Attica, Athens. History of ancient greece Where was attica in ancient greece
tier (band) above the main cornice in the antique facade.
(Ancient culture: literature, theater, art, philosophy, science. Dictionary-reference book / Edited by V.N. Yarkho. M., 1995.)
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Attica
Attica, region in the southeast. parts of the Center. Greece. In ancient times there were several small settlements, to-rye gradually united into the city-state of Athens. This process was completed by the 7th century. BC. Families of large landowners continued to live outside the city, although during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), the countryside was often plundered by the invading Spartans. A. was rich natural resources, especially clay, necessary for a flourishing pottery industry, as well as marble, lead and silver, which were required to finance the Athenian fleet.
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ATTIC
Titus Pomponius (110 - 132 BC) - rich and influential. Rome. rider, received the name A. due to the fact that he lived in Athens for more than 20 years. Being composed. landowner., merchant and financier, tried to take in a troubled political. terms of time is neutral. position between confrontations. parties. This is a fence. A. from encroachments on his condition and provision. intermediary role. Letters, writing Cicero, with which A. connected. many years. friendship, are historical. document of that era. A. yavl. high-images. and Rev. man, he earned himself a reputation. publication and distribution. lit. prod. For this purpose he disposed educated. scribe slaves. His own op. "Chronicle" - a short chronological. an essay on the history of Rome from the day it was founded. Life A. described in detail. his friend Cornelius Nepos.
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Attica
peninsula in the southeast. central Greece, bordering on the north with Boeotia, on the west with the Megara region; sq. peninsula 2200 km2, topography preim. mountain. Mounts Kiferon (1409 m) and Parnassus (1413 m) with spurs form natural. border of the Attic region. Other significant Mountain peaks, famous for marble quarries - Pentelikon and Gimet. South the tip of the peninsula forms Cape Suniy. Athens is located in the flat part of the peninsula. Eleusis and Marathon. On the Athenian plain flow pp. Kefis and Iliss, who summer time usually dry out. Soils in A. preim. calcareous, therefore Ch. agricultural. the ancient crops were grapes, olives and figs. Main mineral deposits were located in Lavrion, pottery clay, silver and iron ore were mined. The first inhabitants came to A. approx. 1900 BC e. Since the great migration of the Doryans in the con. 2nd millennium BC e. A. was not affected, the inhabitants of this region considered themselves autochthonous. OK. 1000 BC e. the population of A. was united under the rule of Athens. Piraeus, Eleusis, Forikos, Bravron, and Rhamnous are other significant settlements of A..
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ATTICA
Ancient (´Attikn) - area Dr. Greece. Inhabited since the Neolithic period. The spurs of Kiferon and Parnet divide A. into small plains: Athenian, Eleusinian, Mesogeic, Marathon - suitable for the village. x-va. In addition to the flat, terraced agriculture was widespread. Ch. s.-x. The ancient crops of A. were grapes and olives. The yields of barley and wheat were low, there was not enough bread. Sheep and goats were bred on mountain pastures. Armenia was rich in salt, marble, clay, and silver (mined in the Lavrion Mountains in southern Azerbaijan). Crafts (pottery, metalworking, and shipbuilding) were developed in Armenia. The indentation of the banks of A., its median position in Dr. Greece, the need to import bread contributed to the development of pestilence. trade A. (harbors - Piraeus, Phaleron). By the 5th c. BC e. A. gradually became the most developed socio-economic, political. and cultural area(center - Athens) Dr. Greece. In modern Greece A. forms one of the adm.-terr. units - nomes. Lit .: Kolobova K. M., Gluskina L. M., Essays on the history of Ancient Greece, L., 1958; Wrede W., Attika, Athen, 1934. -***-***-***- Attica in the time of Cleisthenes
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Attic
Titus Pomponius Atticus) - a wealthy and influential Roman landowner, merchant and financier, historian, publisher and patron of the 1st century. BC Born 110, died 32 B.C. The representative of the equestrian class Atticus was a highly educated and enlightened person, he received his nickname due to the fact that he lived in Athens for more than 20 years. He was in long-term friendship and correspondence with Cicero (the texts of these letters have survived to this day), he also corresponded with Octavian and Mark Antony in the 30s. BC He became widely known in the educated strata of Roman society as a publisher and distributor of literary works, including the works of his contemporaries. For these purposes, Atticus kept at home a whole staff of educated copyist slaves. Titus Pomponius Atticus himself was the author of the "Annals" ("Liber annalis") - a work that was a brief chronological outline of the history of Rome from the day it was founded, as well as separate works on the genealogy of noble Roman families, now lost. The biography of Atticus, written by one of his friends, the historian Cornelius Nepos, has survived millennia.
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Attic
1. Titus Pomponius (110 - 32 BC), wealthy and influential Rome. rider, received the name A. due to the fact that he lived in Athens for more than 20 years. As a wealthy landowner, merchant and financier, he tried to take in troubled political. point of view being a neutral position between the opposing parties. This protected A. from encroachments on his condition and provided an intermediary. role. Letters written by Cicero, with whom A. linked many years of friendship, are historical. document of that era. A. was highly educated and enlightened. man, he gained fame by publishing and distributing lit. works. For this purpose, he disposed of educated slave scribes. His own essay "Chronicle" ("Liber annalis") - a brief chronological. an essay on the history of Rome from the day it was founded. Life A. described in detail by his friend Cornelius Nepos.
2. low built-on wall, located. above the cornice crowning the structure (in Roman architecture, usually on triumphal arches) and intended. for bas-relief or inscription. It is also found in the art of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism.
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Attica
from Greek- coast country
peninsula, one of the largest areas in the southeast of Sredn. Greece. Its mountains are ramifications of Cithaeron, a steep rocky ridge that formed the natural border of A. with Boeotia and Megara. Among the mountain ranges are the plains: Eleusinian, Kekropskaya, Mesogeiskaya and Marathonskaya. The small rivers A. Kefis and Asop were shallow, the land was infertile. But the industriousness of the farmers compensated for the scarcity of the land: olives, grapes, figs, millet, spelt, and barley were grown in Armenia. In the mountains there was a lot of limestone and marble suitable for construction. In Lavrion, silver, iron ore and clay were mined, which contributed to the early development of crafts, and thanks to the large reserves of table salt, the population began to preserve food, marking the beginning of the development of an entire industry.
The population of A. considered themselves autochthonous. OK. 10th century BC, under the legendary king Theseus, it began to unite under the rule of Athens, but this process was lengthy and stretched out for centuries. By the VI century. BC. Athens became the center of economic and political transformations in Armenia. Eleusis, Piraeus, Forikos, Ramnuntus, and others were major centers of Armenia.
(I.A. Lisovy, K.A. Revyako. The ancient world in terms, names and titles: Dictionary-reference book on the history and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome / Scientific ed. A.I. Nemirovsky. - 3rd ed. - Minsk: Belarus, 2001)
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ATTIC
church in Constantinople, which was built in the 9th century. in the traditions of eastern early Byzantine architecture, dating back to the throne rooms of the Babylonian and Assyrian kings in ancient Mesopotamia. Its Byzantine name has not survived. As the researchers suggest, the church was not intended for ceremonial religious activities, but was used as a chapel. It was a five-nave, cross-domed building with a low dome (5 m in diameter) resting not on pillars, but on massive walls with small openings leading to the corner rooms. Her plan was based on a square. From the original outer walls, only wide, squat apses have survived, each having three faces without projections and decorations. At the eastern end of the cross there was an altar room, to which the apse adjoined. The worshipers were located in front of the altar at the lateral ends of the cross, moved apart in breadth, and the western end was longer than the north and south, which increased the orientation towards the altar. In the domed square and the narthex there were vaulted ceilings, in the extreme side naves, turned into isolated chapels with images of saints, there were wooden ceilings. The masonry of Attica did not differ from similar religious buildings of this and subsequent eras: 6-6 rows of massive masonry made of stone blocks, characteristic of the architecture of Asia Minor, alternated with 4-4 rows of bricks. After the conquest of Byzantium, the Turks turned this church into a mosque, blocking the windows and destroying the outer side aisles.
