Convincing anyone that it is good idea to visit Athens seems to be unnecessary. In shops, taverns and restaurants, tourists from different countries can hear their own languages and read the menu in them. Greek people are well known for their hospitality. They often try to welcome their guests in their language. Most people like it.

The mythology of Athens’ history:
Everybody knows something about Athens. It is not a big thing to figure out that name of the Greek capital has something in common with Greek goddess Athena. According to the mythology, Zeus transformed Metis, as she was pregnant, into an insect and swallowed her. After a while he found himself with terrible headache. Not having any better idea, he asked the blacksmith to hit him right into his skull, hoping that it would stop the pain. After the hit, Athena, the beautiful goddess in the panoply, with the shield and the spear, jumped from the broken skull of the god. Athena became the goddess of wisdom and war.

And here the important question pops up: Why did Athena become the patron of Greece's capital? Help comes with another ancient myth. One day the beautiful goddess had some arguments with Poseidon, Zeus’ brother and lord of the sea. The reason was patronage over the biggest Greek city. Both of them - Athena and Poseidon, wanted this position. Inhabitants of the city had an idea: they organized a contest between Poseidon and Athena: whoever offers the city the better gift, will become its patron. Poseidon began: he created a spring in the hill of the Acropolis. Athena answered right after this: she piled her spear into the spring and an olive tree rose in this place. People in the city proclaimed Athena the winner and from this moment the city was known as Athens.

Athenian democracy:
However, it is not Greek mythology that made Athens the cradle of European civilization, but social and political systems developed in the Greek capital city. The system called democracy. Its main feature was to invite a big number of average people into the process of co-governing the "state city". Inhabitants were randomly chosen on the position in the city office. Randomly chosen, not elected. People holding most important, strategic positions in the city government were elected from the group wealthy and rich inhabitants. It is important to notice that these most important people in Athens did not receive any gratification for their duty! The only price was the social authority they gained. One of the most famous of Athens' leader was Pericles (Vth century b.c).  

The most important sites in Athens:
Almost at every step we come across the relicts from Athen’s long history. The most important and also most famous is the Acropolis, 2500 years old, placed on the Holy Mountain rising above the city, the symbol of Athens. From this ancient sanctuary, everyone can admire the best panorama of the city. The legendary port in Piraeus and aquamarine, golden waters of the Aegean Sea can be seen from this point. On the Acropolis are gathered the most important relicts of Hellenic Athens.

The most admirable building on the Acropolis is the Parthenon, raised thanks to above-mentioned Pericles. In the interior of the building stood a 12-metre high sculpture of Athena Parthenos (the virgin), made by Phidias. The Parthenon was not just a temple, but also the treasury of Athens. In the coming centuries the Parthenon had many different functions. In the XIX century, the building was severely damaged (by the blowing up of ammunition collected in it by Turkish invaders) after the broadside from English battleship. 

The other important venue in Athens include the Propylaea – a kind of entrance or gate, built by Mnesikles - one of the architects of the Parthenon. The size of this magnificent entrance corresponds to the size of the most important building on the hill – the Parthenon. The Propylaea was also used as Pinakotheke – a kind of art gallery in which the north wing's walls were decorated with wall paintings or painted panels. It is the first known art gallery of paintings in the world.

Entering the Acropolis, it is good idea to look on the right hand side, in the direction of an architectural pearl in the ionic style, where the little temple of Nike Aptheros is situated. This little temple was raised approximately 415 year b.c. in the place, where, according to myth, the king of Athens was waiting for his son Tezeus. Tezeus had fought with the Minotaur. In case of Tezeus’ death, his crew was to put up the black sail. In case of Tezeus’ victory, it was the white sail. But Tezeus forgot to pull the white one and his father, thinking that he had lost his son, committed suicide by jumping from the rock.

The last is Pericles’ masterpiece - the Erechtheion is also situated on Acropolis. It is here, where in symbolic reconciliation, Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus were adored - all three patrons of Athens. Also in this place, Athena and Poseidon ran against each other for the Attica's leadership. 

Shopping and spare time:
Tired after visiting the Holy Hill? It is time for Placa. Placa is the district spreading underneath the Acropolis. Placa is famous for its countless shops and taverns, packed in alleys on small streets. One can rest here in the shade, with a glass of iced coffee called Frappé. But this is not all. Not many tourists can resist the temptation of shopping. Almost everyone leaves Placa with a little statue of naked, bathing Venus, a copy of a Greek amphora or a hand weaved piece of leather. The charm and peace of this place will amaze everyone, all the more, since there is no heavy traffic.

Talking about shopping, wealthier tourists love to roam on the streets of Kolonaki in the northern part of the city centre (the cosmopolitan district around Patriarchou). The best shops and fancy clubs can be found here. Also bazaars, passages, folk shops and fancy boutiques. Most of the best museums in Athens can also be found here, including the National Archaeological Museum.
Visiting Athens, there is always a chance to come across one of these open air events. The newest movies, a night in open air cafeteria or tavern, a concert in the nice surroundings of the Herodus Atticus Odeon, under the Acropolis.
And monuments again!

Agora:
Recovered? Time for a walk through the famous Athens Agora - the Greek market. From VI. century b.c. it was the centre of political and economical life in Athens. Here, underneath the Areopag, close to the Acropolis, the first Athens’ city office was situated. Here also was the court, and public meetings were held. The Socrates trial was handled here. In the same place, Socrates was sentenced to death. The Museum of the Ancient Agora is situated in Stoa of Attalos dating from the II. century b.c.

The heritage of modern culture:
Have you had enough of ruins and monuments? Have you seen the reconstruction of the ancient stadium? So you are ready to see the other one, brand new, surprising with its technical solutions and architectural, the modern Olympic stadium. Athens was host of the Olympic Games in 2004. This great sport event returned for a while to its birth place. This famous, new Olympic stadium was designed by world-known architect Santiago Calatrava. According to Greek press, the Olympic Games cost 8 billion Euro, which makes them the most expensive in modern history. It is good to see what was built for this huge amount of money – Olympic pools and sport halls.

Text and pictures by Grzegorz Lechman

For more photos of Athens, Greece visit the EURO<26 Gallery!