Ancient Athens reached its zenith in glory and continental influence in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. During this time, philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were exploring and expanding knowledge and reason, and famous Greek tragedians such as Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus were penning some of the greatest literary classics. During the Golden Age of ancient Athens, the city benefitted from the influence and rule of Pericles, who was born in 495 BC and died in 429 BC.

Athen is one of the oldest cities in the world, the recorded history of Athens dates back over 3,000 years.

Pericles was so profoundly influential on Athenian society that the historian Thucydides dubbed him “the first citizen of Athens”. Ancient Athens rose to greatness much as a result of Pericles’ promotion of literature and the arts, and he is responsible for initiating the construction of most of the structures found atop the Acropolis today.

 Suggested Athens itineraries no doubt start at the Acropolis for a glimpse of the Parthenon and surrounding structures. Ideally, visitors will also make a stop at the Acropolis Museum. Persian occupation of Athens in 480 BC lasted for only a brief time, and during their hold on Athens, much of the Acropolis and its treasures were destroyed.

 Many of the articles that help to chronicle the history of Athens were found centuries later, and they contribute to the bulk of the Acropolis Museum’s collection. The history of Athens can be quite a bit to wrap your head around and a visit to the Benaki Museum helps the visitor to Athens put the pieces together.