13 Lesser-Known Historical Facts about Greece:
1. The ancient Greeks invented the Olympic Games, first held in Olympia in 776 BCE.
2. Democracy was first developed in Athens around the 5th century BCE.
3. The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, is a symbol of ancient Greek architecture.
4. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, three of the most influential philosophers in history, were all Greek.
5. The Mycenaean civilization, considered the first advanced civilization in mainland Greece, flourished from 1600-1100 BCE.
6. Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king, created one of the largest empires in history by the age of 30.
7. The Minoan civilization, centered on the island of Crete, is known for its advanced art and architecture.
8. The Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE was a pivotal Greek victory against the Persian Empire.
9. The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was built by the Greeks in Egypt.
10. The ancient city of Sparta was known for its unique social system and military prowess.
11. The Oracle of Delphi was a major religious sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo.
12. The ancient Greeks made significant contributions to theater, with playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides.
13. The Hellenistic period saw the spread of Greek culture across the Mediterranean and Near East.
