Athens: Its Rise and Fall Book I Vol I
The narrative begins with an account of the early history of Athens, tracing its development from a small settlement to a powerful city-state. The story revolves around the mythical figure of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, who establishes the city and lays the foundation for its future prosperity. The book also explores the role of the goddess Athena in Athenian mythology and her influence on the city's growth.
By Edward Bulwer-lytton · First published 1837 · Genre: History, Non-fiction, Political Science · 8 chapters
Contents
- Situation and Soil of Attica. - The Pelasgians its earliest Inhabitants. - Their Race and Language akin to the Grecian. - Their varying Civilization and Architectural Remains. - Cecrops. - Were the earliest Civilizers of Greece foreigners or Greeks? - The Foundation of Athens. - The Improvements attributed to Cecrops. - The Religion of the Greeks cannot be reduced to a simple System. - Its Influence upon their Character and Morals, Arts and Poetry. - The Origin of Slavery and Aristocracy
- The unimportant consequences to be deduced from the admission that Cecrops might be Egyptian. - Attic Kings before Theseus. - The Hellenes. - Their Genealogy. - Ionians and Achaeans Pelasgic. - Contrast between Dorians and Ionians. - Amphictyonic League
- The Heroic Age. - Theseus. - His legislative Influence upon Athens. - Qualities of the Greek Heroes. - Effect of a Traditional Age upon the Character of a People
- The Successors of Theseus. - The Fate of Codrus. - The Emigration of Nileus. - The Archons. - Draco
- A General Survey of Greece and the East previous to the time of Solon. - The Grecian Colonies. - The Isles. - Brief account of the States on the Continent. - Elis and the Olympic Games
- Return of the Heraclidae. - The Spartan Constitution and Habits. - The first and second Messenian War
- Governments in Greece
- Brief Survey of Arts, Letters, and Philosophy in Greece, prior to the Legislation of Solon
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