Formation of the Athenian state. The meaning of the word attica Where is attica located in ancient Greece

Geography

Most of Attica is covered with hills consisting of limestone and marble, and currently represents 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 base of the entire mountain system is Kiferon (now Elatea, the so-called spruce hill, highest point which rises to 1411 m above sea level). Kiferon, with its main ridge, separates Attica from Boeotia; Attica is separated from Megara by its branch going to the south and bearing the name Kerata (horns); the Parnassus (now Otsea), reaching 1413 m, merges with the south-eastern spurs of Kiferon, whose north-eastern branches, now bearing separate names (Beletsi, Armeni, Mavrovuno, Tsastany, Stavrokoraki, Kotroni), stretching 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, which rises significantly lower above the sea, which in the southern part, where it juts into the sea against the island of Salamis, is called Korydallos (now Scaramanta), and in the middle, where it is cut through by a gorge connecting the plains of Athens and Eleusis, called Paekilion. 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 still 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, used for buildings and statues. A 4 km wide valley separates the base of the Pentelikon in the south from the southern belt, almost exclusively consisting of bluish-gray marble, which in ancient times was used for architectural purposes. This ridge - Gimet (now Trelovuno) - rises to 1027 m, is almost devoid of forest vegetation, but is covered with fragrant herbs and is therefore inhabited by wild bees that produce excellent honey. The eastern edge of the region (near the ancient Paralia) is cut through by lower chains of hills, which south of Hymet, where the peninsula narrows, are united into one ridge - the Lavrion Highlands, which is surrounded by a cape steeply descending to the sea - Sunium, on which the ruins of the temple of Athena still stand , according to the columns of which the cape is still called Cap Colonnese by the sailors. The Lavrio Mountains, due to their wealth in silver, were of high importance for Attica in ancient times; but these mines, at first very profitable, were so intensively exploited that immediately after the beginning of the century. e. had to stop production. Only in later times did they try, and not without success, to extract benefits from the slag left over from previous work.

The mountains stretch partly directly to the sea, and partly alluvial soil has accumulated at their bases, forming more or less wide coastal plains, many of which were known in ancient times. The most remarkable of them is the Marathon Plain (Belorian)Russian on the north shore. It is a lowland 9 km long and 2-4 km wide, with an extensive swamp to the northeast. Here in 490 BC. e. The Persian army was defeated by the Athenian army. There are only three more significant plains in the country, which either, starting at the coast, stretch far inland, or are completely separated from the sea: 1) Athenian plain, often called simply “plain” (pedion); 2) the smaller Triassic Plain, separated from Athens by the Aigaleos Mountains (so-called Tria after the ancient area) and 3) the plain between Hymetos and the lower mountain ranges the eastern coast, which connects with the Athenian plain through the valley separating Pentelikon from Hymet.

The country's irrigation is extremely poor. The most significant streams flow through the Athenian plain, namely: Kefissus, starting at the southwestern foot of the Pentelikon in the forest-rich area of ​​Kephisia, fed by various tributaries from Parnassus. It flows through the plain in a southwestern direction and to the west of the city is diverted into numerous canals for the irrigation of 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 to the southwest of it. In addition to them, it is necessary to mention another Kephisus of the Eleusinian plain, the Enoe stream cutting through the Marathon plain (so named after the ancient area lying north of Marathon) and Erasinos, flowing further south of the eastern coast, near the ancient area of ​​Arafen (now Rafina).

Story

The population of the country, not to mention some Pelasgian elements of the prehistoric era and the enormous number of foreigners who subsequently resided permanently in Athens, belonged in ancient times to the Ionian tribe. The inhabitants called themselves autochthons, that is, indigenous, since their ancestors came 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 (phyles): Heleonts (nobles), hoplites (warriors), Aegikoreans (shepherds in general and goats in particular) and Ergadeans (farmers). According to legend, since time immemorial there have been 12 independent cities or community unions in the country. These were part of separate, even later settlements, such as Cecropia (later Athens), Eleusis, Decelea and Afidna (the last two in the north of the country), Brauron (among east coast), Thorikos (in the southernmost part of the eastern coast), Kytheros (location unknown), Sphetos and Kefissia, partly unions of several settlements, such as Epakria (northern mountainous country), Tetrapolis (union of four cities) on the Marathon plain and Tetrakomia (union of four villages) in the very south of the Athenian plain. According to legend, these 12 communities were united by Theseus into one political whole, the capital of which was Athens.

