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Identified for its idyllic islands, blue and white buildings, lovely seashores and beautiful sunsets, Greece is without doubt one of the hottest locations to go to in Europe.
But it’s greater than only a vacationer vacation spot – Greece can be well-known for introducing many issues to the world, together with democracy, medication, arithmetic and philosophy. A variety of the world’s olive oil comes from Greece, and feta cheese is an unique product of the nation.
On this article we’ll check out every thing Greece is thought for, together with landmarks, produce and moments in historical past.
What’s Greece Identified For?
Greek Islands
Greece is dwelling to round 6,000 islands and islets, though solely 227 of them are inhabited. Every island has its personal id and allure, however typically the islands are famed for his or her picturesque cities, lovely seashores and glowing blue waters. A lot of them could be reached immediately by ferry from Athens, and a few even have their very own airports.
Probably the most well-known islands in Greece are most likely Mykonos and Santorini (a part of the Cyclades islands), though there are numerous different islands to find.
With six predominant island chains to discover – the Cyclades, the Ionian islands, the Sporades, the Dodecanese, the Saronic Islands and the North Aegean Islands – you would spend months island hopping in Greece and nonetheless not handle to see all of it.
The Acropolis & The Parthenon
Constructed on a rocky outcrop above town of Athens, The Acropolis is an historical monumental advanced that was devoted to classical Greek thought and artwork.
Notable buildings contained in the advanced embody the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia and the temple of Athena Nike. Many of the monuments had been constructed within the fifth century BC beneath Pericles and have survived throughout centuries by means of wars, bombardments, explosions, earthquakes, fires and different disasters.
Blue and White Buildings
Greece is thought for its fairly outdated cities with whitewashed buildings and painted blue doorways. These colours are particularly in style within the Cyclades Islands, resembling Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Milos and Naxos.
White and blue are the colours of the Greek flag, with white representing the sky and blue representing the ocean. However there are additionally sensible explanation why the homes are painted with these colours.
Homes had been initially painted with white limestone as a result of it had antibacterial qualities, which helped to disinfect houses and stop outbreaks of ailments resembling cholera. White can be a cooling shade, so it will forestall houses from getting too scorching in the summertime warmth.
Doorways and shutters had been painted blue as a result of it was the most cost effective paint shade out there, and fishermen would use the paint left over from portray their boats.
Ouzo
Ouzo is principally the native firewater in Greece. It’s an anise-flavored aperitif that comes from grapes and is usually consumed after dinner. All through Greece you’ll discover ouzeries, the place ouzo is consumed alongside meze (small plates of meals).
Ouzo was first commercially distilled in 1856 and is solely produced by Greece and Cyprus. In 2006, the Greek authorities gained the unique rights to make use of the product title ouzo, so it might’t be made anyplace else.
This fiery drink is made out of the leftover remnants of wine manufacturing, and is usually distilled in copper pot stills. Its aniseed, black licorice taste could be very sturdy, a bit like sambuca or raki.
Ouzo is often served neat, with out ice, in a tubular, thick-bottomed glass known as a kanoakia. Generally folks will add water to dilute it, which turns it a milky white shade.
Feta Cheese
Greece is known for producing feta cheese, which is in style all around the world and is usually crumbled on salads. This brined white cheese is made out of sheep’s milk or from a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk.
Feta is solely produced in Greece and has a gentle, crumbly texture, with no pores and skin. It’s particularly in style in Greek dishes resembling Greek salad and spinach and feta pie (Spanakopita).
Souvlaki and Gyros
In tavernas throughout Greece you’ll see souvlaki on the menu, which consists of items of meat (often pork, rooster, beef or lamb) grilled on a skewer. Souvlaki is usually served on a plate with fries, pita and salad.
You’ll additionally see a lot of takeaway spots promoting gyros, which include slices of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, served inside a pita bread with tomato, lettuce, onion, potato fries and tzatziki. Gyros are completely scrumptious and make for an ideal late night time snack after the bars are closed!
Moussaka
Moussaka is a well-known Greek dish that comprises layers of eggplant, potatoes and floor beef in a wealthy tomato sauce. The dish is topped off with creamy bechamel sauce and baked within the oven, forming the final word consolation dish.
The trendy model was initially created by the French-trained Greek chef Nikolaos Tselementes within the Twenties and also you’ll see it on virtually each menu in Greece.
Meteora
Greece is dwelling to Meteora, which is a powerful rock formation that hosts a big advanced of Jap Orthodox monasteries. Positioned on the Greek mainland near the village of Kastraki, Meteora options big rock pillars with six monasteries perched on prime of the sandstone cliffs.
This UNESCO World Heritage website is without doubt one of the nation’s most well-known sights and its title means “lofty” or “elevated”.
Smashing Plates
Greeks are identified for smashing plates at celebrations, notably weddings. Initially plates had been smashed at funerals as a method to cope with loss, and the customized got here to sign each endings and beginnings.
The Historic Olympic Video games
Along with contributing democracy, philosophy and medication to the western world, Greece additionally gave us the Olympic Video games.
The Historic Olympic Video games began in 776 BC and had been held each 4 years in Olympia. Athletes from Greek city-states would take part in a collection of athletic competitions and had been typically given olive leaf wreaths or crowns as prizes.
The final recorded celebration of the video games was in AD 393 and it’s believed they got here to an finish beneath Theodosius II. The competitors was then resurrected a few years later within the type of the Trendy Olympic Video games, which first passed off in Athens in 1896.
