The Long Wall

    The long walls connected the city of Athens to the city of Piraeus.  This connection between the two cities is what helped bring Athens to greatness. It was through this connection Athens was able to go supplies such as grain, merchant items, and war gear during unpeaceful times.  Construction began during the middle of the 5th century B.C. It was started during the the rule of Themistocles and was finished during that of Pericles.  The walls stand 160 meters apart, 20 meters high, and 6000 meters long. These walls have been built and destroyed twice. They were first built by the Athenians then by the Spartans, after they destroyed them.  The second time it was destroyed it was under the orders of General Sulla of the Roman army.

Timeline of the Long Walls:

458 B.C. -Long walls are constructed

404/03 B.C. -Athenians lose Peloponnesian War to Spartan; Spartans tear down the walls

393 B.C.- Spartans rebuild the wall for protection

88 B.C.-Romans tears walls down permanently

Sites Used:

http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/greecehellas1/g/piraeus.htm

http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Arch/302/chronoAthens.html