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Modern Western civilization rests to a large degree on a foundation laid over 2,000 years ago in ancient Greece. The contributions of the Hellenistic culture of Ancient Greece continue to influence government, art, science, language, religion, sports, and philosophy to this day.
Hellenism as “high” culture, evolved over centuries as revolutionary schools of thought emerged with the purpose of explaining the ways of man and nature by intellectual analysis rather than superstition. The culmination of this tradition of critical thinking came with the towering historical figures Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The religion and folklore of ancient Greece has come down to us in the dramas of Sophocles and Euripides and in the epic works of Homer; The Iliad and The Odyssey.
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When Alexander the Great succeeded in claiming much of the known world, the resulting empire; vast in territory and population, would carry the torch of his culture into the future.
As Westerners, we have been molded in a significant way by all that ancient Greece was; the way we think, the way we look at the world. Even our standards of beauty can be traced back to the ideal classical form. The weight of such a past hangs thick in the air at sites like Delphi, the Acropolis of Athens, and the Athens Plaka where Socrates challenged young disciples. To stand among these physical remains and realize how directly and enormously they are a part of us is staggering and exhilarating. It is impossible to imagine what life would be like in the 21st century if there had been no ancient Greece.
Greece is a country of great natural beauty in addition to its historical riches. Ancient ruins and idyllic whitewashed villages dot a rugged mountainous landscape. Hundreds of islands in the Mediterranean and Aegean, each with its own personality, offer travelers endless ways to experience both ancient and modern Greece. Whether it be the great beaches and party atmosphere of Myconos, the romance and stunning scenery of Santorini, or the rich history of Crete and Rhodes.
With such abundance, Greece has been attracting visitors for centuries. Beautiful, modern hotels, great restaurants and lively entertainment can be found throughout the country.
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