A small street in Plaka, Tripodon Street, is considered the oldest street in Athens.
For 25 centuries, this street has borne the same name and has been walked by millions of people in many historical periods over the centuries.
It was the path to Theater and Fine Arts. The shortest street that led directly from the Theater to the Agora.
In fact, according to the architect Kazamiakis, the great archeological value of the street is due to the fact that this street did not serve simple traffic needs, but simply the needs of the Theater and Fine Arts in general.
The road began at the entrance of the temple of Dionysus, led round to the east, and after skirting the east side of the Acropolis, passed through the northern part of the Acropolis, leading to its northwest, perhaps at the point where Panathinaion Street became very uphill, towards the rectorate of the Agora, where, according to Pausanias, was its starting-point.
It was the most beautiful and decorated street in ancient Athens. Imagine that the ancient Athenians started from the Rectorate down to the Agora and walked up the 800 meters long and 6-meter wide street to reach their final destination, the Theater of Dionysus, which could hold 17,000 spectators.
There, under the magical Athenian sky, the ancient Athenians enjoyed the great works of the ancient Greek writers, few of whom we can enjoy today, alas, as few have been saved and perhaps not the best, often even abused by their supposedly modern performances.
The path calls for you to delve into memories and history. As you walk on it, you can imagine how it was used at other times by the ancient Athenians. The poet Drosinis writing beside the window of his house, Palamas walking down, Papadiamantis walking stooped and always downhill on Sunday morning to the church of Agios Elissaios, to sing chants. Paparrigopoulos and Makrygiannis go down to his house. They will celebrate the Christmas of 1843 together and the first Christmas tree will light up the Plaka neighborhood and spread admiration.
Lord Byron, leaning against the monument of Lysikrates, inspires the poem about his great love, the beautiful daughter of Athens, while Pericles meets his partner Phryne. Centuries of history are alive on this street.
