The Aegean sea of Greece (Hellas), Cyprus and the Greek islands!!
The most famous islands are in the Aegean Sea of Greece (Hellas) comprising of some of the most beautiful islands in the world! Gorgeous sandy beaches, architecture in white and blue, traditional lifestyle, folk music, incredible foods, warm, hospitable people and barren landscapes with isolated chapels turn a trip to the Aegean sea’s Greek islands into a lifetime experience!!
Greece has many islands,with estimates ranging to around 6,000, depending on the minimum size to take into account. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as around 250.
The largest Greek island by both area and population is Crete, located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The second largest island in area is Euboea or Evvia, which is separated from the mainland by the 60 m wide Euripus Strait, and is administered as part of the Central Greece region. After the third and fourth largest Greek islands, Lesbos and Rhodes, the rest of the islands are two-thirds of the area of Rhodes, or smaller.
The Greek islands are traditionally grouped into the following clusters: the Saronic Islands in the Saronic Gulf near Athens; the Cyclades, a large but dense collection occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea; the North Aegean islands, a loose grouping off the west coast of Asia minor; the Dodecanese, another loose collection in the southeast between Crete and Asia minor; the Sporades, a small tight group off the coast of Euboea; and the Ionian Islands, chiefly located to the west of the mainland in the Ionian Sea. Crete with its surrounding islets and Euboea are traditionally excluded from this grouping.
Some Greek islands are often located off the coasts of modern countries whose shores were already inhabited by Greeks before antiquity, such as the coasts of Asia Minor and northern Epirus. It was only in the 20th century that the displacement of Greek populations led to a change in the ethnic landscape: today, Greek-populated islands are situated near regions now inhabited by other ethnic groups, such as in Asia Minor and Northern Epirus.
Cyprus has been Greek since ancient times with Alexander the great of Greece liberating the island from invaders around 330 B.C. Cyprus later became a part of the Christian Byzantine Empire of Constantinopole.
The Aegean Sea is named after King Aegeus of Athens, Greece (Hellas) who drowned himself in the sea after believing his son, Theseus, had died during his quest to slay the Minotaur in Crete. When Theseus forgot to hoist a white sail to signal his success, his father, Aegeus, seeing the expected black sail of defeat, threw himself from a cliff into the sea below
The Greek islands have been continuously inhabited by Greeks and have been significant for thousands of years, with human settlement dating back to the Neolithic period (c. 7000 BCE).
Major ancient civilizations like the Greek (Hellenic) Minoan (Crete), Greek (Hellenic) Cycladic, and Greek (Hellenic) Mycenaean cultures flourished on the islands, developing advanced art, architecture, and maritime skills, leaving behind a rich archaeological legacy. Today, the islands remain important cultural and historical centers, attracting visitors for their history, beauty, and unique way of life, like the famously long-lived population on Ikaria.
Some Greek islands are often located off the coasts of modern countries whose shores were already inhabited by Greeks before antiquity, such as the coasts of Asia Minor and northern Epirus. It was only in the 20th century that the displacement of Greek populations led to a change in the ethnic landscape: today, Greek-populated islands are situated near regions now inhabited by other ethnic groups, such as in Asia Minor and Northern Epirus.
The Aegean Sea of Greece (Hellas) is so blue due to a lack of phytoplankton and suspended particles, which allows sunlight to penetrate deep and scatter, reflecting the blue wavelength. Its clear, calm waters and a light-colored seafloor, often made of crushed marble, also contribute to its intense blue hue by reflecting light more effectively. The water itself also absorbs red and yellow light more than blue light, further enhancing the blue appearance, especially in large depths
One of the greatest creations of Greek Aegean civilization is its art, unique in its time, not only in the Aegean but also in the entire world. The austerity and inventiveness that characterize the artist of the Bronze Age are reflected in the artifacts he produces. Since that ancient era, the Aegean has been spiritually charged and is reflected in literature, poetry and art.
The Early Greek (Hellenic) Cycladic II (2700–2400/2300 BC) marks the heyday of the Greek (Hellenic) Cycladic civilization, with the expansion of settlements and cemeteries, the development of metalwork (bronze weapons and tools), the flourishing of marble sculpture (excellent figurines and vases) and an increase in trade exchanges with mainland Greece, Crete and the Aegean. The Early Greek Cycladic III (2300–2000 BC) is the last phase of the civilization, which is characterized by the decline and change in the characteristics of pottery.
The achievements of vase painting during the Early Greek Cycladic II and Early Greek Cycladic III periods and the introduction of polychrome in the decoration of Middle Cycladic vases certainly contributed to the emergence of painting as an important means of artistic expression. Thus, while the Early Cycladic period could be characterized as the century of sculpture for the Cyclades, the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000–1650 BC), -Middle Cycladic- and the early Late Cycladic could justifiably claim the title of the century of great painting.
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The Aegean sea of Greece (Hellas), Cyprus and the Greek islands!! MadeinMycountry is a global platform that celebrates and supports local history, culture, art, and nature conservation efforts.
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The Aegean sea of Greece (Hellas), Cyprus and the Greek islands!! MadeinMycountry is a global platform that celebrates and supports local history, culture, art, and nature conservation efforts. For two decades, we have been sponsoring local museums, cultural organizations, travel destinations, historical sites, and various cultural events around the world.