish. So she won honor and recognition. After all, the olive is a symbol of wealth, life. The goddess bypassed Poseidon in the rivalry, who wanted to give the inhabitants of Athens water in order to win their honor and respect and become a recognized ruler. Olive meant more.
Mines flourished in the city, where slaves mined silver, tin and a number of other minerals. Iron deposits were also found not far from the city. Without thinking twice, the Athenians set up enterprises for the extraction of useful metal.
Athens was famous for its ceramic dishes, olive oil, various varieties of honey, and wines. In Athens, marble was mined and processed. All this contributed to the enormous flourishing of trade and crafts. Athens prospered and gained economic bonuses. Here people aspired to whole families, founding and building their homes. So the city grew more and more.

Noteworthy is the reign of Draco. On his behalf, the concept of "Draconian laws" came into modernity. This cruel ruler has established a very dangerous order. According to them, the inhabitants were punished by death even for the most minor offenses. For example, they could take their lives for stealing bulbs.
In ancient times, property inequality reigned in Athens. But in the 6th century BC. this was put an end to. It is all to blame for the growing clashes between the nobility and ordinary poor people. The bloody unrest was suppressed by the election of the archon, who, in the end, thanks to his quick wits, brought general order. Solon abolished the draconian order and began to build a beautiful society, reforming the main areas of Athenian life.

Estates of Athens

According to historians, Solon developed a series of laws, according to which residents received freedom in terms of inheriting property. Benefits were enjoyed by ordinary hard workers - artisans and merchants. Citizens were divided into 4 classes, which depended on their financial situation. All people, regardless of position in society, received equal rights. Any, even not very important, policy issues were decided by the opinion of the majority and only after general discussions.
Solon always defended only the highest stratum - the aristocracy, in the ranks of which there were well-to-do peasants. Under him, only the wealthy held public office. However, at the same time, the poor classes could also decide fate. So, in the 500s BC, some commoners Aristogeiton and Harmodius killed the ruling tyrant, who repaired complete arbitrariness and did not give a normal life to people.
Despite this, the nobility always found an opportunity to unite and lead people in the way that was necessary for her. They rigged votes at meetings of the people, made big bribes, used the services of demagogues (dubious people's leaders).
The flourishing concerned external relations. Athens owned the port of Piraeus. It was the center of trade in the Mediterranean. The policy began to dominate the Maritime Union, which included at least 200 policies. Athens owned a common treasury, which greatly raised the authority of the Athenians.

Great War

In the 400s. BC. Athens was attacked by the Spartans. This epic is called the Peloponnesian War. It lasted for about 30 years. In the history of Athens and Ancient Greece, these were one of the most significant and bloody battles. As a result, the maritime union of Athens could no longer be called a community, and in the city, as a result of a coup, a group of rulers in the amount of 30 tyrants took power. The National Assembly failed.
Athens capitulated to Sparta. The protracted war weakened not only this largest city of Greece, but also most of the policies. In the same period, a major external enemy appeared on the arena - Macedonia. The ruler of this country systematically approached Athens. As a result, city-states decided to unite. Thus the union was formed:

• 1. Thebes.
• 2. Magar.
• 3. Corinth.
• 4. Athens.

The battle of the coalition of the Greeks was defeated. After all, the Athenian nobility, in the majority, fawned over Macedonia. Thus began the era of Hellenism in Greece. During this period, the Macedonians took over. They gave freedom to the population only formally. However, the Athenians resisted, thanks to their ancient history. For example, the Roman Lucius pardoned Athens only because they have such a rich history. The people were given freedom.

decline

Athens began to gradually decline by the 3rd century BC. The Peloponnesian War completely ruined Greece. Scientists argue that the collapse of Hellenism eventually occurred. On the one hand internecine wars, on the other - the advancing Romans. Already at the beginning of our era, the city was not only captured, but also catastrophically plundered by the warriors of Silla. This Roman brought a huge army to Athens, and there was not a single chance left for the victory of the inhabitants of the besieged policy.

