Greece Travel Guide: Nice To Know Facts About Greece. Interesting Facts.
Our Travel Guide Greece will let you know a little bit about one of the most ancient civilizations. After all, there is so much to learn about the country that has given us the concepts of democracy, philosophy and drama. With this in mind, learn about some of the best things about Greece. For our travel guide Greece, learn about Greek mythology. For its quest for perfection, learn the best example, the Parthenon. As an example of the Greek’s quest for excellence, they have also given the world the Olympic games. In the spirit of celebration, also learn about Ouzo, a strong drink that is sweet yet has a kick to it.
The Drama of Greek Mythology
You may refer to your Achilles heel hurting or say that your future is up to the fates. You may believe in the zodiac signs. These are just some of the ways that Greek mythology has found its way into our modern life. Many words have their origin in Greek mythology characters, such as tantalize from Tantalus who stole the God’s nectar. The mythology of Greece has a profound influence in the way we live our lives, from art, economics, philosophy, government and the environment. It is for this reason that it is interesting to learn about Greek mythology.
One of the most influential contributions that Greek has given the world is their mythology. Indeed, the country’s mythology developed and passed on from ancient times to today remains well known in modern civilization. Young children all over the world remain fascinated by the battle of the gods, know of Helen of Troy, Hercules, and Medusa and are familiar with the different gods pertaining to different aspects of life. It has been retold and adapted in various forms, especially in today’s cinema and modern day literature. The stories of Troy, Zeus, the demi gods, the heroes of epic battles have long fascinated mankind and gives tremendous insight into the character and philosophy of ancient Greeks. Magical creatures such as the Minotaur and winged horses and nymphs, trace their origins to Greek mythology.
The mythology of Greece dates back to about 2000 BC. Various stories were told to explain the environment, surroundings and the nature of man and the gods. It is believed that it was in the island of Crete where these stories originated, wherein there was a strong belief in magical objects, creatures and places. This was explained as gods coming down to earth to observe humans and taking the form of various creatures or animals. It was in 700 BC when the mythology of the Greeks was fully developed. It is around this time that Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as Hesiod’s Theogony came to be.
What makes Greek mythology different from other belief systems is that the gods are given human qualities, often exhibiting human weaknesses such as jealousy, anger and other human feelings and emotions. This makes them as vulnerable as mortals, in spite of their great powers. Also, there are no spiritual teachings into these stories, unlike that of Christianity or even Judaism. There is no organized practice in these myths, in that there is no church or system in place to practice or formally pass down these stories.
The Greeks developed 12 gods, who ruled various aspects of life and the environment. They lived on Mount Olympus, which is Greece’s highest point. Each god had a specific domain, whether on land, sea or air. Zeus is the supreme ruler as well as the one to tame the sky and the rain with his thunderbolt. Poseidon ruled the sea and carried a trident. The lord of the underworld as well as wealth is Hades. Hestia, a virgin goddess ruled the hearth and home while Hera is the protector of married women and goddess of marriage. Ares is the god of war and Athena takes care of agriculture, handicrafts and the city. Apollo is the god of truth, light and music while Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty, love and desire. The fastest god with his winged helmet and sandal, the god of thieves and comers is Hermes. The protector of chastity and the goddess of hunters is Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo. The ugliest god, and a disfigured god is Hephaestus, who lords it over forge and fire. The ancient Greeks believed themselves to be weak compared to the gods. Great efforts were done to ensure that the gods were pleased with them so that there would be peace and prosperity. It is this belief system that propelled the ancient Greeks to build monuments and temples as tributes to various gods. Many of these monuments still stand today, and are the top attractions for travelers to Greece.
The belief in this mythology led Greeks to believe in the sacredness of some places. For example, Delphi was a site dedicated to Apollo, god of the sun. Ancient Greeks often went here to ask questions about their life and future. It explained the origin of the cosmos. At the same time, it shaped the way Greeks lived their lives, from birth to death. Passed down through stories and poems, the mythology has inspired Greek artists to create sculptures and other pieces of art that are today shown in various museums in the country. The mythology has greatly influenced their art and culture. There are carvings and paintings on jars and other pottery. Travelers can see these today when visiting the National Archeological Museum.
The importance of these stories and the reason that it has withstood the test of time is that it gives insight into the nature of man. It shows the tragic consequences of succumbing to weaknesses and temptation. At the same time, it inspires man to believe in his own greatness, which can propel him to win battles, overcome obstacles and even defeat the gods.
You’ll learn to appreciate Greek mythology as you tour around Athens and many other cities in Greece. Each island has its own mythology that is both whimsical and fascinating. It will give you a better appreciation of the way the Ancient Greeks thought, and how these stories have stood the test of time.
