There are few places that evoke such a heady sense of cultural romance as Greece. The cradle of Western thought, literature, art, architecture and democracy gave birth to such beauties as Homer's The Iliad, Sophocles' Oedipus the King, the teachings of Plato and Socrates, the Parthenon, the Zorba, the Olympics and the souvlaki. It is a cultural red-carpet which Greeks are justifiably proud to roll out.
A thriving visual-arts scene exists, and traditional folk crafts such as embroidery, weaving and tapestry continue.
Greek literature's ancient heritage spans poetry, drama, philosophical and historical treatises, and travelogues. Homer (9th century BC), author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, was the greatest ancient Greek writer. The world's first travel writer was Pausanias, who, in the 2nd century BC, wrote The Guide to Greece. Umpteen editions later, it is now available in English in paperback. Sappho (who lived on the island of Lesvos in the 5th century BC) is famous for her love poetry dedicated to women. These days, the novelist Nikos Kazantzakis is the most widely read Greek writer, and there is a vibrant poetic tradition in modern Greece that includes the Nobel laureates George Seferis and Odysseus Elytis.
Much of Greece's culinary heritage can be sourced to the 400 years of Turkish rule, particularly appetisers such as tzatziki (cucumber and yoghurt dip) and octopus pickled in lemon juice and olive oil. Cheap snacks such as souvlaki (skewered, grilled meat in pita bread) and spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie) are easy to find. Popular main dishes include mousakas (eggplant baked with minced meat and béchamel sauce), stuffed tomatoes, and freshly grilled seafood. The mainstay of the Greek diet is the ubiquitous horiatiki salata (country salad), consisting of cucumber, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese and olives. Greek yoghurt is delicious and sold everywhere. Typical Greek drinks include retsina, ouzo, tsipouro and raki.
Greece's most acclaimed film director is Theodoros Angelopoulos, whose films include The Beekeeper and Travelling Players.
Rebetika music, with its themes of poverty and suffering, was banned under the junta but is becoming increasingly popular among young people.
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