Attica

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Attica, Greece
)
Attica
Αττική
View from Kaisariani Hill looking towards Athens agglomeration, with Salamis visible in the background
View from Kaisariani Hill looking towards Athens agglomeration, with Salamis visible in the background
Map of municipalities (demoi) in ancient Attica
Map of municipalities (demoi) in ancient Attica
LocationCentral Greece
Major citiesAthens
DialectsAttic
Key periodsAthenian Empire (477–404 BC)
Second Athenian League (378–338 BC)

Attica (

Laurion, was an important mining region
.

The history of Attica is tightly linked with that of Athens. In ancient times, Attica corresponded with the Athens city-state. It was the most prominent region in Ancient Greece, specifically during the

Athens main town, and Piraeus (the port), coastal (paralia) along the coastline, and inland (mesogeia
) in the interior.

The modern

mainland.

Eponymous name

According to the Roman geographer Pausanias, the place was originally named Actaea, but was later renamed in the honour of Atthis, daughter of king Cranaus of Athens.[1]

Geography

View from Anavyssos, looking south-east towards Palaia Fokaia.
Lake Marathon

Attica is a triangular peninsula jutting into the Aegean Sea. It is naturally divided to the north from Boeotia by the 10 mi (16 km) long Cithaeron and Parnes mountain ranges.

To the west of

Cape Sounion
, forming the southeastern tip of the Attic peninsula.

Athens' water reservoir,

Kifisia, Melissia and Marousi
is home to the sole remaining natural forest in the Athenian plain.

The

Faliro
east of the port of Piraeus.

According to Plato, Attica's ancient boundaries were fixed by the Isthmus, and, toward the continent, they extended as far as the heights of Cithaeron and Parnes. The boundary line came down toward the sea, bounded by the district of Oropus on the right and by the river Asopus on the left.

Climate

Attica, for the most part, enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate (Csa). It has a distinct, long, dry period in the summer and a short, cool and wet period in the winter. The highest precipitation occurs during the winter months. Parts of the southern and western part of the peninsula have a hot semi-arid climate (BSh).

