• the Archaeological Museum of Eretria in Greece contains a 10th century B.C. terracotta centaur from Lefkandi which was discovered broken in two parts, each placed in a different grave?
• the Distomo Archaeological Collection of Greece has an exhibition of photographs related to the Distomo massacre in 1944 by Nazi troops?
• the Kapodistrias Museum in Corfu, Greece, donated by Maria Desylla-Kapodistria the first female Greek mayor, was dedicated to the memory of the first Greek governor, Ioannis Kapodistrias?
• the 464 BC earthquake in Sparta, Greece, led to a revolt of helots?
• the Greek musical group C:Real sang only in English before the arrival of lead vocalist Irini Douka in 2002, which led them to focus on Greek language songs?
• the 15th-century monastery of Saint Paraskevi, in Epirus, northwestern Greece, is situated on the edge of the Vikos Gorge (pictured)?
• the banknote exhibit at the Banknote Museum in Corfu, owned by Alpha Bank, is the first such collection in Greece to be put on public display?
• the Bulgarian villages of Mezek and Matochina, situated near the borders with Greece and Turkey, both have medieval castles (Matochina fortress pictured)?
• the Kri-kri is a type of wild goat once common around the Mediterranean but now restricted to a few parts of the island of Crete in Greece?
• the Melingoi were a Slavic group that settled in southern Greece during the great invasions of the 7th century, and remained an autonomous community at least until the 14th century?
• the beard of Greek cardinal Basilios Bessarion was partly responsible for the defeat of his candidacy in the papal conclave, 1455?
• the lyrics of Naer Mataron, a black metal band from Greece, are influenced by Greek mythology?
• while fleeing from Greece to Egypt during World War II, a frustrated Olivia Manning used a chamberpot to crush a fellow refugee's Parisian hats?
• the Italian Tocco family became the rulers of several Ionian Islands and formed the last dynasty of the Despotate of Epirus in Greece, before they were conquered by the Ottomans?
• the hydraulis or water organ of the Dion Archaeological Museum is the first water organ found in Greece, and believed to be the oldest excavated to date anywhere in the world?
• the Pavlos Vrellis Greek History Museum is the best known wax museum in Greece?
• the Port of Thessaloniki in Greece will double its container terminal capacity after an investment of US$600 million made by the Hutchison Port Holdings company based in Hong Kong?
• in order to subdue the heresy of Imiaslavie, the Russian Empire sent two transport ships and a gunboat to Mount Athos in Greece, and stormed the St. Panteleymon Monastery?
• during World War II, the SS-run Haidari concentration camp near Athens was so infamous that it became known as the "Bastille of Greece"?
• Stylianos Pattakos, a principal of the 21 April 1967 coup in Greece, after his conviction at the Greek junta trials, enjoyed amenities such as a pond with 21 goldfish while imprisoned?
• American statesman John Milledge named Athens, Georgia, the city surrounding the University of Georgia, after Athens, Greece, the city of Plato's Academy?
• Emmanouil Argyropoulos (pictured), the first Greek aviator to fly over his country, was also the first casualty suffered by Greek military aviation one year later during the Balkan Wars?
• Russian Hussar Alexander Bulatovich (pictured) was a military aide to Ethiopian ruler Menelek II, a hieromonk in Greece, and leader of a banned religious movement?
• Norwegian chemist Alexis Pappas was born in London to Greek parents who fled from Belgium to England during World War I?
• Greek composer Phivos has written songs for artists including Keti Garbi, Angela Dimitriou, Manto, Thanos Kalliris, and, most successfully, Despina Vandi?
• Greek–Polish singer Eleni Tzoka has been awarded the Saint Rita of Cascia prize for the act of mercy towards the killer of her young daughter?
• Nigeria, which contains what was once the Kingdom of Benin, has repeatedly called for the U.K.'s return of the Benin Bronzes, in a situation similar to Greece's petition for the return of the Elgin Marbles?
• Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù‎, founded in 1720, was the first modern opera theatre in Greece?
• Pindus National Park is one of three areas in Greece that hosts populations of bears?
• aviator Aristeidis Moraitinis (pictured), apart from being Greece’s only ace in World War I, was at the same time in command of the Hellenic Naval Air Service?
• between 1955 and 1998, under Article 19 of the Greek Citizenship Code which entitled the Greek government to strip non-ethnic Greeks who left the country of their citizenship, 46,638 members of the officially recognized Muslim minority of Greece lost their citizenship?
• current Chief of National Defense General Staff of Greece, Air Chief Marshal Ioannis Giagkos, served as Commander in NATO Combined Air Operations Centre-7?
• a miniature clay figurine of a woman or goddess in the Argos Archaeological Museum in Greece is one of the oldest sculptural representations of humans found in Europe to date?
• Europe's largest sewage treatment plant is in Psyttaleia, Greece?
• Zakynthos Marine Park in Greece is the first national park established for the protection of sea turtles (Loggerhead Sea Turtle pictured) in the Mediterranean?
• Zariphios School, founded at 1875 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, was one of the most significant Greek educational institutions in the region, attracting teachers from Greece and Western Europe?
• German painter Ludwig Thiersch influenced the debate over Byzantine and Western influences in modern Greek art, and painted church frescoes in Greece, Austria, Germany, England, and Russia?

