Interesting Facts about Greece
Usually when you think of Greece its usually the beautiful Greek islands right? Such as Mykonos, Santorini or Crete. But in my case, I was excited to see the history. I’m not a beach person when it comes to travelling to Europe. Perhaps, in my mind I prefer discovering the history, architecture, culture and the food.
I wanted to share my Greek experience some 11 years ago. Hopefully, it’ll shed more insight into this beautiful ancient greek story.
Firstly, I’d like to ask what is Greece famous for? Of course if you ask a few of your friends or anyone you meet what did they enjoyed the most of Greece. I bet each person will have a different experience based on individual preferences.
Anyhow, coming back to what Greece is famous for, here are 11 points :-
1) Greece is famous for it’s gorgeous greek islands. According to Visit Greece site, there are some 6,000 islands and islets scattered in the Aegean sea; of which only 227 islands are inhabited. If course, if you’re a beach person.
2) The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous ancient archaeological sites in the world. Located on a limestone hill high above Athens, Greece, the Acropolis has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Over the centuries, the Acropolis was many things: a home to kings, a citadel, a mythical home of the gods, a religious center and a tourist attraction. It has withstood bombardment, massive earthquakes and vandalism yet still stands as a reminder of the rich history of Greece. Today, it is a cultural UNESCO World Heritage site and home to several temples, the most famous of which is the Parthenon.
3) Ancient Greek mythology and the Olympian Gods. You will notice when you visit some of the ancient ruins that it was famous Greek myths where it began in the Bronze Age. Do you remember reading about the Olympians? Who were they? There were 12 main Olympians; Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hermes and Poseidon.
4) The Greek Language, Indo-European language spoken primarily in Greece. It has a long and well-documented history – the longest of any language spanning 34 centuries.
5) The Olympic Stadium also known as Panathenaic. it is the oldest stadium in the world still used for sporting events. Dating back more than 2000 years. It hosted the first contemporary Olympics in 1896.
6) Greek Olives, Oil and Feta Cheese, please DO ENSURE you try these during your stay. And if you luggage has space, please BUY as well. OMG it’s divine!
7) Famous Greek Ouzu, OK when i tried this drink I was like Woah it’s very STRONG. So, just be mindful. You can either dilute it with water or just have small sips.
8) When in Greece, please try and have a cuppa of their Greek coffee. It’s just delish!
9) 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece – Did you know that Greece has 18 heritage sites? If you ever have the time please do try and visit. Whereas me, I could only cover 3 sites (here are the 18 sites: i) Acropolis, ii) Archaeological Site of Aigai, iii) Archaeological Site of Delphi, iv) Archaeological Site of Mystras, v) Archaeological Site of Olympia, vi) Archaeological Site of Philippi, vii) Archaeological Site of Mycenae & Tiryns, Delos, viii) Medieval city of Rhodes, ix) Monastries of Daphni; Hosios Loukas & Nea Moni of Chios, x) Old Town of Corfu, xi) Paleochristian & Byzantine monuments of Thessalonika, xii) Pythagoreion & Heraion of Samos, xiii) Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, xiv) Temple of Apollo Epicurious at Bassae, xv) The historic Centre (Chora with the Monastery of Saint John and xvi) the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos, xvii) Meteora and xviii) Mount Athos.
10) Who is the most famous person from Greece? It’s Alexander the Great.
11) Do you know who are the famous Greek philosophers? Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Democritus, Empedocles, Thales, Aristotle, Plato & Socrates
The above was sourced from Wiki
Shopping Heaven in a Monastery!
This is the best place to get your souvenirs. I just went crazy in there!
Monastiraki is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in Athens. Monastiraki means little monastery, as a monastery once stood in the main square.
Monastiraki Square is also home to the Tzistarakis Mosque, built in 1759. It served as a crafts museum in 1915 and after 1975, it began to house a fascinating collection of pottery from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. The mosque is adjacent to the remains of Hadrian’s Library, which was built around 132 AC by emperor Hadrian, as well as the Roman Forum.
On the square, visitors can admire the sunken Church of Pantanassa, the only remaining part of the monastery (or rather nunnery) that existed on location during the Byzantine period and gave the area its name (Monastiraki means little monastery). But for many, Monastiraki is mostly synonymous with antiques and old treasures thanks to the flea markets and antique shops that dot the area towards Abyssinia Square.
The metro station on the square dates back to 1895 when the above-ground metro was constructed. It was actually a train, which is why, today, Athenians still call it ‘treno’ (train). It connected Piraeus Port to Athens and Kifissias, then to another village in the north of Athens. Today, the underground metro line that connects the airport to the city passes through Monastiraki as well, making it a major hub.
