Works Cited

http://www.greekmythology.com/

http://www.european-agency.org/country-information/greece/national-overview/legal-system

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13798000

http://www.circlesquare.co.uk/blog/circle_square/50/a_summary_of_the_greek_financial_crisis_.html

http://www.indexmundi.com/greece/gdp_per_capita_%28ppp%29.html

http://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/greece.html

http://cemea.economistconferences.com/event/second-social-security-conference/social-security-reform-greece-agenda#.UXaTYPVCKVo

http://archive.minedu.gov.gr/en_ec_page1531.htm

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/244595/Greek-language

http://greece.mrdonn.org/alphabet.html

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/greek.htm

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/greece-country-profile.html

http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Main_Page/

http://www.mapsofworld.com/greece/culture-and-society/

Market Audit

Greece's economic problems are the result of a culture within the country which has offered business visitors a number of challenging paradoxes for many years. The greatest of these paradoxes would be why a country whose people are renowned for an entrepreneurial approach, should have seemingly failed to have kept pace with the economic advances enjoyed by many of their near European neighbours. The reasons behind this lack of obvious economic success may be linked to certain underlying cultural norms which Greece and Greeks exhibit.  For example, their corrupt government and hierarchical business structures. 

Consumer buying habits have changed since the economic downturn as well.  In a survey conducted in March 2011, Greeks were found to be coping with a reduced household budget.  Seven out of 10 Greek consumers said they intended to shop at discount stores more often and buy more products that have been marked down.  In order to deal with the associated anxiety and stress, Greeks prefer to spend time with family and friends; only three out of 10 replied that they would go out, seeking distraction outside of the home.  The three main reasons explaining their decision to reduce spending are the following:1) Greeks expect to be earning less in salary pay, 2)They are worried that they or another household member will lose their job, 3)They need to pay off existing credit lines.
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/09/23/change-in-greek-consumers%E2%80%99-shopping-habits/

Quoting a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group, Kathimerini reports 58% of Greeks “are planning to reduce their food budget,” beginning with spirits (70% of respondents), beer (71% of respondents), and fast food (71% of respondents).

 

 http://www.minyanville.com/businessmarkets/articles/the-economy-in-greece-austerity-greece/7/26/2011/id/35945#ixzz2QeIq3olA

Common types of Retail Outlets in Greece:  Shops, Open air markets, Department Stores, Malls

Advertisement in Greece vs. US: 

These ads are similar in that it depicts Nescafe drinkers as having the ability to change who they are. 

US Nescafe Commercial  

Social Security and Healthcare

Healthcare:

Many Greeks have been calling for reform to their country’s healthcare system. Despite this, it was ranked by the World Health Organization as one of the best in the world; with healthcare costs among the lowest of the European Union member countries.

Currently, there are moves from the government to upgrade the healthcare system, having obtained funding assistance from the European Union. Such improvements include the building of new facilities, developing mobile medical units, improving accident and emergency facilities and the installation of high-tech medical equipment.

The public health system in Greece provides free, or low cost, healthcare services to residents (and their families) contributing to the social security system. Other benefits include free laboratory services, maternity care, medical-related appliances or devices and transportation. 

Emergency care is provided free of charge in public hospitals to anyone, regardless of nationality. There are also smaller outpatient clinics in rural areas which are attached to bigger public hospitals. These facilities provide faster emergency treatment than the bigger public hospitals.

http://www.allianzworldwidecare.com/healthcare-in-greece

Social Security: 

Current laws: 1951 (social security), with amendments; 1960; 1978 (legislation and regulation); 1981 (noncontributory old-age pension); 1988 (noninsured persons); 1990 (regulation); 1991 (pensions); 1992 (social security); 1997 (contributions); 2000 (financing and administration); 2002 (social security); and 2004 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

The social insurance system is mainly funded by employees’ and employers’ contributions. Regarding the private sector employees, the contributions are paid by the employees and the employers. Regarding the self-employed and the liberal professions, the contributions are paid by the employees themselves. 

