"The Athenians, on their return to Attica, after the defeat of the Persians, found their city ruined and their country desolate." — Smith, 1882

Modern Parthenon

"The Athenians, on their return to Attica, after the defeat of the Persians, found their city ruined…

"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious." Acts 17:22

Paul Preaching on Mars' Hill

"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things…

"So long as Pericles stood at the head of Athens in time of peace, he governed it with moderation and maintained it in safety, and under him it rose to its highest power. And when the war broke out he proved that he had well calculated the resources of the State." — The Delphian Society, 1913

Pericles

"So long as Pericles stood at the head of Athens in time of peace, he governed it with moderation and…

"The enormous influence which Pericles exercised for so long a period over an ingenious but fickle people like the Athenians is an unquestionalbe proof of his intellectual superiority. This hold on the public affection is to be attributed to a great extent to his extraordinary eloquence. As the accomplished man of genius and the liberal patron of literature and art, Pericles is worthy of the highest admiration." — Smith, 1882

Bust of Pericles

"The enormous influence which Pericles exercised for so long a period over an ingenious but fickle people…

The Greek Doric pilaster capital is found in the ancient Greek temple of Erechtheum in Athens. It has an egg-and-dart design that runs under the abacus. Directly beneath that is decorated with leaves and rosettes.

Greek Doric Pilaster Capital

The Greek Doric pilaster capital is found in the ancient Greek temple of Erechtheum in Athens. It has…

"Plato was born in Athens in 429 B.C., the year in which Pericles died. His first literary attempts were in poetry; but his attention was soon turned to philosophy, by the teaching of Socrates, whose lectures he began to frequent at about the age of twenty." — Smith, 1882

Bust of Plato

"Plato was born in Athens in 429 B.C., the year in which Pericles died. His first literary attempts…

"Shows the bema, or platform, from which orators addressed the assembled citizens."—Webster, 1913

Pnyx

"Shows the bema, or platform, from which orators addressed the assembled citizens."—Webster, 1913

"From the Frieze of the Parthenon." — Smith, 1882

Panathenaic procession

"From the Frieze of the Parthenon." — Smith, 1882

"A. Pinacotheca, B. Temple of Nike Apteros, C. Pedestal of Agrippa, D. Road leading to the central entrace, E. Central enterance, F. Hail corresponding to the Pinacotheca." — Smith, 1882

Propylea restored

"A. Pinacotheca, B. Temple of Nike Apteros, C. Pedestal of Agrippa, D. Road leading to the central entrace,…

This illustration of the painting by Raphael has been inverted. The painting is a cartoon created for a set of tapestries hanging in the Sistine Chapel. In the painting, Paul has been taken to the Areopagus, the high court of Athens, A basilica, buildings, and structures, and a statue of a soldier can be seen in the background. Several people are listening to the sermon. One man leans on a staff and others kneel on the steps.

Saint Paul Preaching at Athens - the Areopagus Sermon

This illustration of the painting by Raphael has been inverted. The painting is a cartoon created for…

An Athenian youth, studying

School

An Athenian youth, studying

"This celebrated philosopher was born inthe year 468 B.C., in the immediate neighborhood of Athens. His father, Sophroniscus, was a sculptor, and Socrates was brought up to, and for some time practiced the same profession. He was married to Xanthippe, by whom he had three sons, but her bad temper has rendered her name proverbial for a conjugal scold. His physical constitution was healthy, robust, and wonderfully enduring." — Smith, 1882

Bust of Socrates

"This celebrated philosopher was born inthe year 468 B.C., in the immediate neighborhood of Athens.…

"Sophocles, the younger rival and immediate successor of Aeschylus in the tragic art, was born at Colonus, a village about a mile from Athens, in b.C. 495. We have already adverted to his wrestling the tragic prize from Aeschylus in 468, from which time he seems to have retained the almost undisputed posession of the Athenian stage, until a young but formidable rival arose in the person of Euripides." — Smith, 1882

Sophocles

"Sophocles, the younger rival and immediate successor of Aeschylus in the tragic art, was born at Colonus,…

The Greek square panel is found in Athens. This panel is divided into eight equal spaces that are decorated with a repeated design.

