EUROPA 1991- Greece - European aerospace

(80) EUROPA/CEPT Europe and Space - Icarus with satelite

(300) EUROPA/CEPT Europe and Space - Sun's chariot

Association Agreement between Greece and the EEC 9.12.1991

Greece's European orientation predates the linking of the country's course to its accession to the European Community / Union.  However, the orientation became concrete upon submission of the application for accession to the newly established European Economic Community in June 1959, an application that led to the Association Agreement between Greece and the EEC, signed in June 1961.  This Agreement, which in fact constituted the first step towards Greece's integration into the European Community, "froze" following the imposition of dictatorship in Greece (April 1967) and was re-activated after democracy was restored (July 1974).
The (50) stamp depicts the signing of the document to join the EU. The (80) stamp depicts thinking of the vision for the future,

Greek National Resistance (1941-1944) 8.11.1982

The FDCs and the stamps on them depict the National Resistance offered by the Greek citizens and Partisans against the German invaders during World War II.

(12) Resistance Fighters. Natl. Resistance Movement, 1941-44: Partisan Men and Women, by P. Gravalos.

(21) Destruction of Gorgopotamos Rail Bridge, 25 Nov. 1942. Greek resistance fighters in collaboration with the British Allies destroyed the Gorgopotamos Rail Bridge which was heavily used by the German occupation forces as a supply line.

(2) The Massacre of Kalavryta, 13 Dec. 1943

 The massacre of Kalavryta refers to the extermination of the male population of Kalavryta village and the total destruction of the village by the German occupation forces.

(30) Resistance fighters in Kaisariani (Athens).

Thank you Merja.

Greece - EUROPA "Visit..." 10.5.2012

Visit Greece!

Greece Legends and Myths 27.4.1968

Goddess Athena defeating Alkyoneys, Pergamos. Athena  separates the Giant Alkyoneus from Earth (in which way he dies), while Gaia, mother of Giants rises from the ground. The goddess Nike helps Athena

Goddess Athena. Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, mathematics, strength, war strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Minerva is the Roman goddess identified with Athena. Athena is known for her calm temperament, as she moves slowly to anger. She is noted to have only fought for just reasons, and would not fight without a purpose.

Athena is portrayed as an astute companion of heroes and is the patron goddess of heroic endeavour. She is the virgin patroness of Athens. The Athenians founded the Parthenon on the Acropolis of her namesake city, Athens (Athena Parthenos), in her honour.

Alexander the Great, detail from sarcophagus. The Alexander Sarcophagus is a late 4th century BC Hellenistic stone sarcophagus adorned with bas-relief carvings of Alexander the Great. The work is remarkably well preserved and has been celebrated for its high aesthetic achievement. It is considered the outstanding holding of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.

Byzantine mosaic. Byzantine art is the name for the artistic products of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, as well as the nations and states that inherited culturally from the empire. Though the empire itself emerged from Rome's decline and lasted until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453,^[1] many Eastern Orthodox states in Eastern Europe, as well as to some degree the Muslim states of the eastern Mediterranean, preserved many aspects of the empire's culture and art for centuries afterward.

 "Constantine Paleologos" painting by D.Tsokos. Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos, Latinized as Palaeologus (8 February 1405 – 29 May 1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor, reigning as a member of the Palaiologos dynasty from 1449 to his death in battle at the fall of Constantinople. Following his death, he became a legendary figure in Greek folklore as the "Marble Emperor" who would awaken and recover the Empire and Constantinople from the Ottomans. His death marked the end of the Roman Empire, which had continued in the East for 977 years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.  

"Greece in Messolonghi" painting by E.Delacroix. Missolonghi (Mesolongi, is a municipality of 34,416 people (according to the 2011 census) in western Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of Iera Polis Messolongiou (Sacred City of Missolonghi). Missolonghi is known as the site of a dramatic siege during the Greek War of Independence, and of the death of poet Lord Byron.

"The Evzon" painting by G.B. Scott.

Sculpture "The Winged Victory of Samothrace". The Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace, is a 2nd century BC marble sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike (Victory). Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world.

