Denis Roubien is Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering in the Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece. His research field is the architecture and urban planning of the nineteenth and the early twentieth century in Greece, as well as the restoration of historical buildings and revival of historical centres. He has written several articles and a chapter in a book on these subjects.

• Introduction Part I: Ideology: the revival of ancient glory 1. The ideological background of the creation of neo-classical Athens: the different priorities between idealism and rationalism in establishing a European capital, and the importance of cultural institutions 2. The relationship of the neo-classical city with the antiquities Part II: The treatment of the pre-revolutionary town 3. The connection of the new neo-classical city with the old one: the treatment of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches and pre-revolutionary houses 4. Housing a European capital in a small Ottoman town: the use of the pre-revolutionary buildings of Athens for housing the official functions of the new capital Part III: Creation of the new city: the actual circumstances 5. The role of land availability 6. Functionalism in the creation of the new city 7. The role of official functions in the evolution of the city of Athens 8. Public space and monumental architecture: from the grandiose plans of a European metropolis to a peripheral capital between East and West