Byzantine Athens was very different from the one of the classical, Hellenistic or Roman periods. Having been repeatedly sacked and rampaged and occupied, it became a small village on the borders of the vast Byzantine Empire.
When Athens was under the rule of the Byzantines, many of her monuments were converted into churches. The emperors of Constntinople took many works of art, while from about 600 AD the city shrank considerably, due to the barbarian raids by the Avars and Slavs. As the 7th century progressed, Athens entered a period of uncertainty and insecurity, as Greece was overrun by Slavics from the north. The 9th century found Athens on an attempt to recover and expand, although it was fully reconquered by the Byzantine Empire.
Invasion of the empire by the Turks after the battle of Manzikert in 1071, and the ensuing civil wars, largely passed the region by and Athens continued its provincial existence unharmed. When the Byzantine Empire was rescued by the resolute leadership of the three Komnenos emperors Alexios, John, Manuel, Attica and the rest of Greece prospered. The Ancient Market (Agora) that had been deserted since late antiquity, began to be built over. The progress of Athens attracted the Venetians and other traders, who increased the economic prosperity of the city by working on production and trading of products like soap and dyes.
During the 11th and 12th centuries, a large number of churces were built in Athens. Thanks to their building skills, Byzantine architects became masters of the domes and vaults of religious architecture, while the painters, often religious men could create breathtaking frescos, completely covering the available surface. Many of the small Byzantine churches of the times represent sublime evidence of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture, and can be found scattered throughout the historical centre.
This medieval prosperity came to an end though in 1204, when the 4th Crusade conquered Athens and the city was not recovered from the Latins before it was taken by the Ottoman Turks.
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| Byzantine Church in the Ancient Market (Agora) |
Invasion of the empire by the Turks after the battle of Manzikert in 1071, and the ensuing civil wars, largely passed the region by and Athens continued its provincial existence unharmed. When the Byzantine Empire was rescued by the resolute leadership of the three Komnenos emperors Alexios, John, Manuel, Attica and the rest of Greece prospered. The Ancient Market (Agora) that had been deserted since late antiquity, began to be built over. The progress of Athens attracted the Venetians and other traders, who increased the economic prosperity of the city by working on production and trading of products like soap and dyes.
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| Kapnikarea (at Ermou commercial street) is a typical Byzantine Church |
During the 11th and 12th centuries, a large number of churces were built in Athens. Thanks to their building skills, Byzantine architects became masters of the domes and vaults of religious architecture, while the painters, often religious men could create breathtaking frescos, completely covering the available surface. Many of the small Byzantine churches of the times represent sublime evidence of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture, and can be found scattered throughout the historical centre.
This medieval prosperity came to an end though in 1204, when the 4th Crusade conquered Athens and the city was not recovered from the Latins before it was taken by the Ottoman Turks.