Greece Square. Capital of Greece

Introduction

The concept of national culture implies, first of all, a set of symbols, beliefs, beliefs, values, norms of behavior that characterize the spiritual life of the human community in a particular country or state.

For many centuries, Greece did not represent a single geographical space. Each region of Greece had its own landscape features, its own individual cultural characteristics.

Ancient Greece did not represent a unity in socio-political terms either: it existed within the framework of a special state system - independent city-states, policies, whose borders were most often determined by natural boundaries. The differences in the culture of the policies were manifested in language dialects, their own calendars, coins, revered gods and respected heroes.

Geographical location of Greece

The Greek peninsula, located in southeastern Europe, covers an area of ​​131,944 square meters. km. Greece is located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and on the islands adjacent to it and the coast of Asia Minor. Borders with: Albania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Washed: Mediterranean, Ionian and Aegean seas.

Greece includes about a thousand islands, which account for almost 20% of the entire country. The territory of Greece is divided into three parts. Mainland Greece includes: Macedonia-- northern region of Greece, bordering Albania, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia (Kastoria, Chalkidiki); Thrace-- northeastern region bordering Bulgaria and Turkey (Alexandropol, Komotini); Epirus is a northwestern region bordering Albania (washed by the Ionian Sea); Thessaly-- the most flat region, washed from the east by the Aegean Sea (Larissa, Volos, Trikala); Central Greece- central part of Greece (Chalkis, Lamia, Amfissa); Attica-- area around Athens;

Official language: Greek.

Culture type: Antique

Culture Ancient Greece is the source of ancient culture. The ancient Greeks created a culture that was later called the "Greek miracle." Almost every conquest of Greek culture reached such heights that it formed the basis for many aspects of European culture in its most diverse spheres. For our times, Greek culture is an example of humanism and a complete view of the world. This was due to many circumstances.

The favorable geographical location gave a significant influence on the cultural characteristics of Greece, which contributed to the development of trade and other external relations. One of the special reasons that determined the development of Greek culture was colonization and the associated trade. Colonization gave the Greeks the opportunity to acquire a new view of the world, different from their primitive beliefs, and to compare their world and the world of other peoples. greece national culture

The culture of Greece was formed in the V-IV centuries. BC e. The culture of Greece became one of the most developed systems of the ancient world. Three most important features give it an exceptional character: completeness, diversity and a certain completeness of the constituent parts of culture (literature, art, philosophy); its humanistic orientation; the great contribution of the Greeks to the treasury of world culture, the creation of masterpieces that enriched the cultural creativity of subsequent generations and firmly entered the life of the peoples of the Mediterranean and Europe.

Modern Greek culture, with all its aspirations for novelty and originality, carefully preserves three traditions. Firstly, antique. Existing museums of ancient culture are receiving government support and new ones are being organized. Thus, near the Acropolis, the Museum of Ancient Performing Art was recently created: masks, buskins, costumes are shown, and texts of classical drama are read. Quite a few ancient open-air theaters have survived in Greece. In them, and not only in them, ancient tragedies and comedies are staged - Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes. Ancient mythology and literature are studied in schools, mainly in translation. But in gymnasiums, humanitarian lyceums, and universities, the ancient Greek language and classical culture are studied very thoroughly.

Greece is a country unique in beauty, culture and history in southern Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula. Although Greece occupies a small territory (about 132 thousand square kilometers), and its population has only 10.3 million inhabitants, it is difficult to find equals in terms of historical and archaeological heritage. Just imagine: the capital of Greece - Athens - was founded back in the seventh millennium BC!

In Hellas (as the locals call their country), interesting sights and cultural monuments can be found in literally every city and town. But first of all, Greece attracts tourists with its delightful beaches, clear water of the Mediterranean, Ionian and Aegean seas, picturesque islands, mild subtropical climate and amazing nature.

It is not surprising that the country is nicknamed a real paradise for relaxation: more than 11 million tourists come here every year, and each of them finds entertainment to their liking. More than 90% of travelers visiting Greece are residents of European countries, but in recent years tourists from other continents have also come.

The main tourist centers of the country are islands and large resorts. But even for lovers of peace and solitude, Greece has many small resorts that have not yet been reached by mass tourism. Whichever location you choose, one thing is clear: your holiday in Greece will not disappoint.

Short story

Greece is the cradle of Western civilization. This is the place where democracy was born. It is surprising that already in Ancient Greece all citizens actively participated in the discussion of public issues and could become government representatives. Modern Greece still maintains its ancient traditions, but some states of the world have not yet come to this.

According to archaeological excavations, the first human settlements in Greece appeared between 11,000 and 3,000 BC. A little later, the first civilizations (Minoan, Cycladic and Mycenaean) arose here. The most fruitful period in the development of Greece is considered to be the legendary “Golden Age”, which lasted from the 6th to the 4th centuries BC. It was at this time that the state gave us dozens of exceptional representatives of science and art.

The Beginning of Civilization

Ancient Greece repeatedly faced military invasions. The Persian army invaded the country several times, and in 146 BC. Roman legionnaires came here. They did not destroy the local culture, but admired it and adopted a lot from the Greeks. Therefore, the most important Roman landmarks are considered ancient Greek heritage.