Facts on topics related to Greece

Poland

• "Spieprzaj dziadu!" (Polish for "Piss off, old man!"), said by current Polish President Lech Kaczynski, has become one of the most famous phrases in modern Poland?
• 19th century Polish general Ludwik Mierosławski led revolutionaries in Poland, Germany and Italy?
• abrasion has destroyed the 14th century Church in Trzęsacz, Poland, near the Baltic Sea, except for part of its southern wall?
• French-born artist Jan Piotr Norblin is famous in Poland for illustrating many important historical moments of the last years of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and is considered one of the most important painters of the Polish Enlightenment?
• German socialist politician Siegmund Glücksmann initiated the first socialist protests against the Piłsudski government in Poland?
• Greek–Polish singer Eleni Tzoka has been awarded the Saint Rita of Cascia prize for the act of mercy towards the killer of her young daughter?
• Japan and Poland are the world's largest krill fishing nations since Russia abandoned its operations in 1993?
• neoclassical Staszic Palace in Warsaw was temporarily given a Russo-Byzantine redesign upon Poland's partition?
• Norwegian professor of bacteriology Sverre Dick Henriksen was an honorary member of the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, despite having never worked in Poland?
• Poland's Antoni Gawryłkiewicz, a recipient of the Righteous among the Nations medal, signed his Yad Vashem deposition in Hebrew, a language he did not understand?

Germany

• 19th century Polish general Ludwik Mierosławski led revolutionaries in Poland, Germany and Italy?
• U.S. Ambassador Charles E. Bohlen received the secret protocol to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which contained an understanding between Hitler and Stalin to split Central Europe, from German diplomat Hans von Herwarth?
• the author of the term Third Reich predicted that "Germany might perish because of the Third Reich dream"?
• Church of Scientology International official Leisa Goodman went on a six-month mission to investigate the treatment of Scientologists in Germany?
• communist activist Franz Jacob organized one of the largest resistance groups in Germany during World War II?
• French Major General René Cogny, who later commanded French forces during the First Indochina War, was captured in June 1940 by the German army, and had to escape by crawling naked through a drainpipe?
• French protests caused the Russians to award the contract for the Gangut-class battleship to a Russian firm rather than the German winner of the 1908 international design contest?
• Gauleiter of Tyrol and Vorarlberg Franz Hofer arranged the surrender of the troops under his command with an American sergeant, and a Jewish emigrant from Germany, Fred Mayer?
• German painter Ludwig Thiersch influenced the debate over Byzantine and Western influences in modern Greek art, and painted church frescoes in Greece, Austria, Germany, England, and Russia?
• German bass Hans Herbert Fiedler sang the role of Moses in the original 1954 production of Arnold Schoenberg's Moses und Aron?

