Editing Athens

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{{Location_Infobox
|name = Athens
|image = ACOdyssey Promotional Screenshot 08.jpg
|state = [[Greece]]
|rulers = [[Roman Republic]] and [[Roman Empire|Empire]] {{c|146 BCE–396 CE}}<br>[[Byzantine Empire]] {{c|3rd century–1204}}<br>[[Holy Roman Empire]] {{c|1204–1458}}<br>[[Ottoman Empire]] {{C|1458–1833}}<br>[[Greece|Kingdom of Greece]] {{C|1832–1973}}<br>[[Greece|Hellenic Republic]] {{c|1973–present}}
|factions = [[Peloponnesian League]]<br>[[Delian League]]<br>[[Cult of Kosmos]]<br>[[Periklean Circle]]<br>[[Assassins]]
*[[Greek Brotherhood of Assassins|Greek Brotherhood]]<br>[[Templars]]
*[[Greek Rite of the Templar Order|Greek Rite]]
|founded = [[Kekrops]]
|date = c. 1556 BCE
|landmark = [[Parthenon]]<br>[[Agora of Athens|Agora]]<br>[[Odeon of Perikles]]<br>[[Theater of Dionysos]]
|targets = [[Nyx the Shadow]]<br>[[Hermippos]]<br>[[Rhexenor]]}}
'''Athens''' is the capital and largest city of [[Greece]]. Situated at the heart of the [[Attika|Attika peninsula]], it is the birthplace of [[democracy]], and in the 5th century BCE, was the preeminent city-state in the region, wielding hegemony over the Hellenic civilization.

After a period of cultural flourishing during which the origin of much of {{wiki|Western culture|Western}} intellectual thought was established, Athens was engulfed in the [[Peloponnesian War]] against its militaristic rival, [[Sparta]]. Centuries later with the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Athens came under the control of the [[Ottoman Empire]] where [[Assassins|Assassin]] influence was firmly established.

==History==
===Foundation===
Athens has been inhabited as early as the {{Wiki|Neolithic}} period, and by 1412 BCE, the settlement had become an important center of the {{Wiki|Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean}} civilization and the [[Akropolis Sanctuary|Akropolis]] was the site of a major [[Mycenae]]an fortress. From the 7th century, more stone buildings were being made, though many of these structures were not built to last. The city's foundation myth tells of the gods Poseidon and Athena fighting for patronage of the city, eventually Athena won and the city was named after her.<ref name="Akropolis Origins">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece#The Akropolis of Athens|The Akropolis of Athens: "Akropolis Origins"]]</ref>

===Classical Athens===
====Greco-Persian Wars====
In the 5th century BCE, Athens was a city-state which rose to prominence under a highly distinct and intricate political system known as democracy. In an alliance with other ''poleis'', most notably [[Sparta]], Athens defended Greece from the [[Persia]]n [[Greco-Persian Wars|invasions]] in the first half of the century following which it emerged as the leader of the [[Delian League]].<ref name="The Greek Reaction" />

In 490 BCE, the Athenians, led by the soldier-statesman [[Miltiades]], defeated the first invasion of the Persians under [[Darius I of Persia|Darius I]] at the [[Battle of Marathon]].<ref name="The Greek Reaction">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece#Battle of Marathon|Battle of Marathon: "The Greek Reaction"]]</ref> In 480 BCE, the Persians returned under Darius's son [[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes]]. When a small Greek force holding the pass of [[Hot Gates of Thermopylai|Thermopylae]] was defeated, the Persians proceeded to capture an evacuated Athens. The city of Athens got captured and sacked twice by the Persians within one year after [[Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae]].<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece#Thermopylai|Thermopylai: "The Greek Army's Retreat"]]</ref> During which, many of the archaic structures of the Akropolis were burnt down by the invading Persian armies. Most notably, was the [[Temple of Athena Polias]].<ref name="Akropolis Origins" /> In 479 BCE, the Athenians and Spartans, with their allies, defeated the Persian army at the [[Battle of Plataia]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Historical Locations#Boeotia|Boeotia: Battleground of Plataia]]</ref>

From this position, Athens began to assert its hegemony over the other Greek city-states, often aggressively. Popularly known as the Golden Age of Athens, this period of Athenian ascendancy witnessed an explosion of cultural and intellectual developments, with philosophers such as [[Sokrates]] and his pupil [[Plato]] leaving a lasting legacy on the future [[Europe]]an academic tradition. Major milestones regarded as the origins of European fields include the works of [[Herodotus]] and [[Hippokrates]], called the "Fathers of History and Medicine" by Western scholars respectively.<ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref>

