Greece
History
· Greece is the birthplace of our modern civilization. Much of what we know and believe in comes from the ancient Greek philosophers. Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and even Pythagoras (creator of the Pythagorean Theorem) all did their thinking in the creative Greek atmosphere.
· The Minoan city on a Greek island was destroyed when the volcano erupted, becoming the legend of Atlantis.
· Olympics began in early 700 BC. It was held to honor the Greek god Zeus. Greece, tourism is relied on heavily to sustain the economy.
· Greece and Turkey’s histories are rather intertwined. The Byzantine Empire ruled a rather large area of Greece.
Government
· The Greeks use of city-states that ruled as independent bodies has been the basis for many other governments.
· Greece is a presidential parliamentary republic. A presidential parliamentary has something to do with a parliamentary system which results in the executive branch and a legislative branch, and no clear separation of power.
Culture
· Classical Greek architecture followed three orders that are seen in the different building styles (especially the columns) of ancient Greece. The Doric order, seen in the Parthenon, is the simplest of the styles with simple columns with rounded tops. The Ionic order originated in ancient Greece and it is characterized by columns with curved tops and slender bodies. The Corinthian order is the most elaborate style and it is characterized by ornate capitals (tops) with leaves and scrolls.
· Over 250 days of the year Greece enjoys sunshine.
· It is required by law to vote if you are over 18 years old
· Many structures in Greece are painted blue because it was believed that it would keep evil away.
· All of the dead are buried in Greece; there is no cremation. The bodies are then dug up, washed, and placed in an ossuary; this is done partly to save land in Greek cemeteries.
· It’ll be important to keep in mind that the Greeks do not wave with an open hand because it is an insult to show the palm
· They puff (like spitting) after they give a compliment to protect the person receiving the compliment from the “evil eye”.
· Greek tragedies were performed in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine, whereas comedies were for the lower class citizens.
· The white marbles of Greece, when freshly cut and seen in the glare of Greek sunlight are dazzling bright. Recent studies have confirmed earlier suggestions that in antiquity the glaring effect was deliberately toned down by the application of varnish to surfaces which were otherwise left plain.
· Some Greeks believe they can catch the “evil eye” from someone else’s jealousy or contempt. Catching the “evil eye” causes that person to feel sick both physically and psychologically. To avoid the “evil eye” people usually wear a blue marbled charm to ward off the evil.
· In Greece, Easter is very important and revered. It is observed in three days, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Easter Sunday.
· Greece has more archeological museums than anywhere in the world.
· Students gain entrance to universities, technical schools and schools of higher education through entrance exams and education is free for those who pass them
· The Greeks’ perceptions of themselves are somewhat high-minded
· The most interesting is the release of a puff of air through pursed lips in order to ward of jealousy.
· Greeks will smile when they are angry as well as happy
Ochi Day is a day that celebrates the day the Greeks denied Hitler aid and joined with the allies.
Demographics
· Greece is roughly the same size as Alabama but the population of Greece is over twice as much as Alabama’s population.
· There are no navigable rivers in Greece because most of it is mountainous and rocky.
· 80% of Greece’s terrain is mountainous or hilly
Religion
· Though freedom of religion is a part of Greek law, the Eastern Orthodox Church is supported through taxes and proselytizing is not allowed
· 98% of Greece is Eastern (Greek) Orthodox.
Cuisine
· The saganaki (fried cheese), keftedakia (fried meatballs of beef), and Tiropitakia (cheese pie).
Athens
History
· The first democratic government was founded in the city of Athens.
· Athens was named after the Greek goddess, Athena, and the Parthenon was constructed to house a statue of Athena. It is one of the most well-known monuments in the world, and has stood for almost 2500 years.
