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Athens -

Few cities are as closely tied to a divine figure as Athens is to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, craft, and warfare.

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Athens -

The daughter of Zeus, Athena battled Poseidon on the heights of the Acropolis to determine who would be the city's patron. Gifting the Athenian people olive trees for nourishment, light, and warmth, she was the winner.

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Delos -

Located just off the shores of Mykonos is the island of Delos, the birthplace of the twin gods Artemis and Apollo. It's also here that Leto, Zeus' lover, fled to escape Hera's fury and give birth to her children. 

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Delos -

As a result, temples were built around the small island, and people from around Greece used to come and worship the deities.

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Mount Olympus -

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. In Greek mythology, it was believed to be the home of the 12 gods and goddesses.

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Mount Olympus -

Perfect for hikes, Mount Olympus offers many walking trails scattered around its sweeping valleys and hillsides.

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Pelion -

In Greek mythology, Mount Pelion was the homeland of Chiron the Centaur, also the tutor of many ancient Greek heroes. 

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Pelion -

Pelion is named after the mythical king Peleus, father of Achilles. 

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Paphos -

Located in Cyprus, Paphos is believed to be the birthplace of the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. 

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Paphos -

For this reason, it became an important place of worship to Aphrodite, and the remains of her temple are still visible today. 

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Arcadia -

According to Greek mythology, the Arcadia region in Peloponnese was the home of the gods Hermes and Pan. 

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Arcadia -

Today, Arcadia is home to some excellent wineries, specializing in the popular local grape Moschofilero. 

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Ideon Cave -

Hidden in Crete's mountainous interior, it was here that Zeus was born. As the story goes, the Titan leader Cronus tried to destroy all his offspring by eating them in order of birth to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy. It predicted that his downfall would come at the hands of one of his children. 

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Ideon Cave -

When Rhea, Zeus' mother, gave birth to him, she hid him in the cave to protect him. The place quickly became a site of worship and pilgrimage for ancient Greeks, but today, it's popular for hiking. 

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Sounion -

Athena may have won the battle to be the protector of Athens, but Poseidon was well-compensated in defeat.

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Sounion -

Instead, Athenians honored the king of the sea with a magnificent temple at Cape Sounion, the Temple of Poseidon. 

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Delphi -

Considered the center of the world by the ancient Greeks, Delphi was a religious sanctuary dedicated to the Greek god Apollo.

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Delphi -

It was also home to the Oracle of Delphi and the priestess Pythia, who famously predicted the future.

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Kommos -

Located in southern Crete, Kommos is believed by archaeologists to have been the site of Minos's throne, a king of Crete, and son of Zeus and Europa.  

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Kommos -

King Minos was also known for raising a son who had the body of a man and the face of a bull, a Minotaur. While he managed to trap him inside a labyrinth, Minos would send young men and girls into the maze to be devoured by the Minotaur. 

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Acheron -

According to Greek mythology, the Acheron was one of the five rivers that border the Underworld. It was the task of the ferryman Charon to transport the souls of the newly deceased across the river and into the kingdom of Hades.

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Acheron -

Today, the beautiful area offers a refreshing retreat for kayaking and camping during the summer months.

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Ithaki -

Ithaki was, in Greek mythology, the island home of the hero Odysseus.

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Ithaki -

There have been various theories about its location, but modern Ithaca has traditionally been accepted as Homer's island.

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Aegina -

Located on the Saronic Gulf, the island of Aegina is now a popular weekend destination for Athenians and tourists alike. But the island also has a mythological past. 

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Aegina -

Zeus fell in love with the nymph Aegina and carried her off to the island of Oenone. There she gave birth to his son, Aeacus, who then re-named the island in honor of his mother.

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Corfu -

Named after the beautiful nymph Korkyra, the island of Corfu is bathed in myth. 

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Corfu -

The daughter of Asopos and Metope, and sister of Aegina, Korkyra fell in love with Poseidon, who abducted her and took her to an unnamed island, which then took her name, Korkyra or Corfu. 

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Nemea -

Situated on the Peloponnese peninsula, Nemea is the site where Hercules killed the lion, the first of his twelve challenges to redeem his sin of killing his wife and children in a fit of madness.

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Nemea -

This is also a sanctuary to Zeus and the site of the Nemean Games held in his honor. 

Sources: (The Culture Trip) (Lonely Planet) (Discover Greece) 

See also: Fantastic films you didn't know are based on ancient Greek legends

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