When the Roman Empire split in two, Greece became part of eastern Byzantium, whose capital was Constantinople. Byzantium existed for 11 centuries in a row, but in 1453 it was conquered by the Turks.

Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire for about four centuries. In 1821, as a result of an uprising of the local population, the country regained independence.

20th century and our time

In the 20th century, the country was engaged in the return of ancestral territories. These goals were partially achieved during the Balkan Wars and the First World War. Greece was also affected by the Second World War. The Greeks repelled the attack of Nazi Italy, but were occupied by the Germans until 1945. After the victory over the Nazis, a civil war began in the country, which lasted until 1949.

From that time on, the country developed calmly until the coup d'état that occurred in 1967. The rebels overthrew King Constantine II and established a military dictatorship known as the rule of the "black colonels".

The dictatorial rule of Greece made a large number of strategic mistakes, as a result of which Cyprus was invaded by the Turkish army in 1974. The northern part of the island was occupied by the Turks and founded an unrecognized republic here. Such a major failure led to the overthrow of the dictatorship.

In 1974, a referendum was held in Greece, after which parliamentary democracy was again established in the country, and a year later they adopted a Constitution, which is still in force today.

From 1952 to 1973, Greece was a member of NATO. After a break, the country re-joined NATO and the European Union in 1981, and since 2002 has joined the eurozone.

Economy

The political and economic position of Greece today is very precarious. The country receives its main income from the agricultural-industrial sector and, of course, tourism. Back in 2007, the state was in 25th position in the world in the Population Potential Development Ranking and was included in the group of developed countries. After the economic crisis of 2008, Greece returned to developing countries.

If we talk about sectors of the Greek economy, then 27.3% of GDP comes from industry; 8.3% for agriculture and almost 65% for services. Tourism accounts for more than 15% of income.

Greece has a well-developed agricultural sector, but industrial development is hampered by a low level of production. The most profitable industries remain food, metallurgy, petrochemicals and textiles. 21% of the working population works in industrial sectors, but most of them work in small factories with a low level of technical development.

At the beginning of the 21st century, significant financial changes occurred in Greece with the arrival of foreign investors and lenders. This made the local economy more stable, but required it to adapt to Western integration, losing ground to partners from other EU countries.

To support the economy, the government used huge loans from foreign banks. The country's investment debts continue to increase. Now the country’s external debt has exceeded 450 billion euros, which is twice the state’s GDP.

Briefly, the modern Greek economy can be characterized by two definitions: the stagnation of the banking system and the slow increase in GDP. The shadow economy (20%) and corruption remain a serious problem in the country. Unfortunately, the economy of such a successful and highly developed country in the past is now literally hanging by a thread.

Regions, cities and resorts

Main cities of Greece

Athens is the capital of Greece and the cradle of world culture. In an urban agglomeration with an area of ​​more than 410 sq. km (almost six times less than Moscow) is home to 3 million people. In Athens, as elsewhere, you can see microdistricts with panel houses and industrial zones. But tourists come here for the historical center, which it towers over (it began to be built back in 447 BC).

Thessaloniki

North Aegean Islands

The North Aegean Islands cover 3,840 square meters. km, capital – Mytilene. In the northern part of the Aegean Sea there are several large, attractive islands for tourists. The mountains there often exceed 1,000 m, and the nature resembles a fairy tale. This region is very similar to the coast of Turkey. Many local islands are famous all over the world. Homer was born on the island of Chios, and delicious wine is made on Samos. Lesvos is interesting not only as the site of Sappho's work, but also as an area with petrified trees that are over 700,000 years old.

You can find out more details about Samos.

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Attractions and entertainment

Greece is a place with a concentration of ancient sights, Orthodox churches and monasteries, unique nature and hospitable residents. It is impossible not to fall in love with its architectural and natural beauty, just as it is impossible to list here absolutely all the sights of the country that are worthy of visiting.

There is entertainment in Greece for tourists with any preferences. This includes a beach holiday, active leisure, cultural and educational events, and exciting excursions to natural attractions. We will list here the most famous places in Greece that are definitely worth visiting.

Sights of Athens

The capital of Ancient Hellas, the modern metropolis of Athens, has preserved unique historical and cultural monuments of architecture. In Athens, the first place to visit is the Acropolis and its ancient temples, which have undergone partial restoration.

We also recommend visiting the Temple of Poseidon on the shores of the Aegean Sea and the historical area of ​​Plaka. Walk through the city streets and squares and see the unusual stone theater called the Odeon of Herodotus Atticus. If you have time, you can visit Athens museums, of which there are a lot in the city.

The marble Panathinaikos Stadium deserves special attention; just looking at it will take your breath away. It was recreated from snow-white marble using fragments of an ancient stadium. In addition, it is in the city that the temples of the Greek gods, which were mentioned in ancient Greek myths, have been preserved.

Castle of the Knights in Rhodes

Acropolis in Lindos

The second most famous Acropolis after Athens is located in. It’s worth a visit just for the amazing views of the coast. Now the Acropolis has become a museum of archeological monuments from different eras and civilizations. It was built by the ancient Greeks, but later it was strengthened and improved by all the conquerors of the country.

