Small towns in ancient Greece. Ancient and modern Greek cities

Ancient Greece is the mother of modern European culture. In this top, the author of Delitant.media Alexandra Mikhailidi collected her most important children - the cities that were the first among equals

Miletus is the richest ancient Greek city. It was located in Kariya on west coast Asia Minor. Herodotus especially singled out Miletus, calling it "the pearl of Ionia (region of Asia Minor)".

The first settlements on the territory appeared in the second half of the 4th millennium BC. e. The city got its name in honor of the hero Miletus, who, according to legend, founded it, having moved from Crete.

Miletus earned his wealth thanks to the tyrant rulers Thrasybulus, Thoas and Damasenor. The city had 80-90 colonies along the banks of the Pontus, among which were Cyzicus, Sinop, Abidos, Tom and Olivia. Even in Ancient Egypt There was a Milesian colony - Navkartis. Miletos defended his independence more than once, fighting with the Lydian kings and Persian rulers.

Now the ruins of Miletus are located on the territory of modern Turkey. Archaeologists have found in it fragments of Minoan-style frescoes and texts of Linear writing.

Herodotus called Miletus "the pearl of Ionia"

During the classical period, Corinth rivaled Athens and Thebes for trade and control of shipping across the isthmus. Also, until the middle of the VI century BC. e. he was the largest supplier of black-figure pottery to other cities throughout the Greek world. However, later leadership passed to Athens.

On the acropolis of the city was main temple which is dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite. From the recollections of eyewitnesses, the temple was the center of priestesses (prostitutes), who accumulated there more than a thousand. They always wore long hair and the longer the hair was, the higher the demand for them. Local men believed that the hair of the priestesses of the temple of Aphrodite had magical properties: they help their owners not get tired and restore internal balance.

By the way, ordinary women wore long dresses that covered them from head to toe. Priestesses, on the other hand, never wore headscarves, veils, or anything else to cover their hair.

In addition, the Isthmian Games, the ancient Greek games in honor of the god Poseidon, were held in Corinth: competitions were gymnastic, equestrian, poetic and musical.

Corinth was the largest supplier of black-figure pottery

Athens, the city named after the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, is considered to be the cradle of European civilization. Athens is the birthplace of theatre, philosophy and democracy.

In general, the tradition of the theater in Athens differed from modern ones. Firstly, only men could become actors, who did not use facial expressions during the performance, but conveyed emotions only with the help of masks and plasticity. Also, tragedies were valued more than comedies, which were considered the entertainment of the plebeians at all.

In ancient Greece, Athens had the status of a city-state, it was ruled by a popular assembly, which included the citizens of the policy. The executive power was at the Council of Five Hundred, which included representatives of the phyla (socio-professional groups) - they were chosen by lot. Judicial and control power was in the hands of a grand jury, also chosen by lot. So, any citizen could become the ruler of Athens or the chief judge.

Now Athens is the economic, cultural and administrative center of Greece. In the 30s of the twentieth century, the study of Athens by archaeologists began, but the systematic nature of the excavations was acquired only thanks to the formation of the English, French and German archaeological schools in Athens in the 70-80s.

In ancient Greece, Athens had the status of a city-state.

Thebes is the city of seven gates. It was surrounded by a wall on all sides, a stream flowed near the city, which may have been used instead of a moat. This stream, by the way, was sung by Virgil in his works.

Many ancient Greek myths are associated with Thebes, since the history of Thebes dates back to the heroic periods. We can find mention of the city in the legends about Cadmus (the founder of Cadmea), about Zeta and Amphion, who are the founders of Thebes, about Dionysus, about the Labdacids and, of course, about Hercules.

