Ancient Greece is called the cradle for a reason. European civilization. This relatively small country has had a huge impact on the development of a wide variety of areas. human life. For example, the myths of ancient Greece have not lost their relevance today. As in those days, they quite clearly reflect inner world man, the relationship of people with each other and with the forces of nature.

What does Hellas mean?

Another name that the Greeks called their homeland is Hellas. What is "Hellas", what is the meaning of this word? The fact is that this is how the Hellenes called their homeland. The ancient Romans called the Hellenes Greeks. Translated from their language, "Greek" meant "croaking." Apparently, this happened due to the fact that the ancient Romans did not like the sound of the Greek language. Translated from ancient Greek, the word "Hellas" means "morning dawn".

Cradle of European spiritual values

Many disciplines, such as medicine, politics, art and literature, originated in ancient Greece. Scientists agree that human civilization could not have reached modern development without the knowledge that Ancient Hellas. It was on its territory that the first philosophical concepts were formed, with which all modern science operates. The spiritual values ​​of European civilization were also laid here. Athletes of ancient Greece were the first Olympic champions. The first ideas about the surrounding world - both material and non-material - were proposed by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.

Ancient Greece - the birthplace of science and art

If we take any branch of science or art, then one way or another it will be rooted in the knowledge obtained in the days of Ancient Greece. A great contribution to the development of historical knowledge was made by the scientist Herodotus. His works were devoted to the study of the Greco-Persian wars. The contribution to the development of mathematics by the scientists Pythagoras and Archimedes is also enormous. invented a huge number of devices that were used primarily in military campaigns.

Of interest to modern scientists is also the way of life of the Greeks, whose homeland was Hellas. What it means to live at the dawn of civilization is very vividly described in a work called the Iliad. This monument of literature, which has survived to this day, describes historical events those times and the everyday life of the Hellenes. The most valuable thing in the work of the Iliad is the reality of the events described in it.

Modern progress and Hellas. What is the "cradle of European civilization"?

The early period of the development of ancient Greek civilization is officially called the Dark Age. It falls on 1050-750 BC. e. This is the time when the Mycenaean culture has already collapsed - one of the most majestic civilizations that was already known for writing. However, the definition of "Dark Age" refers more to the lack of information about this era than to specific events. Despite the fact that writing had already been lost then, it was at this time that the political and aesthetic properties that Ancient Hellas possessed begin to appear. During this period of the beginning of the Iron Age, the prototypes of modern cities are already appearing. On the territory of Greece, the leaders begin to manage small communities. Coming new era in the processing and painting of ceramics.

The beginning of the steady development of ancient Greek culture is considered to be the epics of Homer, which date back to 776 BC. e. They were written using the alphabet that Hellas borrowed from the Phoenicians. The meaning of the word, translated as “morning dawn”, in this case is justified: the beginning of development completely coincides with the birth of European culture.

Hellas experiences its greatest prosperity in an era that is commonly called classical. It refers to 480-323 BC. e. It was at this time that such philosophers as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, Aristophanes lived. Sculptures are becoming more and more complex. They begin to reflect the position human body not static but dynamic. The Greeks of that time loved to do gymnastics, used cosmetics, and did their hair.

Literary Hellas.

Separate consideration deserves the emergence of the genres of tragedy and comedy, which also falls on the classical era in the history of Ancient Greece. Tragedy reaches its peak in the 5th century BC. e. The most famous tragedies of this era are represented by Aeschylus and Euripides. The genre arose from the ceremonies of honoring Dionysus, during which scenes from the life of the god were played out. At first, only one actor performed in the tragedy. Thus, Hellas is also the birthplace of modern cinema. This (which is known to every historian) is another proof of the fact that the origins of European culture should be sought in the territory of ancient Greece.

Aeschylus introduced a second actor into the theater, thus becoming the creator of dialogue and dramatic action. In Sophocles, the number of actors has already reached three. Tragedies revealed the conflict between man and inexorable fate. Faced with the impersonal force that reigned in nature and in society, the protagonist learned the will of the gods and obeyed it. The Hellenes believed that the main goal of the tragedy is catharsis, or purification, which occurs in the viewer when empathizing with its heroes.

LESSON 21

ANCIENT CULTURE. PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT.

