Europe

Mycenae

Carving of lions on the pediment of the Lion Gate in Peloponnese, Greece

Mycenae is the site where a mysterious late bronze-age civilization rose from nowhere around 1900 BCE, flourished mostly in the Peloponnese peninsula, and then disappeared suddenly around 1100 BCE. Whatever little we know about the Mycenaean civilization is fascinating.The Mycenaean were a loose confederation of city-states, each of which was ruled by a king. The center of the Mycenaean civilization was the city-state of Mycenae. According to a myth, Perseus, a son of Zeus and Danae, founded Mycenae. Mycenae was also the capital of legendary King Agamemnon, who defeated Troy. Homer refers to the Mycenaean people as Achaeans.

Minoan

Ladies in Blue fresco on display at the Knossos Palace in Crete, Greece

The Minoan civilization is named after Minos, the legendary King of Crete. It is the oldest civilization in Europe, which flourished from 2600 to 1100 BCE in Crete and nearby islands. The island of Crete is at the crossroads of three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa. The Minoan civilization flourished because they were skilled seafarers and were able to trade with the cities in these three continents. It is contemporary with the Indus Valley civilization that was flourishing in the Indian sub-continent, but no evidence of trade between them has been found.

Olympia

Olympia – The Birthplace of the Olympic Games Located on the Elis region of the Peloponnese peninsula,Olympia in ancient times was a sanctuary famous for starting the tradition of the Olympic Games. The first games were held in 776 BCE, and they were continued to be held every four years until the 4th century CE. … Read more

Delphi

Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassos in central Greece, Delphi was best known for its oracle in ancient times. Ancient Greeks treated this site with great reverence as it overlooks a spectacular and awe-inspiring landscape. Delphi was unique in that it was not a city-state but a religious center that was administered by an … Read more

Athens

A Modern City with a Glorious Past Known as the birthplace of democracy, Athens is a city with a long and glorious past, which started as early as 1400 BCE as an important center of the Mycenaean civilization. Athens is where western civilization took roots. At its heyday, Athens was the leader of the Greek city-states. … Read more

Crete

Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Crete is the biggest island in the Aegean Sea. This is where the Minoan civilization, a mysterious culture that was well ahead of their time, thrived more than 4000 years ago. Crete has many archaeological sites belonging to the Minoan civilization, including palaces at the following … Read more

Greek Islands

The blue waters of the Aegean Sea are home to a large number of islands belonging to Greece. Only 227 among them are inhabited. Each inhabited island has its own legend, history, and culture. Crete, which was home to the Minoan civilization, is the largest and Santorini is the most popular. Mykonos The island of Mykonos … Read more

Greece

Ephesus

Situated on the western coast of Asia Minor (currently in Turkey), Ephesus is an ancient city inhabited and controlled by Greeks, Romans, and early Christians over a period of 2000 years. Most people know Ephesus from its mention in the Bible, especially in St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, but Ephesus was famous well before that. … Read more

Meteora

Towering Rocks and Monasteries of Meteora A ride through the towering rocks of Meteora is an awe-inspiring experience. These beautiful naturally formed rock formations along with the breathtaking landscape of mountainous terrain that surrounds them will leave you astounded. The serenity and isolation of this area had attracted monks of Eastern Orthodox church to build … Read more

Mycenae

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Minoan

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Olympia

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Delphi

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Athens

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Crete

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Greek Islands

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Greece

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Ephesus

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Meteora

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