Greek investment immigration listens tostories of Greece: Greece has a long and rich culture, developed and accumulated over thousands of years, forming a unique charm primarily reflected in two aspects: respect for culture and the tradition of patriotism.
Firstly, culture holds a high status in Greece and is respected everywhere. Ancient Greek culture has made an indelible contribution to the development of human civilization and occupies a significant place in world cultural history. Engels said: "Without the cultural foundations laid by Greek culture and the Roman Empire, there would be no modern Europe." Especially, Greek mythology is widely known, familiar to everyone. Due to the extensive dissemination of Greek mythology, many famous brands around the world draw resources from it to expand their influence. For example, the name of the United States' Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is derived from the shield of Zeus in Greek mythology; the brand Hermes shares its name with the commercial deity Hermes in Greek mythology; the English meaning of Nike refers to the goddess of victory in Greek mythology; the name of the United States Apollo moon landing program comes from the sun god in Greek mythology, and so on.
Some say that Greece is characterized by the four "S"s: SUN—sun, SEA—ocean, SAND—beach, STONE—stone. Stone represents cultural relics and historical sites. The Greek people take great pride in their long and brilliant culture, filled with respect. They prioritize the protection of cultural heritage at all times.
When cultural preservation conflicts with economic development, cultural preservation takes precedence over momentary economic gains. For example, to host the 2004 Olympics, Athens undertook a large-scale subway expansion. However, Athens is rich in antiquities, leading to the tricky issue of how to treat these relics. The Athens government implemented a series of protective measures. First, they prioritized the protection of antiquities, even if it meant delaying the project. Thus, the subway construction paused repeatedly to allow for the preservation of relics, and work could only continue once the relics were excavated in their entirety and well-protected. This caused some project delays extending up to two years, only finishing in time for the Olympics. Second, protecting relics does not mean relocating them to museums but rather preserving them in situ. Upon excavation, they would clean the site and display the relics in glass cases, offering a sense of authenticity and original context. Third, the site not only preserves but also creates small museums equipped with explanations of the relics, images of the excavation process, and modest yet comprehensive visitor facilities, resulting in Athens' unique attraction of subway museums.
The establishment of museums directly within subway stations is an innovative idea from the Greek government, becoming a unique feature of Athens. Inside the subway stations, one side is the subway, and the other is the exhibition hall. People taking the subway often pause to explore the small museum, experiencing relics and culture. More and more visitors come to the subway stations, not to ride the subway but to visit the subway museum. Thus, Athens' subway serves dual functions: as a means of transportation and as a cultural landmark. The respect for culture among Greeks is instilled from a young age. In Athens, the first lesson in elementary school must take place at the Acropolis, as it is the most prominent ancient architectural group in Greece, embodying the pinnacle of ancient Greek architecture and sculpture art. Bringing elementary students here for their first lesson is intended to ensure that citizens remember, love, and inherit Greek culture from an early age.
Secondly, patriotism is a distinct cultural tradition in Greece. Greece has two national holidays, both related to patriotism. One holiday is on March 25, commemorating the armed uprising against Turkish rule that began on March 25, 1825, which through relentless effort and struggle led to Greece's independence in 1828, recognized by Turkey in 1829. The other holiday is on October 28, originating from the event on October 28, 1940, when Mussolini issued an ultimatum to Greece demanding permission for Italian troops to enter the country. The Greek government courageously responded with a refusal of "no," leading to an Italian attack on Greece, which the Greek military fiercely resisted, leading to October 28 becoming Greece's second official national holiday, also referred to as "Ohi Day."
Greek patriotism is also strongly expressed in the pursuit of the return of looted cultural relics. In the early 19th century, while Greece was still under Ottoman Turkish rule, Lord Elgin of Britain transported 28 large crates of marble sculptures from the Acropolis to Britain and sold them to the British Museum. The Greek people have considered this an affront to their national dignity. In 1982, then Greek Culture Minister Melina Mercouri proposed a motion at a UNESCO plenary session, calling for the return of the artifacts known worldwide as the "Elgin Marbles" from the British Museum. Since then, Greeks and Greek people around the world have been advocating for the return of these artifacts to Greece. In the new Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009, there is a vacant floor specifically waiting for the return of the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum.