Title of Lecture on religious studies:
Metaphysical Aspects of the Poseidonia
(Ammonites myth) in the Urban Plan of Athens
From the 4th century BC to 1964, Athens’ urban expansion reveals a curious pattern: a network of roads forming, from above, a spiral resembling a snail shell—an ammonite—one of Neptune’s ancient symbols.
Starting with the Acropolis Peripatos and the circular fortifications of Gerotheus III, and continuing through to the grand boulevards of the 20th century, a circular structure emerges—closely tied to the myth of Poseidon. According to legend, Poseidon, rival of Athena, flooded the Attic basin in revenge for the Athenians’ devotion to the goddess.
In a 1933 tale, writer Odysseus Lytris claimed that the rock of the Acropolis was thrown into the flooded plain by the hero Theseus, creating massive waves that destroyed the mythical sea serpents terrorizing Attica’s tribes.
This "Ammonites myth" has not faded—in fact, it has grown more powerful. The city’s original circular layout evolved into a
This distinctive ammonite form has sparked countless dark fantasies, theories of hidden forces, and even theological debate. The Church has at times tried to integrate the layout into religious life—or denounced it as a sign of something sinister. No other myth has imposed itself so metaphysically on Athens as that of Poseidonia.
This study, conducted by the Department of Religious Studies at the Attic University of Athens, explores the intersection of myth, symbolism, and city planning. It reveals how human beings instinctively turn to metaphysical interpretations when geometric patterns echo the ancient symbols of myth.
snail-like spiral after the construction of a new railway hub and the widening of Michaelides Avenue in 1964. What began as concentric circles became a centrifugal spiral, shaped by decades of layered urban planning.