Beautiful Greece - A Fountainhead of Culture

When thinking of Greece, I see beauty all around, awesome islands, laid-back people. I had the opportunity to visit Greece in 1981,when exploring England, but at the time there was a strike happening at the airport in Greece, so I visited Israel. I would've loved spending time exploring Greece.

Throughout the ages, artists, philosophers, scholars and travellers have commented on the quality of Greek sunlight. Golden rays stream through clear, dry air to illuminate every hillside and monument. The blue sea, the gleaming sand, the shining ruins of an ancient civilization. A glow of richness and brilliant colour under this light. Greeks claim this bright, unchanging light not only help them see clearly with their physical eyes but it also illuminate their creative thinking. They have made important contributions to the world in philosophy, literature, visual arts, government and in many other areas.

The Golden Age.

The 5th century BC. was the golden age of Greece. The Greek city of Athens became the birth place of much that is identified as Western civilization. The philosophers began to articulate the importance of individuality, to encourage confidence in one's own ideas. It's so incredible to me that long before the dark ages they have crossed the dark chasm and realized their individuality. Greek citizens began to value their independence from other nations. Athens, often called the world's first democracy, was the soil of freedom where this remarkable culture grew.

Life and Customs.

Life in Greek villages today is simple and slow - paced. Although the villages are connected with larger cities through a good system of roads and communications, the traditional style of living still prevails. One interesting custom is found in Monoklissia in northern Greece. Once a year, on January 8th, the women turn all the housework over to the men. Men make the meals, care for the children and clean house while the women gather in shops and restaurants. If any man dares to show himself on the street, he is doused with water.

Greeks throughout history have loved sports. It was in Greece in 776 BC that the first Olympic games were held. The ceremonial torch of the games is a symbol of both excellence in sports and peace since the Greeks always called a truce in any ongoing war when it was time for the Olympics.

Greece has a long and rich history in literacy. This includes the ideas of famous philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle.
Seferes, a modern poet, who won the Nobel prize for literature in 1963, wrote the following excerpt from the poem " An Old Man on the River Bank."

I want no more than to speak simply, to be granted that grace

Because we've loaded even our songs with so much music that they're slowly sinking

and we've decorated our art so much that its features have been eaten away by gold and it's time to say our few words because tomorrow the soul sets sail. (collected poems: E Keeler and P Sherrard)

An inscription on the oracle at Delphi " Know thyself."

Sources : Harvard University Press, Webster encyclopedia, Princeton University Press, Pixabay.