The History of Ancient Greece-Athens

Santas with Ponies in Athens

In Asia Minor at the Graeco-Roman city of Myra in about AD 300, a plous young man named Nikolaos was born. He was one of the youngest men to ever become a priest, and his devotion and platy were renewed. So was his practicality. In a time when extra daughters might be sold into slavery if the family couldn't afford a dowry for them. Nikolaos stepped forward, providing funds to destitute women and men. Sometimes to assist in their marriages. Other times to just relieve their crippling poverty. Some tales have him throwing bags of gold down the chimney, a precursor of the modem Santo's travel down the chimney.