The Top 3 Ancient Greek Sights You Must See

Greece is a country with a rich and interesting history, with much of it still on display for all to see. The ancient Greeks still hold influence on the way we live today, from the idea of democracy to theories of philosophy, to engineering feats, sport and more. The Greeks are very proud of this history and love to showcase their historical sites. These are the sights that you must see if you’re interested in this part of history.

Athens

No tour of ancient Greece would be complete without a visit to Athens.

Athenslapidim / Foter / CC BY-NC

A vibrant and buzzing city, it blends the modern, urban atmosphere of today’s Greece with the ancient and significant history that it is so proud of. There are several sites that are worthy of a look in Athens, including:

• The Acropolis. One of the most important archaeological sites in the world, it is an ancient religious sanctuary. Dating back to the 5^th century, the Athens Acropolis holds the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike and its entrance, the Propylaia.
• The Temple of Poseidon. This is located on Cape Sounion, where legend has it King Aegeus of Athens plummeted to his death.
• The National Archaeological Museum. See ancient Greek art at its best at the largest collection of archaeological artefacts in Greece.

Olympia

In 776, the Olympic Games were held at this site for the first time in honour of the god Zeus. They continued every four years until they were band in 426 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius. It stands much as it did all those years ago, preserved by the silt from the nearby Alpheios River. It is a beautiful sight to behold. The temple of Zeus that stood here once housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the statue of Zeus. It was approximately 43ft high and took twelve years to complete. After the games were banned, the temple was destroyed by the emperor.

Mycenae

This is the home of King Agamemnon, who led the Greeks in the Trojan War. The story, as told by Homer, portrays Mycenae as a chief-city, ruling over a collection of states. Modern historians agree with this view, and though many discoveries have been uncovered about ancient Greece in this area, no evidence of Agamemnon has ever been found. The throne room offers incredible views of the Argos plain and the landscape below.

Mycenaetortipede / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

Stay in one of the many incredible villas in Greece and enjoy the ancient world that this stunning country has to offer.