Ateenas

Ateenas is a fictional place that appears in the works of science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin. It is a city on the planet Gethen, also known as Winter. Gethen is a world characterized by its extreme cold and its inhabitants, who are ambisexual, meaning they can be either male or female for most of their lives and only develop distinct sexual characteristics during a period of sexual activity called kemmer.

Ateenas is described as a large, ancient city with a complex social structure. It is a center of trade, culture, and politics on Gethen. The city's architecture is often depicted as being adapted to the harsh climate, with many structures built underground or designed to withstand the cold. The society within Ateenas is hierarchical, with distinct social classes and a ruling elite. The novel "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin extensively features Ateenas and provides detailed descriptions of its environment, inhabitants, and customs. The city serves as a significant setting for the novel's exploration of themes such as gender, sexuality, politics, and cultural difference. Ateenas represents a highly developed but also alien civilization to the protagonist, Genly Ai, who is an envoy from an interstellar federation.