Melissani Cave Lake

A karst cave on the island of Kefalonia delights with a unique lake with clear waters. The turquoise water in the lake is so clear that the boats seem to be floating in the air. According to legend, nymphs used to live in this cave, surrounded by forests and beautiful nature.

Amphitheater at Delphi

The ancient amphitheater at Delphi overlooking the Temple of Apollo can accommodate 5,000 people. The ancient landmark, built in the 4th century BC, has undergone many reconstructions and has survived to this day. Original cultural events still take place here today.

Lake Plastira

Of course, Greece is a maritime country with some of the most picturesque beaches in the world. But many people are interested in the artificial lake, named after its creator, General Plastir. This unique place is located on a hill, and the landscapes surrounding the lake delight in beauty. In addition, there are many opportunities for active recreation: bicycles, rafting, horse riding, hiking, etc.

The 16 km long Samaria Gorge was formed by the flow of a river on the island of Crete. In this protected area you can see all kinds of birds, but the main local attraction is the Gorge Gate. This is a gap between 300-meter walls that is only 4 meters wide.

Monument to Yuri Gagarin

Imagine that in Greece there is a monument to the world’s first cosmonaut – Yuri Gagarin. It is located on the island of Crete, in the city of Heraklion. What is he doing in the middle of the pearls of ancient architecture? According to the official version, it attracts Russian tourists - who were not impressed by the previous attractions.

Culture

Greece has an Orthodox culture, so the country's main public holidays are Christmas, Assumption and Easter. During Christmas, the squares of all cities are beautifully decorated with illuminations, but the holiday is celebrated at home, in the family. On the Assumption, festivals are organized in many places, but Easter is celebrated most magnificently. Religious processions and services have been held across the country since Friday, and colorful fireworks displays at midnight on Saturday.

Another unusual Greek holiday is the Apokries carnival, which is held on the eve of Lent. Festive events take place throughout Greece, and the main ones are attended by the patriarch. Costume processions and celebrations end 7 days before the end of Lent.

It should be noted that in addition to general national holidays, residents of most cities in Greece celebrate regional holidays - grape harvest festivals, historical and religious celebrations.

Features of the local population

Greeks gesture a lot and value openness and politeness in people. They treat their friends and acquaintances as relatives, which may be unusual for Russian-speaking people. Residents of Greece love to relax, many of them are interested in football and politics.

The majority of the population professes Orthodoxy, which is the state religion and is even indicated in the passport. In churches, women must cover their shoulders and legs. Men are also not allowed to enter the temple with bare shoulders, although many do not follow this rule during the tourist season.

Residents of Greece smoke a lot, but recently the state has begun to pass laws to combat smoking. If a taxi driver smokes in front of you, you can calmly ask him not to do so.

Kitchen

Greek cuisine combines national traditions and culinary features of other nations. Italy and Türkiye had a particularly noticeable influence on local cuisine. Greek chefs love to use a variety of vegetables, herbs and seafood in their dishes. Greeks also often prepare meat dishes (lamb, pork, beef), but chicken is still the most popular.

One of the most important ingredients in Greek cuisine is olive oil (it is added literally everywhere), as well as tomato paste and lemons. At dinner you can always see wine and bread on the table. Be sure to try seafood dishes, they are simply delicious in Greece. Order fried fish, octopus or the local delicacy - sea urchin eggs, seasoned with olive oil and lemon.

- a state in southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula.

Official name of Greece:
Hellenic Republic.

Territory of Greece:
The area of ​​the state of the Hellenic Republic is 131940 km².

Population of Greece:
The population of Greece is more than 10 million inhabitants (10,964,020 people).

Ethnic groups of Greece:
The majority of the population of Greece is Greek - 92%. The only official minority is the Muslims of Thrace and the Dodecanese Islands, including Turks - 0.8%, Pomaks (Bulgarian-speaking Muslims, 0.3%) and Muslim Roma (0.1%). Other minorities are distinguished mainly on linguistic grounds and are not officially recognized in Greece: Albanians (1%; including Arvanites), "Slavophone Greeks" or Macedonian Slavs (close to Macedonians, 1.6%), Aromanians (1.1% , including Meglenites), Gypsies (1.8%), Serbs (0.3%), Arabs (0.3%), Armenians (0.3%), Jews (0.05%), etc.

Average life expectancy in Greece:
The average life expectancy in Greece is 78.89 years (see Ranking of countries in the world by average life expectancy).

Capital of Greece:
Athens.

Major cities in Greece:
Athens, Heraklion, Thessaloniki.

Official language of Greece:
Greek.

Religion in Greece:
Article 3 of the Greek Constitution states: “The dominant religion in Greece is the religion of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Christ.” The absolute majority (98%, according to 2006 data) of the Greek population are members of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Geographical location of Greece:
The Greek peninsula, located in southeastern Europe, covers an area of ​​131,944 km². Greece is located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and on the islands adjacent to it and the coast of Asia Minor. Greece borders Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Greece is washed by:
The Mediterranean Sea, including: the Ionian, Aegean Seas, and the southern coast of Crete - the Libyan Sea. Greece consists of about 2,000 islands, which account for almost 20% of the entire country.

