Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain and famed in ancient mythology as the home of the gods, is under consideration for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The site’s nomination will be discussed at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, currently taking place in Busan, South Korea.

The Greek government first submitted Mount Olympus for inclusion in 2014, emphasizing its dual significance as a cultural landmark steeped in myth and history, as well as a unique natural environment. The mountain, rising 2,918 meters above sea level, was described by Homer as the “seat of the immortals,” where Zeus is said to have held court. Its landscape is characterized by verdant forests, alpine fields, gorges, ravines, and springs, contributing to its rich biodiversity.

Mount Olympus was designated Greece’s first national forest in 1938 and was named a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1981. More recently, in 2021, it was declared a national park. The town of Litochoro, located about three miles from the mountain, lies close to beaches at its base, making the area an accessible destination for visitors.

Tourism on Mount Olympus has increased significantly over the last decade, with around 500,000 visitors recorded last year. Interest is expected to grow further following the release of Christopher Nolan’s film "The Odyssey," partially filmed in Greece and inspired by Homer’s epic narrative. This surge in visitors has raised concerns about the potential environmental and infrastructural impacts, including risks exacerbated by climate change, such as forest fires.

Dimitris Pappas, deputy director of the Olympus National Park management agency, highlighted these challenges and noted that achieving UNESCO World Heritage status could bolster protection efforts. He called for increased resources to improve fire prevention, maintain trails, build shelters, and upgrade access infrastructure like bridges and roads. “If we lose what we have, it will be a catastrophe,” Pappas warned.

Visitors present at the site this week expressed support for the designation, viewing it as a necessary step for preservation. Lenka Hotmarova, a tourist from Czechia, described the initiative as “overdue” and anticipated that it would enhance awareness of conservation needs.

Beyond its natural value, the region’s religious significance was underscored in Greece’s nomination. An open-air sanctuary dating back to at least the 2nd century AD, referenced by the historian Plutarch, was discovered on one of the mountain’s lower peaks. The site is associated with animal sacrifices to Zeus. Additionally, Mount Olympus hosts the highest altitude chapel of the Christian Orthodox tradition, alongside Byzantine monasteries and other places of worship embedded within its terrain.

Evangelos Geroliolios, mayor of Dion-Olympus, who first climbed Mount Olympus over 40 years ago, expressed hope that the mountain’s "fusion of myth, beauty and the weight of history" would receive international recognition. He emphasized that the designation would increase the responsibility to protect the environment but stressed that protective actions must continue regardless of the committee’s decision.

Currently, Greece has 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, of which only two are recognized as mixed cultural and natural landmarks. If inscribed, Mount Olympus would join iconic global sites such as the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, and the Taj Mahal, all protected under UNESCO’s international treaty aimed at preserving places of outstanding value to humanity.