The Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea or just Kapnikarea (Greek: Καπνικαρέα) is a Greek Orthodox church one of the oldest churches in Athens

Athens

Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...

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History

It is estimated that the church was built some time in the 11th century, perhaps around 1050. As it was common with the early Christian churches, this was built over an ancient Greek pagan temple dedicated to the worship of a goddess, possibly Athena

Athena

In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...

 or Demeter

Demeter

In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...

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Location

The church is located in the downtown of the modern city of Athens, right in the middle of the high-traffic shopping area of Ermou street

Ermou Street (Athens)

Ermou Street , is an approximately one and a half kilometer-long road in central Athens connecting Kerameikos archaeological site with the Syntagma Square through Monastiraki, Psiri and Thiseio. It consists of three sections: The east Ermou Street , is an approximately one and a half kilometer-long...

, at the edge of the Plaka

Plaka

Pláka is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens...

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