Portugal

• 18th century Franco-Portuguese industrialist Jácome Ratton (pictured) left a vivid account of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake in his memoirs and was exiled to the Azores during the Napoleonic Wars?
• Angola gained its independence from Portugal through the Alvor Agreement?
• Eça de Queirós, one of the greatest writers in the Portuguese language, was born in Praça do Almada, the civic center of Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal?
• Italian explorer Rafael Perestrello, a cousin of Christopher Columbus, sailed on behalf of Portugal and established trading relationships for that country with the Ming Dynasty in China in 1516?
• Portugal was taken to court over its failure to implement EU directives regarding its water supply and sanitation systems?
• Portuguese Josefa de Óbidos was one of the few women dedicated to painting (pictured: still life by her) in the Baroque era?
• Portuguese architect Mateus Fernandes is best known for his Manueline-style work at the Monastery of Batalha?
• Portuguese soldier and explorer Francisco Barreto led an expedition to Monomotapa in search of legendary gold mines, but died along the way from tropical diseases, as did many of his men?
• Ulysses S. Grant awarded Bolama to Portugal, who made it the first capital of Portuguese Guinea?
• Arthur Raikes was a British army officer but received honours from Zanzibar, Austria and Portugal?

Armenia

• Armenian composer and musician Ara Gevorgyan composed the music for Russian prima ballerina Anastasia Volochkova's "Golden cage" ballet dedicated to the Bolshoi Theater?
• Polish-Armenian Roman Catholic priest, Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski was ordered to be silent by the Krakow Curia because of his clergy lustration activities?
• chee kufta is an Armenian raw meat dish similar to steak tartare?
• Haghpat Monastery (pictured) in Armenia was placed on the World Heritage List over 1,000 years after it was founded?
• khash is a traditional Armenian dish from the Shirak region which has cow's feet as its main ingredient?
• Rhipsime and her companions are venerated as the first Christian martyrs in Armenian history?
• tetraconch churches, with four apses spreading from a central dome, are a speciality of medieval Armenian and Georgian architecture?
• a swinging column at Haghartsin Monastery in Armenia was used to hide riches?
• one of the finest khachkar memorial stones is located at Goshavank Monastery in Armenia, the place where the law of Armenia was first codified by Mkhitar Gosh in the late 12th and early 13th century?
• opinion polls in Armenia suggest that 64% of its population favors eventual Armenian membership in the European Union?

Hungary

• amphibious tanks which were used on D-Day were developed by Nicholas Straussler from Hungary?
• Hungarian ballerina Nora Kovach's 1953 defection to the West was the first highly publicized Cold War-era defection of individuals in the field of dance?
• Hungarian fencer Pal Szekeres is the only person ever to have won medals at both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games?
• Hungarian long jumper and triple jumper Gyula Pálóczi has been called "the most successful jumper Hungary has ever produced" by the European Athletic Association?
• Hungarian István Major held the high jump record at the European Indoor Championships from 1972 to 1977?
• Hungarian István Réti travelled to Turin, to paint 1848 revolutionary Lajos Kossuth, who had died there recently?
• Hungarian National Defence Day falls on 21 May, the anniversary of the climax of the Battle of Buda (1849)?
• Hungarian company Zsolnay (its fountain pictured), known for its manufacture of decorative tiles, became the largest company in Austro-Hungary prior to WWI?
• Hungarian painter Béla Iványi-Grünwald was influenced by many French artistic movements including Symbolism, Fauvism and Impressionism, and in particular the work of Paul Gauguin?
• Hungarian-born Commando George Lane was spared execution after taking tea with Rommel?

Croatia

• Grandmaster Valentina Golubenko, the first and only World Youth Chess Champion born and raised in Estonia, is a Russian citizen playing under the Croatian flag?
• Milan Bandić was elected in 2005 as the mayor of Zagreb, Croatia, with the support of only a seventh of eligible voters?
• Šalata is the first neighborhood in Croatia to use digital homes?
• Italian Wall Lizards (pictured) on a Croatian island developed significant behavioral and morphological changes over the course of 36 years, which has been described as "rapid evolution"?
• Lepoglava prison (Croatian: Kaznionica u Lepoglavi) is the oldest and largest prison located in Croatia?
• Prvić near Krk is the windiest Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea?
• Svetozar Delić was a mayor of Zagreb, Croatia for three days, but it took three more days to remove him from the city hall?
• Zaprešić is the most densely populated city in Zagreb County, Croatia?
• a substantially complete Greek bronze Apoxyomenos, or representation of an athlete, was recovered off the Croatian island of Lošinj in 1999?
• at 5,821 metres (19,098 ft) long, the Mala Kapela Tunnel is the longest tunnel in Croatia?