Roman domination continued until the 3rd century. At the same time, Athens did not lose its high position in Greece until the German Heruli warriors came and destroyed everything almost to the ground. Only cultural values ​​have been preserved, some institutions, for example, schools. By the way, this time gave the world the most famous Roman emperor Julian, who was just studying at one of the Athenian schools. However, he also closed these schools.
The center of Hellenism "left" to Macedonia, Athens quickly fell into decay. The unfortunately rich city has become more like a periphery, a small village. Population in 500 years. new era was only 20 thousand people.
The subsequent history of Athens is far from rosy, but rather sad. The city was besieged and robbed many times. The Acropolis, which was an unsurpassed palace, lost its grandeur. In the middle of the 15th century, the Turks entered Athens. And they, in turn, had to defend the city from the raid of the Venetians. During that period, a significant architectural monument, the Parthenon, was badly damaged. He practically fell under the shelling of the Venetian guns.
Revival of the capital
Athens became the capital of the state in the early 19th century. Then the city was more like a provincial village, but free from the Ottoman yoke. King Otto, who ruled in those years, ordered to revive the once beautiful city. Intensive construction began. The design of the architect Leo von Klense was taken as a basis.
Even more quarters appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Refugees from the territories of Asia Minor came to the city. World War II brought new troubles to Athens. The city was occupied by the Nazis. But with the victory over the Nazis, prosperity and a new revival came to Athens.
Now Athens - the largest metropolis of Greece - the capital of the Olympic Games. They have been held here again since the end of the 19th century. The millennial glory of this city is not forgotten even now. Even in the 20th century, the city was still shaken by political upheavals, but cultural activity did not stop. In 1981, Greece joined the European Union, which gave the country and, of course, its capital, huge privileges as an investment.
So, Athens to this day remains the cherished dream of those tourists who have not yet had a chance to visit the capital of Greece. Majestic architecture, cultures, traditions, wonderful history. All this is preserved in numerous museums of antiquity.

Lakes of Greece. Prespes

For most people, sunny Greece is associated with beautiful beaches, azure seas and sky-high mountain peaks. However, in Hellas you can see a completely opposite picture of the one that has already become the hallmark of this beautiful country for many.

Traveling Greece by car

Museums in Greece

Greece is one of those countries in the world that can rightfully be proud of its history going back centuries. We all heard certain myths of Ancient Greece, we know the Greek heroes of ancient times, everyone knows the names of the gods and other mythical characters of Greece. You can even say that this whole country is an open-air museum - there are so many sights and memorable places in Greece. Traveling from city to city, stroll along the narrow Greek streets, wander along the embankments, because almost the entire history of Greece is connected with the sea, and, of course, visit numerous museums.

Chalkidiki

The islands of Greece are small beads scattered across the sky-mother-of-pearl surface of the Aegean Sea. Each of them has many mysteries, for the disclosure of which tourists from all over the world come to this region. Today we will talk about the coast of the Kassandra peninsula, a place that attracts tourists with its virgin nature and sandy beaches. The small villages dotted along the coast of Chalkidiki, the peninsula to which Kassandra itself belongs, are characterized by a peaceful life among sights of historical, cultural and religious significance for Christians around the world. This is another important plus to the benefits of traveling to this part of Greece.

Archaeological study of Athens began in the 30s of the 19th century, however, excavations acquired a systematic character only with the formation in Athens in the 70s-80s of the French, German and English archaeological schools. Literary sources and archaeological material that have survived to this day help to recreate the history of the Athenian policy. The main literary source on the history of Athens during the formation of the state is Aristotle's "Athenian polity" (4th century BC).

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The formation of the Athenian state

Hellenistic era

During the Hellenistic period, when Greece became the arena of struggle between the major Hellenistic states, the position of Athens repeatedly changed. There were brief periods when they managed to achieve relative independence, in other cases Macedonian garrisons were introduced into Athens. In 146 BC. e. , having shared the fate of all Greece, Athens fell under the rule of Rome; being in the position of an ally city (lat. civitas foederata), they enjoyed only fictitious freedom. In 88 BC. e. Athens joined the anti-Roman movement, raised by the Pontic king Mithridates VI Eupator. In 86 BC. e. The army of Lucius Cornelius Sulla took the city by storm and sacked it. Out of respect for the mighty past of Athens, Sulla kept them a fictitious freedom. In 27 BC. e. after the formation of the Roman province of Achaia, Athens became part of it. In the 3rd century A.D. e, when the Balkan Greece began to be subjected to barbarian invasions, Athens fell into complete decline.

