ATHENS, the capital of the republic of Greece ('A63vac, Athenae, modern colloquial Greek 'A90a), situated in 23° 44' E. and 37° 58' N., towards the southern cad of the central and princi pal plain of Attica. There are various theories with regard to the origin of the name. It is now held that it is derived from the patron goddess Athene, whose name, like others ending in -rlvrl, is thought to be pre-Hellenic.