Ancient Greeks Feared Beaches, Saw Shorelines as Gateways to the Dead

Ancient Greeks Feared Beaches, Saw Shorelines as Gateways to the Dead

Ixia Beach on the island of Rhodes, Greece. Credit: frankenschulz / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Beaches today are seen as places of rest, where people escape to sunbathe, swim, and leave daily stress behind. Studies show that time by the sea can calm the mind and body — the rhythm of waves induces a meditative state, the breeze soothes, and warm sand provides comfort. However, ancient Greeks feared beaches. In ancient Greece, the shoreline symbolized danger…