| Athens City Breaks |
According to mythology, the first city was founded by Phoenicians and more especially by Cecrops.
Athens was born when the gods of Olympus decided that the city should be named after the deity who could gave the most useful gift to the mortals and would become its patron deity.
An outrage took place between Athena (goddess of wisdom) and Poseidon (god of the sea).
Athena won the right to rule the city by offering an olive tree, symbol of peace and prosperity while Poseidon struck a rock and a horse sprang forth symbolising the strength.
According to history, the Acropolis was first inhabited in the Neolithic period. The rock of the Acropolis was first used as a military fortress as its position offers a view towards the land and the sea.
Poor people has no rights until Solon, the law giver and poet, took the road to democracy when he declared all free Athenians equal by law and abolished inherited privileges.
It is during this period that the Acropolis was declared province of the gods by a Delphic oracle.
In the 5th century, after victory against the Persians, Athens discovers a period of economical, cultural and political prosperity with the establishment of Democracy under Pericles.
It is during this period that the Parthenon was built (ultimate classical Greek achievement in term of architecture and sculptures) and the theatrical masterpieces where written.
Athens' golden age stopped after its defeat against Sparta during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C).
St Paul came in Greece to proclaim the Christianity with his famous "sermon on an Unknown God" in 51 A.D. In 324 A.D., the Emperor Constantine I transferred the capital of the Empire from Rome to Byzantium which took the name of Constantinople. By the end of the 4th century, the Roman Empire was divided in two: the Roman Empire at the west and the Byzantine Empire at the east. After centuries of military success and great wealth, the Roman Empire started to decline leaving its place to the Byzantine Empire.
During the Byzantine Empire, the Parthenon of the Acropolis was turned into the church of Agia Sophia.
Athens still remained the centre of Greek education and culture until 529 when the Emperor Justinian banned the teaching of classical philosophy.
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