“Ancient history developed not only in time - it also moved in space. First one, then other peoples became the bearers of human progress, as if the focus of world history, for centuries, sometimes for millennia; then the new ones picked up the baton of development, and the centers of the old civilizations, once great, plunged into twilight for a long time ... "(N. A. Dmitrieva, N. A. Vinogradova)

Ancient civilizations were replaced by culture, which became the basis , the cradle of all European civilization. Her ideal was the image human citizen, harmoniously developed physically and spiritually. The masterpieces of this Mediterranean culture have inspired poets and artists, playwrights and composers for several centuries. Imbued with joy, light, faith in the dignity, beauty and value of man, even today they continue to "give us artistic pleasure and in a certain respect serve as the norm and an unattainable model."

What was the name of this culture?

Of course it is ancient culture. It arose in the free city-states of Ancient Greece, and later in Rome, which conquered it.

What is antiquity? How did this term come about?

Antiquity is called the entire one and a half thousandth period from the appearance in the 1st millennium BC. e. Ancient Greece and before the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. n. e. And ancient culture is called the culture of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome in the corresponding historical period.

Word "antiquity" comes from the Latin "antiques" - "ancient". The term arose for the first time in the 15th century. in medieval Italy, where, in the struggle against church tradition, a new culture of the Renaissance was established, which did not know Eastern civilizations that were much older than the Greek. After some time, the term "antiquity" entered European culture.

Antiquity can be divided into the following periods of historical development:

1. Aegean (Crete-Mycenaean) culture (III-II millennium BC)

2. Culture of Ancient Greece (XI-I centuries BC)

Homeric period (XI-VIII centuries BC)

Archaic period (7th-6th centuries BC)

Classic period (V-IVbb. BC)

Hellenistic period (IV-I centuries BC)

3. Etruscan culture (VIII-VI centuries BC)

4. Culture of Ancient Rome (V century BC - V century AD)

Republic period (V-I centuries BC)

Empire period (1st century BC - 5th century AD)

Of course, these frameworks are rather arbitrary, since it is impossible to indicate the exact boundaries of a continuous, eternal process of development.

What is the meaning ancient culture, its achievements and features?

Ancient civilization made a significant contribution to the history of the world artistic culture, remaining to this day the ideal of beauty and a model of artistic taste. It is difficult to assess the significance of the artistic heritage of this period. The ancient monuments of culture vividly expressed ideas about the universe, religious beliefs, moral ideals and aesthetic tastes of the era that completed the centuries-old history of the Ancient World.

“True reflection of reality, simplicity and clarity of artistic language, perfect craftsmanship - all this determines the enduring value of ancient art."(B. - I. Rivkin).

Ancient science and culture were created by free people who discovered harmony in everything, whether it was the comprehension of the universe or the human personality. Harmony and spirituality determined the organicity and integrity of Greek culture.

The queen of ancient science was philosophy. Greek philosophers were concerned with the origin of the universe and the nature of all things. The philosophical schools of the Greeks were free associations, gathering around the Teacher his like-minded people and students. Such are the schools of Thales, Anaximander, Heraclitus of the archaic period. Each scientist-philosopher had his own doctrine. Democritus considered atoms moving in the void to be the basis of everything, and according to his theory, all living things differed from inanimate ones by the presence of a soul. Socrates argued that self-knowledge is the beginning of true wisdom. Plato created the doctrine of ideas - prototypes of the world. His student - the encyclopedic scientist Aristotle - considered matter to be the basis of everything.

had a strong influence on the culture of many peoples. ancient mythology, on the plots of which many works of Western European art are written.

Ancient literature survived the centuries and forever entered the golden fund of mankind. The texts of ancient authors were copied by monks in the Middle Ages, they were perceived as the norm and ideal in the Renaissance. Many generations were brought up on the noble beauty and calm grandeur of the heroes of antiquity. Pushkin rearranged Catullus and Horace. Leo Tolstoy studied Greek in order to read Homer in the original.

But a special place in the culture of antiquity was occupied by plastic arts: architecture, sculpture, painting and arts and crafts, striking in their diversity and richness. The ancient order system still impresses with its nobility of forms and constructive simplicity and is used in modern architecture. The developed system of visual means of reproducing reality can be considered an invaluable contribution of antiquity to world art: the methods of the anatomical structure and movement of the figure, the representation of three-dimensional space and the three-dimensionality of objects in it.