Under the leadership of the general [[Perikles]], the Golden Age entered its final stage, with his partner [[Aspasia]], a high society ''[[courtesan|hetaera]]'', hosting numerous social events for contemporary artists, philosophers, and politicians.<ref name="ACOd" />

====Peloponnesian War====
Those city-states under Athens' suzerainty, eventually started to resent its dominance, and in 431 BCE, a rivalry between Athens and the militaristic Sparta of the [[Peloponnesian League]] erupted into open warfare. Wary of the Spartans' infamous reputation as the best warriors of Greece, Perikles refused to meet the enemy in battle, instead having his forces turtle within the city's walls, putting him at odds with fellow statesman [[Kleon]].<ref name="ACOd" />

[[File:ACOD Perikles's Symposium Memory 03.png|thumb|240px|Kassandra at Perikles' Symposium, 431 BCE.]]
In May of that year, the Spartan ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] traveled to Athens on the suggestion of [[Herodotos]], who suggested she meet Perikles. There, Perikles requested Kassandra to help him with a number of errands in exchange for the information that she needs.<ref name="Welcome">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Welcome to Athens]]</ref> Completing the errands for Perikes; Kassandra rescued his friend [[Metiochos]],<ref name="Venom">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A Venomous Encounter]]</ref> escorted the sculptor [[Phidias]] safely to the southern island of [[Seriphos]],<ref name="Escape">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Escape from Athens]]</ref> and also helped influence the [[Ostracism|ostracization]] vote of the philosopher [[Anaxagoras]].<ref name="Ostracized">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Ostracized]]</ref> Afterwards, Kassandra was invited to a symposium hosted by Perikles. It was at this symposium Kassandra met with many influential individuals including: the statesmen [[Alkibiades]]; the playwrites [[Aristophanes]] and [[Hermippos]]; and the sophists [[Protagoras]] and [[Thrasymachos]]. After speaking to several of them, Kassandra obtained the names of several people who may have encountered Myrrine at some point in the past. She set out from Athens to meet them.<ref name="Symposium">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Perikles's Symposium]]</ref>

[[File:ACOD Abandoned By the Gods.png|thumb|240px|left|Kassandra returning to a plague struck Athens, 429 BCE]]
In Autumn two years later, Athens was hit by a deadly [[Plague of Athens|plague]] which left numerous thousands dead. Perikles himself had also contracted the illness, talking with Aspasia she revealed that she sent Phoibe on an errand but she was yet to return. Kassandra left in search of her.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Abandoned By the Gods]]</ref> However, Kassandra was too late to save her young friend. She had been struck down by Cultist guards. In anger, Kassandra killed them all. She then headed to the Parthenon to find Aspasia, with [[Hippokrates]] and Sokrates following close behind.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[And the Streets Run Red]]</ref> Kassandra made her way up to the Parthenon, meeting Aspasia outside. Following a commotion inside the Partenon, the four of them entered only to find Deimos killing Perikles. After mourning her lover's death, Aspasia left Athens with Kassandra to find her mother. Hippokrates and Sokrates agreed to stay behind and help the people. With the death of Perikles, Kleon was able to seize power of the ''polis''.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Athens's Last Hope]]</ref>

[[File:ACOD The Resistance 2.png|thumb|240px|Kassandra convening with the Periklean Circle, 424 BCE.]]
Following the [[Battle of Pylos]] in the Summer of 425 BCE, Kassandra was captured and held in an [[Prison, Athens|Athenian prison]]. When approached by Deimos, she had a moment to try and reason with him. When the coast was clear, Sokrates and [[Barnabas]] arrived to help Kassandra break out. Although she was already ahead of them.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Doing Time]]</ref> Convening with the [[Periklean Circle]] at least a month later, a gathering of Perikles' closest friends, Kassandra and the Circle hatched a plan to discredit Kleon.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[The Resistance (Odyssey)|The Resistance]]</ref> The playwright Aristophanes suggested a [[The Knights (play)|play]] to mock Kleon, however, Aristophanes' actor [[Thespis]] had gone missing and so Kassandra helped locate him.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[An Actor's Life for Me]]</ref> However, Thespis refused to act without his muse. Finding out that his muse, [[Aikaterine]], was being threatened by the Cultist [[Rhexenor]], Kassandra dealt with him and Aikaterine was free to resume being Thespis' muse.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A-Musing Tale]]</ref> Kassandra then met with Sokrates at the [[Pnyx]] and helped convince the public of Kleon's wrongdoings.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Unearthing the Truth]]</ref> She then returned to [[Perikles' Residence]] speak to Aristophanes and Sokrates after their successful attempt to damage Kleon's reputation. Kassandra received word that [[Brasidas]] had survived the Battle of Pylos and sought her aid for the upcoming Battle of Amphipolis, which she accepted and promptly travelled to.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[The Knights]]</ref>