Also known are the myths about Oedipus, about the appearance of the seven kings against Thebes, about the campaign of the epigones. Many philologists and historians find real historical memories in the texts of ancient legends, although, of course, many of them are fiction. Nevertheless, in the myths there are memories of the struggle of Sicyon and Argos with Thebes, in the legends of Hercules - memories of the prehistoric struggle of the two rival cities of Boeotia, Thebes and Orchomenus of Minius

In addition, it was Thebes who gave the world two common complexes - Oedipus and Electra.

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Cities that arose during Greek colonization on the northern coast of the Black Sea in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. At the end of the 7th c. BC e. on the northern shores of the Black Sea, Greek trading posts of emporia arose. In the 6th and 5th centuries. BC e. Northern ... ...

Cities that arose during the Greek. colonization in the north. on the Black Sea coast in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. episodic visits by the Greeks to the Black Sea were already in the 2nd half. 2nd and 1st half. 1st millennium BC e., but systematically. connections improved only with the con. 7th c. BC er,… … Soviet historical encyclopedia

Parthenon History of Greece Prehistoric Greece (before the XXX century BC) ... Wikipedia

Struggle for hegemony in Balkan Greece after the Peloponnesian War- Hegemony of Spaota The first years after the Peloponnesian War are marked by Spartan hegemony. However, the hegemony of Sparta from the very beginning caused acute discontent in the Hellenic world. Like Athens, Sparta also overlaid its allies with foros ...

Ideology and culture of Greece in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e.- VIII VI century BC. e. were a period of significant growth in the culture of ancient Greece. In many ways, this culture was based on the achievements of the old slave states of the East. By the beginning, VIII century. or maybe a little earlier... The World History. Encyclopedia

There are 17 names on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the Hellenic Republic (for 2012), which is 1.6% of the total (962 for 2012). 15 objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, and 11 of them are recognized ... ... Wikipedia

Athens (Athenai), Greater Athens, the capital of Greece, the political, economic and cultural center of the country. The ancient Greeks associated the name A. with the name of the goddess Pallas Athena, who was considered the patroness of the city. The city is located on the Attica peninsula… Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Books

• Settlements of the Bronze Age in Greece and the Aegean Islands, Yu. V. Andreev. This monograph is the only study in Russian science of the problem of the origin of the early Greek city. It examines in detail the types of settlements formed on…
• History and culture of Ancient Greece. Encyclopedic Dictionary, Igor Evgenievich Surikov. This book will be produced in accordance with your order using Print-on-Demand technology. The book is the first encyclopedic dictionary in Russian, entirely devoted to ...

Greece is a state with richest history. Since ancient times, Hellas has developed, giving people works of art, the best scientists and thinkers. Currently, this country attracts a large number of tourists. Read the article about the largest visited cities located in Greece.

Administrative division

Greece is a state with an interesting administrative division. As such, there are no official borders between settlements on its territory. The concept of "city" is rather vague in relation to this country. The status of the place where people live depends on the size of the population.

There are many cities in Greece, but only a small part of them can be called large. This category includes such settlements as Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, and Piraeus. Of course, this is not all major capital States - Athens is one of the most famous metropolitan areas.

Athens

The capital of Greece is simply stunning in its beauty. Athens is covered with myths and legends familiar to everyone from school literature. The city is located on a plain called Attica, and its coast is constantly washed by the waters of the Saronic Gulf.

Within its boundaries there is a huge number of world famous monuments. So, the ruins of ancient sanctuaries and temples have been preserved here. Tourists and residents have the opportunity to enjoy works of art by visiting museums, becoming participants in excursions and festivals.

Most Big City Attica in Greece attracts travelers not only with its sights. It is also considered one of the warmest in the country. A person who has visited Athens at least once will never be able to forget the sunny city, every stone of which breathes antiquity.

Thessaloniki

This city, like Petersburg in Russia, can be called cultural capital Greece. Its history is measured in three thousand years. Therefore, the influence of such empires as the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman is felt in it. It is believed that the first inhabitants were Neanderthals. This is evidenced by the results of numerous excavations.

