Attica

General Description of Attica

Attica, the area of Eastern Greece, surrounded by the sea on the south and east.  In Attica there were several dispersed, independent settlements; the main settlement was Athens, which later became the capital of Greece.  Attica attracted maritime trade-trade over oceans using different sea-ports.  Included in the region of Attica are the islands, Salamis, Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Kythira and Antikythera. 

Geography

Attica is a peninsula that protrudes into the Aegean Sea.  The ten mile long Kithairon mountain range divides northern Attica.  There are four plains created by mountain ranges: the Pedian plain, the Mesogeian plain, and the Thriasian plain.  Lake Marathon is the only large reservoir near Athens in Attica.  Included in the region of Attica are the islands, Salamis, Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Kythira and Antikythera.  Forests cover the land near Parnitha, near Hymettus, and into the north and northeast.  The longest river in Attica is the Cephisus River and the tallest mountain is Parnetha, also called Parnitha. 

Climate

In the plains of Attica hot summers and winters in the lower areas of Attica are mild while winter in the mountains are extremely harsh. The annual precipitation in Attica varies from 370mm to above 1,000mm a year.  The lowest temperature ever recorded in the history of Attic was -10.4 degrees C; it was recorded at Votanikos, Athens.  The highest temperature recorded was 48.7 degrees C and was recorded at the Tatoi airport in Attica.

History of Attica

Early Attica was inhabited during the neolithic period by an Indo-European tripe, the Ionians.  Divided into four tribes, the Ionians lived in societies that revolved around agriculture.  Prehistoric evidence of the Ionians was found near Marathon, Rafina, Bruaron, and other places in Attica.  These settlements of the Ionains flourished greatly during the Mycenaean period.  According to legend, during this time Attica was made up of twelve minute communities while king Cercrops was on the throne.  Later these communities were made into a single state known now as Athens.  However, in truth, the communities were made into a single state most likely during the 8th and 7th century B.C.; the single state would have been the Athenian state.  Athens later became the capital of ancient Greece.  Reforms were implemented by Cleisthenes and after Peisistratus became a tyrant, only after these events did local communities lose their independence and were put under the Athenian government.  

History of Athens

Athens is not in the record books until the 7th century B.C.  The area in Attica where Athens is located was perfect for playing a role in local affairs.  Even though the area that Athens was located was not good for growing staple foods-it was only good for growing olives and vines-it promoted overseas trade to obtain food and supplies needed to sustain life; the trading encouraged communication with other nations and peoples.   From the year 630 B.C., many tyrants attempted to take over Athens, however, that is when the first strong ruler emerges in Athens.  Elected "archon" in 594 B.C., Salon is given the "task of reconciling the opposed factions within Athenian society" (www.historyworld.net).  Solon's first order of business was to eradicate all the peasant's debts and after doing this he tried to open up the political structures of Athens.  Though Solon's reforms were good attempts, they did not get rid of many tyrant's ambitions.  Peisistratus, in the year 560 B.C., seized power in Athens and ruled as a dictator.  During his reign Athens prospered and Attica was united.  Through the peace periods while Peisistratus reigned, trade became an important aspect of the Athenian economy and the first ever public buildings were built; this includes the Parthenon.  When Peisistratus died in 527 B.C., he was succeeded by his son, Hippias, but his reign ended in 510 B.C. when "the nobles of Attica, eager to get power back into their own hands, enlisted the help of Sparta" (www.historyworld.net).  When Sparta began to help Athens it only hindered the advancement of democracy in the Athenian state.  Cleisthenes, in 508 B.C., won power in Athens, and he allowed all citizens from every social class to voice their opinions about political matters.  His reforms began to establish the principle of democracy in Athens.  In 480 B.C. the Persian War brings the Athenians and Spartans together and they work together to remove the threat of the Persians. However, at the end of the Persian War, Athens has lost most of their city.  

Pericles was the first ruler of Athens to use a form of democracy.  He used a majority in the people's assembly to pass resolutions.  In 454 B.C. his power increased because he was put in charge of the funds of the Delian League.  However, in 433, Pericles overreaches himself "in a move which leads to a breach of his own Thirty Years Treaty" (www.historyworld.net) that was created in 446 to keep the peace between Athens and Sparta.  Because of this the second Peloponnesian War started.  After thirty years of fighting the Athens were completely defeated by the Spartans.  However, "the high prestige of Athens saves the city itself from destruction and the Athenians from enslavement" (www.historyworld.net).  Socrates and Plato survived through the war and by the time Aristotle is born there is recovery in Athens' political status.  After the emergence of Macedonia (356-338 B.C.) Athens always existed under the power of another nation/empire.   

Important Places and Sites in Attica

Some historically and culturally significant places and sites of Ancient Greek history were located in Attica.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athene, is a limestone ridge that cuts into the Attica plateau.

The Agora of Athens

Built in 449 B.C., the Agora was a temple dedicated to Hephaestus.  It was the main site for all things political and commercial in Athens.

The Southern Slope of the Acropolis

The Southern Slope includes many monuments that were mainly religiously based-for example: the Theater of Dionysus that was built in the 5th century B.C.

The Pnyx

The Pnyx was the meeting place for the residents of Athens in ancient Greece.

The Olympieion Site

The Olympieion Site was a temple dedicated to the god Zeus built in 124-132 A.D.

The Academy of Plato

This is a depiction of the academy where Plato, the Greek philosopher, taught his philosophical ideas to students; the school lasted until 526 A.D.

The Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium held the Panathinea Festivals.  It was built in 330-329 B.C.

The Vravrona Archaeological Site

This site honored Artemis (goddess of hunting and protector of childbirth and infants).  It was built in 449 B.C.

The Sanctuary of Poseidon and Athena

This was the temple of Poseidon.  It was built in 450-440 B.C.

The Eleusis Archaeological Site

This was most likely the Temple of the goddess Demeter.

Reflection

Attica is the mainland for most things in Greek history, other than Sparta.  The most important city/region in Attica was Athens.  Mostly every important temple or meeting place built by the Greeks was located in Attica.  It was the main cultural place for the Greeks and it was home to the great philosophers of that time.  While reading Oedipus we learned about the theater that the play was performed in.  Most likely, Oedipus was performed on The Southern Slope of the Acropolis which is near the temple of Athene.  Also, in the play they reference Athene and talk about asking her for help.  In order to reach the goddess they would have to visit her temple which was located in Attica.  Oedipus references many different god's whose temples, for the most part, are all located in Attica.  

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