Athens is the modern capital of Greece, located in the Attica region. It is one of the world’s oldest cities, with a recorded history of over 3400 years. It is widely referred to as the birthplace of democracy. It is the site of many ancient monument and works of art, including the Parthenon, the ruins of a temple on the Athenian Acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena, the patron of Athens. The city retains several other Classical Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman monuments.