Photo Shows What Athens, Greece Looked Like In 1839

August 4, 2022

A photo of Greece taken 183 years ago is fascinating netizens across the globe.

Athens, Greece 1839

The photo is of Athens in 1839.

In the front is the Temple of Hephaestus, a Doric peripteral temple, located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. From the 7th century until 1834, it served as the Greek Orthodox church of Saint George Akamates.

In the background on the hill is the Parthenon.

Now, for reference, this is what Athens, Greece looks like today.

Athens, Greece

Many of you might be wondering, "did they have cameras back then?"

1826 is believed to be when the earliest surviving camera photograph was taken. 1839 is the year generally accepted as the birth year of "practical photography".

Photo of Athens, Greece in 1850