Each country is able to boast of certain features that have developed after centuries of its earthly stay. But Greece alone represents one big feature. It is enough to look at the way of her life, which has not changed much after centuries.
Only the Greeks can say that they know what life is. This is a people who know how to retire with nature and maintain a constant rhythm of nightlife at the same time. There will be entertainment today, and tomorrow there will be a new day with its experiences and joys. In Greece, there is nothing shameful in excellent entertainment for the entire monthly salary. So what if you have to live for a month without a single coin in your pocket? But what a walk! It's a paradox, but every Greek wants to be rich, but he will never try to save money. He would rather buy a new expensive car, fashionable clothes, a large cottage. All this so that others can see his wealth and his ability to indulge in nothing. This is what is called prestige here. Even family is often second only to wealth.
The Greeks are an amazing people, in which sentimentality and hot temperament coexist. Even their denial and agreement are not the same as we are accustomed to from childhood. If the Greek shakes his head from top to bottom, this indicates his agreement, but from the bottom up - this is a solid "no" and it sounds like "oh". But the Greek pronounces “yes” as “ne”. Solid opposition. Perhaps it was they who made it possible to preserve local traditions in their original form. Indeed, without these traditions, Greece is not Greece. Local residents not only protect their own customs from the assimilation of the modern world, but also revive long-forgotten traditions. This feeling is especially pronounced before the holidays, when the Greeks, for example, can remember that they have always been supportive of barrel-organs. Not so long ago, this musical instrument served as a kind of symbol of Athens and was among many citizens as an important household item. Now only wealthy Greeks install antique hurdy-gurdies to decorate their homes.
All Greek life from birth to old age is permeated with all sorts of traditions. It is especially important for every Greek to know folk dances. At least the basics, otherwise he might be stigmatized. There is nothing surprising if the Greek gets up from the table and starts dancing. If some thief remains at his table during a mass dance marathon, most will think that he is simply not a real Greek or a visitor. And the most important tradition of Greece is to always remain forever young country.
The lively and charismatic nature of the Greek is manifested whenever he is awake. Yes, Sparta introduced such a concept as self-control and self-control, but this not only did not take root in Greece, but it still remains incomprehensible. Fun is inherent in every Greek in the soul. Social status, financial status and age do not matter. In the face of joy and eternal youth, all are equal. Only the Greeks can express pain and sorrow through ritual dance movements. The rest of the world dances only when a person is having fun.
The Greeks are Orthodox Christians, so Easter and Christmas have the greatest scope for celebrating here.
Appeal in Greece to unfamiliar people is usually made by last name. With the establishment of friendships, your new friend will usually be the first to ask you to call him by his first name. By the way, the Greeks do not give up their place in public transport to the elderly and ladies is not accepted. In addition, it is necessary to specify the area when writing the address, and even better, some landmarks. The secret lies in the fact that in Athens the same street names in the city can occur several times. Sometimes taxi drivers do not know how to get to your street.
The Greeks may invite you to visit, but this does not mean that you are going to a banquet. Also, don't take off your shoes and don't be surprised by smoking. These people smoke whatever they like and absolutely everywhere - a tradition. Punctuality is lacking in the character of the Greek people. Even a business meeting can be delayed because one of the parties is trivially late. Even the usual for us "tomorrow", which sounds like "avrio", means something indefinite. It may really be the next day, or maybe the Greek makes an appointment for you next month.
The Greeks are constantly on the move, but the climate imposes its limitations on human activities. Lunch starts at about 2 pm and can go on for an hour. After that, it's time for daytime sleep. 2-3 hours the Greek can safely take a nap. That. from 2 to 6 pm, as well as after 22.00, the Greeks call by phone only for very urgent matters.
The Greek restaurant requires a tip, the monastery rejects all kinds of summer shorts and miniskirts, because these are from another life. Of course, the Greeks themselves often criticize their customs, argue about the expediency of following this or that rule, but they hate it when foreigners try to do it.
