Greetings! We recently returned from a trip to Greece (officially known as The Hellenic Republic because Greece is referred to has “Hellas,” but will be referred to as “Greece” in this post; country #107), where we were able to experience the capital, Athens (known as Athina [ah-thee-NAH] to the Greeks, but will be referred to as Athens in this post). Below, you will find information and photos from our trip. Please note that there will be references to religion in this post. These references are for historical purposes only, and should not be interpreted as a promotion or degradation of any religion. Please also note that photos from this trip include photos of statues without heads. Statues in Greek history are often headless, and where heads are present, they are often disfigured [e.g., missing a nose]. I have not found a clear reason for this, but one explanation was that they were beheaded by the Ottomans, who were Muslim – in Islam, they did not believe in having graven images, and they considered the statues (with heads) to be graven images. Finally, please note that references to “BCE” reflect Before Common Era (similar to and interchanged with BC, which is referred to as Before Christ).
Greece is a country that is situated in Europe, very close to Asia and Africa, and is bordered by three seas: Aegean (east), Mediterranean (south), and Ionian (west). It is made up of 2000 islands (170 of which are inhabited), which is one-fifth of the country, the total land area of which is about the size of Alabama (in the US). There is also a central mountain range (Píndos Mountains), which makes up the core of the mainland, the highest point of which is Mount Smólikas, at 8,652 feet (2,637 meters). The population (as of 2025) is approximately 9.3 million people, with several million Greeks living in other countries around the world.
ANCIENT GREECE
(Roman theater built in 2 AD)
The existence and establishment of Greece begins in the Neolithic Age (ca. 6000BCE to 2900BCE), with permanent settlements (mostly in Northern Greece), animal domestication, and agricultural development, which allowed for farming. The surrounding islands (in the Aegean Sea) began to flourish during the Cycladic period. Greek culture is said to have developed during the Mycenaean (my-sen-EE-en) Civilization (1900 BCE to 1100BCE) with the discovery of archaeological evidence that reflected the same. Greek Mythology was also prevalent throughout Greek history and culture, details of which are described later in this post. With the fall of the Mycenaeans, Greece entered a period referred to as the Greek Dark Ages (around 1100 BCE to 800 BCE) because there was no written record of what was happening in Greece during that time. However, there was evidence of Greek colonization in the surrounding areas, which yielded the first (known) Greek philosopher, Thales, who was a pioneer in philosophy and mathematics.
Greece flourished in the Archaic (800 BCE to 500 BCE) and Classical (480 BCE to 323 BCE) Periods with the development of Greek pottery, Greek sculptures, and Greek coins, as well as victories in the Battle of Salamis and the death of Alexander the Great. It was during this Golden Age that The Acropolis was built, as Greece was at the height of human learning, as reflected in the flourishing “thinkers” (including Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle) and artists. Democracy (Demos = people; Kratos = power) was established in Athens during this time, which allowed men over the age of 20 to have a voice in government.
(a temple to the goddess, Athena)
The Acropolis was the religious center of Ancient Greece.
Architecture and Art also began to evolve during this Golden Age in Greece, moving away from idealistic and towards being more realistic. The Parthenon is an example of this evolution. These developments were made possible by the Greeks overthrowing the Persians in 480 BCE, which resulted in peace and prosperity, and brought with it a stability of culture and finances. Along with its powerful Navy, Athens became a superpower of its time.
The Parthenon (8 columns on each end and 17 columns on each side) was built 2500 years ago with no foundation. Designs around the top of the Parthenon depict wars and struggle, reflecting perpetual conflict in nature.
During this time period, Sparta did not trust Athens and formed the Peloponnesian [pell-uh-poh-NEE-zhee-an] League to protect against their enemies. Distrust and tension built on both sides, resulting in the Peloponnesian Wars (460 BCE to 445 BCE; 431 BCE to 404 BCE), the first of which ended in a truce and continued prosperity on both sides, the second of which ended with Athens in ruins and Sparta bankrupt. Philip II of Macedon filled the space left by the fall of these two city-states, and he united other city-states under Macedonian rule until his assassination in 336 BCE, when his son, Alexander, took the throne.
Alexander the Great (356 BCE to 323 BCE) followed through with his father’s plan to invade Persia to retaliate against their invasion of Greece in 480 BCE. As he moved forward with his army towards invasion, he also spread ideals of Greek civilization (which he cultivated from tutelage with Plato’s student, Aristotle) to all of the nations he encountered, which resulted in those regions being exposed to Greek art, culture, language, and philosophy, further resulting in the Hellenistic Period (331 BCE to 323 BCE). Alexander had accumulated a vast empire when died in 323 BCE, and this land was divided between four of his generals, who continued to enhance the dominance of Greek culture and thought. By 168 BCE, Greece had begun to be influenced by Rome, and was designated as a Protectorate of Rome and Romans by 146 BCE. Greece became part of the Roman Empire under Augustus Caesar in 31 BCE, ending Grecian rule.
