Athens

The capital of Attica, the most celebrated city of the ancient world, the seat of Greek literature and art during the golden period of Grecian history. Its inhabitants were fond of novelty (Acts 17:21), and were remarkable for their zeal in the worship of the gods. It was a sarcastic saying of the Roman satirist that it was “easier to find a god at Athens than a man.” On his second missionary journey Paul visited this city (Acts 17:15; comp. 1 Thess. 3:1), and delivered in the Areopagus his famous speech (17:22-31). The altar of which Paul there speaks as dedicated “to the [properly “an”] unknown God” (23) was probably one of several which bore the same inscription. It is supposed that they originated in the practice of letting loose a flock of sheep and goats in the streets of Athens on the occasion of a plague, and of offering them up in sacrifice, at the spot where they lay down, “to the god concerned.”

(city of Athene), the capital of Attica, and the chief seat of Grecian learning and civilization during the golden period of the history of Greece. Description—Athens is situated about three miles from the seacoast, in the central plain of Attica. In this plain rise several eminences Of these the most prominent is a lofty insulated mountain with a conical peaked Summit, now called the Hill of St. George, and which bore in ancient times the name of Lycabettus . This mountain, which was not included within the ancient walls, lies to the northeast of Athens, and forms the most striking feature in the environs of the city. It is to Athens what Vesuvius is to Naples, or Arthur’s Seat to Edinburgh Southwest of Lycabettua there are four hills of moderate height, all of which formed part of the city. Of these the nearest to Lycabettus and at the distance of a mile from the latter, was the Aeropolis, or citadel of Athens, a square craggy rock rising abruptly about 150 feet, with a flat summit of about 1000 feet long from east to west, by 500 feet broad from north to south. Immediately west of the Aeropolis is a second hill of irregular form, the Areopagus (Mars’ Hill). To the southwest there rises a third hill, the Pnyx, on which the assemblies of the citizens were held. South of the city was seen the Saronic Gulf, with the harbors of Athens. History.—Athens is said to have derived its name from the prominence given to the worship of the goddess Athena (Minerva) by its king, Erechtheus. The inhabitants were previously called Cecropidae, from Cecrops, who, according to tradition, was the original founder of the city. This at first occupied only the hill or rock which afterwards became the Acropolis; but gradually the buildings spread over the ground at the southern foot of this…

ATH'ENS, the name of several places, but chiefly of the capital of Greece, the metropolis of ancient philosophy and art; named from the goddess Minerva or Athene. For sketch map see Corinth. Erechtheum. Parthenon. Turkish Tower. Modern City. Temple of Theseus. South-western part of Modern City. Situation. — It was situated about 5 miles north-east of the Saronic Gulf, in the plain of Attica, the south-eastern portion of the Grecian peninsula, between the little rivers Cephissus and Ilissus. The port, Piraeus, is five miles off, and now connected with the city by a railroad. About the plain, on the northwest, the north-east, the south-east, and south-west, were four noted mounts. Within the city were four more noted hills — the Acropolis, Areopagus or Mars' Hill, the Pnyx, and the Museum. The Acropolis is about 150 feet high, with a flat top about 1100 feet long by 450 feet wide, having a steep ascent on all sides. West of the Acropolis is Mars' Hill, of irregular form, and on which public assemblies and the chief courts were held. Upon this hill Paul preached. Acts 17:19, Josh 11:22. Beneath it are the Caves of the Furies. History. — Athens was first settled by some chieftain, perhaps Cecrops, b.c. 1556, who is said to have been succeeded by sixteen legendary kings and twelve archons. Draco made laws for it, b.c. 624. Solon, its noted ''lawgiver," founded a democracy, b.c. 594. The city was taken by Xerxes, b.c. 480; but soon after his defeat it reached its highest prosperity, with a population of from 120,000 to 180,000. Under the brilliant rule of Pericles, b.c. 444 to 429, some of the greatest masters in philosophy, poetry, and oratory flourished, and noted buildings and temples, as that of Zeus, the Odeum, the Parthenon, the Propylaea, were projected or completed.…

ATH'ENS, the name of several places, but chiefly of the capital of Greece, the metropolis of ancient philosophy and art; named from the goddess Minerva or Athene. For sketch map see Corinth. Erechtheum. Parthenon. Turkish Tower. Modern City. Temple of Theseus. South-western part of Modern City. Athens. (After a sketch.) Situation. — It was situated about 5 miles north-east of the Saronic Gulf, in the plain of Attica, the south-eastern portion of the Grecian peninsula, between the little rivers Cephissus and Ilissus. The port, Piraeus, is five miles off, and now connected with the city by a railroad. About the plain, on the northwest, the north-east, the south-east, and south-west, were four noted mounts. Within the city were four more noted hills — the Acropolis, Areopagus or Mars' Hill, the Pnyx, and the Museum. The Acropolis is about 150 feet high, with a flat top about 1100 feet long by

450 feet wide, having a steep ascent on all sides. West of the Acropolis is Mars' Hill, of irregular form, and on which public assemblies and the chief courts were held. Upon this hill Paul preached. Acts 17:19, Josh 11:22. Beneath it are the Caves of the Furies. History. — Athens was first settled by some chieftain, perhaps Cecrops, b.c. 1556, who is said to have been succeeded by sixteen legendary kings and twelve archons. Draco made laws for it, b.c. 624. Solon, its noted ''lawgiver," founded a democracy, b.c. 594. The city was taken by Xerxes, b.c. 480; but soon after his defeat it reached its highest prosperity, with a population of from 120,000 to 180,000. Under the brilliant rule of Pericles, b.c. 444 to 429, some of the greatest masters in philosophy, poetry, and oratory flourished, and noted buildings and temples, as that of Zeus, the Odeum, the Parthenon, the Propylaea…