Rushing here is also not accepted. You can be late for a meeting, you can also wait a long time for your order in a restaurant, and after the bill. However, this does not affect promises. If the Greek said, he will do so, only perhaps a little later.
Greeks do not hold hospitality, so you should not refuse treats in village houses. There is a special attitude towards Russian guests here. Russia has repeatedly helped the Greeks to cope with various conquerors, in addition, we have one religion. Russian tourists leave a lot of money in the local treasury. This includes buying expensive jewelry, and relaxing in resorts.
An important feature of the Greek way of life is the national cuisine. Love for her is not discussed. Moreover, the Greeks love to eat. Most of the dishes are prepared using nuts, fish, lemons, lamb, tomatoes, garlic and raisins. A kind of cabbage rolls wrapped in grape leaves (dolmates), chir-chir, which is something similar to pasties and various dishes on a spit, are very popular. Greeks drink alyan - a national drink based on sour milk. They also love sweets.
Barbuni sea fish, horiatika salad (chopped vegetables with pieces of cheese), squid (kalamarakia), eggplant (melitsanes), sea fish caviar salad (taramosalat), shrimps (gardes) and gemistes - baked tomatoes stuffed with rice mixture and meat.
Wine has been popular in Greece since its inception. The most popular white wines are Cambas, Pallini and Santa Elena. Red wines are represented by Maphrodafna and Domestica varieties, which are often white.
In addition, there are local drinks: "Ouzo" is a strong alcoholic drink, the taste of which gives anise; "Cancer" and "Mastic", which in fact is a processed resin of the mastic tree. The most famous Greek cognac is called Metaxa. Coffee is also very popular, which is served to guests in small cups, and next to it is a glass of ordinary clean water.
In general, Greece is somewhat similar to Russia, so the stay of our tourists in this amazing country is very comfortable and impressive. In addition, many Russians are not averse to buying a house in Greece.
Democracy is a concept born here in Ancient Greece. The same “demos”, who listened to Euclid and Diogenes in the squares of ancient Athens, took to the streets on October 28, 1940, chanting “Oh!”, that is, “No.” It was a unanimous response to the ultimatum of fascist Italy to allow troops to enter Greece to occupy strategic positions.
The Greeks were well aware of what awaited them in case of refusal, but they said "no" to the Nazis. The national character is fully revealed in difficult times. The firm adherence to principles of the Greeks also manifested itself during the years of the regime of the “Black Colonels”. The so-called Cypriot adventure, which led to the split of the island into southern and northern parts, led to a change of power in Greece.
The Greeks are religious, the majority of the population of Greece are zealous Orthodox, and at the same time, the Greek coast ranks first in the world in terms of the number of nudist beaches, and the island of Mykonos is considered a mecca and a pan-European vacation spot for sexual minorities, a kind of Greek Ibiza. Perhaps tolerance for the liberties of tourists is the only thing left in the inhabitants of Hellas from the ancient Hellenes. But such tolerance can be attributed more to the democratic nature of Greek society than to the remnants of Hellenism.
The Greeks are hospitable, and their hospitality is not ostentatious. The obligation to show cordiality in the service does not at all cool the ardor of the Greeks in the role of the owner. If you are invited to a Greek house, be prepared to at least have a coffee (depending on the season, this can be an Hellenic cafe, black natural, or frope, cold iced coffee), and, at the most, a full meal . Pontic Greeks, Russian-speaking repatriates from Georgia and Central Asia, are especially fond of laying tables for guests.
Older people like to gather in coffee shops. Unlike taverns, they do not eat there, but only drink coffee, tea, national anise vodka Ouzo and white table wine Retzina. Ouzo is drunk diluted, which makes the drink cloudy and milky in color. Retirees often spend all day in coffee shops. What else to do for old people, how not to chat, play cards and drink tea in a cozy place.
Only in Greece there is the concept of "our tavern" and "our coffee shop". In terms of pastime, the Greeks are terribly conservative. In a tavern, located, as a rule, not far from the house, people go not for years and decades, but for generations. Often both the father and grandfather of the current patrons went to the same tavern, and the father and grandfather of the current owner served them.
