Ever wondered how travel guides have evolved from ancient times to today? From Pausanias’ groundbreaking “Description of Greece” to cutting-edge virtual tours, this article explores the fascinating journey of travel guides and how technology is revolutionizing the way we explore history.
Since 1990, February 21 has been recognized as International Tourist Guide Day, celebrating the crucial role of tour guides in enriching travel experiences. On this day, we take a look at the oldest recorded tourist guide!
While a simple printed tourist guidebook—something most of us flip through before or during a trip—may not compare to an expert-led tour, many of us have wondered: how long have these guides existed?
In this domain, too, the Greeks appear to have pioneered innovation. The first travel guide is believed to have been written by a Greek traveler with a deep appreciation for ancient Greek cultural heritage.
Written in ten books, Description of Greece by Pausanias is a detailed account of the topography, natural environment, and monuments of ten regions of Greece. This monumental work took more than a decade to complete (between 155 and 180 AD). Interestingly, the text’s abrupt and somewhat mysterious conclusion raises questions about whether Pausanias’ death interrupted the project or if he deliberately left it open-ended.
Pausanias’ goal was likely twofold: to provide a reliable guide for future travelers and to create a literary work that preserved historical and mythological narratives linking Greek geography to classical antiquity. Although he lived under Roman rule, he emphasized ancient Greek heritage, retelling myths as they had been passed down through oral tradition.
It remains uncertain whether travelers of Pausanias’ time consulted Description of Greece during their journeys or merely before embarking on them. The papyrus format of the time may not have been convenient for carrying around. Additionally, guidebooks may not have been as essential then as they are today. Information about monuments was readily available, and local guides at each site offered detailed explanations—for a fee. However, from the 17th century, and especially the early 19th century, Pausanias’ work became both a useful travel manual for visitors and a valuable resource for archaeologists seeking to identify important sites, such as Olympia, Delphi, and Mycenae.
In the 21st century, Description of Greece could be adapted into a valuable tool for modern travelers.
There is one key difference between Pausanias’ time and ours: in the 2nd century AD, most monuments were still intact, allowing visitors to see them as he described. Until recently, modern travelers had to rely solely on their imagination.
In recent years, virtual browsing applications and digital tools have revolutionized this experience. Technologies such as augmented reality (AR), three-dimensional reconstruction (3D), and virtual reality (VR) allow users to view real-time restorations of ancient ruins on their mobile devices, precisely as described in historical sources.
For instance, the DigiPast application functions as a virtual window, instantly bringing ancient monuments to life on screen. Even more impressively, users can access the virtual reconstructions from wherever they are. From anywhere in the world, they can virtually transport themselves to the Acropolis to examine the vibrant colors of the Caryatids’ garments, to the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, or even to the Minoan Palace of Knossos to admire the dolphin frescoes in the royal apartments!
If you are interested to find out more visit www.digi-past.com
Sources
Pretzler M., Pausanias. Travel Writing in Ancient Greece, Bloomsbury Publishing, Bristol 2007
Habicht C., Pausanias’ Guide to Ancient Greece, University of California Press, London 1998
https://www.archaiologia.gr/blog/2021/06/17/ελλάδος-περιήγησις-ψηφιακά/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pausanias-Greek-geographer