What are the origins of antiquity, what civilization preceded it?

The founders and creators of ancient culture were the ancient Greeks, who called themselves Hellenes, and your country - Hellas.

However, even before the birth of Greek culture in the Eastern Mediterranean in the III-II millennium BC. e. there was an older civilization, which, according to legends and archeological finds, dominated the entire Mediterranean and died in the 15th century. BC e. as a result of a natural disaster. It was the predecessor of ancient culture, the Cretan-Mycenaean, or Aegean, civilization, with which many myths and legends are associated.

One of the most amazing is a legend that has been worrying people for two and a half millennia. This is the legend of Atlantis a mysterious island swallowed by the ocean in one day and one night. Apparently, it was Atlantis that was the cradle of all ancient cultures and the foremother of civilizations.

The ancient Greek philosopher was the first to tell the world about the beautiful island and the mighty state of the Atlanteans. Plato(427-347 BC) in his dialogues Timaeus and Critias. Plato relied on the story of his ancestor Solon, who, traveling in Egypt, learned the history of Atlantis from the Egyptian priests.

1 - Plato

Plato on Atlantis

"Poseidon ... populated it (the island) with his children"

"Poseidon divided the island into 10 parts" (according to the number of sons)

“... He gave Atlantis the house of his mother and the surrounding possessions - as the largest and best share ...”

“This whole region lay very high and steeply cut off to the sea”

“This whole part of the island was turned to the south wind, and from the north it was closed by mountains ...”

2 - A variant of the design of Atlantis according to Plato, made by Drozdova T. N. (from the book "In search of the image of Atlas nt ida"): I - the Horseshoe archipelago; 1 - about. Horseshoe - Atlantis; 2 - islands of the Northern Trident of Poseidon (Azores); 3 - South Trident of Poseidon Islands (Canary Islands); A is the capital of Atlantis

3 - The main state of Atlantis. Atlantis Island - a version of the reconstruction of the "Horseshoe" (according to T. N. Drozdova):

1 - Kingdom of Atlanta; 2 - Kingdom

3 vmel; 3 - Kingdom of Amphereus;

4 - the Kingdom of Evaemon; 5 - Kingdom of Mneseya; 6 - Kingdom of Autokhon;

7 - Kingdom of Elasippa; 8 - Kingdom of Mnestor; 9 - Kingdom of Azaes; 10 - Kingdom of Diaperen

According to Plato, Atlantis was in the ocean beyond the Pillars of Heracles (Strait of Gibraltar). The island was inhabited by the Atlanteans - strong and proud descendants of the god of the sea Poseidon and his wife Kleito, who not only kept the entire Mediterranean in obedience, but also carried their high culture to the conquered peoples. Plato wrote: “On this island, called Atlantis, there arose a great and admirable alliance of kings, whose power extended over the whole island, to many other islands and to part of the mainland, and moreover, on this side of the strait, they took possession of Libya as far as Egypt and Europe. up to Tirrenia (Etruria)." Plato also reports on the capital of the Atlanteans, as round as the sun's disk, located on a picturesque plain, approximately 555 by 370 km in size. “Around the capital stretched a plain, surrounded by mountains, reaching along its edges to the sea. This whole plain was turned to the south and protected from the north winds by the mountains surrounding it, very high and beauty surpassing all the current ones ”(Plato). The capital was fortified with three water and two earth rings. In the center of it was a hill, on top of which, at the behest of Poseidon, two springs with hot and cold water spouted. The whole city was divided by beams into 10 sectors. Canals were dug, interconnected by crooked channels, and high bridges were built connecting all parts of the city. “They dug channels that connected with bridges of such a width that one trireme could pass from one water ring to another ... The largest water ring, with which the sea was directly connected, had a width of three stages (555m)” (Plato). After that, the Atlanteans surrounded their capital with impregnable walls, running strictly along the circumference.

The central part (acropolis) was located in the center, on a flat rocky hill. "In the very center stood the inaccessible holy temple of Kleito and Poseidon, surrounded by a golden wall." There was also a fortress on the acropolis. In the fortress were the royal palace and the sacred grove of Poseidon with outlandish trees.