Lifestyle and traditions of the Greeks
The way of life of modern Greece is in many ways similar to other countries of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. A long lunch break, during which business life stops, and after the decline of the heat of the day, it resumes and continues until late in the evening, reminiscent of a Spanish siesta. The regularity and slowness of local business, due to the hot climate, is manifested even in banks, airports and government agencies.Greeks drink coffee anytime, anywhere, even bus drivers sip chilled “frope” from special thermos mugs. It is customary to bargain when making purchases, do not forget that, despite the completely European concepts, Greece belongs to the Levantine countries, and no one has canceled the Mediterranean habits here. Market traders bargain long and tastefully, small shopkeepers are less accommodating. Trade here is not only a business, but also a kind of self-expression. Those who know how to bargain competently and persistently are respected, while those who immediately agree to the named price are considered simpletons.
Holidays in Greece
Who would not say anything, but the Greeks love and know how to relax. Just imagine - during the year Greece celebrates 12 national holidays! In addition, various cultural events are held in each region.Easter is widely celebrated in Greece. Solemn processions are held, folk festivals are organized. Good Friday begins with colorful processions that head to the central squares of all cities and towns.
On Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation, traditional military parades are held, not only in Athens, but in other cities of the country. The feast of Saint George is dedicated to the knight who killed the dragon and is celebrated throughout the country. May 1 in Greece is not only labor day, but also flower day.
Every July, Athens hosts the Rockwave Rock Festival. Rock bands from all over the world play right on the street, in open areas and in concert halls. Also in summer Greece hosts the International Sailing Regatta. In July and August the Wine Festival takes place in Greece. In August, the Lunar Festival begins in Greece. It is worth seeing - dancing in the moonlight delights everyone without exception! The "holiday year" ends with St. Nicholas Day and Christmas.
National holidays in Greece:
January 1 - New Year.
January 6 - Epiphany.
March 25 - Independence Day.
May 1 - Labor Day.
August 15 - Day of the Assumption of the Virgin.
October 28 - "Oh" Day.
December 25 - Christmas.
December 26 - Boxing Day.
National dishes, food culture in Greece
A special phenomenon in the Greek way of life is taverns. A typical tavern is a small restaurant with national cuisine. Every self-respecting tavern has its own sort of young red wine, which is poured directly from the barrel into liter or half-liter jugs.The tavern may specialize in certain dishes that the in-house chef cooks best in the area. On occasion, try cocorezzi - an incomparable grilled meatloaf. This dish is quite difficult to cook, so even in Greece, cocorezzi is not prepared everywhere and not every day. Brisols are good - pork chops from fresh meat, the most delicate salad of greens with yogurt, which is called tzadzyki, fried octopus, shrimp in mustard sauce. The splendor of Greek cuisine is indescribable in words, you just need to try it.
Regardless of the status of the tavern, and they vary quite a lot in prices, the visitor is waiting for a warm, cordial welcome. No wonder, because you brought the money, which means that everything in the tavern obeys your desires and revolves around you. The waiter lays a snow-white tablecloth on the table in front of visitors - this is an immutable rule of any self-respecting tavern. Fragrant fresh bread in baskets is served on the table, cutlery is arranged. After a picture pause, the waiter decorously distributes the menu and brings the wine. Meeting visitors, leading them to a table and serving them is a ritual, a theatrical performance that is performed only by men.
Good and street barkers. Many establishments hire brisk young men to invite guests into the tavern. Barker - flatterer and sycophant, and deliberate. He will close the car door behind you, say compliments to you and your lady, smile, joke, and only then offer to go to the tavern. Well, how can you refuse?