===Ottoman era===
With the [[Fall of Constantinople]] in 1453 and the end of the [[Byzantine Empire]], the [[Ottoman Empire]] entered Greece as its new ruler. Resentment against the new [[Turkey|Turkish]] regime remained fresh as late as 1511, when the local Assassins struggled to maintain public faith given their transnational policies.<ref name="For The People, Part I" />

That year, with [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], [[Mentor]] of the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Brotherhood]] taking over operations in [[Constantinople]], [[Ottoman Brotherhood of Assassins|Ottoman Assassins]] were sent to Athens to revitalize the [[Greek Brotherhood of Assassins|Greek branch]]. These Turkish Assassins were instrumental in helping their Greek counterparts reestablish the Athenians' trust by convincing the common people that their cause transcended national sentiments, prioritizing humanity as a whole.<ref name="For The People, Part I">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense#Athens|Mediterranean Defense: "For The People, Part I"]]</ref>

Not long after, [[Templars|Templar]] agents began paying Ottoman soldiers for the goods of wealthy Athenians, thereby instigating them into open robbery of these citizens' homes. The explicit order of Sultan [[Bayezid II]] against such raiding could not dissuade these soldiers from the promise of handsome profits, leading to the intervention of the Ottoman Assassins. After these Assassins defended the Athenians from further robbery, they discovered the Templar background of the affair and assassinated the leaders behind it.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense#Athens|Mediterranean Defense: "For The People, Part II"]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense#Athens|Mediterranean Defense: "For The People, Part III"]]</ref>

Subsequently, remnants of [[Isu]] technology were uncovered beneath the [[Akropolis Sanctuary|acropolis]]. In response, further Turkish agents were sent by Ezio to guard the site while Assassin scholars conducted a thorough survey.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense#Athens|Mediterranean Defense: "First Civ Problems"]]</ref>

By the end of 1512, Athens was fully under the control of the Assassin Brotherhood as with the other major cities in the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Mediterranean Defense]]</ref>

==Geography==
Characterized by a {{wiki|Mediterranean climate|dry summer climate}}, the environment of Athens is the definition of the Greek atmosphere. The city is divided into thirty districts, including the Pottery District called [[Kerameikos]].<ref name="ACOd" />

==Economy==
During the 5th century BCE, the Athenian economy was largely fueled by taxes paid by city-states it held suzerainty over as the head of the Delian League.<ref name="ACOd" />

==Behind the scenes==
The artwork used for Attika on [[Ubisoft]]'s ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' [https://assassinscreed.ubisoft.com/game/en-us/odyssey/map site] is the [[:File:ACOD Kassandra's Journey Concept Art.jpg|concept art]] by [[Hugo Puzzuoli]], albeit featuring [[Alexios]].

==Gallery==
<tabber>
|-|Videos=
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" widths="180">
Assassin's Creed Odyssey The Secrets of Ancient Athens Uncovered Ubisoft NA
</gallery>
|-|Screenshots=
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" widths="180">
ACOD Athens Plague.png|Athens during the plague in 429 BCE
ACO Athens Screenshot 1.jpg
ACO Athens Screenshot 2.jpg
ACO Athens Screenshot 3.jpg
ACO Athens Screenshot 4.jpg|Temple of Hephaistos at night
ACOD Athens.jpg
ACOD Athens 2.jpg
ACOD Athens 3.jpg
ACOD Athens 4.jpg
ACOD Athens 5.jpg
ACOD Athens 6.jpg
ACOD Athens 7.jpg
ACOD Athens 8.jpg
ACOD Athens 9.jpg
</gallery>
|-|Concept artwork=
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" widths="180">
ACOD Athens Symbol.PNG|Symbol of Athens
ACOD Athena Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Athens by Hugo Puzzuoli
ACOD Kassandra's Journey Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Athens by Hugo Puzzuoli
AC Atlas Athens.jpg|Artwork from ''[[Assassin's Creed: Atlas]]''
</gallery>
</tabber>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' {{1st}}
*[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (The Official Novelization)|''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' novel]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Spears for Hire]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[For Democracy!]]'' {{Mo}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{ACOD}}
[[fr:Athènes]]
[[es:Atenas]]
[[zh:雅典]]
[[Category:Capital cities]]
[[Category:Cities in Ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Cities in Greece]]
[[Category:Poleis]]
[[Category:Locations in Attika]]
[[Category:Port cities]]
[[Category:Delian League]]