Early Athenian coin, c5BC
For example, Athens, with its vibrant intellectual and political life, was a complete contrast to militaristic Sparta. Ultimately, there were about 30 city-states, including Thebes, Corinth and Argos.
Athenians were proud of their city. In the centre, there was the main area called Agora, meaning an open place of assembly in an ancient Greek city-state. It was one of the most important parts of the city of Athens, a market place where merchants kept stalls or shops to sell their goods under colonnades and a civic center. In addition to being a place where people gathered to buy and sell all kinds of commodities, it was also a place where people assembled to discuss all kinds of topics: business, politics, current events, or the nature of the universe and the divine. Above all, it was the Agora of Athens where democracy first came to life: free-born male landowners who were citizens used to gather in the Agora for military duty or to hear statements of the ruling king or council.
Another major construction in the Acropolis is the temple of Athena Nike. It was built in about 420BC in the honor of Athena, the goddess of Victory.
Athenians considered that their city surpassed all other cities in beauty. Local citizens spent a lot of time in gymnasiums where had a rest and acquired knowledge. More than 2000 years back in almost all Greek cities there appeared theatres, which contained up to 1000 spectators. Theatrical representations and the Olympic Games were favorite shows for the Athenians. Planting colonies overseas was an early recourse among the Greek city-states. Trade received a boost when some Greek cities began specializing in producing wine and olive oil, which could be exchanged for grain, timber and other raw materials as well as luxuries such as alabaster from Egypt. Thanks to such rich commerce, it was possible to build large cities in the olive- and wine-growing coastal areas. Greece also exported pottery, metalwork and exchanged species, gold, grain, silk and wool with the Romans. The existence of the Greek colonies, together with the conquests of Alexander the Great, spread Greek ideas and influence to a wide area outside the country.
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Athens was the main city of Attica in eastern Greece. In the sixth century BC, around 508, it reached its blossoming and one of the most important ancient Western democracies was established here. The word “democracy” derives from the Greek “rule by the people” and was coined by the Athenians in order to define their system. It was based on selection of officials by the majority of citizens. Elections were not common because they were thought to favor the wealthy and powerful ones.
The Acropolis of Athens (or the “Sacred Rock) is located on the top of a flat-topped rock rising 150m above sea level in the middle of the ancient city. An acropolis (in Greek, “acro” means “high” and “polis” means “city”) is any Greek citadel in a high location. At the top of the Acropolis there was a colossal bronze statue of Athens Promachos, which is now completely lost to us.
In the mid-5th century BC, when Athens became the greatest cultural centre of its time, Pericles started an ambitious building project which lasted the entire second half of the fifth century BC. The principal temple on the Acropolis was the Parthenon, built under the general supervision of the famous sculptor Phidias, who was also in charge of the sculptural decoration. The architects Iktinus and Kallikrates began its construction in 447 BC, and the building was substantially completed by 432 as a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Athens, Athena Parthenos. Originally, the Parthenon housed the statue of Athena, which is now lost.
The Erectheum was associated with some of the most ancient and holy relics of the Athenians. The temple was dedicated to Athena Polias and Poseidon Erechtheus. Within the foundations lived the sacred snake of the temple, which represented the spirit of Cecrops and whose well-being was thought essential for the safety of the city. That is why the snake was fed honey-cakes.
