ANCIENT ATHENS

Athens, Greece: the history, the culture and the incredible ancient sites

The history of Athens is one of the longest in any city in Europe and in the world. Athens has been continuously inhabited for over 3000 years, becoming the most important city of antiquity in the first millennium BC; the cultural achievements during the 5th century BC, the foundations of Western civilization.

During the middle ages, the city experienced decline, then recovery under the Byzantine Empire and was relatively prosperous during the Crusades, benefiting from Italian trade.

Some information about "classical Athens.

Before the rise of Athens, the city of Sparta considered itself as the leader of the Greeks, or hegemon. In 499 BC Athens sent troops to help the Greeks Ionians of Asia minor, which against the Persian Empire (see Ionian revolt rebel were). This led to two Persian invasion of Greece, which led by soldier-men Athenian MILTIADES and Themistocles were defeated.

490 the Athenians, led by MILTIADES, defeated the first invasion of the Persians, led by King Darius in the battle of Marathon. In 480, the Persians returned under a new leader, Xerxes. The Persians had to pass through a narrow Strait Athens to. The 300 Spartans and their allies blocked the narrow passage between the 200,000 men of Xerxes (the battle of Thermopylae). They kept the coast for several days, but eventually all but one Spartan was killed (see Aristodemus (Spartan)). Then had the Athenians and their allies, led by Themistocles Marine significantly greater Persia at sea in the battle of Salamis. Hegemony of Sparta was in Athens, and it was Athens, the war in Asia minor. The period of the end of the Persian wars to the Macedonian conquest marked the zenith of Athens as a center of literature, philosophy (see Greek philosophy) and the Arts (see Greek Theatre).

In this society had the political satire of the comic poets in theaters, a remarkable influence on public opinion.

Some of the most important figures of Western cultural and intellectual history lived in Athens during this period: playwrights Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides and Sophocles, the philosophers Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, the historians Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon, the poet Simonides and the sculptor Phidias.

The senior statesman of this period was Pericles, who the tribute paid by the members of the Delian League to build the Parthenon and used to other great monuments of classical Athens. The city became, in Pericles's terms, "the school of Hellas".

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Ancient Greek Art

Ancient Greek Art

Usually, I found the ancient art, but especially old Greek statues and vases. As an American, living in a time where there is too much will head the aesthetic, it can be exciting to see an art that in the share and extremes Revels. Ancient Greek images often try to portray the themes of beauty in the body, but they do it not by the overvaluation of each thing. An ancient Greek sculpture of a man will not be pumped in huge proportions. A view of a goddess figure not ridiculous curves that would be her place in anywhere but in Los Angeles. They aspire to creating the right look-beautiful in a way very simple and human things.

Needless to say, like many people, real ancient Greek art out of range for me.

You'll discover ancient Greek statues of less and less and most of them are fragmentary. Many of the originals are millions of dollars, and if you are still in the neighborhood of the Museum with a very good display of antique statues in Greek lives, you can count yourself lucky. This does not mean that ancient Greek art out of reach, however. Here you will find the collectible figurines, posters, photos and other statements that are available for everyone. Decorative urns and garden for parts of museum quality decorations inspired by the illustration of the old Greece, there are very little choice.

You must be careful, however, because not all ancient Greek statues of the same high quality. The rule is buyer beware you. This has no importance for all collectors. Some people try just something they find inspiring artistic. As a call to answer an ancient Greek sculpture to you, by all States taking. Of course, if you acquire to the old objects, you can look at something else. Ancient Roman coins, for example, are excellent collectibles.

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