Sports

Soccer is an obsession with many Greeks.  The Greece National Football Team is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece.  The Greeks became European champions in 2004 when they won UEFA Euro Tournament.

Fashion

Sophia Kokosalaki, born 1972

Her trademark style often features classic Grecian draping combined with handcrafted elements. Her specialty is soft flowing dresses, and work with knitwear and leather.

• Famous Greek fashion designer born and raised in Greece.  
• Received Elle designer award and Art Foundation award for fashion in 2002
• New Generation Designer Award in 2004Chosen to design opening and closing ceremonial outfits for the 2004 Summer Olympics in her home town of Athens

Sophia Kokosalaki at ASOS

Sophia Kokosalaki FALL 2012 Runway

Biography on VOGUE UK

Housing

Αγγελία / angelia	Classified
Πώληση / polissi	Sale
Ενοικίαση / enoikiassi	Renting
Αγορά / agora	Market
Ακίνητο / akinito	Estate
Οικόπεδο / oikopedo Land	Land
Κατοικία / katoikia	Residence
Μονοκατοικία / monokatoikia	One-family house
Διαμέρισμα / diamerisma	Apartment
Γκαρσονιέρα / gkarsoniera	Studio flat
Σπίτι / spiti	House/Home

Μπάνιο / banio	Bathroom
Λουτρό / loutro	Bathroom with shower
Υπνοδωμάτιο / ypnodomatio	Bedroom
Σαλόνι / saloni	Living room
Καθιστικό kathistiko	Living room
Τραπεζαρία / trapezaria	Dining room
Γραφείο / grafeio	Office
Κήπος kipos / Garden	Garden
Μπαλκόνι / balkoni	Balcony
Κοινόχρηστα koinochrista Building charges	Building charges
Πλησίον μετρό / plission metro	Close to the metro

Mortgages:

A bank in another EU country will make a commercial decision on whether or not to accept your mortgage application, on the basis of the risk profile of the proposed loan.

Banks may not discriminate against any EU citizens on grounds of nationality.  However, your country of residence or the location of the property to be mortgaged can often make it difficult to obtain a mortgage.

Banks frequently refuse to grant mortgages for properties located in another country, or to people whose source of income or place of residence is not in the country where the bank is established.

Marketing: Greek Ad

This commercial is for WIND mobile telephones.  I think this commercial is very funny and would get my attention if it was an American commercial.  I think it shows that the Greeks have a sense of humor about things.

Santorini!

• Santorini (also called Thira)  is an island in the southern Aegean Sea about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece's mainland.  

• Santorini is essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island.  The Thira Eruption, is one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history and it occurred 3600 years ago.

• Ideal times to visit, for milder weather, prices and crowds, are April-June and September-October.  

 






Red Beach- it's worth taking the Red Beach/Akrotiri bus from Fira and then climbing over the very rocky trails to get here (though there are water taxis and various schooners that make their way here as well). Red Beach earns its name from the iron-rich sedimentary rocks in the cliff face towering above you, as well as the red sand. It's quite crowded; you can rent an umbrella and a pair of chaise lounges, though there is also some good free space nearby that gets packed by midday. The first few meters of the water near the shore are quite gravelly, so be prepared to step on some stones. Women are frequently topless.

Facts about Greece

Economic Analysis

Greece has been spending beyond its means for 15 years. It now owes 150% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product).  In other words, Greece owes one and a half times its country's total output per year.
Even before Greece joined the euro, the country was living beyond its means. After it adopted the single currency, public spending soared.  Public sector wages, for example, rose 50% between 1999 and 2007 - far faster than in most other eurozone countries. The government also ran up big debts paying for the 2004 Athens Olympics.  And while money flowed out of the government's coffers, its income was hit by widespread tax evasion. So, after years of overspending, its budget deficit - the difference between spending and income - spiralled out of control.

