Greece

he beginnings of horticulture in the lands of ancient Greece are dated back to X-VIII BC. The Odyssey’s depiction of the gardens of Alkinoi, the Phoenician czar, is considered the oldest report from that epoch:

“Without the hall, and close upon the gate, 
A goodly orchard-ground was situate, 
Of near ten acres; about which was led 
A lofty quickset. In it flourished 155 
High and broad fruit trees, that pomegranates bore, 
Sweet figs, pears, olives; and a number more 
Most useful plants did there produce their store, 
Whose fruits the hardest winter could not kill, 
Nor hottest summer wither. There was still 160 
Fruit in his proper season all the year. 
Sweet Zephyr breathed upon them blasts that were 
Of varied tempers. These he made to bear 
Ripe fruits, these blossoms. Pear grew after pear, 
Apple succeeded apple, grape the grape, 165 
Fig after fig came; time made never rape 
Of any dainty there. A spritely vine 
Spread here his root, whose fruit a hot sunshine 
Made ripe betimes; here grew another green. 
Here some were gathering, here some pressing seen. 
170 A large-allotted several each fruit had; 
And all th' adorn'd grounds their appearance made 
In flower and fruit, at which the king did aim 
To the precisest order he could claim. 
Two fountains graced the garden; of which, one 175 
Pour'd out a winding stream that over-run 
The grounds for their use chiefly, th' other went 
Close by the lofty palace gate, and lent 
The city his sweet benefit."

Text copyright © Bartleby.com
Chapman, George, trans. (1559?–1634). The Odysseys of Homer, vol. 1. 1857.

Apparently, Alkinoi’s garden was something like a huge farm with fences and consisted of three parts: a vineyard, an orchard and a vegetable garden. Fountains provided water for irrigation purposes. 

In contrast, Calypso’s garden in the Ionian Sea was a garden for pleasures, as befitted the nymphs. There were also “sacred woods of black poplars”. Sanctuaries of the nymphs were erected in special places in the gardens. 

In fact, ancient gardens were dotted with most various kinds of sanctuaries. Greek gardens and parks were numerous but small. People constructed pools with a mosaic bottom in the inner house yards. Flowers (and in some cases – shrubs) and containers formed tiny “islands” of living nature in the house area. Gardens were often built near temples, public places and, particularly, the so-called gymnasions.

The gymnasions were actually the first public parks which served as sites for sports and philosophic debates. They appeared in the 5th century BC. The most famous gymnasion (the Academy), in which Plato used to teach, was created in the sacred wood of the hero Hecademos where its name comes from. The Academy in Athens turned into a model school for educating youngsters. According to Kimon, the garden was richly besprinkled and the shades of the trees lined the paths for walk and ride.

In another part of Athens, near the Marathon road, stretched a large park called Lyceum, after the name of a neighboring temple of Apollo Lyceum. Aristotle taught there. So, two of the most distinguished philosophic schools of the antiquity – those of Plato and Aristotle – originated and evolved in the gardens of the gymnasions. 

According to Vitruvius, the gymnasion represented a vast, luxuriantly green complex, adorned with temples, sanctuaries, sculptures, fountains, caves, arbors, tombs and sport facilities, including swimming pools. Therefore, the gymnasions were the first public gardens meant for recreation and sports. Their occurrence resulted from the social development and is not associated with religious cults. They were usually situated outside the cities because open areas (in contrast to built-up ones) were hard to find midst in the town. Eminent citizens were sometimes buried in these parks. 

The significance of the public parks fell during the Hellenic period at the expense of private gardens, which were constructed near the villas of the ruling class for entertainment purposes. Another characteristic of that period is the gradual decrease of the socially educational functions of the public gardens from the classical period: the newly built public parks were designed for delights above all.