Cultural life in Greece
The Greeks are quite conservative. They honor culture and traditions, observe all religious holidays and wear national clothes with pleasure, of course, within reason. Business etiquette and casual dress here are European. Businessmen wear traditional dark suits and ties; in the hot season it is customary not to wear a jacket and tie. A bank or postal clerk in shorts and a T-shirt is unheard of. In everyday life, the Greeks are democratic in clothing, in a crowd of tourists it is not always possible to identify a native.Young people in Greece, as well as throughout Europe, listen to Western music, rock and pop during the day in the car or in the player. But in some incomprehensible way, young Greeks remain true to traditions - in taverns where many young people gather on weekends, live folk music sounds, people drink wine, eat a lot and dance. At the same time, drunks are not seen on the streets even on holidays, the culture of drinking alcohol is traditionally high.
Holiday destinations in Greece
With vacation spots in Greece it is difficult. Not at all because of the lack of resort places, but because of their abundance. The whole country is a continuous resort.Conventionally, Greece is divided into insular and continental parts. The islands, of which, according to various estimates, there are from 800 to several thousand, offer a variety of holidays at different prices. Those who like to soak up the beach in silence and silence go to the small islands of the Ionian archipelago, while those who love noisy non-stop fun prefer Crete or Santorini. The mainland is also replete with resorts. The most colorful and popular of them are located on the Chalkidiki peninsula.
The three spurs of the peninsula, Sithonia, Kassandra and Agios Oros are truly heavenly places, but only two of them are suitable for a beach holiday. Agios Oros, or Athos, is closed to tourists because the monastic republic is located there. This peninsula is the largest center of pilgrimage for Orthodox believers. There are 18 monasteries here, among which is the Russian, Panteleimon Monastery, currently inhabited by Russian monks. Reserved places with untouched nature are unique in their beauty.
Women are strictly prohibited from entering Mount Athos, and pilgrims must obtain permission to visit the peninsula in a special department of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. Sithonia and Kassandra are a concentration of beaches and hotels for every taste and pocket. The azure sea, the purest quartz sand and pine forest make the rest there unforgettable.
Transport in Greece
Since 20% of the territory of Greece falls on the islands, water transport is well developed here. By ferry or boat you can get to almost any island, and there are also options to get by sea to remote points on the peninsulas of Chalkidiki and the Peloponnese.Air communication is also developed, the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion offer a wide range of domestic routes. You can fly from Athens to Thessaloniki or Crete in just half an hour, so domestic flights are popular not only among tourists.
Bus routes cover the entire mainland of the country. Traveling by bus is not as comfortable as by plane, but you can admire the sights along the way.
Railway transport is also developed. The trains are quite comfortable, but traveling by rail will take longer than by bus for a comparable ticket price.
Thousands of rental offices offer car rental. Required documents are European driver's license, passport and valid credit card. It is best to take a car in a large network - there are fewer problems with insurance, better condition of cars and it is possible to return a car in another city at a company branch. Some roads in Greece are toll roads. You should be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay from 5 to 15 euros for travel on intercity highways. However, there are alternatives - less convenient, less equipped indirect routes.
Traveling by taxi in Greece is inexpensive due to the fact that the driver has the right to pick up passengers along the way. Naturally, an ignorant tourist can be transported for as long as they like, collecting fellow travelers. Not all taxi drivers sin with this, but, unfortunately, there are precedents.
Sports and active holidays in Greece
Many tourists prefer active recreation or sports to passive lying on the beach. Greece is the perfect place for such a pastime. Mountain routes, specialized speleological tours, diving on the islands, as well as water skiing, seaplane flights and much more. In hotels and boarding houses, gyms, saunas and spas are mandatory. Many resorts also have lap pools, and you can rent a scooter or mountain bike in town.The men of Greece are known throughout the world for their mesmerizing voices and bodies of ancient gods. The iodine-filled sea air of this country with an abundance of seafood was reflected in the temperament of Greek men. Lovers of Hellas have repeatedly occupied the first places in the ratings of male sexuality.
mentality
The mentality of the Greeks inherited features that are clearly manifested in the legendary myths of ancient Greece. They are romantic, conquering and open.
