10. Sail the Greek archipelago. 09. Where Italy meets Greece in Old Corfu Town. 08. Explore the Droganti caves in Sami. 07. Hike through the Samaria Gorge. 06. Tour the ancient Palace of Knossos. 04. The Modern Olympics’ Alma Mater. 03. Marvel at Rhodes Town. 02. Discover the ruined city of Mystra. 01. Stand in awe at the Acropolis.
History
3000 BC
The first major civilization in the region begins on the island of Crete. Its people, known as Minoans, live peacefully in big cities, trade with other countries and develop Europe's first system of writing.
1550 BC
The Mycenaean culture develops on the Greek mainland. Its people are the first known Greek speakers.
1400 BC
A volcanic explosion on the island of Santorini creates tidal waves and earthquakes that destroy the Minoan civilization.
776 BC
The first Olympic Games are held at Olympia. The winning athletes receive an olive-branch crown, a symbol of honor. The Games begin as part of a religious festival dedicated to Zeus, king of the gods.
750-500 BC
Independent urban areas called city-states flourish and develop different systems of government. Democracy, or government by popular vote, is first practiced here, and science, culture and fine arts thrive.
546 BC
The Persian Empire, a large and powerful Asian kingdom, conquers much of Greece.
480 BC
Greek cities defeat Persians at sea. The city-state of Athens becomes the head of a group of city-states known as the Delian League. It is formed to protect Greece's mainland from overseas invaders.
431 BC
Fighting between the city-states, known as the Peloponnesian War, breaks out. It brings famine and devastation to cities, rural areas and islands. Athens eventually loses this war to the heavily armed Spartans.
338 BC
King Philip II of Macedonia conquers Greece after wars between city-states weaken the country.
336-323 BC
Alexander the Great, son of King Phillip II, expands his father's empire and brings Greek culture to the lands he conquers. Greek becomes a commonly used language among educated people in Asia and other lands.
145 BC
Romans invade and conquer the Greek Empire. After years of civil wars, Greece's city-states prosper once again under the rule of the Romans, who greatly admire Greek culture.
AD 330
Greece comes under Byzantine rule when the Roman emperor Constantine moves his empire's capital from Rome to the Greek colony of Byzantium (now in Turkey). Byzantium quickly gains wealth and power.
1453
Invaders from Asia known as the Ottoman Turks conquer the Byzantine Empire and take control of Greece. Turkish leaders rule over Greek cities, ports and islands for several centuries afterward. Athens, once wealthy and powerful, becomes a poor farming village.
1821-1829
Greeks, tired of living under Turkish rule, defeat the Ottoman Turks in the Greek War of Independence. They accomplish this with help from France, Britain and Russia, as well as successful Greek merchants and traders.
1896
The first modern Olympic Games are held in Athens to build friendship among different countries. Many of its games, including wrestling and discus-throwing, originated in ancient Greece.
1912-1913
During the Balkan Wars, Greece gains power over Turkish-controlled land, including Crete and southern Macedonia.
1952
Greece joins NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), a military alliance of several European countries and the United States.
1960
Cyprus, an island south of Turkey, gains its freedom from Britain. Cyprus was free and after the invasion by the Turks in 1974, it became totally separated. Both Greece and Turkey seek control of Cyprus, but agree to a cease-fire years later. The island is divided into northern (Turkish-speaking) and southern (Greek-speaking) zones.
1975
New constitution of the Republic of Greece is approved. It establishes a president as head of state and a prime minister to run the government.
1981
Greece becomes a full member of the EEC (European Economic Community), an economic alliance of western European nations that provides Greece with money and technology to strengthen its economy.
2004
The Summer Olympic Games take place in Athens, Greece. They returned to the country that gave birth to the Olympics more than 2,000 years ago and the city that staged the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Music @ MySpace:
Flowers Of Romance, Nexus, newZEROgod, SEPTEMBER, Artifical Honey, Ta Kourelia, chewing gun, past perfect, Trap, rag, dingansich, CAIN, Inactive Messiah, Lisa's Lick, Wastefall, Philosophobia, X-Piral, Nightfall, F.E.M.D., common party, Ypogeia Reymata, anemos, S.E.X., monitor, Horizon's End, Tunes from the Loft, Universe 217, Need, TSOPANA RAVE, Art of Simplicity, EXORISTOI, Nightstalker, Fragile Vastness, Tekila, Rotting Christ, THEdEVILWORX, Gyalinos Kosmos, Gimna Kalwdia, Zemial, SOULSKINNER, Ismini, THE FALLEN WITHIN, Nikos Koutras, Nikos Mihas, Haris Aronis, CarpeDiem, X-Piral, InnerWish, Contemplation, Deckstand ..