Here I’d like to share the top Heritage sites you should go when in Athens. Otherwise, your trip would be incomplete.
Temple of Poseidon – Cape Sounion, Greece. Its about 43 miles southeast of Athens. About one hour drive from the center of Athens. It’s a pleasant coastal drive.
The remains of this ancient temple are surrounded on three sides by water and supposedly the site where Aegeus, the King of Athens, jumped off the ledge to his death. Hence the name of the body of water.
In Greek mythology, Poseidon, brother of Zeus, was the God of the Sea, so it is no wonder that he was highly revered and worshipped in a country with over 13,500 kilometers of coastline. Ancient Greeks, especially seamen, believed storms were signs of Poseidon’s wrath, and therefore the temple at Cape Sounion was a sacred place where sailors and the general population came to offer animal sacrifices and other gifts to appease him and find favor.
Greece especially Athens is home to many serious ancient architectural sites. I bet historians and archeologists had a field day hundreds of years trying to dig, collect and patch up everything. No easy task I’m always in awe how the heck they construct such high tall columns with intricate designs. Really mind blowing to me
Some of the above was taken from since this trip was some 11 years ago – Source : culture trip & wiki
I wished I had one of those DJI mini drones back then. Would loved to have taken an aerial shot of this magnificent Acropolis of Athens.
Here are 10 Fun Facts about the Acropolis & Parthenon in Athens:-
1) There was another Parthenon before this temple – The Parthenon was built on top of a former temple of Athena, which was destroyed by the Persians during the Persian Wars.
2) The Parthenon served as a temple in various religions – it has been a temple, a church, and a mosque throughout it’s lifetime.
3) The Parthenon was blown up – There were explosives stored in the Parthenon that went off and blew up the interior of the Parthenon.
4) It cost the equivalent of 469 war ships to build the Parthenon
5) The carvings were carried away and shipwrecked – it seems 1 of the boats carrying the carvings sunk and for two years many of the carvings were stuck on the ocean floor.
6) Carvings are still scattered in other continents – the original carvings can be found in England, France & Denmark
7) Greece wants their marbles back – has been trying to get the Parthenon’s marbles back for 150 years with no success yet.
8) The Parthenon was originally quite colorful – was painted in many bright colors! Until the beginning of the 19th century, the systematic excavation of ancient Greek sites had brought to the fore a plethora of sculptures, some of which had visible traces of colorful surfaces.
9) The Parthenon is earthquake-resistant – it has triple anti-seismic shielding!
10) The Parthenon housed a colossal statue of Athena – was built in honor of the patroness of the city, goddess Athena, and was designed to fit her colossal ivory statue inside. Athena’s statue was placed on a pedestal in the nave of the temple
Source – wiki
Heritage Site No 3) Ancient Theatre of Dionysus of Athens
This is the ancient theatre of Dionysus of Athens. Usually when you think of Greece its usually the beautiful Greek islands right? Such Mykonos, Santorini or Crete. But in my case, I was excited to see the history. I’m not a beach person when it comes to Europe. Perhaps, in my mind I prefer discovering the history, architecture, culture and the food.
Anyways, I found 4 interesting facts about this particular ancient theatre.
1) The theatre was built between the 500 BCE. When constructed the theatre had an audience capacity of 25,000 so that each person could see the performance on the stage. In later years, the theatre could accommodate as many as 14,000 – 17,000 seated audiences.
2) Western theatre originated at an ancient Greek Festival called Dionysia – This festival was held in honour of Dionysus, the Greek god of grape-harvest, wine and fertility.
3) The famous Drama Masks may be traced to ancient greek theatre – The drama masks, that have now come to symbolize theatre, originated in Ancient Greece. The two masks together represent Comedy and Tragedy; the two main genres of Greek theatre.
4) Women were not allowed to act in ancient greek theatre – In the early years, all the parts in Greek theatre plays were played by men. Women did not act in Ancient Greek plays and it is still disputed as to whether they even came to watch the plays.
Did you know that it is the oldest stadium in the world still used for sporting events. Dating back more than 2000 years.. WOW!
Info about this magnificent stadium, The Panathenaic Stadium was made entirely of white marble in 144 AD. In the nineteenth century, it was dug up and rebuilt. It hosted the first contemporary Olympics in 1896.
Dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, the Panathenaic Games was a popular event that took place once every four years, in which the inhabitants of Athens organized a religious festival with a sports competition and other cultural events.
The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, is one of the most popular visits in the Greek capital. Visitors can walk along the marble stands where the Athenians once cheered the sportsmen on centuries ago. The running track is also open, and tourists can get a selfie up on the podium next to the Olympic rings.
