Many Greeks do not call themselves Greeks. They preserve long-standing traditions and call their country Hellas, and themselves Hellenes. The very concept of “Greece” comes from a Latin word. A small place in the northeastern part of the country was called Greece several centuries BC. But later this name spread throughout the state. For some reason, they are called Greeks in most countries of the world, and the inhabitants of this country themselves imagined themselves to be Hellenes in Hellas.
Where did the name "Hellas" come from?
In ancient times, not all of Greece was called Hellas. Now cultural scientists associate this name exclusively with Ancient Greece. In journalism, and indeed in scientific literature, the word “Hellenes” is constantly used. Hellas and Greece are identical concepts. Modern Greece did not always have the same borders. Territorial boundaries have changed over the centuries. Now some part of Greece belongs to the Turkish state, another to Italy. The lands occupied in ancient times by Italy passed to Greece. Undoubtedly, the civilization that is part of Europe today began a long time ago. Scientists call the most ancient times - Antiquity. If we translate this word into Russian from Latin, we get the term “antiquity”. Scientists associate both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome with Antiquity. Researchers are accustomed to calling the north of the Mediterranean, along with North Africa, some part of Asia, and all of Europe, Antique. The places where today scientists find imprints of Greek and Hellenic civilization are usually considered to be the heritage of European and Greek culture.
Greece. Where is this, what country is it?
The southern part of the Balkans is Greece. People in this state are accustomed to valuing their wealth. Among them are not only minerals, but also water resources. The country is washed by the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Ionian Seas. The water element of Greece is beautiful. Picturesque seascapes, delightful island part. The lands of this state are fertile, but there is very little land. It is always dry and hot here, which at any time favored livestock rather than crop production.
Ancient myths gave the basis for the cultural traditions of this country. So, Pandora, who gave birth to several children, was married to the Supreme Thunderer Zeus. One of the sons was named Grekos. Two more - Macedon and Magnis. All historians unanimously say that Greece was named after the eldest son of Zeus. Grekos inherited courage, belligerence, and bravery from his father. But at first, only one of the areas in the north-west of Athens was called Greece.
The eldest son of the supreme celestials never sat still. He traveled a lot, not for the sake of conquest, but more for the founding of new cities on empty lands. This is how a number of states appeared in Asia Minor. Formed Grecos and colonies in Italy. He took control of almost the entire Apennine Peninsula. It is known that the inhabitants of Italy called the townspeople ruled by Grekos Greeks. Other researchers believe that Greece is a Roman term, and the Greeks themselves called themselves Hellenes.
But the word “Greece” was well entrenched in the minds of foreigners, so much so that to this day few foreigners do not think of officially calling the Greeks Hellenes. This concept is typical only for the scientific world of cultural scientists, historians and Greek scholars. Even Aristotle wrote that the Hellenes did not always call themselves that. There is evidence that in ancient times they were called Greeks. Here, apparently, Ancient Greek mythology makes itself felt. Later the Greeks had a ruler named Hellenes. Allegedly, after the name of the king, they called themselves Hellenes. But this is just another theory that has the right to life.
Let's take a look at Homer's poem Iliad. In the part where the Greeks’ campaign against Troy is described, there is a mention that among the alien warriors from almost the same region, there were those who called themselves residents of the city of Gray (Greeks) and Hellenes (from a place in Thessaly). All of them, without exception, were strong and courageous. There is another speculation about the origin of the concept of “Hellenes”. There is evidence that there were once several policies and cities in the possessions of Achilles. One of them was called Hellas. And the Hellenes could have come from there. The writer Pausanias mentioned in his works that Greya was a fairly large city. And Thucydides spoke about Farrow as about Gray. That's what they called him before. Aristotle says that even before the inhabitants of present-day Greece began to be called Greeks, they called themselves that in the pre-Hellenic period.
As a result of simple conclusions, we can say that the Greeks and Hellenes are 2 tribes that existed in the neighborhood or practically on the same territory, and arose in approximately the same period of time. Perhaps they fought among themselves, and someone became stronger. As a result, culture and traditions were borrowed. Or perhaps they lived in peace and subsequently united. Scientists say that both the Hellenes and the Greeks existed until the adoption of Christianity. Later, people who did not want to become followers of the new religion were still called Hellenes (they were more “friends” with the gods of Olympus and the thunderer Zeus), and adherents of Christianity were called Greeks. Researchers believe that the term “Hellene” means “idolater.”
Modern painting
Outside of Greece, it is still called differently. The inhabitants themselves now call themselves Greeks, the country - Hellas with the Hellenic language, sometimes Greece. However, all Europeans are accustomed to alternating names. In the Russian understanding, Hellas is Ancient Greece. Residents are Greeks. Language – Greek. In almost all European and Russian languages, Greece and Hellas have similar sounds and pronunciations. The East calls the inhabitants of this country differently. In some cases, the names change dramatically. Among them:
- Jonan.
- Yavana (in Sanskrit).
- Yavanim (Hebrew).
These names come from the concept of “Ionians” - residents and migrants from the coast of the Ionian Sea. According to another theory, Ion was the ruler of the Greek islands. This is what the Persians, Turks, Jordanians, and Iranians called the inhabitants of Hellas and the coastal islands. According to another version, “ionan” are rounded headdresses that Greeks still wear to this day to protect themselves from the sun’s rays. The inhabitants of the East were the first to notice this, and now they call the Greeks Ionans. The practice of Georgians regarding the perception of Greeks is interesting. Georgians call the Hellenes “berdzeni”. In their language, this concept means “wisdom.” There are nationalities that call the Greeks “Romios”, since a large period of the life of this state is associated with the history of the Roman Empire.
