Tragedy struck here on July 23 and 24 in 1944. This is Bizaniou Street Fort. It stands as a silent testament to a violent clash. What happened here?
Bizaniou Street Fort is more than just a historical marker. It is a place where echoes of the past still resonate. This fort is located on Bizaniou Street in Kallithea. It is also known as the Bizaniou Street Fort of the July 23-24 1944 Battle.
The fort is now managed by the Municipality of Kallithea. This fort reminds us of a specific battle. This battle unfolded on July 23rd and 24th, 1944.
The Acropolis in Athens was once a hillfort. The Acropolis sits on a rock 150 meters above sea level. It offers great views of Athens and Piraeus port. The isles in the bays are visible on the horizon beyond. People lived here for thousands of years. They used it as a defensive site. In the Mycenaean era, a palace was built here. A defensive wall was built around the perimeter. The wall was 760 meters long and 10 meters high. The Mycenaeans were in Greece from 1600 BC to 1100 BC.
The Acropolis was a major site to hold in times of trouble. It was a place to flee to in crisis. Halfway through that millennia temples were being built here. The site was moving towards being a religious center. Today, it is the greatest tourist attraction in Athens. It was a hillfort at one time.
The Acropolis used to have a great statue of the goddess Athena. The city was named after her. It was known as the Athena Promachos. It was 30 meters tall.
Athens has been inhabited since Neolithic times. That is possibly from the end of the fourth millennium BC. By 1412 BC, the settlement became an important center. It was important to the Mycenaean civilization. The Acropolis was the site of a major Mycenaean fortress. Remains can be recognized from sections of the Cyclopean walls. Cuttings in the rock have been identified. They show the location of a Mycenaean palace.
The Athenian leader Solon received information from Egyptian priests. It was about a well-advanced Athenian state. It was established 9000 years prior to his time. This state preceded Egypt’s oldest kingdom by a thousand years.
In 499 BC, Athens sent troops to aid the Ionian Greeks. They were rebelling against the Persian Empire. This provoked two Persian invasions of Greece. In 490 BC, the Athenians defeated the first invasion. They were led by Miltiades. The battle was at Marathon. In 480 BC, the Persians returned under Xerxes. The city of Athens was captured and sacked twice by the Persians within one year. The Athenians engaged the Persian navy at sea. They routed the Persians. This was a great turning point in the war.
Athens experienced a decline during the early Middle Ages. It recovered under the later Byzantine Empire. It was relatively prosperous during the Crusades.
In 1458, Athens was captured by the Ottomans. The Parthenon was converted into the main mosque of the city. In 1687, the Acropolis was besieged by the Venetians. A shot caused a powder magazine in the Parthenon to explode. The building was severely damaged.
In 1822, a Greek insurgency captured the city. It fell to the Ottomans again in 1826. The Ottoman forces remained in possession until March 1833.
As you stand here at Bizaniou Street Fort take a moment. Remember the events that transpired on this ground. Reflect on the resilience. Consider the spirit of those who fought here.