Administrative division in ancient times

The division of the people into 4 phyla remained under both kings and archons. Even the legislator Solon did not abolish this division, but in parallel with it, partly wanting to reduce the influence of 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 by tribe 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. Usually, each not very significant locality constituted a special “deme”, while large ones, like the cities of Athens and Brauron, were divided into several demes. The number of demes varied at different times: - at the beginning of the Christian era there were 371 of them. Thanks to writers and inscriptions, the names of approximately 180 demes have reached us, but the location of many is now impossible to determine. The total number of citizens fluctuated, judging by the history of Thucydides and censuses, during the heyday of the state, by the Peloponnesian War, between 80-100 thousand. The number of metics under the protection reached 40,000, the number of slaves reached 400,000, so that the total number of free and unfree 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 - Antigonida and Demetrias. But the first one was renamed in 265 BC. e. in honor of the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus in Ptolemais, the second in honor of the Pergamon king Attalos I in Attalida. Finally, under the emperor Hadrian, the 13th phylum was annexed and named Adrianida after this benefactor of the city of Athens.

Political structure in ancient times

Politically, Attica was in ancient times 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 the hands of which, since the time of the democratic reforms begun by Cleisthenes and completed by Pericles, the supreme decision of all state affairs has been concentrated. The significance that Attica, thanks to its main city Athens, had in political and cultural life Ancient Greece can only be properly assessed in connection with the presentation of the general history of Greece.

Administrative division

On the map of prefectures (nomes), the decentralized administration of Attica is divided into 4 nomes (nomarchies), shown in the map below:

Following the administrative reform of 2011, the decentralized administration of Attica consists of 65 municipalities.

Agriculture and minerals

The soil of the country is almost entirely a light, rather thin layer of stony limestone, which is little suitable for the cultivation of wheat, more so for barley and grapes, but especially for olives and figs, and therefore the latter, both in ancient times and now, are the main products of the country and items for its export. Cattle breeding is still significant today, and in ancient times Attic wool enjoyed great fame. In the mountains, not to mention already exhausted 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 Falernus and ending at the foothills of Kolias (now Gagios Kosmas), produces excellent clay for dishes, and therefore pottery was a flourishing branch of industry in ancient Athens and his products were widely sold.

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Notes

Links

• Attica // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.

