Athens Pictures

Athens (Greek: Αθήνα) is the capital of Greece and its largest city with a population of approximately 4 million people. It was also the center of ancient Greek civilization. It is surrounded by hills and only the western part is open. It is 7 kilometers away from Piraeus, which has a pier.

Athens, a cosmopolitan and modern city, was also an important trade and cultural center in ancient times. Its name comes from its protector, the goddess of war Athena. It hosted the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympics. Athens is the capital of the only European country that does not have a mosque open for worship.

Today’s Athens consists of a small part of the old city. Its inner castle, called the Acropolis, is on a hill.

Athens has been destroyed many times due to various attacks since ancient times. It was first captured by the Persians, then by the Romans, Crusaders and Ottomans, and many of its valuable works were moved to other places. It was taken by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1458 and included within the Ottoman borders, and was left to Greece upon the recognition of Greek independence with the Treaty of Edirne signed in 1829.

It has been the capital of this state since 1832.