The Parthenon
To many architects and artists, the Parthenon is considered a sculpture masterpiece, a testament to the ancient Greeks’ quest for beauty and perfection. Since the temples were meant to be viewed from the outside as only a few can enter a sacred temple during that time, the architects of the Parthenon took that into consideration. There are slight deviations in the horizontal and vertical lines to create optical illusions of straightness. The top steps leading to the temple slightly curve upward to maintain a perfectly horizontal view of the steps. The massive columns swell by a few centimeters in the middle and they lean very slightly inward. Even the corner columns are slightly bigger than the rest. These deviations provide the viewers with columns that look perfectly straight vertically and of the same size. Each column is unique and the whole monument is like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Imagine too, the massiveness of the building, which used to house the gigantic statue of Athena Parthenos, standing at a height of 12 meters or over forty feet. The exposed parts of her body were done in ivory while her armor, dress and jewelry were made of gold that’s equal to over 2,500 pounds in weight. On her right hand stands a six-foot high statue of Nike. What is said to be the closest resemblance to the original Athena Parthenos sculpture is a full-size replica that can be found in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States.
Olympic Games
The first Olympic games were held at mount Olympus, thus giving rise to the name of the sporting event. It started in 776 BC and continued to 393 AD or the 8th Century BC to the 4th Century AD.
Ancient Olympics was very different from the Olympics that we know today. It involved chariot racing as well as combating skills, aside from athletic skills. Events included running, javelin throw, jumping, wrestling and equestrian events. Instead of countries, various individuals from different city states participated. It is said that the first Olympic champion is Coroebus, who hails from Elis.
It is said that the games originated from Zeus and his son Heracles, although no one quite sure knows how it really all began. According to the myth, Heracles had to complete 12 different challenges, also known as 12 labors. He was also credited with having built the Olympic stadium, as a tribute to his father Zeus. It is said that he then walked 200 steps in a straight line, which later evolved into a unit of measurement called stadion to measure distance.
The ancient Olympic games were heavily interwoven with religious rites. Many of the events were tributes to the gods. The winners of these games were greatly honored through song and poetry, so it was no wonder that many ancient Greeks aimed to do their best at these competitions. Also, whenever the Olympic games were held, city states ceased to battle to focus on the participation and preparation for the sporting event. This is probably because their best warriors had to be pulled out from battle in order to showcase their skills during the tournaments.
This period is called the Olympiad. Marking the passage of time by following the Olympic games every four years resulted in this becoming a measure of time. In the 6th and 5th centuries BC, the Olympic games became widely popular. However, when the Romans conquered Greece, it is said that Emperor Theodosius I called for all pagan practices to be discontinued in 393 AD. This included the Olympics.
It took a while for the Olympic games to resurface. In fact, it was only 1796 when the modern Olympics came to be. However, it was in France and not in Greece that the first modern Olympic games were held. The modern Olympics as we know today were organized in 1894 when the International Olympic Committee was formed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The Olympics have been held regularly although due to wars, it was suspended in 1916, 1940 and 1944.
The winter Olympics was established in 1924, since there were many sporting events that could not be held during the summer season. The first winter Olympics was held in France as well. The Paralympics evolved in 1948 as a way to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers of World War II. It was held to coincide with the actual Olympics. In 1960, the first Paralympics was held, called the Parallel Olympics. In 2010, the first Youth Olympics were held for young emerging athletes aged between the ages of 14 to 18 years old.
The Olympics is rich with symbolism and ritual. There is literally the passing of the torch and the carrying of the Olympic flag, which also bears one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Gold medalists are still immortalized in their display of strength, agility, speed and perseverance. With the advent of television, people the world over can now watch the Olympics games and root for their favorite players and countries.
Today, nations from all over the world participate in the Olympic games. As many as 13,000 professional athletes from all over the world join and compete in various events. There are now both a summer and Olympic games season, showcasing the best of the best. To gain an Olympic gold medal at these games is a high mark of distinction and honor. The Olympics have also evolved into the Paralympics, to provide those with physical disabilities to prove their mettle in physical competition as well. There are also the Youth Olympic games designed to showcase the skills of teenage athletes.
Ouzo
Like the champagne of France, Ouzo traces its origins to a religious group. It is the monks in the 14th century based in a monastery in Mount Athos that were said to have concocted this drink by adding anise to Tsipouro, a pomace brandy with about 45% alcohol by volume. Pomace is the residue from the wine press.
Ouzo is largely manufactured and distributed from the island of Lesbos. In the 19th century, commercial production of Ouzo boomed. Varvayanis is one of the major distillers of this drink, and is also said to produce one of the highest quality as well as one of the most expensive versions. The distillation process uses copper stills. Unlike beer, there is no fermentation process involved in the distillation process of Ouzo.
Travelers going to Greece can enjoy a shot of Ouzo at various ouzeries found around the country. Most of the time however, the drink is diluted with ice and water and slipped slowly to be enjoyed. This is best served together with some meze, which may contain spicy, hot, cold but often salty squid, octopus, fried clams or sardines and even meat. This not only helps in fending off the intoxication process, but at the same time allows the drinker to sit back, relax and enjoy the company of friends to unwind at the end of the day. In other restaurants, the drink is served chilled but not diluted.
The Greeks take pride in naming Ouzo as their own product, so only spirits made in Greece can be labeled as such. This makes a great take home present for loved ones to give them a flavor of Greece.
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