The experience of the Russians is noteworthy. The ancient Rosichi people never forgot the phrase “The path from the Varangians to the Greeks...”. The foundations of the Greek culture of that period, when the main trade routes intersected with Russia, will never be forgotten, since they are reflected in the folk epic of the Slavs. At that time they were called Hellenes in Europe, but in Russia they are Greeks. However, scientists believe that the Greeks were the traders. The goods arrived in Russia from Byzantium, which was populated by people from Greece. They were Christians and brought the foundations of their faith and culture to the Rosichi people.
And today in Russian schools they study the legends and myths of Ancient Greece, the history and culture of Greece and Rome. In Russia it is customary to refer to the inhabitants of this country as “Greeks”. This country has always been proud of its talented poets, historians, architects, sculptors, athletes, sailors, and philosophers. All figures left an indelible mark on the minds of researchers and scientists around the world. Greece influenced the development of the culture of Europe and even the countries of Asia and the East.
Modern researchers have found evidence that the Greeks called certain “graiks”. This is the Illyrian people. According to mythology, the progenitor of this nation was named “Greek”. The concept of “Hellenism” began to revive by the beginning of the 19th century among the Greek intelligentsia. Over time, the assertion that the Greeks are not Greeks spread to the broad masses.
As soon as the Greeks did not call themselves and heard different addresses addressed to them. The reason for everything is the origin of nationalities, linguistic dogmas, customs, and traditions. Achaeans, Dorians, Ionians, Hellenes or Greeks? Nowadays, the inhabitants of this country have quite diverse roots and have the right to name themselves, according to the legends and myths that have developed in some areas.
Mini hotel
Mini-hotel, ILIAHTIADA Apartments is a small modern hotel, built in 1991, located in Chalkidiki, on the Kassandra peninsula, in the village of Kriopigi, 90 km from Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki. The hotel offers spacious rooms and a welcoming atmosphere. This is an excellent place for an economical family vacation. The hotel is located on an area of 4500 sq. m.
Seas of Greece
For many tourists, what is important is not the Greek resorts themselves or the islands to which they plan to go, but the seas that wash the territories of the recreation areas. Greece is almost the only country that is rich in different seas, although almost all of them are part of the Mediterranean, but they have their own characteristics and distinctive features. There are three main seas. In addition to the Mediterranean, these are the Aegean and Ionian. They are marked on all maps
Thessaloniki in Greece. History, sights (part three).
A unique historical heritage and decoration of the central part of Thessaloniki are the ruins of the Roman Forum. The forum, the heart of social life in antiquity, was built at the end of the 2nd century. BC on the site of the former Macedonian agora. Until the 5th century it was the executive center of Thessaloniki, playing a major economic, political and social role in the life of the city, regularly gathering high-ranking, influential and authoritative personalities who came here to experience the rhythm of social life.
Garden and vegetable garden in Greece
Mediterranean diet
"Five clear seas, hundreds of ancient monuments, a thousand colorful islands, millions of golden beaches, cozy hotels and luxury resort complexes, taverns and boutiques...", - only a small part of what the director of the ITService travel company Dmitry Ignatiev told us, his ward tourists, about Greece. Neither the generously poured welcome glasses from Metaxa, nor the eloquence of the guides, nor the two-week life “in Greek” helped to quickly assimilate the abundance of information. You truly realize the unique versatility of Hellas after the fact. When you spend half an hour looking at each freshly printed photograph, you involuntarily and inopportunely insert your catchphrase into any conversation " But in Greece...“and for the tenth time you excitedly describe your impressions to your friends... Impressions of mountain serpentines with a ride reminiscent of Formula 1 racing, of the lulling velvet greenery of the Kastorian valleys, of the hypnotic surface of the lakes hidden in them, which after half an hour are replaced by an irrepressible breeze sea waves on the coast Cassandra. From the grottoes drowning in water and the road pink with blooming oleanders to Heraklion. From the enchanting sunset over the Acropolis, smoothly turning into the illumination of the Athenian night clubs... The kaleidoscope of landscapes of this small country will captivate the most pretentious aesthete. Even we, a group of basically morally stable journalists, could hardly restrain ourselves from asking for citizenship in some corner of paradise. Well, at least in a small province with villas under tiled roofs buried in hibiscus bushes and a flock of geese imposingly walking along the main street. Or in a village surrounded by olive plantations with white sheep grazing peacefully on the hills. Not to mention the resort centers, where you understand that you were born to celebrate life, gourmet food and other bourgeois pleasures.
I admit, in the end we staged a “sabotage”, at the cost of superhuman efforts, forcing the driver to turn to a picturesque place on the way to the airport. Half an hour of bliss with a glass of aromatic wine in a cafe near a mountain lake - “poly orea!”, “omorphos!” In our opinion - “beauty”! We are still surprised how we allowed ourselves to be “packed” back onto the bus and transported to our homeland...
Athens
Long narrow streets, a minimum of greenery, buildings with dilapidated gray plaster, drizzling rain - this is the first, not the best impression of the capital of Greece. But when the sun's rays breaking through the clouds suddenly sparkle on the carved shutters of ancient mansions, the strict facades of government institutions, the forged fences of private houses - the city simply enchants. In any street tavern there is always a free seat, every waiter has a smile for the visitor, the guide has the patience to repeat the centuries-old history of the Mycenaean civilization to the stupid tourist, and passers-by have the time to lead the guest to the Acropolis. Which, by the way, is located in the very center of the metropolis and is the main attraction of the country. Although in Ancient Hellas there were such “upper cities” in every locality: they were built on the highest hill with palaces for the royal family and temples for worship. Only Athenian survived. And let all the sculptures, caryatids and interior decorations be replaced with copies, and part of the Pentelic marble from which it was built - with modern slabs, striking white against the background of the yellowish tint of thousand-year-old masonry. Let it go! After all, you can see with your own eyes the dilapidated amphitheater of Herodes Atticus, where music festivals are now held, a real olive tree, supposedly planted by the goddess herself, a square polished by the feet of tourists, where once stood a statue of the daughter of Zeus, cast in bronze by Phidias himself and dressed in gold. And the Parthenon, remembered from a picture from a school history textbook... Its ten-meter columns are really located at different distances from each other and seem to be tilted inward! The cunning trick of the architects Callicrates and Iktin does work: due to the optical illusion, the temple looks grandiose from any point of view. And especially from the terrace of the fashionable restaurant "Akropolis" located nearby - with fish baked in cheese and a glass of ouzo, Greek aniseed vodka - you think so well about eternal values...