Excerpt characterizing Atticus

For a minute I felt very scared - the words of the North were too reminiscent of the sayings of Caraffa! .. But in my “rebellious” soul I did not want to agree that the bloodthirsty killer - the Pope - could be at least truly right about something...
“This slavish “faith” was needed by the same Thinking Dark Ones in order to strengthen their dominance in our fragile, still nascent world... so as to never allow it to be born again... - the North continued calmly. – It was precisely in order to more successfully enslave our Earth that the Thinking Dark Ones found this small, but very flexible and vain Jewish people, understandable to them alone. Due to their “flexibility” and mobility, these people easily succumbed to foreign influence and became a dangerous tool in the hands of the Thinking Dark Ones, who found the prophet Joshua who once lived there, and cunningly “intertwined” the story of his life with the life story of Radomir, destroying the real ones. biographies and planting fake ones, so that naive human minds would believe in such a “story”. But even the same Jewish Joshua also had nothing to do with the religion called Christianity... It was created by order of Emperor Constantine, who needed a new religion in order to throw a new “bone” to the people leaving control. And the people, without even thinking, swallowed it with pleasure... This is still our Earth, Isidora. And it won’t be long before someone manages to change it. It won't be long before people want to THINK, unfortunately...
– They may not be ready yet, Sever... But you see, people open up to “new things” very easily! So doesn’t this show precisely that humanity (in its own way) is SEEKING a way to the present, that people are striving for the TRUTH, which there is simply no one to show them?..
– You can show the most valuable Book of Knowledge in the world a thousand times, but it will do nothing if a person does not know how to read. Isn't it true, Isidora?..
“But you TEACH your students!..” I exclaimed with anguish. “They didn’t know everything right away either, before they came to you!” So teach humanity!!! It's worth it not to disappear!..
– Yes, Isidora, we teach our students. But the gifted ones who come to us know the main thing - they know how to THINK... And the rest are still just “followers”. And we have neither time nor desire for them until their time comes, and they turn out to be worthy of one of us teaching them.
Sever was absolutely sure that he was right, and I knew that no arguments could convince him. Therefore, I decided not to insist any longer...
– Tell me, Sever, what of the life of Jesus is real? Can you tell me how he lived? And how could it happen that with such a powerful and faithful support he still lost?.. What happened to his children and Magdalene? How long after his death did she manage to live?
He smiled his wonderful smile...
– You reminded me now of the young Magdalene... She was the most curious of all and endlessly asked questions to which even our wise men did not always find answers!..
The North again “went away” into its sad memory, again meeting there with those for whom it still so deeply and sincerely missed.
– She was truly an amazing woman, Isidora! Never giving up and not feeling sorry for herself, just like you... She was ready at any moment to give herself up for those she loved. For those whom I considered more worthy. And simply - for LIFE... Fate did not spare her, bringing down the weight of irreparable losses on her fragile shoulders, but until her last moment she fought fiercely for her friends, for her children, and for everyone who remained to live on earth after death Radomir... People called her the Apostle of all Apostles. And she truly was him... Only not in the sense in which the inherently alien Jewish language shows her in her “sacred writings.” Magdalene was the strongest Sorceress... Golden Mary, as people who met her at least once called her. She carried with her the pure light of Love and Knowledge, and was completely saturated with it, giving everything without a trace and not sparing herself. Her friends loved her very much and, without hesitation, were ready to give their lives for her!.. For her and for the teaching that she continued to carry after the death of her beloved husband, Jesus Radomir.
– Forgive my meager knowledge, Sever, but why do you always call Christ Radomir?..
– It’s very simple, Isidora, his father and mother once named him Radomir, and it was his real, Family name, which truly reflected his true essence. This name had a double meaning - the Joy of the world (Rado - peace) and the Bringer of the Light of Knowledge to the world, the Light of Ra (Ra - do - peace). And the Thinking Dark Ones called him Jesus Christ when they completely changed the story of his life. And as you can see, it has firmly “taken root” to him for centuries. The Jews always had many Jesuses. This is the most common and very common Jewish name. Although, funny as it may be, it came to them from Greece... Well, Christ (Christos) is not a name at all, and in Greek it means “messiah” or “enlightened one”... The only question is, if in The Bible says that Christ is a Christian, then how can we explain these pagan Greek names that the Thinking Dark Ones themselves gave him?.. Isn’t it interesting? And this is only the smallest of those many mistakes, Isidora, which a person does not want (or cannot!..) see.
- But how can he see them if he blindly believes in what is presented to him?.. We must show this to people! They must know all this, North! – I couldn’t stand it again.
“We don’t owe people anything, Isidora...” Sever answered sharply. “They are quite happy with what they believe in.” And they don't want to change anything. Do you want me to continue?
He again tightly fenced himself off from me with a wall of “iron” confidence in his rightness, and I had no choice but to nod in response, not hiding the tears of disappointment that appeared... It was pointless to even try to prove anything - he lived in his own “ the right" world, without being distracted by minor "earthly problems"...

– After the cruel death of Radomir, Magdalena decided to return to where her real Home was, where once upon a time she was born. Probably, we all have a craving for our “roots”, especially when for one reason or another it becomes bad... So she, killed by her deep grief, wounded and lonely, decided to finally return HOME... This place was in mysterious Occitania (today's France, Languedoc) and it was called the Valley of the Magicians (or also the Valley of the Gods), famous for its harsh, mystical majesty and beauty. And there was no person who, having once been there, would not love the Valley of the Magicians for the rest of his life...
“I’m sorry, Sever, for interrupting you, but the name Magdalene... didn’t it come from the Valley of the Magicians?..,” I exclaimed, unable to resist the discovery that shocked me.
– You’re absolutely right, Isidora. – North smiled. - You see - you think!.. The real Magdalene was born about five hundred years ago in the Occitan Valley of the Magicians, and therefore they called her Mary - the Magician of the Valley (Mage-Valley).
– What kind of valley is this – the Valley of the Magicians, the North?.. And why have I never heard of such a thing? My father never mentioned such a name, and none of my teachers spoke about it?
– Oh, this is a very ancient and very powerful place, Isidora! The land there once gave extraordinary power... It was called the “Land of the Sun”, or “Pure Land”. It was created man-made, many thousands of years ago... And two of those whom people called Gods once lived there. They took care of this Pure Land from “black forces”, since it kept within itself the Gates of Interworld, which no longer exist today. But once upon a time, a long time ago, this was the place where otherworldly people and otherworldly news came. It was one of the seven “bridges” of the Earth... Destroyed, unfortunately, by a stupid mistake of Man. Later, many centuries later, gifted children began to be born in this valley. And for them, strong but stupid, we created a new “meteora” there... Which we called Raveda (Ra-ved). It was like the younger sister of our Meteora, in which they also taught Knowledge, only much simpler than we taught it, since Raveda was open, without exception, to all gifted ones. The Secret Knowledge was not given there, but only what could help them live with their burden, what could teach them to know and control their amazing Gift. Gradually, various wonderfully gifted people from the farthest ends of the Earth began to flock to Raveda, eager to learn. And because Raveda was open to everyone, sometimes “gray” gifted people also came there, who were also taught Knowledge, hoping that one fine day their lost Light Soul would definitely return to them.

