Having a Good Time in the City-States of Early Greece

The city-states of early Greece are generally considered together as one of the first great civilizations. This doesn’t mean they weren’t up for a little fun.

Having a Good Time in the City-States of Early Greece

People in Greece had a remarkable veneration for their gods and goddesses. As a result, most of the early group activities focused on the deities and, in particular, praising them. This was accomplished through a bevy of religious festivals held throughout the year. In truth, there is a bit of a question as to whether these festivals were more for political aims than fun and worship. Given this fact, we will leave it at that.

Sports played a large role in the city-states. To this end, the modern Olympics were founded during the time. Any real comparison, however, ends there. Unlike modern times, the ancient Olympics were mostly about showing up and/or killing rivals as political statements. The battles and events often replaced war between two city-states and it was not uncommon for the loser to die in his efforts. While we hold the modern Olympics as two separate events, summer and winter, the city-states called for four different Olympics each and every year. No, they did not hand out gold medals and certainly not bronze medals.

One area of the popular activities of the city-states that lives on today can be seen in most major cities. In this case, we are talking about street artists. In the city-states of ancient Greece, it was popular to come upon street poets and singers of all variety and ability. This form of artistry was translated to the future through bards and on to street mimes and such. If you visit Europe today, you can still find street artists in many cities with Venice, Vienna, and Paris having a vast array of talented people plying their trade.

In ancient Greece, the public performers served a unique function when compared to modern street artists. The Greek public entertainers were itinerant artists traveling from one place to another. This made them an excellent resource for news from far away locations. Keep in mind there was no Internet or newspapers during those times. In there stead, traveling street artists delivered the news even if it was a little out of date – and you thought dial up was slow!

Having a good time in the city-states of Greece was both mild in the form of street artists and vicious in the form of the Olympics. Nonetheless, it is interesting that many these events and practices have survived to these modern times, some 2,500 years later.

Piraeus - the port of ancient Athens

Piraeus, also known as Peiraeus or Pireas, is a city located in the prefecture of Attica, towards the southern side of Athens. This city's main attraction is based on the fact that in ancient Greece, it was used as Athens' main port, and therefore it played a very important role in the city's life.

Besides than being the port of ancient Athens, Piraeus has been also named port of modern Athens since 1834. This way, nowadays this port can be seen in action, and although it does not look just like it used in ancient Greece, it still shows some of such antique characteristics which turn it into a very interesting and peculiar place to meet.

The name of this area, Piraeus, means "the place over the passage", a meaning which is very significant to its past history. In its origins as a populated area, Piraeus was a small island which was connected to the land by a narrow stretch of land. Although at first the area received other denominations, this geographical characteristic finally inspired the actual name.

Although its main port is the most famous one, Piraeus also has two other smaller harbors which have also helped turning this spot into a very active one. The benefits of this spot and its harbor was not noticed until the decade of 490 BC when Themistocles constructed a fortification by this spot with the purpose of being able t easily use the ports and protect the citizens of Athens from Persians’ attacks.

Piraeus has a population of about 175.000 people, with a density of 15.972 inhabitants per km2. IT is one of the few municipal authorities located within the metropolitan area of Athens. Besides Pireus, this metropolitan area has other municipal authorities among which we can name Keratsini, Korydalos, Drapetsona, Nikaia, Perama, and Rentis.

Piraeus has been home town of several important people, such as per example the Andrianoloulos brothers, who founded the Olympiacos sporting club, Yiorgos Batis, an important Greek musician who lived between 1885 and 1967, or Dimitris Gkogkos, an important Greek musician from beginnings of the XX century.

The great Sparta

In ancient times, Sparta was one of the most important spots in not only Greece, but the entire Europe as well. During such époque, the territory of Sparta would comprehend the regions nowadays known as Messenia and Laconia. Nowadays, only a small portion of that ancient territory continues being called Sparta, an area located towards the northern side of Laconia. Modern Sparta is situated within a fertile plain which allows it to produce citrus and olives as well as a variety of other fruits and vegetables usually distributed throughout many other towns and spots in Peloponnese.

The history of Sparta is very rich and interesting, and provides this destination with a unique charm and appealing. During Ancient Greece times, Sparta was known as the most powerful state with the major naval force in the entire country. During those times, Athens and Sparta became strong allies against the Persian invaders, although they became enemies after a while as well.