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ATTIC
Roman cognomen. The most famous was
1. T. Pomponius Atticus, born 109 B.C., descended from an ancient family of Roman horsemen, and received an excellent education. He was adopted by his uncle Q. Caecilius and was therefore called Kv. Caecilius Pomponian A. In order to avoid participating in strife during the unrest caused by Sulpicius and Cinna, he went to Athens and studied science there. He lived in Athens for many years and from this he received the name Atticus. The Athenians loved him (Ner. Att. 2) both for his generosity and sympathy, and for his generous support of the poor and needy, and expressed their respect for him by building in honor of his statues. When Sulla, on his return from Asia, lived in Athens, A. enjoyed his great location. Soon afterwards he returned, to the great regret of the Athenians, to Rome, about the time when he inherited the property of his uncle Q. Cecilia; Here, too, he used part of this property to support his friends, among whom were Cicero and Gortensky, and did not refuse to help even those whose political convictions he did not sympathize with. A.'s position among the most influential men of his time was very peculiar. He did not interfere in politics; he managed at the same time to be on the best terms with the leaders of various parties; being a friend of Cicero, he enjoyed the favor of Antony, being in friendship with the younger Marius, did not lose the respect of Sulla. Thus his good reputation and his life did not suffer from the wild strife of the parties, because his amiable character and his rare education placed him above them. He never sought or held positions. He died in 32 BC, at the age of 77, respected by all his contemporaries. He rendered a great service to literature by multiplying and distributing the works of his contemporaries and friends; were engaged in the correspondence of essays ( Nep. Att. 13) his many slaves. He himself wrote historical works, between which the liber annalis, dedicated to Cicero, contained the history of Rome from its foundation to its time, arranged in chronological tables by officials. Nep. Att. 18 cic. Brut. 3, 5. I. Nepos (18, 5) also mentions imagines and one Greek essay on the consulate of Cicero. cic. ad Att. 2, 1, 1. plin. n. h. 35, 3, 11. cf.: Boissier, Cicero and his friends;
2. Tib. Claudius Herodes, the son of a wealthy marathon runner, was born c. 103 A.D. and was engaged in rhetoric under Marcus Aurelius, who showed him great respect. Being brought up by excellent teachers, A. entered the public service and in 143 he held a consular post. Subsequently, however, he left the civil service and devoted himself entirely to scientific pursuits. He founded an oratory school, from which excellent students came out, and he himself was an excellent orator. Gel. 19, 12. Emperors L. Ver and Marcus Aurelius also used his teaching. About his relations with the Fronton, not always friendly, cf. letters from the last 61. 111. 138. None of his numerous works have come down to us; the authenticity of the writings attributed to him cannot be proven. Its main merit seems to have been the simplicity and fluidity of the language. Possessing great wealth, he was a benefactor to the poor and founded many magnificent useful buildings in Athens, Rome and other cities. He died in 179 in Marathon.
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ATTICA
? ?????? (from ?????, instead of ???????), used to be also called ????, « coastal country» , and the poets???????, or?????, or?????????? and was the most important of the 8 regions that made up their own (middle) Hellas. It had the shape of a triangle, the apex of which was turned to the southeast, bordered in the north by Boeotia, in the east - by Aegean Sea, in the southwest - with the Gulf of Saron (N. Aegina Gulf), in the west - with Megara and occupied an area of approximately 1960 square meters. verst. A. is a mountainous country and is covered with separate, but frequent, for the most part naked groups of mountains and hills, between which are placed only a few and insignificant plains. All the mountains represent spurs of Cithaeron (????????, n. of the same name, the highest peak is called Elatia), a wild, steep and rocky ridge, reaching up to 4000 feet in height, known from the myths about hunting the Cithaeron lion, about hunting Actaeon and about Oedipus, and who formed the border of A. from the side of Boeotia and Megara. The sharp contrast between it and neighboring Helicon gave rise to the myth of two brothers turned into mountains; the meek and kind Helikon became the seat of the Muses, the cruel Cithaeron, who killed his father and mother, became the seat of the Erinyes. A passage wound through the wildest places of Kieferon?????? ??????? or?????? ?????, n. Gifto Kastro. To the south of Cithaeron stretched a lower chain of mountains, probably called ??????? ??????, representing the Megarian border and ending near the coast, opposite the northern part of Salamis, with two horn-shaped peaks (n. ??????). To the east of Cithaeron, the country is cut through by Parneth (??????, n. Ozea), the most significant in height (over 4000 feet) and the extent of the A mountain range. deciduous trees and shrubs, part of the same pine. He is rich beautiful views. To the south, its continuation is a much lower chain of mountains, n. ?????????, separating the Athenian plain from the Eleusinian from the west; the middle part of this chain, through which the sacred road to Eleusis led, had the name ??? ??????? ??????, the extreme, southwestern part, with a cape ?????????-??????????, one of the demos. From the top of Corydallus, Xerxes watched the battle of Salamis. hdt. 8, 90. To the southeast of Parneth rises Brilette (?????????) or ??? ??????????? ??????, according to demo???????; it was famous for its marble. Adjacent to it and heading south, but closer to the city, also rich in marble, Hymett???????, n. Trelo-Vuni, still famous today for its fragrant thyme and excellent honey. Hymett ends with a cape?????? (N. Cape Helikes). Mount Lycabettus (????????????, n. Hagios Georgios) is a separate rocky cone, reaching in the northeast to the walls of Athens; adjoining it, heading north, is a rocky chain of mountains, probably ancient????????. The southern part of A. is also covered with chains of mountains, which form the Lavrian Mountains (???????? or ???????) steeply descending to the sea near Cape Suniysky (n. Cape Colonna) with rich silver mines ( hdt. 7, 144. Plut. Them. 4), which constituted for ancient Athens main source wealth. There were three plains in A.:
1. Eleusinian (?????????? ??????), between Cithaeron and the swampy shore of the Eleusinian Gulf, the granary of Athens, as a result of which, at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, it was the first to be devastated by the Spartans. Western part her name was ´?????? ??????, eastern, most - ???????? ??????; the part adjacent to Megara, the inalienable property of Demeter, was called ??? ???? or??????;
2. Kekropskaya plain, in the northeast of Athens, called simply ??? ?????? (n. Kalandrian plain), was surrounded by Aigalei and Gimett and irrigated by Kefis; in the northeast, Dekelea towered above it, which was occupied as a result of this by the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War;