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 surrounding area have revealed traces of ancient life dating back to the Neolithic era. The oldest burial so far discovered here dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. e. The handmade gray clay vessels found in this burial near the crumpled skeleton are still very primitive.

During excavations on the Athenian acropolis, monuments of an incomparably higher culture were discovered 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 those of non-local origin. All these monuments, dating back to the end of the Bronze Age, give reason to believe that on the territory of Attica there existed 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 ceramics of the so-called protogeometric and geometric styles. Some of the ceramic finds of this time, such as the famous Dipylon vases that have gained wide popularity, have reached our time in excellent condition.

Excavations on the northern and northwestern slopes of the Areopagus also yielded abundant finds of protogeometric and geometric ceramics. It is noteworthy that in the cultural strata characterized by this type of ceramic finds, imported items are almost never found. This shows that the weakening of ties with other countries, typical for all of Greece in the post-Mycenaean period, also characterizes Attica.

To characterize the Iron Age in Attica, it is interesting to note the burial discovered in 1949 on the territory of Athens, apparently of an artisan, in which about ten objects made of iron and a grinding stone were discovered.

In the ancient literary tradition, only fragmentary information has been preserved about Attica of the most ancient times. Thucydides, Herodotus and in one of their dialogues Plato emphasize that the inhabitants of Attica were not aliens, but autochthons - the Attic land was not a stepmother for them, but a natural mother. This area, due to the scarcity of soil, did not attract conquerors, Thucydides claims, and was not affected by the Dorian invasion. Later, when Athenian statehood flourished, people from other places began to flock to Attica, multiplying its population and contributing through their labor to the growth of its well-being.

In the ideas of subsequent Athenian generations, the most ancient social institutions, preserved in the form of remnants even in a later and much better time known to us, were the result of the activities of a number of legendary kings. So, for example, the mythical king Ion divided, according to legend, the entire population of Attica into four clan phylas, each of which was divided into three phratries, in turn subdivided into 30 clans, and there were 30 families per clan, so that in total in ancient Attica there were 10,800 families.

Evidence of the former disunity of the population can be seen in the ruins of numerous fortifications that once surrounded the ancestral villages that were constantly at war with each other. Traces of this kind of fortifications are still discovered during excavations carried out in various points of Attica.

Thus, here we encounter a social structure typical of the era of the tribal system, naturally generated by the entire totality of historical conditions of that time. For ancient Attica Another feature typical of the era of dominance of clan relations is also characteristic - tribal fragmentation. According to Athenian legends, on the territory of Attica in ancient times there were 12 separate, isolated and independent clan communities.

The end of this fragmentation, according to legend, was also put by the mythical Athenian king Theseus, who united the population of the entire area around Athens and established one common council and one prytaneum. “From that time until now,” writes Thucydides, “the Athenians have celebrated the national festival of synoikia [unification] in honor of the goddess [Athena].”

In historical reality, the process of unification of Attica apparently took at least two or three centuries. One might think that during the 9th-8th centuries. BC e. Paralia, the coastal part of Attica, joined Athens as a result of intense struggle. After this, the local cult of the god Poseidon was transferred to the Athenian Acropolis. Following this, Diakria, a mountainous region in the north of the country, was annexed. From here the cult of Theseus was transferred to Athens. The southwestern part of Attica, the region of Eleusis with its famous temple goddess Demeter.

Judging by the hymn that has come down to us in honor of Demeter, Eleusis in the 7th century. BC e. still continued to maintain independence and, defending it, waged a fierce struggle with the Athenians. Athenian synoicism was thus a long process, conditioned by significant changes in the structure of previous social relations. The development of the productive forces of society and the production relations associated with them gave rise to the need for associations of a broader nature, going beyond the boundaries of the previous tribal organizations.

