Hellas: The Mythical Origin of Greece’s Name

Greece is a country known for its long history, breathtaking landscapes, unique lifestyle, and warm hospitality. But did you know that the country is also known by another name? While the rest of the world calls it Greece, Greeks refer to their country as Ellada or Hellas.

But why Hellas? According to an ancient Greek myth, Zeus decided to wipe out humanity and created a great flood that killed everyone except Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha, who were the only pious pair on earth. After the flood, they consulted the oracle of Themis, who advised them to walk and throw stones over their shoulders. They obeyed the oracle’s advice, and for every stone Deucalion threw, a man came out of the earth, and for every stone Pyrrha threw, a woman was created. This is how the world was repopulated from scratch.

Deucalion and Pyrrha had three children: Hellen, Protogenea, and Amphictyon. Hellen is considered the eponymous progenitor of the Hellenes or Ellines…aka Greeks!

Now the name Greece which is used by every English speaker, comes in fact from the Latin name Graecia, which means the land of the Greeks and was used by Ancient Romans.