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Known for its idyllic islands, blue and white buildings, stunning seashores and lovely sunsets, Greece is without doubt one of the hottest locations to go to in Europe.
Yet it’s greater than only a vacationer vacation spot – Greece can also be well-known for introducing many issues to the world, together with democracy, drugs, arithmetic and philosophy. A variety of the world’s olive oil comes from Greece, and feta cheese is an unique product of the nation.
In this text we’ll check out the whole lot Greece is understood for, together with landmarks, produce and moments in historical past.
What is Greece Known For?
Greek Islands
Greece is residence to round 6,000 islands and islets, though solely 227 of them are inhabited. Each island has its personal identification and appeal, however typically the islands are famed for his or her picturesque cities, stunning seashores and glowing blue waters. Many of them will be reached straight by ferry from Athens, and a few even have their very own airports.
The most well-known islands in Greece are in all probability Mykonos and Santorini (a part of the Cyclades islands), though there are various different islands to find.
With six major island chains to discover – the Cyclades, the Ionian islands, the Sporades, the Dodecanese, the Saronic Islands and the North Aegean Islands – you can spend months island hopping in Greece and nonetheless not handle to see all of it.
The Acropolis & The Parthenon
Built 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 embrace the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia and the temple of Athena Nike. Most of the monuments had been constructed within the fifth century BC underneath Pericles and have survived throughout centuries by wars, bombardments, explosions, earthquakes, fires and different disasters.
Blue and White Buildings
Greece is understood for its fairly previous cities with whitewashed buildings and painted blue doorways. These colours are particularly widespread within the Cyclades Islands, reminiscent of 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. But there are additionally sensible the explanation why the homes are painted with these colours.
Houses had been initially painted with white limestone as a result of it had antibacterial qualities, which helped to disinfect houses and forestall outbreaks of ailments reminiscent of cholera. White can also be a cooling coloration, so it might forestall houses from getting too sizzling in the summertime warmth.
Doors and shutters had been painted blue as a result of it was the most affordable paint coloration accessible, and fishermen would use the paint left over from portray their boats.
Ouzo
Ouzo is mainly the native firewater in Greece. It’s an anise-flavored aperitif that comes from grapes and is usually consumed after dinner. Throughout 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 could actually’t be made wherever else.
This fiery drink is created from the leftover remnants of wine manufacturing, and is often 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. Sometimes folks will add water to dilute it, which turns it a milky white coloration.
Feta Cheese
Greece is legendary for producing feta cheese, which is widespread everywhere in the world and is usually crumbled on salads. This brined white cheese is created from sheep’s milk or from a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk.
Feta is solely produced in Greece and has a comfortable, crumbly texture, with no pores and skin. It’s particularly widespread in Greek dishes reminiscent of 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 encompass 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 a fantastic late evening snack after the bars are closed!
Moussaka
Moussaka is a well-known Greek dish that incorporates 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 last 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 residence to Meteora, which is an impressive rock formation that hosts a big advanced of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Located on the Greek mainland near the village of Kastraki, Meteora options large 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 recognized for smashing plates at celebrations, significantly weddings. Originally plates had been smashed at funerals as a approach to take care of loss, and the customized got here to sign each endings and beginnings.
The Ancient Olympic Games
In addition to contributing democracy, philosophy and drugs to the western world, Greece additionally gave us the Olympic Games.
The Ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC and had been held each 4 years in Olympia. Athletes from Greek city-states would take part in a sequence 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 underneath Theodosius II. The competitors was then resurrected a few years later within the type of the Modern Olympic Games, which first passed off in Athens in 1896.
Greek Mythology
Ancient Greeks cherished to inform myths and tales that featured deitites, heroes, monsters and varied mythological creatures. Popular figures included gods like Zeus, Appollo and Poseidon, in addition to goddesses like Aphrodite, Athena and Artemis.
The myths had been used to elucidate the origins of the world in addition to what folks noticed round them. One widespread fable is Pandora’s Box, which tells the story of Pandora, the primary girl on Earth. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create her from clay, and gods bestowed her with varied qualities. Some gods gifted her intelligence, femininity and talent, 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 present. He informed them by no means to open the field in the event that they wished to reside fortunately ever after, however finally Pandora’s curiosity acquired the higher of her.
She opened the field and out got here illness, starvation, ache, dying and different evils, which had been launched up on the world. She rapidly closed the field and hope remained inside. The fable teaches us to withstand temptation and be proud of what we’re given.
Philosophy
Greece is legendary for producing many necessary philosophers, together with Aristotle, Protagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Epicurus.
Ancient Greek philosophy was first developed within the sixth century BC, when philosophers began to attempt to make sense of the world utilizing motive. It all started with Thales of Miletus, who got here up with a system known as the First Cause of observable phenomena, and advised that the First Cause of existence was water.
His followers continued his research and initiated a type of motive generally known as philosophy to elucidate 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.
Mathematics & The Pythagorean Theorem
Mathematics 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 “subject of instruction”.
The most notable Greek mathematician was Pythagoras, who developed the pythagorean theorem. If you studied arithmetic at school it’s doubtless you had been taught this theorem:
In any right-angle triangle the sq. of the longest facet (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 to be very completely different to the English alphabet, though street indicators often have each English and Greek.
The Greek alphabet has been in existence for the reason that 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
Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in mainland Greece, the Sanctuary of Delphi is an historical sanctuary that was residence to the god Apollo and his prophesying priestess, the Pythia. Today the ruins are a well-liked vacationer attraction and many individuals go to as a day journey from Athens.
In historical occasions, Delphi was the spiritual middle of Greece and it was generally known as the “navel of the world”. Development of the sanctuary started within the eighth century BC and pilgrims from throughout Greece would go to the positioning to participate in a ritual and obtain an oracle from the Pythia.
Highlights of Delphi embrace the Temple of Apollo and the traditional theater, which might accommodate round 4,500 spectators and supplied an impressive view of your entire sanctuary and the valley beneath.
Olives & Olive Oil
Olive oil is an integral a part of Greek delicacies and Greece produces a few of the greatest olive oil on the earth. Ancient Greeks used olive oil for medicinal functions and in addition used it as a beauty to moisturize their pores and skin and hair.
According to archaeologists, olive timber had been first cultivated in Crete within the Early Minoean period. Today, olive timber are discovered throughout Greece and the nation is without doubt one of the world’s largest olive oil exporters. Greece produces greater than 430,000 tons of olive oil annually, and round 75% of that’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Birthplace of Democracy
Greece is understood for inventing democracy and Athens had the primary recognized democratic system on the earth. In 507 B.C. Athenian chief Cleisthenes launched political reforms known as demokratia, which meant “rule by the people”.
The political system lasted for under two centuries and but it had profound results on the longer term governance of nations around the globe. It was completely different from modern-day democracy in that grownup male residents (no ladies or slaves) had been required to take an lively half in authorities.
Each yr 500 residents had been chosen to serve within the authorities for a one yr time period. During that yr they had been answerable for controlling the political course of and making new legal guidelines. When a brand new regulation was proposed, all of the residents of Athens had the correct to vote on it at an meeting.
A Final Word…
Greece is a rustic with a really wealthy historical past and has actually contributed many issues to the world. It’s additionally an extremely stunning vacation spot, with some really spectacular islands and picturesque cities.
If you’re planning your first go to to Greece, you possibly can’t go unsuitable with the traditional Athens-Mykonos-Santorini itinerary. Explore the acropolis and the parthenon in Athens, watch the solar go down over Oia in Santorini and take in the solar on the seashores of Mykonos…it’s a visit you gained’t neglect!