Planning and architecture

hills

• Hill Acropolis.
• Areopagus, that is, the hill of Ares - west of the Acropolis, gave its name to the highest judicial and government council of Ancient Athens, which held its meetings on the hillside.
• Nympheion, that is, the hill of nymphs, is southwest of the Areopagus.
• Pnyx - a semicircular hill southwest of the Areopagus; it originally hosted ecclesia meetings, which were later moved to the theater of Dionysus.
• Museion, that is, the Hill of Musaeus or Muses, now known as the Hill of Philopappou - south of Pnyx and the Areopagus.

Acropolis

Initially, the city occupied only the upper area of ​​the steep hill of the Acropolis, accessible only from the west, which served simultaneously as a fortress, political and religious center, the core of the entire city. According to legend, the Pelasgians leveled the top of the hill, surrounded it with walls and built an outer fortification on the western side with 9 gates located one after another. Inside the castle lived the ancient kings of Attica with their wives. Here stood an ancient temple dedicated to Pallas Athena, along with whom Poseidon and Erechtheus were also revered (hence the temple dedicated to him was called the Erechtheion).

The golden age of Pericles was also a golden age for the Acropolis of Athens. First of all, Pericles instructed the architect Iktin on the site of the old Hecatompedon (Temple of the Chaste Athena) destroyed by the Persians to build a new, more magnificent Temple of Athena the Virgin - Parthenon. Its magnificence was enhanced by the numerous statues with which, under the direction of Phidias, the temple was decorated, both outside and inside. Immediately after the completion of the construction of the Parthenon, which served as the treasury of the gods and for the celebration of the Panathenaic, in 438 BC. e. Pericles commissioned the architect Mnesicles to build a magnificent new gate at the entrance to the acropolis - the Propylaea (437-432 BC). A staircase made of marble slabs, meandering, led along the western slope of the hill to the portico, which consisted of 6 Doric columns, the gaps between which decreased symmetrically on both sides.

Agora

Part of the population, subject to the owners of the fortress (acropolis), eventually settled at the foot of the hill, mainly on its southern and southeastern side. It was here that the oldest sanctuaries of the city were located, in particular those dedicated to Olympian Zeus, Apollo, Dionysus. Then there were settlements on the slopes that stretch west of the Acropolis. The lower city expanded even more when, as a result of the unification of the various parts into which Attica was divided in ancient times, into one political whole (tradition attributes this to Theseus), Athens became the capital of a united state. Gradually, over the following centuries, the city was also populated from the northern side of the Acropolis. Craftsmen mainly settled here, namely members of the respected and numerous class of potters in Athens, therefore, a significant quarter of the city to the east of the Acropolis was called Keramik (that is, the quarter of potters).

Finally, in the era of Peisistratus and his sons, an altar to 12 gods was built in the southern part of the new Agora (market), which was located at the northwestern foot of the Acropolis. Moreover, from the Agora, the distances of all areas connected by roads with the city were measured. Peisistratus also began construction in the lower city of the colossal Temple of Olympian Zeus to the east of the Acropolis, and on the highest point of the Acropolis hill, the Temple of Athena the Chaste (Hekatompedon).

Gates

Among the main entrance gates of Athens were:

• in the west: Dipylon gate leading from the center of the Keramik district to the Academy. The gates were considered sacred, since the sacred Elefsinsky Way began from them. Knight's Gate were located between the Hill of the Nymphs and the Pnyx. Piraeus gate- between Pnyx and Mouseion, led to a road between long walls, which in turn led to Piraeus. The Miletus gates are so named because they led to the Deme Miletus within Athens (not to be confused with the policy of Miletus).
• in the south: the gates of the dead were near the hill Museion. The road to Faliron began from the Itonia Gate on the banks of the Ilissos River.
• in the east: the gate of Diohara led to the Lyceum. The Diomean Gate got its name because it led to the deme Diomei, as well as the hill of Kinosargu.
• in the north: the Acarni gate led to the Deme Akarney.