The largest was the kingdom of the eldest son of Poseidon and Kleito - Atlanta. Here was the capital of Atlantis. Here is how Plato writes about it: “The whole plain that surrounded the city, and itself, surrounded by mountains that stretched to the sea, was a flat surface ...”, "straight channels dug, almost a hundred feet wide (30 m) after a hundred stadia (18,500m)", “channels were dug ... the width ... had stages (185 m), the length along the perimeter was 10 thousand stages”, "The canals are connected to each other and to the city by crooked ducts...", « toEach plot is 10 by 10 stadia... Total plots are 60,000” (throughout the plain)

5 - Plato and Aristotle. Fragment of a drawing from Raphael's fresco "School of Athens"

These questions have troubled scientists and travelers for many centuries. They searched for Atlantis in Africa, and in Europe, and in America. But today, when representatives of the exact sciences began to search for the mysterious island, only two versions of the location of Atlantis remained. This is the Atlantic Ocean, according to Plato, and the Mediterranean Sea with the island of Crete.

Modern oceanologists have identified many seamounts at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, the highest of which form the Azores, Canaries, Bermuda, Bahamas and other islands. But no traces of large sunken islands have been found there. Maybe the Platonic Pillars of Hercules are not Shbraltar, but either the mouth of the Nile, or the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, or other rocks in the Mediterranean Sea?

Given this, we can say that at that time in the Mediterranean there was a powerful state of the Atlanteans, which kept many peoples in obedience, and in the 15th century. BC e. died suddenly. Perhaps it was the Cretan-Mycenaean state, the ancestor of the greatest culture, the continuation of which was then classical Greek art.

Yes, Atlantis, described by Plato, is not on the map of the Earth. But in the legend of a lost high civilization, one can find the origins of European culture.

HOMEWORK

Read the text, do the tasks

Tasks and questions to the text

1 Underline the lines in the text dedicated to Atlantis.

2 Underline in the text the expressions of Plato and Aristotle, which have become winged.

3 With the names of which philosophers are the words "academy" and "lyceum" associated?

4 What did Plato consider the fundamental principle of the world, and what did Aristotle consider?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 Who were the teachers of Plato and Aristotle?

Vladimir Butromeev. Plato and Aristotle

Plato's real name is Aristocles. He was nicknamed Plato for his strength and broad chest. Platos means "wide". As a young man, he wrestled and was the champion of the Isthmian Games, a competition similar to the Olympic Games.

Plato came from a royal family. His mother married a second time to one of the friends and assistants of Pericles, who then ruled Athens. Plato grew up and was brought up, communicating with famous poets and writers, artists and actors. He himself began to write comedies and tragedies, but, having met Socrates, he burned his writings and devoted himself to philosophy.

The trial of Socrates and the death of his beloved teacher shocked Plato. He left Greece and traveled a lot. By that time he had already become a well-known philosopher, and one of the associates of the tyrant Dionysius, who ruled in Syracuse, the main city of the island of Sicily, invited him to the royal court. This entourage thought that Plato would be able to convince Dionysius to reign justly, and not cruelly and arbitrarily. Plato in his writings wrote a lot about the ideal state, which should live according to reasonable laws, and he also wanted to make his dreams come true. When Dionysius realized why Plato had arrived, he sent him back to Greece, secretly ordering him to be sold into slavery along the way. “He is a philosopher, which means that he will experience happiness in slavery,” the tyrant said mockingly.

Plato was bought by a certain Annikeris, a rich man who was taking his horses to Greece to exhibit them in equestrian competitions. Upon learning that he had become the owner of the famous philosopher, Annikerides immediately set him free. When Plato's friends collected money for his ransom, Annikerides refused to take it and handed it over to Plato himself.

Now everyone knows the name of the great philosopher Plato, and no one remembers the name of Annikerides.

With the money received from Annikerides, Plato bought land on the outskirts of Athens, built himself a house and opened his philosophical school. Plato's house was located near the place where, according to legend, the mythical hero Academ was buried, so Plato's school was called the Academy. The Academy is now also called higher educational institutions and collections of recognized scientists, writers and artists.

