Mount Olympus is one of the great treasures of Greece. It is a famous geographical site, as well as the subject of many stories and myths.
2 August marks the anniversary of the first time it was climbed successfully in 1913, and every year tens of thousands of people travel to the mountain to climb it.
Here are five facts you probably didn't know about Mount Olympus.
It boasts the highest point in Greece
Mount Olympus's Mytikas peak rises to 2,918 metres, or around 9,573 ft, and is the highest point in Greece.
It is also the second highest peak in the Balkans, and one of the highest across all of Europe.
'Mytikas' means 'nose' in Greek.
Greece wildfire: deadly blaze rages across holiday resorts near Athens 30 show all Greece wildfire: deadly blaze rages across holiday resorts near Athens 1/30 A house threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta AFP/Getty 2/30 A woman reacts as she tries to find her dog Reuters 3/30 A helicopter flies over a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina, near Athens REUTERS 4/30 An aerial view shows burnt houses following a wildfire in the village of Mati AFP/Getty Images 5/30 Firefighters, soldiers and local residents carry a hose as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina REUTERS 6/30 A man walks on the beach where burned trees hug the coastline in Mati east of Athens AP 7/30 People bring supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri AP 8/30 Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina AFP/Getty Images 9/30 Firefighters carry a dead person AFP/Getty Images 10/30 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks to the media during his visit to the fire brigade's operational center in Athens EPA 11/30 An aerial view of a burnt urban area following fire in Kineta Hellenic Ministry of Defence/AFP/Getty 12/30 Reuters 13/30 Residents react as they look at their burned house EPA 14/30 Rescuers and volunteers push an inflatable boat as locals are evacuated REUTERS 15/30 An aerial view of an urban area burnt following fire in Mati Hellenic Ministry of Defence/AFP/Getty 16/30 AP 17/30 Asimina Psalti, 87, reacts as she sits outside her burned house in Mati east of Athens AP 18/30 A burnt forest following a wildfire in the village of Neos Voutzas AFP/Getty Images 19/30 People cover their faces from the smoke that fills the sky near Kineta AP 20/30 Smoke rise over an avenue during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a northeast suburb of Athens EPA 21/30 Melted metals from burned cars after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati EPA 22/30 Firefighters look for missing persons REUTERS 23/30 Smoke fills the sky as members of the emergency services block a road near Kineta, west of Athens AP 24/30 Burnt cars at the village of Mati AFP/Getty Images 25/30 Cars are blocked at the closed National Road AFP/Getty Images 26/30 A woman sprays water outside her house that was damaged in the wildfires near the village of Neos Voutzas AP 27/30 Smoke from a wildfire burning outside Athens is seen over the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill REUTERS 28/30 An aerial view shows burnt houses following a wildfire in the village of Mati AFP/Getty Images 29/30 Flames are seen next to firefighting vehicle during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa EPA 30/30 People look inside a burnt car REUTERS 1/30 A house threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta AFP/Getty 2/30 A woman reacts as she tries to find her dog Reuters 3/30 A helicopter flies over a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina, near Athens REUTERS 4/30 An aerial view shows burnt houses following a wildfire in the village of Mati AFP/Getty Images 5/30 Firefighters, soldiers and local residents carry a hose as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina REUTERS 6/30 A man walks on the beach where burned trees hug the coastline in Mati east of Athens AP 7/30 People bring supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri AP 8/30 Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina AFP/Getty Images 9/30 Firefighters carry a dead person AFP/Getty Images 10/30 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks to the media during his visit to the fire brigade's operational center in Athens EPA 11/30 An aerial view of a burnt urban area following fire in Kineta Hellenic Ministry of Defence/AFP/Getty 12/30 Reuters 13/30 Residents react as they look at their burned house EPA 14/30 Rescuers and volunteers push an inflatable boat as locals are evacuated REUTERS 15/30 An aerial view of an urban area burnt following fire in Mati Hellenic Ministry of Defence/AFP/Getty 16/30 AP 17/30 Asimina Psalti, 87, reacts as she sits outside her burned house in Mati east of Athens AP 18/30 A burnt forest following a wildfire in the village of Neos Voutzas AFP/Getty Images 19/30 People cover their faces from the smoke that fills the sky near Kineta AP 20/30 Smoke rise over an avenue during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a northeast suburb of Athens EPA 21/30 Melted metals from burned cars after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati EPA 22/30 Firefighters look for missing persons REUTERS 23/30 Smoke fills the sky as members of the emergency services block a road near Kineta, west of Athens AP 24/30 Burnt cars at the village of Mati AFP/Getty Images 25/30 Cars are blocked at the closed National Road AFP/Getty Images 26/30 A woman sprays water outside her house that was damaged in the wildfires near the village of Neos Voutzas AP 27/30 Smoke from a wildfire burning outside Athens is seen over the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill REUTERS 28/30 An aerial view shows burnt houses following a wildfire in the village of Mati AFP/Getty Images 29/30 Flames are seen next to firefighting vehicle during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa EPA 30/30 People look inside a burnt car REUTERS
It was first climbed in 1913
The summit of Olympus was reached for the first time on 2 August 1913 by Swiss duo Frédéric Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy, who were assisted by a mountain guide called Christos Kakkalos.
