THE HISTORY OF ATHENS

 

Cradle of Western civilization the history of Athens is eventful and fascinating.  Discover the city’s past from its’s foundation until it became the political, cultural and economic hub of Greece. 

Athens is named after Athena the goddess of wisdom and war.  And daughter of Zeus The story of Athens is very similar to the story of Greece.

 

The first settlers in Athens  were from various ethnic groups that were organized in several kingdoms. The establishment was near the situation which would later become the Acropolis.  According to Greek mythology, Cecrops, who was half man and half serpent founded Athens and became the first king.  Around the 10^th century BC the settlers formed twelve cities of which Athens was always dominant

 

The mythical King Theseus was responsible for unifying the cities of Attika under Athens When the cities were unified the Panathenaic Games were held to honour Athena.

 

When Athens was ruled by Kings, the Monarch directed the political and military efforts and was assisted by the Areopagus, the King’s court.

 

Athens evolved from a city dominated by monarchy, then the aristocracy and finally by Athenian democracy.  During the 8^th century BC the monarchy was replaced with nine Archons, (leaders) The social tumult obliged the aristocracy to make concessions for the rest of the population.  To avoid the abuses of power and laws they were written down. 

 

In 621 BC, Draco was the first legislator in Ancient Greece to impose a written law code that would become famous as an example of severity, but it was a great step compared to the justice system which had existed before.

Draco was replaced by Solon, one of the sages of Greece renowned for his honesty and patriotism.  He made new concessions for the working classes considered who was the first democracy on each. Solon was elected Archon in 594 BC and made great reforms including the forgiveness of peasants their debts, limiting the right of life or death  father or family and dividing the population into four groups according to their income and military service He also formed the Boule, a council of 400 – 500 people and  the Ekklisia (assembly) and the Heliaea (court) 

 

After the wise Solon, there were new social revolts that fractioned the city until Peisistratus took Athens by force and was considered a tyrant.  He was succeeded by his sons who compared with their father  were a lot more brutal and created many divisions among the Athenians.  Eventually, Cleisthenes, leader of the Democratic Movement in 508 BC granted citizenship to all free men and reformed  the constitution of ancient Athens. 

 

510 BC is considered the year of the birth of Athenian Democracy.  Cleisthenis is famous for establishing the “politically ostracized” figure.  To defend democracy from tyrrany, the Ekklesia had the power to banish for a certain period a citizen that is considered a threat for the state.