Histories, Legends, and Myths are characterized as events that took place in the past. Sometimes, evidence may be unavailable and many may not believe it; yet, many deeds of modern humans are still inspired by these past events. The Greek Myth is particularly one of the most influential myths of all time. Several human creations all over the world have been given names that first originated from Greek myths and some of them include – Honda Odyssey, Nissan Titan, and the Olympics. The Olympics particularly originated in the ancient city of Olympia in honor of the god – Zeus.

The names - Olympia and Olympics can be said to have originated from – Mount Olympus; a place where (according to Greek Myth) the Ancient Greek gods dwelt. This same mountain has been mentioned in several ancient works of literature, with descriptions similar to what the Myths tell. One of such mentions is in Homer, Odyssey Book 6 Vs. 40 where Homer described the location like a heavenly abode. Due to this continuous mentions in both the Ancient and modern world, many now believe it existed but can we consider that conclusion to be correct? Did Mount Olympus exist somewhere?

History And First Mentions Of Mount Olympus

In Greek Mythology, the origins of Mount Olympus date to as far back as Titanomachy; a ten-year war between the Titans and the Olympian gods. The war began when Zeus led an alliance of his siblings against his father – Cronus, who had been a tyrannical titan ruler that ate up his children for fear of being overthrown by one of them (like he did to his father - Uranus). After the war ended, the victorious side (Zeus and his brothers) discarded the old ruling throne and fighting side of Cronus – Mount Othrys, and resided on Mount Olympus where they would go on to rule the earth.

In other versions of the story, Mount Olympus appeared earlier during the war. According to Oxford University Press, while the titans led by Cronus fought from Mount Othrys, Zeus fought from Mount Olympus and probably used the height of the mountain to his advantage. One can imagine the god of thunder standing at the peak of the mountain hurling down streams of lightning bolts at the titans.

So, Is Mount Olympus A Real Place?

Even though the people of Ancient Greece mainly attributed Mount Olympus to be the dwelling place of Zeus and the Olympians in the sky, it turned out that the mountain was a physical place on earth located near the Gulf of Salonika in Northern Greece, on the borders of Thessaly and Macedonia. Mount Olympus is the tallest mountain and also the highest elevation above sea level in Greece with a height of 2,917 m (9,570 feet). The mountain features a total of 52 summits and the highest summit is called – Mytikas. At the side of Mytikas is another summit called - Stefani or Thanos Dios, which is considered in Greek Mythology to be the throne of Zeus himself.

How To Explore Mount Olympus

The best way to explore Mount Olympus is by climbing it. Climbers from all over the world love the climb at Mount Olympus. In 1938, the mountain was named the first National Park in Greece. Every year, it is said to be visited by over 10,000 people, making it the most visited mountain in Greece.

Related: A Travel Guide To Greece: 11 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip

Accessibility Of Mount Olympus

The closest place to Mount Olympus is a small resort town called Litochoro and it lies 18.7 km (11.6 miles) from the mountain. Litochoro is also the starting point of the majority of the climbs at Mount Olympus. Here, visitors can stay at the hotels or camps available to get prepared for the climb. The resort town of Litochoro does not have an airport but visitors can arrive at nearby airports and take vehicle rides to Litochoro station.

The nearest airport to Litochoro is Thessaloniki Airport and from here, visitors can get to Litochoro by bus, taxi, car, or shuttle. The distance between Thessaloniki Airport and Litochoro is 120 km (74 miles). Usually, it takes 1 hour, 30 minutes of driving time to get to Letochoro. Transportation cost starts from $15 and can go as high as $100 or more.

Related: 10 Things You Should Definitely Know Before Visiting Greece

Climbing Difficulty At Mount Olympus

The 2,917 meters Tall Mountain is characterized as a Class III climb and most climbers never even get to the summit of the mountain due to the difficulty level. The climb is particularly difficult because the mountain features lots of steep hills. During the ascent, climbers can only get past some areas by engaging their hands and scrambling past the unstable rocks. Since summer is the best time to climb Mount Olympus, visitors will also be directly exposed to sunlight and this makes sunscreens and caps important for a comfortable climb here. One unique attribute of Mount Olympus is that it is always covered in clouds making it more difficult to climb.

Climbing Mount Olympus During Winter

Winter is the most difficult time to climb Mount Olympus as the mountain is often sprinkled with lots of snow from November to May. Adventurers planning to climb the mountain during this period should be sure to come with their crampons as the rocks are slippery when wet. There are several camps on the mountain route and climbers who have basic items such as – energy food and water can rest in these shades when the weather becomes unbearable.

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