The territory of Greece is divided into three parts.
Mainland Greece includes: Macedonia is a northern region of Greece, bordering Albania (Ioannina, Igoumenitsa), Bulgaria (Rhodopi) and Macedonia (Kastoria, Chalkidiki); Thrace - northeastern region bordering Bulgaria and Turkey (Alexandropol, Komotini); Epirus is a northwestern region bordering Albania (washed by the Ionian Sea); Thessaly is the most flat region, washed from the east by the Aegean Sea (Larissa, Volos, Trikala);

Central Greece - central part of Greece (Chalkis, Lamia, Amfissa):
Attica - the area around Athens; The Peloponnese is the largest peninsula of Greece (area - 21.4 thousand km²), connected to the mainland by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth (width 5 km), through which a canal was dug at the end of the 19th century (length 6500 m, width 23.5 m, depth 40 m).

The third region of Greece is formed by the islands of the Aegean Sea:
Euboea is the second largest island of Greece, after Crete (3.9 thousand km²), connected to the continent by a bridge; Lesvos is one of the largest islands of Greece (1.6 thousand km²); Northern Sporades - the islands of Skyros, Skopelos, Jura, Iliodrama, etc. in the northwestern part of the Aegean Sea; The Cyclades - "kyklos" in Greek - is a ring-forming archipelago in the central and southern part of the Aegean Sea (the islands of Amorgos, Andros, Sifnos, Santorini, Thymos, Kythnos, etc.); Southern Sporades - Dodecanese - an archipelago of 12 islands in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey (the islands of Rhodes, Samos, Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Leros, etc.).

The Greek landscape is an alternation of rocky, usually treeless mountains, densely populated valleys, numerous islands, straits and bays.
Picturesque cliffs, beaches, exotic grottoes provide enormous opportunities for seaside recreation and mountain tourism. The widespread occurrence of limestone, especially in the western part of Greece, has led to the formation of karst sinkholes and caves that give the landscape a peculiar wild appearance and attract those who like to test their strength in speleology. Mountain ranges occupy almost a quarter of the surface of Greece. These are predominantly medium-altitude mountains (up to 1200-1800 m). The highest point in Greece is Mount Olympus (2917 m). Pindus, Parnassus, the mountain range in the northern Peloponnese and Taygetos also rise above 2000 meters. There are few plains, they are concentrated in the eastern half of the country, with the exception of the Peloponnese, where plains predominate on the west coast. About 44% of the territory is under forest and bushes. National parks of Greece: Vikos-Aoos, Mikra Prespa, Eta, etc. When taking walks in the mountains, you must remember that in Greece there are many reptiles (turtles, lizards and snakes, including the horned viper).

Rivers of Greece:
Large river systems could not form on the narrow and mountainous Greek peninsula. Mountain rivers predominate, short, stormy, with picturesque rapids and waterfalls, often flowing to the sea in narrow canyons. The longest river in Greece is Aljakmon (almost 300 km). Other large rivers are Ebros, Nestos, Strymon, Vardar, Acheloos. Rivers are not suitable for navigation, but play a fairly important role as sources of energy.

Administrative divisions of Greece:
The administrative division of Greece consists of 13 administrative districts (regions, or peripheries), which are then subdivided into 54 nomes, or prefectures. In addition to these 13 districts, Greece includes 1 autonomous region - Aion Oros in the region of Mount Athos. Thirteen regions are governed by general secretaries appointed by the government. Secretaries-General are representatives of the government. They support central government functions and services and also assist the government in developing regional development policies.

Greek government:
Greece is a unitary state consisting of 13 administrative units - regions. In 1983, it was legislatively established that issues of local importance are dealt with by councils elected by the population through direct elections. According to the 1975 constitution, Greece has a parliamentary form of government. The head of government is the prime minister - the head of the party that has the majority of seats in parliament. The government, headed by the prime minister, is responsible to parliament.

Legislative power in Greece belongs to the Chamber of Deputies, a unicameral representative body, which is elected by direct universal elections for a period of 4 years.
The Chamber of Deputies consists of no less than 200 and no more than 300 people. The Chamber meets once a year for a regular session, which lasts at least 5 months. In order to prepare and study bills and legislative proposals, at the beginning of each session it forms parliamentary commissions from its members. Legislative activity is carried out during plenary sessions.

The head of state is the president, who is elected by parliament for a term of five years and can be re-elected for another term.
The President has the power to declare war and enter into treaties with other countries. He appoints the prime minister and, on the latter's recommendation, other members of the government. The President can convene special sessions of parliament and dissolve it on the proposal of the government or with the consent of the Council of the Republic. The Council consists of the Prime Minister, the head of the parliamentary opposition, the Speaker of Parliament and former prime ministers and presidents of democratically elected governments.

