Athens is the famous capital of Greece, a city that many have visited and many more plan to do so.
Acropolis and the antiquities, Democracy, Philosophy, the Athenian weather, the Olympic Games, the culture and the people, the city’s mess, along with Athens being a vibrant lively city, are the main topics Athens is famous for.
All these have been confirmed by my research along with the feedback provided by people from the USA, Tunisia, Malaysia, and European countries like Italy, Finland, and Sweden, friends who have been kind enough to share their insights.
1. Acropolis and the antiquities
Acropolis is the Sacred Rocky Hill and the Parthenon is the Temple on top of it. Most people though, think of it as a whole. So when they think of Athens, the first thing that comes to their mind, in most cases, is the Acropolis and all it symbolizes.
The word Acropolis is a combination of two Greek words, acro and polis which mean the edge of the city. It served as a defense mechanism against pirates, intruders, and enemies of any kind.
That is why you meet an Acropolis in every major city in Ancient Greece, on top of a not-easily-reached hill that would provide defensive advantages in the case of a war.
The Athens Acropolis was firstly constructed in the 13th century BC.
The building project that led to the monuments we know of today, started much later, in 447 BC, by Pericles, a democratic statesman who convinced Athenians of the project promising it would be for Athens “the source of everlasting fame“.
It took only 15 years to build the Parthenon by paid workers, not slaves. The famous temple is made from 20 thousand tons of marble from the nearby Mount Penteliko.
2. Democracy
Athens is well-known as the birthplace of western values, the beginning of so many ideas that we take for granted today.
Democracy derives from two words. Demos + Kratos meaning People + State. The idea was that since citizens’ life and well-being is directly connected to the state’s laws, they should be responsible for shaping these laws. A revolutionary idea for the 5th century BCE!
The democratic political system of governance in Athens was essential to all the city’s achievements.
The source and body of all powers was the popular assembly, the “Ekklissia tu Dimou“. All offices were open and accessible to all citizens.
Many officials were chosen randomly for limited time periods that may have been even for a day. This meant that all Athenians were potentially elected to a number of different positions throughout their lives. It also meant that all citizens, rich or poor, would one day be randomly chosen to rule at some official position.
After 462 BCE the popular assembly included all Athenian citizens older than 20 years of age.
Everybody could participate. As long as he met the following six criteria. No citizen could run for office unless he could prove that:
- He is a genuine Athenian citizen.
- He served in the army and took part in campaigns.
- He paid taxes regularly.
- He was honest and had never been convicted of a dishonorable offense.
- He was devout.
- His behavior towards his parents was impeccable.
The people had all the powers both legislative and executive ones and, in some cases (betrayal, disrespect, etc.), the assembly was transformed into a supreme court, which led Aristotle to describe it as “the tyranny of the myriads”.
In the assembly, which met in Agora 40 times a year, every citizen could speak, and as long as he spoke no matter what he said, no one could interrupt or stop him.
Historians agree that such spread of civilization to large parts of the population can only be compared to a much later era, the introduction of “basic” education for everyone, around the 18th century.
During the Athenian Republic, it was the first time everybody had access to justice, books, athletic games, theater, philosophy, the applied arts, and even holidays. This is when the principles of all sciences were established.
3. Philosophy
The image of people with their cloaks wrapped around their bodies, walking and talking in the streets of Ancient Athens has become almost a familiar picture in western civilization.
Ancient Greeks loved to think, debate, and philosophize.
The development of ancient Greek philosophy questioned all the beliefs at the time and taught people to think outside what we would today call their comfort zone.
This era is considered the foundational period for all of Western Philosophy.
Socrates of Athens (l. c. 470/469-399 BCE) is one of the most recognized personalities of this period and is known as the “Father of Western Philosophy”.
Plato was Socrates’ student and is the most famous philosopher of Ancient Greece.
Aristotle was Plato’s student and he became the tutor of Alexander the Great. This chain of exceptional human-centric thought reached the biggest part of the then known world and is still shaping many of our ideas.
4. The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games started when the ancient Greeks firstly organized this pan-Hellenic event. They took place in Olympia – not in Athens – every four years from 776 BC until 392 AD.
This means that they were organized continually for more than 1.000 years!
During the 19th century, the ancient Olympic Games were revived and were held in Athens. From 1896, the modern Games became international and are held under the name Olympic Games.
The 2004 Olympic Games that were organized in Athens were a big highlight for the city and a very successful event. The games are still very vivid in people’s memory.
5. The Athenian mess
Athens is messy in an …interesting way.
For example, people feel free to add graffiti almost anywhere. This often leads to frustration.
Many times of course graffiti is an art form and it leads to street art marvels.