Large cities of Greece attract tourists primarily with their sights. The central point of Thessaloniki, like its surroundings, is inscribed on the List world heritage UNESCO. In Thessaloniki, you can recharge with positive energy and have a good time. For example, a lot of festivals and other events take place here. People can participate in them, of course, if they want to.

Heraklion

Crete is known throughout the world. The capital is a city called Heraklion. Not only is the airport located here, but also sea ​​gate islands. This settlement is considered the fifth largest among all cities in Greece.

People who come here can find things to do. It is very popular among tourists Archaeological Museum, which presents collections of exhibits of the Minoan culture, as well as frescoes discovered during excavations of ancient palaces. In general, the city of Heraklion is a place where you can get acquainted with ancient history best of all, and if you're lucky - touch it.

Piraeus

The capital and major cities of Greece attract tourists. There are special cruise ships, which are an excellent means of transportation by sea. So, Piraeus is a port city, which is located a few kilometers from Athens.

Here you can become a member sea ​​travel and get to other populated places where the greatest number of attractions are located. Yes, and within the city you can find entertainment: take part in an event, visit a museum or just take a walk.

Patras

The major cities of Greece are places where not only connoisseurs of beauty gather, but also the people who create it. Therefore, Patras became a haven for artists. Favorite scenes - houses scattered along the coast, emerald gardens, golden sand and crystal blue sea.

Patras is not only a city rich in history, but also major port. Its foundation dates back to the 6th century BC, so a lot of sights have appeared on its territory. Having visited Cathedral St. Andrew the First-Called, the bridge called Rio-Antirio, having seen the Upper Patras, any person will be imbued with the atmosphere of this city.

Ancient Greece

The ancient civilization was called "Ancient Greece" thanks to the Romans. The name given to it by the Greeks themselves sounds like this: the state became the cradle of European civilization. Many scientists, philosophers, architects and sculptors were born and worked in those days. It was their labors that gave rise to the work of their followers. Hellas is surrounded large quantity myths and legends. Until now, people are studying what gods the ancient Greeks worshiped, what they believed in.

Greece is currently one of the most popular destinations tourism. Many monuments of ancient culture have been preserved here, so people come here from all over the world to touch the history.

Cities of Ancient Greece

There are a large number of settlements that appeared a very, very long time ago. However, in Greece there are major cities that have survived from ancient times. These include Miletus, Corinth, Thebes, Olympia. These settlements played the role of ports, political and cultural centers states.

The large cities of Ancient Greece are now, for the most part, turned into ruins. However, some of them are still flourishing, for example, Athens, which was described a little earlier.

Corinth

The largest city of ancient Greece, of course, Athens. However, there were others significant places, which in their importance could compete with the capital of the state. For example, Corinth. This city-state was economically strong. The deliveries of black-figure ceramics to all the cities of Greece were carried out from here, and the export volumes were impressive for that era.

The acropolis of this city became the place where the main temple dedicated to Aphrodite was located. It is interesting that prostitutes gathered here, which is why people constantly crowded near the temple. There was a belief that the long hair of the priestesses had miraculous properties.

The major cities of Greece are known for the fact that various competitions were constantly held in them. So, in honor of Poseidon were held in Corinth. The participants competed not only in gymnastics and equestrian sports, but also demonstrated their poetic and musical gifts.

We have already told you, now it's time to talk about the Greek cities. The history of some of them is familiar to us from childhood, for example, the myth of the name of Athens, while other cities have not so famous, but no less interesting legends. We decided not to list you the legends of all the cities of Greece, which would be too tedious, but chose a list from 12 most interesting stories.

1. 
   

   Probably, only the lazy did not hear about this myth - two deities argued for the right to name the city in their honor - Pallas Athena and the sea lord Poseidon. We decided to do everything honestly: whoever gives the city the best gift will win. Poseidon presented the city with a stream of water, since Athens did not yet have a port. People were delighted with the gift, and already considered Poseidon the winner, when the water, to their chagrin, turned out to be sea and undrinkable. But Athena gave the city an olive tree, and so the capital of Greece became the patroness.

