History of Athens, Greece Athens has been around for 2,500 years. Athens is the capitol of Greece and largest city of Greece. Athens is on a small plain that lies southward to the Saronic Gulf, a branch of the Aegean Sea. Athens has an area of 427 sq./km. (165 sq./mi. ) and a population of 3,096,775. Athens is surrounded by mountains: Aigaleos to the west, Parnes to the north, Pentelikon to the northeast, and Hymettus to the east. All four of the mountains is made up of either marble or limestone. Athens has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. It rains slightly. Most of the population religio