“What secrets does this earth hold?” asks Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus. Here, in Kolonos, we stand on ground steeped in history and myth. Kolonos is more than just a district in Athens. It’s a place where ancient stories come alive.
Kolonos gets its name from the ancient deme, Hippeios Colonus. Colonus was a village of ancient Attica. This area was celebrated as the birthplace of Sophocles. Sophocles set one of his tragedies here. The ancient village sat near Plato’s Academy and the river Cephissus.
In ancient times, Kolonos was known for two small hills north of the Academy. Sophocles called it “the white Colonus” because of these heights. Kolonos held special significance. It was under the care of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Thucydides called it Poseidon’s sacred ground. To differentiate it from another Kolonos in Athens, it was called Colonus Hippius meaning “Colonus of the Horses.”
Imagine this place in ancient times. Kolonos was more than just a residential area. It was a sanctuary. Besides the temple of Poseidon, there was a sacred grove of the Eumenides. Altars to Athena Hippia, Demeter, Zeus, and Prometheus stood here. Sanctuaries honored Peirithous, Theseus, Oedipus, and Adrastus. According to mythology, Oedipus found his final resting place here. Sophocles described it in Oedipus at Colonus.
Sophocles beautifully described the natural beauty of Kolonos. He wrote of nightingales singing in green glades. Ivy and lush foliage thrived untouched by the sun. Dionysus, the god of revelry, walked here with the nymphs.
Even in times of political upheaval, Kolonos played a role. In 411 BCE, oligarchs met at the sanctuary of Poseidon Hippios. They gathered here to create a new constitution.
Today, Kolonos is a densely populated district of Athens. It’s a working-class area but it still carries echoes of its rich past. You can visit the Kolonos Theatre, nestled on a green hill. This open-air theatre hosts the annual Colonus Festival. It offers music, dance, and theatre performances.
Just a short distance away, monuments honor Karl Otfried Müller and Charles Lenormant. These scholars died in Athens. Lenorman Street is named after Charles Lenormant.
As you explore Kolonos, remember its layers of history. From its mythological importance to its role in Athenian life. Kolonos is a place where the past whispers to the present. Take a moment to appreciate the stories embedded in this ground. Kolonos remains a vital part of Athens. It connects us to the world of ancient Greece.