The population of ancient Athens. Ancient city of athens

Ancient Athens was the city of ancient Greece and one of the important cities of the ancient world in general. The borders of Ancient Athens included most of today's Attica.

The flourishing of Western civilization began more than 2500 years ago in Attica, in a small Greek state and in particular in ancient Athens.

At the beginning of the 5th century BC. Athens was practically destroyed.

The Acropolis, one of the most famous historical sites in the world, was the religious and political center of the city in ancient times. But 480 BC. the buildings of the Acropolis were burned to the ground by the 300,000-strong Persian army who invaded the city under the leadership of the formidable and illustrious king Xerxes.

The Athenians left the city and the Persians occupied Athens. It seemed that this was the end for Ancient Athens, but in the next 50 years, the city becomes the cultural capital of the entire Greek world and the cradle of modern Western science and philosophy. The Acropolis was rebuilt with brilliance and by 430 BC. it is adorned with the most beautiful monuments in the world, with the most important Parthenon, the temple of Athena the Virgin.

How did the ancient city of Athens rise from the ashes and become one of the largest cities in ancient times?

Who were the leaders, architects and artists who made the history of ancient Athens unique?

Golden Age of Athens

After a brilliant victory over the Persians and their retreat from Athens, a leader comes to power in Ancient Athens, who made his city a cultural and military force in the Greek world. The name of the outstanding statesman was Pericles, he not only carried out democratic reforms, but also strengthened the army, built some of the most remarkable monuments of all time. Pericles was in power for 30 years, he made a greater contribution to the development of Athenian democracy, the Citadel, which was completely destroyed by the Persians, was restored. The main building was the Parthenon, but other temples were built, which became masterpieces of world art.

Pericles introduced the city to the "golden age" and made the name of Athens immortal. This was the age of great painters like the sculptor Phidias, great philosophers like Socrates and Plato, famous theatergoers like Sophocles and Euripides, who laid the foundations for tragedy, comedy and drama.

Pericles died in 429 BC. after the plague that cost the lives of many people in Athens. But his achievements remain unsurpassed. Athens of that time was the crown of a dynamic society, and the time of his reign is usually called the "golden age of Pericles".

Greece is a country with magnificent landscapes. The ancient Greeks believed that gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings lived in forests, mountains and water. They believed in the absolute power of the gods, who could help them or harm them. Religious holidays were held throughout the year, during which people made sacrifices to the gods.

The first people appeared on the territory of Greece at the beginning of the Bronze Age, who migrated from the vast territory of Eurasia. The first Greeks were warlike tribes, they constantly fought with each other in order to occupy richer and more fertile places. The first settlements were mostly primitive rural communities. Between 1500 and 1200 BC. there was a population explosion that led to high cultural and technological achievements. Palaces and temples rose up everywhere, some of the remains of which we can still see today.

This created a suitable background for legends and myths: the poems of Homer, the myths about the "Argonauts" and "the exploits of Hercules." Some have long been considered legends, like Homer's Trojan War. However, in 1870, the German archaeologist Schliemann, discovered the ruins of Troy. The city was really destroyed by a war that lasted for a long time.

In the areas of Attica, an intense human presence was discovered during the Neolithic era. Ancient Attica was inhabited by the Ionians - one of the main ancient Greek tribes that settled in southern Greece at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. A special Ionic dialect gradually developed in Attica, which became the language of literature and art in antiquity. With the arrival of the Dorians, at the end of the 2nd millennium (about 1100 BC), the Ionians defended their borders, Attica was one of the few places in Greece that the Dorians failed to capture.

Modern Athens

The city of Athens lives and flourishes to this day. The modern city is centered around the Citadel, it includes various ruins of ancient years, proving that this place once reached the pinnacle of its development, influencing the entire European culture.

A city with a population of about 5 million people, it lives on the memories of a lost world. In many places we observe various historical periods of Athens, some buildings and buildings still keep the secrets of the ancient Hellenes.

Until now, as in antiquity, the magnificent Acropolis with beautiful temples proudly rises above the city.

Ancient Athens was considered the main city in Attica (Central Greece). Urban settlements were located several kilometers from the sea. They grouped around a high hill with a citadel towering over it. It was called the Acropolis. This area was extremely picturesque, and the Acropolis was decorated with magnificent buildings.

Ancient Athens on Greece map

From tyrants to democracy

The city-state began to gain strength at the end of the 9th century BC. e. First, Athens was ruled by kings, and then tyrants came to replace them. Tyranos from Greek translates as ruler... Therefore, no bad meaning was put into this word.

However, over time, the city rulers began to oppress and plunder the population. It was then that the word "tyrant" was already understood as a cruel ruler or despot. In this negative sense, it has survived to this day.

At first, the tyrants were tolerated, since they enjoyed the support of the wealthy and noble Athenians and the Areopagus. Areopagus called the Supreme Council, which consisted of 9 judges or archons.

Acropolis of Athens

In the 7th century BC. e. archon Dragon implemented a series of cruel laws. People were executed on them for the slightest offense. Stole a bunch of grapes or an onion - death. The Athenians said that the Dragon wrote his laws in blood and called them draconian.

Property inequality ended in a struggle between aristocrats and commoners in the 6th century BC. e. Unrest and armed clashes broke out in the city. In order to end the bloodshed, it was decided to elect a clever man as archon so that he would finally put things in order.

Such a person turned out to be Solon... He had an excellent reputation and in 594 BC. e. began to carry out reforms. It was on his initiative that the Draconis laws and debt slavery were abolished. Laws were introduced on freedom of will and inheritance of property. Concessions began to be provided to artisans and traders.

All citizens of Attica, depending on their material wealth, were divided into 4 class groups. Each of them was prescribed their own duties and rights. But in this matter, Solon acted as a defender of the aristocracy. He granted the right to hold public office only to wealthy citizens.