This debt to output ratio is rising all of the time. The reality is, that it was fighting to pay down its deficit prior to entering into a deep and prolonged recession which made its position further untenable.  It has borrowed so much money that it can only afford to pay off the interest on the sums borrowed, and can only afford to pay off that part with borrowed money. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13798000

Population:  11,304,000 (2011)

GDP: $289.6 Billion (2011)

Personal Income Per Capita:  

Natural Resources:  lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Transportation:  Railways, Metro, Commuter Rail, Tram, Bus, Cars, Waterway

Average Personal Income: $22,134

Average Family Income: 20,202 Euro (2011)

Distribution of Wealth:  the top 20% of the population earm almost five times as much as the bottom 20%

Communication Systems:  Telephone, Radio, Internet

Working Conditions/Labor Force:  60% of people between the ages of 15-64 have a paid job
                                                                   Work 2109 Hours a year

Principal Industries:  tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Foreign Investment:  Greece provides a challenging climate for investment, both foreign and domestic. The country is contending with an intractable government deficit (-10.8% of GDP in 2010, -9.6% estimated in 2011), increasing public debt (149.1% of GDP for 2010, 165.1% predicted for 2011), and is entering its fifth year of recession. The economy is expected to shrink by more than 6% in 2011 after a contraction of 4.5% in 2010, resulting in a 15% contraction since the beginning of the recession. A recovery is now expected no sooner than 2013. The protracted economic crisis has lead to a contraction in bank lending and investment. There is no evidence yet of improvement in investor sentiment or a related increase in investments.

International Trade Statistics:U.S. Trade in Goods with Greece

Month	Exports	Imports	Balance
January 2013	44.1	67.6	-23.5
February 2013	56.0	56.6	-0.6
TOTAL 2013	100.0	124.2	-24.1

Trade Restrictions:  General Tariff (Customs Tax)

Inflation Rate: -.20 (2013)

Current Technology:  On Par with U.S.

Technological Skills:   In 2005, almost 32% of Greece’s workers were over-qualified for their jobs (against the OECD average of 25%), and almost 19% were under-qualified (against the OECD average of 22%).  Over-qualified (under-qualified) workers are those who have a higher (lower) qualification than the most common qualification of all other workers in the same occupation.

Media:  Television is Greece's medium of choice. Research in 2009 showed that 78% of Greeks turn to the TV for news, followed by the press (41%), the net (35%) and radio (32%).  Broadcasting is relatively unregulated by European standards, and many of the approximately 1,700 private radio and TV stations are unlicensed. There were nearly 5 million internet users by mid-2010.

There are a total of 82 newspapers with national circulation in Greece today.

The public broadcasting organization, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation S.A. (ERT S.A.), owns five radio broadcasting stations: Second Programme, ERA-3, NET Radio, ERA Sport, KOSMOS. The first non-pirate private radio station was Athena 9.84 FM, which went on air in 1987 broadcast by the Municipality of Athens.

Television broadcasting channels and viewership: Mega Channel (22.1 percent) and Antenna (16.8%) control the market, followed by Alpha TV (15.1 percent) and Star (11.4 percent).

http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/greece/

Social Institutions: Legal System & Social Organizations

The word justice implies fairness and righteousness. In the system of law, it is represented by Themis, the female God of Justice in ancient Greek mythology. An idol known to every household, she carries a sword in one hand and a scale in the other. The sword represents authority while the scale represents the fairness of justice. In western society, the image of Themis often symbolizes the legal or judicial system. She is an embodiment of justice or judicial fairness. 

Greece is a country with a long constitutional tradition, which is marked by the existence of a written constitution. The present constitution was enacted in June 1975, after the fall of the dictatorship of 1967 and the re-establishment of democratic government in the country.  The origins of the current constitution are traced back to 1864.  Greece is a representative democracy, based on the principle of popular sovereignty. Greece has a parliamentary government and its president is elected by the parliament.  It is a multiparty system and the freedom of establishing political parties is guaranteed by the constitution. 

The division between civil (private) and public law is important in the Greek legal order. Public law is made up of constitutional, administrative, international and criminal law, criminal and civil procedure.


http://www.pureinsight.org

Ethnicity and Race in Greece:  Greek 98%, other 2%; note: the Greek government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece

Social Institutions: Education

The Greek educational system is mainly divided into three levels:  primary (ages 6-12), secondary (ages 12-18) and tertiary (18+).

