Classical Culture Not surprisingly there are many stamps using motifs of ancient culture-even when the connection is a little strained.
Not sure how ancient culture applies to a NATO minister's meeting in 1962, except maybe that they are soldiers.
Given his disastrous landing, is Icarus really a good model for an airmail stamp? (1935)
Historian Thucydides. (1998)
Artemis, Apollo and Leto. (1974)
Dolphins of Delos, 110 BC. (1969)
The northwest wind, Skiron. (1943)
Kythera, island birthplace of Aphrodite. (1964)
One of a series about the 12 gods. Hestia. (1986)
Modern actor performing ancient drama (at Epidaurus). (1987)
Ionic and Corinthian capitals from the Archaic era. (1987)
Muses Thalia, Clio, and Urania from a three-stamp set. (1991)
Athena and owl coin of Athens. (1963)
Pre-classical Culture Greek recorded history goes back centuries before the classical era.
Lady of Tirnys from a Mycenaean era fresco, 14th-13th cent. BCE. (1938)
Minoan wall painting from Knossos. 1600 BCE. (1961)
Boxers from Thira, ca. 1500 BCE. (1973)
Achilles throwing dice with Ajax, from Homer. (1983)
Pre-historic Cycladean sculpture that looks modern, ca. 2000 BCE. Original would be painted and prone. (1979)
Byzantine and Christian history
For a thousand years Byzantine culture dominated. Orthodox Christianity remains the official religion.
Angel from Daphni church, Athens (1964)
Christ descending into hell, 11th cent. Hosios Lukas (1970)
The book of Revelation was written on the island of Patmos. Here John dictates to a scribe. (1995)
Emperor Constantine Paleologos. Last reigning Byzantine Emperor, killed 1453. 1859 image. (1968)
St. Paul preaching to the Athenians. (1937)
Theodore Poulakis icon of Most Holy Theotokos, ca. 1680 (stamp 1980)
The Sea
A country of coastlines and islands, the sea has always been an important part of Greek life and culture.
A trireme, the ancient warship. (2006)
Figurehead of ship from Sfakia. (1983)
Famous cruiser "Averoff" served in both world wars. (1926)
Merchant ships are a sometimes neglected aspect of Greek history. (1969)
Oceanographic research vessel "Aigaio" (1999)
Culture
Entwined with history and with Greece's location in the south Balkans, the village culture is vibrant and varied.
One of a multi-year series of regional folk costumes. A woman from Megara. (1972)
Male costume from the Peloponnesus. You can see where the Evzone guards got their uniform. (1973)
Carved knitting needle cases. (1966)
Cretan lyre. (1975)
18th cent. house, Ambelakia, Thessaly. (1975)
Olympics
Greece has a profound interest in the Olympic games, and wants to claim them - perhaps even be the permanent home for them. As such they have always issued stamps for the games - not only when they were held in Greece.
A series of stamps for the 1896 revival of the Olympic games were (in effect) the first commemorative issued by Greece. They still rank among the most beautiful.
Stamps are also issued for regional sporting events such as the Pan-Balkan games of 1939.
Proclaiming the Olympic truce before the 1964 games
Lighting the torch for the 1968 games - but that didn't happen in classical times.
Each Greek winner at the Athens 2004 games got their own postage stamp.
War for Independence
1821-1828 brought independence from Turkish control.
Lord Byron didn't do much substantively for Greek independence but he sure looms large in myth. (1924)
Emmanuil Xanthos, one of the founders of a resistance organization against Turkish occupation. (1950)
Part of a beautifully rendered set of stamps on the 150th anniversary of the war of independence. (1971)
The battle of Corinth (also from the previous set) (1971)
Appreciating a British commander who helped defeat the Turkish fleet. (1927)
WWII and aftermath Greece suffered Nazi occupation and a civil war that did not end until 1949
Celebrating the famous "Oxi!" (no) offered to the Italian army in response to their ultimatum of 1940. (1945)
Victory - issued in several denominations (1945)
Honoring FDR. (1945)
In 1947, as a consequence of the war, the Dodecanese islands came back to Greece from Italian control (Stamp for Kos, from a series)
Rebuilding with the help of the Marshall plan - which helped rebuild the Corinth Canal, railways and brought mules to rural villages. (1951)
Democracy
The struggle for a stable governing structure in the independent nation.