Since Greece lives off the tourism business, it is full of Russian travelers. A frequently observed picture is how, among flirting Greek men, cold women from the Russian north, underestimated by their compatriots, are revealed, discovering seductresses and insidious beauties in themselves.
Advantages
There are also similarities with the Russian mentality. Representatives of this country are mostly Orthodox Christians and treat Russians warmly, they are hospitable and friendly. They are distinguished by a simple worldview, they enjoy everything no matter what they do. Their peculiarity is the ability to live "here and now", to abstract from everything that causes despondency and melancholy. Even a freshly laid-off, bankrupt Greek man can go out and have fun with a noisy crowd, and that's par for the course here.
The rampant laziness in this country is pure myth. In their free time from the holidays, the heirs of Hellas are hardworking. A lot of workdays start at 5am. Greek men often support the whole family themselves, taking on all the traditional male duties, their wives do not work. This is especially true for high-status men - they always have non-working wives who take care of the house and children.
The situation with the crisis situation in the country has changed somewhat. Then the female part of the population went to work in the most difficult periods of time.
A separate point stands out the emotionality of any Greek. Sometimes you can see two men quarreling not for life, but for death, but in fact they are just peacefully discussing the weather. With a heightened emotional intelligence due to the constant expression of their own feelings, the Greeks are very attentive interlocutors. Being in harmony with their own inner world, they have the ability to subtly feel the people around them and their emotions. So, in a conversation with them, it may seem that they are listening so carefully, as if with their whole body. The eye of the Greek will only turn to the side if something extremely wrong is going on. Well, either an interesting representative of the opposite sex passes by. The immersion in their own inner world of fishermen from Greece was sung and became legendary. This is not surprising: only people with such a developed emotional sphere can go into such deep attractive thoughtfulness with the same dedication with which they indulge in all sorts of feelings.
Key to the heart
At the deepest levels of his subconscious, every Greek considers himself the heir of the gods and the rightful owner of the planet. At least the owner of blocks of shares in it. Therefore, a characteristic male trait - the need to be a patron - is especially strongly developed among Greek men. At the genetic level, he seeks to teach, and his spirit comes to life when he is given such an opportunity. Conversely, he feels unhappy when he feels that no one needs his experience.
The Greek man aspires to become a mentor, and something mastery often slips into his address. This is manifested in the relationship with the entire surrounding world. He can begin to teach the interlocutor anything, even if he does not understand this. And since the male sex of this nation simply adores women and communication with them at any age, this happens very, very often. Even a gray-haired Greek will not miss the opportunity to see off any representative of the fair sex with a long look, smacking her lips after her. And you need to be ready for this, you need to understand what is really behind it. This feature hides a curious key to the male heart of any Greek. After all, he can suddenly find a woman, next to whom Zeus, the patron of the whole world, will wake up in him.
Flaws
The Greeks do not always keep their promises. A certain carelessness in this matter is a characteristic feature of an entire nation. These people simply live for today and are distinguished by carelessness in matters of the future. They are serene and philosophically calm in matters of life.
Nevertheless, the Greek nation loves prosperity. Any vacation goes in a big way. It is considered normal to blow all your income for a month for one party. A Greek man will feed the entire bar at his own expense, will order wine and a sea of appetizers, and nothing that will wake up tomorrow with empty pockets. After all, his generosity will remain in the memory of the participants for a long time. And the Greek will never take his head when remembering the money spent, the past and the future are not as important for him as a specific moment, the emotions from which will warm him for some more time.
Going to restaurants is almost the main expense item in the life of any representative of this nation. Dozens of taverns are open in each settlement. Sometimes it seems that there are thousands of them, and this is a clear overkill per capita of the local population. However, they are all full in the evening. Greeks do not like to gather at home as much as in taverns. Stuffy establishments often turn out to be literally packed, but this does not bother anyone. An unaccustomed person will probably not understand where in such conditions a place to rest. However, such evenings, flowing in an atmosphere of emotional friendly communication, are a favorite place for the Greeks to hide from current problems. Greeks never spare money for food. However, until recently, average salaries allowed regular visits to taverns with tables full of delicious snacks.
