The origin of the name of Athens, the capital of Greece
The legendary confrontation between the goddess Athena and the god Poseidon
Ancient Athens, a fortified city, emerged as a formidable city-state alongside its harbor, initially known as Faliro and subsequently Piraeus. Renowned as a hub of arts and philosophy, it housed the illustrious Academy of Plato and Aristotle's Lyceum. Athens is often celebrated as the birthplace of Western civilization, primarily due to its significant cultural and political contributions during the 5th and 4th centuries BC.
The city was originally named Aktaio or Akti, after its first monarch, Aktaios. Its subsequent designation, Kekropia, was derived from King Kekropas. The history of Athens, once a dominant city-state of the ancient world, spans thousands of years and is truly captivating. Those who possess even a modest understanding of this extensive history cannot help but feel a sense of wonder and reverence while traversing the city's streets. Wandering through the alleys beneath the Parthenon's shadow offers a unique opportunity to journey through time and trace the paths of illustrious ancestors. But what led to this renowned city being called Athens?
The response appears to be rooted in an ancient myth that nearly faded into obscurity, which narrates the conflict between two powerful deities of Olympus vying for control over the city. In accordance with Greek mythology, the current capital of Greece derives its name from the goddess Athena, who triumphed in her contest against the sea god Poseidon.
During that period, the deities sought to establish cities under their guardianship, aiming for the populace to revere them through the construction of temples and the presentation of sacrifices and offerings. Consequently, they commenced the division of cities among themselves; however, conflicts arose when two gods vied for the same city. Such was the situation with Athens, as both Poseidon and Athena contended for its patronage.
According to Greek mythology, the two opposing deities ascended to the Acropolis Hill, joined by the other ten Olympian gods, who were to serve as adjudicators in their conflict and render the ultimate verdict. The reigning monarch of the city at that time, Cecrops, was also in attendance as an observer. Poseidon was the first to present his argument. He positioned himself at the center of the rock and struck the earth with his trident, resulting in a surge of salty water that formed a small lake. Following this, Athena had her opportunity to showcase her offering. She planted an olive tree upon the rock, which was abundant with fruit. At that moment, Zeus announced the conclusion of the contest and directed the other gods to evaluate the two gifts and determine who would be granted the city. King Cecrops surveyed the area from the Acropolis and observed the ample supply of salty water from the nearby seas. In contrast to Poseidon's gift, Athena's olive tree was the first to flourish in the region. This tree would prove to be immensely beneficial, supplying food, oil, and timber for the inhabitants.
It was determined that the gift from Athena was of greater utility, leading to her being designated as the patron of the city. Consequently, the city was renamed in honor of the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Poseidon, however, was displeased with this outcome and placed a curse on the city, ensuring it would suffer from perpetual water shortages. Thus began the enduring issue of water scarcity that has affected the city since that time.
According to the legend, Athena's olive tree was the first of its kind in existence, and all subsequent olive trees are said to have descended from it. Additionally, this tree is credited with producing the twelve olives associated with Plato's Academy, which correspond to its twelve gates. These olives were believed to be clones of Athena's Sacred Olive. From this lineage, the renowned Olive Grove of Athens was established, which subsequently lent its name to the region known as Elaionas.
About the Creator
Vasilis Alexiadis
I'm a Greek IT teacher, and I'm really into technology and computers. When I have some free time, I enjoy reading books and writing articles about things that matter to people today, like nutrition, tech, sports, and world history.
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