Netherlands

• arson was suspected when the last original boô (pictured), a building where a farmer rested when grazing cattle far from a village, burned down in the Netherlands?
• Cape Leeuwin, the most south-westerly point of the Australian continent, is named after the Dutch galleon Leeuwin?
• jazz singer Ilse Huizinga is known in the Netherlands as the First Lady of Jazz?
• two Dutch professors who lost an article written by Samuel Iperusz Wiselius were nonetheless to join him in forming the Batavian Republic in the Netherlands?
• landscape architecture firm West 8 designed the so-called "Reptile Bridge" between Leidsche Rijn and Utrecht in the Netherlands?
• Dutch abstract artist Jules de Goede described his art by saying "A reflection of the world like it visually appears is not quite enough ... I try to show what is invisible"?
• Dutch admiral Egbert Bartholomeusz Kortenaer (1604–1655) kept Maarten Tromp's standard raised to maintain morale after the latter died in the Battle of Scheveningen in 1653?
• Dutch cricketer Maurits van Nierop had been recalled to the Netherlands national cricket team squad for the first time in two years just two weeks before he died?
• Dutch magician Fred Kaps was the only magician to win the magic world championship three times?
  
• Dutch mannerist painter Cornelis Ketel began to paint with his toes towards the end of a successful career as a portraitist, (example, right) in Elizabethan London and Amsterdam?

Norway

• 19th-century politician Søren Jaabæk (pictured) is the longest-serving member of parliament in the history of Norway?
• 22-year-old ski jumper Anette Sagen played the mother of 70-year-old Bård Owe in the Norwegian movie O' Horten?
• 29 Norwegian civilians were shot in reprisal by the Nazi regime in Norway following the Norwegian resistance's assassination of police chief Karl Marthinsen in February of 1945?
• television chef Ingrid Espelid Hovig is considered the "culinary mother" of Norway?
• 1993 Eurovision Song Contest winner Niamh Kavanagh overcame voice and dress problems to make her return in the 2010 contest in Oslo, Norway?
• Prince Carl of Denmark landed at Vippetangen when he arrived in Norway to assume the throne in 1905?
• Henrich Krummedige's 1502 murder of Knut Alvsson ended the feud started by their fathers, Hartvig Krummedige and Alv Knutsson, as well as Knut's leadership of the rebellion against King Hans' rule over Norway?
• musicologist Olav Gurvin co-edited the first Norwegian music encyclopedia in 1949?
• Norway's first tank was a Landsverk L-120 with an improvised turret and make-shift armour?
• Norway applied thrice to join the European Union, but failed to accede all three times?

Cyprus

• "Comme Ci, Comme Ça" was performed in French at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, despite being the Cypriot entry?
• Scorpions were transported to Cyprus in 1974 to protect the British Sovereign Base Areas during the Turkish Invasion?
• Section 171 of the Criminal Code of Cyprus, which prohibited homosexual acts between men, was repealed just eight days before a May 29, 1998 deadline set by the Council of Europe?
• among all European Union member states, Cyprus is the only presidential republic? (pictured: EU flag)
• despite being born in Harlow, England, Alex Stavrinou qualified to play for the Cyprus youth football team through his father's Cypriot heritage?
• during the Ottoman–Venetian War of 1570–1573, the 8,500-strong Venetian garrison of Famagusta in Cyprus held out for eleven months against an Ottoman army of 200,000 men?
• in 1902, 23-year-old British archaeozoologist Dorothea Bate discovered a new species of dwarf elephant in a cave on the island of Cyprus?
• the Cypriot women's basketball team was disqualified at the 2009 Jeux de la Francophonie for exceeding the permitted number of naturalized players?

Greek

• the 1st century Greek historian Nicolaus of Damascus reported the embassy of holy men from India to the Levant, Athens and Rome during the time of Jesus?
• the pinax, an ancient Greek votive tablet, has given several modern European languages their word for "art museum", as exemplified by Munich's Alte Pinakothek?
• the highest distinction among the Caloyers, a Greek monastic order, involves spending one's entire life alone, confined in a cave on top of a mountain?