Greece
Greece
Area: 131, 950sq km
Capital/Main City: Athens
Population: 10.2 million
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Time: GMT +2hrs
Religion: Greek Orthodox Christianity also small minorities of Muslims and Catholics
Power: 220V, 50hz, Plug type - two round pin plug
Greece, officially known as the Hellenic Republic, is the southernmost country on the European mainland. With an area of 131.940 square kilometres, Greece is about the same size as England or New York state. Greece's longest border is with the sea. Over 2,000 Greek Islands are scattered about the eastern Mediterranean, roughly 200 of them inhabited.
Land
Greece is located at the southernmost tip of Europe and has one of the most unique geographic formations of any country in Europe. Including the islands, it has an area of 50,959 square miles and a population of 10.2 million (1991 census). An estimated five million Greeks live abroad.
Greece is washed on three sides by seas: by the Ionian Sea to the west, the Aegean Sea to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To the north lie Albania, former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. To the northeast is Turkey.
At the crossroads of three continents, Greece is a stepping-stone to Asia and Africa. Some four-fifths of Greece's land territory is mountainous.
Its coastline, with its many gulfs and inlets, is one of the longest of any country in Europe. The main geographic divisions of Greece are (1) the northern region which includes Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace; (2) Central Greece and Thessaly; (3) the Peloponnese which is separated from the mainland by the Corinth Canal; and (4) the islands of the Aegean Sea to the east of the mainland, the Ionian islands to the west, and Crete, the largest Greek island, to the south.
The highest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus (9,754 ft.), seat of the gods of Greek mythology. Mount Parnassus (7,066 ft.) has on its lower slope the ancient site of Delphi, once dedicated to the god Apollo and famous for its oracle. On the peninsula of Chalkidiki, located in the north-east, is Mount Athos, where a number of monasteries of the Greek Orthodox Church form, as they have for centuries, an autonomous monastic community.
The largest city and capital of Greece is Athens, with a population of over three million. The second largest city, Thessaloniki, with nearly one million inhabitants, is located in northern Greece and is an important seaport, cultural and business centre. Other large cities include Piraeus, the main port of Greece, Patras, Volos, Larissa and Iraklion.
The seas adjoining Greece are studded with thousands of islands, islets and rocks, accounting for 8,919 square miles of Greece's total area. Famous among the islands of the Aegean are Crete; Cos, where Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was born; Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation; Rhodes, Myconos, Hydra. Corfu is the best known of the Ionian islands.
None of Greece's rivers are navigable. They include Aliakmon, Axios, Strymon, and the Evros which forms the frontier between Greece and Turkey. The lakes of Kastoria, Ioannina and Prespa are the largest in Greece.
Flora: Trees include white poplars, spearheaded cypresses, chestnut, pine, fir and olive trees. Of special beauty are the cultivated and wild flowers of Greece, many of which are mentioned in classical poetry and mythology, such as evosmon, anemone, violets, tulips, peonies, narcissus, parthenium, primrose and chamomile.
Fauna: Wild animals include boar, bear, wild cat, brown squirrel, jackal, fox, deer, wolf. A rare goat is found in Crete. A number of 358 species of birds are found throughout Greece, two-thirds of which are migratory. Among the birds of prey are the golden and imperial eagle, and several species of falcons. Other indigenous varieties of birds are the owl, pelican, pheasant, partridge, woodcock and nightingale.
Greece is located at the southernmost tip of Europe and has one of the most unique geographic formations of any country in Europe. Including the islands, it has an area of 50,959 square miles and a population of 10.2 million (1991 census). An estimated five million Greeks live abroad.
Greece is washed on three sides by seas: by the Ionian Sea to the west, the Aegean Sea to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To the north lie Albania, former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. To the northeast is Turkey.
At the crossroads of three continents, Greece is a stepping-stone to Asia and Africa. Some four-fifths of Greece's land territory is mountainous.
Its coastline, with its many gulfs and inlets, is one of the longest of any country in Europe. The main geographic divisions of Greece are (1) the northern region which includes Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace; (2) Central Greece and Thessaly; (3) the Peloponnese which is separated from the mainland by the Corinth Canal; and (4) the islands of the Aegean Sea to the east of the mainland, the Ionian islands to the west, and Crete, the largest Greek island, to the south.