The reformer did not encroach on the rule of the tyrants. They continued to commit tyranny and more and more turned common people against themselves. In 514 BC. e. the tyrant Hipparchus was killed by the conspirators Harmodius and Aristogeiton. These two ancient Greeks went down in history as the first tyrannicides.

In 509 BC. e. in Ancient Athens, a popular uprising broke out. As a result, the royal power was destroyed, and democratic rule prevailed. All Athenian citizens, regardless of material wealth, received equal political rights, and the most important state issues began to be decided by a general vote.

But the republic that emerged on the lands of Ancient Greece remained aristocratic. Noble Athenians began to unite in groups and manipulate the voices of people at popular meetings. The aristocrats bribed and attracted to their side the leaders of the people, who were called demagogues.

Rise of Ancient Athens

In the 5th century BC. e. the Greek city-states defeated Persia. This contributed not only to the general prosperity, but also to the victory of democracy. In Argos, Phocis, Thebes, the ruling aristocratic groups were overthrown. The inhabitants of these cities began to practice democratic freedoms following the example of Athens.

But it was Ancient Athens that reached the greatest prosperity. Their port of Piraeus became the main center of trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Athenians also stood at the head of the maritime union, which included 200 policies (cities). The union had its own treasury, and the Athenians were in charge of it. All this strengthened the city and raised its authority.

As for the internal political life, it was characterized by the struggle of 2 parties - aristocratic and democratic. In 462 BC. e. the power of the Areopagus was significantly limited. The popular assemblies began to play an increasingly significant political role. They were convened 4 times a month. Laws were passed on them, wars were declared, peace was made, state funds were distributed.

Pericles with his wife Aspasia

During this period, such a historical figure stood out as Pericles... He became a recognized Athenian leader, and in 443 BC. e. he was elected a strategist (military leader). This man was in power for 15 years. It was with him that secret voting began to be practiced in the people's assembly.

All sculptures depict Pericles in a helmet. There is speculation that his head had some kind of physical defect. But despite this, the strategist had a versatile education. He strove to make Ancient Athens the center of enlightenment throughout Hellas.

This man's wife was Aspasia of Miletus. She was distinguished by her beauty and intelligence, and in her social activities she sought the equality of women. The inhabitants of the city compared Pericles to Zeus, and his wife to the Hero - the wife of the Thunderer. However, the marriage of this couple was not recognized as official, since Aspasia was not an Athenian. True, two sons from this marriage received Athenian citizenship.

Under Pericles, the city flourished and was the most prosperous and powerful among all the cities of Ancient Greece. In 429 BC. e. the strategist passed away. After that, the gradual decline of the powerful city-state began.

Sunset of Ancient Athens

In 431 BC. e. war broke out between Sparta and Athens. It lasted 30 years and was carried out extremely cruelly. Other Greek cities took part in this war. It went down in history as the name of the union, which was headed by Sparta.

The Spartans invaded the lands of Attica several times and besieged Athens. In response, the Athenians attacked the Peloponnesian cities from the sea. A sea voyage to Sicily was also organized. A fleet of 134 triremes (warships) took part in it. But this large-scale expedition did not bring success to the Athenians.

After suffering a series of serious defeats, the Athenian maritime union collapsed. A coup took place in the city itself. As a result of this, the aristocratic council of four hundred, and then a smaller group seized power thirty tyrants... As for the people's assembly, its powers were significantly reduced.

The Peloponnesian War was fought both on land and at sea

In 404 BC. e. the Athenians capitulated to the Spartans. They were forbidden to have a navy, and the stone walls of the port of Piraeus were destroyed. But the long war weakened not only Attica, but also other Greek city-states.

Meanwhile, a powerful new enemy appeared in the north. It was Macedonia, which began to claim hegemony throughout Greece. It reached its greatest power in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. under Philip II. He created a well-armed army and began to conquer one Greek city after another.

However, the Athenian lands continued to be the cultural and commercial center of Hellas. But the inhabitants of the city understood that the Macedonians would soon get to them. The Athenian orator Demosthenes spoke directly about this. His accusatory speeches were called philippics, and Philip II himself declared Demosthenes his personal enemy.

The political situation was heating up, and Ancient Athens had no choice but to create a military alliance. It included Thebes, Megar and Corinth. In 338 BC. e. a battle took place near the Boeotian city of Chaeronea between the troops of the military alliance and the army of Philip II. In this battle, the allies were defeated.

The winner dictated the terms of peace to the defeated cities. Since Philip II was an intelligent man, he formally declared the conquered policies independent, but obliged them to support him in military campaigns. In addition, he placed military garrisons in Attica.

In most of the conquered cities, the aristocracy came to power, currying favor with Macedonia. This was the end of the classical era, and the beginning of the Hellenistic period of ancient Greece.

During Hellenism, the situation in Athens was constantly changing. The city either sought independence, then again fell under the rule of the Macedonian army. In 146 BC. e. the city was under the rule of the Roman Republic in the position of an ally. But freedom was purely formal.

In 88 BC. e. the Athenians supported the anti-Roman movement, led by the Pontic king Mithridates VI. But in 86 BC. e. near the city walls there was a Roman army under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. The Romans took the once great city by storm. However, Sulla showed mercy out of respect for the historical past of Ancient Athens: the fictitious freedom of the Athenians was preserved.

In the last quarter of the 1st century BC. e. the city became part of the new Roman province. But only in the III century AD. e. the significance of the once mighty Athens completely disappeared, and the polis fell into complete decline.

Natural conditions of Attica. Attica is a region located in the east of Central Greece. It is a small peninsula washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. Its shores are indented with many bays, very convenient for navigation. Most of Attica is occupied by low mountains. The soils are stony and there are very few land suitable for sowing. There are no full-flowing rivers, only streams and small rivers that dry up in summer. In dry years, the crops of farmers often suffered from a lack of moisture.

The mountains of Attica are rich in minerals. Iron, lead and excellent marble have been mined here since ancient times. On the peninsula there were also the richest deposits of silver in Greece, as well as large reserves of clay used in pottery. In the center of the peninsula, among a wide plain, is the main city of Attica - Athens. He gave the name to the state formed here.