Sparta and Athens are two city-states that became the cradle of Western civilization. They had several things in common, and throughout history they fought each other for dominance and power.

Ancient Greece was not a unified country; instead, there were independent city-states - “polises”. These states had their own government and army. Sparta and Athens were among the most powerful cities in ancient Greece. They were also each other's biggest rivals. Both had problems feeding the population as their land was barren. Thus, they conquered neighboring states that had enough food, and in return, the conquered land received protection from the enemy armies invading further.

Despite the fact that Sparta and Athens were geographically close to each other, their ideologies, society, forms of government and basic way of life were very different. Athens was one of the leading cities of ancient Greece in the first millennium, bringing cultural and philosophical achievements that laid the foundations for a new Western civilization. On the other hand, the militaristic Sparta, formed after Dorian's migration from the north, and known for its military strength, became the main enemy of the Persian Empire and the eventual conqueror of Athens. If the militaristic and macho culture of Sparta was completely dependent on wars, then Athens became the source of some of the most outstanding achievements of philosophy, art and science in the history of mankind.

Brief comparisons between Sparta and Athens

Origin

The main reason for the difference between the two cultures was origin, as the Spartans were the descendants of the Dorian invaders, while the Athenians were of Ionian origin.

Form of government

Ancient Greece had two forms of government: democracy and oligarchy. Sparta was ruled by two kings and a council of 28 elders. In addition, a group of 5 members, known as aethers, were responsible for the upbringing of children and the daily lives of the citizens. This form of oligarchic government was chosen by the Spartan citizens who were over thirty years old. Athens also formed democracy in ancient Greece. It was a council of 500 members who were elected by the citizens. The Council met, voted and adopted laws. The Athenian democratic government was elected and ruled by the upper-class male population.

Culture and faith

The culture of the two cities was very different. Sparta became a military stronghold, emphasizing only the expansion of its power, while the Athenians grew in infrastructure and culture. The Spartan faith of complete loyalty to the state was the only reason for their existence. The Athenians and Spartans had different ideologies and goals. Athens always sought to conquer as much land as possible, while the Spartans always held onto their own lands unless they were attacked. However, there were some things in Athens and Sparta that had striking similarities, such as the worship of Greek gods and goddesses, as well as courage and bravery on the battlefield.

Lifestyle

The lifestyle of Sparta was the opposite of that of Athens. While the Athenians spent considerable time studying literature, art, and music, the Spartans trained to become excellent soldiers. The Spartans were brilliant in war and their warriors were considered among the best in the world. Strict training, starting from early childhood, tempered the Spartan soldiers so that they never left the battle in the bloody conflicts that constantly arose between the small policies of ancient Greece. The citizens of Athens and Sparta had different moral values ​​and were unique in their own way. Both men and women enjoyed various privileges, both in Sparta and in Athens.

Sparta: It is believed that in Sparta, the elders checked the newborn child for deformities, and if the child was considered too weak to become a strong soldier, he was thrown into the gorge. The rest of the training was rigorous. At the age of 7, the child was taken away from the mother and transferred to the control of the army. There they were trained and trained, and then enlisted in the regular army at the age of 20. Even after the marriage, the Spartan soldier remained in the army barracks.

At the age of 30, a Spartan received the right to vote and permission to stay at home. Spartan women were independent and enjoyed full freedom, which was not the case in other policies of Greece. They were also allowed to train and study military affairs.

Athens: Unlike Sparta, the Athenian way of life was more free, in which men had access to a good education and could practice any kind of arts or sciences. However, women had limited rights and were not considered full members of society. Only men were given the title of "citizen". Unlike Sparta, men were not forced to join the army, they could do whatever they wanted.

Economy

While the Spartans relied on agriculture to sustain their economy, Athens became the main trading power in the Mediterranean by the 5th century BC. and, consequently, were much richer. The Spartans were simple warriors and trained all the time. They relied solely on helots (slaves) to run their farm and supply them with food supplies.

military strength

At the front, the famous Spartans had a great advantage on land, while Athens was distinguished by its power at sea. Sparta was surrounded by mountains. In the event of an attack, they used these mountains for their defense and completely relied on their army. Athens did not have a very strong land army, their main power was concentrated in the fleet. Athens used walls to protect against other city-states. This type of defense was not observed in Sparta.

