Greek History Community

April 21st, 1967: Greek Junta Places Country in Shackles!

1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Hash

Hash

Well-known member
When I saw Tanks on the streets up and down Paleo Faliro and Athens Airport it was a normal way of life....I was too young to realise the implications of what was really going on..
greekreporter.com

April 21st, 1967: Greek Junta Places Country in Shackles

On April 21st, 1967, Greece woke up with a military junta taking over power and putting the country in shackles for seven years
greekreporter.com
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Vangelis
I remember seeing a tank at the Athens airport in 1973. I remember thinking that was odd but was too young to realise the full implications of what was going on in Greece. Definitely a dark time for Greece.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash and dubai_suzie
Vangelis said:
I remember seeing a tank at the Athens airport in 1973. I remember thinking that was odd but was too young to realise the full implications of what was going on in Greece. Definitely a dark time for Greece.
Click to expand...
Thats so scary...I've heard many stories like this as well. There is a famous movie about the junta called "To Tango too Christougenoun" or "The Christmas Tango"

 
  • Like
Reactions: Vangelis
Vangelis said:
I remember seeing a tank at the Athens airport in 1973. I remember thinking that was odd but was too young to realise the full implications of what was going on in Greece. Definitely a dark time for Greece.
Click to expand...
If I remember the US Army tanks also were cruising up and down Glyfada and Voula where we had a Clubhotel for our subsidiary Club 18/30,Tour Operator for the younger generation and I used to bring LPs and Vinyls from London for the music on rooftop disco.?..... Santana,Pink Floyd,Bob Marley, Rolling Stones...Credence Clear Water Revival, Eric Clapton, ....Doors....the list is too long.... Just imagine all this fun and dark times for a country I fell in love with....and that love is Eternal.♥️♥️??????.... Kalley Mera.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Vangelis
Hash said:
If I remember the US Army tanks also were cruising up and down Glyfada and Voula where we had a Clubhotel for our subsidiary Club 18/30,Tour Operator for the younger generation and I used to bring LPs and Vinyls from London for the music on rooftop disco.?..... Santana,Pink Floyd,Bob Marley, Rolling Stones...Credence Clear Water Revival, Eric Clapton, ....Doors....the list is too long.... Just imagine all this fun and dark times for a country I fell in love with....and that love is Eternal.♥️♥️??????.... Kalley Mera.
Click to expand...
You played some good music! A pity the beach bars play pop trash these days...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
Vangelis said:
You played some good music! A pity the beach bars play pop trash these days...
Click to expand...
Aw thank you!!♥️♥️....I know what you mean....electro wow wow music as I call it in this computer age,in those days one had to play the lead guitar,the bass and rhythm, drums and percussions....Nice to remember my youth here,Plaka was really cool in those days, unbelievable atmosphere after my duties in Mallorca, Greece was so different and diverse, bouzouki in Syntagma Square and Filoxenia ouzo and olives Mezedez...the Hippie culture at the American Express Building...?...
 
  • Like
Reactions: paharo45 and Vangelis
Hash said:
Aw thank you!!♥️♥️....I know what you mean....electro wow wow music as I call it in this computer age,in those days one had to play the lead guitar,the bass and rhythm, drums and percussions....Nice to remember my youth here,Plaka was really cool in those days, unbelievable atmosphere after my duties in Mallorca, Greece was so different and diverse, bouzouki in Syntagma Square and Filoxenia ouzo and olives Mezedez...the Hippie culture at the American Express Building...?...
Click to expand...
I love bouzouki music, I get so sad when I go to Greece and all they're playing is top 40 pop music from the states
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
paharo45 said:
I love bouzouki music, I get so sad when I go to Greece and all they're playing is top 40 pop music from the states
Click to expand...
Me too, first time I heard it when Asteri was just opened back in 72/73!!.... They were smashing plates and chucking loads of flowers on the singers....it blew my mind that music like this made people happy and escape from the realities around them....Then I was introduced to Nana Mouskouri and my love for Greek music began... Believe it or not we played a lot of Greek music back in those days... After Flamenco in Spain this was such a pleasant surprise and very new to me!....In Mykonos when we were totally crazy we made an Ekdhromi .... Going to all the Bouzouki bars in one night!!!!.....Can you imagine how much alcohol was consumed and how many plates were smashed?..... Finishing at dawn, took 2 days to recover!????..... Kalley Mera from Thailand..
 