Figure: Ancient Athens

• Using the map and text, tell us about the geographical location and natural conditions of Attica.

This is what the legend said about the origin of the name of Athens. Once the goddess Athena and the god Poseidon argued which of them should be the patron saint of the greatest city in Greece. To resolve their dispute, they agreed that the patron would be the one who would give its residents the best gift. He will also give the city his name. Poseidon struck with a trident on the rock of the Acropolis, and water flowed from that place. The people were delighted, but this water turned out to be salty, like the sea. Then Athena stuck her spear into the ground, and it turned into an olive tree. People tried its fruits and decided that this gift is priceless. The city was named after Athena, who became its patroness.

Figure: Sacrifice in honor of the gods. Ancient greek drawing

The main occupations of the population. Agriculture was one of the most important occupations of the inhabitants of Attica. In river valleys and on plateaus, they cultivated barley, wheat, beans, on the slopes of the mountains - grapes and olive trees.

The grapes were mainly used to make homemade wine. Olive oil was used for food and for lighting homes. It was also used instead of soap, which was not then known. The oil has been used in many medicines. The Greeks used it to anoint the body before exercise. Along with bread and fish, olives were the main food of people. They were eaten dried, salted and soaked in vinegar. On the slopes of the wooded mountains, herds of cows, sheep, goats grazed. Cheese was obtained from their milk, which was also one of the most important food products of local residents.

• List the main occupations of the inhabitants of Attica.

Little was grown in Attica, and there was always a shortage of it. Grain had to be bought from neighbors or imported from overseas. There he was exchanged for wine, olive oil, handicrafts. The products of the Athenian potters were most appreciated. The painted vases, plates, cups, amphorae that came out from under their hands were eagerly sold out everywhere. Wine made in Attica was also appreciated. The Greeks drank wine to quench their thirst, diluting it by two-thirds with spring water. The need to import grain to Attica contributed to the fact that its inhabitants from ancient times were engaged in trade and navigation. They were also engaged in fishing, which was greatly facilitated by the presence of convenient bays that abound in the shores of Attica. This circumstance also made it easier for them to engage in navigation.

State structure of Ancient Athens. As in other poleis, the National Assembly was the highest authority in Athens. But over time, it began to lose its meaning. The highest power was in the hands of a special council, which included only aristocrats. Usually he gathered on a hill dedicated to the god of war Ares, hence its name - Areopagus. This council passed laws, dealt with the disputes of the Athenians, tried them. Areopagus elected the highest officials of the state. In Athens, they were called archons. Among them were the high priest, the judges, the commander of the Athenian army.

Figure: Amphora from Attica

They lived in Athens according to the laws that at the end of the 7th century BC. e. were installed by Archon Drakont. These laws provided for severe punishments for all, even the most insignificant, crimes. Most often - the death penalty. She even relied on stealing vegetables from the garden. The Athenians said about the draconian laws that they were written not in ink, but in blood.

The Situation of the Athenian Farmers. The most fertile lands in Attica were eventually taken over by the nobility. The aristocrats owned vast fields, vineyards, olive groves. The donations of ordinary people were small. Their harvest was barely enough to make ends meet. When the crops of the farmers suffered from drought, many of them borrowed grain from wealthy neighbors. For each bag taken, much more had to be returned in a year. The owner of the grain put a stone of debt on the debtor's land. It was engraved on how much and when to return. If the farmer could not pay off on time, his land was taken away from the debt. True, he could continue to work on it, but now he had to give the new owner a significant part of the harvest. I had to get into new debts. If the farmer again could not pay them off, he sold his family or himself into slavery. The owner could sell the slave or make him work on his farm. Unlike Sparta, there were much fewer slaves here, and they were highly prized. In addition, the laws of Athens forbade killing them.

Figure: Ancient greek bronze mirror

Over time, more and more Athenian citizens lost both land and freedom. But they had no one to complain to. Drakont's laws protected mainly the interests of wealthy people. In addition, the judges who dealt with disputes were elected from among the aristocrats. The common people, which in Athens was called demos, were dissatisfied with their powerless position.

• Do you think a citizen of Sparta could be sold into slavery for debts? Justify your answer.

Let's sum up

Initially, the supreme power in the Athenian state belonged to the People's Assembly. But over time, aristocrats began to lead the state.

Amphora - a ceramic vessel for storing oil and wine.

End of the 7th century BC e. Introduction to Athens of Drakont's laws.

Questions and tasks

1. Compare the natural conditions of Attica and Laconian. How did they affect the occupations of the inhabitants of these areas?
2. Tell us how the Athenian state was governed.
3. Why did the Athenian farmers lose land and become slaves?
4. Compare the state structure and the situation of different segments of the population in Sparta and Athens. What do they have in common, what are the differences?

Athens is a city named after Pallas Athena, goddess of wisdom and just war. Geographical location: Central Greece, Attica Peninsula. Modern Athens is the cultural and economic administrative center of Greece with over 750,000 inhabitants (2003).

Even in antiquity, Athens was the largest city-state in Attica, whose heritage is of great importance in the modern world. Ancient Athens is the birthplace of democracy, various areas of philosophy and theater art. According to historians, the first records date from 1600-1200. before. AD (Mycenaean era). Archaeological research of Athens began in the 30s of the 19th century and had a fickle character, and only in the 70-80s. excavation took a systematic approach. During the research, many historical values \u200b\u200bwere discovered.

Athens landmarks

Acropolis and Parthenon

The main attractions of Athens are the Acropolis and the Parthenon, which are located on a 156-meter rocky hill. In ancient times, these places were used for the construction of temples dedicated to the great Greek gods, and also confirmed the status of Athens as a beautiful city. , center of culture and art. Today, the Acropolis and the Parthenon are a must-see for the millions of tourists who come to Athens.

