Heavy snowfall disrupted normal life and services across Greece's capital city on Tuesday.
The beautiful snow blanketed the Acropolis and other ancient monuments in Athens, but it also caused power cuts and disrupted road traffic and public transportation.
The weather also halted COVID-19 vaccinations.
Athens was brought to a standstill.
Snow is common in Greece's mountains and in the north, but much rarer in the capital.
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The snow arrived as Athens and several other parts of Greece are in a hard lockdown, to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Some Athenians emerged cautiously outside, snapping photos on balconies and in the streets.
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On the downside, the heavy snowfall downed hundreds of tress and power lines, causing blackouts in several suburbs.
The municipality of Dionyssos in northern Attica was also declared in a state of emergency for the next month.
The decision was made by Deputy Civil Protection and Crisis Management Minister Nikos Hardalias, and will remain in effect for a month.
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on the public to avoid venturing outside during the snowstorm.
“I think it is very clear that we are facing here in Attica a very intense weather phenomenon which appears that will continue until Wednesday morning,” he said.
“It will affect Attica until tomorrow morning, Evia is already affected and it will reach Crete by tomorrow afternoon.”
“We obviously recommend that you are very careful and avoid unnecessary outings. The state will do whatever possible to keep the roads open," he concluded.
According to reports, three people across the country have died as a result of the extreme weather conditions.
In Evia, two men aged 80 and 73 who relied on oxygen therapy to breathe, died when their oxygen supply stopped during power cuts in their respective villages.
In the mountains of Lasithi in Crete, a 56-year-old shepherd died of a suspected heart attack during the snowstorm.
Greek Fire Service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis said the service had received hundreds of calls for assistance.
"The calls mainly concerned downed trees and transporting people stuck in their vehicles to a safe place, but also to transport kidney dialysis patients to receive treatment," he told state TV.
"Vaccinations have been postponed, but we have helped transport doctors and medical staff where they are needed, and we helped power technicians get to damaged electricity pylons in areas where access was difficult," Vathrakoyiannis added.
Norwegian Ambassador shows off his skiing skills in snowy Athens