2. Thessaloniki got its name in honor of the mermaid sister of Alexander the Great, who was the wife of the founder of the city. As befits a loving husband, he named the city he founded in honor of his wife - Thessaloniki.

3. Sparta was also named after a girl - the daughter of King Lelegas. When Lelegas died, the husband of Sparta ascended the throne, who decided to rename the city in honor of his wife. And Lelegas, by the way, is also known by the name of Lakonas - it is his name that the modern region, and it is from this word that the modern "concise" comes.

4. Alexandroupolis the ball was so named not at all in honor of Alexander the Great, as you probably immediately thought, but in honor of Tsar Alexander, who was killed in 1910, and locals thus decided to express their sorrow for the loss.

5. Katerini was named after Catherine - this is understandable. But in honor of which one? During the years of Christianity, Catherine of Alexandria lived here, who was crucified for her faith in God in Egypt. In honor of her, the inhabitants decided to name the city Katerini, which also means "forever innocent."

6. Nauplion According to one of the legends, it was named after Nafplio, the son of the god Poseidon, who was the founder and patron of the city. According to another legend, the name of the city means "pointing the way" because. on its embankment table is a high pendulum that sends signals to passing ships.

7. Arta in Latin "artus" means "narrow". As you may have guessed, the city got its name because of its narrow streets and lanes.

8. Kozani got its name from the settlers from areas, or rather from the cities of Premet and Kozdyani. Kozdjani subsequently turned into Kozjani, and then completely into Kozani, which it is to this day.

9. Trikala got its name in honor of the nymph Tricky, who was the patroness of her predecessor modern city- the ancient settlement of Trikka, the ruins of which can be seen in Archaeological park.

10. Tripoli- This is literally a city of oaks. Not only because there are many oak forests here, but also because the first name of the city was "Dabrolitza", which, translated from the Old Slavonic language, meant "a city in which there are many oaks." Of course, the Greeks did not want to put up with the Slavic name, and, without thinking twice, they renamed the city Tripoli (from ancient Greek - "city of oaks").

11. Komotini in the Byzantine era it was called "Kumutzina" and even "Yomultzina". This name was somehow completely non-Greek, and even the Greeks themselves constantly cut their ears. So they decided to rename the city in the Hellenic way, making Komotini out of Kumutzina.

12. Kavala explained by two legends. According to the first of them, the word comes from the Italian “cavallo”, that is, a horse, since from the hill the city resembled the shape of a horse. According to another legend, the city was named by Alexander the Great, who, having arrived here on his horse Bucephalus, said “Ah! How beautiful it is in Kavala! At the same time, what the word “kavala” means or meant and what exactly Alexander wanted to say by this is not indicated anywhere.

Ancient Hellas... No country in the world, either before it or after it, has had such a huge impact in its scale on the entire world civilization and on the formation and development of Western culture. It is to the ancient Hellenes that we owe, in a certain sense, the universal beginning of our ideas about politics and science, about philosophy and literature, about architecture and about art. And even more so, it seems surprising that the combined population of all ancient Greek cities was just over a million people.

Argos

The city of Argos is one of the most ancient cities peace. The age of this city is no less than seven thousand years! Argos, thanks to its extremely advantageous geographic location, has always been very strategically important locality throughout the Mycenaean period. During the classical period, the city of Argos opposed Sparta, fought for political influence in the Peloponnese. During the famous Greco-Persian wars, the city remained neutral, not supporting any of the parties to this conflict, and therefore, for some time, remained isolated.

The greatest flowering of Argos came in the seventh century BC during the reign of the famous king Phidon, who managed to conquer all the cities of Argolis, after which he again entered into a confrontation with Sparta for the Peloponnese peninsula, and almost for the first time in history, Argos could resist on equal terms " city ​​of warriors. Before the Roman conquest, Argos was in the Achaean League and maintained friendly relations with Athens.

