THE HISTORY OF PARNASSOS
 


  WHENCE THE NAME “PARNASSOS”

 

Parnassos is a mountain that was sacred to the ancient Greeks. On its slopes was the seat of the oracle of Delphi, the most famous of all oracles. There too was located the sanctuary of Apollo, god of light and music. And the nine Muses -goddesses of the arts and sciences- also made their home on Mount Parnassos.
In time, Mount Parnassos thus came to symbolize man's striving to cultivate thought and to achieve excellence in the arts and letters. Inspired by this legacy, many organizations and societies over the years have chosen Parnassos as their eponym.

In modern Greece, the Parnassos Literary Society was established in 1865, in Athens. The Society has a diversity of interests including literature, archeology, law, and art; organizes exhibits, lectures, and literary competitions; runs evening schools for needy children; and publishes a literary journal also named Parnassos.

The Parnassos Hellenic Cultural Society of Ottawa was established in 1974 by a group of Canadians of Greek origin. Its basic purpose is to preserve and promote Greek culture. To this end, it sponsors programs on various aspects of the Greek heritage -including history, philosophy, literature, music and art- as well as on current issues relevant to Hellenism.