What is Attica in history? Formation of the Athenian state

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Attica translated from ancient Greek " coastal country"- the southeastern region of Central Greece, the connecting link between the Balkan Peninsula and the Archipelago, with an area of ​​​​approximately 3808 km², bordered in the north by Boeotia, in the west through the Isthmus of Corinth - with Megara and the entire Peloponnese. From the south it is washed by the Saronic, from the east by the Petalian and northeast by the Euboean gulfs of the Aegean Sea.

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Geography

Most of Attica is covered with hills consisting of limestone and marble, and currently represents only bare, devoid of vegetation spaces.

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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, rising much 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The most remarkable of them is the Marathon Plain on the northern 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) the 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 region 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).

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Story

The population of the country, not to mention some of the Pelasgic 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.

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Administrative division

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

1. Athens
2. Eastern Attica
3. Piraeus
4. Western Attica

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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Helpful information

Greek Αττική
English Attica

Political structure in ancient times

Politically, Attica was in ancient times the most centralized region of Greece.

The main city was not only the seat of the administration, but also 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 was concentrated.

The significance that Attica, thanks to its main city Athens, had in political and cultural life Ancient Greece, can be correctly assessed only in connection with the presentation general history Greece.

Administrative division in ancient times

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, 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 was different at different times: - at the beginning of the Christian era there were 371.

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 censuses, during the heyday of the state, by the Peloponnesian War, between 80-100 thousand. The number of metoiks 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 200 in honor of the Pergamon king Attalus I in Attalida.

Finally, under the emperor Hadrian, the 13th phylum was annexed and named Adrianida after this benefactor of the city of Athens.

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 sights from different eras have been preserved. 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’s worth starting with a sightseeing trip around the city on excursion bus to get to know Athens in general, and then move on to the activities that interest the 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 tourist season V different cities Attica hosts festivals. 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.

Today? Best resorts And archaeological sites Attiki.

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.

The end of the fragmentation of Greece, according to legend, was put by the hero and Athenian king Theseus, who united the population around Athens and established one common council. “From that time until now,” writes Thucydides, “the Athenians have celebrated 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 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.

The ancient Athenians had a strict 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 became slaves of their creditors.

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.

Fig trees (fig trees) in Attica grew in huge numbers and produced so many fruits that they even became a proverb as something useless, of which a lot would be born. A similar proverb existed in relation to the owls nesting in the vicinity of the Acropolis.

Attica is an area bounded from the south Aegean Sea. Its whimsical configuration indicates the existence of many bays, bays and capes. The land here has been cultivated since time immemorial. The goddess Athena herself argued for the possession of Attica with the powerful Poseidon and won this dispute, bringing an olive tree as a gift to people. Attica has been famous since ancient times for its mild, warm climate; a large number of ancient monuments. It was the proximity to the capital that determined the rapid development of this area in almost all times of Greek history.

Apart from the rivers Ilissa and Kefissa, only the springs of Panopa and Kallirrhoya supplied water suitable for drinking. Only Emperor Hadrian (117-138) arranged a water supply system for the eastern part of the city. The superintendent of the wells was an important person who ensured that no one diverted water without the right to do so.

Separately, it is necessary to say 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. Great Temple, standing on a cape where only the wind blows, leaves unforgettable impression. It would be worth a visit ancient temple 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, Anavissos, Cape Sounion, Mati, Nea Makri. And, of course, the island of Evia - with its luxurious resorts of Eretria, Amarynthos, Edipsos

Greece has everything you are looking for modern tourist. This country is caressed by the sun 300 days a year, its borders are washed by 4 seas and surrounded by 1,400 islands.

Greece invites you on exciting trips to ancient ruins and museums where ancient treasures are kept. This one beckons sunny country with its fruit groves and delicacies prepared from the gifts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Greek beaches have earned the title of the best for relaxation in the whole world. Tourists flock here to sunbathe, spend time at youth discos, take unique photo sessions and enjoy the taste of aromatic olives.

