The forest itself features an anarchic succession of vegetation. As the altitude increases, the vegetation of Olympus, and particularly its distribution, presents many peculiarities. Thus, while in the neighbouring mountains of Pieria, Titaros, and Ossa there is a clear sequence of vegetation zones, on Olympus one witnesses an anarchy in zone succession due to its great variety of microclimates, which are due to the bedrock, slope, altitude above sea level, steep gradients and general terrain.
Generally speaking, there are four discernible zones of vegetation. The first, ranging from to m, is comprised of evergreen sclerophyllous vegetation and includes shrubs and low trees such as holm oak Quercus ilex , Greek strawberry tree Arbutus adrachne , Kermes oak Quercus coccifera , and prickly juniper Juniperus oxycedrus. There are also certain characteristic deciduous species such as manna ash Fraxinus ornus , smoke tree Cotinus coggyria , Montpellier maple Acer monspessulanum , Judas tree Cercis siliquastrum , turpentine tree Pistacia terebinthus and others.
From to m, which is the zone of beech-fir and montane conifers, we come across black pine Pinus nigra var. Beech forms small clusters, unmixed or mixed with fir, Bosnian pine or black pine, and occupies the richer and wetter soils. In small clusters and scrubs we encounter Macedonian fir Abies borissi-regis , oriental hornbeam Carpinus orientalis , wych elm Ulmus glabra , common hazel Coryllus avellana , dogwood Cornus mas , yew Taxus baccata , as well as a significant variety of herbaceous plants.
In the gorges and ravines are found oriental plane trees Platanus orientalis and willows Salix eleagnos. From to meters the zone of boreal conifers emerges, dominated primarily by Bosnian pine Pinus heldreichii , a rare species of pine, which makes its appearance at an altitude of around 1, meters.
Gradually replacing black pine, it forms unmixed stands up to nearly 2, meters. The areas where Bosnian pine grows are usually dry with rocky slopes.
The vegetation that grows in the region is adapted to specific local conditions and is represented by characteristic shrubs, grasses, chasmophytes, etc. Above 2, meters, the highest treeline in the Balkans, we no longer find forests but a variety of sub-alpine ecosystems of low-growing vegetation with many rare wildflowers, most of which are endemic to Olympus, Greece or the Balkans.
The peaks of Olympus were the place where legends were forged, starring the Twelve Gods, the Muses, and the Graces, as well as sites of open-air worship. Thus, at the foot of the mountain, beneath the clouds of Olympus, a rich cultural landscape was formed, highlighting the timeless value of the region and exerting an influence on the evolution of art and culture. The sacred sites and pathways of antiquity and the Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments constitute unique and rare evidence of human presence on this inhospitable mountain.
These enduring testimonies, spanning over 3, years of history on Olympus, have contributed to the creation of a fascinating combination of myth, history and nature.
Furthermore, they have led to the salvation of a national park of exceptional natural beauty and unparalleled geomorphology, in which an evolving ecosystem biodiversity is preserved, rendering Olympus a site of particular importance. The unique landscape of Olympus, which inspired this rich mythology, hosts a great variety of flora and fauna. They include locally endemic species, species endemic to Greece and the Balkans, as well as rare and endangered species.
More than bird species reside on Olympus, including raptors and woodland species such as hawks and woodpeckers, and 30 mammal species including the Balkan chamois Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica , which climbers frequently encounter during their ascent of Mt Olympus. Around 30 species of amphibian and reptile have been recorded, as well as numerous invertebrates, among them the famous butterflies of Olympus.
Furthermore, the importance of the National Park has been recognized not only in Greece but also in Europe and worldwide. Criterion v i : Olympus, with its imperious and majestic scenery, was chosen by the ancient Greeks as the focal point of their mythology and religious beliefs. The intangible cultural wealth recorded in the Homeric epics and Hesiod's Theogony, major literary works of antiquity, turned Olympus into a source of inspiration and symbolism, an iconographic archetype for subsequent Greek and universal artistic creation, and a globally recognised reference point.
The peaks were the setting where legends were forged starring the Twelve Gods, the Muses, and the Graces. The open-air sites of worship, the surviving ancient pathways, the Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments located high in the mountains, are unique and rare evidence of human life in this inhospitable place.
Already subscribed? Log in. Forgotten your password? Want an ad-free experience? View offers. Mount Olympus was significant in Greek mythology as a zone of great power, the meeting place of heaven and earth. Ancient Greeks believed that Zeus, king of the gods, and his family of deities dwelt on Mount Olympus, but they regarded the mountain more as a figurative space for these gods and goddesses than an actual location on earth.
Zeus conquered the territory in his battle with the Titans by gathering clouds and hurling thunderbolts. The clouds that envelop the mountain are continual reminders of the connection between earth and sky. In the Greco-Roman tradition, natural elements were seen as ancestors of the more personified gods and goddesses.
In addition to awe of mountains—a combination of reverence and a little fear—people also saw manifestations of the divine in caves, the headwaters of major rivers, and hot springs. Sacred groves were common during Greek and Roman times, and travelers would make offerings at these spots along their journey.
Many such spots existed in the foothills and lower level of Mount Olympus. The highest sacrificial place was the peak of Profitis Ilias, at an elevation of 9, feet.
Hermits and monks resided for longer periods of time in caves and forests located throughout the lower elevations of the mountain. Mountains have been central to Greek society since Neolithic times.
Dozens of villages arose in the foothills of Mount Olympus during the Iron Age approximately the 12th century to the eighth century B. The isolation of mountain villages has helped to preserve language and folklore over centuries of political changes.
One of the most notable is Dion, on the northern side. From the fifth to the second century B. Known as Olympia of Zeus, the nine days honored each of his nine daughters, the Muses, with theatrical performances and athletic competitions. Alexander the Great, from Macedonia—the modern political region that includes Mount Olympus on its southern border—is said to have gone to Dion to make sacrifices to Zeus before he set out on his campaign to expand the Macedonian empire.
With the coming of Christianity, many of the older religious and cultural practices associated with Mount Olympus were hidden or incorporated into the new religion. However, the lower levels of the mountain were still used for spiritual contemplation.
In the 11th century, St. Dionysius of Halicarnassus built a shrine on one of the lower peaks, Hagios Ilias. As in many European places, local culture still carries traces of the pagan sacred landscape, even though in the case of Mount Olympus, recreational appreciation has largely replaced spiritual veneration.
While its significance has altered, Mount Olympus has remained an important geographical location and symbol to Greeks. Waves of invaders during the Roman and Byzantine periods passed by it, but with all the political changes that surrounded it, the mountain itself remained relatively untouched.
Its rugged terrain provided safe harbor for village residents, renegade soldiers, and criminals alike. Many people left their remote villages for coastal cities, a migration that included the villages around Mount Olympus. Such migration was encouraged by the growing economies in major cities and by overcultivation of mountainous areas, which led to soil erosion and deforestation. As the permanent settlements around Mount Olympus emptied out, the mountain became more of a destination for adventure tourists.
Since then, the mountain has become a common one- or two-day hike for young travelers. Most hikers begin their climb in the town of Litochoro on the eastern side of the mountain in the region of Macedonia, a destination along the trans-Europe E4 hiking trail. The other major human activity around Mount Olympus is archaeology; Dion and other ancient villages have been extensively excavated since the s.
One spectacular find was an ancient cemetery discovered in at the base of Mount Olympus, 2.
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