THE BYZANTINE AND OTTOMAN RULE
The history of post-Ancient Greece stems from the Byzantine (biz-en-teen; Eastern Roman) Period (4th century: 330AD to 1453AD), with Greece being divided into eight provinces, and Constantinople being established as the imperial capital. Each of the provinces was impacted in one way or another by attempts from other cultures and nations to rule them, but they were typically brought back under the rule of the Byzantine Empire. In the early part of the eighth century, Christianity was brought to the region due to influence from Rome. Overall, the Byzantine Empire had strong cultural and religious influence throughout the 9th and 10th centuries, which continued into the 11th and 12th centuries.
(best preserved temple in the region;
the Greek god, Hephaestus, was the god of fire, metalworking and sculpture)
In 1204 (during the Fourth Crusade), the Crusaders (directed by Pope Innocent III) took control of Constantinople, and Greece was placed under Western Christian (Frankish) rule. The Byzantines continued to have some control over the region until1483, when the Ottoman Empire (which had been advancing across Europe since 1350) had fully taken hold in the region. Up to this point, Greek identity was curated by Roman/Byzantine culture, and it continued to be enhanced by the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek language (which has a 3000-year-old Cyrillic alphabet, making it as old as the Chinese written language). When the Ottoman Empire took over, Islam was the predominant religion, and was in conflict with Christianity. However, many of the inhabitants accepted the Ottoman rule, particularly because they were not supportive of the papacy. While the Turkish language began to infiltrate the Greek lexicon, the Greek Orthodox Church sustained the identity for Greeks throughout the centuries, even in the face of some corruption by the Ottoman government.
After several attempted revolts during Ottoman rule, in 1821, the Greeks initiated the War of Greek Independence, made possible by the decline of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 17th century. They established a constitution in 1822 with hopes of garnering support from other European nations. Three local governments adopted the constitution in 1823, but subsequently ended up in a civil war in 1824. By 1826, a mediation was initiated by Britain (in conjunction with Russia and France) through the Treaty of London, resulting in an initial independent Greece by the end of 1827. A third constitution was drafted and enacted in 1827, and Greece was formally recognized as an independent state in 1832, making them the first nation ruled by the Ottoman Empire to gain full independence (Greece’s present land borders were finalized in 1947). A new constitution was enforced in 1864, and by the end of the 19th century, a two party political system was established.
MODERN DAY GREECE
While Greece and Turkey continue to have occasional conflicts (and moreso with regard to the island of Cyprus; see my Cyprus blogpost for more information about this), today, Greece is referred to as “the birthplace of Democracy.” It is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and has a President of the Democracy (who is more of a figure head), a Prime Minister (who originally was president of one of the many political parties, and is elected every five years), and 300 representatives. Tourism is their biggest industry, followed by agriculture, oil, olive oil, meat, pharmaceuticals (primarily sent to Europe), and shipping (the richest men in Greece own the shipping companies; Greece exports 80% of Europe’s cotton). Their currency is the Euro, which was adopted by Greece in 1999 despite their struggles to meet the economic criteria required to adopt the currency. Greece continued to have economic struggles, particularly after they spent money to build up the infrastructure of the country to host the 2004 Olympic Games. This resulted in them needing a large loan from the European Union (EU) in 2009, and additional loans from both the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in subsequent years to help stabilize the country. While the Greek economy is improving and is showing signs of stability (though not without many years of tension within the government about how to rectify the situation, including how to pay back the money loaned), this is an ongoing process.
THE APOSTLE PAUL
(called the Acropolis of Corinth)
Greece’s history features figures from biblical history, including the Apostle Paul, who traveled throughout the country, the route of which has been documented and can be followed by those for whom that is of interest. He is reported to have arrived in Athens, by boat, in AD 51, with the objective of spreading Christianity throughout a mostly-pagan Europe after having a vision that he interpreted as a sign from God that he should go to Greece. The Apostle Paul was said to have walked through the town, and was subsequently asked to preach to the High Court at the base of the Acropolis in Athens. He then went to Corinth (Korinth; 52 miles/84km west of Athens), where he stayed for 18 months preaching. He was ultimately accused by the Jews of Corinth of unlawfully trying to convince people to follow his teachings. After a few weeks, he left and went to Ephesus (details about Ephesus can be read about in my blogpost on Turkey). The Apostle Paul returned to Greece in AD 56, and reiterated his affinity for the Corinthians and preached forgiveness. He was ultimately able to return to Corinth and stayed for 3 months, during which he wrote his Epistle to the Romans. He is now considered to be the patron saint of Corinth. In both Athens and Corinth, large churches have been erected in honor of the Apostle Paul.
