Thursday 17 April 2014

O for Olympus

Oh wouldn't it be fun to hang out with the Greek Olympic Gods? Be right up there with them, while they were playing around with the destinies of the mortal people down at earth? Sit there with them at their thrones at the grande palaces at Pantheon. Join in on their meetings and stormy discussions and party on with them in their vivid celebrations. Yes? Then let's go! Olympus awaits us!


Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, placed on the mainland about 80 km south of Thessaloniki. The highest peak, Mytikas ( = nose), is 2,917 meters. It is known for its rich flora and it was the first National Park of Greece (since 1938).

Every year, thousands of people visit Olympus to admire the nature, to hike and reach up at its peaks. There are a lot of organized routes and you can spend the night at a hut on the way. And enjoy the magnificent sunset from high up there... divine.. The shape of the mountain, the high peaks, the changeable beauty of its nature and lots of mist and low clouds, (and frequent thunderstorms), caused awe and admiration to the pre-historic man, who lived at the foothills of Olympus'. They were the people who would create the first legends of the Gods...

Because, hiking in the mountains... Sure. Fun. But I am dreaming of hanging out with the gods at Mount Olympus. Of course I wouldn't think of daring Zeus, King of Gods and ruler of Olympus. And I would not try to sit on the throne of Zeus (I think). It hosts only him, and from there he unleashes his thunderbolts, expressing his godly wrath. I would bow for the the Queen of Gods, Hera who as the goddess of marriage and family, is constantly on a quest to get revenge on her husband Zeus' lovers and their children. I would greet Demeter, Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons, who would be there and I would probably be a bit intimidated by the powerful Poseidon, God of the seas, earthquakes, and tidal wave.

I could learn some tricks from Athena, Goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, defense, and warfare. Not so strange perhaps - as she was born from her father Zeus' forehead - fully grown and in full battle armor after he swallowed her mother (!)

I would love to meet Apollo, God of light, knowledge, healing, plague and darkness, arts, music, poetry, prophecy, the sun and also Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, virginity, childbirth, archery, the moon, and all animals. Hermes, the God of commerce, thieves and games (!) seems like a funny guy to hang around, and so does Aphrodite, Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She was married to the God of fire and forge, the craftsman of the Gods, Hephaestus, although she had many adulterous affairs, most notably with Ares, God of war, violence and bloodshed. Ah, those Bad Boys ...

But the real party will not start until Dionysos, God of wine, theater, celebrations, and ecstasy joins us! He got his place among the 12 Olympic Gods from the goddess Hestia, and he sure seems to keep the party going..

Oh, how fun. Can you image, dear reader - being up there at Olympus with those? That's where my mind went today. Whatever motive you might have, I can recommend Mount Olympus, for the hiking or for partying with the Greek Gods...:-)

So, it was hard to leave the breathtaking New Zealand yesterday, and I am not yet sure if I will be able to leave the Godly party at Olympus, especially now when Dionysus joined in....:-)

But if I move on, we will head off to a lovely new dream destination tomorrow... starting with a P...

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs hereMy theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

46 comments:

  1. Enjoyed that peek into Greek mythology. After Indian mythology, which is part of my childhood, it's the Greek stories that I enjoy most. You actually have a god of wine! :-D. Must tell me daughter about Athena... Interesting post Eli.

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    1. Thank you Tulika:-) Sooo happy for your sweet words, dear:-)

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  2. Wow, Mt. Olympus sounds like a real happening place!! Yes, it would be great to hang around and watch the Greek Gods in action - I wouldn't be bored even for a minute!!

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    1. Great fun huh?:-) Thanks for following:-)

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  3. Eli what a post :) Fired up the imagination big time, I'd join u there on Olympus in a jiffy and may the good times roll in the company of that great bunch of Gods

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    1. Great Sunila:-) The party is on.-) Thanks dear:-)

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  4. The Greek Gods always scared me as a young girl. I figured they would get mad at me and make me into something horrible. I do love visiting all the Greek sites and imagining life a few hundred years ago. (http://www.reflectionsenroute.com)

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    1. Me too - guess we share that passion then:-) Thanks Corinne:-)

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  5. I know my nephew (now 13) would love to hang out with the Greek gods. He's majorly into reading and know all about them, Eli. Mythology is fascinating!

