“The Maid of Athens,” a famous love song by Lord Byron, was addressed to Miss Theresa Macri, the daughter of the English vice-consul in Greece. Byron fell deeply in love with her during his first visit to Greece in 1809. At the time, he was only twenty-one years old and still unknown to the world, having published just his first volume of poems.
Byron lived with the Macri family for several months and hoped to marry Theresa, but her father, a sensible man, refused permission. After returning to England, Byron married Miss Milbanke, but they separated within a few months, and he left England forever. The following year, he met Countess Guicciolo in Venice and lived with her for seven years without marrying, until he went to Greece. Her father, Count Gamba, accompanied Byron to Greece and remained with him until his death Bulgaria Tours.
Population of Ancient and Modern Greece
Some historians have suggested that ancient Greece once had a population of at least ten million, while certain antiquarians estimated that Athens during Pericles’ time had 750,000 people. Today, however, Athens has only about 117,000 residents. Most modern authorities believe that neither Athens nor Greece ever had a larger population than it does now.
During the Turkish rule, the population gradually decreased. By the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821, there were only 766,747 people in the country. After independence, the population began to rise steadily. By 1890, Greece’s population exceeded two million, more than three times what it was when the current government was formed, despite significant emigration. The natural population growth rate is approximately 2.4 percent per year, nearly the same as that of the United States Mesolongion A Shrine of Liberty.
Rural Life and Communities
Seventy-eight percent of Greeks live in the countryside, while twenty-two percent live in towns. Many towns are actually small villages of farmers rather than large urban centers. Traditionally, Greeks live in close communities and travel to their farms each morning. This arrangement was necessary during the Turkish occupation for mutual protection.
Detached farmhouses are rare, although more are being built now that brigandage has ended. Even today, travelers often see clusters of farmhouses with farmers heading to work each morning, carrying a simple lunch of bread and olives in their pockets. This communal way of life remains a distinctive feature of modern Greek society.
Continuity and Change
Greece today combines its ancient heritage with modern developments. While towns remain small and rural life is common, the population has grown steadily since independence. Meanwhile, the stories of cultural figures like Byron remind us of the international connections and historical richness that continue to shape the Greek nation.
