TEST your Greek knowledge in this true or false quiz – after a survey revealed how little people know about the country.
Greece is a country of rich history, from the culture to its influence on modern philosophy and maths.
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The new poll asked what percentage of people knew what cultural touchstones originated from the Mediterranean island.
Researchers showed that 37 per cent of people didn’t realise the Olympics originated from Greece.
A further 61 per cent didn’t know about Greek amphitheatres and over half (51 per cent) were clueless about philosophy’s Greek roots.
And 73 per cent had no idea the alphabet originated from the Mediterranean country, which is the basis for many Western writing systems today.
The study by The Real Greek also found that encouragingly, 79 per cent have heard of Aristotle, 75 per cent are familiar with Socrates – but 29 per cent admit they have never heard of Plato.
A spokesperson for The Real Greek said: “A lot of useful and important things have come from Greece.
“But it’s clear from our study that not everyone knows what these are.
“From democracy and philosophy, to beloved myths and early medical practices, Greece has gifted the world countless ideas and innovations we often take for granted.”
When thinking about the country, 15 per cent associate it with Greek Gods, while 20 per cent first think of its islands – and 12 per cent always refer to architecture.
Despite that, 70 per cent agree ancient Greek culture is influential in the modern world.
Top 20 Things People Didn’t Know Originated From Greece
- Cranes – 94 per cent
- Showers – 93 per cent
- Cement- 92 per cent
- The concept of the atom – 92 per cent
- Central heating – 91 per cent
- Thermometer – 90 per cent
- Catapults – 88 per cent
- Maps – 84 per cent
- Coins 84 per cent
- Museums – 80 per cent
- The alphabet – 73 per cent
- The pentathlon – 71 per cent
- Geometry – 70 per cent
- Democracy – 70 per cent
- Algebra – 69 per cent
- Theatre – 68 per cent
- Amphitheatres – 61 per cent
- The marathon – 60 per cent
- Philosophy – 51 per cent
- The Olympic Games – 37 per cent
Interestingly, just over half (55 per cent) think that Greek history has influenced modern Western culture more than any other civilisation.
Medicine (40 per cent), maths (38 per cent), and democracy (37 per cent) were voted the top three Greek innovations that are most relevant today.
It emerged 43 per cent learned about Ancient Greece in school, with a further 43 per cent being the most interested in the Trojan War.
Exactly a quarter are curious about the Golden Fleece and 22 per cent find the story of Pandora fascinating.
Of those who have yet to visit the country, 69 per cent would be interested in doing so, with Rhodes (38 per cent), Crete (38 per cent), and Santorini (33 per cent) the most desirable destinations.
And of the 48 per cent who have travelled to Greece, 89 per cent are likely to recommend it to others.
More than a sixth (17 per cent) eat Greek cuisine on a monthly basis, with feta cheese (35 per cent), moussaka (28 per cent), and souvlaki (14 per cent) being among the most enjoyable foods.
A quarter of those polled via OnePoll.com say it’s their favourite cuisine.
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The spokesperson added: “Many people just associate gorgeous islands and weather when they are asked to think about Greece.
“But actually, Greek influence runs deeper than that – shaping art, science, literature, and even the foundation of our modern governments.
“Exploring these unexpected origins reveals how ancient Greece continues to enrich our daily lives in more ways than we realise.”
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