Athens

Athens - a city that got its name from the goddess of wisdom and knowledge - one of the oldest cities in the world, is now the capital of modern Greece. It is this city that can rightfully be considered the cradle of democracy, freedom and art. This city was supposedly founded by the Pelasgians, an ancient, pre-Indo-European people who inhabited Balkan Peninsula. There is an opinion that in the language of the Pelasgians "Athens" meant "hill" or "hill", but, with the advent of the Hellenes, the name became associated with Athena.

In the years 1600-1200 BC, in the era of Mycenae, Athens was already quite famous city, but the city reached the full flowering of its radiant glory during the period that historians call the "golden age" of ancient Greek culture - in the 6th-5th centuries. BC. It was during this period that Athens became one of the most important cultural and political centers.

Athens was famous all over the world, first of all, for its philosophical schools. It is to Athens that the whole world owes the brilliant thought of Aristotle and. Even after the conquest by the Romans in 146 BC, the city did not lose its power and colossal significance. Athens became a province only in the sixth century of our era, during the reign of the Byzantine Empire, under Emperor Justinian the First.

Delphi

In the first half of the 2nd millennium BC, Delphi already had a cult significance for Ancient Hellas. True, scientists, alas, were able to answer exactly when exactly this city was founded. But it is known that even in the deepest antiquity, it was in Delphi that a cult of veneration of the deity of Mother Earth developed. In the second half of the second millennium BC, the city was in decline, however, already in the middle of the first millennium BC. became important again.

The heyday of this city is directly related to the First Sacred War of Delphi against the city of Chris, which ended with its destruction. Already in the seventh-sixth centuries BC, Delphi became something of a common sanctuary for all Hellenes. The soothsayer, that is, the local Delphic oracle, had a huge impact throughout ancient Greece in religious and political affairs. Well, and, of course, we should not forget about the famous Pythian games, which began to be held in Delphi from the beginning of the sixth century.

After the Olympic Games, this event was perhaps the second most important religious, sports and cultural event in all of Ancient Hellas. Also, not least, the authority of Delphi was also associated with the fact that it was in it that the omfal, the sacred stone, was kept. In the first century BC, the Thracians literally devastated Delphi. Emperor Theodosius the First in 394 AD, together with the ban on the Olympic Games, also vetoed appeals to the Oracle.

Patras

The city of Patras was founded in the sixth century BC by the Achaeans of Lakoniki, who were pressed by the Darians on the Peloponnese peninsula. Prevgenis, the leader of the Achaeans, united three settlements: Mesati, Aroi and Anfia, thereby founding Patras. Prevgenis named the city after his son Patreos. In the XIV century BC, this city becomes almost the largest economic and political center in all of Attica. In the X century BC. there was a change in government. Instead of the already traditional tsarist rule, power passed to the civilian majority.

During the Persian invasion in 480, Patras was burned to the ground, but the surviving inhabitants of the city, united with other Hellenes, defeated the Persians and literally rebuilt their city from ruins and ashes. The Romans also appreciated the favorable location of the city and already during their reign, they built a huge port in Patras. The Romans also granted Patras the privilege of minting their own coins. At the same time, a water supply system, an amphitheater and the Odeon were built in Patras.

Thessaloniki

ancient greek city Thessaloniki was founded in 315 by the Macedonian king Cassander, uniting twenty-six settlements in it. The city was created according to all the Greek traditions that could be preserved in it until the fifteenth century. When the Romans captured Thessaloniki in 146 BC, the city was not yet a strategically important center. But already in the days of the Byzantine Empire, its significance increased considerably. Thessaloniki found itself at the intersection of two important routes at the same time: from Athens to the Black Sea region and from Constantinople to Rome. Thessaloniki became the second largest and most important city in the entire Byzantine Empire after the Arabs captured Antioch and Alexandria.