01.
If you asked for octopus in an ancient Greek taverna the waiter would have understood you perfectly, though they would have spelled it.

02.
Modern Greeks pronounce this delicacy oktopothei, but it means the same thing: 8 legs.

03.
An octopus is not a fish, but a mollusk that has - oops - permanently misplaced his shell.

04.
Because they have more oil glands in the leaves, Greek Oregano has a far stronger
flavor than common oregano - so strong that, eaten fresh, it can numb your tongue.

05.
The coins of the ancient city state of Eretria in Evia depicted an octopus on the reverse, as the creature was that city’s mascot and protector.

06
In the Odyssey, Homer writes that the crew of the Argo was attacked by a giant octopus called the Skylla. This may be the first scary giant octopus story ever.

07.
Octopi are probably more intelligent than any other invertebrate. Neurons exist in both their brains and arms, making the later unusually autonomous.

08.
Perhaps because of this intelligence, Octopi can be hard to find. Only by locating their ‘middens’ (piles of clean shells), can their dens be found.

09.
Voracious predators themselves, octopi are a favorite prey of Greek fisherman.
Once speared, they are pounded repeatedly on rocks to tenderize the meat.

10.
Another popular way to prepare octopus in Greece is to marinate it overnight in red wine; this further tenderizes the meat.

11.
The Greek sea god Poseidon was credited with creating the octopus, supposedly for its entertainment value.