One such tourist destination is Attica. It is located in the heart of the country. This is the area where statehood was founded and where the capital of Greece is located.

Attica means "coastal country". Attica is located on a peninsula, which is washed on three sides by the bays of the Aegean, Euboean, Petalian and Saronic seas.

How to get to Attica

The best way to get to Attica is from Athens, where tourists are transported by regular international flights from any country in the world.

You can get to know this historical area better with the help of a developed public transport system.

Station commuter buses located at 100, Kiffissou Street. From here, KTEL Attikis transport will deliver to Attica bus stations, one of which is located near the Acropolis, and the second on Egyptian Square.

Local train schedules are available at Athens stations. In addition, there are ferry and air connections to Attica.

Royal Olympic Hotel located within walking distance of the Acropolis. The hotel's luxuriously furnished rooms offer magnificent views of the Temple of Zeus or the fragrant garden with swimming pool.

Poseidonion Grand Hotel located on the island of Spetses and is its landmark due to its rich architecture. The rooms are stylishly furnished and feature wooden floors for added luxury. The rooms' balconies offer views of the seascape or flower garden.

Hotels 4*

Amalia Hotel is within walking distance to the Acropolis and central square city ​​of Plaka. The hotel has been awarded the Green Key eco-label for its use of natural toiletries, cleaning products and organic products.

Herodion located at the foot of the Acropolis. Each room at this hotel is decorated in an elegant style. The hotel has a magnificent rooftop garden where you can relax in hot tubs and sun loungers with views of Athens.

Hotels 3*

Hermes Hotel hidden in a quiet area of ​​Plaka. Guests can enjoy a spacious lounge area and a rooftop garden.

The hotel rooms are furnished with modern furniture and the interior is decorated in light colors.

Plaka Hotel is located in historical center capital of Greece. There is a café-bar on the roof of the hotel with an impressive view of the Acropolis.

Things to do in Attica: Sightseeing

The lands of Attica have absorbed ancient legends and myths that come to life in the eyes of impressionable travelers.

Read also: Where and when to vacation in Greece - review of resorts and tourist attractions by month

Walking through the sights, you can easily be transported to ancient times, when the land of mortals was inhabited by omnipotent deities. Once in Attica, do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting the following temples and monasteries and simply interesting places:

• Temple of Poseidon
  
  A unique building located on Cape Sounion. In this temple, sacraments and rituals were performed to appease the formidable sea god. The slender columns of the temple, which frame the massive structure, amaze the imagination. The building combines subtlety and grandeur, embodying the connection between land and sea.

• Monastery of Daphne
  It can be found 10 kilometers from Athens. This structure was erected on the site of the pagan temple of Apollo Daphne in the 6th century. Today the monastery has the status of a monument.

• Engina Island
  
  This small island attracts with its luxurious beaches and clear sea water. It is located in the middle of the Sardonic Gulf. In history, this island is known for the fact that about 360 temples were built on it. Most of them have been wiped off the face of the earth, but travelers who love antiquity can get to the city of Paleochora, considered a ghost, in which no one has lived for a long time.

The political history of Attica presents a classic example of the emergence of a state. From ancient times, Athens, the main city of Attica, was inhabited by people ethnically close to the Asia Minor Greeks.

Attica, the 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 Euripus Strait separates it from the island of Euboea. The central region of Attica (Mesogeia) is surrounded by mountain ranges. The Kephis 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 (Munichia). The nature of the country had its influence on the history of Attica. Mainly remaining an agricultural country of gardeners, cattle breeders, gardeners and beekeepers, Attica, with good bays and harbors, developed large trade and industry, which won it fame throughout the Hellenic world and beyond. Sparta cannot be compared in this regard.

The ancient history of Attica is little better known than the history 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 Basilean fortresses, as evidenced by the remains that have survived to this day. The names of the most ancient semi-legendary Attic kings and heroes are preserved in myths: Cecrops, Aegeus, Theseus, Codras, etc.