Primary:

Elementary schools are called "Dimotiká" (demotic, meaning municipal), a carryover term from a time when such schools were run by local communities. The name remains although it has been obsolete for decades. In the first two years pupils are not officially graded, and parents obtain feedback about their performance via oral communications with teachers. Grading begins in Year 3, and written exams are introduced in Year 5. Graduating from one year to the next is automatic, and pupils with deficient performance are given remedial tutoring. Years are called "classes", from first to sixth.

Secondary:

Enrollment to the next tier of compulsory education, the Gymnasium, is automatic.  Similar to the American middle school, students take classes in different subjects that range from 30-80 minutes.  

Basic subjects:

• Modern Greek Language (1 hour/day)
• Modern Greek Literature (6 hours/week)
• Mathematics (5 hours/week)
• Environmental Studies (2–4 hours/week)
• Physical Education (4 hours/week)
• Music (2 hours/week)
• Art (2 hours/week)

• Theatrical Studies (1 hour/week)
• Flexible Zone (3 hours/week)
• English (2–4 hours/week)

The General Lyceum us the equivalent to the American high school.

Subjects:

• Greek Language (Ancient Greek, Modern Greek Literature and Composition-9 hours/week)
• Religion (2 hours/week)
• Ancient History (2 hours/week)
• Maths (5 hours/week)
• English (3 hours/week)
• Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology-6 hours/week)
• PE (3 hours/week)
• Project (3 hours/week)

Tertiary: 

Higher Educational Institutes are consisted of two parallel sectors: the Universities and the Higher Technological Educational Institutes (T.E.I.).

Social Institutions: Business Customs and Practices

Business Meeting Etiquette

• Greeks prefer to do business with those they know and trust.  Thus, they maintain an intricate web of family and friends to call upon for business assistance since they can be confident of their trustworthiness.

• Nepotism is not viewed negatively and it is very common for relatives to work for the same company.

• Greeks prefer face-to-face meetings rather than doing business by telephone or in writing, which are seen as too impersonal.

• Under no circumstances should you publicly question someone's statements.  Greeks do not like people who are pretentious or standoffish.

• Although business is relaxed, it is also serious. Acting informal before a relationship has developed is considered discourteous.

• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, although it is often possible to schedule them on short notice. 

•   Confirm meetings one day in advance by telephone.

• Many businesspeople eat lunch between 1 and 3 p.m., so this is not the optimal time for a meeting.

•  Quite often it is not until the third meeting that business is actually conducted. During the first meeting your Greek business colleagues will want to get to know something about you as a person. The second meeting is used to develop trust and mutual respect. By the third meeting, business may begin.

•  Have printed material available in both English and Greek.  Although some business people speak English, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter.

Living Conditions: Diet and Nutrition

The Greek diet, also known as the Mediterranean Diet, is an alternative way of eating that has been adopted in the United States. 

Greek food and beverages are famous all over the world for both quality and taste. Greek cuisine is often cited as an example of the healthy Mediterranean diet while sharing food and drinks with relatives and friends is one of the basic elements of the Greek culture. Greek cuisine incorporates fresh ingredients, among them garlic, onions, fennel, zucchini, grapes, apples, dates and figs, into a variety of local dishes some of which can be traced back to Ancient Greece.

Seasonings and herbs like dill, mint, oregano and lemon rinds also form an important part of the recipes while olive oil is added to almost every dish. Wheat, rice and meat, traditionally lamb, but also chicken, pork, beef and fish, form the staple diet.

The mezedes (single: mezes) are appetizers, served before or with the main dishes:

• Tzatziki (Greek yogurt with finely chopped cucumber, garlic and olive oil). 
• Dolmades or dolmadakia (grape leaves filled with rice, onions and sometimes ground beef, currants and pine kernel), 
• Kalamarakia (small pieces of fried squid with lemon juice), 
• Tiropitakia (small cheese pies, usually made of feta cheese) 
• Spanakopitakia (small spinach pies with crushed feta cheese)

The most famous salad:

• The Greek Salad, a mix of fresh tomatoes, olives, cucumber, onions, green pepper, feta cheese, olive oil and oregano; melitzanosalata - an eggplant puree with finely chopped garlic and olive oil; taramosalata - crushed fish eggs.