Thank you Merja.

1974 Stamp Day

Greek Stamp Day 1974 was commemorated by the issue of this stamp depicting the Cretan 1 drachma stamp of 1905 which in turn depicted  "The abduction of EUROPE by ZEUS".

In Greek mythology Europa was the mother of King Minos of Crete, a woman with Phoenician origin of high lineage, and for whom the continent Europe was named. The story of her abduction by Zeus in the form of a white bull was a Cretan story; as Karenyi points out "most of the love-stories concerning Zeus originated from more ancient tales describing his marriages with goddesses. This can especially be said of the story of Europa".

In Greek mythology Europa was the mother of King Minos of Crete, a woman with Phoenician origin of high lineage,[1]and for whom the continent Europe was named. The story of her abduction byZeus in the form of a white bull was a Cretan story; as Kerényi points out "most of the love-stories concerning Zeus originated from more ancient tales describing his marriages with goddesses. This can especially be said of the story of Europa".

Centenary of Greek stamps 20.12.1961

Greece's first postal service was founded in 1828, at the time of Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire. This initial service continued mail delivery and, later, the issuing of postage stamps until 1970. It was then succeeded by the Hellenic Post S.A. (abbreviated ΕΛΤΑ), which remains Greece's official postal provider. The first Greek stamps (known as "Large Hermes heads") were issued in 1861; by then, the postal service had expanded to operate 97 branches.

These three stamps on the FDC are part of a set of seven stamps commemorating the Centenary of Greek stamps. They bear the designs of the seven 1861 Paris denominations with common background but with different face values. The stamps depict the head of Hermes.

Hermes is an Olympian god in Greek religion and mythology, the son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia, and the second youngest of the Olympian gods. Hermes is identified with the Roman god Mercury, who, though inherited from the Etruscans, developed many similar characteristics such as being the patron of commerce.

Mercury is a major Roman god, being one of the Dii Consentes within the ancient Roman pantheon. He is the patron god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence (and thus poetry), messages/communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves; he is also the guide of souls to the underworld. He was considered the son of Maia and Jupiter in Roman mythology. He is often depicted holding the caduceus in his left hand.

The caduceus ("herald's staff") is the staff carried by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology and Hermes in Greek mythology. In Roman iconography, it was often depicted being carried in the left hand of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, shepherds, gamblers, liars, and thieves.

Thank you Merja.

Accession of Greece to the European Community / Union 28.5.1979

The stamps on this fdc depict:

(7) Greece’s entry into European Economic Community and Parliament: Wheat with Members’ Flags and ancient Greek coins.

(30) European Parliament.

Greece's European orientation predates the linking of the country's course to its accession to the European Community / Union.  However, the orientation became concrete upon submission of the application for accession to the newly established European Economic Community in June 1959, an application that led to the Association Agreement between Greece and the EEC, signed in June 1961.  This Agreement, which in fact constituted the first step towards Greece's integration into the European Community, "froze" following the imposition of dictatorship in Greece (April 1967) and was re-activated after democracy was restored (July 1974).

The Greek Government and Constantinos Caramanlis in particular, aimed at integrating the country into the European Union as a full member.  Indeed, the application for full accession was submitted on July 12, 1975, by means of a letter addressed to the President at that time of the European Union Ministerial Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland,  G. Fitzgerald

The 100th Anniversary of Modern Olympic Games 25.3.1996

The 1996 Summer Olympics known officially as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially as the Centennial Olympic Games, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, from July 19 to August 4, 1996. A record 197 nations, all current IOC member nations, took part in the Games, comprising 10,318 athletes. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same year since 1924, and place them in alternating even-numbered years, beginning in 1994. The 1996 Summer Games were the first to be staged in a different year from the Winter Games. Atlanta became the sixth American city to host the Olympic Games and the third to hold a Summer Olympic Games.  

The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are the leading international sporting event featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered to be the world's foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. The Olympic Games are held every four years, with the Summer and Winter Games alternating by occurring every four years but two years apart.

Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority.

