Interesting Facts

Athens revisited: In ancient times, the Mediterranean world's top athletes would gather in Athens to compete against each other and to pay tribute to the gods. In 1896, Athens revived its Olympic spirit by hosting the modern Games, which evolved into the multi-million dollar, international spectacle that we have today. After more than a century removed from their birth city, the Olympic Summer Games return to Athens in 2004.
Established in 1931, Benaki Museum is Greece's oldest museum. It was established when the Benaki family donated their home and personal art collection to public viewing.
The Parthenon is the largest Doric temple ever built in Greece.
The ancient Greeks believed that the god Pan played his pipes and danced in the forest at the Arma cliffs, located on the side of Mt. Parnitha just north of Athens.
The Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon ranks as one of history's more definitive conflicts. Several explanations are offered for the success. One claims that the god Pan bewitched the numerous Persian soldiers, causing them to rush headlong into the marshy swamp and drown. In other words, it's believed that they "Pan-icked."
The Temple of Hephaestus on the western edge of the Ancient Agora is Greece's most perfectly preserved Doric temple.
Nearly five million people � almost half of Greece's entire population � live in Athens.
January, Athens' coldest month, boasts an average temperature near 53�. July and August tie as the hottest months, and summer's daily temperature averages a steamy 89�. It's also estimated that Greece gets 3,000 hours of annual sunshine, so don't forget your sunscreen!
The Greek flag, officially approved in 1832, features nine blue and white stripes, which stand for the number of syllables in the Greek patriots' motto: Eleutheria e Thanatos ("Freedom or Death"). The flag's white cross represents Greek Orthodoxy, the state's official religion.
Despite many years of Turkish rule, 98% of Greeks remain Christian. Fewer than 2% of the country's residents are Muslim.