ATHENS (city in Attica)
City-state in ancient Greece
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Attica
- Patron
- Athena
- Landmarks
- Sanctuary of Erechtheus Iliad 2 ¶39; Temple of Athena Aeschylus, Eumenides 213-253; Acropolis Apollodorus 3.14.6; Statues of the Graces Pausanias 9.35.3; Wooden Image of Athena Apollodorus 3.14.6
- People of myth here
- Aegeus, Asclepius, Cecrops I, Ceisus, Cephalus, Creusa of Athens, Daedalus, Deucalion, Erechtheus, Erichthonius, Hyacinth, Leos, Medea, Medon, Melanthus, Menestheus, Orithyia, Representative Pallantid, Temenus, Theseus, Thespius, Xuthus, Dionysus
- Where
- 37.97° N, 23.72° E
The city is named after the goddess Pallas. Euripides, Ion 1-40 Theseus instituted a Panathenaic festival for the city. Plutarch, Theseus 24.3 The rites and mysteries of Achaean Demeter are performed in this location. Herodotus 5.61.2
Described in the sources
Athens is described as a famous, lovely, mighty, beauteous, and glorious city that is the home of freedom and has a noble line of ancestry. Euripides, Heracleidae 181-231 +4 Phalerum, the port of Athens, is located about twenty stades from the city, where the sea comes nearest to Athens. Herodotus 8.66.1 +3 Athens is a city-state in Attica within Hellas, near the rock Macrae. Aeschylus, Persians 800-842 +2 The hill of Ares in Athens, considered sacred and secure by the gods, served as the site for Orestes' trial. Apollodorus, Epitome 6.25 +2 Athens is described as a glorious and fortunate city, known as the city of Athena and protected by the goddess Pallas. Aeschylus, Persians 331-352 +2 Theseus traveled on foot to Athens after leaving his father's home, a route that was dangerous due to robbers and miscreants. Apollodorus 3.16.1 +2 Oedipus states that an oracle predicts he will die in this city after wandering, and the specific location where he rests is within the territory of this city, where he also seeks protection from the locals. Euripides, The Phoenician Maidens 1672-1709 +2 Harpalus built a tomb for Pythonice in the city. Athenaeus 13.67 +1 The city is home to a statue of the Olympian Zeus. Athenaeus 5.21 +1 Erechtheus held the position of king in this city-state. Herodotus 7.189.1 +1
Gods and worship
The Pythian god honors the place with flashing fire. Euripides, Ion 275-307 Cychreus the Salaminian receives divine honors in the city. Plutarch, Theseus 10.2 The people of Athens were considered a very powerful group. Herodotus 5.97.2 Inhabitants invoked warlike Minerva, Jupiter, and other gods. Ovid Met. 8.260-546 They instituted libations in honor of Demetrius's flatterers. Athenaeus 6.62 This city-state was described as being the masters of the sea. Athenaeus 9.72
Stories and history
The city was forced to send seven young men and seven young women every nine years to be devoured by the Minotaur. Apollodorus 3.15.8 +3 The citizens of the city marched out to Marathon, where they defeated the barbarian forces and the foreigners who had landed there. Aeschylus, Persians 472-479 +2 Pisistratus held sovereign power over the city. Herodotus 1.60.1 +1 Medea fled from this city after her plot was detected. Diodorus 4.55 +1 Cimon transported the bones of Theseus to Athens after ravaging Scyros. Pausanias 1.17.6 +1 The Persians viewed Athens as an enemy worthy of their military designs. Aeschylus, Persians 286-289 +1 Cleomenes assisted in liberating the city from the rule of the Peisistratidae. Pausanias 3.4.2 +1 Alexander was sent as a messenger to the city by Mardonius to deliver a message. Herodotus 8.136.1 +1 Mardonius and his Persian-allied Greek forces attacked the city with great zeal. Herodotus 9.1.1 +1 Soldiers from this city-state fought against the Medes at the Battle of Marathon. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 35.34 ¶2 +1
Myths set at Athens
- Departure for Athens. hook: Orestes instructs Electra to stay hidden while he arranges her marriage to Pylades. goal: Electra departs with Orestes and Pylades to escape to Athens. outcome: The Dioskouroi advise Orestes to head to Athens and declare the marriage between Electra and Orestes inappropriate. Aeschylus, Libation Bearers 540-584 +5 Electra
- Hiding the Tokens for Theseus. Aegeus hides his boots and sword under a rock before sailing to Athens. He leaves these items for his son to claim later. Apollodorus 3.15.7 +5 Aegeus
- Medea's Arrival and Promise of Protection. Medea arrives in Athens seeking refuge, and Aegeus promises to protect her from her enemies. In return, Medea vows to use her magic to cure his infertility. Apollodorus 1.9.28 +5 Aegeus
- Oedipus's Arrival in Attica and Meeting with Theseus. hook: Oedipus and his daughter Antigone arrive in the region of Athens during his exile. goal: Oedipus seeks a place to rest and asks for hospitality from the local ruler. outcome: Theseus grants Oedipus citizenship and protection, reuniting him with his other daughter Ismene. Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 1-32 +5 Oedipus