It is possible that such national traits led to a huge default in Greece. The Greeks simply continued to live, allowing themselves things beyond their means, without thinking about important steps to level the economy. And at the same time, how they appreciate every moment cannot but draw attention to these people who love life.
Sexual relations
The Greek people are sensual. Even people of high status have only apparent restraint. This is not surprising, given that since childhood, everyone in the country was brought up not on classic cartoons, but on very adulterous myths.
Hence the desire in communication to touch on the most intimate topics. Shameless stories, when and how much, are embellished with expressive details. One should not be surprised at the prevalence of such intimate conversations in Greek circles. They were never Puritans.
Attempts by married handsome Greek men to seduce any of the fair sex are common. Often fleeting novels are twisted. Unlike the situation in our country, this usually does not lead to a split in relations with wives. Husbands, entering into fleeting relationships, add spice to everyday life, but they do not divorce their wives. Greek wives are usually quite confident, like queens in a beehive. They will only casually dismiss adultery and say that a poor husband is not capable of saying no to a cat.
And often wives behave like there are sayings in Greek society in the style of "Put your husband's horns and do not resort to witchcraft and potions." This is often the Greek scenario of a happy, well-being family. Usually, the more a wife is prone to infidelity, the less her husband suspects her of infidelity.
Since ancient times, Greek society, even in the patriarchal foundations, observed the relative equality of the sexes. The entire female population of Hellas received an education. Reading and writing were equally taught to girls and boys in the same schools.
Attitude towards sex
The approach of the southerners is very different from the inhabitants of the northern latitudes in this area. This fully extended to the emotional Greeks. They treat the sphere of human sexuality in a special way. Strict concepts of sin have not reached here, and sex is not considered forbidden, immoral. The Greeks say: "If God wanted people not to make love without the goal of procreation, he would make their physiology similar to animals - estrus is strictly once a year." None of the moralizing of the church has been able to suppress their healthy attitude towards their own body and the natural relationship of the sexes.
Sinfulness generally failed to take deep roots in the culture of Hellas. They never had such "living in sin" concepts. So, female representatives do not change their last names at the wedding. It is up to the children to choose any surname. Do not immediately understand whether the couple is painted. Regardless of marital status, a man and a woman are called "husband" and "wife". In Greek, these words have the same meaning.
Greek appearance
The Greek faces of men have large features characteristic of the nation with a wide bone. The Greeks are stocky, their bodies are characterized by increased hairiness, swarthyness.
All representatives of the nation are distinguished by the depth of planting eyes and thick hair. The typical Greek appearance of a man is broad-shouldered, stocky, with increased sexuality and knows his own worth. All Greeks are proud of their origin, each considers himself almost a direct descendant of Zeus himself.
The reference Greek profile of the men of this country deserves special attention. The classical understanding of beauty is associated precisely with the national traits of the Greeks. The reference Greek nose for men is absolutely straight, with a smooth line running from the forehead. There is practically no depression on the bridge of the nose, there is only a barely noticeable bend. The world famous Greek nose in men is reflected in all ancient frescoes and sculptures. Such features of appearance, as it was then believed, were possessed by the gods.
Greek style in clothes for men
Design motifs from ancient Hellas, the land of the gods of Olympus, still echo in the latest collections of fashion designers. The Greek nation from ancient times sang the beauty of the human body. There was a real cult of good physical shape. The clothes of this country emphasized the exciting curves of the figure of both sexes, although bright colors were not characteristic of it.
The silhouette-lengthening robes often resembled majestic white temples with their strict outlines. The Greek clothes of men were spacious - these were capes, raincoats, and under them - loose trousers with shirts. However, these days no one else wears such things, they are uncomfortable and impractical. Modern Greek men wear European-style clothing. Although many wear national costumes for ancient Greek festivities.