The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games. Some of these adjustments include the creation of the Winter Olympic Games for ice and winter sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with a disability, and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes. The IOC has had to adapt to a variety of economic, political, and technological advancements. As a result, the Olympics has shifted away from pure amateurism, as envisioned by Coubertin, to allowing participation of professional athletes. The growing importance of mass media created the issue of corporate sponsorship and commercialization of the Games. World wars led to the cancellation of the 1916, 1940, and 1944 Games. Large boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Games.

The Olympic Movement consists of international sports federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and organizing committees for each specific Olympic Games. As the decision-making body, the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Games, and organizes and funds the Games according to the Olympic Charter. The IOC also determines the Olympic program, consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games. There are several Olympic rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag and torch, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. Over 13,000 athletes compete at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events. The first, second, and third-place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals: gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.

The Games have grown so much that nearly every nation is now represented. This growth has created numerous challenges and controversies, including boycotts, doping, bribery, and a terrorist attack in 1972. Every two years the Olympics and its media exposure provide unknown athletes with the chance to attain national and sometimes international fame. The Games also constitute an opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world.

Greece- 1977 Funeral issue of the Archibishop Makarios

Greece issued these two stamps and the cover to honour Archbishop Makarios, the First President of Cyprus during his funeral.

The cover highlights the UN Security Council Resolution of 20 July 1974. United Nations Security Council Resolution 353, adopted unanimously on July 20, 1974, in response to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Council demanded the immediate withdrawal of all foreign military personnel present in the Republic of Cyprus in contravention of paragraph 1 of the United Nations Charter. The resolution goes on to call upon Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom to immediately enter into negotiations to restore peace on the island, and constitution government to its people.

Thank you Merja for this memorable FDC.

Endangered birds - Greece

Greece issued this lovely set of stamps on the Endangered birds in that country. Thank you very much indeed Merja for this wonderful FDC. The birds depicted in the stamps are :- 

6d		Purple Heron    Ardea purpurea
8d		Audouin's Gull    Ichthyaetus audouinii
10d		Eleonora's Falcon    Falco eleonorae
14d		Common Kingfisher    Alcedo atthis
20d		Great White Pelican    Pelecanus onocrotalus
25d		White-tailed Eagle    Haliaeetus albicilla

Paintings on Greek Stamps

The Europa theme for 1975 was paintings. Accordingly, the three stamps on the this Greek FDC given to me by Merja, show some popular paintings by Greek artists.

Traditional Greek Costumes

These two FDCs with the pretty stamps on them were given to me by Merja. They were issued on 1^st March 1972. The jewellery printed on the cover is to be worn along with the impressive traditional costumes of Greece.
Men's Costumes. There are two main types of costumes for men. Foustanella and Vraka.
In the central and southern regions of Greece wear the "fustanella". After the liberation of Greece in the first quarter of the 19th century, all male costumes in Peloponnesus took the form of the fustanella. The Greek fighters of the 1821 revolution wore Fustanella and today it serves as the official uniform of the Evzones, Greece's Presidential Guard.
The fustanella skirt consists of 400 pleats symbolizing the years during which Greece was under Ottoman rule. The remainder of the costume is composed of a white shirt with very wide flowing sleeves, an embroidered woolen vest, a sash worn around the waist, and shoes (tsarouhia) with large pompons. The embroidery is made of spun wool and the belt is of a fine leatherwork.
Women's Costumes. One general rule about the Women's costumes concerns the main parts of their traditional dress. Most of the mainland costumes in particular have a cotton chemise (poukamiso) as the basic garment. On the body, over the chemise, there is a sleeveless vest, which is usually made of wool. These may be short or long.
Sometimes dresses are of homespun wool, but in some areas they are made from finer factory woven wools. Colours are sometimes black, sometimes white. Sometimes in urban areas, they are made from velvet. Other important elements of the women's costumes are various types of aprons, sashes, and head coverings. The head coverings are usually large scarves of various materials and colours. Women's dresses were handmade embellished with detailed needlework and decorated in a rich and colourful fashion. Although there are some generalizations that can be made about the women's dresses and their styles and components, costumes of each area tend to be different.