Greeks have a lot of excellent main dishes such as:

•  Moussaka, which has a base made of potatoes topped with eggplants, onions, ground beef and béchamel crème; 
• Pastitsio - spaghetti topped with ground beef, onions, tomato sauce and béchamel sauce; 
• Paidakia - grilled lamb's ribs served with lemon; kokoretsi - wrapped and roasted entrails of lamb, served with lemon.
• Keftedakia - fried meatballs of beef, garlic and bread. 

*Meat is often served with horta - boiled wild greens with olive oil, salt and lemon and briam - mix of roast potatoes, eggplants, onions, garlic, tomato sauce and olive oil.
Greece is also famous for its alcoholic drinks. Liquor includes ouzo and tsipouro with ouzo being the most famous Greek alcoholic beverage, considered the trade mark of the country.

In Greece, friends and families eat meals together in a social setting. They prepare fresh produce that they grow on their own land, collect milk and eggs from their own animals and may even have their own animals for slaughter. Food quality is fresh, and meals are prepared as a family. In the United States, meals are often consumed on the road or in front of the television. Having one meal per day as a family at the table is a bonding experience. It also allows you to eat slowly and enjoy your food.

Squid!

A Greek Frappe!  A very popular coffee drink made from instant coffee.  Served over ice with foam on top.  It is a staple in the summer months. 

Social Institutions: Family

Contemporary Greek culture and traditions are very rich and diverse, reflecting Greece’s location at the crossing point where the West meets the East and the country’s great and turbulent history.  This rich and tumultuous past greatly influences contemporary lifestyle, the Greek perspective on the world, Greek music, food, customs and traditions, even the way Greeks do business. Greeks as a whole are extremely proud of their history, their cultural heritage and their contribution to literature, art, philosophy and politics. They speak with intense passion of their country as the cradle of European civilization.

A recent study found that Greeks' pride in being Greek surpassed the ethnic satisfaction of every other European nation. Greeks define their natural and ethnic belonging through their culture and tradition. Anyone who has seen the movie “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding” knows this. Traditions, religion, music, language, food and drinks are the pillars of contemporary Greek culture and lifestyle, making the country an attraction point for visitors from all over the world.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=115027


The Greek society consists of extremely close knit families. There are other important social organizations in Greece that have gradually evolved from the idea of family. These organization works for the social benefit and welfare of the people of Greece. The institution of marriage also plays an important role in Greece Society. Tradition and religious practices forms a core of the social lifestyle of the Greeks. Women in Greece society are given great importance and are provided with good educational facilities.

Family and religion are central to Greek values and behaviour and mutually reinforce each other’s importance. The Orthodox Church advocates the traditional patriarchal family and this is specified in the marriage ceremony. In this ceremony the wife accepts the husband as head of the family.

In this traditional family structure, the husband/father is the main authority figure and source of discipline. The institution of marriage also plays an important role in society. The word family in Greece refers to a particular social group whose members are related by blood or marriage at different levels or in different forms or combinations.  The wife/mother is the focus of the home. The term nikokira refers to female family members, especially to the wife and mother who, traditionally, takes responsibility for the housework and child-rearing. The husband and father, or nikokiris, is expected to financially provide for the family and to contribute to its progress.

The conjugal family includes the husband and wife and their children. The extended family includes the conjugal family as well as ascendants of the husband and/or wife. Interestingly, the National Statistical Service of Greece considers all people who live under the same roof to be members of the family, regardless of whether they are related.

Although family life has changed considerably with the transition from the traditional rural-agricultural life into an urban industrial-modern system, to these days women and particularly mothers in Greece play the most important family roles.  The man is the family's outside representative, enjoying the social prestige and esteem, but the woman traditionally was and is the organizer of the household, the mediator in family disputes, and the guardian of the family's unity. The family's prestige often rests on the woman's ability to carry out her household duties properly.