Even with the hot climate inherent in the country, they have always been multi-layered and voluminous. They always had a lot of folds where edged weapons were hidden. The Greeks have been in constant war throughout their history, instantly transforming from peaceful peasants into brave armed partisans.
The most handsome Greek men
Men of this nationality are recognized all over the world as the most beautiful on the planet. Italians and Latin Americans gave their laurels of superiority to their male beauty. They are the most sought after in the male modeling business. It is enough to look at the photos of Greek men with the reference appearance of this ancient nation to see for yourself the validity of such judgments.
Names
The distant ancestors of the modern representatives of this nation gave the world many sonorous names. Until now, ancient traditions are preserved in the country. Thus, sons are never named after their father. However, very often children are named after grandmothers, uncles, and so on. The classic names of Greek men, and now common throughout Greece, will be very familiar to the Russian ear.
Older generation
Representatives of the Greek nation generally respect old age. There are much more pensioners in the country than in Russia. Their faces are usually overflowing with serene calm and peace so that it becomes clear that they are getting a well-deserved rest. Life expectancy in Greece is also large - it reaches 80 years. Having a mediterranean climate, healthy food, sun and an easy attitude to life obviously does the trick. They have a lot to learn.
The mother has the main indisputable authority in the family; she actually personifies Hera along with Athena. Family ties are very strong. So, weekly dinners with mothers are traditional. Sons are devoted to them all their lives, fulfill all their requests, listen to advice. It is clear that the search for a bride is carried out by the Greeks with a focus on the qualities that the mother demonstrated. Most often, families are created at the age of 30 years. The Greeks do not deny themselves the pleasure of living a happy free youth and having fun.
Where did the concept of "Greek nose" come from? From ancient Greek black-figure, red-figure and Corinthian vase painting and sculptures, which represented the highest achievement of antiquity, which left a deep mark on the development of all subsequent world culture.
Perfection embodied in marble
Ancient Greek sculptures are perfect and beautiful. The earliest dates back to the 13th century BC, and the fact that in such remote times sculptors possessed such a skill is amazing. Perfectly sculpted figures and faces, of course, became the standard of beauty for a long time. A beautiful oval of the face, bulging, contoured lips, a rounded bulging chin and a characteristic shape of the nose fully corresponded to the divine appearance, because the Olympic gods and heroes were depicted, who were almost always children of the gods.
Features of the Greek nose
It is in the vase painting and sculptures that the Greek nose is captured. How is it characteristic? The one that continues the line of the forehead. Sometimes there is a small indentation in the region of the bridge of the nose, but it is not at all specific and does not violate a single straight line starting at the roots of the hair and ending at the tip of the nose. And even in the early sculptures of the archaic times, when vase painting played the leading role, and sculpture was still imperfect, the Greek nose was already inherent in the statues. It is difficult to assume that all representatives of the aristocracy of Ancient Greece had such a nose shape, because it is extremely rare among modern inhabitants of this country. For several millennia, the bridge of the nose could not fail like that. Yes, and the eyes of ancient sculptures are sometimes planted unrealistically deep.
Most likely, the Greek nose was either a canon of beauty, or testified to the extraordinary qualities and virtues of the depicted. Zeus could not have a snub nose. But Socrates could! He has an upturned nose with wide nostrils. According to the unanimous opinion, he resembles either Bacchus or a satire. From the genius he only has a forehead - high and beautiful. But the bust of Socrates itself suggests that even in those days not all great people had a classical appearance. Therefore, it can be assumed that the gods and god-like heroes should have been distinguished from mortals by an inaccessible beauty.
Recognizable immediately
The Greek profile primarily implies a nose and a rounded, slightly protruding chin, although early vases often depict heroes and gods with a rather languid part of the face. It should be noted that there are some misconceptions about such a profile, for example, that a nose with a hump is inherent in it. This shape of the nose appeared later, it is rather characteristic of ancient Roman sculptures - the Greeks have an absolutely straight nose. If the bust or statue is complemented by a helmet, then it also forms a straight line with the nose. Maybe this is evidence of masculinity or invincibility. It should be noted that many represent the Greek nose as long. This is a visual illusion due to the transition of the nose line into the forehead line. The nose itself of classical and perfect statues is not very large and, as a rule, has thin, well-defined nostrils.