Climate data for Elliniko, 10 m asl (1955–1997)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.6
(56.5)
14.1
(57.4)
15.7
(60.3)
19.4
(66.9)
24.1
(75.4)
28.7
(83.7)
32.0
(89.6)
31.7
(89.1)
28.2
(82.8)
23.2
(73.8)
18.8
(65.8)
15.2
(59.4)
22.1
(71.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 7.0
(44.6)
7.1
(44.8)
8.4
(47.1)
11.4
(52.5)
15.8
(60.4)
20.1
(68.2)
22.8
(73.0)
22.8
(73.0)
19.6
(67.3)
15.6
(60.1)
12.0
(53.6)
8.8
(47.8)
14.3
(57.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 48.3
(1.90)
40.9
(1.61)
39.7
(1.56)
26.0
(1.02)
15.2
(0.60)
5.6
(0.22)
5.2
(0.20)
7.0
(0.28)
9.6
(0.38)
47.8
(1.88)
55.4
(2.18)
64.1
(2.52)
364.8
(14.35)
Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service[2]
Climate data for Elefsina, 30 m asl (1958–1997)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4)
13.6
(56.5)
15.8
(60.4)
20.1
(68.2)
25.7
(78.3)
30.6
(87.1)
32.9
(91.2)
32.7
(90.9)
28.9
(84.0)
23.2
(73.8)
18.5
(65.3)
14.7
(58.5)
22.5
(72.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 5.4
(41.7)
5.6
(42.1)
7.1
(44.8)
10.1
(50.2)
14.9
(58.8)
19.5
(67.1)
22.3
(72.1)
22.2
(72.0)
18.8
(65.8)
14.6
(58.3)
10.4
(50.7)
7.2
(45.0)
13.2
(55.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 48.4
(1.91)
40.1
(1.58)
39.3
(1.55)
26.7
(1.05)
19.5
(0.77)
8.4
(0.33)
5.5
(0.22)
5.4
(0.21)
11.3
(0.44)
41.6
(1.64)
58.8
(2.31)
67.9
(2.67)
372.9
(14.68)
Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service[3]
Climate data for National Observatory of Athens (Thissio), 107 m asl (1971–2000), (1961–1990) rain
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4)
13.7
(56.7)
16.1
(61.0)
20.5
(68.9)
25.8
(78.4)
30.6
(87.1)
33.1
(91.6)
32.8
(91.0)
29.2
(84.6)
23.5
(74.3)
18.1
(64.6)
14.4
(57.9)
22.6
(72.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
6.8
(44.2)
8.2
(46.8)
11.6
(52.9)
16.0
(60.8)
20.4
(68.7)
22.8
(73.0)
22.5
(72.5)
19.4
(66.9)
15.1
(59.2)
11.2
(52.2)
8.2
(46.8)
14.1
(57.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44.6
(1.76)
48.3
(1.90)
42.6
(1.68)
28.2
(1.11)
17.2
(0.68)
9.7
(0.38)
4.2
(0.17)
4.6
(0.18)
11.9
(0.47)
47.7
(1.88)
50.6
(1.99)
66.6
(2.62)
376.2
(14.82)
Source: National Observatory of Athens[4]
Climate data for Nea Filadelfeia, 136 m asl (1955–1997)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12.5
(54.5)
13.5
(56.3)
15.7
(60.3)
20.2
(68.4)
26.0
(78.8)
31.1
(88.0)
33.5
(92.3)
33.2
(91.8)
29.2
(84.6)
23.3
(73.9)
18.1
(64.6)
14.1
(57.4)
22.5
(72.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 5.2
(41.4)
5.4
(41.7)
6.7
(44.1)
9.6
(49.3)
13.9
(57.0)
18.2
(64.8)
20.8
(69.4)
20.7
(69.3)
17.3
(63.1)
13.4
(56.1)
9.8
(49.6)
6.8
(44.2)
12.3
(54.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 56.9
(2.24)
46.7
(1.84)
40.7
(1.60)
30.8
(1.21)
22.7
(0.89)
10.6
(0.42)
5.8
(0.23)
6.0
(0.24)
13.9
(0.55)
52.6
(2.07)
58.3
(2.30)
69.1
(2.72)
414.1
(16.31)
Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service[5]
Climate data for
Tatoi
, 235 m asl (1958–1997)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.7
(53.1)
12.5
(54.5)
14.7
(58.5)
19.3
(66.7)
24.9
(76.8)
29.9
(85.8)
32.1
(89.8)
31.8
(89.2)
28.0
(82.4)
22.5
(72.5)
17.4
(63.3)
13.2
(55.8)
21.5
(70.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)
3.5
(38.3)
4.9
(40.8)
7.7
(45.9)
11.9
(53.4)
16.2
(61.2)
19.2
(66.6)
19.3
(66.7)
15.6
(60.1)
11.8
(53.2)
7.9
(46.2)
4.9
(40.8)
10.5
(50.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 69.2
(2.72)
48.6
(1.91)
51.1
(2.01)
26.2
(1.03)
20.4
(0.80)
9.8
(0.39)
10.0
(0.39)
6.0
(0.24)
17.6
(0.69)
47.6
(1.87)
60.2
(2.37)
83.9
(3.30)
450.6
(17.72)
Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service[6]

European temperature record

According to the World Meteorological Organization, the areas of Elefsina and Tatoi held the official European record for highest temperature, 48.0 °C (118.4 °F) for 44 years. [7] [8]

History

Ancient history

Cape Sounion
, the southernmost point of Attica.
Delian League, under the leadership of Athens before the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC. Attica is shown in red.

During antiquity, the Athenians boasted about being '

Asia Minor and to create the twelve cities of Ionia.[according to whom?
]

Vravrona
A Chalkidian Amphora, ca. 550 BC, showing a satyr startling a maenad. Museo Nazionale Etrusco, Rome.

During the

prehistoric remains were found are Marathon, Rafina, Nea Makri, Brauron, Thorikos, Agios Kosmas, Elefsina, Menidi, Markopoulo, Spata, Aphidnae and Athens main city. All of these settlements flourished during the Mycenaean period.[10]

According to tradition, Attica comprised twelve small communities during the reign of

Thoricus, Brauron, Cytherus, Sphettus, Cephisia, and possibly Phaleron. These were said to have been later incorporated in an Athenian state during the reign of Theseus, the mythical king of Athens.[11] Modern historians consider it more likely that the communities were progressively incorporated into an Athenian state during the 8th and the 7th centuries BC.[12][unreliable source?
]

Until the 6th century BC,

Penteliko and the area east of the mountain of Hymettus on the plain of Mesogeia
. Principally, each civic unit would include equal parts of townspeople, seamen, and farmers. A "trittýs" ("third") of each sector constituted a tribe. Consequently, Attica comprised ten tribes.

During the Peloponnesian war, Attica was invaded and raided several times by the

Lacedaemonians
, while in the war's third phase the fortress of Decelea was captured and fortified by Lacedaemon.