3. Mesogean Plain (????????), n. Mesoghia, was in the east near the sea coast near Bravron.
In addition, there were even smaller plains - Marathon and the plain at the mouth of Asop. Irrigation of the country was poor, almost all rivers and streams are very shallow in summer. A. belongs to Asop flowing from Boeotia in its lower reaches. The country's most important river, the Cephis (??????? n. Kiphissos) flows from the southwestern slope of Brilette, joins a few streams originating in Parneth, and flows through the Kekrops plain, on the western side of Athens (cutting through the long walls) ; in winter it overflows its banks at the mouth near the harbor of Faler. Ilissus (Ilissos) follows from Hymettos, connects with the stream of Eridanus, flows from the south side of Athens and is lost in the plain. Another Cephis (n. Sarandopotamos), originating in Kitheron, flows into the sea east of Eleusis. To the east of it were ´??????, flowing salt waters, in which fishing belonged to the Eleusinian temple. Athens and its environs were not richer in water than the rest of A. Apart from Ilissus and Cephis, only the springs of Panop and Kallirroy (?????????, near the Odeon), also called ?????? ?????? or?????????????; now even this key produces muddy water. Only Adrian (117-138) arranged a water pipe from Ankhesm for the eastern part of the city. The rest of the wells gave bad water and therefore were sometimes also called ??????? ( hdt. 8, 55). The overseer of the wells (?????????? ???????) was an important person who watched that no one diverted water without having the right to do so. Of the bays, the most important were: on the east side - a shallow marathon bay, on the west - the harbor of the city of Athens ( cm. below) and the Eleusinian bay. Although it is now difficult to form a correct concept of the state of the country in antiquity, since, as a result of the disappearance of forests and the shallowing of rivers, its dryness has reached a high degree, it can still be argued that Azerbaijan was not fertile in antiquity, with the exception of only a few parts of it; and now still noticeable terraced fields show that they tried to take advantage of every piece of land. The layer of fertile land (chernozem) was so insignificant that in the lease agreements it was forbidden to take away the land by a special clause; however, the poverty of the soil was rewarded by the diligence of the inhabitants and the excellent climate. Agriculture, consecrated by religious decrees and the cult of the Eleusinian Demeter, was an honorable occupation even for noble Athenians. Bread (barley) was excellent, but the harvest gave only? the grain necessary for the population (during the prosperity of the state, 500,000 inhabitants - 140,000 free and up to 400,000 slaves - destroyed 3 million medimns of bread). In the same way, olive oil, which was an export item, was excellent (in the temple of Athena Poliades, the first olive tree was planted by Athena herself, which remained unharmed even during Persian Wars. hdt. 8, 55). Wine was plentiful, but not particularly good; better were the figs, which were born in great numbers; hence the proverb: ????? ???? ?????? to express something useless. The often mentioned prohibition of their export ( cm.??????????, Sikofant) should be considered fiction. In addition, mulberry, laurel and almond trees, the famous omega, etc., oak, beech, pine, spruce, and cedar grew well; the slopes of Parneth and Cithaeron were the last to be covered, from where the Athenians received firewood and coals (Acharna). The mountains are composed of limestone, slate and marble, Pentel marble was especially valued for its whiteness and its fine-grained composition. In the Lavrian region there were significant silver mines, so rich that each Athenian citizen annually received a net income of 10 drachmas (about 2.5 gold rubles). Good clay was mined at Cape Koliad; besides, emeralds and other stones and the famous Attic, a golden color like ocher. Salt mined in A. was of such good quality that it became a proverb. Of the domestic animals, especially sheep, goats were bred, horses were only on the Marathon plain; working cattle, on the basis of ancient rulings, was dedicated to the triptolemus; kept many donkeys and mules. Of the wild animals in former times, wild boars, wolves and bears were found in the mountains. Especially many owls nested in the crevices of the Acropolis (hence the proverb: ??? ???????? ???????, which had the same meaning as the one mentioned above ??? ????? ???? ??????). The sea abounded with fish. The climate in the plains is already suffocating since March, and in August reaches an unbearable heat of 28-32 ° Rheom .; it is especially suffocating in Athens under the influence of the rocky Acropolis; however, in some areas, cool sea winds moderate the temperature. When all the vegetation dries up, the shrill singing of countless fillies begins to be heard from the olives. On the mountains in winter, the snow stays for quite a long time, and this time of year is especially cool due to the moderate temperature. The air of A. is usually extremely pure, the light is distinguished by a peculiar brilliance due to the strong reflection of the rays from the mostly treeless mountains. The dryness of the air greatly contributed to the preservation of ancient buildings and other objects of art. The inhabitants of the Ionian tribe, in all likelihood, moved by sea from Asia Minor, they were joined, apart from other settlers, by the Peloponnesian Ionians. Before them, the country was probably inhabited by the Pelasgians, who were subdued by the Ionians and merged with them. At first, the population of A. was divided into 4 phyla ( cm.????, Phil), then, from the time of Kleisfen, into 10 phyla, split into 174 demes ( cm.??????, Demos); in addition, the country was divided according to the nature of the area into ?????? - "plain", north and northwest of Athens; ??????? or???? - "coastal", a strip by the sea between Athens and Sunia (adjoined to this strip????????) and ??????? or??????? - "mountain country" occupying most of the eastern coast. This division also had political implications. cm. Pisistratus. ?, Pisistarath. ? ?????? there was 1) the Athenian plain with the city of Athens (?? ???????), the capital of A. and the greatest city of Greece. Athens consisted of two parts: the city and the harbors, which since the time of Cimon were interconnected by long walls (??? ?????). Nothing reliable can be said about the size of the city before the Persian wars. The main founder of its greatness should be considered Themistocles, who, after the destruction of Athens by the Persians, restored the city in a more magnificent form, surrounded it with walls and built the harbor of Piraeus, which was of great importance. The direction of the walls erected by Themistocles is still clearly visible in the south and west, while in the north and east only slight traces of them are visible. Their perimeter was, according to Thucydides (2, 13), 174.5 stadia or 30 versts, of which 56.5 stadia accounted for the harbor, 75 for the long connecting walls, and 43 for the city itself. circumference of Rome, occupied only 0.25 of its area. In Athens, there were up to 10,000 houses ( Xen. Socrat. 3, 6, 14) and, according to Beck (Boeckh), 180,000 inhabitants, according to others - a little more than 100,000. With the exception of public buildings, there were hardly many beautiful buildings; most of the houses were made of timber and adobe, especially in the western part of the city, inhabited by the poorest citizens; the streets were irregular and narrow (????????).
The names of the 11 city gates (counting from west to south) were:
1. Dipil (???????), originally the Phriasian or Kerameik gates, of considerable size ( Liv. 31, 24);
2. Sacred Gate (?? ????? ?????), on the road to Eleusis;
3. Equestrian gate (?? ??????? ?????), through which, probably, the perieget Pausanias entered the city and from which he undertook his walk;
4. Piraeus Gate (????????? ?????);
5. Melitsky Gate (?? ????????? ?????);
6. Eton Gate (?? ??????? ?????);
7. Aegean gate (?? ?????? ?????); probably near the Panathenean stage;
8. Diocharian Gate (?? ???? ????????? ?????),
9. Diomean Gate (? ??????? ?????), on the way to Kinosarg;
10. Kurgan gates (?? ????? ?????);
11. Acharn Gate (?? ????????? ?????).
The position of some of the gates is doubtful. Almost in the middle of the city rose a huge steep rock, 150 feet high, accessible only from the west side, and having an area of 900 feet long (from west to east) and 400 feet wide (at its widest point) at the top. The Kremlin was built on this rock, which was called under the Pelasgians ??????, under Kekron ????????, under Erechtheus ??????, - later, when the city began to be called ????? ??, - ?????????. According to legend, the Pelasgians already fortified its northern side ( hdt. 6, 137), while the southern one was fortified by Cimon. The space between these walls represented ´???? in the proper sense and at all times constituted the center of the city in religious, artistic and political respects. On the western, accessible side, Pericles in 435-430. with the help of Mnesicles, for decoration and protection, he built the famous magnificent Propylaea [The names of the buildings from which the remains are marked] (?????????) with a beautiful staircase leading from the Acropolis to the base of the rock. The Propylaea were a luxurious passage building made of Pentel marble, with 5 passages; their construction, which lasted 5 years, cost 2012 talents. On the right side - the entrance to the Propylaea, a small staircase leads to the bastion, on which is placed a well-preserved small *temple of Athena Nike, usually called ???? ´???????. There were outbuildings on the right and left sides of the Propylaea; the left, large (northern), well-preserved, served as an art gallery (??????????), in which, by the way, were the famous paintings of Polygnotus ( cm. pictores, Painting, 2); the right one, smaller (southern), was a room for watchmen and gatekeepers. On the square of the Acropolis, dotted with sanctuaries, sacred offerings, statues, etc., were placed: a colossal copper statue of Athena made by Phidias (?????? ???????), whose helmet and spear were visible in the distant distance ( pause. 1, 28, 2), and two famous temple, the Parthenon and the so-called Erechtheus. * The Parthenon (????????), the temple of the virgin Athena, was built of marble under Pericles in 438 by Iktin and Callicrates. Despite the fact that the Venetians, with their bombardment in 1687, caused great damage to the temple and at the beginning of the 19th century. Lord Elgin took away many metopes, bas-reliefs and other objects that decorated it (Elgin marbles in the British Museum), yet this magnificent building still arouses our surprise. In the Parthenon stood a statue of Athena, 26 Greek cubits (39 feet) high, made by Phidias of gold and Ivory. The clothing of the statue, which was removed and weighed 44 talents, was stolen by the tyrant and demagogue Lacharos in 299 during the time of Demetrius Poliorketes. pause. 