By the 7th century BC e. In Attica, the prerequisites arise for the formation of a class system and a state in it. To study it, we already have an incomparably wider range of sources. The first place among them, of course, is occupied by Aristotle’s “Athensian Polity,” which for a long time was considered lost forever and was unexpectedly rediscovered in the form of a manuscript on four sheets of papyrus, found among other papyri brought to the British Museum from Egypt in 1890.

“The Athenian Polity” by Aristotle is the only work that has survived to our time that gives a complete picture of the political history of Athens starting from the 7th century. BC e. Aristotle is significantly supplemented by evidence of individual events Athenian history early Herodotus, Thucydides, Diodorus Siculus, Plutarch and other ancient authors, as well as some, albeit not numerous, inscriptions, coins and archaeological material.

Based on all these data, we can conclude that the Athenian community at the beginning of the period under review was mainly agricultural. Crafts and trade were relatively poorly developed. Nevertheless, social and property stratification has reached significant depths. The powerful clan aristocracy - the eupatrides (“descended from noble fathers”) concentrated the best lands in their hands.

A significant part of the rest of the population became dependent on them. “The poor,” writes Aristotle, “were enslaved not only themselves, but also their children and wives. They were called pelates and six-dollars because they cultivated the fields of the rich on such lease terms. All the land was in the hands of a few. Moreover, if these poor people did not give rent, it was possible to take them and their children into bondage. And loans were secured by personal bondage until the time of Solon.”

In other words, among the Athenians of the 7th century. there was a strict debt law, well known to antiquity, by virtue of which the debtor was responsible to the creditor not only with his property, but also with personal freedom and the freedom of his family members; insolvent debtors became slaves of their creditors. The need of large, on Attic scale, landowners-aristocrats for labor force Thus, they were satisfied primarily through the labor of the poor people dependent on them and the labor of slaves recruited through debt bondage from among previously free members of the same community. This undermined the strength of the community.

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How to get there

It is easier to travel to Attica from Athens, where regular international flights will take you from anywhere in the world. And then you can continue your acquaintance with the regions of this fertile part of the country using a fairly comfortable system public transport: buses and ISAP (train).

In Athens, the commuter transport terminal is located at 100 Kifissou Street. You can get there by bus number 051, which leaves from the stop at the intersection of Zinonos and Menandrou streets (in the Omonia Square area). The bus runs every 15 minutes from 5am to 11:30pm.

Routes in Attica are serviced by KTEL Attikis, which operates two bus stations:

• Western Attica - near the Acropolis next to the Fiseos ISAP station,
• Eastern Attica - on Egyptian Square(intersection of Alexandra Avenue and Patision Street, nearest ISAP Victoria station).

Search for air tickets to Athens (the nearest airport to Attica)

Weather in Attica

It is best to go to Attica in August - October, when the sun no longer bakes, but gently warms, and the fruits are already ripe.

Beach resorts of Attica

So, the ticket has been purchased, the hotel has been booked, you have set foot on the ancient land trampled by heroes of myths and legends, and we begin the first part of our plan: tanning, water treatments and languid idleness at the edge of the sea.

The ideal place for this is the so-called Athens Riviera: Paleo Faliro, Glyfada, Kavouri, Vouliagmeni, Voula. And immediately the thought warms you that you will be lying, anointed with aromatic oils, on the sands of the Apollo Coast, the coast that includes these areas. Get used to pretentious Greek names that smell a little like library dust. Rest assured that in most cases, instead of the expected bare rocks and austere huts, you will see luxury yacht clubs, well-maintained upscale beaches, expensive hotels and modern nightclubs that dot this part of Greece.

Vouliagmeni

Glyfada

A great place for a European holiday - Glyfada, 15 km from Athens, with developed infrastructure, stormy nightlife and golf courses.

Lagonissi

If you are vacationing with your family, it is better to settle in the small cozy resort town of Lagonissi on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The calm atmosphere, sandy beach and walks through shady lemon groves compensate for the lack of vitamin D and serotonin (mood hormone).