Greek Square Panel

The Greek square panel is found in Athens. This panel is divided into eight equal spaces that are decorated…

The Greek square panel is found on the coffer of the Propylaea ceiling, the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. The design is of many rays of stars.

Greek Square Panel

The Greek square panel is found on the coffer of the Propylaea ceiling, the entrance to the Acropolis…

The Greek square panel is found on the coffer of the Propylaea ceiling, the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. This panel is divided into eight equal spaces that are decorated with a repeated design.

Greek Square Panel

The Greek square panel is found on the coffer of the Propylaea ceiling, the entrance to the Acropolis…

The Greek square panel is found on the coffer of the Propylaea ceiling, the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. This panel is divided into eight equal spaces that are decorated with a repeated design.

Greek Square Panel

The Greek square panel is found on the coffer of the Propylaea ceiling, the entrance to the Acropolis…

"Bronze statuette (stand of mirror) wearing Chiton. From Athens." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Statuette

"Bronze statuette (stand of mirror) wearing Chiton. From Athens." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

The Temple of Minerva in Athens.

Temple

The Temple of Minerva in Athens.

The Temple of Hephaestus and Athena Ergane, also known as the Hephaisteion or Theseion, is the best preserved ancient Greek temple. It is a Doric order peripteral temple, located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. From the 7th century until 1834, it served as the Greek Orthodox church of St. George Akamates.

Temple of Theseus

The Temple of Hephaestus and Athena Ergane, also known as the Hephaisteion or Theseion, is the best…

An illustration of the theater of Dionysus at Athens.

Theater of Dionysus

An illustration of the theater of Dionysus at Athens.

"The Theseum is situated on a height to the north of the Areopagus, and was built to receive the bones of Theseus, which Cimon brought from Seyros in B.C. 469. It was probably finished about 465, and is the best preserved of all the monuments of ancient Athens. It was at once a tomb and a temple, and possessed the privileges of an asylum. It is of the Doric order, 104 feet in length by 45 feet broad, and surrounded with columns." — Smith, 1882

Thesium restored

"The Theseum is situated on a height to the north of the Areopagus, and was built to receive the bones…

"The Temple of Theseus at Athens." —D'Anvers, 1895

Temple of Theseus

"The Temple of Theseus at Athens." —D'Anvers, 1895

"Thucydides, the greatest of the Greek historians, was an Athenian, and was born in the year 471 B.C. His family was connected with that of Miltiades and Cimon. He possessed gold mines in Thrace, and enjoyed great influence in that country." — Smith, 1882

Bust of Thucydides

"Thucydides, the greatest of the Greek historians, was an Athenian, and was born in the year 471 B.C.…

Illustration of a painting of the ancient Greeks returning victorious from the Battle of Salamis against the Persians. Athenian women run out to meet the soldiers as they emerge from their ships. Ships' masts can be seen to the right. One soldier rears up on horseback.

The Victors of Salamis by Fernand Cormon

Illustration of a painting of the ancient Greeks returning victorious from the Battle of Salamis against…

"After the fall of Athens Sparta stood without a rival in Greece." — Smith, 1882

Greek warriot

"After the fall of Athens Sparta stood without a rival in Greece." — Smith, 1882

"Athens is said to have derrived its name from the prominence given to its worship of Athena by its king erechtheus. The inhabitants were previously called Crannai and Cecropidae, from Cecrops, who, according to tradition, was the original founder of the city. This at first occupied the hill or rock which afterwards became the <em>Acropolis</em>, but gradually the buildings began to spread over the ground at the southern foot of this hill. It was not till the time of Pisitratus and his sons (B.C. 560-514) that the city began to assume any degree of splendour. The most remarkable of these building deposits was the gigantic temple of the Olympian Zeus, which, however, was not finished till many centuries later."&mdash; Smith, 1882

Temple of the Olympian Zeus

"Athens is said to have derrived its name from the prominence given to its worship of Athena by its…