Aiolou Street (also Eolou Street) is a street in downtown 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...

, the Greek

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

 capital. It is named after Aeolus

Aeolus

Aeolus was the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology. In fact this name was shared by three mythic characters. These three personages are often difficult to tell apart, and even the ancient mythographers appear to have been perplexed about which Aeolus was which...

, the god of winds in Greek mythology

Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

. The street is one-way and originally ran entirely southbound but since the closure of Athinas Street

Athinas Street

Athinas Street is a street in downtown Athens in Greece. It is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The street runs from Ermou Street north to Omonoia Square through the Psiri neighborhood. Its total length is nearly 1 km of which 80 m is a walkway since 1999...

 in the late-1990s as part of the renovation plan, the part north of Lykourgou Street is one-way northbound. The street begins in Pelopidas Street further south of Ermou Street and ends in Panepistimiou Street

Panepistimiou Street

Panepistimiou Street is a major street in Athens that runs one way for non-transit vehicles since 2002 from Amalias Avenue, Syntagma Square and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue to Omonoia Square in which is now a pedestrian crossing and before an intersection...

 (Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue) and north of this street is 28 Oktovriou or Patission Street.

History

The street was first laid in the 19th century and was the first street in Athens to be paved. Neoclassical buildings were built then as well and are still present today in the southern and the central part of the street. After World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 and the Greek Civil War

Greek Civil War

The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...

, modern eight to ten storey buildings were built in the northern part and traffic lights were installed on Adrianou, Ermou, Evrypidou, Sofokleous, Stadiou and Panepistimiou/28 Oktovriou (Patission) intersections. The blocks around the intersection with Stadiou Street

Stadiou Street

Stadiou Street is Athens' major street linking the Omonoia and Syntagma Squares. It runs diagonally and is one-way from northwest to southeast...

 are traditionally called the Hafteia, so named after a popular 19th century kafeneíon owned by a certain Mr. Haftis; the Hafteia were the very heart of downtown Athens market for the 19th and the better part of the 20th century.

Intersections

• Pelopidou Street
• Adrianou Street - east
• Pandrosou Street
• Mitropoleos Street
• Ermou Street
• Hagias Eirinis and Athenaidos Streets
• Voreou Street - west
• Kolokotroni Street - walkway
• Miltiadou Street - east
• Vyssis Street - west
• Sosipyliotissis Street
• Evripidou Street
• Sofokleous Street
  Sofokleous Street
  Sofokleous Street is a street in downtown part of the Greek capital city of Athens. It is named after Sophocles. The street runs from Pireos Street and ends short from Stadiou Street at Pesmetzoglou Street and Aristeidou Street. The financial building is the Athens Stock Exchange and is located...
  
  
• Eupolidos and I. Stavrou Streets
• Lykourgou Street - west
• Stadiou Street
  Stadiou Street
  Stadiou Street is Athens' major street linking the Omonoia and Syntagma Squares. It runs diagonally and is one-way from northwest to southeast...
  
  
• Panepistimiou Street
  Panepistimiou Street
  Panepistimiou Street is a major street in Athens that runs one way for non-transit vehicles since 2002 from Amalias Avenue, Syntagma Square and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue to Omonoia Square in which is now a pedestrian crossing and before an intersection...
  
   and Patission Street