· Athens started to grow start around 1300 BC but really began to thrive around 100 BC. Athens reached its peak by 400 BC which is also known as the Golden age
· In Greek mythology it is said that Poseidon and Athena competed for the Guardianship of the city by a contest to whom could give the best gift. Athena with her gift of the olive tree won
Information
· Greek architecture is famous for being big, beautiful, and symmetric. There are three main styles which have lasted through the ages. They are Doric, Corinthian, and Ionic; these styles are still in use today and can be seen in buildings like the columns of the White house. The Parthenon is the most famous example of Doric architecture.
· The food in Athens is supposed to be the most modern and trendy in Europe.
· There are 5 million people living in Athens and now traffic is a huge problem with a lot of jams and pollution.
Sites
· The Panathaniac Stadium is located in Athens and it was the location of the first Olympic Games in 1896. It was produced out of the remnants of an ancient Greek stadium that held the athletic portion of the Panathenaic Games for the Goddess Athena.
· Other famous buildings and monuments include the Erechtheum, Porch of the Cayatids, and the monument of Lysicrates.
· Acropolis means. The word “Acro” means high and the word “Polis” means city.
· The Parthenon is the most imitated building in the world. It is also very interesting to read Acts 17 and read about Paul and his encounter with the people of Athens and their idolatry.
· Greek Theater of Dionysus. It has mostly been preserved in Athens. The Greeks have started a multi-million dollar project to restore the theater and hope to have it completed by 2015. It holds 25,000 people and even on the top seats, people were able to hear the lines on stage, an acoustical achievement for that era.
Santorini
History
· Many travelers say Santorini is the best island to visit. The island was the site of a huge volcanic eruption, which explains why the island shoots out of the water in such a unique way.
· Around 1500 BC, the volcano of Santorini Island in Greece exploded and the eruption was so strong that the centre of the island sank and took the shape with the caldera that can be seen today.
Information
· The Amoudi Bay looks like a true Greek experience. You walk down a winding steep path to a beautiful bay with restaurants along the shore and the sound of waves crashing against the coast. The bay has crystal blue water full of fish and other sea creatures.
· Santorin, is the only inhabited Caldera in the world. A Caldera is a volcanic cauldron and the villages and towns of Santorini are densely located on top of the Caldera. The view from the top of the Caldera while watching the sun set is breathtaking.
· Santorini is rated among the most beautiful places in the world.
· The waters in the center of the lagoon around Santorini stretch down 1,300 feet!
· These islands are known for their delicious tomatoes, especially their cherry tomatoes that are exquisite due to the environment the volcanic soil supports.
· Santorini is one of two locations in Europe that feature a hot desert climate
· In Santorini, water is scare and while most houses have running water to them, it is not safe for consumption
Sites
· The Open Air Cinema Kamari is an open air cinema that shows movies.
· Oia Village, which is a village careve out of the cliffs and the buildings are beautiful and white.
Other Greek Cities
Delphi
· Delphi is a famous Greek city located in the south-western part of Greece.
· In Greek mythology Delphi was the home of the oracle who Apollo spoke through. Today Delphi has the remains of the Temple of Apollo, as well as a stadium, and a theatre.
· Sibyl rock and the Tholos are also located in Dephi.
· Delphi was considered the center of the world. It was where man could be closer to God because that was where heaven and earth met.
· The oracle of Delphi also resided at this spot. This oracle gave spiritual advice to the ancient people seeking answers to their questions.
Greek Islands
· There are 166 habitable islands in Greece. There are over 6000 Greek Islands, but only 78 have more than 100 inhabitants.
· The Greek Islands are known to have the most dramatic natural color schemes during sunrise and sunsets.
· These islands are home to Europe’s largest network of passenger vehicle and freight ferries lacing all inhabited islands together.
· The 2,000 islands make up about 1/5th of the total land area of Greece
Meteora
· Meteora is home to the monasteries on the cliffs, which were inhabited by hermit monks as far back as the late 11th century. It is widely believed that the St. Athanasius, founder of the first monastery, did not scale the cliffs, but was carried up by an eagle. In the 14th century 20 monasteries were created to find refuge from the Turkish invaders. Today only six remain.
