Ce’crops, an Egyptian led a colony from Sais, Egypt near Delta to Greece, about the year 1556 BC. Two years later he proceeded to Attica, in southeastern Greece, and there he is said to have founded, on the Cecropian rock – the Acropolis a city he called Athens, in honor of the Grecian goddess Athe’na, whom Romans called Minerva. The Athenians’ mythological explanation for founding of their city relates how Athe’na, the virgin goddess of arts, crafts and war battled the sea god Poseidon to win Attica.
Archeological excavations on the Acropolis have found evidence of occupation as far back as the Neolithic period.
At the time the arrival of Ce’crops in Attica, the earlier inhabitants lived in a savage manner, without breads, without marriage and in shattered huts.
At the time of flourishing Greek Mycenaean civilization during 1600-1200 BC, Athens was a second rank power. It was overshadowed by Mycenae, Thebes and other center.
During the fifth century BC Athens was the most powerful city-states. Athens was the birthplace of Democracy (power of people).
About 683 BC, it was ruled by kings, like most all other Grecian states. Of these kings the names of The’seus and Co’drus are most noted. King The’seus was the one who brought the unification of Attica under Athenian control.
The laws that made Athens great were the work of Solon (630-560 BC) an aristocrat who the Athenians elected as their dictator. Solon’s law emphasized justice and fairness.
The 300 BC marked the greatest days of Athenian philosophy, starting with the establishment of Plato’s school of higher learning, the Academy which was opened in 385 BC.
In 335 BC, Plato’s former pupil Aristotle opened a rival school, the Lyceum.
The founding of Athens
