In the news1896
First modern Olympics held in 1896
Athens hosted the opening ceremonies of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, a significant cultural event for the capital.
Also known as Sitta (nickname)
Athens, 2 May 1896 – Lausanne, 28 Nov 1982
11 facts3 sources
2 May 1896
Born in Athens
25 Oct 1921
A son is born
28 Nov 1982
Dies in Lausanne, aged 86
She lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Athens.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1896
Athens hosted the opening ceremonies of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, a significant cultural event for the capital.
What people wore
Men wore the iconic fustanella skirt
Men often wore the fustanella, a full-pleated skirt that originated from southern Albania and became a national symbol. It was commonly paired with a vest, a sleeveless coat, and a leather belt used to carry weapons.
Getting around
Travel time in Crete was slow
A journey across Crete from the Mesara plain to Heraklion, a distance of about 60 km, took 24 hours with a brief overnight stop.
Around the world · 1895The cinema. In a Paris café the Lumière brothers showed films to a paying audience for the first time.
In the news1893
The Greek state declared bankruptcy in 1893 after the country's borrowing capacity was exhausted following years of heavy foreign lending.
Music
Singing heroic ballads at table feasts
Heroic songs, or klephtic ballads, were often sung by soloists at banquets while seated around tables filled with food and wine. Singers and their audience used these songs to emotionally relive stories of bravery and life's challenges.
Daily life
Village Life and Daily Work Patterns
Peasants typically lived in large villages rather than isolated farmhouses to protect themselves from brigandage, traveling daily to work in the fields with bread and olives for lunch.