1, 25. On her right hand, the goddess held Nike, facing the viewer, 4 Greek cubits high, made of ivory and dressed in a golden dress. The back compartment of the Parthenon (???????????) served to store the sacred money of Athena and other gods and the state treasury ( cf.: Michaelis, Der Parthenon, 1871 and architecti 4.5). To the north of the Parthenon was the oldest temple of the Acropolis, which belonged to Athena Poliades and was usually called * Erechtheus (?? ?????????) by one of its departments. It was built during the Peloponnesian War; it contained: an ancient wooden image of Athena, the alleged grave of Kekrop, a well with salt water (????????? ???????), formed from the blow of Poseidon with a trident, and a sacred olive tree (? ??? ?????), planted by Athena herself. The city surrounding the Acropolis was formed from the combination of several demes that retained their names in subsequent times: Kerameyka, in the northwest; Scambonides, Keyriads, Melites - in the west, Koyly, Kolity - in the southwest; Kidafeneya - in the south; Agri and Diomei - in the east. To the west of the Acropolis rose a rocky hill ´????? ?????, Areopagus, at such a close distance from it that the Persians, with the help of burning arrows, lit the Acropolis from it, which then consisted of wooden buildings ( hdt. 8, 52). On the eastern side of the hill was the court of the Areopagus and the temple of Erinius (??????? ????) with the tomb of Oedipus, near the hill - Kylonei (?????????), built to atone for the mortification committed by the Athenians Kylona ( cm. Cylon, Cylon) and his supporters; in the south of Cylonea stood the Areus temple, and closer to the Acropolis - the temple of 12 gods and the statues of Harmodius and Aristogeyton. On the edge of the city, in its southwestern part, there was a high, rather steep rocky hill, called Musei (?? ?????????), after the name of the singer Musei buried there, according to legend. This hill was turned by Demetrius Poliorketos into a Macedonian fortress. Adjoining this hill from the north is another elevation, usually called Pnyx (????, Gen. ??????); this elevation served as a place of public meetings. There and now you can still see the scaffolding carved into the rock, as it was believed, for speakers, facing the semicircular square, designated for the people. But lately, Welker, Urlichs, E. Curtius and others have given strong arguments in favor of the opinion that on the hill that bears the name of Pnyx, there was rather an altar of Zeus (????? ?????????), and the name Pnyx (according to Curtius) was only another name for the Musaeum, and that the place of public meetings was the plain between the Musaeum and the Acropolis. Later, the theater of Dionysus was used for this. Between the Acropolis, the Areopagus, the Pnyx and the Musaeus, there was an Agora (?????) decorated with many statues, in the part of the city called the inner Kerameik. It contained the Stoa Poikile, or art gallery. with paintings by Polygnotus, Kolonos Agoraios, a small mound, Stoa Basileios, the office building of the Archon Basileus, the Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios, the temple of Apollo Patroos, the temple of the mother of the gods (????????), the building of the Council (??? ?????????), where the council of five hundred met, and the so-called Tholos (?????) - a round building with a domed roof. Between the Agora and Pnyx stood the temples of Aphrodite Urania, Hephaestus and the sanctuary of Eurysaces. To the east of the Agora, on the southern slope of the Acropolis, lay: the Odeon of Herodes Atticus ( cm. Atticus, 2, Atticus), built by this rich Athenian in honor of his wife, the temple of Asclepius, the Stoa of Eumenes, *the main theater dedicated to Dionysus; this building was opened only in 1862 by a Prussian scientific expedition led by Strack, E. Curtius and Betticher; from the south it adjoins the Lenaion theater, where lenei were celebrated in honor of Dionysus; finally, on the southeastern slope of the rock occupied by the Acropolis, stood the Odeon built by Pericles for musical performances, inferior in size to the theater, but similar in shape, with a wooden hipped roof. In the part of the city lying to the east of the Acropolis (later called Hadrian's city), near the source of Kallirroi, at the Ilissus River, stood Olympion, the grandiose temple of Olympian Zeus, 4 stages in a circle, begun by Pericles, but completed only by the emperor Hadrian; 16 colossal columns of this temple still stand today. At the northwestern tip stood the Triumphal Gate of Hadrian, in the east - the temple of Aphrodite in the gardens (??? ??????). On the small island of Ilissus was the temple of Demeter and Kore; behind Ilissus, therefore, outside the city limits, is the magnificent Panathenaicon Stadium, arranged by the orator Lycurgus for the Panathenaic games and finished with Pentelian marble by Herodes Atticus; The stadium was so large that Hadrian once arranged a hunt for 1000 wild animals in it. The rocky hill rising to the south of the Stadium was, presumably, that Ardette (????????), on which heliast judges, determined annually by lot, pronounced the oath. A little to the east of the Pericles Odeon, where the street on the eastern side of the Acropolis turns north (Tripod Street), stands * the choregic monument of Lysicrates, now called the Demosthenes Lantern, a small beautiful temple, round in shape, with 6 slender Ionian columns, the domed roof of which was crowned with a copper tripod, erected as a gift to the gods and to the glory of one choregic victory ( cm.?????????, 2, Liturgy); This temple was built in 334. Prytaneion, where ambassadors and honored citizens were treated, was located at the northeastern sole of the Kremlin, next to the temple of Sarapis; to the west of it is the sanctuary of the Dioscuri (?????????, ?? ´??????), and above this sanctuary, at northern slope the Kremlin - the sanctuary of Aglavra, in the grotto, which communicates through a crevice in the rock with the upper square of the Acropolis. To the west of here was (and still is) a cave with a spring; the cave is the Grotto of Apollo and Pan, and the source was called???????? or ??????, since it was thought to flow underground from Athens to Falera; by means of a water pipe, it connected with the water clock of Andronicus Kirrest, a monument known even now under the name "Towers of the Winds". Between Pnyx and Musaeum, the road to the Piraeus Gates went in a southwestern direction: there lay: the Gymnasium of Hermes, the temples of Heracles Alexikak and Demeter and Pompeion, which served as a repository of sacred gold and silver vessels, which were a necessary accessory during solemn processions; between Pnyx and the Areopagus there was another road in the north-west through the inner Kerameik to the gates of Dipylu; to the left of here was the so-called Hill of the Nymphs (in ancient times it was probably attributed to Pnyx), to the right - the magnificent Stoa of Attala, now unfairly called the Gymnasium of Ptolemy and further, to the north of it - * Feseyon, which is now unfairly considered by some to be the temple of Areus; the building is well preserved. To the east of it are the *Stoa of the Giants, the Gymnasium of Hadrian and the sanctuary of Athena the Archegetis. Outside the city, on the northwestern edge of the outer Kerameyk (this suburb was actually a place of residence for the poorest classes, but also served especially as a burial place for citizens who fell in the war or provided other services to the state, for example, Miltiades, Cimon, Thucydides; as a result, on both sides of the main road that crossed the suburbs, long rows of tombs stretched with "steles", i.e., marble boards of the correct quadrangular shape, which served as tombstones and decorated with inscriptions and bas-reliefs) was located 6 stages from the city wall. The Academy (?????????), a beautifully arranged gymnasium, surrounded by a beautiful garden, where he taught Plato; a little to the north - Gippios Kolonos - the birthplace of Sophocles. Honored archaeologists - Otfried Müller and Letronne are buried here. Behind the eastern Diomean gates, south of Lycabettus, there was Kinosart (????????????), - a gymnasium. dedicated to Hercules, taught by Antisthenes, the founder of the school of cynics. To the south of here is the Lyceum (???????) - an institution consisting of a park and gardens, at the temple of Apollo Lyceum, with a gymnasium where Aristotle taught. About the topography of Athens cf. Leake, Topographie von Athens. 2 Aufl. ?bers, von Baiter und Sauppe (1844). Forchhammer, Topogr. von Athen (1842). C. Wachsmuth, die Stadt Athen im Alterthum (Bd. I. 1874). E. Curtius und Raupert, Atlas von Athen (1878). Long walls (?????? ????? or ??? ?????) from 456 connected the city with its harbours; north wall, 40 stadia long, ??? ??????? ??????? or??? ??????? (because it was more open to enemy attacks) went to the northern wall of Piraeus; the southern wall is 5 stages shorter than the northern one, -?? ?????? or????????? - led to Faler. Between these two walls, however, 12 years later, another third was built, ??? ????? ???????, which also went to Piraeus and was assigned to maintain communication between the city and one of the harbors in the event that the other was in the hands of the enemy; this explains the traces of internal fortifications between both harbors. Since the construction of this inner wall, the Falerian wall has been abandoned. Athenian harbors are formed mainly by a rocky spit, in the middle of which stands the Munichia hill, and at the very end - the Piraeus hill. From the southern coast of this peninsula, two almost round natural basins open, connected by narrow straits to the sea; the Munichia basin adjoins more to the mainland, and the Zea basin extends partly between the mentioned hills. Both harbors served as military ports (Zea accommodated about 200 ships), along with the Kanfara basin located on the other side of the peninsula (o ????????? ?????), which is part of the vast Piraeus harbor; the rest, a much larger part of this latter, served only trading purposes (?????????). One branch of it was called, it seems, Aphrodision. The vast bay of Phaleron, perfectly protected from storms, served as a common raid for warships. This bay was the oldest Athenian harbor; other harbors came into use only from 493; the last time was Piraeus. From the Munichi hill it was possible to completely survey the whole part of the city. These excellently fortified harbors had their own temples, theaters, etc. In Piraeus there was a large pantry for goods (???????), a large ????????? (shop) of Philo, shipyards for 400 ships, an extensive grain store (?????????????) of Pericles and a theater: in Munichia the imaginary tomb of Themistocles was pointed out (Plut. Them. 32, pause. 1, 1, 2). The often mentioned courtroom??? ??? ????????? ????????????, which judged people expelled for murder and accused of a second murder committed by them after their exile, must have been placed at the entrance to the Zeya harbor (the accused came to the court on canoes). To the west of Piraeus lay a small harbor o ?????? ?????, identical, no doubt, with the so-called ?????? ????? (thieves' harbor), one of the favorite camps of smugglers.