What to visit. National Archaeological Museum, Acropolis Museum and Benaki Museum, National Park, antique shops in the old part of Athens - Plaka and boutiques on Kolonaki Street.
Athena and Poseidon fought for the right to be the patron of the capital of Greece, who were supposed to present its residents with the most valuable gift. The god of the seas granted water, the goddess of victory granted the olive tree. Since this area did not lack water, Athena received the patronage and the right to give the city its name.
A third of the country's population lives in.
There is no boredom in Greece
“What a hardworking people the Greeks are!” - tourists flying into the country exclaim with emotion. Greece in the morning and on the way to the hotels, watching local residents going somewhere before dawn. Yes, the Greeks are hardworking and believe that whoever works, rests the same way. And they “have a blast” until the first rooster crow, thereby misleading the naive guests. Fortunately, entertainment venues are at every step, be it a tiny town or a tourist complex. "We're better than Ibiza!" - the Greeks say pathetically. Do you want a nightclub with a cocktail show, or a disco with irrepressible DJs. Or restaurants with prim service and well-trained waiters. Or bouzouki - national-style clubs with live music and sirtaki until you drop. With real sirtaki! When only one person dances to the applause of the kneeling “spectators.” He dances with his soul, his facial expressions, and his gestures, conveying the tragedy of some folk song on the eternal theme “and this abyss swallowed Iago.” The Greek round dance, familiar to foreigners, with ornate knees, is also danced here, but only with tourists. For example, we were “taught” choreography by pharmacists who were intelligently relaxing at the next tavern table. It was either the joint viewing of the Eurovision broadcast that brought us so close together, or the heady aroma of eucalyptus trees and fine wines, but the fraternization of peoples under the discordant “We are rich!” - My Number One and unanimous “Yamas!” - “It will be!” It didn't take long to wait. True, the next morning, for some reason, none of our group was able to repeat all the steps... And there was no time - excursions, excursions, excursions! And you definitely won’t get bored with them. Ancient fortresses, ancient burial places, Byzantine churches and Orthodox monasteries are everywhere. In addition, you can simply wander around the “old town” of any village, go to wineries, olive plantations or fur factories, look into a pottery workshop or souvenir market - in Greece Any doors are open for a guest and the sound always sounds “Yasas!” - "Hello!". Greece washed by the Ionian, Aegean, Libyan, Mediterranean, Cretan seas - tourists have plenty to choose from!
The Greeks lovingly call this peninsula the Trident of Poseidon, piercing the Aegean Sea. When from the hotel pool, located right next to the cliff, you look at the golden beaches spread out below, emerald pine groves and vineyards, wooden bays, and a crystal-blue bay, you understand how generously the god of the seas gifted this land. The measured life of cities and fishing villages, the aromas of sequoia, tamarisk and olives in the air, the gentle sun... The coasts of Sithonia and Kassandra - two parts of the peninsula - are simply created for doing nothing. Although no: women will not be able to be lazy for long - after all, nearby, in Kastoria, there are fur factories, a global mecca for fashionistas. True, this town is completely different from the capital of mink coats and chinchilla boas. Hidden between the mountain hills, it resembles a crescent red from the tiled roofs, admiring the mirror waters of the saucer lake. Fabulous panorama! Which, alas, you barely have time to notice, running through hundreds of fur centers in search of “the same one, but with mother-of-pearl buttons,” haggling until you’re hoarse with the seller and trying to finally understand what exactly he said: “yes” (in Greek “ ne") or "no" (in Greek "ohi")? But fur shopping in Greece- that's a completely different story.
What to visit. Tomb of King Philip, father of Alexander the Great, in Virginia; ruins of the ancient city of Olynthos; fur factories in Kastoria.
Beaches of a five-hundred-kilometer coastline Halkidiki included in the register of the cleanest in the European Union.
Athos
Everyone has heard about this mountain. But few people know that it is located in the world’s only monastic republic on the third part of the Chalkidiki peninsula - Agios Oros. The ascetic restraint of the twenty monasteries of this state, the first monasteries of which were founded a thousand years ago at the behest of Emperor Vasily the First, tourists can only see from the deck of a ferry slowly circling the territory isolated from the world. True, with permission from senior dignitaries Athos Ordinary men can also visit. This “blatant injustice” caused righteous anger among the female half of our group, frivolous jokes among the male half, and bewilderment among the Greeks. True Christians, they are very sensitive to religion. The question "Are you Orthodox?" practically means “You are Greek.” In Hellas, a student coming in to light a candle in broad daylight, or a business woman secluded in a temple in the evening, is a normal occurrence. They believe with their hearts, not for show, without fanaticism or moralizing. This is probably why there are so many tiny churches in quiet, remote places and practically no crime. Here you go up the serpentine road, and on the hill, outside the city, there is a miniature chapel: the doors are open, there is no one inside, the icons are intact, candles are free. You’ll walk in, feel at peace, admire the city spread out below... Do you really want to do something bad after that?
