Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the oldest cities in the world, and is sometimes referred to as the cradle of Western civilization. The arts and philosophy thrived here, it’s steeped in culture and ancient history, and its skyline is dominated by the stunning Acropolis. Like most things in Greece, there’s a story behind how the city got its name and the myth goes something like this: the city was prosperous and beautiful, but it had no patron god to pay tribute to. Athena, goddess of wisdom, and Poseidon, god of the sea, competed for the title by offering a gift to the citizens; Athena gifted an olive tree and Poseidon a spring of salt water. The citizens chose to accept the olive tree and so the city was named after Athena.