Frequent communication and assistance between the two adult generations and children and youth are also very common for Greek families. The family offers both financial and emotional support to its members and family relationships carry over into business with nepotism largely seen as something acceptable. It is very common for relatives to work for the same company because Greeks prefer to do business with those they know and trust. Companies are also hierarchical over the traditional respect for age and position

Language

We are all introduced to the alphabet when we are young, but never did I stop to think about where the  alphabet originated.  It actually came to us through the Greeks!  The Greeks created the alphabet after seeing the Phoenicians using a form of written language.  The Greeks took this idea and changed it a bit in order to suit their language. One of the most important, and valuable, changes was their addition of vowels.  The word "alphabet" is a made-up word that combines the first two letters of the Greek alphabet-alpha and beta- alphabet.  

This alphabet is the reason why the Greeks have a long and well-documented history.  In fact, the Greek language has the longest history of any Indo-European language--it spans 34 centuries!

Greek is the primary language is spoken in Greece. 

As the Greeks became more cosmopolitan, coming into wider and more frequent contact with each other and with other nations, the Greek language became more uniform.  The development of literature and song also became a force for standardization.

 

The principal divisions of Greek dialect are between Aeolic, Ionic, and Doric. 

Doric is mainly in the south, from the Peloponnesus down to Crete and up to Rhodes. Aeolic is in the northeast, and Ionic across the center.

Attic-Ionic Dialect

This group defines a series of closely related dialects spoken by Athenians and the Ionians occupying islands in the Aegean and the coast of modern day Turkey, but it also includes several dialects spoken by peoples on the Aegean coast of the Greek mainland. This suggests that the Athenians are culturally related in some way to the Ionian Greeks.

Due to the fact that Ionia and Athens are two of the greatest contributors to Greek cultural development (especially literature) and since they become, over time, the most economically successful, this group of dialects eventually becomes the most pervasive. Most literature surviving from ancient Greece today is in the Attic or Ionic dialects.

Doric Dialect

This group is the largest category of West Greek dialects, including those spoken by all the Greeks of the Peloponnese except the Arcadians, Eleans, and some Achaians. The two most prominent Doric dialects are Argolic, spoken by the Argives of Argos, and Laconian, spoken by the Spartans. But Corinth, Megara, Rhodes, Cyrene, and Crete are all home to different Doric dialects as well.

Religion

The largest religious denomination in Greece is the Greek Orthodox Church, and Christianity.  This represents the majority of the population and is constitutionally recognized as the "prevailing religion" of Greece (making it one of the few European countries with a state religion).

Other major religions include:  Catholicism, Hellenic Neopaganism, and Islam.

The Church of Greece is largely exempt from taxes, compared to other religious organizations. Furthermore, the mainstream Orthodox clergy's salaries and pensions are being paid for by the State at rates comparable to those of teachers. All Greek students in primary and secondary schools in Greece attend Christian Orthodox instruction, although there is an exemption system for students who do not want to attend, as long as the exemption is requested by both parents. In addition, the Constitution prohibits proselytism (act of attempting to convert people) from other religions, but places no such restrictions on the Orthodox Church.

This is a picture I took of a church in Santorini.
The churches of Santorini, although very much part of the cubist architectural style, show a Western influence in their relatively large size.

Mythology

Athens is a city of different aspects. A walk around the famous historic triangle (Plaka, Thission, Psyri) the old neighborhoods, reveal the coexistence of different eras. Old mansions, well-preserved ones and other worn down by time. Luxurious department stores and small intimate shops, fancy restaurants and traditional tavern, all seem to have their place in this city.  One of the most attractive things to me about Greek culture has always been their MYTHOLOGY.  On our walk the first day, I can remember popping into a small shop and flipping through a children's story book.  It seemed so interesting to me that where I grew up reading about Cinderella and Snow White, other children were learning about Zeus and Aphrodite.