While the two great states of ancient Greece had a number of differences, they were also similar in certain ways. Education was compulsory for men. Although in Sparta it was limited to military training, in Athens boys were taught in a range of subjects. The states had strong soldiers, and both needed slaves or helots to make their lives easier or work on their farms. Regardless of the differences and similarities, Athens and Sparta were the two strongest superpowers of ancient Greece.

Ancient Athens was considered the main city in Attica (Central Greece). Urban settlements were located a few kilometers from the sea. They were grouped around a high hill with a citadel rising above it.

It was called the Acropolis. This area was extremely picturesque, and the Acropolis was decorated with magnificent buildings.

Ancient Athens on the map of Greece

From tyrants to democracy

The city-state began to gain strength at the end of the 9th century BC. e. At first, Athens was ruled by kings, and then they were replaced by tyrants. Tyranos translated from Greek as sovereign. Therefore, no bad meaning was put into this word.

However, over time, the city rulers began to oppress and rob the population. It was then that the word "tyrant" already began to be understood as a cruel ruler or despot. In this negative sense, it has reached our days.

At first, tyrants were tolerated, as they enjoyed the support of the rich and noble Athenians and the Areopagus. Areopagus called the supreme council, which included 9 judges or archons.

Acropolis of Athens

In the 7th century BC e. archon Dracont enforced a whole series of cruel laws. According to them, for the slightest offense, people were executed. Stole a bunch of grapes or an onion - death. The Athenians said that Draco wrote his laws with blood and called them draconian.

Property inequality ended in a struggle between aristocrats and commoners in the 6th century BC. e. Unrest and armed clashes broke out in the city. In order to stop the bloodshed, they decided to elect an intelligent person as an archon, so that he would finally put things in order.

Such a person turned out to be Solon. He had an excellent reputation and in 594 BC. e. started reforms. It was on his initiative that the laws of Draco and debt slavery were abolished. Introduced laws on the freedom of will and inheritance of property. Craftsmen and merchants began to provide benefits.

All citizens of Attica, depending on material wealth, were divided into 4 class groups. Each of them was assigned their duties and rights. But in this matter, Solon acted as a defender of the aristocracy. He granted the right to hold public office only to wealthy citizens.

The reformer did not encroach on the power of tyrants. They continued to commit arbitrariness and more and more restored ordinary people against themselves. In 514 B.C. e. The tyrant Hipparchus was killed by the conspirators Harmodius and Aristogeiton. These two ancient Greeks went down in history as the first tyrannicides.

In 509 B.C. e. in ancient Athens, a popular uprising broke out. As a result, the royal power was destroyed, and democratic rule triumphed. All Athenian citizens, regardless of material wealth, received equal political rights, and the most important state issues began to be decided by a general vote.

But the republic that arose on the lands of Ancient Greece remained aristocratic. Noble Athenians began to unite in groups and manipulate the votes of people at public meetings. Aristocrats bribed and attracted to their side the leaders of the people, who were called demagogues.

Rise of Ancient Athens

In the 5th century BC e. Greek city-states defeated Persia. This contributed not only to the general flourishing, but also to the victory of democracy. In Argos, Phocis, Thebes, the ruling aristocratic groups were overthrown. The inhabitants of these cities began to practice democratic freedoms, following the example of Athens.

But it was Ancient Athens that reached the greatest prosperity. The port of Piraeus belonging to them became the main center of trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Athenians also stood at the head of the maritime union, which included 200 policies (cities). The union had its own treasury, and the Athenians were in charge of it. All this strengthened the city and raised its authority.

As for domestic political life, it was characterized by the struggle of 2 parties - aristocratic and democratic. In 462 BC. e. The power of the Areopagus was significantly limited. People's assemblies began to play an increasingly important political role. They met 4 times a month. Laws were passed on them, wars were declared, peace was concluded, state funds were distributed.