According to legend, towering two thousand meters above the sea, it is named after the giant who threw this “block” into the sea, thereby trying to defeat the gods.
There is no arrogance in Greece
Only in Hellas can children easily run around the hall of the city hall of their town. A real millionaire has breakfast with journalists, a good-natured prefect dashingly dances sirtaki with guests of his region... No arrogance, pride, or swagger. Although, it would seem, who else but the Greeks, with their rich history and royal blood, should ascend. Of course, they will not fail to remind you of the origins of aristocracy, democracy and aesthetics, but with such delight, so directly! Of course, for them their own dignity is the holy of holies, which often becomes the reason for temperamental dialogues. No one is surprised to hear loud bickering between simpleton drivers or greased businessmen. Well, violent quarrels (and instant reconciliations) between spouses who have just embraced are a common sight. Despite the fact that family for a Hellene is no less valuable than honor. His entire way of life is subordinated to family interests. Apparently that's why Greece ranks last in Europe for divorces and one of the first in the number of family businesses.
By the way, the high-ranking official who saw off our group was sincerely surprised that we were leaving Greece in full force! Many of our compatriots “stay married”: only puritans, first-graders and pensioners can be indifferent to the ancient profiles and refined manners of the Greeks. Despite patriarchal foundations, international marriages are not uncommon. Actually, for a Greek it doesn’t matter where you’re from. The main thing is that the person is good, who has something to say “eucharisto” - “thank you” for. Like, for example, musicians of the Ukrainian diaspora in Athens, to whom the capital’s authorities, as a sign of gratitude for their amazing performances, offered to give a concert on the main square of the city.
If you mistakenly pronounce the name of the regional capital of Macedonia, not a single Greek will openly correct you out of politeness. But he will delicately emphasize the prefix “fes”, lost in Slavic transcription - Thessaloniki.
You will fall in love with this city once and for all. In the neatness of its narrow streets and the echo of the sea surf, in the orderly rows of neat high-rise buildings with colorful flowerpots climbing on each balcony. In the "orange" of orange trees along the sidewalks and in the evening promenade along the spacious embankment. Even in one-way traffic, due to which you wind around the city for a long time, you still find new, discreet beauties. For example, the triumphal arch of Galerius two thousand years ago with bas-reliefs that have survived to this day. The youth who have chosen it as a meeting place would never even think of tearing something off or writing the painfully familiar “I was here...”. And hidden between the new buildings are the colonial villas of the century before last! No one has the right to demolish the remains of their former luxury, even if the owners have not appeared here for half a century - private property!
However, you haven't seen Thessaloniki, if you haven’t watched the sunset sitting on the steep walls of a former fort in the old city. A long time ago, only the nobility lived here, and now you, a mere mortal, are basking on the ancient bricks heated by the sun and waiting for Helios to rush by on his chariot, replacing day with night and filling the bluish distance of the horizon with crimson. And it seems that in the melody of the waves of this port city one can hear the size of a hexameter...
City Thessaloniki named by the Macedonian king Cassander in honor of his wife, sister of Alexander the Great.
What to visit. Monuments of Alexander the Great and Philip II of Macedon, Aristotle Square, Byzantine walls of Emperor Justinian I, Rotunda, Temple of Dmitry of Salunsky.
A city of rocks, a fantastic reserve, the eighth wonder of the world, a masterpiece of nature - the tall mountain “towers” reaching into the sky near the small town of Kalambaka have received so many comparisons. Polished by winds over tens of millions of years (!), the gray blocks have an inexplicable magnetism. They force brave climbers to conquer the peaks again and again, curious tourists to climb to incredible heights on foot to admire the most picturesque landscapes, and some cowards to take photographs on the edge of the abyss and fearlessly look down at the valleys of red poppies. However, mysticism Meteor not only in enchanting rocks - dozens of monasteries were erected on the “spiers” of the mountains. How did man manage to build impressive temples, chapels, and monasteries at such heights? You’re amazed! One of the monasteries seems to have taken one hundred and sixty years to build. And if you consider that then hermits climbed to the peaks in baskets with the help of ingenious devices... Fortunately, today pilgrims and visitors climb to the monasteries along a serpentine path of stone steps. And when it already seems that you have no strength to walk, suddenly you find yourself in the refreshing coolness of one of the main monasteries - the Holy Transfiguration. Here are miraculous icons, ancient frescoes and monastic wineries. The whirlpool of smells of dilapidated wood, church incense and melted wax makes you slightly dizzy, and another luxurious landscape opening from the observation deck makes you feel intoxicated. I want to take a deep breath and jump from this colossal height, feeling like “floating in the clouds,” as translated from ancient Greek “ meteors".
What to visit. Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration, Mount Olympus, ruins of the ancient city of Dion, the source of Aphrodite.
The first hermits began to settle in the gorges of the present Meteor in the 11th century. And in 1380, Saint Athanasius created the first men's monastery.
There is no fuss in Greece
When a seller carefully packages every little thing purchased, it touches. But when he does it so slowly that the driver of your tour bus, tired of waiting, honking furiously, is about to break the horn... For us, accustomed to the sprinting rhythm of life, it is not easy for us to adapt to the measured life of the Greeks. The first two days. On the third day of travel you involuntarily begin to be lazy. You leisurely sip a tonic frappe at the cafe, risking being late for the excursion, leisurely explore the streets, hopelessly lagging behind the group, have a long and hearty meal, philosophizing about the frailty of all earthly things. And you gradually gain a taste for life, long lost by the Slavs in the hectic everyday life and carefully preserved by the Greeks. They do not live, but contemplate life. They do not speak, but think in their murmuring common speech - dimotika. They do not eat, but savor each of the dishes and mezedes (snacks) served to the table. They do not pursue wealth, but earn money based on the principle of sufficiency. And they will never give up a three-hour siesta. At first, this tradition drives restless tourists to white heat, but upon returning home they all enthusiastically begin to implement the notorious breaks in their native groups...
