Ardittou Hill

What I can see

Ardittou Hill, together with Agras Hill, between which the Panathenaic Stadium is located, has an area of ​​approximately 190 acres (without the stadium) and an altitude of approximately 235m. It is planted with pine trees and the entrance is on Archimedous Street. Visitors can walk around the paths of the hill and the stadium’s perimeter. Many people also go for jogging around the stadium. The view is impressive from almost any spot; from the top of the stadium’s horseshoe, from where one can see it as a whole, and from other parts of the hill and the stadium, from where one can admire landmarks of Athens from different angles. Among them are the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill.

What I can't see

The name of the hill comes from the ancient hero Ardittis, who reconciled the inhabitants of Attica here. The hill was sacred in ancient times. Here, the Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries took place, the judges were sworn in and there was also a sanctuary of the goddess Tychi (Luck). At that time, the hill was lush and home to wildlife, but over the centuries it was deforested, as was the case with other hills (e.g. Philopappos). In addition to bureaucratic obstacles, the reforestation of the 19th century also encountered many other obstacles, because the hill was used as pasture and there were strong reactions by stock breeders, land owners and monasteries with estates.

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