The government exercises executive power, represented by the Prime Minister and ministers (one or more of them may be appointed as deputy prime ministers).
The government is formed by the party that wins the majority of seats in Parliament. The leader of this party becomes the prime minister. Within 15 days from the moment he takes the oath, the Government must raise the issue of confidence before Parliament. The Chamber of Deputies has the right to “retract its confidence” in the Government or one of its members. A resolution of censure may only be introduced 6 months after the House has rejected the previous resolution. The resolution of censure must be signed by at least 1/6 of the deputies.

The Government carries out the general policy of the state in accordance with the Constitution and laws.
Under the provisions of ministerial liability laws, members of the Council of Ministers and Secretaries of State are held liable for omissions committed in the performance of their functions. The system of government in Greece is based on the principle of decentralization. There are local authorities of the first and second levels and regional administration. First-level local authorities consist of municipalities and communities, which are responsible for solving local issues. The total number of communities and municipalities is less than 1000. The second level of local government is 51 prefectures, headed by prefectural councils and prefects, who since 1994 have been directly elected by citizens. Second-level local authorities deal with more general issues.

The Greeks named their country Hellas. It included three regions: Balkan Greece (which occupied a significant part of the Balkan Peninsula), the western coast of Asia Minor and numerous islands of the Aegean Sea.

Balkan Greece, or mainland, surrounded on three sides by the sea, nature itself is divided into Northern Greece, Central Greece and Southern Greece.

Northern Greece is separated from neighboring Macedonia by a mountain range, which in the east is crowned by the highest in Greece, Mount Olympus, covered with eternal snow. According to the Greeks, this was the abode of the gods. From the northern border chain of mountains, the Pindus ridge stretches south, dividing Northern Greece into two regions - Epirus and Thessaly. Difficult mountain area Epirus, until the 4th century BC e. remaining semi-wild, located in the west. The Aheloy River originates from here. Here, near Dodona, there was an ancient temple of Zeus with an oracle that predicted the future by the rustle of leaves of the sacred oak. East of Pindus, in Thessaly, is the only vast valley in Greece, surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges. There were favorable conditions for horse breeding here. The Peneus River flows through the territory of Thessaly, and it is full of water even in summer. In its lower reaches is the Tempean Valley, which served as the “gateway” to Greece. This valley, with evergreen myrtles and laurels, surrounded by overgrown dark forests, harsh mountains with peaks reaching towards the sky, served the Greeks as a model of sublime beauty.

Central Greece separated from Northern Greece by mountain ranges through which there is only one passage - the narrow Thermopylae Gorge, stretching along the sea coast. The territory of this region is washed on almost all sides by the waters of the Corinthian, Saronic and Euboean gulfs. In the west there were areas separated by the deep Aheloy Acarnania And This is Oliya, which, like its northern neighbor Epirus, remained for a long time at a low level of development.

Further east between the Corinthian and Euboean gulfs was located Locrida. In the center of Locrida there was a tiny Dorida, which once briefly sheltered a strong tribe of Dorians. Adjacent to them Phocis with the legendary Mount Parnassus, on the slopes of which the sacred Castalian spring, dedicated to the muses, originates. In Phocis, in Delphi, in the sanctuary of Apollo, the most famous oracle in Greece spoke.

Further east, on broad plains, lay a vast region Boeotia, which had the largest area of ​​fertile land and numerous water sources, including the huge Kopaida Lake. In Boeotia there is the famous Mount Helicon - the mythological place of residence of the muses.

In the very east Attica, which played the most significant role in the flourishing of the entire ancient civilization, is separated from Boeotia by the mythological mountain range Kiferon. Attica is washed by the sea on three sides. The presence of convenient harbors (Piraeus, Marathon, Eleusis and Phalerian Gulf) contributed to the development of navigation. Most of Attica is cut by mountain ranges: forested Parnet, marble-rich Pentelic, Hymettus, where excellent honey was collected, and Laurium, rich in silver ores. Between them lay valleys with rocky, infertile soils. The most extensive of them are Eleusinian, where the famous temple of the goddess of fertility Demeter was located in the city of Eleusis, and Athenian with the main city of Attica - Athens. Natural conditions (Attica is poor in water) made it possible to cultivate mainly olives and grapes, which produced the greatest yields on poor rocky soils. The inhabitants of Attica never had enough of their own bread, so they imported it. Among the natural resources, it is worth noting fine clay from Cape Koliada and Attic “sil” - a golden-yellow coloring substance.

Athens Acropolis (late 6th – early 5th century BC). Reconstruction

On the isthmus connecting Central and Southern Greece, there are Megara, a strong maritime state, from which Athens in the 6th century. BC e. conquered the island of Salamis, located opposite Athens in the Saronic Gulf. The isthmus between the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs, which was called Isthm, was only a few kilometers wide, and a portage was built through it for ships. Here was located Corinth- a large trading city that had harbors in both bays and a powerful fortress rising 500 meters above the trading ports. Beyond the Isthmus the peninsula began Peloponnese, or Southern Greece.

The Peloponnese had such a rugged coastline that its outline was sometimes compared to a plane tree leaf. In the north of the peninsula along the Gulf of Corinth stretches a mountainous Achaia. On the western coast of the Peloponnese was located Elis. Here, on the banks of the never-ending Alpheus River, stood the famous Temple of Olympian Zeus, where the Pan-Greek Olympic Games were held every four years.