Kakkalos remained the official guide of Olympus until his death in 1976.
It is estimated that around 10,000 people climb Olympus every year, with most of them only reaching as far as the Skolio summit.
It's a common feature of Greek mythology
Olympus was notable in Greek mythology as a home of the 12 Greek gods.
The nine Muses, daughters of the god Zeus, were traditionally placed in the region of Pieria, at the mount's northern foot.
Olympia was thought of by the Greeks as a metaphorical place as well as the physical mountain.
It is part of the Olympus National Park
The region was declared Greece's first national park in 1938.
The aim of this was ΄the preservation in perpetuity of the natural environment of the region, i.e. of wild flora, fauna and natural landscape, as well as its cultural and other values.'
In 1981, Olympus was proclaimed 'Biosphere Reserve' by UNESCO.
It has unique biodiversity
Olympus is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with 52 peaks and several deep gorges.
The entire Olympus area covers around 500 square kilometres, in a circular area with a circumference of 80km.
The area contains 32 species of mammals, 108 species of birds, many species of reptiles, amphibians and insects.
The Google Doodle for Thursday, August 2, 2018 celebrates Mount Olympus and the three climbers who scaled its summit 105 years ago.
In 1913, Daniel Baud-Bovy and his photographer friend Frederic Boissonnas decided to ascend the 9,753-foot peak along with Greek hunter Christos Kakkalos, who knew the terrain exceptionally well.
On July 29, 1913, the trio began the ascent, reaching the Agios Dionysios monastery at 820m the same day. They then continued north and set up camp in Petrostrouga at nearly 2000m.
While the two Swiss men had some experience in mountaineering, Boissonnas had to carry the very heavy photographic equipment, so as a safety precaution, he and Baud-Dovy were tied together with rope.
In the summer of 1913, three men decided to scale the Greek mountain's highest peak, Mytikas
Meanwhile Kakkalos knew the terrain so well that he reportedly climbed its sharpest inclines barefoot. The weather turned, bringing with it severe fog. The climbers nevertheless persisted ascending a slender peak, which, thinking it was the highest peak of Mount Olympus, they named Victory Top.
However, once the fog cleared, the three climbers saw a more impressive peak before them, and without hesitation decided to scale it.
On August 2, 1913 at 10.25am, they climbed Mytikas—which means ‘nose’ in Greek—the highest peak on Mount Olympus at 2,918 metres or 9,573ft.
Boissonnas later wrote that during their final climb, he was fuelled by the fire of the Titan Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and gifted it to humans.
Kakkalos later became an official guide for the mountain, last scaling the mountain in 1972, when he was 91-years-old.
Where is Mount Olympus?
Mount Olympus is a mountain in Greece that has the highest point in the country and the second highest peak in the Balkans, as well as one of the highest in Europe.
Today marks the 105th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Olympus, known as 'the home of the gods', in Greece. #Onthisday in 1913, two Swiss friends and a local guide reached the 9,573 foot summit. Mount Olympus in the Distance, Edward Lear, 1872. pic.twitter.com/msPLJDVSvl — Ashmolean Museum (@AshmoleanMuseum) August 2, 2018
The mountain actually has 52 peaks in total and is located on the border of Macedonia and Thessaly. Olympus covers roughly 500-square-kilometres and was declared a biosphere reserve by Unesco in 1981.
Around 10,000 people climb the mountain every year, although most only reach the Skolio summit at 2,912 metres.
Mount Olympus in Greek mythology
In Greek Mythology, Mount Olympus was home to the ancient powerful Olympian gods.
A total of 12 gods resided on Mount Olympus: the god of gods and the sky Zeus; his wife Hera the goddess of marriage; Poseidon, god of the sea; Demeter, the goddess of harvest and fertility; Athena, the goddess of wisdom, Apollo god of the sun; Artemis, goddess of hunting; Ares, the god of war; Hephaesteus, god of the forge; Hermes, messenger of the gods; Hestia, the goddess of hearth; and Dionysus the god of wine.
