Crazy Facts About Greece

Greece boasts more archaeological museums than anywhere else in the world.

Greeks are known for their delectable seafood cuisine and olives and feta cheese production.

Ancient Greece required men aged 18 or above to enlist in its military.

1. It is the birthplace of democracy

Cleisthenes was Athens’ lawgiver during its transformation into democracy in the sixth century BC after overthrowing a tyrant. After this victory, his framework of democracy (from Greek demos and kratos) became operational; an area just west of Acropolis came to be known as Ancient Agora where you can explore remnants of political, social, and religious structures; nearby is Pnyx Hill where assemblies of citizens would convened regularly.

At first, only men of Athenian heritage could vote in democratic assemblies; by the mid-5th century B.C. however, that had changed for a more diverse population. Slavery had also been abolished and all adult male citizens required to take part in government for one year; furthermore, 500 members of the boule — five from each tribe in Athens — were responsible for creating new laws and running all aspects of political process.

Though these early forms of democracy were short-lived, their influence is felt around the globe today. We currently use representative democracy where citizens elect representatives who write laws on their behalf; you can see examples such as Canada, United States and South Africa as examples of representative democracy in action. Ancient Greece saw significant examples of democracy that produced many notable philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle who helped pave the way to representative democracy today.

2. It is the birthplace of theatre

Greece, home to such thinkers and rulers as Plato and Aristotle as well as Alexander the Great, is considered one of the birthplaces of theatre. Furthermore, Greece serves as a hub of Western civilization; thus many words from Greek have made their way into our lexicon today.

Ancient Greece saw theatre as an essential civic event. Every spring, people from the Attic Empire would gather in Athens for a festival honoring Dionysus – god of dancing, theater and wine – which featured competitions to select the best tragedies and for which an inaugural permanent theatre was constructed at Acropolis Hill.

At this time, comedy and satire also flourished, unlike tragedy which used tears as its basis for social comment and change. Terracotta figurines and vase paintings from this era show comic actors wearing macabre masks with padding on their rump and belly, as well as tights with padding around their bellybutton, as well as leather phallus to further promote comedy/satire playwriting.

Attending an ancient Greek theatre can be an unforgettable experience, and Athens now has over 50 dedicated theatres where performances range from ancient Greek drama to adaptations of works by European masters like Shakespeare and Ibsen (some with English surtitles).

3. It is the birthplace of music

Antiquity saw music and poetry as essential parts of Greek culture; both were even utilized during classical tragedies. Orpheus is widely considered the premier ancient Greek composer; his most acclaimed composition, “Ave Maria”, became a standard in numerous countries across the globe.

Ancient Greek society was known for being very civilized. They provided slaves with families and taught them arts and skills. Furthermore, public musical performances took place!

One of the hallmarks of Greek culture is its cuisine. One of its signature dishes is gyros (a meat and vegetable sandwich). There are also various varieties of hummus and moussaka available – not forgetting its famous tzatziki sauce!

Greece boasts stunning natural beauty, with the majority of its landscape consisting of mountains. Mount Olympus stands over 6,000 meters high; other popular mountains in Greece include Meteora which features 14th century monasteries built by monks seeking spiritual isolation; golden eagles inhabit only certain altitudes of Greece’s mountainous regions; the Greek language is the oldest spoken today and Homer wrote Iliad and Odyssey for it as well as Alexander the Great Socrates Olympians Nia Vardalos’ My Big Fat Greek Wedding; Giannis Antetokounmpo is NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo is another famous figure from Greek culture!

4. It is the birthplace of wine

Before visiting Greece, there’s much you can discover about it before travelling – from must-see sights and cuisine to customs and laws you won’t find online or in travel guides – from must-sees such as Athens’ must-sees to its culture-rich cuisine – but even then there can be surprising customs or laws you won’t learn about in travel guide books and Google. Below are a few amazing facts about Greece that might surprise (or amuse!) you while dining or drinking there with friends!

Greece may not be well known, but they’re considered the birthplace of wine! According to legend, winemaking began here 4,000 years ago!

Santorini Island boasts the nation’s premier wine: Assyrtiko crafted from its namesake grape. Additionally, other forms of Greek wines including Malagousia can also be found here.

Greek mythology tells of Athena being born from an olive tree offered to Athens by Poseidon; thus the city emblem features an olive branch. Additionally, Greece is synonymous with the golden eagle which can often be found hunting medium-sized mammals and birds in mountainous regions.

5. It is the birthplace of olive oil

Greeks have an intricate relationship with olive oil–Homer referred to it as “liquid gold,” while Hippocrates extolled its healing qualities. Olive oil remains an integral component of their culture and cuisine today, and Greece ranks as one of the top producers.

This southeastern European nation is graced with breathtaking natural beauty, including ten national and marine parks where you can spot sea stars, loggerhead turtles, monk seals, as well as its many bird species. Rocky mountains, forests and lakes also play host to various bird species; its coastline boasts maquis — an expansive shrubbery which requires little water — as well as picturesque beaches dotted throughout.

Ancient Greece was divided into city-states ruled by noble families that often battled each other, eventually Athens emerging as the strongest and introducing democracy as we know it today. Greece remains well known today for its stunningly preserved archaeological ruins and museums like Athens’ National Archaeological Museum as part of its legacy.

6. It is the birthplace of feta cheese

Athens is well known as being an exquisite destination with an extraordinary history and culture, often considered the cradle of Western civilization. Home to stunning archaeological museums depicting ancient architecture and lifestyle from millennia past. Furthermore, Greece boasts an extraordinary natural environment which creates its signature landscape.

Greek islands ring both the Aegean Sea in the east and Mediterranean Seas in the south, boasting thousands of islands scattered along their shores. Rocky mountains and wild forests home to rare animals and plants found only here are home to rare species that only thrive here. Additionally, Greece is famed for producing excellent wines as well as anise-flavored ouzo, its national beverage.

Feta cheese is an iconic Greek dairy product. Made of sheep’s and goat’s milk combined together, its white soft texture with salty notes makes for an irresistibly delectable cheese, ageing for several months further develops its flavor. Homer mentions Feta in his Odyssey while mythology tells us Cyclops Polyphemus accidentally invented it while transporting milk in skin bags made from animal stomachs; after seeing that his transportation system had curdled into something solid yet delicious and easily conservable!

7. It is the birthplace of wine

Greeks have long enjoyed enjoying delectable wines. Their ancestors pioneered significant breakthroughs in grape cultivation that resulted in some of the world’s best-known wines being created; and today Greece remains one of the premier wine producing and exporting nations worldwide.

Greek vase dating to the late Archaic period (c 510-500 B.C), showing Dionysus aboard an infested ship among his would-be abductors.

Greeks were particular about where they got their vino; so much so, that they established one of the first set of laws governing its production – laws which still stand today.

No matter if it is for an unforgettable wine tour or simply to stock up, Greece makes for a fantastic destination. Thanks to its varied geography and climate, Greece boasts some of the finest wines around.

Although you might already know that Greece’s Parthenon is one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, there is so much more to explore! From ancient Greek mythology to its unique yo-yo, we hope you enjoy learning about this fascinating nation! For accommodation during your visit we recommend Vrbo or booking tours through Viator or GetYourGuide – two great resources.