One Thousand and One Islands
When you fly over the night Greece, the islands surrounding its mainland look like a dense scattering of multi-colored beads. Located within sight of each other, they often have completely different pasts: the Ionian Islands were once under the rule of Venice, the islands of the Aegean Sea and the Southern Sporades belonged to the Genoese and Crusaders, the islands of the Saronic Gulf were inhabited by Albanians. To visit at least some, you will need at least a week. And then from the marathon run only a small fraction of their splendor will be remembered: the cave sanctuary of the nymphs in Ithaca, the birthplace of Odysseus, the blue caves, the fruit paradise of Skopelos, the healing springs of Lesvos, horse-drawn carriages instead of cars on Poros, volcanic rocks and black sand beaches - “a fragment of the disappeared Atlantis", a marine reserve of the Northern Sporades, the night waters of which luminesce from the glow of the smallest living organisms. And to taste all the delights of the large islands - the Cyclades - you will need two weeks for each! They are also a separate story: cypress forests, picturesque harbors, as if yachts and boats were strung on the coastline, vibrant nightlife after a day's rest in nice hotels or trips to numerous historical monuments - are worthy of a separate article. As well as the richest underwater world, which every swimmer can see. It is possible that, while cruising between the islands on specially designed ferries or rented boats, some non-divers will be lucky enough to see a school of white-sided dolphins or a swallowtail jellyfish fluttering on the waves...
Greece belongs to more than 2 thousand large and small islands, but only a hundred of them are inhabited. The islands make up a fifth of the country's territory
Corfu (or Kerkyra)
Goethe, Oscar Wilde, Alfred Sisley immortalized this tiny island in their works, which you can travel around in just three hours. The sparkling azure of the Ionian Sea and the lush malachite slopes initially tire your eyes, and you begin to get confused in the unusual diversity of cultures mixed over centuries of history. Venetian labyrinths of streets, Italian courtyards with lacy balconies, exquisite vaults of French passages, colonial villas of the British who dominated in the distant past - all this diversity is at every step in, the capital of the island. Where starched laundry is dried right above a cobblestone street full of passers-by, where you can get fed up with the elegant cafes on the Boulevard Liston, built in the image of the Parisian Rivoli, and proudly walk along the shady alleys of the Esplanade - a park-like city square, where once only noblemen were allowed to walk. Only in Kerkyra there is a croquet field laid out by the British on the site of a Venetian shooting range, the old fortress of Palio Frurio, in which grandiose light and sound shows thunder on summer evenings, and the Canal of Love, which guarantees eternal passion for couples sailing along it. And exclusively on Corfu Followers of Ichthyander can dive to their heart's content in the coastal arches of the caves and see hundred-kilogram "carriage-carriage" turtles migrating here from Africa to lay their eggs.
What to visit. Paper Money Museum, Byzantine Museum, Church of the Patron Kerkyra St. Spyridon, Cathedral, Byzantine Museum.
Rest on Corfu is rightfully considered elite: everything on the island is of the highest standard - in inexpensive hotels accessible to ordinary tourists, in campsites in mountain villages, and in luxury five-star complexes.
And also in Greece no time. You don’t feel it, you just get lost in it. Maybe because of the omnipresent intertwining of antiquity with modernity, mythology with reality, characteristic of this country. Or maybe from the “point” dimension inherent in the Greeks - life according to the principle of “here and now”...
But the Slavic nature still takes its toll, returning to the “vector” perception of time - with the present and the past. Which I really want to return to. At least when viewing freshly printed photographs.
Useful information
- Greece 10 million tourists visit annually
- , a city of three civilizations - Ancient, Roman and Byzantine, founded in 315 BC. e. The Apostle Paul called it “the golden gate of Christianity.”
- Fortress walls Thessaloniki saw the invasions of the Celts, Normans, Bulgarians, Mongols, and Arabs. Now only lovers and tourists come to them.
- Believed to be in place Meteor sixty million years ago the ocean was raging, and the mountains themselves were underwater reefs.
- evoke a mystical feeling of being in another dimension.
- Monks Athos They produce everything they need for their modest existence themselves.
- The Acropolis was built in the 5th century BC. e. at the top of a 155-meter hill. In those days, the treasury of the Athenian state was kept in the halls of the Parthenon and sacrifices were made to the gods.
- Carrying pieces of marble from the Acropolis is punishable by six years in prison.
- Africans trading in the center Athens counterfeit bags from well-known brands are a common occurrence.
- The best souvenirs from Greece: olive soap and oil, ceramics and spices - for loved ones, Metaxa, wine and ouzo - for a loved one and a mink coat - for yourself.
- Even dogs in Hellas lie lazily near houses, not wanting to burden themselves with guard duties - after all, everything around is already calm!
Victoria Pasichnyk
Ancient Greece, Hellas is an ancient Greek civilization in the south-east of Europe, which reached its peak in the V-IV centuries. BC - a period called classical in its history. The origins of modern human civilization lie in the culture of Ancient Greece.
With its center on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula, the islands of the Aegean Sea and the western coast of Asia Minor, during colonization it spread to southern Italy, the island of Sicily and the Black Sea region. The history of Ancient Greece is considered in a chronological framework from the 3rd millennium BC. e. until the 1st century BC e., when the Hellenistic states lost their independence and became part of Ancient Rome. The Greeks themselves still call their country Hellas, and themselves Hellenes, having received the name “Greece” from the Romans.