Theater of Dionysus

At the orchestra of the Theater of Dionysus, premieres of works by Aristophanes, Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides were given. Finding this antique building is not at all difficult: the theater is located on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis hill.

Temple of Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympion) is located in the heart of Athens. In ancient Greece, it was the largest temple. Due to its location, Olympion is perfectly visible from the Acropolis.
Working hours: Tue - Sun: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm. Mon: closed

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum, with a huge collection of exhibits within its walls, is located in the center of Athens. The exposition is so extensive that you will have to spend several hours on inspection. For the convenience of visitors, the halls in the museum are arranged in chronological order: from the Mycenaean period and the Cycladic culture, covering the ancient period, to the present day.
Working hours:
Summer: Mon: 12.30 - 19.00; Tue - Fri: 8.00 - 19.00; Sat, Sun: 8.30 - 15.00
Winter: Mon: 10.30-17.00; Tue - Fri: 8.00 - 19.00; Sat, Sun: 8.30 - 15.00

One of the most fascinating places to visit when visiting Athens is the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, which in ancient times was a landmark for sailors. Cape Sounion is renowned for its beautiful sunsets that color the sky with amazing bright reds. You can get to this place by renting a car or by the Athens-Sounion intercity bus. And do not forget to make a wish at sunset at the foot of the temple, they say that it will certainly come true.

While vacationing in Greece, numerous tourists tend to Athens to enjoy a wide range of excursion programs. The tour can be booked directly with the tour operator or you can find a private guide. Some of the most attractive excursions are a visit to the Acropolis and the old city, a sightseeing tour of Athens, an excursion to Argolis from Athens, Athens at night. A huge number of excursions will not leave indifferent even the most fastidious tourist - everyone will find the most interesting and informative for themselves.

Athens Accommodation

Like any other metropolis, Athens has a huge number of hotels of various price categories. You can find both a very budget option for accommodation, and you can choose a chic five-star hotel located right on the seashore for a vacation in Athens. Moreover, according to research by the portal Hotels.com, they are recognized as the most affordable in Europe. The average cost of living is no more than 2500 rubles per person per day.

“Athens is one of the greatest Greek cities. In the minds of people, he is associated with all of Ancient Greece. This is partly deserved, because many of the achievements of Hellenic civilization originated in Athens. The city gave Greece dozens of philosophers, poets, playwrights, orators, historians and politicians. Athens domineeringly attracted the best people of Greece. Even the Roman conquerors, who spared the rebellious Athens for the glory of their ancestors, paid tribute to the city. "

Mycenaean and Homeric Greece

The territory of Athens has been inhabited since the Neolithic era. By the 15th century BC. e. attribute the appearance of the Achaean city to this place. A citadel and a palace stood on the Acropolis. But Bronze Age Athens was never a major political center like Mycenae, Tiryns or Pylos.

It is unclear if the city was affected by the Dorians. The Athenians themselves have always been proud of the fact that they were the autochthonous population of this land, and not immigrants like other Hellenes. However, the beginning of Homeric Greece was a period of decline in the economic development of Athens. In the XI century BC. e. Ionian migration began, many Athenians went overseas and founded new cities on the coast of Asia Minor.

From about 900 BC, Athens became a major trade center. During the period of "dark ages" and the Archaic era, Athens developed like other Greek states. According to tradition, the state was ruled by kings for a long time. Historical tradition relates the abolition of royal power to 752 BC. e., when the hereditary basileus was replaced by three officials - basileus, polemarch and archon. The first was in charge of the religious sphere, the second was the commander of the army, and the third was in charge of the internal affairs of the state.

Aristotle wrote that at first the posts of three archons were introduced, and later their number was brought to nine. The former archons joined the Areopagus council, which was influential in Archaic Athens. Membership in this council was for life. The monarchy in the polis was replaced by an aristocratic republic. In the IX-VIII centuries, the population of Attica grew. Burials of that time are becoming richer, luxury items are found in them. But at the end of the 8th century, something happened, and the polis began to decline. There were theories about an epidemic or drought during this time. The increase in the number of finds in places of worship is attributed to the same years. Natural disasters could be the reason for the increase in the religiosity of the inhabitants of Attica. Trade declined and the Athenians became more agricultural.

Synoikism and the accession of Eleusis

An important process that allowed Athens to become a powerful polis was synekism. This word was used to describe the union of several communities into one. Athenians managed to create a single state, the territory of which was comparable to the territory of neighboring Boeotia, where there were several separate city-states. The ancients attributed synoikism to the legendary king Theseus. According to them, the hero united Attica, which consisted of twelve independent states. Synoikism did not imply the resettlement of the inhabitants of Attica to the city at the foot of the Acropolis. It consisted in the liquidation of all local authorities, which were now replaced by one general council in Athens.

In the West Attica the policy was located Eleusis... It has existed since Mycenaean times. In the VIII-VII centuries BC. e. Athens fought with Eleusis, and the struggle ended with the inclusion of this polis in the Athenian state. Sources close in time to the events report very sparingly about the war. Greek legends told of a war where the Athenians were commanded by the legendary king Erechtheus, and the Eleusinian king Eumolpus. According to another version, Eleusis was subdued by Erechtheus' grandson Ion. During excavations in Attica, the remains of the old border wall between the territories of the two policies were found. Probably, the conflict was not resolved by one battle, but dragged on for many years. In the 7th century BC. e. the city became part of the Athenian polis. After submission, Eleusis retained his governing bodies, which were engaged in internal affairs. Know the city, which was associated with the cult of the mysteries, retained a high position in the Athenian state. The temple of Eleusinius was built in Athens, and the festival of the mysteries from now on began there. But the mysteries themselves remained under the control of the Eleusinian clans.

VII-VI centuries BC e .: legislators and tyrants

By the end of the 7th century BC. e. Athens was an aristocratic republic. The inhabitants were subdivided into four phylae: Geleons, Egikorei, Argada and Hoplets. Their eponyms were the sons of the legendary Jonah. Each fila consisted of three tritium. Philobasilei, who were elected from among the noblest citizens, were at the head of the Philos. Estates the population was divided into three categories - the noble Eupatrides, the geomore farmers and the demiurge artisans.