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Fall of the City States (Polis)

I’ve been reading more about ancient Greek history lately, and something struck me — we always hear about the rise of the polis and how important city-states like Athens and Sparta were, but I don’t see as much discussion about how that system actually declined.

What led to the fall of the polis as the dominant structure in Greek life? Was it mainly due to constant warfare like the Peloponnesian War, or did larger powers like Macedon gradually make the independent city-state model obsolete?

I’m especially curious about whether this was a sudden shift or more of a slow transition over time. Did people living through it even realize the polis era was ending?

I’d love to gather more insight on this. Greek history is a big interest of mine, and this feels like an important piece I haven’t fully understood yet.

How Democratic Was Athenian Democracy?

I’ve been studying the democracy of Athens lately, and I find it fascinating that such an influential system didn’t actually last very long in its original form. It’s often described as the birthplace of democracy, and yet when you look closely, it seems both groundbreaking and limited at the same time.

On the one hand, the idea of citizens participating directly in decision-making was radical. On the other hand, citizenship excluded women, enslaved people, and foreigners, which dramatically narrowed who had a voice. It makes me wonder how “democratic” it really was by its own standards, let alone ours.

I’m also curious how stable it truly felt at the time, given the political upheavals and eventual decline.

For those who’ve studied this period more deeply, how do you interpret Athenian democracy? Do you see it as a bold experiment that laid the groundwork for modern systems, or as something far more fragile and constrained?

Analyzing Greece in World War I

I recently got into a discussion with some family members about Greece’s role in World War I, and it made me realize I don’t fully understand what happened.

From what I gather, Greece was pretty divided at the time, especially between King Constantine I and Eleftherios Venizelos, but I’m a little unclear on how that actually played out in terms of alliances and decisions.

Was Greece officially neutral at first? And how did it eventually end up joining the war on the Allied side?

I’ve also heard the term “National Schism” come up in this context—how significant was that in shaping Greece’s involvement?

If anyone has a clear way of explaining this period, or can point out the key events to focus on, I’d really appreciate it. It feels like an important piece of history I should understand better.

Daily Life in Ancient Athens?

When I visited Athens recently, I spent a lot of time walking around the ancient sites like the Acropolis of Athens and the Ancient Agora of Athens. Seeing the ruins up close was incredible, but it also made my imagination wander.

As I walked through the Agora and looked up at the Acropolis, I kept wondering what daily life was actually like in Ancient Athens. What did an ordinary day look like for people who lived there? Were the streets busy with merchants and philosophers debating ideas? What kinds of foods were people cooking, and how did families spend their evenings?

It’s easy to think about the big historical moments or famous figures, but I’m really curious about everyday life. What were homes like, how did people spend their time, and what might a normal day have looked like for the average Athenian? I’d love to hear any insights or resources people recommend!

Transition from myth to recorded history in Greece?

I’ve been thinking about the transition from myth to recorded history in Greece, and where that shift really begins.

So much of what we associate with early Greek history comes to us through myth, stories of gods, heroes, and epic events that clearly weren’t meant as factual records, yet still carry cultural and historical weight. At some point, though, we start seeing attempts to document events, places, and people in a more deliberate way.

I’m curious how others understand this transition. Do you see myth and history as clearly separate phases, or more as overlapping ways of explaining the world? Figures like Homer, Hesiod, and later historians seem to sit somewhere in between storytelling and record-keeping.

What do you think prompted the move toward written history? Was it political organization, trade, literacy, or something else entirely? And how much of myth do you think still shaped the way early historians understood and recorded their past?
Share and discuss Greek history!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top