Pericles with his wife Aspasia

During this period, such a historical figure stood out as Pericles. He became a recognized Athenian leader, and in 443 BC. e. he was elected strategist (commander). This man has been in power for 15 years. It was under him that the people's assembly began to practice secret voting.

All sculptures depict Pericles wearing a helmet. There is speculation that his head had some kind of physical defect. But, despite this, the strategist had a versatile education. He sought to make Ancient Athens the center of education for all Hellas.

The man's wife was Aspasia of Miletus. She was distinguished by her beauty and intelligence, and in her social activities she sought the equality of women. The inhabitants of the city compared Pericles with Zeus, and his wife with Hera, the wife of the Thunderer. However, the marriage of this couple was not recognized as official, since Aspasia was not an Athenian. True, two sons from this marriage received Athenian citizenship.

Under Pericles, the city flourished and was the most prosperous and strong among all the cities of Ancient Greece. In 429 BC. e. the strategist is dead. After that, the gradual decline of the powerful city-state began.

Sunset of Ancient Athens

In 431 BC. e. War broke out between Sparta and Athens. It lasted 30 years, was conducted extremely cruelly. Other Greek cities also took part in this war. She went down in history as the name of the union, which was headed by Sparta.

The Spartans several times invaded the lands of Attica and besieged Athens. In response to this, the Athenians attacked the Peloponnesian cities from the sea. A sea trip to Sicily was also organized. A fleet of 134 triremes (warships) took part in it. But this large-scale expedition did not bring success to the Athenians.

Having suffered a series of serious defeats, the Athenian Maritime Union broke up. There was a coup in the city itself. As a result of this, at first an aristocratic council of four hundred, and then a smaller group seized power thirty tyrants. As for the people's assembly, its powers were significantly reduced.

The Peloponnesian War was fought both on land and at sea.

In 404 BC. e. The Athenians capitulated to the Spartans. They were forbidden to have a navy, and the stone walls of the port of Piraeus were destroyed. But the long war weakened not only Attica, but also other Greek policies.

Meanwhile, a powerful new enemy appeared in the north. It was Macedonia, which began to claim hegemony in all of Greece. It reached its greatest power in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. under Philip II. He created a well-armed army and began to conquer one Greek policy after another.

However, the Athenian lands continued to be the cultural and commercial center of Hellas. But the inhabitants of the city understood that the Macedonians would soon get to them. The Athenian orator Demosthenes directly spoke about this. His accusatory speeches were called philippics, and Philip II himself declared Demosthenes his personal enemy.

The political situation was heating up, and Ancient Athens had no choice but to create a military alliance. It included Thebes, Megara and Corinth. In 338 B.C. e. there was a battle near the Boeotian city of Chaeronea between the troops of the military alliance and the army of Philip II. In this battle, the allies were defeated.

The winner dictated peace conditions to the defeated cities. Since Philip II was a smart man, he formally declared the conquered policies independent, but obliged them to support him in military campaigns. In addition, he placed military garrisons in Attica.

In most of the conquered cities, the aristocracy came to power, currying favor with Macedonia. This ended the classical era, and the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greece began.

During Hellenism, the situation in Athens was constantly changing. The city then sought independence, then again fell under the rule of the Macedonian army. In 146 BC. e. the city was under the authority of the Roman Republic in the position of an ally. But freedom was purely formal.

In 88 BC. e. The Athenians supported the anti-Roman movement, which was led by the Pontic king Mithridates VI. But in 86 BC. e. near the city walls was the Roman army under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. The Romans took the once great city by storm. However, Sulla showed mercy out of respect for the historical past of Ancient Athens: fictitious freedom for the Athenians was preserved.

In the last quarter of the 1st century BC. e. The city became part of the new Roman province. But only in the III century AD. e. the importance of the once powerful Athens completely vanished, and the policy fell into complete decline.

Ancient Athens Post will briefly tell you about this city-state of Ancient Greece. You will learn about how the inhabitants of Ancient Athens lived, and what was the basis of their state.

