Religion 97 % of Greeks are Orthodox, 1,2 % are Muslim and there is a small Christian and Jewish community. Currency The currency in Greece and its islands is the Euro. Symbols Animal: Dolphin Bird: Phoenix Languages The official language is modern Greek. English is spoken in tourist areas.

Flower: Laurel branch, Violet Coat of Arms: The national emblem features a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel branches. Flag of Greece

Motto: "Eleftheria i thanatos." " Freedom or Death." - was also the inspirational motto of the Greek War of Independence. National Anthem: The Greek Anthem (Ode to Freedom) is based on the "Hymn to the Freedom", a lengthy poem written by Dionysios Solomos. Dionysios Solomos was a distinguished poet from Zakynthos Island.

Owl In Greek mythology the owl was sacred to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Therefore it was considered a protector of the Greek armies; if an owl flew over the army before battle, this was believed to be a sign of victory. The owl was commonly depicted on ancient coins, and on the modern One Euro coin of Greece. Tree: Olive Tree

Saint George is the Patron Saint of Greece, England, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Georgia and Serbia. The name George comes from Greek and means “farmer; one who works the earth.” The famous legend about Saint George presents him as the heroic soldier and knight who fought the dragon that lived in a lake and had a whole city in Libya terrified. The animal demanded two lambs to eat every day, in order to not approach the city. Eventually, the farmers began to run out of sheep, and decided to feed the beast a person instead, to be chosen through a daily lottery. One day, the King’s daughter “won” the lottery, but just as the beast was about to eat her, Saint George intervened and saved her. Because of this act, Saint George is the Patron Saint of Chivalry. The Legend of Saint George was written in the 18th century by Jacopo della Voragine in his celebrated work, “The Golden Legend.”

Greek Orthodox Christianity, altar with mural of Mary, Jesus and saints, Moni Ipsilou monastery, Lesbos Island, Aegean Sea, Greece, Europe

The god of heaven and ruler of the Olympian gods. He displaced his father and became chief of the gods of Olympus. He was father in the sense of being the protector and ruler both of the Olympic family and the human race. His weapon was a thunderbolt. His breastplate was the aegis, his bird the eagle, his tree the oak. He was married to Hera. Athena was his favorite child. One of the biggest festivals of Zeus was the Olympics, held in Olympia every four years.

When Zeus was gathering allies at the start of the Titan War, Styx brought her four children, Nike (Victory), Zelos (Rivalry), Kratos (Strength) and Bia (Force) into the service of the god. Nike was appointed his charioteer, and all four were appointed as sentinels standing beside the throne of the god. Nike was depicted in ancient Greek vase painting with a variety of attributes including a wreath or sash to crown a victor, an incense burner, an altar, and a lyre for the celebration of victory in song. In scenes of the Gigantomachia (War of the Giants) she often appears driving the chariot of Zeus. In mosaic art and coins Nike is often shown holding a palm branch as a symbol of victory. Nike was closely identified with the goddess Athena

Ancient Olympic Games The Olympic Games began at Olympia in Greece in 776 BC. The Greek calendar was based on the Olympiad, the four-year period between games. The games were staged in the wooded valley of Olympia in Elis. Here the Greeks erected statues and built temples in a grove dedicated to Zeus, supreme among the gods. The greatest shrine was an ivory and gold statue of Zeus. Created by the sculptor Phidias, it was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Scholars have speculated that the games in 776 BC were not the first games, but rather the first games held after they were organized into festivals held every four years as a result of a peace agreement between the city-states of Elis and Pisa.. The victors of these early games were crowned with wreaths from a sacred olive tree that grew behind the temple of Zeus. According to tradition this tree was planted by Hercules (Heracles), founder of the games. The winners marched around the grove to the accompaniment of a flute while admirers chanted songs written by a prominent poet. The Olympic Games were held without interruptions in ancient Greece. The games were held every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD, when they were abolished by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I. The ancient Olympic Games lasted for 1170 years. The successful campaign to revive the Olympics was started in France by Baron Pierre de Coubertin late in the 19th century. The first of the modern Summer Games opened on Sunday, March 24, 1896, in Athens, Greece. The first race was won by an American college student named James Connolly.

Emperor Theodosius I

Athens is the capital of Greece. It is a city with a recorded 3000 years history, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. The picture shows the Parthenon, an ancient temple, which is the "trademark sign" of the city of Athens.

Academy ATHENS Theatre Park Athens hotel Tomb of the unknown soldier Calatrava ’ s Olympic Agora

Mykonos Hydra Samos