Athens

Előszó

Athens
A Historical Outline
1. Even today the rock of the Acropolis stands out amidst the Athenian landscape. (Special aerial photograph.)
2, 3. Athens in the last century. >
Athens today occupies almost the entire Attic plain, extending in a semicircular sweep to the foot of Mount Parnes, Hymettus, and Penteli. An aerial view of the city gives the impression of a vast, gray sea of buildings threatening to submerge the few remaining green hillocks in its effort to climb ever higher up the sides of the surrounding mountains. The population of the city of Athens, including that of the port of Piraeus, is now almost 3.5 millión, that is, more than 1/3 of the country's entire population.
In ancient times, the city was considerably smaller. Initially, it was confined to the site of the Acropolis proper; in itself, the rock provided a natural focal point for an expanding and thriving city.
Following the end of the Geometric period, and as a result of the many reforms introduced by Solon, Cleisthenes, and Ephialtes, the political institutions of the Athenian city-state underwent far-reaching changes. For one, the seat of government was moved from the Acropolis — where the Mycenaean king originally had his throne — to the Agora, which in time became the civil, administrative, and judicial centre of the state, and eventually a symbol of Athenian democracy.
By the 5th century b.c., only the architecture of temples and other public buildings was monumental; priváté houses were now built in a simple style, while the streets running between them were extremely narrow by modern standards.
As a result of Pericles' vigorous and imaginative public works programme — carried out when Athens was at the height of its power — the physical aspect of the city changed radically. Its beauty now came to equal its political prestige and preeminence in the Greek world.
Despite its defeat in the Peloponnesian War, for Athens the 4th century was a period of comparative prosperity, as indicated by the advances made in domestic architecture. However, following Philip IInd's ascendancy in southern Greece, and Alexander the Great's victorious campaigns, the Athenian city-state soon feli into political decline. Yet, the city's renown as a great artistic and cultural centre remained undiminished. Thus, during the Hellenistic period, the kings would continue to make osten-tatiously generous gifts to the once great city, as a way of enhancing their own personal prestige. During this period, the Attalid kings of Pergamon in Asia Minor, and the Ptolemy kings of Egypt built a num-ber of stoas and gymnasia, or had sumptuous votive offerings set up on the Acropolis itself. Vissza