 "Myth has two main functions," the poet and scholar Robert Graves wrote in 1955, “The first is to answer the sort of awkward questions that children ask, such as ‘Who made the world? How will it end? Who was the first man? Where do souls go after death?’…The second function of myth is to justify an existing social system and account for traditional rites and customs.” In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life. They explained everything from religious rituals to the weather, and they gave meaning to the world people saw around them.  (http://www.history.com/topics/greek-mythology)

The earliest Greek myths were part of an oral tradition that began in the Bronze Age, and their plots and themes unfolded gradually in the written literature of the archaic and classical periods. The poet Homer’s 8th-century BC epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, for example, tell the story of the (mythical) Trojan War as a divine conflict as well as a human one. They do not, however, bother to introduce the gods and goddesses who are their main characters, since readers and listeners would already have been familiar with them.

Around 700 BC, the poet Hesiod’s Theogony offered the first written cosmogony, or origin story, of Greek mythology. The Theogony tells the story of the universe’s journey from nothingness (Chaos, a primeval void) to being, and details an elaborate family tree of elements, gods and goddesses who evolved from Chaos and descended from Gaia (Earth), Ouranos (Sky), Pontos (Sea) and Tartaros (the Underworld).

At the center of Greek mythology is the pantheon of deities who were said to live on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. From their perch, they ruled every aspect of human life. Olympian gods and goddesses looked like men and women (though they could change themselves into animals and other things) and were--as many myths recounted--vulnerable to human foibles and passions.

The twelve main Olympians are:

• Zeus (Jupiter, in Roman mythology): the king of all the gods (and father to many) and god of weather, law and fate
• Hera (Juno): the queen of the gods and goddess of women and marriage
• Aphrodite (Venus): goddess of beauty and love
• Apollo (Apollo): god of prophesy, music and poetry and knowledge
• Ares (Mars): god of war
• Artemis (Diana): goddess of hunting, animals and childbirth
• Athena (Minerva): goddess of wisdom and defense
• Demeter (Ceres): goddess of agriculture and grain
• Dionysos (Bacchus): god of wine, pleasure and festivity
• Hephaistos (Vulcan): god of fire, metalworking and sculpture
• Hermes (Mercury): god of travel, hospitality and trade and Zeus’s personal messenger
• Poseidon (Neptune): god of the sea

Other gods and goddesses sometimes included in the roster of Olympians are:

• Hades (Pluto): god of the underworld
• Hestia (Vesta): goddess of home and family
• Eros (Cupid): god of sex and minion to Aphrodite

First Stop: ATHENS!

Athens is the capital city of Greece, and where most tourists will land first on their trip.  Jenn and I arrived at our hotel the first night to an unexpected treat.  Due to a mix-up with the reservations, we were given the "honeymoon suite" and VIP access to the hotel's rooftop swimming pool.  Naturally, we didn't complain.  We decided to spend a few days here to explore some of the city's famous history before island hopping in our bikinis. 

Our first trip was to the famous ACROPOLIS.  

The Acropolis is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world, and, after visiting, I can definitely understand why.

• The Acropolis hill, also called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city and constitutes one of the most recognizable monuments of the world.  It is primarily dedicated to the Goddess Athena, the patron goddess of the city. 

• The Acropolis became a sacred place in the 6th century BC when a temple dedicated 'Athenia Polias' was built in the northeastern side of the hill. The 'Athenia Polias' temple is made up of
  
  limestone and many artifacts and documents were found from this area.

•  As Christianity was introduced, the monuments were converted into churches. All the structures were renamed and served as churches and cathedrals. During the medieval period, some of the structures became residences or headquarters for kings such as the Frankish or Turkish rulers. 

• As time passed, natural degradation and human interference affected the Acropolis. Due to reasons such as wars, invasions and attacks, important structures such as the Parthenon, etc were destroyed leading to a tragic loss of history.  It was only during the late 20th century that the Acropolis was excavated properly and paid attention to. The excavation and restoration process is ongoing.

From the top of the hill, you can see the whole city! 