Plato wrote many works. Some of them are devoted to explaining the philosophical ideas of Socrates, others - to describing the structure of a reasonable state. These writings also describe Atlantis - a state in which people lived according to wise laws. Modern scholars argue whether Plato was referring to the real Atlantis sunk to the seabed, or whether he simply invented it to better interpret the laws he wanted to offer people. Science fiction writers have written more than one adventure novel about Atlantis, and the mystery of Atlantis remains a fascinating mystery.

Like many other philosophers, Plato was looking for the fundamental principle of all things. He believed that all things have an invisible idea, which is their most important essence and reason. These ideas, according to Plato, are the fundamental principle of the world. Therefore, Plato is called the father of idealistic philosophy.

Shortly before his death, Plato was asked if he thought they would write about him in the future. The philosopher replied: "It would be a good name, but there will be notes." This phrase became winged, as did his postscript in the will become famous. Having distributed his property among close people and relatives, Plato wrote: "But I have no debt to anyone."

But even more famous is Plato's quarrel with another great philosopher of antiquity, Aristotle. Aristotle was Plato's favorite student. But, having mastered the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle decided that the teacher was mistaken in the most important thing - in the question of the fundamental principle of the world. Aristotle came to the conclusion that all things exist by themselves, without any ideas preceding them. Teacher and student separated. When Aristotle was asked why he left Plato, Aristotle replied: "Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer."

Aristotle wrote a huge number of philosophical treatises. He embraced with his mind all nature and all areas of human knowledge. He founded his own philosophical school. She was in the area dedicated to the god of arts, Apollo, the Lycian. Likeysky means wolf, such a nickname

Apollo received according to ancient tradition, because once he was depicted in the form of a wolf. The word "lyceum", or "lyceum", became famous thanks to the school of Aristotle, the so-called educational institutions in which they teach according to a special, complicated program.

Aristotle is famous for the fact that he was the tutor of Alexander the Great. But most of all he became famous for his words: "Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer." They have become winged, they are said when they want to emphasize their commitment to the truth, in spite of any personal sympathies and friendly ties.

Ancient Greece gave the world many completely new ideas and inventions. Here appeared:

• philosophy,
• mathematics,
• the medicine,
• Olympic Games,
• theatre,
• realistic art,
• science in general special form knowledge with its own methodology and conceptual apparatus,
• historiography,
• civic consciousness

and, finally, democracy. Almost everything that Western civilization has today, from scientific achievements to political concepts, has its roots in ancient Greek culture.

In Europe, more than once attempts were made to break the connection with the ancient past and create something radically different from the ancient Greek ideals. For example, in the Middle Ages, the life-affirming worldview of the ancient Greeks was replaced by the cult of asceticism and mortification of the flesh. The ancient heritage was declared ungodly and pagan. Many wonderful monuments of this era were destroyed. However, even medieval monks were unable to completely abandon Greek culture. Thomas Aquinas, Anselm of Canterbury and many other medieval theologians wrote their works based on philosophical concepts and concepts developed by Plato and Aristotle. Today, Greek culture is deservedly recognized as one of the brightest and most influential in the history of mankind.

Causes of the cultural upsurge in ancient Greece

The formation of such a rich culture on the Balkan Peninsula was associated with many factors. First, Greece had a very convenient geographical position. Free access to the sea allowed the Greeks to travel throughout the Mediterranean and Asia. Sea travel without navigational instruments, maps, astronomical calculations and well-designed ships was difficult and dangerous. Therefore, the Greeks quite early began to develop engineering sciences, mathematics and astronomy. This people was engaged in trade a lot, accumulating huge wealth, hosting foreign merchants and borrowing the best from the culture and science of neighboring countries. The favorable climate, magnificent mountain landscapes and lush vegetation awakened in the Greeks a special understanding of nature and the desire for harmony with the Cosmos.

Secondly, the Greeks lived in a region with large deposits of metals, including precious ones. Metal processing contributed to the rise of all other economic areas (for example, agriculture), and also allowed the Greeks to become a powerful nation from a military point of view. But the use of metals was not limited to war and the economy, the ancient Greeks began to create magnificent Jewelry, figurines and dishes.

Thirdly, in Greece, after the decomposition of the tribal system, a special type of social organization arose - the policy. For the Greeks, the polis reproduced the Cosmos in miniature. Democracy reigned inside the city-states. Meetings of free citizens determined the political goals of the whole society, ruled the court, and decided land issues. Every resident of the policy felt responsible for his homeland. The value of a person was also measured by the benefit that he brings to the policy. Therefore, in the mentality of the ancient Greeks there was always a share of competition. They sought to prove themselves on the battlefield, in the Olympic arena or in science.