Restoration of democracy in 1974 after the junta fell.. (1977)
The Greek parliament (1979)
Eleftherios Venizelos, played a leading role in uniting Crete with Greece, became the most successful PM of the 20th cent. in developing Greece. (1946)
Gregoris Lambrakis; the famous movie"Z" is about his 1963 assassination by agents working for the right-wing government. (1990)
PM Karamanlis signs documents making Greece a part of the EEC. (1991)
Developing the modern nation
Celebration of progress; focus on issues
Early airmail stamp. (1933)
Agra river hydroelectric station; rural electrification project (1962)
Work to end breast cancer. (2005)
The year of the child. (1979)
A refinery above the Parthenon; one of a series on environmental issues (1977)
Who else has ever put a tow truck on a stamp? Celebrating the road assistance organization. (1980)
Cover of an elementary school reader. (2011)
Opening of a satellite communication station (1970)
25th anniv. of Olympic Airlines. (1982)
Personalities
People famous and deserve-to-be famous
Eugenius Voulgaris, educator, bishop, theologian. (1971)
Constantine Cavafy, poet famous for "Ithaka" and "Waiting for the Barbarians" (1983)
Maria Callas, opera singer. (1997)
Melina Mecouri: actress, politician, force of nature. (1995)
Nikolaos Zosimas, supporter of national liberation, benefactor of education and the Monetary Museum of Athens. (1975)
The Landscape It is such a beautiful place, but it has been hard to capture on stamps.
From an 18 stamp series of 1942-44. Don't often see a stamp denominated at 5,000,000 of anything.
From a 17 stamp series of 1961.
Sithonia (1979)
Amorogs, from an island series. (2008)
The Corinth Canal. Blown up by Nazis; restored by Marshall plan aid. (1927)
The Natural World Greece is not normally thought of for eco-tourism, a mistake.
Dwarf lily (1978).
Kingfisher (1979).
Parrot fish (1981)
Nature tourism (2012)
Diving (2015))
Occupation and new territories As the territory of Greece expanded over the years there was a wide variety of stamp issuers (from several countries) and stamp overprints.
The first stamp ever used on a territory that later became part of Greece. Issued by the UK in 1859 for use in the Ionian islands.
Russian stamp overprinted for use by their offices abroad for the (now Turkish) city of Smyrne when it was under Greek control.
Italian stamp for their offices in the Aegean, in this case for "Stampalia" (Astypalaia). (1912-21)
Used when the Greeks had briefly formed a provisional government of Samos in 1913. (Scott N88)
Issued by Greece for use in occupied territories in the north. Image is of the "auspicious eagle of Zeus." (Scott N159 1912)
Crete The island of Crete was under foreign control, had a rebel movement, was an independent nation and then joined Greece--all reflected in its stamps.
Russian stamp used in Crete (1899).
A French stamp used in Crete (1902).
Issued when Crete was an independent nation before they joined Greece (1904).
The Therisio rebel movement yearning for union with Greece issued these stamps with the King of Greece. (1905, not cataloged by Scott)
Italian stamp issued for use by citizens in Greece. An express mail stamp - has nothing to do with espresso coffee (1906).
Stamps as stamps Of interest to the collector.
The first Greek stamps are known as "Large Hermes Head". There are innumerable reprints, editions and reissues over a score of years. This one is from 1875.
From the first ever airmail stamp series. A joint Italian, Greek, Turkish effort. Scott C2 (1926)
A postage due stamp. (1943)
Currency reform ("new drachma") leads to an overprint. (1943)
Fund raiser for tuberculosis. Scott RA49 (1934)
Hermes, the messenger of the gods, is an appropriate symbol for a post office. (1983)
An overprint - from 20 lepta to 130 drachma (1946)
Celebrating 100 years of stamps with reprint of original "Large Hermes Head" stamp. (1961)
Last modified 7/14/18; posted 4/5/14; original content © 2018, 2014 John P. Nordin
> Culture >
Not sure how ancient culture applies to a NATO minister's meeting in 1962, except maybe that they are soldiers.
Given his disastrous landing, is Icarus really a good model for an airmail stamp? (1935)
Historian Thucydides. (1998)
Artemis, Apollo and Leto. (1974)
Dolphins of Delos, 110 BC. (1969)
The northwest wind, Skiron. (1943)
Kythera, island birthplace of Aphrodite. (1964)
One of a series about the 12 gods. Hestia. (1986)
Modern actor performing ancient drama (at Epidaurus). (1987)
Ionic and Corinthian capitals from the Archaic era. (1987)
Muses Thalia, Clio, and Urania from a three-stamp set. (1991)
Athena and owl coin of Athens. (1963)
Lady of Tirnys from a Mycenaean era fresco, 14th-13th cent. BCE. (1938)
Minoan wall painting from Knossos. 1600 BCE. (1961)
Boxers from Thira, ca. 1500 BCE. (1973)
Achilles throwing dice with Ajax, from Homer. (1983)
Pre-historic Cycladean sculpture that looks modern, ca. 2000 BCE. Original would be painted and prone. (1979)
Angel from Daphni church, Athens (1964)
Christ descending into hell, 11th cent. Hosios Lukas (1970)
The book of Revelation was written on the island of Patmos. Here John dictates to a scribe. (1995)
Emperor Constantine Paleologos. Last reigning Byzantine Emperor, killed 1453. 1859 image. (1968)
St. Paul preaching to the Athenians. (1937)
Theodore Poulakis icon of Most Holy Theotokos, ca. 1680 (stamp 1980)
A trireme, the ancient warship. (2006)
Figurehead of ship from Sfakia. (1983)
Famous cruiser "Averoff" served in both world wars. (1926)
Merchant ships are a sometimes neglected aspect of Greek history. (1969)
Oceanographic research vessel "Aigaio" (1999)
One of a multi-year series of regional folk costumes. A woman from Megara. (1972)
Male costume from the Peloponnesus. You can see where the Evzone guards got their uniform. (1973)
Carved knitting needle cases. (1966)
Cretan lyre. (1975)
18th cent. house, Ambelakia, Thessaly. (1975)
A series of stamps for the 1896 revival of the Olympic games were (in effect) the first commemorative issued by Greece. They still rank among the most beautiful.