Here I found 4 interesting facts about the Panathenaic stadium. Read below table (Source: wiki, real greek experiences) :-
- It is the only stadium in the world where three Olympic Games have taken place three times – in 1896, 1906 and 2004
- It was the first ancient stadium to be used in modern times
3. The Kallimarmaron is the only stadium in the world made out of Pentelic marble
4. It was home to the biggest basketball game audience ever, in 1968. The Greek team called AEK defeated Slavia Praha (89-82). An estimated 80,000 people were inside the stadium, with another 40,000 standing right outside 😳
The first Acropolis museum was completed in the 1870’s. The structure experienced renovations along with expansions over time. Several excavations throughout the years discovered numerous new artifacts but they could not be put on display because the museum was too small.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Another reason that the new museum was needed was the Greek government had requested that the United Kingdom to return the Elgin Marbles. Development of a gallery to exhibit the Elgin Marbles was an important factor in the new museum’s design. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The museum features many ancient artifacts that have been discovered at the Acropolis site. The artifacts are from the Greek Bronze Age, Roman Era, and Byzantine Greece. The museum is also near the Makrygianni architectural site.⠀⠀⠀
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This is place is heaven to history enthusiasts. Has so many artifacts in display. Definitely a must visit when visiting Athens.
I’m always curious how does these excavations takes place. Must be quite a delicate affair especially when you’re dealing with ancient ruins such as Acropolis. ⠀
The Roman emperor Hadrian had a great affection for Athens. Although he did his fair share of spiriting its Classical artwork to Rome, he also embellished the city with many temples and infrastructure improvements. As thanks, the people of Athens erected this lofty monument of Pentelic marble in 131 AD. It now stands on the edge of one of Athens’ busiest avenues. In Roman times, it stood across the road to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and, beyond, the sanctuary of Pan near the Ilissos River, long covered by pavement but emerging briefly in the wild greenery past the temple. The inscriptions laud the new Roman era: the northwest frieze reads, ‘This is Athens, the Ancient city of Theseus’, while the southeast frieze states, ‘This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus’.
The Hadrian’s Arch, Athens Greece.
The Temple of Athena Nike is a temple on the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to the goddesses Athena and Nike. Built around 420 BC, the temple is the earliest fully Ionic temple on the Acropolis. It has a prominent position on a steep bastion at the south west corner of the Acropolis to the right of the entrance, the Propylaea. In contrast to the Acropolis proper, a walled sanctuary entered through the Propylaea, the Victory Sanctuary was open, entered from the Propylaea’s southwest wing and from a narrow stair on the north. The sheer walls of its bastion were protected on the north, west, and south by the Nike Parapet, named for its frieze of Nikai celebrating victory and sacrificing to their patroness, Athena and Nike.
Hello there…. check out the guard 💂♀️ He is so tall 🔥☝🏽🥰
(Behind me) Is actually not a monument from the Greek antiquity but from its modern history. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in Syntagma Square, in the building housing the Greek Parliament. This monument is a cenotaph in honor of the fallen in wars. The sculpture depicts a naked male figure of a dead warrior lying on rising ground. The fallen warrior holds a circular shield, wears an ancient helmet and has his face turned to the side. The rendering of the dead body gives the impression that the Unknown Soldier is resting alive, ready to rise. To its sides, there are two inscriptions from Pericles’ Epitaph of Thucydides. In front of the monument, you can admire the Presidential Guards, also known as Evzones, with their traditional uniforms. The changing of the Guard is one of the most popular things to see in Athens. However many times you see it, it always makes for an impressive spectacle.
Here’s a tip for your future trip: – The changing of Guard takes place every hour, so it’s quite hard to miss it. Make sure to be there at least 10 minutes earlier, to have time to witness it from the beginning. Every Sunday at 11am, you can witness the whole Guard changing. And you’re allowed to stand next to the guard like how I did in the picture. Just make sure you don’t poke him or anything!
Source: Greek Traveltellers
To me this question is depending on preferences really. Some would love going during Summer. But it can get crowded especially in the beaches. Greece is famous for the many beautiful beaches.
Whereas for me I prefer travelling during Winter middle of November or December (Christmas week). Keeping in mind, that’s the only time in the year I can take long leave from work.
Back to the when to travel; in my opinion I think November / December is lovely to travel to Greece. The weather is just nice and less crowd.
I think these days there are many options (AirB&B), hotel sites, travel sites and many others.
My recommended hotel would be where we stayed.
Intercontinental Athens it had the best view of the Parthenon from the bedroom. Do remember to request for a room with that view and at a higher floor. It was a little pricey but travel across the globe you won’t regret it I assure you! If you can’t get the room with a view, no fret the hotel has this amazing rooftop bar where you can enjoy dining experience with a View! Be sure to try some yummy cocktails whilst you’re there ;-)