During the Archaic era, ambitious people seized power and became tyrants in many Greek city-states. In Athens, an aristocrat tried to become a tyrant Kylon... He was a young man from a noble family, the son-in-law of the tyrant Megar Theagen. In 640 BC. e. Kylon won the Olympics. In that era, victory in Olympia gave its owner a status close to sacred. The Delphic oracle gave the young man a prophecy to seize the Acropolis on the day of the greatest festival in honor of Zeus. Keelon considered the Olympic Games to be this holiday, and with a group of supporters took over the Acropolis. The Athenians did not accept the tyrant and, under the leadership of the archons, laid siege to Cylon and his associates. After a long siege, the failed tyrant and his brother fled, while their companions surrendered.

In 621 BC. e. in Athens, the famous Drakont laws were adopted. Almost nothing is known about this man. He did not hold the office of archon when his laws were written. Only the section on murder has survived from the Drakont vault. The legislator made a distinction between willful and unintentional murder. The code of laws made it possible for the murderer and the relatives of the murdered to make peace.

The rest of the laws Drakonta there are only references that speak of the extraordinary severity of the laws. Drakont's laws on murder were in effect as far back as the 4th century BC. e., but it is assumed that the rest of the vault was canceled. Drakont's legislation was not a reform, but a record of the customary law of the Athenians, which was in force before him.

Drakont's legislation did not resolve the contradictions in the polis, and in the first decade of the 6th century BC. e. a new legislator appeared on the scene - Solon. This man came, like all leaders of that time, from a noble family. In ancient times he had a reputation as a sage. Solon's poems have survived, where he speaks of his activities. Among his legislative measures was the division of the Athenians into four groups on the basis of property qualifications. People from different property groups had different political rights. Representatives of the first two groups were elected to the post of archon. The poorest citizens, fetas, generally had the right only to access the national assembly and courts. Also, the legislator took measures to free the Athenians who fell into debt bondage.

After Solon's reforms, the life of the polis went on as usual - politicians from noble families competed for power. One of them was destined to become the ruler of Athens.

Peisistratus was born about 600 BC e. in a noble family that traced its origin to the king of Pylos Nestor. In the 560s BC. e. the future tyrant became famous as a commander: during the war with Megaras, he captured their fortification Nisey. After his victory, Pisistratus became one of the three most influential politicians in Athens. In 560 BC. e. he received a detachment of bodyguards from the people and with their help seized power. He was soon removed from power. Then Pisistratus, having entered into an alliance with Megacle of the Alcmeonid clan, returned. Soon he was again forced to leave Athens.

Ten years later, Pisistratus decided to return power by force. In 546 BC. e. he landed near Marathon with an army of mercenaries and volunteers from several cities in Greece - Thebes, Eretria, Argos, Naxos. The inhabitants of that part of Attica, where he landed, supported the tyrant and strengthened his army. After that, in one battle, Pisistratus easily defeated the Athenian militia. His soldiers attacked the Athenians suddenly and put them to flight. At the same time, the supporters of Peisistratus tried not to shed the blood of fellow citizens.

The tyrant took over Athens. The Alkmeonids were forced to leave the city. Pisistratus calmly ruled the policy for almost twenty years. Ancient writers spoke of him as a humane and just ruler who cared about both the nobility and the common people.

Pisistratus expanded the Athenian possessions in Thrace, conquered Sigei from Mitylene, and captured Delos. The Great Dionysias began to be widely celebrated in Athens. At the end of his life, the tyrant decided to erect in the city a magnificent temple dedicated to the supreme god. On the outskirts of Athens, work began on the construction of the temple of Olympian Zeus. But the creation of this temple was completed not under Pisistratus or his sons, but only after seven centuries, when Greece was already a Roman province. By order of the Athenian tyrant, a commission was created, which recorded the texts of Homer's poems.

In 527 BC. e. the tyrant died of old age, and his sons received power in Athens. Hippias and Hipparchus ruled in Attica, another son of Hegesistratus, during the life of his father, ruled Sigaeus, dependent on Athens. At first, the Pisistratis ruled in the spirit of their father. The exiled aristocrats were allowed to return to the polis. Cleisthenes of the Alcmeonid clan even served as archon. At the court of Pisistratus and his sons lived prominent poets of Greece - Anacreon and Simonides of Keossky, the Orphic poet Onomacritus. In 514 BC. e. Hipparchus died at the hands of the conspirators Harmodius and Aristogiton. The assassins acted out of personal motives, but the ideology of democratic Athens made them fighters against tyranny. Later, bronze statues of Harmodius and Aristogiton stood in a place of honor in the city.

Supporters of the conspirators were executed, and Hippias began to rule harder. The aristocrats were again forced to leave Athens. Soon after, the Alcmeonids attempted to overthrow the tyranny. They occupied the fortress of Lipsydrius in Attica. But the troops of Hippias managed to drive out the Alcmeonids and their supporters from there. Aristotle quotes drinking verses of the Athenian aristocrats, which glorify the bravery of the Eupatrides, who died defending the fortress.

During the years of exile, the Alkmeonids lived in Delphi. At their own expense, they rebuilt the Temple of Apollo. The priesthood of this city convinced the Spartans to help the exiles. Finally, the army of Lacedaemon under the command of King Cleomenes entered Attica and defeated the supporters of Hippias. The tyrant surrendered, being able to safely leave Athens.

After the fall of tyranny, the aristocratic politicians Isagoras and Cleisthenes fought for power in the city. The latter managed to win over the people of Athens by promising reforms. Having won the political struggle, Cleisthenes undertook a series of reforms.