Geographical Setting

Greece Geography:

Greece is a peninsular and mountainous country located in Southern-Eastern Europe, in the Balkans peninsula. Although the inland is pretty mountainous, the country has the largest coastline in Europe (13,676km) due to its numerous islands. Greece has a total of more than 2,000 Greek islands but only 168 are inhabited. The country is surrounded by two big seas, the Aegean and the Ionian seas, which include other smaller seas.

-The the highest point is at Mount Olympus, at an altitude of 2917m.

- The Greek weather is pleasantly warm between April and mid- June but becomes very hot from mid-June to August, cooling off again from September to October. Greece’s coldest and wettest months are from November to February when it is not uncommon to see snow on the mainland and in the mountains.

A Hiccup of History

The Archaic Period (700-480 BCE):

Shortly after the Trojan War, Greece fell into a period of Dark Age, in which not much information is known.  With the return of the written language, and literacy, Greece emerged from the Dark Age into the Archaic period.  During this transition, the country saw advancements in political theory, especially the beginnings of democracy, as well as in culture and art.  These advancements took place as previously isolated cities came into contact with each other, thus beginning the creation of city-states.  This new, complex social organization required the development of an advanced legal structure that ensured the smooth coexistence of different classes and the equality of the citizens no matter their economic status. This political development would serve as a precursor for the Democratic principles that developed two hundred years later in Athens.  These states, settlements, and trading posts numbered in the hundreds, and became part of an extensive commercial network that involved all the advanced civilizations of the time. As a consequence, Greece came into contact and aided in the exchange of goods and ideas throughout ancient Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The Classical Period (480-323 BCE): 
With remarkable cultural and scientific achievements, the Classical Period had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire and greatly influenced the foundations of the Western Civilization. Much of modern Western politics, artistic thought, such as architecture, scientific thought, literature and philosophy derives from this period.


The city of Athens introduced to the world a direct Democracy the likes of which had never been seen before and would later be emulated in western governments like Great Britain, France, and the USA.  The rational approach to exploring and explaining the world as reflected in Classical Art, Philosophy, and Literature of this time became the well-grounded springboard that western culture used to leap forward.

The thinkers of the Classical Greek era have since dominated thought for thousands of years, and have remained relevant to our day.  Think, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.  Also from the classical period came Hippocrates or, the “Father of modern medicine”, whose Hippocratic oath is still used today.

The Hellenistic Period (323-146 BC):

 Beginning with the death of Alexander the great in 323 BCE, this period marks the transformation and maturity of Greek society from the localized and introverted city-states to an open, cosmopolitan, and  culture that permeated the entire eastern Mediterranean, and Southwest Asia.  Instead of the previous preoccupation with the Ideal, Hellenistic art focused on the Real. Depictions of man in both art and literature revolved around exuberant, and often amusing themes that for the most part explored the daily life and the emotional world of humans, gods, and heroes alike.  This was a time of growth in areas of learning, literature, and sciences.  

Why Greece?

Why Greece?  I'm 50% Italian, 50% Assyrian (Northern Iraq), I have a mild obsession with Egypt, Morocco and South Africa, I follow the up-and-coming fashions of Australia and New Zealand on instagram, blogs, and Facebook, and yet, I have chosen to dedicate this blog to the country of Greece.

But, Why?

For two reasons mainly: One, because I have traveled there twice and have fallen completely and utterly in love with the islands, beaches, food, and culture.  I believe that I can offer some personal experiences that might give this blog some Oompa! and Two, because my first trip to the country is one that I hold dear to my heart.  This trip was an amazing adventure that I shared with a friend who passed away from cancer shortly after.  We were both just 20 at the time and ready to conquer the world.  We traveled first to Athens, then made our way around to Ios, Mykonos, and Santorini for a month of carefree follies.  

Since that first trip, I have gone back to explore other islands and have become good friends with a Greek-American who has taught me a lot about her culture and traditions.  I wish I could say that traveling to a country rich in history and art opened my eyes to the greater world around me, however, I was too busy having the time of my life to notice anything other than the beautiful scenery (and beautiful men)!  Thus, I hope to rediscover my love for Greece and perhaps open my eyes to the realities of a country that holds so many of my most valuable memories.

Let the Greekery begin!