History Main / GorgeousGreek

In some modern works, Greeks fall into [[GorgeousGaijin Foreign Fanservice]] territory, usually portrayed as idealized beauties with olive skin and dark hair, though this is not always the case as their looks can vary due to the Mediterranean being a melting pot of multiple different people and cultures. Similar to their Slavic counterparts, the appeal stems from them being caught in the bridge between East and West--being [[ButNotTooForeign both exotic and yet too familiar]] at the same time.

* ''ComicBook/AgentsOfAtlas'' has [[TheHeart Venus]] who was believed to be the actual Goddess of Love, but was {{retcon}}ned to be a [[OurSirensAreDifferent siren]] who is not only extremely beautiful but could [[CharmPerson supernaturally charm other people]]. Meanwhile, the true deity [[https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Aphrodite_Ourania_(Earth-616)/Gallery Aphrodite Ourania]] always portrays herself as a [[HeroesWantRedheads voluptuous redhead]] and a WalkingSwimsuitScene.

* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': Commonplace in the games set in ancient Greece where several goddesses ([[LoveGoddess Aphrodite]], [[LightIsGood Eos]] and [[EvilIsSexy Lachesis]]) and female mortals ([[TwinThreesomeFantasy Lora, Zora]], [[BathingBeauty Leda, Persephone]] and [[BeautifulSlaveGirl Poseidon's Princess]] to name a few) are featured in varying states of undress. Also OncePerEpisode until ''VideoGame/GodOfWarAscension'', Kratos could have an OptionalSexualEncounter with semi-naked Greek babes in exchange for experience points including [[DivineDate Aphrodite herself]].

** ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' has Bond briefly retiring with an unnamed Greek lover by his side played by model Tonia Sotiropoulou.

* In the 2009 romantic film ''My Life in Ruins'', Greek studies teacher-turned-tour guide Georgia, after lightening up to her job and to her tour group, falls in love with the bus driver Poupi; at one point, the bus almost crashes since they can't resist each other.

SubTrope of ForeignFanservice. Compare with EnglishRose, SexyScandinavian, SensualSlavs, MatzoFever, CircassianBeauty and LatinLover. Also related to TheBurlesqueOfVenus due to sharing sources. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused]] with [[RougeAnglesOfSatin Gorgeous]] ''[[NerdsAreSexy Geek]]''.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':

* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}} at the Olympic Games'' features Greek princess Irina, who is a lovely young lady but somewhat of a SatelliteLoveInterest to side character Lovesicx.
* The 2016 adaptation of ''[[Film/BenHur2016 Ben-Hur]]'' uses this trope in the chariot race. The racers are all shown to be champions representing different Mediterranean countries which are all part of the the Roman Empire. Naturally, the Greek racer is presented as the most beautiful, with cherubs on his chariot and flowers woven into his hair, even though he is presented as no less masculine than the other racers.
* Naturally, Elektra in ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'' and her own [[Film/{{Elektra}} spin-off movie]]. She is established to be Greek in the first movie due to speaking the language among her father and bodyguards and dons a [[HellbentForLeather leather outfit]] that bares her abs and later a [[LadyInRed red version of said costume]] in the second movie.

* The harem girl Jamilla in ''Film/{{Kismet|1944}}'' is mentioned to be Macedonian in origin which goes a long way explaining why there is a blue-eyed, fair-skinned, blonde in Baghdad's court.

* Naturally, Elektra in ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'' and her own [[Film/{{Elektra}} spin-off movie]]. She is established to be Greek in the first movie due to speaking the language among her father and bodyguards and dons a [[HellbentForLeather leather outfit]] that [[BareYourMidriff bares her abs]] and later a [[LadyInRed red version of said costume]] in the second movie.

* ''ComicBook/AgentsOfAtlas'' has [[TheChick Venus]] who was believed to be the actual Goddess of Love, but was {{retcon}}ned to be a [[OurSirensAreDifferent siren]] who is not only extremely beautiful but could [[CharmPerson supernaturally charm other people]]. Meanwhile, the true deity [[https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Aphrodite_Ourania_(Earth-616)/Gallery Aphrodite Ourania]] always portrays herself as a [[HeroesWantRedheads voluptuous redhead]] and a WalkingSwimsuitScene.

Historically, the Hellenic people have placed great value on physical beauty since the times of UsefulNotes/AncientGreece, as it was [[ValuesDissonance considered]] to be a [[BeautyEqualsGoodness blessing from the gods]]. It's no wonder that names such as [[Literature/TrojanCycle Helen of Troy]] (who was actually from Sparta) are synonymous with beauty, and Myth/ClassicalMythology is overflowing with not just [[HeadTurningBeauty gorgeous girls]] but {{pretty boy}}s as well. This endured even into the [[UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire Byzantine period]] where according to their values, TheEmperor was a reflection of [[DivineRightOfKings heavenly authority]] and since God was perfect, the emperor also had to be [[TheBeautifulElite physically unblemished]]. It was also in that time period that both Arabic and Frankish (generic term referring to Western Europe) chronicles often described Byzantine ladies as [[FemmeFatale exotic and seductive beauties]].

* [[Literature/TrojanCycle Helen of Troy]], portrayed in different movies:

* ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'' has Adonis as the epitome of male with [[DarkSkinnedBlonde long golden hair and tanned skin]] and [[EveryoneLovesBlondes Helen of Troy]], naturally.

** Saori Kido, the reincarnation of goddess Athena is stated to be beautiful by numerous characters.

But make no mistake: the male physique was just as idealized as the female one, if not more so. This notion comes from countless works of arts like paintings and sculptures, especially in the wake of neoclassicism during UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance. During that time period, Greece was under occupation of the UsefulNotes/OttomanEmpire ever since [[UsefulNotes/TheFallOfConstantinople the Fall of Constantinople]], which led to the diaspora of several scholars and intellectuals over Europe and many tales were spread about how [[SexSlave Greek maidens were forced into harems]] [[SoBeautifulItsACurse for their beauty]] to denounce Ottoman despotism--[[TruthInTelevision sure enough]], many [[HotConsort famous sultanas]] were previously slave concubines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kösem_Sultan of]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emetullah_Rabia_Gülnuş_Sultan Greek]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saliha_Sultan_(wife_of_Mustafa_II) origin]]. Only the [[CircassianBeauty Circassian girls]] topped Greek girls in this regard and eventually replaced them after the Greek War of Independence and [[UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia Imperial Russia]] ended the slave trade in Southern European women, making the Ottomans turn to UsefulNotes/TheCaucasus instead.

* The 2016 adaptation of ''Literature/BenHur'' uses this trope in the chariot race. The racers are all shown to be champions representing different Mediterranean countries which are all part of the the Roman Empire. Naturally, the Greek racer is presented as the most beautiful, with cherubs on his chariot and flowers woven into his hair, even though he is presented as no less masculine than the other racers.

[[quoteright:300:[[Literature/TrojanCycle https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/helen_of_troy_5.jpg]]]]

* ComicBook/{{Elektra}} is a seductive Greek ninja and one of ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'s most sexualized love interests.

At the height of Philhellenism by authors like Creator/LordByron and Creator/AlexandreDumas, female characters were popularly portrayed as tragic and ill-fated {{love interest}}s for the [[HomegrownHero Western European hero]] while male characters were as rugged and gallant in a very Balkan fashion, and they almost always wore a BadassMustache.