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.
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’)
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Google is honouring the adventurous spirit of the first three men to scale Mount Olympus.
Today's Google Doodle marks 105 years since two pals and their guide decided to climb the 'home of the gods'.
In 1913, the three courageous climbers decided mere mortals should try and reach the top of the famous mountain and set out on their journey to scale the 9,573-foot summit.
Despite the dangerous terrain, Swiss photographer Frédéric Boissonnas, his friend Daniel Baud-Bovy, and Christos Kakkalos, a Greek hunter who served as their guide, set off in treacherous weather to climb Mount Olympus .
(Image: Google)
Kakkalos knew the mountain so well that he was able to climb the mountain barefoot.
The Swiss had some experience in mountaineering, but Boissonnas had to lug heavy photographic equipment with him.
He and his friend, Baud-Bovy, were tied together with a rope during their climb.
However, their ascent to the top wasn't so straight forward.
When they reached what they believed to be summit, it was surrounded by storm clouds.
(Image: Frederic Boissonnas)
(Image: Moment RF)
They started celebrating and wrote cards describing their feat which they put in a bottle that they buried on a crest they christened Victory Top.
But their victory was short-lived as when the mist cleared, they saw another, more impressive peak, called Mytikas.
Realising their mistake, Boissonnas and Baud-Bovy barely paused to consider what they would do.
Kakkalos asked whether they wanted to go up and they all agreed.
He led the way and the men continued upward, scrambling across the slippery gorge.
Boissonnas later wrote that he was compelled to keep going by the fire of Prometheus, who stole fire from Athena and Hephaestus’ workshop on Mount Olympus, gifting it to humans to help them in their labors.
(Image: Moment RF)
On August 2, 1913 they finally reached the summit of the mountain they had hoped to conquer.
Today’s Doodle celebrates their accomplishment and the fire that inspired them.
Around 10,000 people climb Mount Olympus each year, most of them reaching only the Skolio summit.
In Greek mythology the mountain was created after the epic battle of Titanomachy between the young gods, the Olympians, and the older gods, the Titans.
After winning the battle, the Olympian victors created their new majestic home – Mount Olympus.
(Image: Moment RF)
The mountain was shielded from human eyes by clouds which constantly obscured its peaks.
All 12 Olympian gods, Zeus and his wife Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Artemis, Apollo, Demeter, Hester, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hephaestus and Ares, resided at Mount Olympus.
Every year, pagans gather at Mount Olympus to honour the gods.
How to visit Mount Olympus
The nearest airport is Thessaloniki which sits about an hour's drive away from the mountain. The good news for Brits is that there are plenty of airlines offering cheap direct flights there.
easyJet has routes from £26.70 each way, Ryanair has fares from £24.99 and Jet2 offers an impressive choice of UK airports from which to fly from with fares from £25.
As for hotels, TripAdvisor and Expedia both offer up a selection of hotels which are just a stone's throw away from the home of the Greek gods.
If it's a package holiday you're after, Thomas Cook and First Choice can be quite good bets as both of these have a selection of hotels on the Olympus Riviera, not to mention there's ample opportunity to book in on an escorted tour to go exploring.
