cover image

Attica

Historical region of Greece, including the city of Athens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:

Can you list the top facts and stats about Attica?

Summarize this article for a 10 years old

SHOW ALL QUESTIONS

Attica (Greek: Αττική, Ancient Greek Attikḗ or Attikī́, Ancient Greek: [atːikɛ̌ː] or Modern: [atiˈci]), or the Attic Peninsula, is a historical region that encompasses the city of Athens, the capital of Greece and its countryside. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean Sea, bordering on Boeotia to the north and Megaris to the west. The southern tip of the peninsula, known as Laurion, was an important mining region.

38°05′0″N 23°30′0″E
Quick facts: Attica Αττική, Location, Major cities, Di...
Attica
Αττική
View from Kaisariani Hill looking towards Athens, with Salamis visible in the background
View from Kaisariani Hill looking towards Athens, with Salamis visible in the background
Map of municipalities (demoi) in ancient Attica
Map of municipalities (demoi) in ancient Attica
LocationCentral Greece
Major citiesAthens
DialectsAttic
Key periodsAthenian Empire (477–404 BC)
Second Athenian League (378–338 BC)
Close

The history of Attica is tightly linked with that of Athens, and specifically the Golden Age of Athens during the classical period. Ancient Attica (Athens city-state) was divided into demoi or municipalities from the reform of Cleisthenes in 508/7 BC, grouped into three zones: urban (astu) in the region of Athens main city and Piraeus (port city in greater Athens), coastal (paralia) along the coastline and inland (mesogeia) in the interior.

The modern administrative region of Attica is more extensive than the historical region and includes Megaris as part of the regional unit West Attica, and the Saronic Islands and Cythera, as well as the municipality of Troizinia on the Peloponnesian mainland, as the regional unit Islands.