Athens, with its tall buildings and contemporary shops, is the first European city when approached from the Middle East. As of May 2019, the population of Athens is about 3 million people. Situated on a rocky outcrop above Athens, Greece, the Acropolis is a citadel featuring some of the greatest architecture of the classical world. Scratch the surface and you’ll understand the Athenian miracle – that it is constantly evolving and, ultimately, surviving, thanks to the city’s spirit, its people and its fated role in history. Greeka team and its community members will be delighted to help you! Athens Architects’ details are listed for an annual fee, … The imposing, minimalistic building now housing the Hellenic Parliament was the Royal Palace... On the coastal road of Poros, between Mikro Neorion and Aspros Gatos (White Cat), you can see a... During the 19th century, tuberculosis decimated young and old, rich and poor. Everyone will agree that Athens is an architectural paradise for anyone interested in a rich and unique architectural mix. An order, properly speaking, is a combination of a certain style of column with or without a base and an entablature (what the column supports: the architrave, frie… The city covers a total area of 412 square kilometers (159 square miles). Dirt roads evolved to avenues and the capital underwent Ovidian metamorphoses. Do you like The Greek goddess Athena was Athen's patron goddess. While some of marbled sidewalks are still in place, Athenian roads and walkways were modernized, making the entire city more … Classical Architecture. Ancient Greek Architecture facts. The Greece Architecture site aims to promote Greek Architects as well as the country’s architecture. In Athens, visitors can also view a sample of Cycladic architecture in the small alley of Anafiotika, above Plaka. It has been continuously habited for at least 3,000 years. Modern architecture in Athens flourished during two periods, between 1930 and 1940, and between 1950 and 1975. It dates back to 600 BC and is dedicated to the god of Dionysos. Other Buildings The city of Athens, Greece, with its famous Acropolis, has come to symbolize the whole of the country in the popular imagination, and not without cause. It was built for the goddess Athena. Thanks to the rapid advancement in the field of archaeology and monument preservations, most of the historical edifices of Athens are very well preserved even to this day. Athens Facts and Trivia. Through the years architecture has changed. "There were skeletons in the wall, entombed in the earth behind the glass, cemetery stones, and other artifacts." Athens’ first female mayor, Dora Bakoyannis, decided to give the city a much-needed facelift in 2003, as the marble had aged and would get slippery on rainy days. Sally Ashley-Cound, 30 August, 2013. The remnants of the past provide visitors with a fascinating insight into the city's rich history. Ancient Greek Architecture Facts. The page is a good starting point for selecting an Athens architect. There are five orders of classical architecture - Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite - all named as such in later Roman times. Do not hesitate to ask the community! It sits on a hill called the Acropolis overlooking Athens. It was built by King Attalos II of Pergamon who ruled between 159 BC and 138 BC. We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience and to analyze site traffic. Ancient Greek artists were very different from artists in other ancient cultures. West of the ancient theatre lies the Odeon of Herodus Atticus. Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 8: the scenic elements. As you wander its alleys, parks, squares and avenues, observe the eclectic mix of architecture; remember that this was a city that has reinvented itself many times over. This was because Sultan Mehmed II rode into Athens and was so amazed at the ancient architecture in the city that he forbade his forces from looting on the pain of death. For more ancient sightseeing in Athens, you can visit the historical neighborhoods of Monastiraki, Plaka, and Thision and stroll through the classic Roman monuments and Ancient Agora. Such a rich city like Athens is embellished with numerous splendid temples, including the Temple of Olympian Zeus whose construction begun in the 6th century in honor of the Greek god Zeus. Hence, Greek architecture, despite being the oldest has stood the test of time and has inspired many artists world over. Located on the Acropolis in Athens, the Parthenon was constructed at the peak of the Greek empire. The dimensions of the temple are 13.71 m north to south and 31.78 m east to west, with six columns on the short east and west sides and thirteen columns along the longer north and south sides (with each of the four corner columns being counted twice). It had 46 outer columns each 6 feet in diameter and 34 feet tall. Built in the Classical architectural style, its proportions have been studied for centuries. In ancient Athens, Pericles ordered the construction of several major temples on the acropolis. It is one of the most famous buildings in Athens as it was originally built as a home to Greek Emperor, King Otto I. The centre of modern Athens wasn’t even within the boundaries of the former city. Known for its embellishment and neoclassical architecture, The Greek Parliament aka Hellenic Parliament was built between 1836 and 1842. Top Greek islands & Mainland Destinations, Most popular Greek islands & mainland destinations. The skênê was the back wall of the ancient Greek theatre. Blending architectural gems from the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods as well as modern architectural styles including neoclassical and post-modern, here are the five most impressive buildings in Athens. It is located in Central Greece in the southern part of the region of Attica. In 1930, it became the Hellenic Parliament. Athens began as a small, Mycenaen community and grew to become a city that, at its height, epitomized the best of Greek virtues and enjoyed such prestige that the Spartans refused to sack the city or enslave the citizens, even after Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War. The Pikioni Playground is the work of architect and professor Dimitris Pikionis, and... Construction began here in 1847 under King Otto’s rule. 1. Flickr/Eustaquio Santimano. Built entirel… Among these was a temple, the Parthenon, which many consider the finest example of Greek architecture. As might be expected, during this time countless weird and wonderful, sad and happy events have occurred in Athens. This set a mod… The architectural marvel, the Stoa of Attalos, was constructed as a gift to Athens in return for the education that Attalos received there. Close to the famous Acropolis stands one of the best -preserved Greek temples in the world, the Temple of Hephaestus, designed by Iktinus, one of the architects who also worked in the Parthenon. The theater can easily accommodate up to 20,000 people. Read also: Athens famous buildings | Some of the Outstanding buildings of Athens. And more? The most noteworthy result of Pericles’ public-works campaign was the magnificent Parthenon, a temple in honor of the city’s patron goddess Athena. Greeka? Located on the north of Syntagma square, this building has three floors which were destroyed in the fire in the year 1909. The minimalist building of the Archaeological Society was constructed in 1958 to replace the... Named in honor of Eginition, a highly respected pioneer in the field of medicine, the hospital... {{current_weather.dt | moment( atts.date )}}, The beautiful stone lighthouses of Attica, Residences at 17 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation (ΜΙΕΤ). Athens was the center of ancient Greek theatre, a city embellished with open-air structures constructed on the sloping hillsides. Ancient Greek architecture came from the Greek-speaking people (Hellenic people) whose culture flourished on the Greek mainland, the Peloponnese, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies in Anatolia and Italy for a period from about 900 BC until the 1st century AD, with the earliest remaining architectural works dating from around 600 BC. The origins of Athens date back to 3000BC, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Today through the few remains one can see the splendor of the ancient architecture. During the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta, the back wall was created in two stories high at the end of 5th century BC. Some of the Outstanding buildings of Athens. The most characteristic monument of Ancient Greek architecture is the Parthenon, on the Acropolis Hill, also known as the sacred rock. Athens, the birthplace of democracy is renowned for some of the world's greatest cultural monuments like the Parthenon, the enduring symbol of Ancient Greek beauty. The Parthenon, the Temple of Poseidon, the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Aphaia, and the Temple of the Olympian Zeus are just a few of the amazing temples that were built. Dirt roads evolved to avenues and the capital underwent Ovidian metamorphoses. #28 of 220 Sights & Landmarks in Athens "It is very clean station equipped with many passengers’ facilities, but its most interesting feature is the collection of artifacts and archeological findings on display all over the station."