The aim of Cleisthenes' reforms was to fight the old tribal orders. He created ten phyla instead of the previous four. Fifty representatives from each phylum formed a council of five hundred. The reformer divided one hundred demos of Attica into trittia. Each trittia included the city, coastal and central parts. Three trittia were included in the phylum. The main territorial unit was the dem. Cleisthenes created a college of ten strategists, in whose hands was the military leadership of the polis. In the 5th-4th centuries BC. e. the position of strategist became the most important in Athens.

5th century BC e .: rise and fall

In 507 BC. e. the Athenian embassy visited Persia. Have greeks and before there were contacts with the rulers of Asia Minor monarchies, so there was nothing unusual about it. But, not knowing Persian customs, the Athenians provided the Persians with "land and water", which meant the formal submission of the empire. During the Ionian Uprising of 500-494 BC. e. the Athenians sent a small detachment of ships to help their relatives. The Athenian ships did not take part in the battles and soon returned back. But both of these events gave the Persians a pretext for war.

In 490 BC. e. the Persian army landed at Attica. The Athenians managed to win thanks to the military genius of their commander Miltiada. Immediately after the victory at Marathon, the commander offered to punish the Greek islanders who supported the Persians. Miltiades led an expedition against Paros, but was defeated. In the 480s BC. e. the leading role in Athens belonged to a man named Themistocles. He came from an aristocratic family of Likomids, who were inferior in nobility and wealth to the families whose representatives set the tone in the politics of that time - the Alkmeonids, Philaids, Keriks.

For the first time Themistocles was an archon in 493 BC. e .. In this position, he began work on the creation of the harbor of Athens in the Piraeus Deme. Back in town Miltiades pushed Themistocles into the background, but in the 480s BC. e. he regained his former influence. At the suggestion of Themistocles, silver from the discovery in 487 BC. e. veins were directed not to distribution to the people, as usual, but to the construction of the fleet. The Athenians managed to equip two hundred battle triremes, and this was the most numerous fleet in Greece. During the Persian invasion of 480-478 BC. e. Themistocles was at the head of the Athenian contingent in the general Greek fleet. He was the second person in the fleet. But it was thanks to the decisions of Themistocles that the battle of Salamis was won.

During the war, the Athenians evacuated the population of their city. They sent part of the civilians to Trezen in the Peloponnese, part to the island of Salamis. Empty Athens was occupied by the Persian army and destroyed. After returning to the city, on the initiative of Themistocles, the Athenians erected Long Walls around the city and Piraeus, which made Athens impregnable.

After the victories at Salamis and Plataea, the Athenians continued their struggle against Persia. The war was fought outside Greece: in Thrace, Asia Minor, Cyprus, Egypt. Finally, peace between Athens and the Achaemenid empire was concluded in 449 BC. eh ..

During the Greco-Persian wars, Athens founded the Delos Symmaia. It was later converted to Athens Maritime Union... It united more than 200 Greek city-states of the Balkans, islands, Asia Minor. The allies had to pay a tax to Athens called foros.

At the head of Athens after the expulsion of Themistocles around 476 BC. e. there were several prominent politicians. Aristides, the rival of Themistocles, played an important role in organizing the union. Naval campaigns against the Persians until his death in 450 BC. e. was led by Cimon, son of Miltiades.

Two decades after 449 BC e. were the time when a politician was at the head of Athens Pericles... During his reign, work was carried out to rebuild the Acropolis: the hill above the city was decorated with the majestic Parthenon and Erechtheion temples. By this time, a democratic form of government had developed in the city, but Pericles wisely knew how to direct the will of the people in the direction he needed.

In 457-446 BC. e. Athens and Sparta fought. Then it was possible to conclude peace on acceptable terms. But in 431 BC. e. the war broke out again. A new conflict that went down in history as Peloponnesian War, lasted until 404 BC. e .. It ended with the complete defeat of Athens and the dissolution of the Athenian naval union. During a meeting of the Spartans and their allies, the representatives of Thebes openly demanded the destruction of the city and the sale of its inhabitants into slavery.

School of Hellas: features of the cultural life of Athens

During the Classical era, the most important achievements of the artistic culture of Athens were created. Tragedies and comedies were staged on the Great Dionysias, Leneas and Anfesterias.

The philosopher Plato placed the theater on a par with the courts and the people's assembly among the institutions that ensure a democratic form of government. In the city there was a special fund "Theorikon", from which the poorest Athenians were given money to buy tickets. Orator Demad called this money the cement of democracy.

It is believed that the beginning of the distribution of "theater money" was laid by Pericles. It is reliably known that they existed at the time Demosthenes... Mentions of the theoricon after the subjugation of Athens to Macedonia in 322 BC. e. not. Most likely, it was abolished.

An official was elected to manage the theoricon. In the 350s BC. e. the politician Eubulus, who held this post, passed a law according to which all monetary surpluses replenished the theoricon. This law established the death penalty for proposing to use the money of the entertainment fund for other purposes. After a long struggle, shortly before the Battle of Chaeronea, Demosthenes was able to achieve the abolition of this law.

In the 380s BC. e. former student of Socrates Plato created his own school of philosophy. The place for her was a grove near Athens, dedicated to the hero Akadem. In honor of him, Plato's school got its name - Academy. The session included lectures by mentors and talks. It is not known how long it took to study at the Academy - presumably one to two years. But Aristotle was Plato's listener for about twenty years.

Disciples flocked to Plato from all over the Greek world. Around 370 BC e. Aristotle arrived there from the provincial Stagira. After twenty years of living in Athens, he traveled for some time, and in 335 BC. e. founded his own school. It was called Lyceum after the place where it was founded.

In the summer, the city celebrated the Panathenaeans. Initially, they were celebrated for one day, then the celebrations were extended to three. The earliest mentions of the Panathenes date back to the 7th century BC. e .. The Athenians called the founders of the holiday the legendary king Cecropus or the hero Theseus. It was also assumed that Theseus made the Panathenaea a holiday common to all Attica.