Despite the collapse of the ancient world, cultural heritage The ancient Greeks are still alive and continue to develop actively.

Why is antiquity called the "cradle of European culture"?

The ancient civilization, which got its name from the Latin word “antiquus”, which means ancient, wrote golden pages in the history of world culture. The achievements of ancient culture are amazing; the entire European civilization is based on them. The history of world art is filled with memories of the ancient world, the reproduction of ancient scenes, themes of Greek and Roman mythology, history and everyday life to such an extent that antiquity is inextricably merged with the entire history of world art culture from the time when ancient society ended its existence to the present day. . Moderns go back to antiquity literary genres and philosophical systems, the principles of architecture and sculpture, the foundations of astronomy, mathematics, natural science. Antiquity, whose thousand-year history has accumulated priceless and unsurpassed treasures of the human spirit, has an unfading charm Radugin. M., 2007. S. 144.

To briefly summarize the achievements of ancient culture, we can say that the Greeks and Romans gave humanity:

1) exemplary (classical) languages ​​- ancient Greek and Latin as integral parts in all European languages, forming the basis of scientific, musical, political, legal and other vocabulary;

2) excellent literature, artistry and imagery of thinking;

3) in art - a role model, a school of artistic taste and aesthetic principles development of the world;

4) various applied arts;

5) science (gave rise to many branches of knowledge and scientific terminology);

6) samples of oratory, the greatest art of the word, dialogue;

7) democracy, freedom, various forms of power, political thinking;

8) patterns of communication, education and upbringing;

9) original military art, created the ideals of heroism and patriotism;

11) physical culture, sports, approved the value of health, the cult of a healthy body;

12) Formed theoretical basis many areas of scientific knowledge, including philosophy, logic, philology, etc.

Thus, we can say that antiquity is considered the "cradle of European culture" because almost all the achievements of this civilization can be reduced to the ideas and images of ancient Greek culture. A retrospective look at European culture convinces us that the starting point is for the most part Ancient Greece.

List of used literature

1. Culturology / ed. G.V. Fight. Rostov-on-Don. M. 1995.

2. Culturology: Textbook / Compiled by A.A. Radugin. M., 2007.

3. Culturology / ed. A.N. Markova. M. 2000.

"Greece has everything," - Anton Chekhov's well-known phrase from the vaudeville "Wedding" has acquired a new flavor today. Greece is now at the height of fashion among fans to buy property abroad. And it really has everything. And the cleanest sea in Europe, and ski resorts, and flowering slopes, and coniferous forests, and islands for every taste, as well as three hundred sunny days a year, Mediterranean cuisine and friendly Greeks - the heirs of an ancient culture.

Touch of eternity

Greece is called the cradle of modern civilization. She gave the world philosophy, theater, the Olympic Games, the values ​​of democracy and an endless number of architectural monuments. Here, each stone breathes five thousand years of history. An amazing country - an open-air museum, a touch of eternity. "This is the only place on Earth where I was truly happy," he once said about Greece English poet George Byron.

But how not to be happy in this small but very beautiful country? Greece smells like the sea, a soft sea breeze lives here at any time of the year. Black-haired Greeks with sincere smiles stroll peacefully along the endless beaches against the backdrop of the white sails of yachts and the outlines of the islands on the horizon. By the way, the coastline of Greece is the longest in comparison with other Mediterranean countries - more than fifteen thousand kilometers.

The dream of any inhabitant of the metropolis - your own island - here may well turn into reality. We have about three thousand islands at our disposal. Only one hundred and forty of them are inhabited. You can buy both inhabited and uninhabited. With the latter, it's just more trouble. All this beauty is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, which the Greeks themselves divide into three: Aegean, Ionian and Libyan.

Happily ever after

Greece today is experiencing a construction boom, foreigners from all over the world are actively buying apartments, houses, villas, townhouses and just land here.

Experts see rational reasons for this. Greece - a new real estate market - there is still plenty to choose from, while not overpaying "for the name." In terms of quality of life, European researchers have put Greece in the top twenty world leaders among the most attractive countries for living. The lowest crime rate in Europe, the strength of family values, the nature of social relations, security, geography, climate and favorable environmental conditions helped Hellas to become leaders.