In the center of Southern Greece was a forested and mountainous Arcadia, the only region of Ancient Greece surrounded on all sides by mountains. The lack of access to the sea led to a lag in this area in economic and cultural development and determined the life of the population in conditions of subsistence farming. But in ancient poetry, Arcadia, with its unpretentious pastoral life, was glorified as an idyllic country, where life, filled with harmony, sincerity of feelings and beauty, flows among round dances, to the sounds of music.

From wooded Arcadia to the southeast, to Cape Tenar, there were powerful mountain ranges Parnon and Taygetos. The ridges distinguished three vast regions inhabited by the Dorians: Argolis, Laconia and Messenia. IN Argolis, In addition to the city of Argos, a stubborn opponent of Sparta, there was also a large city of Epidaurus with the temple of the god of medicine Asclepius, famous throughout Greece. In the very south of the Peloponnese was located Lakonica, fertile area in the valley of the Eurotas River. Here they harvested high yields, and on the slopes of Taygetos, which abounded in game, they hunted. In the center of Laconia was the strict and warlike Sparta. Through the Taygetos passes one could get to Messinia- an area with fertile soils and a hot climate, where date palms even grew. The deepest river in Greece flows here - Pamis. Messinia, although inhabited by Dorians, was conquered by Sparta and incorporated into that state. In addition, it should be mentioned Sikyonia- a small region near Achaea, “the country of cucumbers.”

An integral part of Ancient Greece is also the western coast of Asia Minor, where Greek regions arose Ionia And Aeolis. It was from these regions with their populous cities that Greek culture and civilization spread throughout the Mediterranean and then to the East, all the way to India.

The mild Mediterranean climate, favorable for agriculture, often allowed the inhabitants of Hellas to harvest two crops a year. The ideal weather for economic activity occurs only from March to June and from September to December. Although icy winds blow almost continuously in winter and sizzling heat in summer, agricultural work on peasant farms was year-round.

Greece appears to us as a mountainous country (mountain ranges occupy up to 80 percent of the territory) with infertile rocky soils. There are few valleys, and even there the layer of fertile soil is very thin. To grow and harvest crops, the peasant had to remove stones from the fields, cultivate fertile soil and build retaining walls, otherwise the winter rains would wash away this land.

In addition, farmers had big problems due to the poverty of Hellas with fresh water. Apart from four rivers (Peneus, Aheloy, Alpheus and Pamis), all the others were low-water and dried up in the summer heat. Therefore, in Ancient Greece, divine honors were given to springs. There was not enough moisture for the plants, and providing fields with water, labor-intensive digging of wells and diversion irrigation ditches was one of the most important tasks for the peasants. Only in Boeotia it was necessary to take care of the drainage of excess water that fell onto the fields from Lake Copaida after winter rains 1 .

The lack of fertile land coupled with constant population growth led to the development of crafts and trade. This was facilitated by the presence of various minerals in Greece. Pottery clay was mined in Attica, Corinth, and Euboea, and terracotta was produced in Boeotia. Iron ore was mined in small quantities everywhere, but mainly in Asia Minor. Since ancient times, copper mines have been located in Cyprus, as well as on the island of Euboea and near the city of Chalkis. Deposits of lead-silver ores were mined in Attica, in the Lavria mountains and in Thrace, where gold deposits were also discovered. Fine marble was mined in the Pentelekon Mountains in Attica, on the island of Paros and in a number of other places. Agricultural products also served as raw materials for the craft: sheep wool, flax. The production of charcoal was necessary for blacksmithing and heating homes with braziers.

The Hellenes are, first of all, hardworking farmers, for whom hard daily work in the fight against a far from merciful nature has become the norm. The natural conditions of the Aegean forced peasants to constantly search for the most optimal forms of farming and formed such traits as hard work, enterprise, and perseverance. The Greek table was dominated by vegetables, fruits and dairy products (olives, grapes, sheep cheese), which was quite consistent with living conditions in the Mediterranean climate. Such a diet certainly influenced the formation of a person’s physical type.

Corinthian pottery (VI century BC)

The formation of civilization in Ancient Greece was significantly influenced by another natural factor. The entire territory of Hellas was divided by mountain ranges into many similar ecological regions, the boundaries of which, as a rule, coincided with the boundaries of the policies. In the coastal zone they engage in fishing, crafts and trade. Next lies a small valley that has the most favorable conditions for growing grain. Then the rocky mountain slopes begin, suitable for growing olives and grapes. Finally, mountains rise in which you can graze livestock and hunt. Moreover, not a single type of activity (at least in the initial periods of Greek history) could provide a Hellenic existence. Therefore, every Greek had to be not only a farmer, but also a fisherman, sailor, trader, be able to grow bread, olives, and grapes, make wine, raise livestock and engage in crafts and hunting. And all this required from the resident of the Aegean hard work, knowledge, and initiative. But it was impossible to survive otherwise.

Behind the mountain range, on the territory of another city, there was exactly the same natural environment. Thus, nature itself creates the conditions for the emergence in the history of mankind of an active, active, enterprising personality, a special cultural-historical type that has not yet existed in the history of civilizations of the Ancient World.

