From Myth to History: The Evolution of Athens

The founding of Athens is a blend of myth and history, beginning with the Egyptian leader Ce'crops. Around 1556 BC, Ce'crops led a group from Sais, Egypt, near the Nile Delta, to Greece. Two years later, he settled in Attica in southeastern Greece, establishing a city on the Acropolis and naming it Athens in honor of the goddess Athena. According to legend, Athena, the virgin goddess of arts, crafts, and war, battled Poseidon, the sea god, for control of Attica, underscoring the city's cultural and strategic significance.

Archaeological excavations on the Acropolis have uncovered evidence of human occupation dating back to the Neolithic period, attesting to the region's long history. When Ce'crops arrived, the local inhabitants lived primitive lives without bread, marriages, or proper housing. Under Ce'crops' leadership, however, significant advancements in societal structure and culture were achieved.

During the Mycenaean civilization (1600-1200 BC), Athens was a second-tier power, overshadowed by cities like Mycenae and Thebes. Yet, by the fifth century BC, Athens had emerged as the most powerful city-state, becoming the birthplace of democracy. Initially, around 683 BC, Athens was ruled by kings, with notable figures such as Theseus and Codrus. Theseus is particularly remembered for unifying Attica under Athenian control, laying the foundations for a more cohesive and powerful city-state.

The laws that propelled Athens to greatness were crafted by Solon (630-560 BC), an aristocrat elected by the Athenians as a dictator to reform the city’s legal and social systems. Solon's reforms emphasized justice and fairness, dismantling aristocratic privileges and paving the way for broader civic participation. His legal framework allowed Athens to thrive as a democratic state.

Athens reached its philosophical peak around 300 BC, marked by the establishment of Plato’s Academy in 385 BC and Aristotle's Lyceum in 335 BC. These institutions became centers of philosophical thought, attracting scholars from across the ancient world and fostering intellectual advancements that have profoundly influenced Western civilization.

In summary, from its mythic origins under Ce'crops to its historical achievements in law, governance, and philosophy, Athens’ evolution reflects a journey from primitive conditions to a beacon of democracy and intellectual excellence. The city's legacy, particularly in democratic ideals and philosophical inquiry, continues to resonate in contemporary society.
From Myth to History: The Evolution of Athens

Acropolis of Athens

The Athenian acropolis, located on a craggy, walled hill, was built as a home of Athena, the patron goddess of the city. The hill has been inhabited since the 4th millennium BC. Iktinos and Kallicrates who were the architects along with Phidias, the famous Greek sculptor, built the incredible monuments of the Acropolis.

Iktinos was an architect active in the mid-5th century BC while Callicrates was an ancient Greek architect active in the middle of the fifth century BC.

Strong fortification walls have surrounded the summit of the Acropolis for more than 3,300 years. The first fortification wall was built during the 13th century BC, and surrounded the residence of the local Mycenaean ruler.

In the 8th century BC, the Acropolis gradually acquired a religious character. The older Parthenon or the Pre-Parthenon was built around 500 BC using Piraeus limestone. The Parthenon was built as a temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, the patron of Athens.

Democracy was established in Athens around 500 B.C. It was based on a direct democracy system, in which eligible citizens directly voted on laws.

In the late 1600's, the Venetians and Turks were fighting over Athens. Acropolis was used as a military point because of its high position. After the Ottoman conquest, the Erechtheion was converted into the Governor’s private harem and the Parthenon was used to garrison the Turkish army.
Acropolis of Athens

City of Sparta

Long before the city of Sparta arose, the fertile and rain-nourished Laconian plain was home to pre-Greek inhabitants in the third millennium BC and to Mycenaean Greeks in the second millennium BC.

Sparta was founded by descendants of the Dorian Greeks who overran most of the Peloponnesian around 1100-1000 BC after the collapse of Mycenaean Civilization.

In the classical period, Sparta itself was never a large city like Athens. Instead, its “urban core” consisted of a clump of four villages. The Spartans were warriors, not builders, and had little use for the architectural grandeur, theaters, or high culture of Athens.

Spartans were suspicious of outsiders and their ideas. They grew much of what they needed in the fertile soil around Sparta. What they couldn't grow, they often Look from their neighbors through the power of their armies.

It was primarily a military state. Its government was an oligarchy in which a few men held most of the power. The Spartan economy depended on farming and conquest. Boys and girls alike were educated to protect the city-state. Beginning at the age of 7, young boys were sent from their families to live in military barracks. They were treated harshly to make them tough so that they would be a fierce fighting force when they turned 20.

Over the years, the Spartans’ ruthless and brutal reputation in war grew, so that other nations and city-states chose not to attack Sparta, even though the Spartan army was not larger than eight thousand men. The Spartan men in the army started their military training at the age of seven and were trained to be tough.

In 404 B.C. the Spartan army was able to conquer Athens during the Peloponnesian War. After its victory over Athens, the Spartan government was able to counter many attacks that were launched by its enemies and maintained power for over 40 years. The city was annexed by Achaea league in 192 BC.
City of Sparta

The founding of Athens

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

Greek city of Thebes

Thebes is a city in Greece situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain.

In Greek mythology Cadmus was reputed founder of the Greek city of Thebes. In Greek myth, Zeus stole Europa. Cadmus went on search of her. Cadmus travelled to Greece where he founded the city of Thebes. 

In legend, he created a seven sided citadel, Archeologist have uncovered the ruins of a seven sided building in Thebes that bears an inscription with name of Camus.

Thebes was known for its first-rate army, which included a strong Cavalry arm, and throughout its history the city usually dominated all of Boeotia.

Before to its destruction by Alexander the Great in 335 BC, Thebes was a major force in Greek history and was the most dominant city-state at the time of the Macedonia conquest of Greek.

During the Persian Wars, the Thebans allied with many Greek city-states to fight against an invading army at the battle of Thermopylae, in 480 BC.

However, shortly after the battle they changed sides and joined with Persians to fight against Athens and Sparta.

In 479 BC at the battle of Plataea they were defeated. Later in the century Thebes was drawn into the struggles of Sparta against Athens for control of Greece.

In the summer of 371 BC, the Thebans defeated the Spartans at the battle of Leuctra, near Thebes. By crippling Sparta, the Theban leader, Epaminondas raised Thebes to a position of supremacy.

However, Epaminondas did not establish a powerful kingdom. When he died in 363 BC, he left Greece open to outside invasion and domination..

In 338 BC an elite military unit The Scared Band of Thebes fell at the battle of Chaeronea against Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Greek city of Thebes