Fortresses

View of Rhamnous

During the

Thoricus, Sounion, Anavyssos, Piraeus, and Elefsina.[10] Although these forts and walls had been constructed, Attica did not establish a fortification system until later, in the 4th century BC.[13] Attica's warfare is displayed by piles of rubble from fortresses from the Chremonidean war.[14]

Places of worship

Spata airview

Even though

Mycenaean
period, continued until the late years of antiquity.

Many other types of worship can be traced to the

Iphigeneia and Artemis were worshipped in Brauron, Artemis in Rafina, Athena on Sounion, Aphrodite on Iera Odos, and Apollo in Daphne.[10]

The festival of

Athmonon, in modern-day Marousi
, the Athmoneia games were also celebrated.

Medieval period

Eleusis
.

After the period of antiquity, Attica came under

Byzantine period Athens was an important middle size city. In 396 Attica was invaded by the Goths under the command of Alaric. Attica's population diminished in comparison to the neighboring area of Boeotia
.

The sites of historical interest date to the 11th and 12th centuries, when Attica was under the rule of the Franks. The great monastery of Dafni, that was built under Justinian I's rule, is an isolated case that does not signify a widespread development of Attica during the Byzantine period. On the other hand, the buildings built during the 11th and 12th centuries show a greater development that continued during the rule of the Franks, who did not impose strict rule.[citation needed]

From the 14th century onwards, the Arvanites came to Attica from what is today southern Albania. They were mostly invited as mercenaries by the local Greek lords.

During the Ottoman rule, Athens enjoyed some rights. However, that was not the case for the villages of Attica. Great areas were possessed by the Turks, who terrorized the population with the help of sipahis. The monasteries of Attica played a crucial role in preserving the Greek element of the villages.

In spite of its conquerors, Attica managed to maintain its traditions. This fact is proved by the preservation of ancient

Eleusis, and Marathon
. During the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s, the peasants of Attica were the first to revolt (April 1821), occupying Athens and seizing the Acropolis that was handed over to the Greek revolutionaries in June, 1822.[10]

Attica after 1829

Saronida
Aerial view of Rafina.
Lavrio

Attica belonged to the newly-founded Greek state from its founding. From 1834, Athens was made the new Greek capital (moved from Nafplio in Argolis), which caused the gradual repopulation of Attica by other people around Greece. The most dramatic surge came with Greek refugees from Anatolia following the Greek genocide and later the population exchanges between Greece and Turkey under the Treaty of Lausanne. Today, much of Attica is occupied by urban Athens, encompassing the entirety of the Athenian plain.[15] The modern Greek region of Attica includes classical Attica as well as the Saronic Islands, a small part of the Peloponnese around Troezen, and the Ionian Island of Kythira.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ Pausanias,Description of Greece,1.2.7.
  2. ^ "Climatological Information for Athens Hellinikon, Greece", HNMS climatological table, web: [1] Archived 2016-06-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ "Climatological Information for Elefsina, Greece", HNMS climatological table, web: [2] Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ "Monthly bulletins", N.O.A, web: [3] Archived 2007-03-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ "Climatological Information for Nea Filadelfia, Greece", HNMS climatological table, web: [4].
  6. ^ "Climatological Information for Tatoi, Greece", HNMS climatological table, web: [5].
  7. ^ WMO Region VI (Europe, Continent only): Highest Temperature. Arizona State UniversityWorld Meteorological Organization's World Weather & Climate Extremes Archive.
  8. ^ "WMO is monitoring potential new temperature records". public.wmo.int. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  9. ^ Pausanias VIII, 1
  10. ^ a b c d "History" (PDF). Prefecture of Attica. Democritus University of Thrace. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  11. ^ Strabo 9.1.20
  12. ^ Ancient History until 30 BC (Ιστορία των αρχαίων χρόνων ως το 30 πΧ), L. Tsaktsiras, M. Tiverios, schoolbook for A' Gymnasiou, 13th edition, Athens, 1994, p. 115
  13. ^ Osborne, Robin (December 2015). "Oxford Classical Dictionary". Attica. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  14. ISBN 9780199381135. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  15. National Statistical Service of Greece
    , powered by the Ministry of Finance of Greece. The municipality of Piraeus and its greater area belong to the Athens urban area or Greater Athens (Πολεοδομικό Συγκρότημα Αθηνών).

Mela, A.; Tousi, E.; Melas, E.; Varelidis, G. Spatial Distribution and Quality of Urban Public Spaces in the Attica Region (Greece) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Analysis. Urban Sci. 2024, 8, 2.https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8010002

External links