“The house of the gods” – The nomination file of Olympus to the UNESCO list was submitted

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In 1938 it was the first National Forest of Greece, in 1981 it was classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and finally in 2021 with a relevant Presidential Decree it was declared a National Park.

The nomination file of Olympus for its inclusion in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage Monuments was submitted to the competent UNESCO Committee, following the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

In October of the previous year, the preliminary nomination file was submitted, which was evaluated by the UNESCO Committee.

The two ministries and the Natural Environment and Climate Change Organization (O.FY.PE.K.A.) collaborated in the last quarter and after taking into account all the comments of the Commission, they completed the final content of the file.

As the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated: “Olympus, the highest mountain of our country, is connected with ancient mythology, with Homer, with the History of Greece over the centuries. The residence of the gods is one of the strongest Greek brand names. We worked systematically and effectively with the relevant bodies in order to draw up a complete file, which includes the necessary conditions for the protection and promotion of the unique cultural and environmental physiognomy of Olympus and its inclusion in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage Monuments».

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Giorgos Amyras, stated: “In a few months we hope that Unesco will welcome the mythical mountain into its arms. Step by step we created a pioneering shield of protection for Olympus as a year ago we issued the Presidential Decree for the protection and management of the natural environment of the area, while today we filed the updated nomination file of Olympus for the list of Cultural and Natural Heritage Monuments».

UNESCO’s decision regarding the inclusion of Olympus in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage Monuments is expected by September 2023.

Today’s filing of the file is the culmination of a long process that began with the application for the tentative list of nominations in 2014.

It is noted that in Greece so far only two areas are registered in the List of Cultural and Natural Heritage Monuments, Meteora and Mount Athos.

Worldwide, the Catalog includes 1,155 Monuments.

In order for an area to be included in the list, it must meet a series of criteria related to the elements of the intangible cultural heritage, the geological-morphological characteristics, the rich biodiversity of the place as well as the existence of important ecological and biological processes for the evolution of life.

The inclusion of an area in the UNESCO List of Cultural and Natural Heritage Monuments is accompanied by significant and multiple benefits for the local community linked to the increase in recognition and tourist traffic, while at the same time strict rules are foreseen regarding the protection and management of man-made and its natural environment.

Olympus

Olympus is the highest mountain in our country, with a height of 2,918 m.

In 1938 it was the first National Forest of Greece, in 1981 it was classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and finally in 2021 with a relevant Presidential Decree it was declared a National Park.

The Mount Olympus is one of the richest regions of Greece in flora and is often described as “the paradise of botanists” with 1,700 species and subspecies of plants, which represent 25% of the Greek flora. The number of 26 endemic plants of Olympus is the largest number of endemic plants found in any other Greek mountain.

Olympus is a timeless symbol of Greek culture as well as a property of world cultural heritage. The numerous myths about the Twelve Gods of Olympus, their figures, characters, passions and quarrels, were read, studied, interpreted and inspired the development and evolution of art, literature, religious and social concepts throughout the western world.

The intangible cultural heritage of Olympus is complemented by the Greek folk songs on the subject of Olympus which survive to this day and treat the proposed monument, either anthropomorphically or as a refuge for the downtrodden.

Finally, it is worth pointing out that Olympus is a pole of attraction for thousands of visitors every year, both for mountaineers and nature lovers who come from all over the world to admire the “Mountain of the Gods” with its steep peaks and natural beauty.

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