Creto-Mycenaean era (before 12th century BC). In the 3rd millennium BC. Bronze Age culture arose in the Aegean region with its most important center on the island of Crete. The formation of classes began here (since the 21st century, the construction of palaces for kings). The economy (bronze production, maritime trade) and art (ceramics, painting) developed rapidly. Greek tribes (Achaeans, Aeolians, Ionians) from the northern regions around 1900 squeezed out the non-Indo-European local population of the Peloponnese and Hellas. They adopted (especially from the 16th century BC) many achievements of Cretan culture, including syllabic writing. Mycenae became the center of power, which from the 15th century spread to the islands of Crete, Cyprus and others. From the 12th century, the Dorians, who were still at a primitive stage, began to advance from the north. They defeated the Mycenaean class society and moved to the Peloponnese.
Homeric period (11th-8th centuries BC). After the so-called Dorian invasion, slavery in Greece experienced a decline, however, the use of iron caused a new boom in the economy. Around 1000 BC The Greek colonization of the western coast of Asia Minor began, which, thanks to constant contacts with the East, surpassed the metropolis. Here, around 800, Homer’s epic arose, which is a valuable source of information about the history of this period, despite the fact that the legendary Trojan War (13-12 centuries BC) is described.
The period of the Great Colonization (8-6 centuries BC). The further economic development of Greece (specialization of crafts, expansion of the use of slave labor, export of wine and oil, growth of ceramic production, maritime trade) had certain social consequences. Large landowners from among the tribal aristocracy, having eliminated the power of the king-leaders, simultaneously placed small landowners in a dependent position, sometimes the latter fell into debt slavery. At the same time, new layers of slave owners arose: wealthy merchants and owners of craft workshops. Cities arose in small Greek valleys, turning into economic and cultural centers, and the final formation of state institutions took place to ensure the class dominance of those in power. In many states, demos significantly weakened the position of the aristocracy. The leaders of the demos often ruled as tyrants. Tyranny, however, in most cases was soon replaced by a polis system, in which rich slave owners (oligarchy) or all full citizens (democracy) could participate in government bodies.
Period of Macedonian hegemony (4th-2nd centuries BC). After the victory of the Theban democrats (379), Thebes took over the leadership of Greece (BC). Political fragmentation of Greece in the 4th century BC. contributed to the stagnation of the slave economy and the impoverishment of the poor. Social struggle weakened the policies. The crisis could only be overcome through state centralization. This task was completed by Macedonia, whose king Philip II defeated the Greeks led by the Athenian democrats (Demosthenes) at the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC). Philip's son Alexander the Great conquered the Persian kingdom and created the preconditions for economic and cultural growth, in which not so much Greece as the Hellenistic states took part. Greece was under Macedonian rule until the 2nd century BC. Independent political opposition was defended by the Achaean and Aetolian unions, as well as Sparta. Rome gained influence in Greece primarily as an ally of the Greek city-states against Macedonia. After the victory over Philip 5 (197 BC), the Romans proclaimed the slogan “return to freedom.” In 168 BC After the Battle of Pydna, Macedonia was defeated in 148 BC. declared a Roman province, to which in 146 BC. all of Greece was annexed. During the division of the Roman Empire (395), the Greek regions passed to the Byzantine Empire.
* Homeric society has not yet emerged from the primitive communal system. There was no state apparatus of class oppression. The contradictions between individual social groups had not yet become so acute that institutions such as a standing army, prisons, and courts were required in order to keep the exploited and oppressed social classes in line. However, at this time a gradual separation of the organs of the clan system from the mass of the people had already begun. Tribal leaders govern their tribes with little or no participation from popular assemblies. The Achaean militia near Troy is led by a council of basileans; the role of the meeting of soldiers is actually reduced only to confirming the decisions of this council. And during the 20-year absence of Odysseus, no public assembly met in Ithaca. In fact, all matters were decided by the nobility. In the description of the picture of the court, available in the epic, the verdict is passed by the elders, and the people only shout out their sympathy for one or the other of the disputing parties.
The Greek city-states varied in size and population. There were very large policies. For example, Lacedaemon, or Sparta, had a territory of 8400 square meters. km, and the population is about 150–200 thousand people. The Athenian polis had a total territory of about 2,500 thousand square meters. km with a population of 120–150 thousand people, but there were very small policies with a territory of 30–40 square meters. km and with a population of several hundred people, such as the Phocian city of Panopeia (on the border with Boeotia).
* Ancient Greek law, in its influence on the further legal development of Europe, in no way can be compared with the law of the other main representative of the ancient world, Rome. Not developed theoretically by Greek jurists, and due to the fragmentation of Greece not receiving the meaning of a unified Greek law, it did not result in a coherent system of norms suitable for reception in other countries. This explains the incomparably smaller share of attention that fell to his share from Western lawyers. Legislation played an extremely small role in the creation of Greek law. Sparta did not have written laws at all, and although Athens had them, they were compiled at a very distant time and have not reached us in the original. The developed Greek law of orator time was never codified in any complete form. Greece did not leave us any records of law in the works of its jurists, whom (in our or the Roman sense) it did not know at all.
* Softer forms of paternal power, which took on the character of protection and patronage of the subordinates rather than actual power; * recognition of sons as full rights upon reaching adulthood; * largely independent property status of the wife; * significantly greater proximity of communal forms of land ownership (stated with sufficient convincing in the poems of Homer) to the historical period of Greek history; * the undoubted and strong influence of the social principle on the organization of private property, in relation to real estate, sometimes reaching the prohibition of the sale of hereditary plots of land divided between families of indigenous citizens; * much freer forms of obligatory relations than in Rome, expressed primarily in a free (informal) contract; * the absence or at least a significant limitation of testamentary law and, finally, a whole series of specific legal entities unknown to Rome, only later receiving some of them (for example, the mortgage system), these are the main material differences between Greek law and Roman law, usually emphasized by researchers .
