The Siege of 1687

The Siege of Athens in 1687 marked a significant turning point in the conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice during the Great Turkish War. Following decades of diminishing control, the Venetians sought to reclaim Athens, which had been under Ottoman rule since 1456. Venetian General Francesco Morosini led an expedition to capture the city, beginning the siege in June 1687 against the fortified Acropolis, home to the iconic Parthenon.

The siege was characterized by fierce fighting as Ottoman forces defended the city with tenacity while the Venetians employed artillery to bombard the Acropolis. After a protracted struggle, the Venetians managed to breach the walls, but a notable event occurred in September when a Venetian shell accidentally struck the Parthenon, which the Ottomans had converted into a gunpowder store. The resulting explosion caused extensive damage to the ancient structure, leading to a loss of life and invaluable art. Despite capturing Athens and the Acropolis, the Venetian victory was short-lived, as the city fell back into Ottoman hands in 1690.

The siege had significant implications for both sides, revealing the fragility of control during wartime and leaving a lasting scar on Athens’s architectural heritage. The destruction of the Parthenon remains a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by historical monuments amid the power struggles of empires.