GREEK MYTHOLOGY
(the goddess, Nike, was the goddess of victory)
Greek Mythology has its roots in the Bronze Age, developing through the Archaic and Classical Periods as a medium through which the establishment of the earth/universe/world and human beings was explained. While there is no single originating source, it began with a reference to how the chaos of unending waters became separated into water and air by the goddess Eurynome in conjunction with Ophion the serpent, with subsequent references to deities for Earth (Gaia), Sky (Ouranos), Sea (Pontos), and the Underworld (Tartaros). In 8 BCE, Homer wrote in a more patriarchal style in The Iliad and the Odyssey, identifying Zeus being at war with the Titans, and subsequently creating Olympian gods, with Zeus as the chief. While many of the myths were fantastical, and some were grounded in actual facts/events, they became important in daily life in Ancient Greece, as they gave meaning for everything from the weather to religious rituals.
As you may remember from middle school or high school English or History class, Greek Mythology centers around 12 gods and goddesses who reside on Mount Olympus, and from that perch on the highest mountain in Greece, they ruled all aspects of day-to-day life of human beings. They looked like human beings, as well, and were susceptible to the same vulnerabilities as humans. Each of the deities was responsible for some aspect of life – for example, Zeus (who was the king of the gods; known as Jupiter in Roman Mythology) was responsible for weather, law, and fate; Aphrodite (known as Venus in Roman Mythology) was the goddess of beauty and love; Ares (Mars in Roman Mythology) was the god of war; Hades (Pluto in Roman Mythology) was the god of the underworld; and Athena (Minerva in Roman Mythology; for whom the Acropolis was built) was the goddess of wisdom and defense. Greek Mythology has significantly influenced/shaped art and literature for millennia.
(in Sounion)
Poseidon was the god of the sea. It is said that he was in competition with Athena (goddess of olive trees) for giving gifts to the city (of Athens). Her gift was the one chosen, which resulted in Poseidon becoming angry and re-directing the rivers away from the city. It is said that this temple was built for him to pacify him.
THE OLYMPICS
Ancient Greece gave birth to the Olympic Games (named for Olympia, which is the location where they were held) to honor the Greek god, Zeus, starting in the 8th century BC (the first written records of which date back to 776 BC; it was possibly founded many years before that by Heracles [Hercules]). The Ancient Olympic Games were held from August 6 to September 19, every four years in Olympia through the 4th century AD. In the Ancient Games, only “freeborn male citizens of Greece” were allowed to participate, and married women were not allowed to come and watch. The Temple of Zeus (above, currently under renovations) is the original Olympic Stadium (located in Athens). After several centuries of no Olympic games, the Olympics returned in 1896 in Athens at the Panathenaic Stadium (below), and since then, it has been considered the “Modern Olympic Games.”
Interesting Fact: A stadium is 185m/607ft long, which is the equivalent of one Stade, which resulted in the venue being called a stadium.
When the Roman Empire took over in 2 BC, there was a decline in the standards and quality of the Olympic Games, eventually resulting in a declaration of the games being “pagan” by Emperor Theodosius I in AD 393 after being around for 12 centuries. They were revived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who subsequently founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Modern Olympic Games of 1896 involved 280 athletes (all male) in 43 events from 12 nations, with 60,000 spectators, including King Georgios I. All subsequent Olympic Games are numbered (even when the Games are not held, such as during the two world wars), and women were allowed to compete starting in 1924 at the Paris Games, which was also the first time there was a closing ceremony. 1924 is also significant because the Winter Games were introduced that year. Eighty years later, the Olympics returned to Athens (2004), and as an homage to the original Ancient Games meeting the Modern Games, the shotput competition was held at the Olympia stadium (Olympia is 186mi/300km from the center of Athens).
CULINARY LANDSCAPE
When you think about the contributions from Greece, food is near the top of the list!! When we travel, we usually try to do a food tour, and when it comes to a place like Greece, it becomes of utmost importance!! Below are some of the delicious dishes we were able to try, and while some of them were surprising (in the best possible way!), none of them disappointed!!
Greece was a country unlike any other, steeped in a level of history that was so significant as to become almost overwhelming to comprehend. From walking on the original marble grounds of the Acropolis, to walking in and through the original and modern Olympic stadiums, to learning about the history of its people, to eating rich foods that were also rich in history, Athens definitely left an impression. We didn’t go to any of the islands on this trip (which was purposeful – we look forward to exploring the islands on our next trip to Greece!!), and this allowed us to truly absorb the history, and makes us so appreciative of all of it. If you’re looking to explore Greece, I would highly recommend visiting Athens on its own before venturing beyond. Until next time, take care and be well…