1. Of the places located on the Athenian plain, it is necessary to name also:
Acharni (???????), 60 stadia north of Athens, the most significant deme, engaged in agriculture and especially burning coal; Kefissia, near the springs of Kefis near Pentelik; Pallene, with the famous Temple of Athena where Peisistratos defeated the Athenians ( hdt. 1, 62); Gargett, near Hymett, the birthplace of Epicurus; Alopeka, home of Aristides and Socrates, 10 stades east of Athens, on Ankhesma; Galimont, home of the historian Thucydides, north of Cape Koliada, famous for its pottery; on the cape stood the temple of Aphrodite;
2. The Eleusinian and Phriasian plains, west of Athens, where a sacred road led, adorned with many monuments of all kinds.
Here were: Fria on the Eleusinian Kephis; Eleusis or Eleusis (n. Lepsina) on the northern shore of the bay of the same name, opposite Salamis, is one of the oldest and most important cities in the country, famous for the magnificent temple of Demeter built under Pericles, in which great Eleusis was celebrated; Alaric destroyed it, but even now large ruins are still visible. Eleuthera, near the Boeotian border, on the Eleusinian Kephis, from where the cult of Dionysus of Eleutheria passed to Athens, in whose honor the Great Dionysias were celebrated; Oinoia, Drymos and Panakton - fortresses that protected the plain from Boeotia; the last of them dominated one of the mountain passes of Cithaeron; Phila (n. Fili), a small mountain fortress, from where Thrasybulus set out to overthrow 30 tyrants, 100 stages from Athens. Xen. Hell. 2, 4, 2. The last of these places are already part of II. Diakria, a northeastern mountainous strip that runs through the entire Marathon plain. In it: Decelea, 120 stadia from Athens (Dekeleia is visible from there), - on the northeastern edge of the Athenian plain, - a very important fortified place during the Peloponnesian War (ruins near Tatoi); Oropus, which belonged now to the Athenians, now to the Boeotians, not far from the mouth of Asopus, on its right bank, with the harbor of Delphinion; near it (to the south-east) the temple and oracle of Amphiaraus, who, according to legend, was swallowed up by the earth here, while fleeing from Thebes; Rhamnous (Tavrokastro), on Euripos, with the famous temple of Nemesis (Rhamnusia virgo); Afidna and further to the west of Trinemeus - at the main source of Cephis. The cities of Tricorif (near Suli), Marathon (n. Vrana, cm. Marathon, Marathon), Oinoia (not to be confused with the above) and Probalinth (n. Vasilipirgi) were ??????? ??????????. On the now almost completely treeless marathon plain (approximately 2 hours long and 0.5-1 hour wide), where Theseus killed the marathon bull, one can see, in the southern part, an artificial earthen hill, about 200 feet in circumference and 36 feet high , probably the common grave of the Athenians who fell here in 490 BC; Opposite is another small burial mound, under which the corpses of Plataeans and slaves were buried ( pause. 1, 32, 3), disappeared without a trace. The place of the battle is a narrow, flat valley, which favored the actions of a small army against a large one. Nearby are the source of Macarius and Mount Pan with a grotto and an oracle. III. In Paralia (western coast) and Mesogeia (slope south of Pentelikon and east of Paralia), as well as on east coast: Arafenid Gales (???? ??????????), the harbor of the deme Arafen, south of the mouths of Erasin, famous for the cult of the Tauride Artemis. The nearby Bravron (n. Vraona) was, they say, the place where Iphigenia first stepped ashore, returning from Taurida with the idol of Artemis; therefore, the Taurian (Bravronian) Artemis enjoyed special reverence here and in honor of her annual festivities were held here (?????????); the oldest statue of the goddess was taken away by Xerxes. Every 5th anniversary was also celebrated here Dionysia. Further south is Styria, where the Styrian road led from Athens; home of Theramenes and Thrasybulus; Prasia (Prassa at the Porto Rafti Bay) with the temple of Apollo and the grave of Erisihfon, the son and heir of Kekrop; he died, however, before his father, and Kranai seized power; Potamos with the tomb of Ion; Torikos (Teriko), one of ancient settlements in Attica, with a beautiful harbor (n. Porto Mandri) and an acropolis, at the foot of which significant ruins still remain. Sounion - in the north-west of the cape of the same name (n. Cap-Column), strongly fortified, with the well-known, now lying in ruins, temple of Athena, at which, during the Panathenaic period, naval battles with triremes were presented. In the mining district of Lavrione lay Anaflist (n. Anaviso) with a well-fortified harbor, at the entrance to which was the island of Elaiussa (n. Lagonisi); further - Sfettos, Lampra, Fora, Anagyrunt, near Cape Zostra, with the temple of the mother of the gods; from the fetid bush growing here ´???????? the proverb begins ???????; Gala Eksonidskie with salt pans; Exona is a significant place, which has acquired a bad reputation for the quarrelsomeness of its inhabitants; finally, away from the Styrian road - Peania (n. Liopesi), the birthplace of Demosthenes. Of the islands belonging to Attica, the most significant is Salamis (??????? -??, n. Kuluri), near the mainland, in the shape of a horseshoe, forming an Eleusinian bay with the coast. In ancient times it was an independent state ( cm. Aeacus, Aeacus), then belonged to Megara and for a long time served as a bone of contention for the Megarians and Athenians, until it was conquered by Solon and, by the verdict of the Spartans, was recognized as Athens. He apparently did not constitute a deme, but was a special state in supreme dependence on Attica. The ancient main city stood on south coast, and later Novosalamin (n. Ambelaki) was founded, in the east, opposite Mount Egaleos in Attica. The part of the island closest to Attica is the Kinosura spit, with the grave of the faithful Themistocles dog, which threw itself into the sea when the fleet sailed, and the trophy that Themistocles erected in honor of the great victory he won (480) over the Persian fleet. The battle took place in a narrow strait between Novosalamin and Attica, the Athenians were locked in the Salamis bay. hdt. 8, 84 sl. Near Salamis are the islets of Pharmacus and Psittaleia (n. Lipsokutali); on the last detachment of the Persian ground forces was destroyed by Aristides. hdt. 8, 95. Aesch. Pers. 422. sl. The island of Helena or Makrida (n. Makronisi) was closely adjacent to Sounion, where, they say, Helena stepped ashore, either after her abduction, or when returning from Troy. cf. in general Bursian. Geographie von Griechenland, I. 251 sl.
Great Definition
Incomplete definition ↓
Classical symbols of Athens - majestic Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Zeus, theater of Dionysus, odeon of Herod Attica. Every year, thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to visit the famous areas Plaka, Monastiraki, Syntagma, admire the majestic beauty of the mountains and the abundance of beaches.
The grandiose architectural monuments of Athens deserve special attention, as well as the numerous museums of the city.
Take time to walk along the pedestrian zone in the historic center of the city to admire the rich collection of treasures of the National Archaeological Museum and visit the sacred Acropolis, the main attraction for many tourists. Beautiful architectural complex includes several ancient temples, shrines and religious buildings, the surviving fragments of which allow you to fully enjoy the grandeur of these places.