Loutraki

Loutraki hydropathic centers will help to enhance the benefits of “Grecotherapy” for tired travelers. A combination of mild climate, nature and healing powers mineral waters, from which you, like Aphrodite from the foam of the sea, will emerge reborn, will give you the opportunity to restore strength and restore peace of mind. The waters here are for every taste: chlorine-containing, alkaline, radon; temperature - +30...+32°С.

Triathlon Cup in Loutraki

Sounion

But those who are chasing new cosmetology products should pay attention to the Sounion resort. Here you can spend a lot of time trying unusual healing and rejuvenating treatments using Greek herbs, flowers, minerals, sea salt and algae. Relax your body in the aquaelixir hydrotonic pool or relaxing jacuzzi.

Popular hotels in Attica

Maps of Attica

Kitchen

The cuisine of Greece is so diverse and colorful that every meeting you have with it will open up new taste horizons for you. And with Greek wine, the receptors will become even more sensitive. On a hot afternoon, the favorite drink of the Greeks, “himos portokali” - fresh orange juice - will help you cope with the feeling of thirst. The cost of a glass is 2-4 EUR. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

The best way to get to know the mentality local residents- is to spend an evening or two in a traditional tavern, where the Greeks, an open and hospitable people, lively spend their evenings, preferring noisy communication and dancing until the morning to TV and home gatherings.

Guides in Attica

Entertainment and attractions of Attica

After intensive course sunbathing and water procedures Having gained strength, you can move on to the second part of the vacation program - immersion in the history of Greece. To explore all the mysteries and secrets hidden in the ruins and monuments ancient architecture this country, a whole life is not enough - so great is the wealth ancient civilization, inherited by the inhabitants of the sunny region. But you can touch some of them, literally.

Athens

Shopping is very developed in Athens. This pleasure will become expensive in the Kolonaki area, economical and practical - on Ermou Street, where the best shops of Greek companies are located. In the shops of Metropoleos Street you will find furs and jewelry. The shopping streets of Eolu, Patision, the Monastiraki area and Athenas Street, famous for their markets and bazaars, will not miss their customers.

But antiques, souvenirs, and handicrafts await their buyers in the area of ​​the old part of the city, on Plaka. At the same time, you can eat here by choosing one of the many Greek taverns near the Lysicrates memorial. To describe the atmosphere of this square, it is enough to imagine the Moscow Arbat or Parisian Montmartre. Distinctive features: a leisurely endless stream of tourists, national music coming from crowded cafes, antique tubs with olive trees displayed along the boulevards, an atmosphere of a relaxed holiday.

The night panorama of Athens sparkling with lights is a reward for those who reached the top of Lykabettos Hill, which is crowned by the white chapel of St. George. To save energy and time, it is better to use public transport by purchasing a single ticket for a bus or trolleybus, or by taking the metro.

The cost of a one-time ticket, which must be validated within 70 minutes from the date of purchase, is 1.4 EUR, a daily ticket costs 4.5 EUR, a 5-day ticket costs 10 EUR. Trying to ride a hare is risky; the fine for such a prank is too high - 60 times the cost of the ticket.

Monastery of Daphne

Having explored Athens, let’s turn our inquisitive gaze to the suburban areas. 11 km from Athens is the Daphne Monastery - a monument of Byzantine religious architecture in Greece. His story is unique. Created as a sanctuary of Apollo Daphne, the monastery welcomed Christian pilgrims, then was used as a fortress wall and, to top it off, became a psychiatric hospital. Now the restored monastery has the status of a monument. You can visit it daily from 08:30 to 15:00.

Temple of Poseidon

The second bright pearl in the collection of attractions of Attica is the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. A powerful giant, framed by slender columns, symbolizes the harmonious union of land and sea. Sailors and rulers of Greece made sacrifices to their patrons, believing in the connection between mere mortals and the inhabitants of Olympus.

Temple of Demeter

Another recommended place to visit is the Temple of Demeter in Eleusis. Here, in ancient times, mysterious rites were performed dedicated to the cult of the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. You can visit the museum daily from 08:30 to 15:00, except Mondays and holidays.

Attractions

The region of Central Greece, located in the southeast of the Balkan Peninsula and washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. Three bays approach the shores of this peninsula - Euboean, Saronic and Petalian. A significant part of the peninsula is covered with low mountains of limestone and marble. The mountains are covered with coniferous forests.