The Perfect Sculptures of Polyktetus
The standard of male beauty, obviously, will always be considered, as it is still considered, "Dorifor" by the sculptor Poliktet. And what an amazing profile! What a beautiful face! Subtle, soulful, thinking. It can belong to a poet, an athlete, that ancient Greek who improved not only the body, but also the soul with exercises. This is one of the most famous statues of Antiquity. The ideal proportions of the face and body, the rich spiritual world, guessed by the face of the hero, fully correspond to the Greek concept of kalokagatiya - a harmonious combination of external and internal virtues. A beautiful person cannot be evil, and a spiritually perfect person cannot be a freak. The head of Diadumenus (a victorious athlete) by Poliktetos can serve as an excellent aid to what has been said.
Ancient Greek female beauty
In women, the Greek profile is inextricably linked with a characteristic hairstyle. She emphasized the beauty of a not very high forehead, the grace of a thin nose. Covering the ears, the hairstyle focused on the roundness of the cheeks and chin. In the sculptures of goddesses and heroines, the hairstyle is an integral part, like the Greek nose for women, which differs from the male one only in size - it is smaller and therefore more elegant.
The epitome of female beauty is the famous Venus de Milo. Beautiful girlish statues of muses. The impressive image of Pallas Athena by Phidias is world famous. The rapidly running goddess of hunting Artemis is beautiful, holding a quiver with one hand and a deer with the other. And all of these women have a nose that has a common line with their forehead, they have wavy hair gathered at the back, and a rounded chin.
All kinds of shapes
As noted above, in real life, Greek noses are rare, including among the Greeks themselves. What other types of noses are there? It is known that scientists (such a generalized concept) identified 14 forms, while examining 1300 photographs. There are many more people on earth, and the shapes of noses, of course, too. There are more common definitions, such as snub-nosed, potato-like, fleshy, humpbacked. In addition, upturned, flat, aquiline, African, Roman and classical noses are not uncommon.
The nose is the architectural center of the face, as it occupies the central area. The most difficult thing is to find a woman who will consider her nose absolutely perfect, basically, most are always unhappy with their nose and therefore they are very complex about it. There are about fifteen groups in total, according to which this area is classified, each of which carries five main parameters - this is the root, the shape of the back, the direction of the base, the tip and the length. All this is the basic features that affect the shape of this body.
In Rome, as well as Ancient Greece, in addition to a beautiful body, women valued noses, as they clarified the “correct form”, apparently the concept of Greek and Roman noses came from this.
This so-called standard of female beauty can be seen on the oldest sculptures that reflect the beauty of women in that era.
Roman profile
If you look at the Roman shape of the nose in profile, you can notice and emphasize in it a feature such as a kind of elongated nose with a slightly curved tip.
If you have this profile, then you must be very courageous people who can attack and repulse an opponent or enemy.
The appearance of the modern Greek people does not often coincide with the standard of beauty, even the traditional, classical shape of the nose very rarely flickers among the crowd. This fact pushes us to think that the Greek nose was the most perfect of all, which was characterized as a symbol of divine beauty, if you look at ancient statues or photographs in profile.
The female nose of the Greek shape is very closely related to the character-defining hairstyle, which emphasized the low forehead and rather beautiful nose. The difference between a male nose and a female one is only in size, so the female nose is more beautiful and rather thin.
By the shape of the Greek nose, you can determine the nature of the person, find out his emotional characteristics and mental abilities, which include:
If a person has a Greek-shaped nose by nature, then this person is usually very restrained, never panics, thinks logically quickly enough, and can also cope with his emotions perfectly.
Admiral Nelson was awarded such a nose by nature.
If you look among modern famous personalities who never changed or, on the contrary, resorted to nose correction - Natalie Portman, Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie, Monica Bellucci.
