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- Marathons (26.2 miles, or 42.2 km) take their name from a Greek legend in which a messenger ran to Athens from a battlefield on the plain of Marathon. The messenger reported that the Athenian army had defeated the Persians, and then he died.
- At age 18, Greek men are required to serve in the military unless they are attending college, in which case they serve after graduation.
- Unlike Roman Catholic priests, who must remain single, Greek Orthodox priests can marry if they do so before becoming a priest.
- Greeks may smile not only when they are happy but also sometimes when they are angry or upset.
- Many Greeks hang jewelry with little blue eyes around their necks and wrists to ward off evil.
- In the 1990s, workers digging the tunnels for the Athens Metro (the city’s subway) found a lot of interesting historical objects, including an ancient dog collar.
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View detail map as PDF
View outline map as PDF |
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The blue on the flag represents the sea, and white symbolizes sea foam on top of the waves. Blue and white also represent blue skies and white clouds. The Greek cross, a symbol of the Greek Orthodox Church, shows the people’s strong faith. |
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The Parthenon, an ancient Greek temple built in the fifth century BC, stands on top of a hill in Athens called the Acropolis. The Parthenon is considered a masterpiece of Greek architecture. |
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