Athens

Flag of Athens.

Athens - the patron city of the Olympian Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, War Strategy and Arts, and one of the few cities in the world able to compete with Rome in terms of its long history and its association with the Greek myths and legends everyone today has heard of.

Flag of Greece.

As the stories tell it, Athens became known as Athens after a competition between Athena, who gave the city's people an olive tree, and her uncle Poseidon, who gave the people a salt-water fountain. As you can most likely guess, the people chose Athena's olive tree. As time moved on, people began symbolising this event and utilising it as a saying, "extending an olive branch." This saying symbolises peace and prosperity, as well as reconciliation after a brief period of two people, whose friendship had become damaged,as well as for family members who had become estranged over time.

The Acropolis, sat on a mountain of rock in the centre of the city and towering above it, was built in Athena's honour after she won patronage. Today it is one of the most breathtaking monuments, only matching that of the Roman Colosseum in its raw majesty, and the biggest tourist attraction Athens has to offer. As such, when the Roman Empire started to grow, and Julius Caesar became the first Emperor, it was rumoured that his wreath crown held the same symbolisation but in the context of a laurel tree, not an olive tree. Since then, it has been integrated into the Holy Roman Empire, been thrown out and become its own country, not acting as some principality to be lauded and exploited of its natural resources. Nowadays, the city and the surrounding areas (Delphi up in the mountains, which has its own link to the Greek deities so many out there believed were sat high upon Mount Olympus, listening to the humans prayers and wishes) are a booming tourist hotspot location, for their magnificent views, amazing cuisine and the sheer beauty of the city with the Mediterranean Sea behind it.

Map of Greece Today.

Yet, it is this deep rooted vast history that hooks you in from the get-go. As an Ancient History buff - never get me to understand Modern History, its too mixed up in politics and intrigue, give me ancient civilisations and myths any day - it becomes apparent that this history is vital to the Grecian history. Temples of the Greek Deities, now in ruins - depict that religion and faith used to be all a person needed to get through the winter months, for the Gods, particularly Demeter, the Greek Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture, would never abandon them and refuse to gift the people, their devoted worshippers, their divine guidance and counsel.

List of the Gods and Goddesses
 Ancient Greece believed in.

In today's society, the Greek Gods in Greek mythology influence can be seen. Zeus in the law and justice sectors. It was Zeus' sacred animals, the Eagle, that decided and proclaimed Delphi as the 'Centre of the Earth' after the Eagles flew into one another and a huge stone (rock!) was dropped at the place they collided. Hades and Charon in the ancient and traditional pact of placing two gold coins, known as drachma, on the deceased eyes - to pay the ferryman. Poseidon in his domains of the Sea, the Stormbringer and as the Earthshaker. The Grecians mainly prayed to Poseidon when they journeyed on open water, praying for a safe passage, which can be shown in ancient texts like Homer's Odyssey and, more recently, the Percy Jackson Series, where Percy prays to his father to bring them home to New York after his unauthorised excursion to the Sea of Monsters. Hermes' symbol of power, the Caduceus, on doors and windows of hospital, which is also Apollo's influence in his capacity as the God of Healing. Both Gods were also remembered for assisting people on their travels. Hera, the Queen of the Heavens and the Goddess of Marriage and Family, as well as the Protector of Women and Heroes, is remembered mostly in people's wedding vows. Demeter remembered for her guidance in farming of wheat and barley. People thanked her for a bountiful harvest before the winter season, for which her pain of losing her precious daughter Persephone to her hated brother Hades, was believed to be the reason for the seasons of Autumn and Winter. These are just a few of the many ways in which the Ancient Greek Deities inspired, influenced and shaped the people's lives.

The Acropolis of Athena -
overlooking the city.

Athens itself is the Capital City of Greece, located on the Southern tip of mainland Greece, just above the island of Peloponnese, with its residents known fondly as the Athenians.

When I visited back in (season and year), I was determined to find out everything I could about the history of Greece, how the ancient civilisation which produced famous heroes like Jason from Jason and the Argonauts and their journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece, Hercules known for his 12 labours, Achilles, for whom the Achilles heel is named after for Achilles was dipped in the River Styx as a babe apart from his right ankle and foot, and Odysseus when they fought to bring Helen of Sparta, later as Helen of Troy, the wife of King Melenaus of Sparta, back home to Sparta after Paris abducted her. Odysseus was also later known for his 10-year journey back home, during which he kept being blown off course by the might of Poseidon, which took his name Odyssey after Homer, a Greek narrative poet composed his story and that of his families left behind in Ithaca (yes I have read it!). Perseus and his tale intertwined with that of the Gorgon Medusa (both Perseus and Odysseus are my favourite heroes, though I guess it would happen if you constantly read and reread the Odyssey and watched the 2010 movie Clash of the Titans, which tell the legend of Perseus, but with a major twist in the story. Finding all this information out, learning that though their stories became legendary, these people were just humans at the end of the day made me realise one major thing - I was holding myself back, using my disability of CP (Cerebral Palsy) as the reason for why. Hearing Achilles' story brought forth parallels between us. He had a weak bad ankle and I had a bad right hand and leg. It is his story and other stories of legends in their own rights with similar disadvantages that can help those struggling to come to terms with a life-long disadvantage. It is not something to be hidden, but something to utilise, a strength, not a weakness.

The City of Athens - a tourist hotspot everyone should visit.

This is why I highly recommend visiting Athens and Greece should you find yourself struggling to accept yourself as you are. Hearing of larger-than-life people with similar disadvantages can help you mentally and emotionally.