In addition, the nature of Balkan Greece and the islands of the Aegean Sea, with valleys and mountains covered with evergreen vegetation and the sea shimmering in the sun, with waves crashing on the coastal cliffs, was distinguished by its amazing beauty and brightness of colors. Its picturesqueness had a huge influence on the formation of the worldview of the ancient Greeks, the education of aesthetic taste and a sense of beauty, which was reflected in the unique works of ancient art. The artistic creativity of the ancient Greeks, according to V. G. Belinsky, personified a vivid example of “the wonderful reconciliation of spirit and nature.”

Thus, the Hellenes had to mobilize all their creative energy in order to establish themselves in this difficult world and find ways to live harmoniously with the natural environment. With their painstaking work they laid the foundations of a new civilization.

Greece is of interest to almost anyone. Some are interested in the history of Ancient Hellas, some strive to visit this country, considering it the cradle of Orthodoxy, and some tourists, and they seem to be the majority, simply want to relax at the beautiful Greek beach resorts. More than 15 million tourists from around the world visit Greece every year.

In the 5th century BC, Greece was the center of the ecumene, the undisputed leader in the fields of art, architecture, science, mathematics, philosophy, theater and literature. Now Greece is famous for its amazing landscape, natural beauty, numerous historical monuments, as well as beautiful beach resorts.

Geography of Greece

Greece is located in southeastern Europe. In the east and northeast, Greece borders with Turkey, in the north with Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania, in the south it is washed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the west by the Ionian Sea, and in the east by the Aegean Sea.

The total area of ​​Greece is almost 132 thousand square kilometers, including islands (approximately 20% of the territory of Greece are islands), and the total length of the state border is 1,228 km.

A significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains. Moreover, the highest of them is the famous Mount Olympus in Thessaly (2,917 m).

There are approximately 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest Greek islands are Crete in the Mediterranean Sea and Euboea in the Aegean Sea.

Capital

The capital of Greece is the ancient city of Athens, which is now home to more than 5 million people. This city was founded approximately 3,500 years ago.

Official language of Greece

The official language of Greece is Greek, which is a branch of the Indo-European languages. The first archaeological evidence of the existence of the Greek language dates back to the 15th century BC.

Religion

About 97% of the population of Greece consider themselves Orthodox Christians belonging to the Greek Catholic Church. According to a Eurostat poll, 81% of Greeks believe that “God exists.”

State structure

Greece is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state is the President (he is elected by Parliament). The current Greek Constitution was adopted relatively long ago, in 1975.

Legislative power in this country belongs to the unicameral Parliament (300 deputies).

The main political parties are the liberal New Democracy, the left-wing Panhellenic Social Movement, the Coalition of the Radical Left, the People's Orthodox Appeal, and the Communist Party of Greece.

Climate and weather

In the coastal regions of Greece (Athens, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, Peloponnese and part of Central Hellas), the Mediterranean climate predominates (winters are mild and humid, and summers are dry and hot).

The mountainous regions of northwestern Greece (some of Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly and Western Macedonia), as well as the mountainous Peloponnese, including Achaia, Arcadia and Laconia, have an alpine climate with heavy snowfall.

Inland central Greece, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace have a temperate climate.

In July, the average air temperature in Athens is +28.7C, on the island of Corfu – +27.8C, and on the island of Rhodes – 26.8C.

Sea in Greece

Greece is washed by the waters of the Ionian (in the west), Mediterranean (in the south) and Aegean (in the east) seas. The total coastline is about 17,000 km. Approximately 85% of the population of all Greece lives in coastal areas (up to 50 km from the coast).

Sea water in Greece amazes and surprises all tourists. Its deep blue color is due in part to the reflection of the blue sky and the fact that it does not contain much solid matter (such as plankton, dirt and dust).

There are about 450 species of fish and 12 species of cetaceans in the Greek seas.

There are about 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest of them are Crete in the Ionian Sea, Euboea in the Aegean Sea, and Corfu in the Ionian Sea.

Average sea temperature in Greece:

• January - +15C
• February - +14C
• March - +14C
• April - +15C
• May - +18C
• June - +22C
• July - +24C
• August - +25C
• September - +23C
• October - +21C
• November - +19C
• December - +16C

The average water temperature near the island of Crete in May is +19C, in August - +25C, and in October - +23C.

Rivers and lakes of Greece

Despite the fact that a significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains, this country also has many rivers. In ancient times, the Greeks believed that rivers belonged to the world of the gods and worshiped them as separate deities.

The largest rivers in Greece are Aliakmon (297 km), Aheloos (217 km), and Mesta (230 km).

Perhaps tourists will be interested in Greek lakes, among which we highlight Trichonis, Volvi, and Vegoritis.

History of Greece

Greece marked the beginning of European civilization. The Greek city-states of Athens, Corinth and Sparta only joined forces when they were threatened by Persian invasion.

In the 5th century BC. Athens was the political, economic, and, of course, cultural center of the Mediterranean. Then Sparta, led by Alexander the Great, received a dominant role over the Greek lands. At this time, the Greeks defeated the Persians and spread their influence over vast territories, right up to India.