Initially, the celebration consisted of offering a new peplos to the goddess. In 566 BC. e. The Panathenaeans began to be accompanied by sports. Since that time, the Panathenaeans began to be celebrated annually, and once every four years - the Great Panathenes, accompanied by the offering of peplos and competitions. To organize the holiday, ten aflofets were elected in the National Assembly, one from each phila. They held this position for four years. Under Pisistratus, the Great Panathenaeans began to include competitions of rhapsodes performed by Homer's poems. Later, musicians' competitions were added to them.

Sports included running, pentathlon, fist fighting, pankration. There were three age categories of participants - boys, youths, adult men. The winners were awarded amphorae filled with olive oil. The musicians were awarded a gold wreath and a sum of money.

Chariot races were held outside the city. The team competition was a dance performance in full armor. During the Great Panathenaeus there was a trier race. Each fila fielded one ship with a crew, and they competed in speed between the harbors of Piraeus and Munychia.

The offering of the peplos was a solemn procession that left at dawn from the Keramik area and went to the Acropolis. The robe for Athena was taken by carriage. The peplos itself was woven by girls from the noble families of the polis nine months before Panathinea. To supervise the work of the archon basiles, he chose two girls of 7-11 years old from noble families. A pattern was embroidered on the dress, depicting the feats of the goddess in the battle with the giants.

At the head of the procession on the Panathenes were girls weaving peplos. Behind them are girls with vessels and incense burners for rituals and soldiers of the Athenian militia. The procession was attended by many Athenians, metecs and citizens of the allied policies. A separate category were girls-canephors ("basket-bearers"), who carried sacrificial implements in baskets. To become a canephor, a girl had to come from a good family, be beautiful and have an unblemished reputation. The fathers of Canethora received honors and rewards from the state. Girls who repeatedly performed this duty (not only at the Panathenes) were honored with decrees of honor and even statues.

Difficulties of the 4th century

The year after the Peloponnesian War was a time of new tyranny for Athens. After the conclusion of peace, a commission of 30 Athenian citizens became the head of the city. It was declared that they should draw up new laws for Athens. Contemporaries called them Thirty, but later the Greeks and Romans gave this government a more catchy name - "Thirty Tyrants."

At the head of the Thirty was the Athenian Critias son of Kalleshr. He came from a noble family of Codrids. His father was one of the Four Hundred coup d'état who tried to overthrow democracy. Critias himself was a student of Socrates in his youth, he was friends with Alcibiades, even his epigram has survived, in which he claims that he made a proposal to return the disgraced commander from exile. Later he himself was exiled, lived in Thessaly, where he participated in some troubles.

Critias did not hide his contempt for the bulk of the people and the Metecs. Under him, the Government of the Thirty established a regime of real terror in the policy: the Metecs were arrested and executed without trial, and their property was appropriated. Only three thousand Athenians were considered full citizens. Critias was known as a fan of the Spartan order, and in his actions they see an attempt to rebuild Athens in the likeness of Sparta. Three thousand are an analogue of the Spartan homeans, the rest of the population of Athens is full-fledged periecs.

Feramen, another outstanding member of the government, criticized the actions of the head of the Thirty. But Critias, during a meeting of the assembly of three thousand, forced his colleague to commit suicide. Feramenus courageously took the goblet of poison, splashed some of its contents on the ground, as when playing cottab, and drank the rest.

Thrasybulus, another friend of Alcibiades, took refuge in Thebes. From there he came out with 70 companions and occupied the Philou fortress. It became the center where the Athenians began to flock, ready to fight the tyrants. Philae's defenders repulsed the attack of the Thirty's warriors, and then gave them battle, in which Critias died. Three thousand drove out the surviving members of the government and organized a new one, wanting to continue the fight against Thrasybulus. After negotiations, both sides managed to make peace. In 403 BC. e. democratic rule was restored in Athens. The People's Assembly ruled that no one has the right to ask another for his actions during the rule of the Thirty and the Civil War. An exception was made for the surviving members of the government, but even they could justify themselves by giving a report on their actions. Separate trials took place, and the philosopher Socrates became the victim.

In 395 BC. e. Athens, Thebes, Argos and Corinth started a war against Sparta. When in 399 BC. e. the war between Sparta and Persia began, the Athenian strategist Konon, who lived at the court of the ruler of Cyprus Evagoras, offered his services to the Persians. In 394 BC. e. Konon and the satrap Pharnabaz defeated the Spartans at sea near the island of Cnidus. After this, the Athenian returned to his homeland with Persian gold, to which they rebuilt the fleet and the Long Walls of Piraeus.

At the end of the war, Persia began to support Sparta, and in 386 BC. e. with her participation in Susa, the Greeks concluded a peace treaty. He forbade inter-city associations, but transferred the islands of Lemnos, Imbros and Skyros under the rule of Athens.

The next thirty years were for Athens time of maneuvering between Persia, Sparta and Thebes. In 378 BC. e. Athens and Thebes started a war with Sparta. This year was created Second Athens Maritime Union... The decree on its creation declared the non-interference of the Athenians in the internal affairs of the members of the union. In 377-376 BC. e. Athenian mercenaries under the command of the famous strategist Chabrius defended Boeotia from the Spartans. In 371 BC. e. the Thebans defeated the Spartans at Leuctra, and this victory made Boeotian Union the strongest state in Greece.

At the same time, Athens took up the old thing about the allies. There were cases of interference in the internal affairs of cities. In 357 BC. e. the Allied War began. Former members of the union - Byzantium, Rhodes, Chios, supported by the Carian ruler Mavsol, opposed the city of Pallada. Athens lost this war, but the Second Athenian Maritime Union existed in a truncated form for another two decades.

The Allied War coincided with the first conflict between Athens and Macedonian King Philip II. The struggle was fought for control over the cities of the Halkidiki peninsula. The confrontation between Athens and Macedonia ended with the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. eh ..

The Athenians lost the battle but retained their independence. During the reign of Alexander the Great, Athens was headed by the politician Lycurgus. Thanks to his financial genius, the policy, without receiving income from the foros, was able to increase its income several times. The Athenians were accumulating strength - new ships were being built (the Athenian fleet was never as large as in those years).