The highest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus (9,754 ft.), seat of the gods of Greek mythology. Mount Parnassus (7,066 ft.) has on its lower slope the ancient site of Delphi, once dedicated to the god Apollo and famous for its oracle. On the peninsula of Chalkidiki, located in the north-east, is Mount Athos, where a number of monasteries of the Greek Orthodox Church form, as they have for centuries, an autonomous monastic community.
The largest city and capital of Greece is Athens, with a population of over three million. The second largest city, Thessaloniki, with nearly one million inhabitants, is located in northern Greece and is an important seaport, cultural and business centre. Other large cities include Piraeus, the main port of Greece, Patras, Volos, Larissa and Iraklion.
The seas adjoining Greece are studded with thousands of islands, islets and rocks, accounting for 8,919 square miles of Greece's total area. Famous among the islands of the Aegean are Crete; Cos, where Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was born; Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation; Rhodes, Myconos, Hydra. Corfu is the best known of the Ionian islands.
None of Greece's rivers are navigable. They include Aliakmon, Axios, Strymon, and the Evros which forms the frontier between Greece and Turkey. The lakes of Kastoria, Ioannina and Prespa are the largest in Greece.
Flora: Trees include white poplars, spearheaded cypresses, chestnut, pine, fir and olive trees. Of special beauty are the cultivated and wild flowers of Greece, many of which are mentioned in classical poetry and mythology, such as evosmon, anemone, violets, tulips, peonies, narcissus, parthenium, primrose and chamomile.
Fauna: Wild animals include boar, bear, wild cat, brown squirrel, jackal, fox, deer, wolf. A rare goat is found in Crete. A number of 358 species of birds are found throughout Greece, two-thirds of which are migratory. Among the birds of prey are the golden and imperial eagle, and several species of falcons. Other indigenous varieties of birds are the owl, pelican, pheasant, partridge, woodcock and nightingale.
History
Greece has a history stretching back almost 4,000 years. The people of the mainland, called Hellenes, organized great naval and military expeditions, and explored the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, going as far as the Atlantic Ocean and the Caucasus Mountains. One of those expeditions, the siege of Troy, is narrated in the first great European literary work, Homer's Iliad. Numerous Greek settlements were founded throughout the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and the coast of North Africa as a result of travels in search of new markets.
During the Classical period (5th century B.C.), Greece was composed of city-states, the largest being Athens, followed by Sparta and Thebes. A fierce spirit of independence and love of freedom enabled the Greeks to defeat the Persians in battles which are famous in the history of civilization-Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea.
In the second half of the 4th century B.C., the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered most of the then known world and sought to hellenize it.
In 146 B.C. Greece fell to the Romans. In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine moved the Capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, founding the Eastern Roman Empire which was renamed Byzantine Empire or Byzantium for short, by western historians in the 19th century. Byzantium transformed the linguistic heritage of Ancient Greece into a vehicle for the new Christian civilisation.
The Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 and the Greeks remained under the Ottoman yoke for nearly 400 years. During this time their language, their religion and their sense of identity remained strong. On March 25, 1821, the Greeks revolted against the Turks, and by 1828 they had won their independence. As the new state comprised only a tiny fraction of the country, the struggle for the liberation of all the lands inhabited by Greeks continued. In 1864, the Ionian islands were added to Greece; in 1881 parts of Epirus and Thessaly. Crete, the islands of the Eastern Aegean and Macedonia were added in 1913 and Western Thrace in 1919. After World War II the Dodecanese islands were also returned to Greece.
Greece has a history stretching back almost 4,000 years. The people of the mainland, called Hellenes, organized great naval and military expeditions, and explored the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, going as far as the Atlantic Ocean and the Caucasus Mountains. One of those expeditions, the siege of Troy, is narrated in the first great European literary work, Homer's Iliad. Numerous Greek settlements were founded throughout the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and the coast of North Africa as a result of travels in search of new markets.
During the Classical period (5th century B.C.), Greece was composed of city-states, the largest being Athens, followed by Sparta and Thebes. A fierce spirit of independence and love of freedom enabled the Greeks to defeat the Persians in battles which are famous in the history of civilization-Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea.
