Mount Olympus, home of the ancient Greek gods, vies for World Heritage status

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. mythological / ˌmɪθ əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl / (adj.) – relating to myths, which are old traditional stories about gods, heroes, and magic
    Example:

    In school, we read about the mythological gods of ancient Greece, like Zeus, Poseidon, and Apollo.


  2. craggy / ˈkræg i / (adj.) – rough, steep, and covered with rocks
    Example:

    They carefully climbed up the craggy mountain path.


  3. induct / ɪnˈdʌkt / (v.) – to officially bring or add a person, place, or thing into a special group, list, or organization, often during a special ceremony or event
    Example:

    The national park was inducted into the list of protected nature areas.


  4. excavation / ˌɛks kəˈveɪ ʃən / (n.) – the act of carefully digging up earth to find old buildings, tools, or objects buried for a long time
    Example:

    Recent excavations near the temple uncovered ancient pottery and old coins.


  5. sanctuary / ˈsæŋk tʃuˌɛr i / (n.) – a holy or special religious place where people go to pray, such as a temple, small church, or open-air area
    Example:

    Visitors must remove their shoes before entering the sacred sanctuary.


Article

Read the text below.

Snow-capped for much of the year, Mount Olympus, mythological home of ancient Greece’s 12 Olympian gods, has captured the imagination through the millennia. Rising to 2,918 meters (9,573 feet) from a base practically at sea level, the ancient Greeks believed the throne of Zeus, king of the gods, stood on the highest of its craggy, often mist-shrouded peaks.


Modern-day Greeks hoped their tallest mountain would be inducted into UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural site. The nomination was discussed when the World Heritage Committee met in Busan, South Korea.


“Olympus is our life. It is the place we grew up in,” said Evagelos Geroliolios, mayor of Dion-Olympus, based in Litochoro, the mountain’s main town. “It is the place we see every day, but at the same time, it is also a place which carries with it myth, history, biodiversity, extraordinary beauty, and a very great cultural weight.”


Few locations are as central to ancient Greek mythology as Mount Olympus. It was here that Zeus was said to have established his court after overthrowing his father, Cronus, in a 10-year war that ended the reign of the Titans.


On one of Olympus’s lower peaks, excavations have uncovered an open-air sanctuary, with the oldest finds dating to the Hellenistic period, which ran from 323 B.C. to 30 B.C. According to Greece’s original UNESCO nomination, the sanctuary is believed to have been one mentioned by the ancient philosopher and historian Plutarch, who in the 2nd century wrote of processions to one of Olympus’s peaks for animal sacrifices to Zeus.


The mountain retained religious significance into the Christian era. Α chapel on the peak of Prophet Elias, at 2,803 meters, is believed to be the highest altitude chapel in the Christian Orthodox world. The mountain’s Enipeas Gorge holds the remains of a monastery founded in 1542, while a roughly 20-minute walk from there leads to the Holy Cave of St. Dionysios, a chapel built into a cave from where a small spring flows, believed to carry holy water.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Why do you think it is so important to modern Greeks that their highest mountain gets inducted into UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural site? If there is a special place in your country that you would want to be recognized as a world heritage site, what would it be and why? Discuss.
  • When a natural or historical location suddenly becomes famous, how do you think people’s behavior toward that place changes? Do you think visitors and locals start taking better care of the area and respecting it more, or does the sudden attention cause new problems? Why do you say so? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The article shows how Mount Olympus has held spiritual and historical importance for thousands of years, from ancient mythology to modern chapels. In your country, how do people show respect when visiting such places? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, should local authorities limit how many people can visit to protect special sites, or should nature always remain open for everyone to enjoy? Why do you say so? Discuss.