The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the topography of ancient Athens and its urban development. The key questions to be addressed include: How the ancient physical topography influenced the shaping of the built environment of Athens in antiquity and how this architectural evolution continued to influence the shaping of the modern city. Specifically, where was the ancient city and what was the ancient city on top of which we live today? Where were the “centres” of ancient Athens? How different were they from those of modern times? The settlement patterns, ancient places of worship, secular public buildings and the fortified ruins of the ancient city beneath the modern one will be taken into account. Through classroom presentations and hands-on experience at actual archaeological sites, and through our own sketches on site, students will gain a detailed understanding of the topography of the ancient city, as well as the role of its monuments in the modern city. From the origins of the city to its rediscovery by neoclassical explorers. Bibliography 1- P. Valavanis et al., Ancient Athens and Attica. Historical topography of Athens and the country, Melissa, 2010. 2- Ι. Traylos, Urban development of Athens. From prehistoric times to the beginning of the 19th century, 3rd edition, Athens 2005. 3- J. Travlos, The Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens (1980) 4- J.M. Camp, The antiquities of Athens and Attica (2009) 5- J. M. Camp, The Ancient Agora of Athens (2004) 6- Gioles, Nikolaos: Athens in the early Christian centuries. Urban development, 2005. 7- Bouras Ch. et al. (ed.), Athinai. From the classical era to the present day (5th century BC – 2000 AD), Athens 2000. 8- Tour of Pausanios Greece – Volume I – Attica, N. Papachatzis (ed.), Ed. of Athens 1998.