Greek Mythology
Historic Greeks beloved to inform myths and tales that featured deitites, heroes, monsters and numerous mythological creatures. Common figures included gods like Zeus, Appollo and Poseidon, in addition to goddesses like Aphrodite, Athena and Artemis.
The myths had been used to clarify the origins of the world in addition to what folks noticed round them. One in style fantasy is Pandora’s Field, which tells the story of Pandora, the primary lady on Earth. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create her from clay, and gods bestowed her with numerous qualities. Some gods gifted her intelligence, femininity and ability, whereas others made her deceitful, cussed and curious.
She was given a treasured field and was informed to not open it. She wed a Titan known as Epimetheus and Zeus gave a treasured field as a marriage reward. He informed them by no means to open the field in the event that they needed to reside fortunately ever after, however finally Pandora’s curiosity bought the higher of her.
She opened the field and out got here illness, starvation, ache, demise and different evils, which had been launched up on the world. She rapidly closed the field and hope remained inside. The parable teaches us to withstand temptation and be proud of what we’re given.
Philosophy
Greece is known for producing many vital philosophers, together with Aristotle, Protagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Epicurus.
Historic Greek philosophy was first developed within the sixth century BC, when philosophers began to attempt to make sense of the world utilizing purpose. All of it started with Thales of Miletus, who got here up with a system known as the First Reason behind observable phenomena, and urged that the First Reason behind existence was water.
His followers continued his research and initiated a type of purpose often known as philosophy to clarify all pure phenomena and life occasions, with out resorting to mythological explanations.
The actual watershed second although, got here with Socrates, who’s answerable for shifting the primary focus of philosophy from cosmology to ethics and morality.
Arithmetic & The Pythagorean Theorem
Arithmetic as we all know it’s largely the results of research began by the Pythagoreans within the sixth century BC. They coined the time period arithmetic from the traditional Greek μάθημα (mathema), which suggests “topic of instruction”.
Probably the most notable Greek mathematician was Pythagoras, who developed the pythagorean theorem. In case you studied arithmetic at school it’s probably you had been taught this theorem:
In any right-angle triangle the sq. of the longest aspect (the hypotenuse) is the same as the sum of the squares of the 2 different sides.
Greek Alphabet
When visiting Greece you’ll discover that the Greek alphabet seems very totally different to the English alphabet, though street indicators often have each English and Greek.
The Greek alphabet has been in existence because the late ninth century or early eighth century BCE and is derived from the sooner Phoenician alphabet. It consists of 24 letters, that are ordered from alpha to omega:
Α α, Β β, Γ γ, Δ δ, Ε ε, Ζ ζ, Η η, Θ θ, Ι ι, Κ κ, Λ λ, Μ μ, Ν ν, Ξ ξ, Ο ο, Π π, Ρ ρ, Σ σ/ς, Τ τ, Υ υ, Φ φ, Χ χ, Ψ ψ, Ω ω.
Sanctuary of Delphi
Positioned on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in mainland Greece, the Sanctuary of Delphi is an historical sanctuary that was dwelling to the god Apollo and his prophesying priestess, the Pythia. As we speak the ruins are a preferred vacationer attraction and many individuals go to as a day journey from Athens.
In historical instances, Delphi was the non secular heart of Greece and it was often known as the “navel of the world”. Improvement of the sanctuary started within the eighth century BC and pilgrims from throughout Greece would go to the location to participate in a ritual and obtain an oracle from the Pythia.
Highlights of Delphi embody the Temple of Apollo and the traditional theater, which may accommodate round 4,500 spectators and offered a powerful view of the complete sanctuary and the valley under.
Olives & Olive Oil
Olive oil is an integral a part of Greek delicacies and Greece produces a number of the greatest olive oil on the earth. Historic Greeks used olive oil for medicinal functions and in addition used it as a beauty to moisturize their pores and skin and hair.
In response to archaeologists, olive bushes had been first cultivated in Crete within the Early Minoean period. As we speak, olive bushes are discovered throughout Greece and the nation is without doubt one of the world’s greatest olive oil exporters. Greece produces greater than 430,000 tons of olive oil every year, and round 75% of that’s Further Virgin Olive Oil.
Birthplace of Democracy
Greece is thought for inventing democracy and Athens had the primary identified democratic system on the earth. In 507 B.C. Athenian chief Cleisthenes launched political reforms known as demokratia, which meant “rule by the folks”.
The political system lasted for under two centuries and but it had profound results on the longer term governance of nations world wide. It was totally different from modern-day democracy in that grownup male residents (no ladies or slaves) had been required to take an lively half in authorities.
Every year 500 residents had been chosen to serve within the authorities for a one 12 months time period. Throughout that 12 months they had been answerable for controlling the political course of and making new legal guidelines. When a brand new legislation was proposed, all of the residents of Athens had the fitting to vote on it at an meeting.
A Ultimate Phrase…
Greece is a rustic with a really wealthy historical past and has definitely contributed many issues to the world. It’s additionally an extremely lovely vacation spot, with some really spectacular islands and picturesque cities.
In case you’re planning your first go to to Greece, you possibly can’t go improper with the basic Athens-Mykonos-Santorini itinerary. Discover the acropolis and the parthenon in Athens, watch the solar go down over Oia in Santorini and absorb the solar on the seashores of Mykonos…it’s a visit you gained’t overlook!