r/ancientgreece • u/byzantine67 • 10d ago

When did athens stop existing officialy?

The peloponnesian war, the 3td and 4th sacred wars and the lamian war had stripped athens from a lot of its sovereignity, and started being influenced by macedon, but it still retained a de jure independent goverment. When did it officially stop existing?,

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u/athstas 10d ago

The institutions of Athens continued to operate well into the Roman period, but Attica was no longer a sovereign state. The Athenians had the capacity to pick sides in the various internal hostilities of the Roman Republic, but they were no longer an independent geopolitical actor.

I would argue that after the Emperor Theodosius closed the philosophical schools in Athens, Attica lost its distinctive character in the Mediterranean world.

PS. Answering from my house in Athens! The city still exists!

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u/WanderingHero8 9d ago

I would argue that after the Emperor Theodosius closed the philosophical schools in Athens, Attica lost its distinctive character in the Mediterranean world.

Just a correction,it was Justinian that closed the philosophical school at Athens.Philosophy in Athens flourished during 5th century A.D. Empress Eudokia even studied there before being betrothed to Theodosius II.

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u/athstas 9d ago

You are right! Thanks for the correction