Return to Home Page Harrys Greece Guide

About Syntagma Square Page 5

Difficult as it is to imagine as you stand here today, back then, a temple and an alter or two were dotted along its banks which are now covered by bituminous concrete except for the small vestige still to be see at the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

The women at the fountain by Dom Papety 1815-49In commemoration of this aqueduct and primary water source, further down 1/5 km, just past the Temple is a street called Kalirhoe which means good flow. The Illisos river flowed here but unfortunately would dry up during the summer months and needed a little help to keep flowing - thus the aqueduct. This street is named after the ancient spring that used to be here and was augmented by the aqueduct. It was of extreme importance to the ancient inhabitants of the area surrounding the Acropolis. Right: The women at the fountain by Domenicus Papety 1815-49. Also see Hadrian's Resevoir on Kolonaki Sq - Dexamini page.

a map showing ancient athens and the aqueduct of PeisistratosThucycydides (460-401 BC) II, 15; The Extended Acropolis relates that the Pelasgians, an ancient people later expelled by the Ionian's, confined their settlement to the Acropolis hill area and that this was their primary source of water.

Later Herodotus (484-425 BC) says that the residents of Mt. Hymettos used the spring and that later the martial bath and holy water was also drawn from here.

Finally Pausanias (2nd C AD) called it 'the only fountain in Athens' and reminds us that it originally was called 'nine pipes or spouts 'ennea-krounos' and entirely beholden to the 'benevolent tyrant' Peisistratos.

Circa 545 BC the Constitution Square area was part of am aqueduct fed park designed by the 'benevolent tyrant' Peisistratos and his sons. For a complete rundown on the archaeological history of Syntagma Sq read the Syntagma Sq metro excavation information.

click to see largerclcick to see larger -  good meeting place?Parts of the park still exists next door in what is known today as the National Gardens with remains of ancient clay irrigation ducts. These gardens in their present state were set up during King Otto's reign by his wife Queen Amalia for whom the Avenue is named.

There are additional ruins close by the Parliament building but closed to the public for security. The Gardens have a few interesting twists and turns to them historically and figuratively. Inside you'll be insulated from the incessant day time din of the madding crowd.

 

a romantic painting of how it must have lookedYou can do the same thing to a lesser extent right here in Syntagma Sq. too in the very center of the square surrounding the fountain are many trees and benches which make a good easy to reach spot to meet friends. (photo above right).

Incidentally, the National Gardens entertain a hundred or so ducks in a pond and other smaller animals in a small zoo offering a delightful short cut to the 1896 Olympic Stadium where the re-birth of the games were held - another near by must see!.

More Syntagma Sq. Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5