In myths and legends, the formation of the Athenian state is represented in the form of many years of struggle between the Basilei, who sat in their policies scattered throughout the territory of Attica. Subsequently, this process of struggle began to be imagined in the form of peaceful unification, or synoicism. The legends say that after he received royal power Theseus, combining 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 through synoicism, establishing one council and one prytani. An all-Athenian holiday was established to commemorate the unification of Attica. Panathenaea, dedicated to the memory of the patroness of the city, Pallas Athena, goddess of war and olive groves. Subsequently, Panathenaea turned into National holiday, accompanied by games, gymnastic and musical competitions.

Socio-economic system of Attica XII-VIII centuries. can be defined as the Homeric system.

The four tribal unions, or phyles, that inhabited Attica were divided into phratries, and phratries into clans. According to the general law, the growth of productive forces, division of labor and exchange disintegrated clan organizations, putting forward in their place other organizations - neighboring, professional and property. The clan organization was preserved longest among the upper layer of “noble and rich” aristocrats, called in Attica eupatrids, that is, having noble parents.

Athenian landscape.

In the distance, the valley of the Kephisus River and the Aegalean mountain pass with "sacred road» to Eleusis. To the right is the Erechtheion.

The majority of the population consisted of medium and small farmers - geomors, artisans - demiurges, traders and fetas. The lowest stratum of Attic society were slaves, whose number increased with each century.

Under the influence of the same factors that destroyed the clan, separate localities and clans merged into a single Athenian state. 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 that contributed to further socio-economic and cultural progress. Along with local customs, institutions, cults, 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.

Supreme power over the united Attica for several centuries belonged to the Athenian basilei. Around the 8th century. royal power in Athens disappears. According to legend, the last Athenian king was Cod. After the abolition of royal power, Athens was headed by rulers elected from the Eupatrids - 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 college of nine archons: 1) the first archon, the eponymous archon, initially had great power, but later his functions were limited; 2) the archon-basile performed mainly priestly functions, as well as judicial functions in matters 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 panels. Archons provided public positions free of charge. Archonship was considered the highest honor and honor not only for the archon himself, but also for his entire clan, phratry and phylum to which he belonged.

Upon completion of their term of office, the archons entered into Areopagus, the highest state council. The Areopagus dealt with criminal cases, especially murder cases. The Areopagus was the guardian of traditions, the highest judicial and supervisory authority. He had 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 itself comes from.

Only eupatrides, members of the most influential Athenian clans, could be archons and members of the Areopagus. Having wealth and having at their disposal a mass of servants and dependent people, the eupatrides could live in Athens and engage in public affairs.

The economic basis of the power of the Eupatrids was the lands located in fertile areas near Athens. The remnants of the clan system were still very strong: the land could not be alienated, and all property remained in the clan. However, new relationships were already making themselves felt. Some eupatrides were engaged in usury and trade, especially since geographical position Afpn, located only 5 kilometers from the sea, predisposed to overseas trade. The number of rich and influential aristocratic families in Attica, as in general throughout Greece, decreased with each generation. The money economy disintegrated not only the clans in the lower strata of Attica, but also captured the upper strata of the “nobles.” A minority of the eupatrides grew rich and rose in power, becoming even more noble and noble, while the majority became poorer and fell into the category of the noble. “The clan system is absolutely incompatible with a money economy” 1. The further, the more and more birth became a symbol and sign of wealth. The number of influential Eupatrid clans and families in Athens in the 8th-7th centuries, on the eve of the great reforms, was small, but they had wealth, strength and power in their hands.

The impact of the economic changes taking place—the growth of the money economy and the growth of slavery—was felt most painfully in the countryside. Trade and usury, which penetrated into the village, mercilessly broke the patriarchal relations consecrated by ancient times, inseparable from subsistence farming.

“...The developing money economy penetrated, like a corrosive acid, into the primordial way of life of rural communities based on subsistence farming.”

The position of the rural masses - geomors and fetov - 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 destruction of the Attic village is beyond doubt. The main scourge of the village was usury and growing slavery, which was crowding out free labor.