The coat of arms of Ancient Greece is the state symbol of Greece and consists of two main elements of an azure shield with a silver cross (a fragment of the flag), and a laurel wreath around the shield. The shield with the cross symbolizes military glory and at the same time the main Greek religion, Orthodoxy. The laurel wreath symbolizes the ancient history of Greece, because such wreaths were awarded to the winners of the ancient Olympic Games.
During the times of Ancient Greece, there were no state flags as such (flags were used in the navy to give various signals). Instead, various emblems and symbols were used as identification marks. They were placed on the shields and sails of ships belonging to the army of a particular policy
Anthem of Greece in the native language ν όψη που με βια μετράει τη γή. › ίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά! Anthem of Greece in Russian I recognize the blade of retribution, blazing with a thunderstorm, I know your winged gaze, Covering the globe! The pride of the ancient people, reborn again, Hello, proud Freedom, Hello, Hellenic love! Hymn to Freedom (Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν) IPA: [ˈ imn ɔ s is tin ɛ l ɛ fθ ɛˈ rian] a poem written by Dionysios Solomos in 1823, consisting of 158 quatrains. In 1865, the first 24 verses were declared the anthem of Greece, but in practice, as a rule, the first 2 quatrains are sung. The music for the anthem was written in 1828 by Solomos' friend Nikolaos Mandzaros; subsequently he revised it twice (in 1844 and 1861)
04.06.2015
Under the general name - Ancient Greece or Hellas - united numerous states that existed in the south of the Balkans, the Aegean Islands, the Thracian coast, the western coastline of Asia in the period from 3-2 millennia to 100 years. BC
The social system of Greece during this long period underwent various changes - from simple tribal relationships to the formation of vast policies that owned colonies, with developed culture and art, trade relations, science, politics and special religious beliefs. The ethnic composition of countries was constantly changing. So in Hellas in the 3000s. BC The Leleges and Pelasgians prevailed, but they were gradually supplanted by the proto-Greek tribes of the Ionians and Achaeans. The later developed Achaean and Ionian states collapsed after the Dorian invasion.
The political system of Hellas
By the 6th century BC. Ancient Greece was inhabited by three powerful ethnic groups - the Aeolians in the northern territories, the Dorians in the center, the Ionians in Attica and on numerous Aegean islands. City-states were formed, and it was in them that social principles arose and were improved, which became the basis for the future European civilization .
In just over 200 years - from the 8th to the 6th centuries. BC– Hellas became the vanguard of culture, science, and arts for the whole world.
The center of Ancient Greece was considered Athens with the predominance of democratic trends in the state structure. Other policies are also known, such as Sparta or Laconica, where the social system was headed by oligarchs, and a paramilitary regime with a cult of a physically perfect body was introduced among the population. In Athens, Corinth, Thebes Slavery became widespread, which was then a sign of the high economic status of city-policies.
Controversies constantly arose between the policies based on competition in trade relations and power. This regularly led to military conflicts, with clashes occurring mainly between Athens and other cities. In addition to internal clashes, the ancient Greek city-states constantly defended themselves from external enemies. 5th-6th centuries BC characterized by wars with Persia - the ancient Greek states united in Delian League, of which Athens was elected head.
In 400 Macedonia reached high prosperity. The father of the future legendary commander, King Philip II, subjugated the country after the victory at Chaeronea, when the troops of the coalition of Greek city-states were defeated. Alexander the Great subsequently created a huge state, expanded by numerous colonies on the territory of conquered Persia and Egypt, but his power was short-lived. The vast empire quickly disintegrated after the death of the king, but it was then that science, art and advanced political ideas spread from ancient Greece to the developed states of the era.
Ancient Rome, its legislation, culture were based on the ancient Greek principles of social relations, continued and developed the traditions that began in Athens, the main city of Hellas. In the 30s 1st century BC Hellas became a region of the Roman Empire, almost 5 centuries later Greece formed the core of the eastern part of Rome - Byzantium.
Culture of Ancient Greece
Ancient art arose and took shape in the ancient Greek city-states, when the rest of Europe was under the rule of barbarian tribes. Ancient Greek craftsmen had access to various crafts, which gradually developed into the highest forms of art - sculpture, architecture, painting, music, theater and choreography, rhetoric, philosophy and poetry.
The culture of Greece was far from homogeneous throughout the vast territory of Hellas. Crafts and culture, worldview and philosophical movements were formed under the influence of ideas from Egypt, Phenicia and Assyria, and yet the ancient Greeks created a direction unique to them, which cannot be confused with other trends. The artisans and artists of Hellas are characterized by a special outlook on life and the world, a philosophical orientation of creativity. The very technique of ancient Greek architects, sculptors and painters is the subject of imitation and study by modern masters, the basis of many masterpieces that appeared centuries after the collapse of Ancient Hellas.
Religious views the ancient Greeks undoubtedly deserve special attention. It was their beliefs that reflected the worldview of the entire society of that time, a penchant for symbolism, which helped build relationships between man and nature and with the whole world. Ancient Greek symbols, designations, plots, names are deeply rooted in the consciousness of modern people - this knowledge is now considered elementary, and without it it is impossible to penetrate and study new and recent history and culture, read works classical masters, understand the origins of the creativity of many artists, composers, poets.