In the second half of the 4th century B.C., the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered most of the then known world and sought to hellenize it.
In 146 B.C. Greece fell to the Romans. In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine moved the Capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, founding the Eastern Roman Empire which was renamed Byzantine Empire or Byzantium for short, by western historians in the 19th century. Byzantium transformed the linguistic heritage of Ancient Greece into a vehicle for the new Christian civilisation.
The Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 and the Greeks remained under the Ottoman yoke for nearly 400 years. During this time their language, their religion and their sense of identity remained strong. On March 25, 1821, the Greeks revolted against the Turks, and by 1828 they had won their independence. As the new state comprised only a tiny fraction of the country, the struggle for the liberation of all the lands inhabited by Greeks continued. In 1864, the Ionian islands were added to Greece; in 1881 parts of Epirus and Thessaly. Crete, the islands of the Eastern Aegean and Macedonia were added in 1913 and Western Thrace in 1919. After World War II the Dodecanese islands were also returned to Greece.
Religion
Most Greeks belong to the Greek Orthodox Church (approx. 97.6%), which is governed by a synod of metropolitan bishops, presided over by the Archbishop of Athens. The largest religious minority is the concentration of Greek Muslims (1.3%) in northeastern Thrace. Some islands in the Ionian and Aegean have a significant number of Catholics. Greece's once vibrant Jewish community was nearly destroyed in World War II.
Most Greeks belong to the Greek Orthodox Church (approx. 97.6%), which is governed by a synod of metropolitan bishops, presided over by the Archbishop of Athens. The largest religious minority is the concentration of Greek Muslims (1.3%) in northeastern Thrace. Some islands in the Ionian and Aegean have a significant number of Catholics. Greece's once vibrant Jewish community was nearly destroyed in World War II.
People
Although more than half the population is classified as urban, rural life retains a powerful influence. A strong sense of community and family ties prevail even in the busiest of metropolitan centres.
The vast majority of the population speak Modern Greek, a language little changed since the Classical Period. Several very small linguistic minorities speak other languages including Romany, Vlach, or Turkish. The Greek language with a documented record spanning three and a half millennia is a strong element of national continuity. Modern Greek derives from the same idiom used by Homer. Greek is also the language of the Gospels. The Greek alphabet and the Greek language have contributed much to all western languages. Today's Greeks, however, are the only ones who ensure this linguistic continuity.
Although more than half the population is classified as urban, rural life retains a powerful influence. A strong sense of community and family ties prevail even in the busiest of metropolitan centres.
The vast majority of the population speak Modern Greek, a language little changed since the Classical Period. Several very small linguistic minorities speak other languages including Romany, Vlach, or Turkish. The Greek language with a documented record spanning three and a half millennia is a strong element of national continuity. Modern Greek derives from the same idiom used by Homer. Greek is also the language of the Gospels. The Greek alphabet and the Greek language have contributed much to all western languages. Today's Greeks, however, are the only ones who ensure this linguistic continuity.
Cities
ATHENS Athens (Athina) named after Athena the goddess of wisdom, who, according to legend, won the city after defeating Poseidon in a duel. Athena's victory was celebrated by the construction of a temple on the Acropolis - the site of the city's earliest settlement.
As a city state, Athens reached its heyday in the fifth century BC. The office of the statesman Pericles, between 461BC and his death in 429BC, saw an unprecedented spate of construction resulting in many of the great classical buildings - the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Hephaisteion and the temple at Sounion - now regarded as icons of ancient Greece. Physical evidence of the city's success was matched by achievements in the intellectual arts: democracy was born, drama flourished and Socrates conceived the foundations of Western philosophy.
Remarkably, although the cultural legacy of this period has influenced Western civilisation ever since, the classical age in Athens lasted for only five decades. Under the Macedonians and Romans the city retained a privileged cultural and political position but became a prestigious backwater of the Empire rather than a major player. The birth of Christianity heralded a long period of occupation and decline culminating in 1456 in four centuries of Turkish domination, which has left an indelible cultural mark on the city. By the end of the eighteenth century Athens was also suffering the indignity of having the artistic achievements of its classical past removed by looting collectors.
