Greek Culture

Perhaps some voyages begin smoothly. When Jason and the Argonauts boarded the Argos in the Volos harbor thousands of years ago and sailed off toward the Black Sea in search of the Golden Fleece, it’s likely their friends and families gathered on the shore and thought to themselves as they waved goodbye, “Those Argonauts sure know how to handle a boat.” Or perhaps the Christians from Antioch, waving to Paul from the wharf in Selucia as his ship headed off toward Cyprus in 47 A.D., noticed that the captain looked sure and steady.

From the Olympics to My Fat Greek Wedding, Greece has always been a cultural centerpiece in the history of man. Summing up its contribution requires a small library, but here is an overview.

Overview of Greece for Travelers

Greece is a beautiful country steeped in a rich tradition of art and culture. It is situated in the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is surrounded by the Ionian Sea in the west, the Mediterranean Sea in the south, the Aegean Sea in the east, Turkey and Bulgaria in the northeast, Macedonia in the north, and Albania in the northwest. Athens is the capital of Greece. It is also the largest city in Greece. Greece has a number of small islands as a part of it. A large part of Greece is of a mountainous terrain. It has a temperate climate with mild wet winters and warm dry summers. Greece has a few rivers but none of those can be navigated.

Ancient Greece was a society very much based on religion. With periods of great conquest, the religion underwent many evolutions.

Ancient Greece – Religion

Greek gods were plentiful. You know many of them, even if you don’t realize it. A quick look at the planets in the solar system reveals names derived from Greek gods. For instance, Uranus is considered one of the two founding gods of the world by the ancient Greeks. That being said, ancient Greece religion was a bit more complicated than just names.

Greece is mainly a Greek Orthodox country and according to their tradition, all days of the year is dedicated to a Christian saint or martyr. Holidays in Greece include namedays – a celebration by a person who has the same name as the patron saint. The Greek tradition of celebrating his/her “nameday” is more important than a person’s birthday. The Greek greeting for someone celebrating his/her “nameday,” is “Hronia Polla” which means “many years”. It is a wish for good health and prosperity. There are 61 Greek namedays spread throughout the 12 months.

So you’re taking a trip to Italy but the thought of seeing the “ancients” of Greece will not get off your mind. Or maybe you’re short of budget and still want to find a way to maximize your travel in Europe. Well, let the ferries to Greece take you to see the Parthenon in the Acropolis. Ferries to Greece have routes from the main cities of Italy and Turkey. The climate in Greece makes traveling by ferry favorable. Most lines only change schedules when the weather and winds are unreliable. Other than that, you are assured of a sunny trip (mostly during Summer and Spring) amidst the Mediterranean seas.