Attica is a historical region of Greece, on its territory are the capital Athens, legendary city Marathon, the city of Eleusis, where the inhabitants worshiped Demeter, the port of Piraeus. The first settlements on this land date back to the Neolithic era (3rd millennium BC). The ancient historians Plato and Herodotus wrote that the inhabitants of Attica were autochthons - that is, not alien conquerors, but original inhabitants who literally came from the land itself. In ancient times, on the territory of Attica, each city or region represented a small state that worshiped its own deity. There were 12 such states; they were united, according to legend, by King Theseus. Athens, the cradle of Greek statehood and democracy, became the main city of Attica. Already in ancient times, Attica was governed by nine elected officials, in whose hands the executive, military and judicial powers were concentrated. A year later, these nine transferred power to the newly elected magistrates, and they themselves transferred for life to the Areopagus - the body of power of the aristocracy. Athens itself became a place for the development of culture, arts, and philosophy.

The climate of Attica is mild, temperate Mediterranean. Average temperatures in summer are almost always above +30 degrees. The rainy season begins here at the end of September and lasts until April. The swimming season lasts from April to September; the sea warms up to its maximum by August (up to +26). In winter, despite above-zero temperatures, snow can fall here, melting almost immediately and not forming a snow cover.

Transport

Located in Athens international Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, opened in 2001, serves as the air gateway to Greece and Attica in particular.

Inside Attica you can travel by railway transport(trains) and intercity buses. Buses to the eastern and western parts of Attica depart from two different bus stations in Athens. The first is located near the Acropolis, the second - on Egyptian Square. Ferries transport tourists to the islands of Aegina and Salamis. One of the fastest ways to travel around Athens is the metro with three lines, one of which is above ground. Athens also has express bus routes leading to the airport, city buses, trolleybuses, tram routes.

Resorts of Attica

Administratively, Attica is divided into four nomes: Eastern and Western Attica. The most popular, both in terms of beach and cultural and historical recreation, is the city of Athens. The suburbs of the capital are resort towns with the general name “Athenian Riviera”. They are located along the coast and, in addition to hotels and beaches, contain yacht clubs, night clubs, golf clubs, and have their own specifics. Thus, it is considered a resort for the wealthy, Lagonissi - for families with children. Specialization and Vouliagmeni - health improvement.

A holiday in Piraeus will cost less than in Athens. Due to the location of the port there is only one beach, but beautiful views and ancient sights of Piraeus are guaranteed.

Sights and excursions

Let's start getting acquainted with the rich heritage of Attica from Athens and its sacred hill, the Acropolis. The second name of the hill is Kekropia, in honor of Kekrops, the first king of Athens. Acropolis was also called a well-defended place and a settlement located inside this fortress. In ancient times, the main city was located in the Acropolis. According to legend, it was the residence of Theseus, the collector of the lands of Attica. When the cult of the goddess Athena was established in Athens, a temple was erected here in her honor - the Parthenon.

On the territory of Attica, many attractions have been preserved different eras. The heritage of Hellas is the ruins of ancient cities and temples dedicated to the gods of the Greek pantheon. For example, at Cape Sounion, on the shore, the remains of the Temple of Poseidon have been preserved. Christian monasteries and temples have been preserved from the Byzantines. One of them is the Daphne monastery near Athens. At the base of the monastery lie the remains of the Temple of Apollo. Near Mount Imitos, surrounded by coniferous and cypress forests, is the Kesariani monastery, also of the Byzantine period.

The island of Aegina is visited to see Paleochora. It is called an abandoned city, but in fact it is a valley in which the buildings of about seven dozen churches and chapels from the Byzantine and later periods have been preserved. It is believed that each of these structures was built in fulfillment of a vow made for the salvation of a loved one. Relatives, wives of fishermen and warriors came to this place to pray.

Salamis, although it is called a "dacha" island, has such attractions as the cave of Euripides, another ancient Greek playwright. It is located at an altitude of more than a hundred meters; in the city of Salamis, a theater festival is held annually in honor of the ancient author. On the island you can also visit a museum dedicated to folk art and the history of the ancient fleet, the Faneromeni monastery and old City Ambelakia with the ruins of the acropolis.

Wellness holiday

Loutraki, Vouliagmeni, Sounion are resorts where people come for health and beauty treatments. In Loutraki there is a hydrotherapy center that specializes in the treatment of diseases of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system. Springs gushing out from underground are saturated with radon and trace elements.

The resort of Vouliagmeni grew up next to the lake of the same name, which is filled with water thermal springs. Skin problems, joints, and diseases of the female reproductive system are treated here. The air is saturated with the aromas of coniferous forests and helps strengthen the respiratory system and nervous system.