One interesting fact to know about Sparta is that it used to have two kings. During the époque in which this territory was known as the Doric State of Sparta, it had a mixed governmental state which would allow two hereditary kings to rule at the same time and with equal powers. This peculiarity has been explained through several different theories, although there is not any single one which could be completely confirmed as certain.

Sparta was seen and known within Greece as a spot of military power. This is due to the fact that most Spartans used to be trained and prepared to be soldiers, and they could only change to another profession by specific request and permission. This was applied very strictly, and those who wouldn't want to follow it would have to face hard penalties.

Nowadays, the destination known as Sparta contains many spots which allow tourists to meet the past of this territory face to face and explore many constructions, ruins, and structures which allow visitors to learn about the different aspects of this antique powerful region. Modern Sparta and its surroundings is a very interesting destination, which all those who enjoy history would find especially appealing.

The Acropolis in Athens - a symbol in Greece

The Acropolis in Athens is the most symbolic area in Greece. Although in ancient Greece most major cities used to have their own acropolis, this spot is known as the centre of Athens and contains the most iconic and famous ancient constructions in the entire country. This way, the Acropolis is the most visited destination in not only Athens, but in the entire Greece as well, being a major attraction for tourists from around the world who approach this region in order to meet these constructions.

The Acropolis hill, also known as the Sacred Rock, contains several ancient symbolic constructions such as per example, the Parthenon, the Temple of Nike, and the Erechtheion. These spots, built within the years 450 and 330 BC have gone through several different historical moments and meeting them is without any doubt as meeting the past in the present.

The Parthenon, in The Acropolis, is the most symbolic construction from Ancient Greece. The Parthenon was built between the years 446 and 432 BC in honor to the Goddess of Athens Athena Parthenos. This construction was built almost entirely with Pentelic marble and shows 8 columns at its two shorter sides and 17 columns at its longer ones, containing a statue of Athena in its central area.

The Temple of Athena Nike, another major construction in The Acropolis, was built around the year 420 BC. This construction shows four columns at its shorter sides and walls in the larger sides. This construction's walls contains depictures of gods' conferences and battles at each side. The Erechtelion, is another major construction in The Acropolis. This construction was originally divided in two main sections which were dedicated to the Goddess Athena and the God Poseidon.

Another major spot located in The Acropolis in Athena is The Propylaea. The Propylaea was built between the years 436 and 431 BC following a design of the architect Mnesikles. This construction was built with the purpose of being the main entrance to The Acropolis and contains rows of columns and decorated walls. It is interesting to know that, due to its paintings, this construction is often known as the Pinakotheke.

Lake Vouliagmeni and its medicinal waters

The Lake Vouliagmeni is not only famous as a very beautiful spot but also but also as containing medicinal waters. This spot has been visited by people who wish to enjoy its waters for centuries, and is one of the most attractive areas in the Greek region of Peloponnese. Visitors approach in order to enjoy its beautiful shores, practice different water sports, relax in front of unique landscapes, taste excellent local dishes, and have a great time in a picturesque environment.

Lake Vouliagmeni has an extension of about 26 km or 15 miles, and is located within the municipality called after it, Vouliagmeni, at about 20 kilometers from the central area of Athens. This lake provides an ideal destination for all those who enjoy water related activities, and it is very common to see visitors fishing, swimming and even windsurfing in this region.

The municipality of Vouliagmeni has a population of about 4000 inhabitants, and offers a very beautiful scenery which combines the attractive of the water which the charm of an appealing mountainous background provided by the Hymettus mountains. This municipality has many beautiful beaches and shores, some of them by the sea and some others provided by Lake Vouliagmeni, but all of them beautiful and ideal for relaxing while observing unique sights.

Lake Vouliagmeni's waters partially come from underground currents from Mount Hymettus. This lake is at about 40 cm from the regular level of the ground and one of its most peculiar and appealing characteristics is based on the fact that its waters offer a constant temperature of about 24º C, a fact placed among the first qualities in the list of the lake's attractions.

Before the middle Ages, Lake Vouliagmeni was a cavern. This cavern became the actual lake after an important earthquake caused it to collapse and take the actual shape and characteristics. Nowadays, the lake can be still traced into Mount Hymettus, and it is possible to see, now and then, some experienced divers exploring it, although it is not recommendable to amateurs due to the important risks it implies.