In the central part of the Athenian Acropolis there is another unique architectural structure — Parthenon temple, striking in its size, age and magnificence. Today this most famous monument ancient architecture, built in honor of the goddess Athena, is clearly visible from anywhere in the city.
Just half a kilometer from the Acropolis is the largest temple in Greece - Temple of Zeus or Olympeion. The former glory of the great monument of Greek history is reminded by 14 huge marble columns, the height of which reaches almost 20 meters. The graceful ruins of the temple of Zeus and the ruins of other ancient buildings surrounding it are especially beautiful at night, thanks to the picturesque illumination.
One of the most famous natural attractions of the region is Mt. Imittos- located in the east of Athens. At the top of the mountain range, hiding behind cypress forests, there are amazing monasteries with healing springs and bizarre caves. Here you will find an abundance of walking paths, places for mountain biking and rock climbing, and secluded corners. To get to Attica means to definitely climb this mountain: you are guaranteed a breathtaking view of the entire city of Athens.
Do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting the ancient Temple of Poseidon- a unique building located on the picturesque Cape Sounion. Many legends and interesting stories are associated with this religious building. Some of the slender Doric columns of the temple, framing the majestic structure, have survived to this day.
Visit Ancient Greek temple of the goddess Demeter in Eleusis - its museum contains historical artifacts of the most different eras. For the most part of the territory of the complex, you can freely walk, admiring the ancient ruins.
Located 10 kilometers from Athens Monastery of Daphne- a building erected in the VI century and recognized as one of the greatest masterpieces of the era of the Middle Byzantine period. Ancient monastery-museum, listed world heritage UNESCO, is famous for its beautiful interior mosaics and frescoes.
Today? Best Resorts and the archaeological sites of Attica.
The oldest period in historical life Attica, which later became the main territory of one of the most powerful and prosperous states - Greece, was only weakly reflected in the sources. Archaeological studies of Athens itself and the area surrounding them have found traces of ancient life dating back to the Neolithic era. The oldest of the burials discovered so far here dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. e. The handmade gray clay vessels found in this burial near the crouched skeleton are still very primitive.
The end of the fragmentation of Greece, according to legend, was put by the hero and the Athenian king Theseus, who united the population around Athens and established one common council. “From that time to the present,” writes Thucydides, “the Athenians celebrate the national festival of synoikia (unification) in honor of the goddess Athena.
During excavations on the Athenian acropolis, monuments of an incomparably higher culture were found in the form of the remains of a Mycenaean-type palace, and in a number of other places (Acharni, Erchia, Keramik, etc.) - burials of the same time with a large number of various objects, mainly ceramics, including non-local ones. All these monuments, dating back to the end of the Bronze Age, give reason to think that on the territory of Attica there was one of the centers of Mycenaean culture, contemporary with its other centers.
The subsequent, post-Mycenaean period is characterized in Attica by the appearance of pottery of the so-called proto-geometric and geometric styles. Some of the ceramic finds of this time, such as the famous Dipylon vases, which have become widely known, have survived to our time in excellent condition.
Abundant finds of proto-geometrical and geometrical ceramics were also provided by excavations on the northern and northwestern slopes of the Areopagus. It is noteworthy that in the cultural strata characterized by this kind of ceramic finds, almost no imported items are found. This shows that the weakening of ties with other countries, typical for the whole of Greece in the post-Mycenaean period, also characterizes Attica.
The ancient Athenians had a severe debt law, by virtue of which the debtor was responsible to the creditor not only with his property, but also with the freedom of himself and his family members. Insolvent debtors turned into slaves of their lenders.
To characterize the Iron Age in Attica, it is interesting to discover a burial in Athens in 1949, apparently of a craftsman, in which about ten objects made of iron and a grindstone were found.
Fig trees (fig trees) in Attica grew in huge numbers and produced such a variety of fruits that they even entered the proverb as something useless, of which a lot will be born. A similar proverb existed in relation to owls nesting in the vicinity of the Acropolis.
Attica is an area bounded on the south by the Aegean Sea. Its whimsical configuration testifies to the existence of many bays, gulfs and capes. The land has been cultivated here since time immemorial. The goddess Athena herself argued for the possession of Attica with the powerful Poseidon and won this dispute by bringing an olive as a gift to people. Attica has been famous since ancient times for its mild, warm climate, there are a large number of ancient monuments. It was the proximity to the capital that led to the rapid development of this area at almost all times of Greek history.Drinkable water was delivered, in addition to the rivers Ilissa and Kefis, only the springs of Panop and Kallirroy. Only the emperor Hadrian (117-138) arranged a water pipe for the eastern part of the city. The overseer of the wells was an important person who saw to it that no one diverted water without having the right to do so.
Separately, it must be said about the remarkably preserved monuments of ancient architecture of Attica. Perhaps the most famous of them is the Temple of Poseidon, located on Cape Sounion. The temple consists of columns located at a distance of 70 meters. big temple, standing on a cape where only winds walk, leaves unforgettable impression. It would be worth visiting the ancient temple of Demeter in Eleusis, located 22 km from Athens, dedicated to the secret cult of the goddess Demeter and her charming daughter Persephone.
The main resorts of the Attic Riviera are Palio Faliro, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Voula, Kavouri, Varkiza, Lagonissi, Anavyssos, Cape Sounion, Mati, Nea Makri. And, of course, the island of Evia - with its luxurious resorts Eretria, Amarynthos, Edipsos
Attica
| Attica Αττική |
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| Capital | Athens |
| nomes | Athens, East Attica, West Attica, Piraeus |
| Population | 3 841 408 people (2005 year) |
| Square | 3808 km² |
| Population density | 1009 people/km² |
| Administrative regions of Greece | |
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Geography
Most of Attica is covered with limestone and marble hills, and is currently only bare, devoid of vegetation spaces. Only the higher parts of Cithaeron and Parnassus, as well as the northwestern slopes of Pentelikon, are covered with pine and spruce forests. The basis of the entire mountain system is Kieferon (now Elatea, the so-called spruce hill, the highest point of which rises to 1411 m above sea level). Cithaeron separates Attica from Viotia with its main ridge; Attica is separated from Megara by its branch going south and bearing the name Kerata (horns); Parnassus (now Ocea), reaching 1413 m, merges with the southeastern spurs of Kytheron, whose northeastern branches, now bearing separate names (Beletsi, Armeni, Mavrovuno, Tsastany, Stavrokoraki, Kotroni), extending to the eastern edge of the region, form in this part Attica is a real mountainous country (Diakria or Epakria of the ancients). The southern continuation of Parnassus is Egaleos rising much lower above the sea, which in the southern part, where it enters the sea against the island of Salamina, is called Korydallos (now Scaramanta), and in the middle, where it is cut through by a gorge connecting the plains of Athens and Eleusis is called Pecilion. In the northeast, the Athenian plain is bordered by Brilettos, or, as it was usually called from the area lying on its southern slope, Pentelikon (now Menteli). This is a pyramidal hill reaching 1110 m in height with extensive, still successfully exploited marble quarries, which deliver excellent white marble of the finest grain, going to buildings and statues. A valley 4 km wide separates in the south the foot of the Pentelikon from the southern belt, almost exclusively composed of bluish-gray marble, which was used in antiquity for architectural purposes. This ridge - Gimet (now Trelovuno) - rises to 1027 m, almost devoid of forest vegetation, but covered with odorous herbs and therefore inhabited by wild bees that produce excellent honey. The eastern edge of the region (near the ancient Paralia) is cut through by less high chains of hills, which, to the south of Hymet, where the peninsula narrows, unite into one ridge - the Lavrion Highlands, which consists of a cape - Sunium, steeply descending to the sea, on which the ruins of the temple of Athena still rise. , according to the columns of which the cape is still called Cap Colonnes by sailors. The Lavrion Mountains, due to their richness in silver, were of high importance for Attica in antiquity; but these mines, at first very profitable, were so intensively exploited that already immediately after the beginning of AD. e. I had to stop mining. Only in later times did they try, and not unsuccessfully, to extract benefits from the slag left over from previous works.
