Greece is the European nation-state that borders the Mediterranean Sea to its South, the Aegean Sea to the East, Turkey to the North-East, Ionian Sea to the West, and Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria to the North. Greece is a mountainous region with a warm temperate climate, and hundreds of islands under its domain.
Greece is a parliamentary republic with its capital in Athens, and is a member of the European Union. Approximately 11 million citizens live in Greece, the vast majority of which are Ethnically Greek though there are notable ethnic minority populations, including Roma, Turks, Slavs, and more. There are just over 6,000 Jews in the country. Most Greeks speak Modern Greek, but there are several local dialects that are distinct, and some linguistic minorities that include Turkish and Arabic. There are a handful of speakers of the Hebraic dialects such as Judeo-Italian and Ladino. The predominant religion in Greece is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Ancient Greeks were pagans that worshipped a pantheon of gods that were featured in many literary works, and still are featured in global popular culture. There are only a handful of traditional Greek pantheists today.
The Hellenic Republic declared independence from the Ottoman empire in 1821 with the Greek war of independence. The Greek peninsula was under Ottoman rule since the mid-1400s, its Greek population under second-class citizen conditions.
Greece has a long history, reaching back into the classical period. Thucydides described the ancient Hellenes as a roaming band of seafarers and pirates. They did not describe themselves as Hellenic until much later, as seen in the Iliad in which they were described as Argives, Acheans, or Danaans. The ancient Greeks later established prominent city-states that served as fertile grounds for the development of unique political experiments and philosophies. These political systems philosophies have served as founding columns of Western civilization. The ancient Greeks faced pressure from outside powers such as the Persians, but were often engaged in internal conflicts, such as the Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta, and their allies. A seafaring people, the Greeks engaged in colonization, first establishing sites that are not often thought of as being Greek in origin, such as Marseilles (Massalia), Istanbul (Byzantium), and Naples (Neopolis).
Greek cuisine traditionally heavily features olive oil, fish, sheep and goat, soft cheeses and herbal and root flavorings. Common street foods include gyros and spanakopita. Greece exports many staple agricultural products such as olives, cotton, pistachios, figs, and almonds. Maritime shipping is a significant industry in Greece, given its geographic location. Tourism is also a large industry, since Greece has a wealth of historical sites, beaches and a welcoming climate.
The Jerusalem Post Podcast - Travel Edition, Episode 93
The findings, published in the Journal of Field Archaeology, have the potential to rewrite history by challenging previous beliefs about the contents of Tomb II.
Thessaloniki offers visitors 2,300-plus years of history, tremendous shopping, and a Jewish story like no other in Europe.
The union workers stopped the truck holding 21 tons of ammunition meant to be loaded onto a ship bound for Israel.
"You understand, right? It's nothing against people who are Jewish. But this," she said while shaking the Greek flags, "Is not ok."
A quick escape to Athens brings joy to the heart and soul: A city filled with layers of beauty, culture, cuisine, and nightlife. A list of hidden gems.
A European arrest warrant has been issued against him on behalf of Romania on accusations related to participation in a criminal organization, a police official said on condition of anonymity.
Anise and Skylark Hotels in Athens offer luxury, rooftop views, and a blend of modern comfort with Greek tradition.
Israeli airline Arkia prepares to meet demand after foreign airlines halt flights to Israel on EASA advice, increasing services to Athens and Larnaca for upcoming holidays.
Ionas held both Greek and Israeli citizenship and spoke both languages fluently. He grew up in Israel and served in the army.