The ancient Olympia

Olympia is one of the most famous and visited destinations in the Greek region of Peloponnese. The main reason by which this destination is so famous is due to the fact that in this spot was were the ancient Olympic Games used to be held, a festivity which was not only important to this region but the rest of Greece and the entire world as well. This destination has been visited and explored by archeologists, historians, and scientists in general from the entire world as well as it is possible to see tourists from all places in it at almost any time of the year.

The Olympic Games of the city of Olympia used to be held every four years, in a period called the olympiad, as long ago as the year 775 BC. These games were so important for the city and all Greece that are still remembered and cause this spot to be visited by tourists from the entire world in a constant basis.

The city of Olympia is also famous by other elements and attractions, such as per example its impressive statue of Zeus. This city has a statue of great size, made of gold and ivory which represents the Greek God Zeus within a temple built in honor to this deity. This is one of the most interesting statues and attractions in Olympia as well as in the entire Peloponnese.

Some of the major discoveries and one of the most important excavations in the city of Olympia took place in the year 1829. In this year, a French expedition started some important excavations and discovered some of the most interesting elements in the area. After this French expedition, a German one followed their work and several important objects, such as tools, and the statue of Hermes of Praxiteles were found.

Olympia is situated in an area that is surrounded by hills and mountains in such a way that they provide a very peculiar and interesting background to this ancient spot. Meeting the city of Olympia, its antique statues and ruins can be one of the most memorable experiences tourists can have while exploring the Peloponnese.

Travel to Greece. Start your journey from Athens

Greece is located on the tip of the Balkan Peninsula. Greece sits between the east and the west at the crossroad of three continents. Traveling to Greece can be a life changing experience for some. It is the birth place of history, philosophy, democracy and traditions such as the Olympics. Greece has been a melting pot of cultures and ideas for over 4,000 years. Greece’s capital is Athens. Athens is a vivid example of a city that brings culture, antiquity, and modernity together in a mystifying mixture of its past, as well as its recent heritage. Athens is comprised by numerous suburbs which play a key role in the unfolding of its uniqueness as a historical city, but as well as a major modern actor in areas varying from science to trade. Athenian architecture can bewilder even the most experienced eye, with buildings representing eras such as the Greco-Roman, Neo-Classical and modern periods of Greek history. The greatest and finest sanctuary of both modern and ancient Athens as well as Greece, dedicated primarily to Athens’s patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the centre of the city from the rocky cliff known as the Acropolis. The monuments of the Acropolis, literally translated into “the edge of the city”, stand in complete harmony with their natural setting. Athens as well as Greece’s geo-strategic importance has been a dominant factor is shaping this country’s history and culture; a history of intrigue, war and tensions that has contributed to a culture defined by intensity, pride and an adaptive nature. For those who have visited Greece, the memories will live on for a lifetime. For those interested in visiting Greece, you must prepare for a life changing experience.

The history of Argos

Argos is an ancient Greek city which is part of the prefecture of Argolis, in the region of the Peloponnese. It has four main subdivisions: Kokla, Larissa, Akova, and Timenio. This city has gone through several interesting historical events, and its past is among the main factors which attract tourists to its lands.

During the Mycenaean times, the city of Argos was an important stronghold, and was seen by the rest of the region as a strategic spot. This area was one of the first spots in the region in being inhabited and to become a town, only equaled by the acropolis of Tiryns and Mycenae.

In the Homeric times, the city of Argos was ruled by a follower of Agamemnon, and the name of the district in which this city is located, Argolis, was originated from such époque. Later, during the Romans, the region would be known as Argeia since that was the name given by these inhabitants.

During the Persian War, Argos was asked to fight and refused to do so, which caused it to be somehow despised by many of the neighboring cities for certain period of time. This was one of the most critical and difficult moments in the history of Argos, although it was soon overcome and become part of the past.

At beginnings of the 12th century, one of the most interesting constructions of Argos was built, the Castle of Larissa. Besides this construction, this city and its surroundings have received several amazing buildings and constructions as time passed by, some of them can be still seen.

Nowadays, the city of Argos is the largest city in the prefecture of Argolis, and one of the most visited by tourists as well. Argolis' economy is mainly based on agriculture, and oranges as well as other critics are among the main resources of the city. There are many interesting spots visitors can meet while they are in Argos, such as the Archeological Museum or many antique constructions, they should ask for information on the town's main attractions in order to make sure of meeting not missing any of them.