Athens

The principal city of Attica. The citadel of Athens was the Acropolis. The town Piraeus, south-west of Athens, was its main port. Athens was named after their patron goddess, Athena.

The first king of Athens was either the earth-born Cecrops or Cranaüs, Cecrops' successor.

It was the kingdom ruled by the great Athenian hero, Theseus. Later in his life, Theseus lost his throne to Menestheus because of his absence, when he was imprisoned in the Underworld, and the Dioscuri and the Spartan army invaded Attica.

For a more detailed history of the dynasties in Athens, read the House of Athens and the myth of Theseus. See also the House of Athens for the extensive family tree.

Historically, Athens was the leading city during the classical period; a centre of art, science and literature, as well as the city that first created democracy and the capital of a great naval empire (480-400 BC).