and the talents of:
Mike Pougounas, Giorgos Christopoulos, Renos Miliaris, Giannis Dimoulas, Sotiris Pomonis, Theo Botinis, Loukas Panourgias, B-Abyss, Agis, Thanos, Xristos, Mikkael, Domenik, Elias, Giorgos Kagialedakis, Kostas Anastasiadis, Tasos Peppas, Nick, Nikos, Nick, Nikos, Bob Katsionis, George, Mike, Babis, Margarita, +CONSTANTINE+, Edem, Stefanos, Ismini, Argy, Andreas, Tolis, Fotis, George Bokos, Mike, Vince, Gio, Maria Kanavaki, Vasilis, Bill, George, Stefanos Bios, Steve Mamalis ..
and a world of thanks to:
Adrianos @ ARTemis Studio, Yiannis of Musicenter, Nikos as zila, Silvy @ goth.gr, Nikos and Grigoris @ LIVE Music, Major Tom, Minas @ HotStation, Nikos @ rockap.gr, Ilias @ Cuervo Metal/Rock Bar, and Wizard Rock Club
for bringing the music to life!
Artists Spotlight:
Born in Athens, Greece on August 29, 1976, Giorgos began guitar lessons at the age of 15. He studied classical guitar and harmony with Giannis Petridis while playing favorite tunes with fellow band members in rock bands.
When Giorgos turned 18, he switched to electric and studied improvisation and modern harmony with Sotiris Pomonis and Giorgos Argyropoulos, respectively. During this same timeframe, he tried to finish his studies in business administration, held a job, and jammed as much as he could with as many musicians as he could all while having a hell of a time doing it. To this day, Giorgos continues with a full schedule playing original material in music clubs in the local club circuit of Athens.
He is currently a proud member of the progressive project “chewing gun”, the experimental jam band “Artificial Honey”, as well as a member of the blues trio "ta kourelia".
Melodic, but sometimes hard, progressive, yet direct, SEPTEMBER's intensive beats and lyrical ballads form the perfect combination of rock and metal. Their music is a fusion of the various influences that each musician spent many years developing into one single band.
SEPTEMBER has earned the reputation of a true LIVE band with a vast number of fans who enjoy the impact impression of their impeccable performance. No show is ever repetative with soulful interpretations and renditions being intertwined with passionate and pulsating solos.
SEPTEMBER’s latest CD “2 smiles ago” (13 tracks - Live Records) can be purchased through any of the following safe and secure websites:
newZEROgod was originally formed by select members of the popular Hellenic bands 'Flowers Of Romance' and 'Nexus'. One night during a wild party the four friends (and ex-band-mates) decided to go back into the studio and have some fun and what initially appeared to be a looney idea of four deranged minds soon developed into a nice thought.
A slight lineup change to include members of 'Past Perfect' has resulted in the formation of a powerhouse of musical talents. Artistically blending post punk, dark wave, and gothic, an emphasis is placed on the songs which paved the way for these genres in Hellas.
Mike Pougounas - Vocals
Jim Sidhéog Steves - Drums
E-raptor - Guitar
B-abyss - Bass
The magnificent Greek holiday OXI Day is celebrated every year in Greece on October 28th and mostly remembered for General Ioannis Metaxas' strong reply of "OXI!" (NO!) to Mussolini's request to allow Italian troops to come into Greece at the beginning of WWII. The result of this stern message was powerful, and in the end, helped to maintain Greece's course of neutrality for generations to come. Nevertheless, the Italians did invade Greece, but were subsequently driven back into Albania.
The story begins in 1935, when King George II was restored to the Greek throne by a rigged plebiscite, where he made the right-wing General Ioannis Metaxas Prime Minister. Nine months later, Metaxas assumed dictatorial powers with the King's consent under the pretext of preventing a communist-inspired republican coup. The October 28 national holiday also marks the date in 1940 when Greece entered WWII.
On that cherished day in Greek history, Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas not only rejected Italy's ultimatum, he chose the road of resistance, and thus saved his reputation as a dictator. Cypriot countrymen also drew inspiration from Greece's refusal to let Italian troops invade in 1940 in the face of continued Turkish agression.
In 1940 when most countries of Europe had surrendered, Hitler had the continent of Europe in his grip and the democracies were at the lowest point, Mussolini decided to take over Greece anticipating an easy victory based on his superior numbers and mechanized forces. He attacked Greece from Albania.
The Greeks stood up and said "OXI!!!" (No, you shall not pass) and fought fiercely, hurling back the stunned and bleeding aggressors. Mussolini’s divisions were soon back in Albania and for six months were fighting to maintain a hold on the seacoast, desperately calling for help.
