Country’s population (million): 10.7 Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents Territory (sq kms): 131 957 Administrative division
Region: periféreia Seat Region: periféreia Seat
Anatolikī́s Makedonías kai Trákīs
Greece is the southernmost state in the Balkan Peninsula. It consists of many small peninsulas and lots of islands, too. The largest island is Crete in the south, the largest peninsula is Peloponnesos (meaning
’almost island’). Much of the territory of Greece is mountainous and hilly, with the exception of Thessaly and some coastline. The Greek islands lie in the Aegean Sea between Europe and Asia Minor. The Mediterranean climate is very pleasant in Greece.
Economy
Greece has a relatively weak economy, until 2004 it was the weakest within the EU. There are rich aluminium ore mines in Greece. A part of it is exported (to Germany) and another part is processed by the local aluminium metallurgy industry. Half of the industrial and business activity is concentrated in the capital city, Athens. The commercial fleet is the largest in Europe and the 4th largest in the world after Liberia, Panama and Japan. There are marble mines in Greece.
Greek agriculture grows grapes, olives, tobacco, vegetables and fruits. The grapes are used to make sweet Greek wines, and raisins (currant, sultana). Greece is the first in the world for the latter product. Corn growing and crop cultivation is only possible in Thessaly. Greece is one of the world’s largest olive oil producers. In animal husbandry they breed goats and sheep. In light industry the food and textile industries have to be mentioned as the most important branches.
Tourism is another important source of income, though it is a relatively far destination by road from the big tourist-emitting countries (Germany, England, France), therefore ’only’ 11 million visitors a year go there, usually for summer holidays.
Agriculture Industry Services
The economic structure reflected in employment shows an agricultural trend in Greece
Administration
Greece joined the EU in 1981. It has 10 regions, 51 boroughs and 1 autonomous monastery republic (Athos). Because Greece and especially its underdeveloped north-eastern regions (Ionia, Macedonia, Epirus, Thrace) profited a lot on EU Structural Funds, due to the low rate of GDP per capita that permitted the relatively easy winning of EU competitions.
Society
95 % of the population are Greek; the rest are Gypsy, Albanian, Macedonian, Turkish, Romanian national minorities. 98 % (!) of the population follow the orthodox Christian Church. The financial crisis striking Europe in 2009 excercised one of the the strongest effects on Greek economy in 2010 resulting in social uneasiness.
Landmarks
Olympus Mts = the highest peak (2911 m) in the north of Greece; according to mythology,it is the home of the Greek gods and goddesses.
Olympic Games = the first games were held in 776 BC at Olympia. In modern times they were restarted in 1896, in Athens. (According to Mythology, however, it was Heracles and Iasion who organized the very first sport games at Olympia, when the Argonauts were about to leave Greece in search of the Golden Fleece.)
Atlantis (Cradle of European Civilization) = the Island of Crete, where the Knossos civilization was identified as Atlantis, described by Platon. This is the place where the Iron Age first began in Europe. Also this is the place where the father of the gods (Zeus) of ancient mythology was raised up, hence the place where the cradle of Zeus was rocked.
Santorin = the only active volcanic island in the Aegean Sea.
Naxos = an island in the middle of the Aegean Sea; according to mythology this is the birthplace of Dyonysos, the god of wine and joy, and indeed, this is the gene centre of grapes;
grape has spread all through the world from this island.
Parnassos Mt; Delphi; Helicon Mt. = a limestone mountain above Delphi, the sacred place of Apollo, the oracle. It is the place where Orpheus was taught to play and sing, so the mount’s name is associated with arts. It is the case with the Mount Helicon, too, where the Muses (the godesses of arts) and Pegasos, the symbol of arts used to stay according to mythology.
Mythology = Greek mythology (religious tales and legends) had excersised a very strong effect of European culture, because the Romans wrote down the Greek legends and they survived in Latin during the middle Ages in the monasteries. Later Latin was taught with the legends of Greek míthology, thus this fabulous world became an essential part of European culture and civilization.
Ttzatsiki; Greek salad; souvlaki = traditional meals: yogurt and cucumber sauce; pheta cheese with pieces of onion, tomato, pepper, cucumber and olives; pita bread filled with seasoned minced meat.
Rhodes = the easternmost Greek island, with rich history and beautiful landscape; it is the land of the rising sun for the Greek (like Japan in Asia); and indeed, according to mythology it was the homeland of Helios, the god of the Sun. The Rhodes Colossus, one of the 7 wonders of the world used to be a tall statue of Helios himself.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece:
Temple of Apollo at Bassae = is at an archaeological site. It is one of the most studied ancient Greek temples because of its multitude of unusual features. Its construction is placed between 450 BC and 400 BC.
The Acropolis of Athens = or the Citadel of Athens is known all over the world. It is proclaimed as the pre-eminent monument of the European Culture.
Delphi = archaeological site that was the most important oracle in the classical Greek world.
Epidaurus = archaeological site, where the Asclepieion (healing temple) of Epidaurus was the most celebrated healing center of the Classical Greek world.
Medieval City of Rhodes = is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe.
Meteoras = old monasteries (the name means: ’suspended in the skies’) of the orthodox Christianity built upon high cliffs; they are a touristic attraction north of Thessaly.
Mount Athos = is a mountain in Macedonia. Politically it is known in Greece as the Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain. This is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within Greece.
Thessaloniki = is home to numerous notable Byzantine and Paleochristian monuments.
Olympia = archaeological site, a sanctuary of ancient Greek, and is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times.
Byzantine City of Mystras = ruins, including the fortress, a palace, churches, and monasteries.
The Island of Delos = an exceptionally extensive and rich archaeological site which conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port.
Monasteries = of Daphni (Athens), Hosios Loukas (Beotia), Mea Moni (Chios). Important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art.
Pythagoreion = the remains of an ancient fortified port with Greek and Roman monuments and a spectacular tunnel (Eupalinian aqueduct); the Heraion of Samos was a great sanctuary, a temple's ruins, with its sole standing column.
Vergina = archaeological site and the burial place of the kings of Macedon, including the tomb of Philip II. Father of Alexander the Great.
Mycenae and Tiryns = archaeological sites from the Bronze Age.
Pátmos = island, historic centre with the Monastery of Saint John of the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse.
Corfu (Kérkyra) = old town.
Hungary (Magyarország)
National flag Official name Coat of arms