In 146 BC. Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire. In 395 AD, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Byzantium (officially the Eastern Roman Empire) was formed, with Constantinople (modern Istanbul) as its capital.

In 1453, the Byzantine Empire was liquidated, and the territory of modern Greece came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. For the next 350 years, Greece was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

As a result of the liberation war of 1821-1829, Greece finally gained independence. In 1833, Otto from Bavaria became king of Greece. The monarchy in Greece (from 1863 the Greeks were ruled by the Danish royal family) lasted until 1973.

After World War II, Greece descended into civil war until right-wing monarchists won in 1954. From 1967 to 1974, Greece was ruled by the so-called. "black colonels".

In 1981, after years of consultations, Greece became a member of the EU.

Greek culture

Greek culture begins with the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations (for example, 2000 BC). After this, there was a period in the history of Greece that historians call the classical period. At this time, Greek culture was formed, which began to influence neighboring peoples. In general, Greece is the birthplace of humanity, and in one way or another Greek culture has influenced a huge number of countries. The successors of Greek culture are Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire.

In the Middle Ages, the culture of Greece was greatly influenced by the Ottoman Empire. But this is understandable, because... For about 350 years, Greece was just one of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

It was in Ancient Greece that science was born. Modern philosophy, mathematics and astronomy are based on the knowledge gained by the ancient Greeks.

The most famous ancient Greek philosophers are Aristotle, Plato, Diogenes, Crates of Athens, Diogenes and Socrates.

The most famous ancient Greek mathematicians are Archimedes, Pythagoras, Democritus and Euclid.

The Greeks are very superstitious; they believe not only in God, but also in supernatural forces. Until now, the Greeks take the myths of Ancient Greece seriously. Moreover, every region of Greece, every village, every island has its own superstitions and traditions.

Greeks will never personally hand over a knife to a person who asks them for it, but will simply place it, for example, on a table. It is believed that if you give someone a knife, you will have to fight with that person.

The most popular Greek folk (and very often religious) holidays are Epiphany, Gynecocracy, Tsiknopempti (Meat Thursday), Maundy Monday, Annunciation, Good Friday, Easter, Remembrance Day of the Pontic Genocide, Whitsun, Polytechnio and Nativity.

If two Greeks say the same words at the same time, they will definitely touch some red object, otherwise it is believed that they will fight and become enemies. History is silent about where this superstition came from.

Greek cuisine

We definitely advise tourists to visit local restaurants in Greece and enjoy Greek cuisine. The variety of dishes, as well as their taste, make Greek cuisine unique. A characteristic feature of Greek cuisine is the use of olive oil in absolutely every dish.

Also, Greeks usually use a lot of vegetables and spices when preparing food. However, the spices are mild enough that there is no need to worry about too much heat.

We all know Greek salad and moussaka. However, these dishes are only a prelude to real Greek cuisine. Each region of Greece, each island has its own dishes and methods of preparing them. Therefore, the taste of moussaka on the island of Corfu will be completely different from that of moussaka on the Dedecanese islands.

We definitely advise tourists in Greece to try the bean soup “Fasolada”, shrimp fried in butter, “souvlaki” (kebabs on wooden sticks), fish fillet in Greek, flatbread with meat, potatoes and tomatoes “gyro”, “fritta” from vegetables with “zazyki” sauce, as well as “kakavia” fish soup.

The ancient Greeks considered wine to be the drink of the gods, and in modern Greece this alcoholic drink is extremely popular. True, the ancient Greeks diluted wine with spring water, but modern Greeks for some reason forgot this, generally very useful, tradition.

The most famous Greek strong alcoholic drinks are tsipouro (also called tsikoudia or raki), with a strength of 38-47% alcohol, ouzo (aniseed vodka with a strength of 40% alcohol), and Metaxa brandy.

Sights of Greece

Greece ranks first in the world in terms of the number of attractions (in second and third places are Italy and Bulgaria, respectively). Therefore, we will highlight, in our opinion, the ten best attractions in Greece, although in fact there are many more.

Top 10 best attractions in Greece:

Cities and resorts

The largest Greek cities are Athens, Piraeus, Patras, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion.

The coastline in Greece is 13,676 kilometers, which means that there are a huge number of beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, which are surrounded by cliffs with pine trees and palm trees.

The most popular beach resorts in Greece are Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Chania and Halkidiki.

Souvenirs/shopping

• Greek shoes (in particular, handmade sandals).
• Gold jewelry.
• Folk talismans that “ward off the evil eye.”
• Bouzouki (baglama) is a small stringed musical instrument.
• CDs of Greek folk music.
• Olives, olive oil.
• Greek cheese.
• Kitchen utensils.
• Alcoholic drinks - ouzo, tsipuro (tsikudya or raki) and Metaxa brandy.

Office hours

Bank opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 08:30-14.30
Fri: 08:30-14.00

Banks on the larger islands are generally open during the afternoon to cater to tourists.

Stores in Greece are open from Monday to Saturday, starting at 9:00 (in summer - from 8:30)

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