Arts

Theatre

Greece is the birth place of theater, where the concepts of drama and comedy emerged in Antiquity. The works of Aeschilus, Sophocles, Evripides, and Aristophanis have been hugely influential in forming the basis of modern-day theater. Concepts like “catharsis”, “chorus” and “deus ex machina” stem from the ancient Greek theatrical tradition. 

Literature and Poetry

Greece, due to its geographical position, at a crossroad that links Europe to the Middle East and Northen Africa, over the centuries received various influences that inspired its literature. Greece was awarded a Nobel prize for literature twice, in 1963 by the poet Giorgos Seferis, and in 1979 by the poet Odysseas Elytis.

Music

According to Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of music, often depicted holding a harp. The global reputation of Modern Greek music rests largely on the works of world renowned composers Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis. However, Byzantine music, traditional folk music and classical music have contributed to the country’s musical tradition as well as its international fame.

Cinema

Cinema-going was an extremely popular activity in Greece the 1950s and 1960s, with a significant production output. Open air cinemas all around the country continue to draw in the crowds. Over the years, multi-awarded film directors such as Theodoros Angelopoulos, Pantelis Voulgaris, and more recently Giorgos Lanthimos, have left their mark on Greek cinematic production. The International Film Festival of Thessaloniki, first took place in 1960 and stands as a point of reference on the Greek cultural calendar.

https://www.filmfestival.gr/en

Architecture

Greece is universally known as the cradle of several architectural forms. Predominantly the Classical form has had a huge influence on western architecture, as is evident on many emblematic buildings that resemble ancient temple-like structures with their characteristic columns, especially seats of governments, parliaments, city halls, and so on, in the western world. The Byzantine architectural style is also widespread especially in the Balkan region. Medieval architecture can also be found in Greece for example on the island of Rhodes. Also noteworthy is the characteristic Cycladic architecture, which springs to mind to many foreign visitors when they think of touristic islands such as Mykonos and Santorini.

Visual Arts

Following in the footsteps of ancient Greek masters such as Phidias, who created the Parthenon sculptures, and Praxiteles, creator of the statue of Hermes in Olympia, Greece has a long tradition of sculptural artistry, in recent times concentrated on the island of Tinos, birthplace of the imminent sculptor Yannoulis Chalepas. Also, Greek painters such as the famous El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), Nikolaos Gyzis, and Nikoforos Lytras, have produced masterpieces of exceptional craftmanship and lyricism.