- The Battle of Thebes and the Burial of the Dead. Creon, king of Thebes, refuses to allow the burial of the fallen dead and sends a threatening herald to Athens. Theseus leads a force to Thebes to compel the release of the bodies, leading to a battle where Creon fights personally. Euripides, The Suppliants 334-364 +5 Creon
- The Battle of the Amazons. The Amazons attack Athens to reclaim Antiope, whom Theseus abducted during his voyage. Theseus leads the Athenians to defeat the invaders in battle, killing their leaders and driving the rest out of Attica. Aeschylus, Eumenides 674-710 +5 Theseus
- The Capture of Athens and the Abduction of Helen. The Dioscuri demanded the return of their sister Helen, who had been abducted by Theseus to establish a familial connection. They marched against Athens and Aphidna, captured the cities, and took Helen and Aethra into captivity before escorting Helen to Lacedaemon. Apollodorus 3.10.7 +5
- The Contest for Attica. Athena and Poseidon dispute control of the land during a specific king's reign, with Zeus commanding them to hold it in common. Athena plants an olive tree on the acropolis, and the twelve gods adjudge the country to her based on Cecrops' testimony, leading her to name the city Athens. Apollodorus 3.14.1 +5 Athena
- The Demand for Burial Rights. hook: "Theseus plans to gather a group of young Athenians to rescue the dead bodies of Argive warriors from Thebes." goal: "He intends to secure the right to bury the fallen by persuading or forcing the Theban king Creon to release the corpses." outcome: "Theseus insists on burying the warriors despite Creon's opposition, asserting Athens' independence and the universal law of burial."} Euripides, The Suppliants 334-364 +5 Theseus
- The Exile and Restoration of Menestheus. hook: Menestheus, having been exiled, is brought back to Athens by the Dioscuri. goal: He seeks to secure his sovereignty and prevent Theseus from becoming a strong opponent. outcome: Menestheus incites the people against Theseus, welcomes the Tyndaridae, and consolidates his rule. Apollodorus, Epitome 1.23 +5 Menestheus
- The Exile and Return of the Heracleidae. The sons of Heracles, exiled by Eurystheus and driven from various cities, seek refuge in Athens where they are initially treated as beggars but eventually protected. They launch a campaign to reclaim their ancestral lands, defeating Eurystheus in battle and ultimately becoming masters of Mycenae and Argos. Diodorus 4.57 +5 Heracles
- The Flight from Corinth. Medea is expelled from Corinth by King Creon and, after a confrontation with Jason, kills her sons and burns the palace before fleeing to Athens. She seeks asylum from King Aegeus, promising to cure his childlessness in exchange for protection. Diodorus 4.54 +5 Medea
28 more
- The Madness of Heracles. Zeus drives Heracles into a madness that leads him to kill his family, causing his father Amphitryon to hide in fear and grief. After Heracles regains his senses, Amphitryon reveals the truth, and the hero departs to serve Eurystheus. Euripides, Heracles 1-59 +5 Amphitryon
- The Plot Against Theseus. Medea, seeking revenge, conspired with King Aegeus to kill his son Theseus. She provided wolfsbane to Aegeus, who then attempted to poison Theseus during a guest visit, but Medea fled Athens after the plot was exposed. Apollodorus 1.9.28 +5 Medea
- The Pursuit by the Furies. Orestes is driven mad and hunted by the Furies for avenging his father, forcing him to flee his home. He is advised to seek refuge in Athens to escape the relentless pursuit. Aeneid 4.450 +5 Orestes
- The Rescue of Heracles' Children. Hercules, exiled and seeking refuge, arrives at the home of his close friend Ceyx. Ceyx shelters Hercules and his sons but sends the children to Athens for safety, claiming he cannot protect them himself. Apollodorus 2.7.6 +5 Ceyx
- The Return to Athens and the Death of Aegeus. hook: Theseus sails to Crete to end the tribute of youths and slay the Minotaur. goal: He aims to return safely to Athens with the rescued captives. outcome: He returns to Athens but forgets to signal his safety, leading to his father's death. Diodorus 4.61 +5 Theseus
- The Revelation of the Truth and Theseus's Grief. Theseus kills his son based on a false accusation, only to learn that the gods manipulated his mind to commit the act. He is left in profound grief, acknowledging his divine deception and the loss of a hero to Athens. Euripides, Hippolytus 1243-1267 +5 Theseus
- The Supplication of the Heracleidae in Athens. hook: Iolaus and the children of Heracles, fleeing from Argos to escape Eurystheus, arrive in Athens as exiles. goal: Iolaus seeks protection for the children by supplicating at the altars and pleading with the Athenian leader, Demophon. outcome: Demophon agrees to protect the children, forbidding their removal, and Iolaus instructs the children to honor their new allies. Euripides, Heracleidae 1-47 +5
