city planning in AthensBy Akansha Mittal and Pounomi Kar

Athens Capital of Greece. One of the first city-states of the ancient

world. Was a walled city. Presided over the region of Attica. Largest navy at port city Pireus.

Athens in the World (5th cent. BC)

Image Source: Powell, A and Sheehan, S 2003, Ancient Greece, Facts on File, New York

Athens , Spartan and Persian Empire

Exterior Influences in Planning The Political Scenario

Ionic Revoltbeginning of

Greco-Persian Wars

Battle Of

Marathon

Greco-Persian Wars

continue,

Athens won.

Persians made

numerous

attempts to

conquer Athens

Battle Of Salamis

and Plataea

Persia fails to conquer Peloponne

se(destructiv

e to Athens)

Formation of

Delian Leagueagainst Persians

First Peloponnesian

Warconflict

between Athens

and Sparta

Peace of

Pericles

Peloponnesian Wars

499-494 BC

490 BC

490-480 BC

480-479 BC

477 BC

459-445 BC

445 BC

431-404 BC

Planning Principles Greek Mythology and History Life and Forces of a Structure Democracy or People Power Adhering to Terrain

“I cannot imagine the Greeks allowing themselves to be town-planned.” -Owens, 1991

Kolonos: Previously occupied by the Temple of Theseus—credited with unification of Attica.Areopagus: Ares was tried here by Gods for murder of Posiedon’s son. Later used as a criminal court.Pnyx: Assembly of ecclesia (the people) after Solon’s and Cleisthene’s policies.Acropolis: Shrine for Athena, patron Goddess of Athens.Agora: Originated as an open space for civic activities.

Image Source: Owens, S 1991, The city in the Greek and Roman world, Routledge, London.

Important landmarks in Athens

Myth and History

Streets

Narrow and winding roads, on steeper ground reduced to stairs.Inconstant road width.‘Athens was a city of contrasts. The fine temples and public buildings of the Classical and Hellenistic periods were fitted into an Urban plan which had developed over several centuries and was continuing to do so.’ (Owens, 1991)Important road: The Panathenaic Way

Image Source: Powell, A and Sheehan, S 2003, Ancient Greece, Facts on File, New York

South-west Athens

Panathenaic Way-A major road which is going across the city of Athens, diagonally dividing the agora or the market place.

Named after the procession which took place during the festival of the Panathenaia. (Athena’s birthday).

Linked all the sacred and major public spaces across the city together.

WEST CITY GATE

(DIPYLON GATE/

SACRED GATE)

Continues DIAGONALLY ACROSS

THE AGORA

PROPYLAEAMoves

further up to the

ACROPOLIS

The STAUE OF ATHENA

Sacrifices made and offerings

presented.

Image Source: Powell, A and Sheehan, S 2003, Ancient Greece, Facts on File,

New York

Panathenaic Way

Agora in Archaic Period (500 BC)

Functions of an agora: Market-place, a place of assembly, and a seating for ceremonies and assemblies. (Ward-Perkins, JB 1974)

To the south was the old bouleuterion (or the Council House) and to the north were three small temples.

Image Source: Travlos, J 1980, Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens, Hacker Art Books.

Agora 500 BC

bouleuterion

PANATHENAIC WAY

Agora in Classical Period (420 BC)

The Temple of Hephaestos was built. It sets into motion a shaft of space. It makes its influence felt as an ordering element. (Bacon, 1976)

The Kolonos and the Acropolis connect with each despite the distance because of the architectural rhythm of the colonades.

The South Stoa begins to define the enclosure of the Agora. The Ecclesia now needs meeting space.

Image Source: Travlos, J 1980, Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens, Hacker Art Books.

Agora 420 BC

bouleuterion

Hephaestos

South Stoa

Stoa of Zeus

PANATHENAIC WAY

Agora in Hellenistic Period (200 BC)

Full Maturity of Agora

Additions: Metroon replaced old Bouleutrion , Temple of Apollo Patroos, South middle Stoa and Stoa of Attalos (east stoa).

The South Stoa was rebuilt at a different angle.

Everything developed respecting the shaft of space.

Image Source: Travlos, J 1980, Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens, Hacker Art Books.

Agora 200 BC

Metroon

Hephaestos

South Middle Stoa

Stoa of Zeus

Apollo Patroos

Stoa of Attalos

PANATHENAIC WAY

Agora in 2nd cent. AD

‘The clear open quality of the uncluttered space of earlier periods is gone, and in its place confusion has set in.’ (Bacon, 1976)

Additions: Temple of Ares, many fountains and statues were added. Clumsy Roman gift of the Odeion of Agrippa.

The Odeion overpowers the shaft of space and wobbles the balance of elements.

Image Source: Travlos, J 1980, Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens, Hacker Art Books.

Agora 2 AD

Metroon

Hephaestos

South Middle Stoa

Stoa of ZeusApoll

o Patroos

Stoa of Attalos

Temple of Ares

Odeion

PANATHENAIC WAY

Architectural Rhythm

Image Source: http://documents-macedon.blogspot.inAcropolis

Acropolis

Image Source: www.athenshistory.orgPlanning of Acropolis

Shift from Acropolis to Agora

Agora took the place which was previously of the Acropolis or of the King.

The artisan and residential colonies began to move westwards and northwards, towards the open country side.

Towards 6th century, public buildings began to take shape along the foot hills of Kolonos.

East of the Panathenaic Way, a large public fountain was built.

Adhering to Terrain

Image Source: www.athenshistory.orgAcropolis, Agora, Areopagus and Pynx

17

After the Wars

Image Source: http://documents-macedon.blogspot.inPireus and Athens

Unlike Athens, other cities were being planned after the Wars.

Athens being afraid of another Spartan Attack, did not plan and build.

Became protective, built walls around the city.

Roman Intervention

Image Source: Powell, A and Sheehan, S 2003, Ancient Greece, Facts on File, New York

Athens

Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple's foundation was laid by Pisistratus in 515 BC.During the years of Greek Democracy, the work was left unfinished due to Financial and Political issues.After many attempts to complete it, it was finally completed by Hadrian (Roman) in 2nd century AD.

Image Source: http://www.talesbeyondbelief.com/greek-gods-mythology/temple-of-

zeus.htm

Temple of Olympian Zeus (2nd cent. AD)

Bibliography

Edmund N. Bacon, 1976. ‘The Growth of Greek Cities’ in Design of Cities: Revised Edition (Penguin Books). Revised Edition. Penguin Books.

Murray , O and Price, S 1990, The Greek City: From Homer to Alexander, Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Nuttgens, P 1997. ‘Landscape of Gods’ in The Story of Architecture, 2nd edn, Phaidon Press.

Owens, E 1991, The city in the Greek and Roman world, Routledge, London.

Powell, A and Sheehan, S 2003, Ancient Greece, Facts On File, New York. Rosenau, Helen, 1959. ‘Ancient Tradition’ in The Ideal City. 1st ed. Great

Britain: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd. Travlos, J 1980, Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens, Hacker Art Books. Ward-Perkins, JB 1974, Cities of ancient Greece and Italy, G. Braziller, New

York.