The occidental culture was significantly influenced by the Greek language and culture. Many important works of world literature and philosophical writings were written in Greek. One thinks of Homer, Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles, Plato, and Aristotle.

The Greek language also influenced many languages around the world. Among them Latin - the root of Romance languages such as French, Italian, Spanish, and also English. By the way, it is estimated that 30% of all words in the English language have a direct Greek origin.

Some, for example, antique, architect, acrobat, biology, cinema, cemetery, democracy, dinosaur, drama, energy, Europe, economy, encyclopedia, galaxy, geography, grammar, harmony, history, hour, idea, idiot, kilometer, mega, music, ocean, organism, philosophy, photography, planet, stereo, symbol, system, theater, tragedy, telephone, telescope, zone, zoo. Greek words are also used in the fields of science, mathematics, astrology, geology, technology, and medicine.

The Greek written and spoken today is called Modern Greek. It is the official language in Greece and Cyprus and is one of the 24 official languages of the European Union. Together with the immigrant Greeks and Cypriots, over 13 million people worldwide speak Greek as their mother tongue.

Ancient Greek, like Latin, is now one of the dead languages and is mainly used as a language of education in the fields of philosophy, science, history, poetry, medicine, and theology.

In Greece, all street and place name signs are inscribed with English letters in addition to Greek. This makes orientation easier even for non-Greek speakers. Nevertheless, it can't hurt as a visitor to get acquainted with the Greek alphabet.