In Greece, it is true that life is calm and easy to breathe. About 23% of the country's territory is agricultural land, where fruits, vegetables, grapes, cotton and tobacco are grown. People live here longer than in other European countries, with an average life expectancy of 76 years for men and 81 years for women.

The investment attractiveness of Greece was added by the construction of the new EGNATIA highway, which is planned to be completed at the end of this year. The route connects four ports, six airports and provides access to the Balkans and other countries of Eastern Europe. On it you can cross Greece across - from Italy to Turkey - in just six and a half hours, bypassing mountain serpentines and narrow sections of roads. Most of it passes over the ancient Roman road, along its length there are 270 cultural heritage sites.

Greece attracts with a relatively simple mechanism for acquiring real estate. Land and a house can be bought in full ownership by paying 10% tax on the cadastral value, which is several times less than the market price. Real estate worth less than £140,000 is tax-free, and Greek banks can easily issue a mortgage within a few weeks. The maximum interest rate on a loan for non-residents fluctuates between 6-7% per annum, however, Russian clients are still treated with little apprehension here. One "but": in Greece there are "border" regions where the acquisition of real estate by foreigners is associated with an additional formality - the issuance of a ministerial permit. These regions include some coastal areas (eg Chalkidiki), some areas of Attica and most of the islands. Permission is issued by a lawyer within a few months.

Loss of Poseidon

There are more than enough reasons to buy a house in Greece, the main thing is not to get lost among the fancy names of islands, peninsulas, cities and villages. To do this, the whole variety of places where real estate is actively sold can be divided into four parts: Northern Greece, Central Greece, Southern Greece and the islands.

Experts believe that the future belongs to Northern Greece. It is located at the intersection of all sea and land routes passing through the Balkan Peninsula. Its center is the ancient port city of Thessaloniki, one of the most significant commercial and industrial centers of the Balkans. Thessaloniki hosts the largest cross-industry exhibitions in Southern Europe. Huge ships depart from its commercial port all over the world, and snow-white yachts from a modern marina in the east of the city. Businessmen and yachting enthusiasts buy apartments here to admire their own yacht at sunrise in anticipation of exciting trips.

A bright representative of Northern Greece is the famous peninsula of Halkidiki, resembling a trident piercing the Aegean Sea. According to ancient myths, titans lived here - rivals of the gods. In the battle with them, the god of the sea Poseidon lost his trident, so the peninsula of Halkidiki arose. And the giant Athos, in a rage, threw a huge block at the gods - now it is the Holy Mount Athos - the center of Orthodoxy, a monastic state in the state, which is ruled by a council of representatives of twenty Athos monasteries. Houses and plots overlooking the Holy Mountain are in exceptional demand among wealthy Russians who know the value of places of solitude and inspiration, where you can get away from traffic, noise and obsessive popularity.

The titans knew where to live, Halkidiki still captivates with its beauty. A third of the island is deserted and calm, with centuries-old pine forest and clean bays. Civilization has left its mark here in the form of developed infrastructure, clubs, taverns and other pleasures of the life of mere mortals. In some local village (in Psakudya, for example), you can buy a relatively inexpensive townhouse with its own garden or a house with a fireplace. There are also elite residential complexes on the peninsula, with dozens of villas, swimming pools, tennis courts, basketball courts and round-the-clock security.

The first "prong" of Halkidiki with the ancient name of Kassandra, the closest to Thessaloniki, is known for its olive groves, Mendi wine and honey, which has been famous since ancient times. Its beaches are marked with the blue flag of the EU. Here, modern villas coexist comfortably with chapels, old monastery courtyards and traditional settlements. In the very center of Kassandra is the small town of Kallithea, where you can buy a townhouse or an apartment with a gorgeous sea view. By the way, Kallithea is translated from Greek as "good panorama".