When Germany entered the war against Greece with the most powerful army in Europe, the Greeks continued to fight both of these great empires, although reason must have told them that their position was hopeless. Alongside their British comrades they continued to resist stubbornly on the island of Crete.
Greece had fallen, but it had cost Hitler thousands of his finest youth and delayed his attack against Russia by months. German troops ran into the dreadful Russian winter and the Russians imposed such appalling losses that it contributed to the ultimate defeat of Germany. The occupation, Great Famine, resistance and subsequent liberation of Greece followed, and then came "December Movement" in which Greeks fought brother Greeks.
Greece, with the help of England first and, later, of the United States, remained in the Western Alliance.
Today in Greece, celebrations of Oxi Day culminate in a large, lavish military parade down the main boulevards of Athens and Thessaloniki. Soldiers, tanks, armoured vehicles and students parade through most Greek cities with an air of pride, and politicans in reviewing stands have an opportunity to show their own spirit to Greece and the resistance and how in future generations it should be continued.
The essence of Greece's contribution to the allied victory is due to Mussolini's humiliating defeat by the Greeks in Albania. Hitler was compelled to capture the Balkans, mainly Yugoslavia and Greece, thusly, delaying his Barbarossa plan to invade and capture the Soviet Union before the winter of 1941.
The Greek resistance, both in Albania and in the other famous battle in Crete altered, favorably for the allies, his Barbarossa time table by at least three months (and possibly six).
Having at least half of his 9000 outstandingly-trained paratroopers destroyed in Crete was another fatal blow for Hitler; with a decision never to use the paratrooper approach again in the war, for this element of surprise he had hoped to use in the USSR.
These elite paratroopers were eliminated by the defending Cretan peasants who showed no mercy on them during and after landing to the point that the exasperated Fuhrer said that it is illegal for civilians to fight our soldiers ... only to receive the Cretan commentary of "Who says so? This is our country and we have no room for the savage Huns!"
We hope you enjoy your stay with us and that you’ll participate often! … remember …
A Community is only as good as each member makes it!!
Greece-Cafe was created for you by you!
CAFE Managers
Pete (Australia)
annaa' (USA)
Assistant Managers
giorgos (Athens, GR)
8wmas (Athens, GR)
Born in Germany and raised in Thessaloniki, Ilias has experienced a vast range of artistic endeavors, from graphic artist to theatrical sound and lighting technician to professional acting. But his greatest passion falls into the magic of the written word, having authored short stories as well as theatrical writings and scripts for television and cinema.
His first major undertaking was “Mparaki of Tsarli” (Kastanioti), which consists of 15 stories of black humor. In 2001, Ilias was distinguished in the Pan-Hellenic competition of short story in the periodical ELLE with the story “Neverending Love”, published in the collection “20+1 stories 2001” (Kastanioti). In 2004, his story “Akymatistos Tzo” gained the first award in literary competition “ZOGIA”, in Thessaloniki.
The year 2005 brought much recognition for this talented author. His story “The Sun, The Moon and The Ground” gained him the B' Award of Narrative in the Pan-Hellenic literary competition “Sikeliana 2005” which organizes “The Cafe of Ideas”, along with the “UNESCO Piraeus and Islands” and the “Company of Greek Men of Letters”.
In December 2006, "The Healer" (Agyra) was published and consists of 16 short stories within parallel worlds, travels in dreams and the sub-conscience.
Ilias currently lives and works in Athens as a technical author in the periodical magazine RAM.
ART UBER ALLES νέος κύκλος επεισοδίων... Η μουσική εκπομπή Art Uber Alles σε συνεργασία με το tvxs ξεκινάει το νέο κύκλο επεισοδίων της την πρώτη Τετάρτη του Οκτώβρη. Στην ίδια ώρα και ημέρα, κάθε Τετάρτη στις 20.00. Πιστοί στην ίδια θεματολογία, αλλά και ανανεωμένοι, με πολλές και ενδιαφέρουσες συνεντεύξεις Ελλήνων και ξένων καλλιτεχνών, νέο κύκλο επεισοδίων στην στήλη «Do it yourself», παρουσίαση καλλιτεχνικών δρώμενων στην εναλλακτική σκηνή και άλλα πολλά... την art uber alles μπορείτε να δείτε στο internet χρησιμοποίηστε αυτό το link για να πάτε στην εκπομπή. http://www.tvxs.gr/c37
Dopo l'esordio discografico di "Splinters of Life" con la prestigiosa Limb Music Products i Flashback of Anger calcano il palco del Viper Theatre! Non mancate!