The mountains stretch partly directly to the sea, partly alluvial earth has accumulated at their soles, forming more or less wide coastal plains, of which many were known in antiquity. The most remarkable of them is the Marathon Plain (Belarusian) Russian on the north coast. It is a lowland 9 km long and 2-4 km wide, with a vast swamp to the northeast. Here in 490 BC. e. The Persian army was defeated by the Athenian army. More significant plains, which either, starting at the coast, stretch far inland, or are completely separated from the sea, there are only three in the country: 1) the Athenian plain, often called simply "plain" (pedion); 2) the smaller, separated from Athens by the Egaleos mountains, the Triassic plain (so-called Tria from the ancient area) and 3) the plain between Hymet and the lower mountain ranges east coast, which connects with the Athenian plain through the valley that separates Pentelikon from Hymet.
Irrigation of the country is extremely poor. The most significant streams flow along the Athenian plain, namely: Kephis, starting at the southwestern foot of Pentelikon in the forest-rich area of \u200b\u200bKefizia, fed by various tributaries from Parnassus. It flows through the plain in a southwesterly direction and, to the west of the city, is diverted into numerous canals for irrigating vegetable gardens and plantations; The Ilissus begins at the northern foot of Hymet, flows along the eastern and southern sides of the city, and is lost in the sands southwest of it. In addition to them, it is necessary to mention another Cephis of the Eleusinian plain, the Enoe stream that cuts through the Marathon plain (so named for the ancient area lying north of Marathon) and Erasinos, which flows further south from the eastern coast, near the ancient locality of Arafen (now Rafina).
Agriculture and minerals
The soil of the country is almost entirely a light, rather thin layer of stony limestone, which is not very suitable for cultivating wheat, more so for barley and grapes, but especially for olives and figs, and therefore the latter, both in antiquity and now, are the main products of the country and export items. Cattle breeding is significant today, and in ancient times Attic wool enjoyed great fame. In the mountains, not to mention exhausted already silver mines Lavrion, excellent marble is mined; the soil in many places, especially on the coastal strip running southwest from the harbor of Piraeus and the Bay of Falerno and ending at the foothills of Kolias (now Gagios Kosmas), provides excellent clay for dishes, and therefore pottery was a flourishing branch of industry in ancient Athens and His products were very popular.
Story
The population of the country, not to mention some of the Pelasgian elements of the prehistoric era and the huge number of foreigners who later permanently settled in Athens, belonged in antiquity to the Ionian tribe. The inhabitants called themselves autochthonous, that is, indigenous, since their ancestors descended directly from the soil of the country and from time immemorial the land was in their continuous possession. Like all Ionian peoples, the inhabitants of Attica fell into four tribes or classes (phyla): geleonts (noble), hoplites (warriors), egikoreas (shepherds in general and goats in particular) and ergadei (farmers). According to legend, 12 independent cities or unions of communities existed in the country from time immemorial. These were part of separate settlements that existed even later, such as Kekropia (later Athens), Eleusis, Dekeley and Afidna (the last two in the north of the country), Brauron (among east coast), Thorikos (in the southernmost part of the east coast), Kiteros (location unknown), Sfetos and Kefisia, partly unions of several settlements, such as Epakria (the northern mountainous country), Tetrapolis (the union of four cities) on the Marathon plain and Tetrakomia (the union of four villages) in the very south of the Athenian plain. According to legend, Theseus united these 12 communities into one political entity, the capital of which was Athens.
Administrative division in antiquity == Vitalik Seryozhkin
The division of the people into 4 phyla remained both under the kings and under the archons. Even the legislator Solon did not abolish this division, and in parallel with it, partly wishing to reduce the influence of the ancient aristocratic families, partly, in order to lead to a more equitable distribution of the tax burden among citizens, he created a new division of citizens into 4 classes according to their property. Only Cleisthenes abolished the ancient Ionian division into tribes and put in its place the division of the people into 10 phyla, each of which bore the name of an ancient Attic hero (Eponym). Each of these phyla embraced a certain number of communities (demes) located in different parts of the country. As a rule, each not very significant locality constituted a special "dema", while large ones, like the cities of Athens and Brauron, fell apart into several dema. The number of dems was not the same at different times: - at the beginning of the Christian era there were 371. Thanks to writers and inscriptions, the names of approximately 180 dems have come down to us, but the location of many is now impossible to establish. The total number of citizens fluctuated, judging by the censuses, during the heyday of the state, to the Peloponnesian War, within 80-100 thousand. The number of metoyks under the patronage reached 40,000, the number of slaves reached 400,000, so that the total number of free and not free population exceeded 500,000. An increase in the number of phyla (10) by two new ones took place in 307 BC. e. Out of a desire to flatter Demetrius Poliorcetes, the latter were named after him and the name of his father Antigonus - Antigonis and Demetrias. But the first was renamed in 265 BC. e. in honor of the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus in Ptolomaida, the second in honor of the Pergamon king Attalus I in Attalida. Finally, under the emperor Hadrian, the 13th phylum was added and named Adrianida after this benefactor of the city of Athens.
Political structure in antiquity
Politically, Attica was in antiquity the most centralized region of Greece. Main city was not only the seat of the administration, but the court, as well as the people's assemblies, in whose hands since the time of the democratic reforms begun by Cleisthenes and concluded by Pericles, the supreme decision of all state affairs has been concentrated. The importance that Attica, by virtue of its principal city of Athens, had in the political and cultural life of ancient Greece can only be properly appreciated in connection with the presentation of the general history of Greece.
The political history of Attica is a classic example of the rise of a state. Athens, the main city of Attica, has long been inhabited by a people ethnically close to the Greeks of Asia Minor.
Attica, a region of Central Greece, is a peninsula protruding into the Aegean Sea in a triangle and washed from the west by the Saronic Gulf, the Evrip Strait separates it from the island of Euboea. The central region of Attica (Mesogeia) is surrounded by mountain ranges. The Kefis River cuts the valley into two parts and connects the plain with the sea. On the western coast, Attica has several natural harbors: Faler, Piraeus (Munigia). The nature of the country had its influence on the history of Attica. Mainly remaining an agricultural country of gardeners, pastoralists, gardeners and beekeepers, Attica, with good bays and harbors, developed a great trade and industry that won her fame throughout the Hellenic world and beyond. Sparta cannot be compared in this respect.
The ancient history of Attica is little better known than that of Sparta. Like Sparta, Attica and Athens have their historical roots in the Cretan-Mycenaean world. In the post-Mycenaean period, Attica was covered with small fortresses of the Basileans, as evidenced by the remains that have survived to this day. The myths preserved the names of the most ancient semi-legendary Attic kings and heroes: Cecrops, Aegeus, Theseus, Codras, etc.
In myths and legends, the formation of the Athenian state is presented in the form of a long-term struggle with each other of the basilei, who were sitting in their policies scattered across the territory of Attica. Subsequently, this process of struggle began to be imagined as a peaceful unification, or synoikism. The legends say that after he received royal power Theseus, uniting strength with intelligence, he put the country in order, abolished the councils and officials of other cities, and united all the inhabitants around one city by synoikism, establishing one council and one pritanei. In memory of the unification of Attica, an all-Athen holiday was established Panathenaic, dedicated to the memory of the patroness of the city, Athena Pallas, the goddess of war and olive groves. Subsequently, Panathenaic turned into a national holiday, accompanied by games, gymnastic and musical competitions.
Socio-economic system of Attica XII-VIII centuries. can be defined as the Homeric scale.
Four tribal unions, or phyla, inhabiting Attica, were divided into phratries, phratries into clans. According to the general law, the growth of productive forces, the division of labor and exchange disintegrated tribal organizations, putting forward other organizations in their place - neighboring, professional and property. The clan organization was preserved for the longest time among the upper layer of the “noble and rich” aristocrats, who were called in Attica eupatrides, i.e., having noble parents.
Athenian landscape.
In the distance, the valley of the Kefis River and the Egalian mountain pass with "sacred way» to Eleusis. Erechtheion to the right.
Most of the population consisted of medium and small farmers - geomors, artisans - demiurges, merchants and fetes. The lowest stratum of Attic society consisted of slaves, whose number increased with every century.
Under the influence of the same factors that destroyed the clan, there was a merger into a single Athenian state of individual localities and clans. The process of formation of the Athenian state, long and varied, ended approximately at the beginning of the 6th century. BC e.
