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AP PHOTOS: A look at Greece’s recession journey

FILE In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002 file photo, fireworks illuminate the ancient Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, in Athens. On this day, Greece joins the first wave of countries to use euro banknotes and coins. Though considered a triumph for the country, fears were voiced that Greece had cooked the books to join and that Europe had turned a blind eye. (AP Photo/Aris Messinis, File)
FILE In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002 file photo, fireworks illuminate the ancient Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, in Athens. On this day, Greece joins the first wave of countries to use euro banknotes and coins. Though considered a triumph for the country, fears were voiced that Greece had cooked the books to join and that Europe had turned a blind eye. (AP Photo/Aris Messinis, File)

By Associated Press 3 min read

The Greek recession is over.

Figures released Friday show the Greek economy, which has shrunk every year since 2008, grew by an annual 1.4 percent in the third quarter.

The news represents a landmark for a country that has experienced one of the most savage recessions anywhere in the developed world over the past 100 years. The combination of a global recession brought on by a crisis of confidence in the world’s financial institutions and Greece’s home-grown budgetary largesse has laid waste to an economy that was not so long ago basking in the glory of joining the euro and hosting the Olympic Games.

Following two multibillion dollar bailouts from its partners in the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund that were given on condition of harsh austerity, the Greek economy has shrunk by a quarter.

Attached are images of the momentous events surrounding the Greek economy’s descent as captured by photographers from The Associated Press.