Place of residence of the Muses

Central Greece is represented by Attica or the Attic Plain, surrounded by mountains and in the south gently falling to the sea with a low ridge of hills. Here skiers and snowboarders join sea lovers. At their disposal is the legendary Parnassus - the place of residence of the muses. The ski center was opened here several decades ago. The elevation difference here is sufficient for intermediate skiers. You can kill two birds with one stone by buying a stone chalet in the nearby town of Arachova, and each time you choose whether to drive twenty minutes to the sea or fifteen to the ski slope. And one more bonus: Arachova is famous for its handmade carpets, excellent local cheese and wine. True, for the neighborhood with Parnassus itself, you will have to pay a tidy sum, comparable to the prices for prestigious properties in Athens and on the famous Greek islands.

Of course, Attica is, first of all, the place where the center of the world is located, the city of art and simply the capital of Greece - Athens. Sailing to the port of Piraeus (the port of Athens since 500 BC), past the island of Salamis, you can still recognize the majestic Acropolis from afar. The path to the Acropolis goes through the ancient quarter of the Plan. Narrow exotic streets where two people can barely pass, old houses with ivy-covered balconies, churches and traditional taverns. Despite all this beauty, Athens is a modern metropolis with all the ensuing consequences. It's noisy, dusty, expensive and traffic jams. In summer, when the smog becomes unbearable and you can't even see neighboring houses, personal cars are prohibited from entering the central part of the city. Luxury housing is located in the suburbs of Athens, the closer to the city and to the sea, the higher the level and, of course, the price.

Those who do not like fuss should head south. Southern Greece is the Peloponnese peninsula. In the small towns of the Peloponnese, the traditional way of life of the Greeks has been preserved; it seems that nothing has changed here for hundreds of years. Walking through the narrow streets of mountain villages, one can realistically imagine how people lived five hundred years ago. Here, in the peace and quiet of a coastal tavern, you can eat fresh fish, covered with a crispy pink crust, directly from the coals, and see off the evening sun, sailing into the sea in a wreath of the Ionian Islands. And nearby, in the shade of eucalyptus and pine trees, sacred Olympia will be buried, on the ruins of which, before the start of the modern Olympic Games, the ritual of lighting the Olympic flame is held. There is a lot of free land in the Peloponnese, therefore land plots from 500 to 5 thousand square meters are actively sold here near the sea. There are also ready-made villas with all amenities and even with their own marinas for yachts.

Treasure Islands

But the beauty of Greece is in its many islands. Buying houses on the islands is now very important. Such a purchase has undoubted advantages. Relatively difficult transport access immediately makes island real estate cheaper than houses on the mainland. And it is much easier to find your own section of the beach, where there will be no casual tourists, on the islands. In addition, the Greek islands are an ideal place for yachting - fantastic landscapes and calm seas between the islands.

It is quite possible to buy the island itself in full ownership. Theoretically, it is easier to acquire an island owned by a private owner, since in order to purchase an island owned by the state, one must win the corresponding tender. It is difficult, but possible - to buy an uninhabited island. We'll have to change its status to habitable. That is, to take on the solution of the problems of water supply and electrification, which, of course, will require considerable additional investments.

The islands of Hydra and Spetses between Attica and the Peloponnese are considered the most fashionable and elite today. These islands are the favorites of the intellectual elite, who draw their inspiration from the silence, emphasized by the chirping of cicadas. Ideal location for filming movies. Hydra and Spetses have crystal clear air. Most of them are protected historical territories. Vehicles are prohibited here. Here they ride horses and donkeys, and fly on airplanes. It is clear that real estate on these islands is much more expensive, and the offer is limited. Sometimes you have to wait for your house for several years.

The rest of the islands can be conditionally divided by the seas washing them into Ionian and Aegean. In terms of the number of properties offered for sale, the Aegean Islands - the Cyclades - are in the lead - with a unique culture and architecture that is unlike anything else in Greece or in the world. The most popular among them are Mykonos and Santorini. Fashionable Mykonos is the place of concentration of the "world party", constant club life twenty-four hours a day. Prince Carlos, Madonna, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger have been here. You can shell out as much money for a "small" apartment in Mykonos as for a decent villa on some lesser known Greek island, which will be no less beautiful. Santorini is calmer, there are villas that are secluded on the hills or stand together on the coast.

The most famous of the Ionian Islands is Corfu, where you can easily combine a relaxing holiday with a busy rhythm of nightlife. The island sells luxury villas with palm groves and orchards and large plots of land up to 7 thousand square meters...

It is worth putting an ellipsis, because you can talk about Greece endlessly.