The unification of Attica, caused by the growth of productive forces, for its part, was a factor contributing to further socio-economic and cultural progress. Along with local customs, institutions, worship, etc., general Athenian (Athenian) institutions arose. In this way, Athens from a fortress, the seat of the basileus and his squad, turned into a polis-city in the proper sense.
The supreme power over the united Attica for several centuries belonged to the Athenian basilei. Around the 8th century royal power in Athens disappears. The last Athenian king was, according to legend, Codr. After the abolition of royal power, Athens was headed by rulers elected from the Eupatrides - archons. At first this position was for life, then the archons were elected for 10 years and, finally, for one year. Initially, only one archon was elected, around the middle of the 6th century. formed board of nine archons: 1) the first archon, the archon-eponym, initially had great power, but later his functions were limited; 2) the archon-basile performed mainly priestly functions, as well as judicial functions in cases related to the cult; 3) the archon-polemarch was the leader of the Athenian militia; and 4) six archons of Thesmothetes, guardians of the law, chairmen of various judicial colleges. Archons sent public posts free of charge. The archonship was considered the highest honor and honor not only for the archon himself, but also for his entire clan, phratry and phyla to which he belonged.
Upon completion of the term of office, the archons entered into Areopagus, the highest council of state. In the Areopagus, criminal cases were dealt with, especially cases of murder. The Areopagus was the guardian of traditions, the highest judicial and controlling body. He owned the recommendation and control of the archons. The Areopagus sat on a rock dedicated to the god of war, Ares. This is apparently where the name comes from.
Only Eupatrides, members of the most influential Athenian families, could be archons and members of the Areopagus. Having wealth and having at their disposal a lot of servants and dependent people, the Eupatrides could live in Athens and engage in public affairs.
The economic basis of the power of the Eupatrides was lands located in a fertile area near Athens. The survivals of the tribal system were still very strong: the land could not be alienated, and all property remained in the clan. However, new relationships have already made themselves felt. Some Eupatrides were engaged in usury and trade, especially since the geographical location of Afpn, only 5 kilometers away from the sea, predisposed to overseas trade. The number of rich and influential aristocratic families in Attica, as in general in all of Greece, decreased with each generation. The monetary economy not only corrupted the clans in the lower strata of Attica, but also captured the upper stratum of the “noble”. A smaller part of the Eupatrides grew rich and rose, becoming even more noble and noble, while the larger part became poorer and fell into the category of the poor. "The tribal system is absolutely incompatible with the money economy" 1 . The further, the more nobleness became a symbol and a sign of wealth. The number of influential Eupatridian clans and families in Athens in the 8th-7th centuries, on the eve of the great reforms, was small, but wealth, strength and power were in their hands.
The influence of the ongoing economic changes—the growth of the money economy and the growth of slavery—was most painfully felt in the countryside. Trade and usury that penetrated the countryside mercilessly broke the patriarchal relations sanctified by deep antiquity, inseparable from subsistence farming.
"... The developing money economy penetrated, like corrosive acid, into the primordial way of life of rural communities based on subsistence farming."
The position of the rural masses - geomors and fetes - in the 7th-6th centuries. in Attica was extremely difficult, both materially and legally. There is absolutely definite evidence of this from our main sources, the "Athenian polity" of Aristotle and Plutarch (in the biography of Solon). Despite the well-known schematism and one-sidedness of their coverage, the very fact of the ruin of the Attic village is beyond doubt. The main scourge of the countryside was usury and the growing slaveholding, which ousted free labor.
Plutarch and Aristotle report that in Attica, on the eve of the Solon reforms (6th century), a large number of small landowners were indebted to rich eupatrides. Debtors cultivated the land of the rich or took money on the security of their own person. Lenders had the right to enslave the debtor or sell it abroad.
“The fact is,” says Aristotle in “The Athenian Politia” (“History of the Athenian Constitution”), “that at that time the state system in Athens was oligarchic, the poor were in slavery to the rich, they themselves and their families. They cultivated the lands of the Eupatrides, giving them five-sixths of the income received from the land for this, and leaving one-sixth for the personal use of themselves and their families. That is why they were called six-dollars (hectomors). All the land was in the hands of a few. If the debtors did not pay the due payment on time, then they themselves and their family members were allowed to be taken into bondage.
The eupatrides, who had political power and strength in their hands and firmly held on to tribal orders, were opposed not only by the enslaved six-dwellers, but also by other social strata of Attica, including some of the "noble". In other words, all elements of the developing slave-owning policy opposed the domination of the Eupatrides, among them also a part of the "noble" who for some reason broke away from their class. Class contradictions in the 7th-6th centuries. in Attica were as sharp as in other Greek policies, which were mentioned above.
"The clash of the newly formed social classes explodes the old society, based on tribal unions" 1 .
“The tribal system was coming to an end. Society grew more and more out of its bounds every day; even the worst negative phenomena that arose before everyone's eyes, he could neither weaken nor eliminate. Meanwhile, the state imperceptibly developed ... "
The dissatisfaction with the existing system, which had long accumulated, finally broke out in the form of the so-called Kilon turmoil in the 30s of the 7th century. The essence of the Cylonian turmoil is as follows: Cylon, an aristocrat by birth, who won the Olympic Games, the son-in-law of the Megarian tyrant Theagenes, was very popular in Athens. Taking advantage of the gathering of people during the holiday in honor of Zeus, Cylon with a group of adherents decided to carry out a coup d'état in order to seize supreme power. The adherents of Cylon managed to capture the Acropolis, but they could not stay in it due to the weak support of the people. “Having learned about this, the Athenians rushed from the fields against Cylon and his accomplices, and, having settled down at the Acropolis, began to besiege it. The siege dragged on, and most of the Athenians, weary of it, left, leaving the archons to guard Cylon and giving them unlimited powers to do everything else at their own discretion. At that time, most of the administrative functions belonged to the archons. The Eupatrides managed to quickly organize themselves and laid siege to the Acropolis. Cylon himself managed to escape, and his followers who sought refuge at the altar of Athena? life was promised if they left the temple. However, this promise was not kept. Upon leaving the temple, Cylon's accomplices were killed, some even at the altar of the Eumenides.
The besiegers were led by representatives of the clan Alcmeonids."Kplonov's filth" left an indelible stain on the Alcmaeonid family. Throughout Athenian history The Alcmeonids were considered a cursed family that did not keep its promise to free the besieged and shed blood at the altar of the city's patron goddess. This circumstance was taken advantage of by their political and personal enemies at every opportunity.
Kplon's coup attempt failed due to the immaturity of the movement, but the impetus was nevertheless given. Class contradictions deepened, and with them the class struggle intensified. The "troubles" begun by Cylon continued after his exile. All this indicated that public discontent and unrest in Attica in the middle of the 6th century. were very strong.
The first serious concession of the Eupatrides was the issuance of written laws - Laws of Draco. In 621, one of the archons, Draconus, was commissioned to revise and write down the current customary law. The assignment was carried out. This is how the "Dragon Laws" were born.
The laws of Draco, according to legend, were distinguished by unusual severity (“dragon laws!”), Which testified to the rudeness and cruelty of the mores of this era. The death penalty was relied even for such crimes as idleness, theft of vegetables and fruits. “The laws of Dracon are written not with ink, but with blood,” the Greeks themselves characterized the Draconian laws. It was said that when the legislator himself was asked why he appointed for almost all crimes death penalty, then the Dragon allegedly replied that minor offenses, in his opinion, deserve this punishment, but for major ones, he could not think of more. Punishments for violation of private property rights were especially severe: theft, arson, murder and other civil offenses.
Nevertheless, with all the ferocity, technical imperfection and primitiveness of legal consciousness, the laws of Dracont had a great historical meaning as a victory of the emerging (slave-owning) democratic polis over the elements of the tribal system, they had, if only because some of their articles were definitely directed against blood feuds. The upper layer of the demos, especially the foreigners living in Athens (metekp), received the most benefits from the introduction of written law. Meteki (or metoiki), merchants and artisans, were interested in fixing firm legal norms for trade and money transactions. Written law protected private property and brought order to property and business relations.
- Engels, The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, 1938, p. 106.
- There.
- Engels, The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, 1938, p. 4.
- Ibid., p. 109.
- 8 Thucydides, 1, 126.
