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THE COMPASS

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Greece

From science and medicine to art and democracy, the achievements of the ancient Greeks have shaped the foundations of Western civilization. Visitors are drawn to the appeal of Greece's turquoise bays, seaside cafés, and iconic ruins that bring ancient history to life. Join us this week as we learn about the legacies of Socrates and Pericles, dive into Greece's first underwater museum, and visit the all-marble stadium that hosted the first modern Olympics.
Let's explore Greece.

HISTORY & CULTURE

On a Greek island, clues to a mysterious civilization

VISUAL BY CAMBRIDGE KEROS PROJECT

Advanced plumbing and metalwork found on ancient Greek island

Thousands of years ago, the Greek island of Keros was a sprawling metropolis.

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RELATED: MYSTERIOUS DISK FOUND IN ANCIENT GREEK SHIPWRECK +

Socrates was put to death in 399 B.C. for showing irreverence towards the gods, depicted here in "The Death of Socrates."

ILLUSTRATION BY VCG WILSON, CORBIS/GETTY

Who was Socrates?

Considered to be the founding father of Western philosophy, Socrates examined all aspects of life in ancient Athens—to his own detriment.

Pericles (left) and Pheidias consult about creation of statue of Athena in this painting.

ILLUSTRATION BY H.M. HERGET, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Who was Pericles?

Pericles lifted Athens into a golden age through his support of the arts, architecture, philosophy, and democracy building.

SCIENCE

Rescue workers and locals search for residents trapped in the debris of a collapsed building in Izmir, Turkey, on October 30, 2020. A strong earthquake struck that day in the Aegean Sea between the Turkish coast and the Greek island of Samos.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ISMAIL GOKMEN, AP

Greece and Turkey earthquake driven by wild tectonics of the Aegean Sea

The magnitude 7.0 temblor occurred in an area of complex geologic movement, where multiple tectonic plates crack the surface as they jostle for position.

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These fragmented fossils, which were found mere inches apart, could be the skulls from two hominin species separated by tens of thousands of years—a 170,000-year-old Neanderthal (left) and a 210,000-year-old early modern human.

COMPOSITE IMAGE COURTESY OF KATERINA HARVATI, EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITY OF TÜBINGEN

Enigmatic skull may be the oldest modern human outside Africa. But questions abound.

A controversial study argues that early Homo sapiens were in Greece by 210,000 years ago, sparking intense debate.

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This oil painting (ca 1652) by Michael Sweerts is called “Plague in an Ancient City,” and some scholars interpret it as a depiction of the Athenian plague that broke out in 430 B.C. Others, however, think it is a more general representation.

CHRISTIE’S IMAGES/SCALA, FLORENCE

The Plague of Athens killed tens of thousands, but its cause remains a mystery

Killing nearly a third of the population, an epidemic ripped through Athens in 430 B.C. Historic accounts and new technology are helping identify the true culprit.

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Corinthian helmet, fifth century B.C. Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich, Germany.

PETER HORREE/ALAMY

How do we know what ancient Greek warriors wore for battle? It's in 'The Iliad.'

Hector and Achilles might have been the stars of Homer's epic poem, but their helmets, shields, and weapons are what took center stage.

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TRAVEL

DREAM NOW, GO LATER

At Greece’s new underwater museum, scheduled to open officially in June 2021, divers will be able to explore an ancient shipwreck and its bounty of wine jars in the Aegean Sea.

PHOTOGRAPH BY TIMO DERSCH

Diving into Greece's first underwater museum

A national marine park protects wildlife and now offers tours of "the Parthenon of shipwrecks" off the island of Alonissos.

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More than 50,000 people filled the marble stands of the Panathenaic Stadium for the first modern Olympics in 1896.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SERRNOVIK, GETTY IMAGES

This all-marble stadium hosted the first modern Olympics

Visit the Panathenaic Stadium that sets ancient tradition in stone.

Paros and Delos were two of the foremost islands of the Cyclades, renowned for their marble sculpture and sacred connection to Apollo—but equal treasures were recently found on neighboring Despotikó.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RAINER HACKENBERG, VISUM/REDUX

Visit the islands where most Greek marble statues were made

Two isles of the Cyclades have long been famous for their marble—but equal treasures were recently found on tiny, neighboring Despotikó.

A couple visits the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. The columned Parthenon is usually surrounded by tourist crowds, but this year, due to the novel coronavirus, tourism to the country has dropped precipitously since March 2020.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LOULOU D'AKI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

How Greece is rethinking its once bustling tourism industry

With arrivals down 70 percent, the nation plots its post-pandemic future with a focus on sustainable tourism.

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Ancient architectural wonders spread out across the Acropolis of Athens.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RAINER UNKEL, REA/REDUX

See Athens like a Nat Geo Explorer

From ancient architectural wonders to traditional Greek dishes, this city is at a crossroads of cultures.

Locals enjoy the ocean view in Thira, Santorini.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTIAN HEEB, GETTY IMAGES

Discover the best of Santorini

You can't go wrong with these top ten picks.

WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT?

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