Modern Athens was born in 1834, when the city was restored as the capital of a newly independent Greece. Greek refugees flooded the city at the end of the Greek-Turkish war, swelling the city's population, and after World War II American money funded a massive expansion and industrialisation programme. The rapid growth of the post-war years, and the high temperatures, have created a city that can often be polluted, and could be described as an urban sprawl. Excessive traffic creates a gridlock on the streets of Athens and noxious fumes (néfos) in the city's air, though great efforts are being made to reduce this, especially with the world's spotlight focusing on Athens for the 2004 Olympic Games.
Visitors with visions of gleaming marble and philosophers in white robes are understandably perturbed that the architectural achievements of Athens' classical past are surrounded by the unforgiving concrete of indiscriminate twentieth-century urbanisation. Over three million visitors come to the city each year but the majority see the sights as quickly as possible, as if fulfilling some cultural duty, before heading off for the easy hedonism of the Greek islands.
However, Athens repays closer acquaintance. In addition to the celebrated classical sites, the city boasts Byzantine, medieval and nineteenth-century monuments, one of the best museums in the world and areas of surprising natural beauty. Despite the traffic, an appealing village-like quality becomes evident in the cafés, tavernas and markets, and the maze of streets around the Pláka. Moreover, Athens has the finest restaurants and the most varied nightlife in the country, and remains a major European centre of culture, celebrated each year at the Athens Festival. The metropolitan area, including the port at Piraeus is the indisputable industrial and economic powerhouse of the country. The return of the Olympic Games in 2004 led to the building of many new sporting facilities and the regeneration of several areas of the city.
ATHENS Athens (Athina) named after Athena the goddess of wisdom, who, according to legend, won the city after defeating Poseidon in a duel. Athena's victory was celebrated by the construction of a temple on the Acropolis - the site of the city's earliest settlement.
As a city state, Athens reached its heyday in the fifth century BC. The office of the statesman Pericles, between 461BC and his death in 429BC, saw an unprecedented spate of construction resulting in many of the great classical buildings - the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Hephaisteion and the temple at Sounion - now regarded as icons of ancient Greece. Physical evidence of the city's success was matched by achievements in the intellectual arts: democracy was born, drama flourished and Socrates conceived the foundations of Western philosophy.
Remarkably, although the cultural legacy of this period has influenced Western civilisation ever since, the classical age in Athens lasted for only five decades. Under the Macedonians and Romans the city retained a privileged cultural and political position but became a prestigious backwater of the Empire rather than a major player. The birth of Christianity heralded a long period of occupation and decline culminating in 1456 in four centuries of Turkish domination, which has left an indelible cultural mark on the city. By the end of the eighteenth century Athens was also suffering the indignity of having the artistic achievements of its classical past removed by looting collectors.
Modern Athens was born in 1834, when the city was restored as the capital of a newly independent Greece. Greek refugees flooded the city at the end of the Greek-Turkish war, swelling the city's population, and after World War II American money funded a massive expansion and industrialisation programme. The rapid growth of the post-war years, and the high temperatures, have created a city that can often be polluted, and could be described as an urban sprawl. Excessive traffic creates a gridlock on the streets of Athens and noxious fumes (néfos) in the city's air, though great efforts are being made to reduce this, especially with the world's spotlight focusing on Athens for the 2004 Olympic Games.
Visitors with visions of gleaming marble and philosophers in white robes are understandably perturbed that the architectural achievements of Athens' classical past are surrounded by the unforgiving concrete of indiscriminate twentieth-century urbanisation. Over three million visitors come to the city each year but the majority see the sights as quickly as possible, as if fulfilling some cultural duty, before heading off for the easy hedonism of the Greek islands.
However, Athens repays closer acquaintance. In addition to the celebrated classical sites, the city boasts Byzantine, medieval and nineteenth-century monuments, one of the best museums in the world and areas of surprising natural beauty. Despite the traffic, an appealing village-like quality becomes evident in the cafés, tavernas and markets, and the maze of streets around the Pláka. Moreover, Athens has the finest restaurants and the most varied nightlife in the country, and remains a major European centre of culture, celebrated each year at the Athens Festival. The metropolitan area, including the port at Piraeus is the indisputable industrial and economic powerhouse of the country. The return of the Olympic Games in 2004 led to the building of many new sporting facilities and the regeneration of several areas of the city.