"Ancient Athens" report

Formation of the Athenian state briefly

Where was Ancient Athens located? The location of the ancient Greek city-state of Athens is Attica. According to archaeological finds, this region belongs to the southern and eastern parts of Central Greece. Athens was located on the hills of Pnyx, Acropolis, Areopagus, Nympheion and Museion. Each hill had its own function. On the hill of the Areopagus was the meeting room of the Supreme Judicial Council. The rulers of the city lived in the Acropolis. On the rocky, low hill of Pnyx, people's meetings were held, speakers listened and important decisions were made. Festivities and cultural events were held on the hills of Museion and Nympheion. The streets and roads of the city diverged from the hills, which consisted of inner and outer quarters, temples, and public buildings. In the vicinity of the Acropolis, the first settlement arose around 4500 BC.

The legend of the creation of the city of Athens

The city was named after the goddess Athena - the goddess of wisdom and war, the patroness of arts, knowledge, crafts and science. A long time ago, Athena argued with the god of the seas, Poseidon, which of them should be the patron of the new city. Poseidon took the trident and hit the rock. A pure spring gushed out of it. The god of the seas said that he would give the inhabitants water, and they would never suffer from drought. But the water in the springs was sea, salty. Athena planted the seed in the ground. An olive tree grew from it. The inhabitants of the city gladly accepted her gift, as the olive gave them oil, food and wood. This is how the city got its name.

Power in Ancient Athens

Issues of foreign and domestic policy were decided at the people's assembly. It was attended by all citizens of the policy, regardless of position. During the year they were convened at least 40 times. At the meetings, reports were heard, the construction of public buildings and the fleet, appropriations for military needs, food supplies, questions about relations with other states and allies were discussed. The ekklesias dealt with private issues on the basis of existing laws. All bills were discussed very carefully and in the form of a lawsuit. The People's Assembly made the final decision.

Elections of persons for state and military positions also took place at the people's assemblies. They were chosen by open vote. The rest of the positions were chosen by lot.

Between the national assemblies, the Council of Five Hundred dealt with administrative issues, which was annually replenished with new citizens who had reached 30 years of age. The council took care of the current details and prepared a draft decision for the people's assembly.

Another authority in ancient Athens is the helium jury. All citizens of the city took part in the court. 5,000 judges and 1,000 substitutes were selected by lot. Lawyers did not take part in court hearings. Each defendant defended himself. To compose the text of the speech, logographers were involved - people skilled in laws and rhetoric. Performances were limited to strict regulations, which were determined by the water clock. The court dealt with the litigation of citizens and immigrants, the cases of residents from the allied states, political issues. The decision was made by voting (secret). It was not subject to appeal and was final. Judges taking office took an oath to conduct their affairs according to the laws and fairly.

The strategists acted with the Council of Five Hundred. Their competence was the command of the fleet and the army, they followed them in peacetime, they were in charge of spending military funds. The strategists conducted diplomatic negotiations and were in charge of foreign policy issues.

In the 5th century BC. introduced the position of archons. They did not play a big role, but nevertheless the archons were engaged in the preparation of court cases, controlled sacred lands, guarded orphans' property, appointed khoregs, led competitions, religious processions, and sacrifices. They were elected for a year, after which they became part of the Areopagus, where they were waiting for life membership.

With the development of Athens, the administrative apparatus increased. Elective positions were also introduced in the subdivisions of the state - demes, phyla, phratries. Every citizen was drawn into the social and political life of the city. This is how democracy gradually developed in ancient Athens. It reached its highest point during the reign of Pericles. He organized the fullness of the legislative supreme power into an ekklesia - a people's assembly. It was collected every 10 days. The remaining organs of the state were subordinate to the people's assembly.

Education in Ancient Athens

Life in Ancient Athens was subject not only to politics. Citizens paid an important role to education, which was based on public education and democratic principles. Parents were supposed to provide a comprehensive education for young men. If they didn't, they were severely punished.

The educational system is aimed at the accumulation of great scientific information, the constant development of physical natural data. Young people should set high goals for themselves, both intellectual and physical. Schools in Ancient Athens taught 3 subjects - grammar, music and gymnastics. Why was special attention paid to the education of young men? The fact is that the state, thus, brought up healthy offspring, brave and strong warriors.

We hope that the report "Ancient Athens" helped you to learn a lot of useful information about this state. And you can add a story about Ancient Athens through the comment form below.