“The Glory that was Greece..”
There are lots of interesting places to visit. The world will never run out of them—but if you are looking around for one unforgettable vacation destination, I suggest you go somewhere with not just having scenic spots to offer. Go somewhere you can experience the richness of its inhabitants’ culture – with that, I have one very viable suggestion to make: Greece.
Perhaps you have seen quite a number of movies shot in the majestic beaches aside from the thousands of celebrity selfies taken using Mykonos island as a backdrop – but the allure of the place does not only lie on those. If you want to visit a place with a rich culture and interesting history, Greece is definitely the place to be.
It is fascinating how after hundreds of thousands of years, people are still fascinated by the ancient Greeks. In fact, with all the readings we had in the English class, I have come to appreciate the ancient Greeks. In an archipelago of rough terrains and climate started one of the most significant civilizations. Ranging from culture, arts, traditions and philosophical beliefs – the influence of Ancient Greece is vast as it is enduring. After hundreds of thousands of years, it is safe to say that the Western world is built on the Greek ways and practices. And, there are different aspects that I more than interested to talk about to entice you to go to Greece and learn more about the place.
Perhaps one of the most notable contributions of the Greeks would be their fascinating stories of Mythology. Who does not know and is not entertained by the adventures of Hercules, the conquests of Jason and the Argonauts, and even the infidelities of Zeus?
In the ancient times, as religion is heavily embedded in the lives of each Greek, they have come to weave and tell each other stories of how their deities lived. Though they may be anthromorphic or made to behave just like humans do, I think that these stories are made to not only remember and make each deity real but also to teach values. I think that the mythology and legends made by a civilization gives us a glimpse of the life of their lifestyle. We can have a glimpse of what they hold dear, most proud of or even condemn.
Aside from the legends and mythology tales of the deities and the heroes, other works of literature have also captured the imagination of the modern world. These include the poems and epic stories written over hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Though the Greeks have a lot of strange practices or traditions considered as taboo nowadays, their ways weren’t as different as that of the modern men. In fact, the main philosophy of the Greeks is very simple. They believed in the four cardinal virtues governing the aspects of a human life: physical courage, temperance, justice and wisdom. The ancient Greeks valued simplicity and patience at all times. They believed that one should live without arrogance nor vulgarity. Justice is also essential as it assures order as each citizen obey laws and rules. Wisdom involves intellectual pursuit aesthetically, socially and morally. Courage is valued not mainly in the form of physical strength as each individual is groomed to become a soldier (at least for the men). In a country that ambitiously expands its territory and goes on battles with the different nations, boys are groomed early to be learned in the aspect of war craft.
Another fascinating thing about the ancient Greeks is their extreme sense of competition. The Greeks used to engage in a lot of debates, symposia and other meetings where they can talk about things and be able to exchange ideas to improve their ways of living. They constantly think of ways on how they can get ahead. Aside from mulling over and challenging new ideas, they also show an extreme sense of competition by valuing “winning” over anything else. Their culture thrives and has put emphasis on being the best, whilst staring down on losing.
Truly, the ancient Greeks are an interesting bunch of people. No wonder the modern world is still fascinated of them. If you are the kind of tourist who does not only consider the scenery as a sell out to visit the place but also looks into learning about its rich culture follow my heed.
Visit Greece and experience its glory.