Historical figures of Hellas
Ancient Greek philosophers, historians, sculptors and artists, as well as generals, strategists and orators laid the foundations of modern sciences, arts, politics, and social relationships. It is difficult to overestimate the activities of historical figures of that time. After all, without their ideas and their implementation, the modern world would undoubtedly look completely different.
Plutarch and Ovid, Demosthenes and Homer, Lycurgus and Solon - their works are still interesting today, arouse admiration and often become the basis for new views. The works of famous philosophers of that time are included in the mandatory list of educational programs of influential universities where future statesmen and politicians study. The legislation of most countries is based on democratic principles that first arose in Hellas.
“Golden Age” of Hellas – the era of an outstanding politician, strategist, orator Pericles- marked the emergence of democracy. It was then that the basis of taxation was established, taking into account the income of various segments of the population, the possibility of providing material assistance to the poor, teaching them the crafts, arts and knowledge of that time. Free citizens participated in the elections of rulers and had the right to control the work of state administration. The society of developed democracy gave impetus to the emergence of such famous personalities as Herodotus, Phidias, Aeschylus.
The greatest commander Alexander the Great contributed to the even greater enrichment of Greek culture through the achievements of the conquered peoples. Being a highly developed personality who went through school Aristotle, Alexander the Great spread the Hellenic worldview over vast territories far beyond the Balkan Peninsula, created new cities with philosophical and art schools, and libraries.
Even roman conqueror and, having subjugated the Greek territories and caused the actual end of Hellas, treated the works of Greek scientists with special awe and respect.
Many outstanding philosophers, artists and scientists enjoyed great honor and worked at the court of the Roman emperors, continuing to preach progressive views and forming famous schools, improving and honing their skills already on the territory of Ancient Rome.
Hellas is the ancient name of Greece. This state had a significant influence on the further development of Europe. It was here that such a concept as “democracy” first appeared, where the foundation was laid, the main features of theoretical philosophy were formed, and the most beautiful monuments of art were created. Hellas is an amazing country, and its history is full of secrets and mysteries. In this publication you will find the most interesting facts from the past of Greece.
From the history of Hellas
In the history of Ancient Greece, it is customary to distinguish 5 periods: Crete-Mycenaean, Dark Ages, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
The Creto-Mycenaean period is associated with the emergence of the first state formations on the islands of the Aegean Sea. Chronologically it covers 3000-1000 years. BC e. At this stage, the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations appeared.
The Dark Ages period is called the “Homeric” period. This stage is characterized by the final decline of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, as well as the formation of the first pre-polis structures. Sources practically do not mention this period. In addition, the Dark Ages are characterized by the decline of culture, economy and the loss of writing.
The Archaic period is the time of the formation of the main cities and the expansion of the Hellenic world. In the 8th century BC e. The Great Greek Colonization begins. During this period, the Greeks settled along the shores of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. During the Archaic period, the early forms of Hellenic art took shape.
The classical period is the heyday of the Greek city-states, their economy and culture. In the V-IV centuries. BC e. the concept of “democracy” appears. During the classical period, the most significant military events in the history of Hellas took place - the Greco-Persian and Peloponnesian wars.
The Hellenistic period is characterized by close interaction between Greek and Eastern cultures. At this time, there was a flourishing of art in the state. The Hellenistic period in the history of Greece lasted until the establishment of Roman rule in the Mediterranean.
The most famous cities of Hellas
It is worth noting that in Greece during the period of antiquity there was no single state. Hellas is a country that consisted of many policies. In antiquity, a city-state was called a polis. Its territory included an urban center and a chora (agricultural settlement). The political administration of the polis was in the hands of the People's Assembly and the Council. All city-states were different in both population and territory size.
The most famous policies of ancient Greece are Athens and Sparta (Lacedaemon).
- Athens is the cradle of Greek democracy. Famous philosophers and orators, heroes of Hellas, as well as famous cultural figures lived in this polis.
- Sparta is a shining example of an aristocratic state. The main occupation of the population of the polis was war. It was here that the foundations of discipline and military tactics were laid, which were later used by Alexander the Great.
Culture of Ancient Greece
The myths and legends of Ancient Greece played a unifying role for the culture of the state. Every sphere of Hellenic life was subordinated to general ideas about deities. It is worth noting that the foundations of the ancient Greek religion were formed back in the Cretan-Mycenaean period. In parallel with mythology, cult practice arose - sacrifices and religious festivals, accompanied by agons.
The ancient Greek literary tradition, theatrical art and music are also closely connected with mythology.
In Hellas, urban planning actively developed and beautiful architectural ensembles were created.
The most famous figures and heroes of Hellas
- Hippocrates is the father of Western medicine. He is the creator of a medical school that had a huge influence on all ancient medicine.
- Phidias is one of the most famous sculptors of the classical era. He is the author of one of the seven wonders of the world - the statue of Olympian Zeus.
- Democritus is the father of modern science, the famous ancient Greek philosopher. He is considered the founder of atomism, the theory that material things are made of atoms.
- Herodotus is the father of history. He studied the origins and events of the Greco-Persian wars. The result of this research was the famous work “History”.
- Archimedes - Greek mathematician, physicist and astronomer.
- Pericles is an outstanding statesman. He made a significant contribution to the development of the Athenian polis.
- Plato is a famous philosopher and orator. He is the founder of the first educational institution in Western Europe - Plato's Academy in Athens.
- Aristotle is one of the fathers of Western philosophy. His works covered almost all spheres of social life.
The importance of ancient Greek civilization for the development of world culture
Hellas is a country that has had a huge influence on the development of world culture. Here such concepts as “philosophy” and “democracy” were born, and the foundations of world science were laid. Greek ideas about the world, medicine, civil society and man also influenced the destinies of many Western European states. Any field of art is connected with this great state, be it theater, sculpture or literature.