Most interactions with the state will reinforce this notion of a dominant messy attitude.
But the same civil servant who looked and acted really bored, on the edge of being rude, can walk the extra mile if they decide to. Or if you are a tourist.
The government is still trying to control the small duration but annoying strikes that no organizer seems to feel the need to warn about early enough. As one visits the numerous sites in Athens, it is not a rare experience to meet civil servants not working for two or three hours in protest of this or that.
Tourists sometimes show flexibility so as to make the most of their day. And they remember it, hopefully in a forgiving way.
6. The people are welcoming
Xenios Zeus, the father of all gods in Olympus, is still an influence on Greek culture. Xenios Zeus means the God of the foreigners. The foreigners’ protection was one of the critical roles of Zeus, also known as Dias or simply Zeus.
Protecting strangers even in this day of age is a common attitude among people living in Athens.
Athenians are well known for stopping what they are doing so as to give you instructions or help. Sometimes even when you did not ask for it.
Athens is beautiful, it is human!
Cleclia, Naples italy
People in Athens are curious. They ask questions. At the hotel, at the restaurant, people sitting at the table next to yours, Greeks are interested in you and they feel it would be impolite to leave you alone.
Part of it is related to our “host mentality” and part of it is due to the fact that we actually tend to make friends more easily than most.
7. The weather
The Mediterranean climate has been described as the best. But the best for what? And according to whom?
This type of climate mostly consists of months that are dry and warm and then during the winter one can expect wet colder months.
When people think of Athens, the weather comes to mind in one of the two following ways:
- The climate is a plus. Tourists sometimes consider the weather as the main attraction. They want to enjoy overall pleasant weather as it is significantly different from their country’s. Many also choose Greece for their retirement years. They buy a property, usually in the countryside, and become locals.
- The climate is too hot. Athens is not the Greek countryside and many visitors from the northern part of Europe, or from countries like Canada, have serious concerns about whether they will endure the summer temperature in Athens.
So, how warm is it?
According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, based on data for the period 1955 to 2010 minimum, medium, and maximum temperature, per month in Athens is the following:
The mean temperature fluctuates between 10o to 28o Celsius which is 50o to 82o Fahrenheit.
Of course, there are days in July or August that hit the headlines because of extreme heat, the same way -3o Celsius (26 Fahrenheit) for Athens, is a day many parents will keep their kids at home instead of sending them to school. A choice that sounds illogical to a Finn.
The weather is a favorite topic and a legitimate issue to consider before visiting any place. When it comes to Athens, different experiences lead to different viewpoints.
I remember Noor, a friend of mine from Malaysia. We were in the UK at the time and I had just received from George, a photographer from Greece, his new work.
As we were looking at the beautiful postcards from Athens, Noor saw a typical Greek tavern with small tables outside and people enjoying their lunch and she could not believe it. “You eat like that? We do not sit outside, in my country, it is just too hot!”
8. The culture
Collection of the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation
If great works of art and new museums opening, along with galleries, festivals, and music venues are a good indicator of cultural advancement, then people in Athens can be optimistic.
If on the other hand, we take into consideration the way we get into a metro wagon or how we drive, then, there is room for improvement.
Athens is famous for both views of the glass, half empty and half full.
- National Museum of Modern Art – It is only since 2016 that it has been located in the famous FIX building. This used to be a brewery for the popular FIX beer. The NMMA is located in a very central neighborhood of the city, and we now feel as if it had always been there.
- Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation – The famous collection has brought to us works by Picasso and Monet, El Greco, and Vincent van Gogh. Artists we were able to enjoy only while visiting MoMa, Tate, or the Louvre.
- The Acropolis Museum – has been a frame of reference for the city, as it is standing facing, and in a continuous dialogue with, our sacred Rock.
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center – Since 2016 when it opened its doors it has raised our expectations and created for us all, locals and visitors, a continuous relationship with music, art, and cinema, open for all. Also, it is the location for the Greek National Opera and the new National Library of Greece.
And still.
People in Athens, both locals, and visitors, sometimes are disappointed by the way many drive, park their cars, or push their way into the metro wagon the minute the doors open.
9. The nightlife
If Athens was a person she/he would be an extrovert!
Athens is a vibrant city both during the day and at night. Athens is a city that enjoys a vivacious nightlife which on many occasions it may end in the early morning hours of the next day.
“It is not that uncommon to take my sunglasses with me when I go out at night for drinks with my friends. Just in case I need them.“
Evi, Athens
People go out a lot and drink but they rarely get drunk. It could happen but it is not by design. The Greek culture promotes slow social drinking.
The aim is to socialize, meet people, dance, to have a good time. The principal goal is rarely to blow off steam.