Sounion specializes in cosmetology using preparations based on local herbs and minerals. Methods using sea salt and seaweed are also used here.

Beach holiday

Many Attica beaches have the highest European award for the cleanliness of the sea and coast - the Blue Flag. Many of the beaches are free. In the vicinity of Athens (the so-called Greater Athens), all the beaches are well-maintained - Faliron, Glyfada, Rocket and others. The beach in Piraeus is called Votsalakia. On west coast good sandy beaches Lagonissi, in the east Schinias near the city of Marathon is recognized as the best.

In Loutraki the beaches are covered with small pebbles. This resort features a variety of accommodation facilities: from five stars to inexpensive family hotels. The resort of Loutraki is also chosen due to the proximity of the cities of Corinth and Delphi with their famous attractions.

There are beautiful sandy beaches on the island of Aegina, located in the Saronic Gulf. It is a half-hour ferry ride away from Piraeus. Another Attica island that can be reached from Piraeus is Salamis. This island is popular primarily among the Greeks themselves. Salamis has beaches, but few hotels.

Vacation with children

Activities for children in Attica are mainly found in Athens. Perhaps it is worth starting with a sightseeing trip around the city on a sightseeing bus to get to know Athens as a whole, and then move on to activities that interest your child. As part of your educational leisure, it is worth planning a visit to the main Athenian attractions of the Acropolis and the Parthenon, to see with your own eyes household items and art created by the ancient Greeks.

Further relaxation may depend on the preferences of the child: animal lovers can visit the sea turtle rescue center and even feed them there, as well as visit the Attico Zoo. Young artists will be interested in the interactive museum of children's creativity. A visit to the Charimidos puppet theater can be combined with a tour of the Agora, the ancient city square located nearby. The Athens Planetarium awaits young astronomers.

And, of course, any child is unlikely to refuse visiting Athens confectionery shops, the National Garden with a park and a zoo, the Flisvos city park, the Allou Fun Park and water parks, two of which are located in Athens itself, one in the suburbs, the third near the city of Isthymia 20 km from the capital. Not far from Athens there is an Adventure Park with a rope course.

Active recreation and entertainment

Attica will offer the restless a variety of active leisure options. On the coast it is aquatic species sports: rafting, windsurfing, scuba diving. Ancient city Megara, about 40 km northwest of the capital, is known to extreme sports enthusiasts as a center for parachuting. There is a parachute school here.

Tourists will be offered to explore mountainous Attica on foot and with the help of off-road vehicles: the routes are designed in such a way that they have the opportunity to see the history of this part of Greece, and the modern life of the inhabitants of small villages, and admire the beauty of nature. Some of the routes are laid along ancient roads.

The foot of the Acropolis, a 156-meter hill in Athens, serves as the starting point for the Acropolis racing competition, which takes place in early June.

Club life is in full swing in Athens and resort suburbs, for example, in Glyfada. Nightclubs host discos, concerts of world stars, parties and shows. Fans of gambling come to Loutraki - there is a casino there.

Throughout the tourist season, festivals are held in different cities of Attica. The largest of them is the Festival of Athens and Epidaurus in the capital. From June to September, performances and concerts take place in Athens, world stars come and Greek artists and groups perform. From April to October, the Acropolis hosts light shows dedicated to the history of the Greek capital. Eleusis becomes the site of a theater festival in honor of Aeschylus, the ancient playwright.

Kitchen and souvenirs

Called Greek in Russia, and peasant salad in Greece itself, this salad is served here with local kolomata olives. For dessert - local figs. Attica's rocky soils are best suited for growing olives and figs, and local honey herbs add their flavor to the honey produced here.

Residents of this part of Greece prefer avgolemono soup with the addition of egg and lemon juice, dolmadakya - a local version of dolma, grilled seafood, hot peppers stuffed with cheese. Among the alcohols here, it is worth trying, in addition to raki and ouzo, the liqueur mastiha, which acquires a special taste after adding resin from a tree from the pistachio family.

Clay is mined on the coast of Attica, so ceramic products here are beyond praise. The souvenir trade is concentrated mainly in Athens. Very often people come here to buy fur coats, leather clothes, and jewelry. Less expensive will be the purchase of natural cosmetics, herbal infusions, ceramics, gastronomic souvenirs - oil, olives, cheese, honey and traditional honey desserts.