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The Emergence of Athens in 1068 BCE - Myth, Legend, and Early Foundations
The year 1068 BCE is often cited in ancient Greek tradition as a significant time in the early history of Athens, though historical records from this period are scarce, relying heavily on later myths, archaeological evidence, and fragmentary accounts.
According to Greek mythology, Athens traces its origins to King Cecrops, a semi-mythical ruler said to have been born from the earth (autochthonous) and credited with founding the city. The legendary contest between Athena and Poseidon for patronage of the city is said to have occurred during this era, with Athena's gift of the olive tree securing her role as the city's divine protector.
The year 1068 BCE falls within what later Greek historians considered the Ionian Migration period, when Athens became a refuge for displaced populations, including descendants of the Mycenaean civilization after its collapse (c. 1200-1100 BCE).
While exact dating is difficult, archaeological findings suggest that Athens was continuously inhabited from the Late Bronze Age (Mycenaean period) into the Early Iron Age (Dark Ages). Unlike many other Mycenaean centers, Athens was not completely destroyed, allowing it to gradually develop into a significant settlement.
The specific date 1068 BCE may derive from later Greek chronographers like Eratosthenes or Parian Chronicle compilers, who attempted to calculate key events in Greek prehistory. Some sources link this era to the rule of King Melanthus, a semi-legendary figure who supposedly led the Athenians against the Dorians.
While Athens in 1068 BCE was still a modest settlement, its survival through the Greek Dark Ages allowed it to later emerge as a dominant city-state in the Archaic and Classical periods (8th-4th centuries BCE), becoming the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and Western political thought.
The appearance of Athens in 1068 BCE is more a symbolic milestone than a precisely documented event. Its true significance lies in its continuity from Mycenaean times, setting the stage for its later greatness. Without written records from that exact year, we rely on archaeology and later Greek historians to piece together its early history.
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