Athens was a great Polis in ancient times. In ancient Greece, a polis was a form of cooperation between Politai (citizens) in which these citizens worked together on a religious, military and economic level. The special thing about ancient Athens was that the first democracy arose here. Athens was the only Greek polis where ordinary citizens held power in a direct democracy. Remains of the ancient polis of Athens can still be seen. The Acropolis of Athens, the fortified part of the city, is still visible. The ancient temple, the parthenon and the agora are examples of these remains.

Presumably settled around 3500 BC. the first inhabitants on the hill Acropolis. Little is known of the city's early history, but Athens probably survived until about 1065 BC. been a kingdom and an important center of Mycenaean civilization. In the centuries that followed, Athens moved slowly and with temporary setbacks towards democracy. At this time, Athens wages several wars against the Persians, whom they defeat at the Battle of Marathon (490 BC), but who, ten years later, largely destroy the city and the Acropolis. After various peaks and valleys (Peloponnesian War, Thirty Tyrants) Athens is in the 4th century BC. an important city of science and art, producing famous names such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

In 168 B.C. the city is taken over by the Romans (who themselves spoke of the 'liberation' of Athens), but the city continues to play an important role within the Roman Empire, even though the inhabitants do not easily accept the Roman presence. In 86 B.C. the city is therefore sacked by Sulla as punishment. In 51 AD. the apostle Paul visits the city. Emperor Hadrian brings about 130 AD. a visit and begins a series of important constructions. Even then, Athens is still an important center.

After this the city falls into decline: in 297 it is sacked by the Goths, which is repeated in 395. In 529 Emperor Justinian closes the schools of philosophy, making the city a rather insignificant corner of the Byzantine Empire. In 1204, the city was conquered by French crusaders, after which the city became the plaything of various states for several centuries. In 1458 the city was annexed by the Turks, who gave the Athenians various privileges out of respect for the past, but two years later turned the Parthenon into a mosque. With the exception of a small Venetian occupation in 1687, the city would be part of the Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries.

From the 18th century, the city has been visited by many wealthy Westerners, who have become interested in the roots of classical civilization, spurring the Greek striving for independence. From 1821 the Greeks try to found their own nation, which slowly seems to succeed. In 1829, the Greek independence was recognized by the great powers and in 1833 Athens succeeded the small Nafplio as the capital of the new kingdom. In the years that follow, the university (1837) and an Orthodox cathedral (1842) are opened and the city is expanded considerably. Before the Greek War of Independence, Athens had been a town of about 10,000 inhabitants. During the War of Independence, the city was alternately conquered by the freedom fighters and then again by the Turks, with all the associated destruction. After the war, the population was reduced to 4000. In the first decades of independent Greece, the city experienced considerable growth. Around 1890 the number of 100,000 inhabitants is reached. The first modern Olympic Games were held here in 1896.

In the 20th century, Athens experienced enormous growth. In 1922, for example, many Greek refugees from Asia Minor, in particular Smyrna (present-day İzmir), come to the city. During World War II, Athens was occupied by the Germans for three years and thousands perished from famine and violence. Subsequently, the inhabitants also have to deal with the civil war. After the war, more and more Greek rural people move to the capital, which seems to be bursting at the seams, with many illegal buildings and a poorer living environment due to smog. With the arrival of the Olympic Games in 2004, the city has been renovated considerably. This helped organize the Eurovision Song Contest two years later, on Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 May 2006 at the OAKA site in the northern suburb of Maroúsi.

Athens has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: CSa). There is a pleasant temperature from April to June. In July and August it is very hot in Athens. In winter, the temperature can drop below freezing and it can snow.