After the death of Alexander, Athens and some other poleis decided to give battle to Macedonia. Thus began the Lamian War of 323-322 BC. Under the command of the talented strategists Leosthenes and Antiphilus, the Athenians achieved some success, but were eventually defeated at the Battle of Crannon. Simultaneously, the Macedonians defeated the Athenian fleet three times, which was no longer reborn as a serious military force.

An oligarchic rule was imposed on the city, which was soon overthrown. In 317 BC. e. one of the generals of Alexander Cassander imposed his protege on Athens - Demetrius of Phaler, who ruled the city for ten years.

In 307 BC. e. Athens was liberated by Prince Demetrius, son of Antigonus, and Demetrius of Phalerus fled. The Athenians restored a democratic constitution, destroyed the statue of the deposed ruler and abolished some of his laws.

For the first time in the history of the polis, they conferred divine honors on kings, and this marked the beginning of a tradition in the history of Hellenistic Athens. The cult of the savior gods Antigonus and Demetrius was established in the city, and games were held in their honor. The priest was responsible for the cult of the new gods. To the ten philes, two more were added - Antigonis and Demetrias, who received first place in the list of philes. The podium, where the statues of the Phil eponymic heroes stood, was widened and the statues of kings were placed on it. Their other statues were erected next to the monument to Harmodius and Aristogiton.

In subsequent years, the Athenians retreated from Poliorketus and again swore allegiance to him. In 287 BC. e. Athens revolted and drove the king's garrison out of the city. But Piraeus and some of the fortresses of Attica remained under the control of Macedonia. The policy was independent for the next 25 years. In 267 BC. e. Athens risked in alliance with Sparta and Egypt to challenge Macedonia. The war was unsuccessful, and Athens again became dependent on Macedonia. But in 229 BC. e. The Athenians managed to peacefully, with the help of a sum of money, force foreign garrisons to leave Athens, Piraeus and other fortresses in Attica.

After the restoration of independence, the Athenians established the state cult of Demos. His hereditary priests were the descendants of Mikion and Euryclides, whose efforts in 229 BC. e. freedom was achieved. Statues of citizens who had distinguished themselves before Athens began to be dedicated to the temple built to Demos.

In 224 BC. e. the king of Egypt, Ptolemy III, was honored with divine honors. A state cult was established for him and the office of a priest was introduced. The thirteenth Philosophy of Ptolemais was established. The number of members of the boule increased to 650. One DeMouy from the other phylae was assigned to the fillet, and a dem Berenikida was also established in honor of Ptolemy's wife. The statue of the king took its place among the statues of the eponymous heroes of the Athenian phil. The public holiday of Ptolemy was established.

On the eve of the war with Macedonia in 200 BC. e. King Attalus of Pergamum arrived in Athens. The inhabitants of the city received him with honor. The Athenians established a new phylum Attalis in honor of the king, and in its composition dem Apollonia named after Attalus's wife.

At the end of the 3rd century BC. e. a new force appeared in the Balkans - Rome. During the II century BC. e. Athens was an ally of the Roman Republic, which was increasing its influence on the peninsula. In 88 BC. e. Athens risked supporting the king of Pontus Mithridates VI in his war with Rome. At first, the peripatetic philosopher Athenion became the head of the anti-Roman movement in the city. Later he was replaced by another native of Athens - Aristion, a follower of the philosophy of Epicurus. He was sent to the city by Mithridates.

The Pontic commander Archelaus made Piraeus his headquarters. In 87 BC. e. Attica became a battlefield. The Roman general Sulla laid siege to Athens and Piraeus. Archelaus was a capable general, and the siege of the port was difficult. By order of the Roman, the groves of the Academy and Lycea were cut down and siege machines were made from the trees. In March 86 BC. e. with a night attack, the legionnaires captured the city. A massacre began in Athens, but Sulla, at the request of the exiles and senators from his headquarters, stopped her, stating that he was sparing the living for the sake of the dead. Aristion with his loyal people defended the Acropolis for some time, but hunger forced him to surrender. The philosopher, the soldiers of his guard, the magistrates of Athens that year were executed. Archelaus escaped from Piraeus with his army by sea.

After ending the war, Sulla returned to Athens. There he was awaited by the honors of the Athenians: he was glorified as a liberator from the tyranny of Aristion, the feast of Sillee was held in his honor, and a statue of the commander was erected.

During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Greece became the battlefield, and its policies supported Pompey... Several Athenian ships strengthened his fleet, and Athenian hoplites entered his army and fought at Pharsalus. After Caesar's victory, the Athenian embassy arrived to ask him for mercy. Julius Caesar forgave the city for the glory of the ancestors of the Athenians. The Athenians habitually erected a statue of the Roman, on the pedestal of which they glorified him as a savior and benefactor. A few years later, the Athenians were again dragged into the Roman civil wars. After Caesar's assassination, Athens supported his assassins. In October 44 BC. e. Brutus and Cassius sailed to Greece. In its cities honorary decrees were adopted in honor of Caesar's assassins, and the Athenians installed their bronze statues next to the statues of Harmodius and Aristogiton.

Brutus lived for some time in Athens... He attended lectures by the philosophers of the Academy and Lyceum. At the same time, he carried out work on the collection of forces, attracted influential Romans who occupied posts in the Balkans to his side.

After the defeat of Brutus and Cassius, Mark Antony lived for some time in Athens. He tried to win over the inhabitants of the ancient city and enjoyed being called "friend of the Athenians." In 39-37 BC. e. Mark Antony lived in Athens with his wife Octavia, whom the townspeople loved very much.

In 32 BC. BC, when the war with Octavian began, Antony visited Athens with Queen Cleopatra. Remembering the popularity of Octavia, the ruler of Egypt tried to arrange gifts for the citizens of the policy. After the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. e. August occupied the city without a fight. This ended the period of independence of Athens, which was to become part of the province of the Roman Empire. Achaia.