In Homer’s Illiad, the dwelling place of the gods is elaborately described. Mount Olympus is most well-known to Westerners as the abode of the Olympian Gods from ancient Greek mythology. Mount Olympus in spring ( Ina Meer Sommer / Adobe Stock) The Mythology of Mount Olympus

Pegasus: The Majestic White Horse of Olympus.

Real World Locations, Where Myth Meets Reality.

Finally, at elevations over 2500 meters (8202 feet), the forests give way to subalpine low-lying vegetation. Above 1100 meters (3608 feet), Bosnian pine gradually replaces black pine. Above 600 meters (1968 feet) in elevation, these oak forests give way to forests of beech and fir, with black and Bosnian pine. The lower slopes of Mount Olympus have a typical Mediterranean climate, with oak trees and low-lying vegetation. This location allows for abundant biodiversity. The topography on the western side is gentler on average, eventually giving way to the plain of Thessaly. Mount Olympus is situated on the Aegean where its slopes dramatically rise from sea level to 2918 meters (9573 feet). The peak which was believed to be the abode of the ancient Greeks gods is an arête carved by glaciers, and is the highest peak in Greece.

Mount Olympus is actually one of several peaks on the Olympus massif. It continues to influence human history to the present day. For these reasons, Mount Olympus is within a UNESCO biosphere and is part of the oldest national park in Greece. Furthermore, the Olympus region contains abundant biodiversity. Physically, the Olympus massif, containing the peak referred to as Mount Olympus, is the site of an overthrust where granitic, metamorphic, and ophiolitic rocks have been thrust over ancient limestone deposits. Even today, the myths of the gods of Mount Olympus are retold. Mythically, the ancient Greek gods living atop Mount Olympus loomed large in religion and culture, architecture and literature, for generations. Over the centuries, Mount Olympus has held importance, not only in mythology, but also geology and ecology.

Few mountains have had greater impact on the history of Western civilization than the mountain situated on the Aegean coast on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, referred to as Mount Olympus.

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