- The Thread and the Labyrinth. Ariadne falls in love with Theseus during his voyage to Crete and offers to help him if he takes her to Athens as his wife. She establishes a truce between the Athenians and Cretans and gives Theseus a thread to navigate the Labyrinth. Apollodorus, Epitome 1.8 +5 Ariadne
- The Trial of Orestes. Apollo directs Orestes to kill his mother and then defends him in a trial against the Furies. Orestes is acquitted, and Apollo vanishes after the verdict. Aeschylus, Eumenides 178-212 +5 Apollo
- The War with Chalcis. Xuthus, having won Creusa as a prize for his military prowess, joins the sons of Cecrops in a war against the people of Chalcis. He helps end the conflict, securing his position in Athens. Apollodorus 1.7.3 +5 Xuthus
- The Death of Codrus. The Peloponnesians invaded Attica, targeting the kingdom of Codrus. Codrus died during the expedition, causing the invaders to withdraw from the region. Pausanias 1.19.5 +4
- The Exile of Hippolytus. Hippolytus is condemned to exile by his father and must leave Athens and Troezen. He bids farewell to the city and Aphrodite, fleeing into the forest with his companions. Euripides, Hippolytus 1060-1101 +4 Hippolytus
- The Imprisonment of the Minotaur. Minos imprisoned the Minotaur in the Labyrinth to hide his family's disgrace. He then demanded seven maidens and seven boys from Athens to be sacrificed to the creature. Apollodorus 3.1.4 +4 Minos
- The Poisoned Cup and Expulsion of Medea. Medea plots to poison Theseus to protect her position in Athens. Theseus survives the attempt and expels Medea from the city. Apollodorus 1.9.28 +4 Theseus
- The Birth and Hiding of Erichthonius. Athena hides a baby born from Hephaestus's seed in a chest and entrusts it to the daughters of Agraulus. The baby, Erichthonius, is raised in secret by Athena to become immortal. Apollodorus 3.14.6 +3 Erichthonius
- The Descent to Mount Ida. Athena descends from Olympus to Mount Ida to aid Odysseus and the Argives against the Trojans. Her arrival causes terror and she is nearly drawn into a fight with Ares before Zeus stops them. Quintus 14 ¶37 +3 Athena
- The Journey to Delphi. Xuthus travels to Delphi for Dionysian rites and stays at a public lodging. He urges his son Ion to leave the temple and come to Athens, offering him a sceptre and promising wealth. Euripides, Ion 1106-1131 +3 Xuthus
- The Quest for Ion's Mother. hook: Ion is dismissed from Apollo's land after learning his father is Xuthus, but he has no clues about his birth. goal: He must search across Asia and Europe to find his mother and determine if she was a Delphian maid or a daughter of Hellas. outcome: The priestess entrusts him with relics and advises him to go to Athens with clean hands and good omens. Euripides, Ion 1320-1368 +3
- Erichthonius Becomes King of Athens. Erichthonius seizes the throne of Athens by expelling Amphictyon. He rules until his death, after which Pandion succeeds him. Apollodorus 3.14.6 +2 Erichthonius
- The Exile to Athens. Apollo sends Orestes to Athens to await his trial and commands him to follow the oracle's instructions. He instructs Orestes to flee to the city of Pallas, embrace its ancient image, and promises greatness to the city in return. Aeschylus, Eumenides 213-253 +2 Apollo
- The Founding of Athens. hook: "Theseus is associated with Cecropian succour, implying a connection to Athens." goal: "Theseus is reported to have merged the populations of twelve separate cities into a single urban center." outcome: "" set_piece: "" people: [{ Statius, Thebaid 12.136-163 ¶2 +2 Theseus
- The Journey of Orestes to Athens. Athena commands the winds to carry Orestes to Athens by sea. She causes northern breezes to blow on the ship's sail. Athena has honored the victory of Pytheas with her helpful care. Bacchylides 13 part 2 +2 Athena
- The Recognition of Theseus. Aegeus identifies his son Theseus in Athens using hidden tokens. He formally acknowledges him before the citizens after questioning him. Diodorus 4.59 +2 Aegeus
- The Release of Aethra. Helen, holding Aethra as a slave, is approached by Agamemnon who requests Aethra's release. Helen consents to Agamemnon's request, granting the favor of releasing Aethra to Demophon. Pausanias 10.25.8 +2
- The Rescue by Theseus. Daedalus arrives in Athens after fleeing Crete, where he is protected by Theseus from Deucalion's demands. Theseus later uses Daedalus as a guide for his fleet during a voyage. Plutarch, Theseus 19.4 +2 Daedalus
- The Rescue of Orestes. Apollo commands Hermes to guide Orestes, who entreats the god for help. Hermes escorts Orestes to the temple of Athena in Athens. Aeschylus, Eumenides 213-253 +2 Hermes
- The Trial of Ares. Zeus establishes a holy tribunal in Athens to judge Ares. Zeus also hurled down an image of a goddess that Orestes must retrieve. Euripides, Iphigenia Among the Tauri 939-986 +2 Zeus
- The War with the Sons of Pallas. The sons of Pallas went to war against Aegeus, leading to a hostile conflict. Aegeus pursued Peteus out of Athens while Lycus fled from him. Pausanias 1.19.3 +2 Aegeus
And 12 more in the codex.