Stamps are also issued for regional sporting events such as the Pan-Balkan games of 1939.
Proclaiming the Olympic truce before the 1964 games
Lighting the torch for the 1968 games - but that didn't happen in classical times.
Each Greek winner at the Athens 2004 games got their own postage stamp.
Lord Byron didn't do much substantively for Greek independence but he sure looms large in myth. (1924)
Emmanuil Xanthos, one of the founders of a resistance organization against Turkish occupation. (1950)
Part of a beautifully rendered set of stamps on the 150th anniversary of the war of independence. (1971)
The battle of Corinth (also from the previous set) (1971)
Appreciating a British commander who helped defeat the Turkish fleet. (1927)
Celebrating the famous "Oxi!" (no) offered to the Italian army in response to their ultimatum of 1940. (1945)
Victory - issued in several denominations (1945)
Honoring FDR. (1945)
In 1947, as a consequence of the war, the Dodecanese islands came back to Greece from Italian control (Stamp for Kos, from a series)
Rebuilding with the help of the Marshall plan - which helped rebuild the Corinth Canal, railways and brought mules to rural villages. (1951)
Restoration of democracy in 1974 after the junta fell.. (1977)
The Greek parliament (1979)
Eleftherios Venizelos, played a leading role in uniting Crete with Greece, became the most successful PM of the 20th cent. in developing Greece. (1946)
Gregoris Lambrakis; the famous movie"Z" is about his 1963 assassination by agents working for the right-wing government. (1990)
PM Karamanlis signs documents making Greece a part of the EEC. (1991)
Early airmail stamp. (1933)
Agra river hydroelectric station; rural electrification project (1962)
Work to end breast cancer. (2005)
The year of the child. (1979)
A refinery above the Parthenon; one of a series on environmental issues (1977)
Who else has ever put a tow truck on a stamp? Celebrating the road assistance organization. (1980)
Cover of an elementary school reader. (2011)
Opening of a satellite communication station (1970)
25th anniv. of Olympic Airlines. (1982)
Eugenius Voulgaris, educator, bishop, theologian. (1971)
Constantine Cavafy, poet famous for "Ithaka" and "Waiting for the Barbarians" (1983)
Maria Callas, opera singer. (1997)
Melina Mecouri: actress, politician, force of nature. (1995)
Nikolaos Zosimas, supporter of national liberation, benefactor of education and the Monetary Museum of Athens. (1975)
From an 18 stamp series of 1942-44. Don't often see a stamp denominated at 5,000,000 of anything.
From a 17 stamp series of 1961.
Sithonia (1979)
Amorogs, from an island series. (2008)
The Corinth Canal. Blown up by Nazis; restored by Marshall plan aid. (1927)
Dwarf lily (1978).
Kingfisher (1979).
Parrot fish (1981)
Nature tourism (2012)
Diving (2015))
The first stamp ever used on a territory that later became part of Greece. Issued by the UK in 1859 for use in the Ionian islands.
Russian stamp overprinted for use by their offices abroad for the (now Turkish) city of Smyrne when it was under Greek control.
Italian stamp for their offices in the Aegean, in this case for "Stampalia" (Astypalaia). (1912-21)
Used when the Greeks had briefly formed a provisional government of Samos in 1913. (Scott N88)
Issued by Greece for use in occupied territories in the north. Image is of the "auspicious eagle of Zeus." (Scott N159 1912)
Russian stamp used in Crete (1899).
A French stamp used in Crete (1902).
Issued when Crete was an independent nation before they joined Greece (1904).
The Therisio rebel movement yearning for union with Greece issued these stamps with the King of Greece. (1905, not cataloged by Scott)
Italian stamp issued for use by citizens in Greece. An express mail stamp - has nothing to do with espresso coffee (1906).
The first Greek stamps are known as "Large Hermes Head". There are innumerable reprints, editions and reissues over a score of years. This one is from 1875.
From the first ever airmail stamp series. A joint Italian, Greek, Turkish effort. Scott C2 (1926)
A postage due stamp. (1943)
Currency reform ("new drachma") leads to an overprint. (1943)
Fund raiser for tuberculosis. Scott RA49 (1934)
Hermes, the messenger of the gods, is an appropriate symbol for a post office. (1983)
An overprint - from 20 lepta to 130 drachma (1946)
Celebrating 100 years of stamps with reprint of original "Large Hermes Head" stamp. (1961)