Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Romans defeated the Macedonians and in 186 BC attacked Athens after it sided
against them in a botched rebellion in Asia Minor. They destroyed the city walls and took
precious sculptures to Rome. During three centuries of peace under Roman rule known
as the 'Pax Romana', Athens continued to be a major seat of learning and the Romans
adopted Hellenistic culture. Many wealthy young Romans attended Athens' schools and
anybody who was anybody in Rome at the time spoke Greek. The Roman emperors, par-
ticularly Hadrian, graced Athens with many grand buildings. Christianity became the of-
ficial religion of Athens and worship of the 'pagan' Greek gods was outlawed.
After the subdivision of the Roman Empire into east and west, Athens remained an
important cultural and intellectual centre until Emperor Justinian closed its schools of
philosophy in AD 529. The city declined, and between 1200 and 1450, Athens was con-
tinually invaded: by the Franks, Catalans, Florentines and Venetians, all preoccupied
with grabbing principalities from the crumbling Byzantine Empire.
Ottoman Rule & Independence
Athens was captured by the Turks in 1456, and nearly 400 years of Ottoman rule fol-
lowed. The Acropolis became the home of the Turkish governor, the Parthenon was con-
verted into a mosque and the Erechtheion became a harem.
On 25 March 1821 the Greeks launched the War of Independence (declaring independ-
ence in 1822). Fierce fighting broke out in the streets of Athens, which changed hands
several times. Britain, France and Russia eventually stepped in and destroyed the
Turkish-Egyptian fleet in the famous Battle of Navarino in October 1827.
Initially the city of Nafplio was named Greece's capital. After elected president Ioan-
nis Kapodistrias was assassinated in 1831, Britain, France and Russia again intervened,
declaring Greece a monarchy. The throne was given to 17-year-old Prince Otto of Bav-
aria, who transferred his court to Athens. It became the Greek capital in 1834 and was
little more than a sleepy town of about 6000, with many residents having fled after the
1827 siege. Bavarian architects created imposing neoclassical buildings, tree-lined
boulevards and squares. The best surviving examples are on Leoforos Vasilissis Sofias
and Panepistimiou.
Otto was overthrown in 1862 after a period of power struggles, including British and
French occupation of Piraeus aimed at quashing the 'Great Idea', Greece's doomed ex-
pansionist goal. The imposed sovereign was Danish Prince William, crowned Prince Ge-
orge in 1863.
The 20th Century