Plutarch and Aristotle report that in Attica, on the eve of the Solonian reforms (6th century), the mass of small landowners were in debt to the rich eupatrides. Debtors worked the land of the rich or took money on the security of their own identity. Lenders had the right to convert the debtor into slavery or sell him abroad.

“The fact is,” says Aristotle in “The Athenian Polity” (“History of the Athenian Constitution”), “that at that time the political 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, and leaving one-sixth for the personal use of themselves and their families. That’s why they were called hexagonists (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 the clan order, were opposed not only by the enslaved hexadolites, but also by other social strata of Attica, including some of the “nobles.” In other words, all elements of the emerging slaveholding policy opposed the domination of the eupatrides, among them some of the “nobles” who, for some reason, had become separated from their class. Class contradictions in the 7th-6th centuries. in Attica were just as acute as in the other Greek city-states mentioned above.

“The clash of newly formed social classes explodes the old society, based on clan alliances” 1.

“The clan system was coming to an end. Every day society grew more and more out of its framework; even the worst negative phenomena that arose before everyone’s eyes, he could neither weaken nor eliminate. Meanwhile, the state developed imperceptibly...”

The long-accumulated dissatisfaction with the existing system finally broke out in the form of the so-called Quilon's Troubles in the 30s of the 7th century. The essence of the Cylonian Troubles is as follows: Cylon, an aristocrat by birth who won the Olympic Games, son-in-law of the Megarian tyrant Theagenes, was very popular in Athens. Taking advantage of the crowd of people during the holiday in honor of Zeus, Cylon and a group of followers decided to carry out a coup d'etat in order to seize supreme power. Cylon's supporters managed to capture the Acropolis, but they could not hold on to it due to the weak support of the people. “Having learned of this, the Athenians rushed from the fields against Cylon and his accomplices and, settling down at the Acropolis, began to besiege it. The siege dragged on, and most of the Athenians, tired 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 and besieged the Acropolis. Cylon himself managed to escape, but what about his followers who sought refuge at the altar of Athena? life was promised if they left the temple. However, this promise was not fulfilled. 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 Alkmaeonidov. The “Kplonian filth” left an indelible stain on the Alcmaeonid family. Throughout Athenian history, the Alcmaeonids were considered a cursed family that did not keep their promise to free the besieged and shed blood at the altar of the patron goddess of the city. Their political and personal enemies took advantage of this circumstance at every opportunity.

Kplon's coup attempt failed due to the immaturity of the movement, but an impetus was given. Class contradictions deepened, and with them the class struggle intensified. The “turmoil” started by Quilon continued even after his expulsion. All this indicated that public discontent and unrest in Attica in the middle of the 6th century. were very strong.

The first major concession of the Eupatrids was the publication of written laws -laws of Draco. In 621, one of the archons, Draco, was tasked with revising and writing down the current customary law. The assigned task was completed. This is how the “Dracontic Laws” arose.

The laws of Draco, according to legend, were distinguished by their extraordinary severity (“dragon’s laws!”), which testified to the rudeness and cruelty of the morals of this era. The death penalty was imposed even for crimes such as idleness and theft of vegetables and fruits. “The laws of Draco are written not in ink, but in blood,” this is how the Greeks themselves characterized the Draconian laws. They said that when they asked the legislator himself why he appointed death penalty, then Draco allegedly replied that minor offenses, in his opinion, deserve this punishment, but for major ones he could not think of anything more. Punishments for violation of private property rights were especially severe: theft, arson, murder and other civil offenses.

And yet, with all the ferocity, technical imperfection and primitiveness of legal consciousness, Draco’s laws 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 feud. The upper layer of the demos, especially the foreigners living in Athens (metekp), received the most benefits from the introduction of written law. Meteks (or metoyki), merchants and artisans, were interested in fixing firm legal norms for trade and monetary 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.
• Right there.
• Engels, The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, 1938, p. 4.
• Ibid., p. 109.
• 8 Thucydides, 1, 126.