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    1. That's great Corinne dear:-) You should bring him along to Greece:-)

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  6. Wow, that was a very informative post. Although I had some names of Greek Gods I didn't what did they stand for. Yes, I would love to party in Olympus with the company of the lovely Greek Gods. :)

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    1. Great Prasanna - the party is on then:-) Thank you:-)

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  7. Love how you take us through the story behind a place...

    O for Ostracized-Random Thoughts Naba

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  8. Whoa up there with the gods.... Was Zeus his usual arrogant self?

    PhenoMenon
    http://throodalookingglass.com/2014/04/oats-interesting-ways-to-eat/

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    1. Oh yeah - totally:-) Ha ha :-) Thanks:-)

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  9. Interesting glimpse of the Gods and loved the gorgeous photo of Mount Olympus. It is breathtaking. ♥

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    1. Thank you so much dear Kathy:-) Happy you enjoyed it:-)

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  10. Ha ha , you know nah Eli? I have a thing for Greek Gods :P :D Well, this post make me smile!

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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    1. Ha ha - yes, I remember Sri..:-) Great! Hugs your way dear

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  11. Another beautiful stop on the journey. So much mythology and history is associated with Olympus.. Thanks.

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    1. Thank you so much Jayanta- always appreciate your kind words:-)

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  12. Loving this post! Ancient history and Greek mythology are two of my favourite subjects. Sadly, we missed going to Mount Olympus. Only got as far north as Meteora.
    Debbie @The Doglady's Den

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    1. Thank you so much Debbie! Happy you loved it:-) Meteora is great:-)

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  13. An interesting journey up on the top with Greek Gods...a fascinating post

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  14. What a god-loving post this is! Great going, Eli :) Enjoyed reading this a lot.

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

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    1. Thank you Beloo, so happy you enjoyed it:-)

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  15. Have this fascibnation for Hera!!!!

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    1. Hmm.. She'll be happy to know:-) :-) Thanks for following Michelle:-)

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  16. You brought us to the great Mount Olympus and what a beautiful place it is! I would love to party with the Greek gods there :)

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    1. Thank you Sulekkha, happy you enjoyed it and is in on the party:-)

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  17. Greek mythology has always fascinated me!! Superb post Eli!! :)

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    1. Thank you dear Aditi:-) Happy you liked it:-)

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  18. Dearest Eli,
    The Greek Mythology is always very interesting and in general, Greek culture is one of the richest on earth.
    Thanks for sharing such an interesting post.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Thank you dear Mariette:-) So happy you enjoyed it. Big hugs you way:-)

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  19. Mythology always fascinates! :) Love ii!

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  20. O' God! Even you have been alloted different Departments as per ur expertise. Apollo is the head of Electricity Dept. Olampus is Head of Sport Dept... But, the major point is that who is the head of Administration? Whosoever, HE must be ONLY and ONLY ALMIGHTY. Bless me.

    ...shabab

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    1. Yeah - can u imagine:-) :-) he he - happy to see you here:-)

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  21. Even Gods have been gvn different depts. Wow! But who is the admin of all those depts. Whosoever, we have no way to image how ALMIGHTY looks like.

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  22. Good one Eli. Loved ur O.

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    1. Thank you so much:-) Happy you loved it:-)

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  23. Oh Greek gods, I am deeply captivated by the concept, I've often dreamt of what a night with Dionysus and Hermes would be like;).
    I'm enjoying the Greeks anew as I introduce my son to the likes of Homer, Plato...Great 'O' and I'd happily join you on a trip to Olympus. :)
    Loving the A to Z Challenge Maggie@expatbrazil.

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    1. Ha ha ha - that's great Maggie:-) Olympus awaits:-) Thanks for visiting - so happy you found my blog - will pop over to yours:-)

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