Mount Olympus, Home of the Ancient Greek Gods, Vies for World Heritage Status
The bid highlights archaeological remains, religious landmarks and a mountain that has claimed many lives, officials said.
- Modern-Day Greeks hope Mount Olympus will be inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural site, with the nomination to be discussed when the World Heritage Committee meets in Busan, South Korea, starting Sunday.
- Rising to 2,918 meters, Mount Olympus served as the mythological home of ancient Greece's 12 Olympian gods and later retained religious significance into the Christian era.
- Excavations have uncovered an open-air sanctuary on lower peaks dating to the Hellenistic period, while Mayor Evagelos Geroliolios of Dion-Olympus described it as a place carrying "myth, history, biodiversity, extraordinary beauty and a very great cultural weight."
- Greece's nomination faces a rigorous 14-month evaluation process by advisory bodies, and the World Heritage Committee's decision remains uncertain; the site's popularity brings safety risks, with a 64-year-old Greek hiker dying on July 11.
- Interest in the mountain may receive a boost with the theatrical release this week of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which features Olympus as the home of Zeus, coinciding with the international protection effort.
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Litochoro, Greece.- Covered with snow for much of the year, Mount Olympus, the mythological home of the twelve Olympic gods of ancient Greece, has captivated the imagination throughout the millennia. Risen at 2918 meters (9573 feet) from a base practically at sea level, the ancient Greeks believed that the throne of Zeus, king of the gods, was on the highest peak of its steep peaks, often wrapped in fog. Greeks today expect their highest mountai…
Mount Olympus considered for World Heritage status
The World Heritage Committee will soon consider whether to designate Greece’s Mount Olympus as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inclusion on that list would be a signal of the region’s environmental and cultural value, and could offer it stronger protections.
Covered by snow most of the year, Mount Olimp, the mythological site of the 12 Olympic gods of ancient Greece, captivated the imagination of people over the millennia. At an altitude of 2,918 metres, from a base practically situated at sea level, the ancient Greeks believed that the throne of Zeus, the king of the gods, was on the ...
Greece submits Mount Olympus for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage ListGreece has applied for inclusion of Mount Olympus on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural object heritage. The application will be considered at a meeting of the Committee in Busan from 20 to 29 July.
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