Thousands of people make the journey to Mount Olympus #onthisday each year to mark the anniversary of the first time it was successfully climbed in 1913. It's a real place, but this painting shows the Mount Olympus of Greek mythology. https://t.co/81uUC2XEE7
📷 @NorthamptonShoe pic.twitter.com/8uJvFGGHH0 — Art UK (@artukdotorg) August 2, 2018
What is a Google Doodle?
Mount Olympus and the first people to climb it have been honoured in the Google Doodle for August 2, 2018, on the 105th anniversary of the day they reached the mountain's highest peak, Mytikas.
It says: 'Today’s Doodle celebrates their accomplishment and the fire that inspired them.'
Google Doodles are small illustrations or animations that appear in the Google logo on the search engine's homepage.
The first time a Google Doodle was used was in 1998, when Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin visited the 1998 Burning Man Festival.
To commemorate their trip, the founders drew a stick-man standing behind the second ‘o’ in the Google logo.
Recent Google Doodles include Gerda Taro, Meena Kumari and Maria Rebecca Latigo de Hernandez.
As questions mount over Greece's devastating forest fires, so does the blame. Rosanna Philpott reports.
MOUNT Olympus, the highest cliff in Greece, was honoured with a Google Doodle today.
The 2917m mountain is also known to many for its interesting Grecian fables and myths.
Based on archaeological evidence found in 1961, the highest peak of the mountain called Agios Antonios is known to have been the favoured hangout of mythical god Zeus.
For years, the mountain remained unexplored until it was first ascended by three climbers on August 2, 1913.
Thanks to their efforts, the mountain is today one of the most visited sites in the country.
The mountain, which is located on Olympus Range, is sandwiched between the Thessaly and Macedonia’s border. It is also one of the highest points in the whole of Europe.
Here are five facts about the legendary mountain that you might have not known.
1. GREEK GOD’S MAIN HANGOUT JOINT
The mountain was said to be home to the 12 Greek gods, such as Zeus, his wife Hera, Anthena and Poseidon.
2. FIRST ASCENDED IN 1913
According to The Sun, the mountain was first explored 105 years ago by Swiss photographer Frédéric Boissonnas, his friend Daniel Baud-Bovy, and Christos Kakkalos, a Greek hunter who served as their guide.
3. HIGHEST POINT IN GREECE
The mountain is the highest point in Greece and the second highest in the Balkans.
4. BIODIVERSITY GALORE
Thousands of tourist make their way to Mount Olympus annually to explore the mountain’s flora and fauna found on its hill tops.
5. NATIONAL PARK RECOGNITION
Because of its rich biodiversity, the mountain was recognised as the country’s first national park in 1938.
Today marks the 87th anniversary of the first climbers to reach Mount Olympus’s highest peak, hence this morning’s Google doodle. Since that date, it is thought about 10,000 hikers visit the mountain each year but most of them don’t venture all the way to the summit. The 2,917 metre-high mountain is famed for its place in Greek mythology and fables. It is a fascinating site of archaeological evidence, giving an insight into the Ancient Greek gods and the folklore surrounding them.
Mount Olympus mythology In Ancient Greek mythology and religion, Olympus was the home of the Twelve Olympian gods. These twelve gods were: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus. The gods were said to live upon the lofty mountaintops, with king of the gods Zeus controlling the sky, thunder and lightning from his seat at Olympus’s summit. Today, large regions of the mountain range are declared archaeological sites for the preservation of the monuments dedicated to the gods. Excavations began in 1928 and revealed precious findings of the Macedonian, Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Mount Olympus: The 2,917 metre-high mountain is famed for its place in Greek mythology and fables.
Mount Olympus: Today's Google doodle in honour of the peak and its climbers
Climbing expeditions In the modern era, a series of explorers have attempted to tackle Mount Olympus’s peaks. One example is German engineer Edward Richter, who was battling his way to the summit when he was abducted by insurgents and killed. One year after Greece’s liberation from Ottoman rule, on August 2, 1913, the summit was finally conquered. The Swiss Frédéric Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy, aided by a hunter of wild goats Christos Kakkalos, were the first to reach Greece's highest peak, Mytikas (meaning ‘nose’). In fact, Kakkalos, familiar with every corner of the mountain, was the first of the three to make it up, making him the first man in history to do. He remained the official guide to Mount Olympus until his death in 1976.
Mount Olympus: A climber approaches the summit, Mytikas (meaning ‘nose’)
