In a move that has left both tourists and ancient deities scrambling for cooler pastures, Greece has shuttered tourist hotspots and schools across Athens as the first heatwave of the summer arrives with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

The Acropolis, arguably Greece’s most famous landmark, will close its ancient doors to tourists during the hottest part of the day on Wednesday. This historic site, built on a steep, rocky hill, provides as much protection from the blistering sun as a paper umbrella in a monsoon. Naturally, it has made the sensible decision to shut down from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time, almost as if it finally realized that stone doesn't have AC.

With temperatures expected to exceed a hair-curling 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and possibly hitting a bone-melting 43C (109F) on Wednesday and Thursday, it’s no wonder that even the Gods might be considering a trip to cooler realms—perhaps Valhalla or, at this point, even the Arctic might do.

Red Cross medics have been spotted handing out water bottles to tourists at the Acropolis, probably cautioning, "Here, drink this. We can't carry you down if you pass out halfway." The annual trend of the Acropolis closing due to blistering summers continues, as it stoically accepts the heatwave’s challenges, almost like that uncle who wears shorts in December.

Primary schools and nurseries across the southern parts of Greece have closed until Friday. The added bonus of early school closure is that children get a head start on experiencing what it's like to nap while drenched in sweat, a crucial skill for Greek summers.

City authorities, never ones to waste a crisis, halted garbage collection for several hours and opened seven air-conditioned public spaces. Because nothing says "we care" like going from sweltering heat to air conditioner-induced hypothermia. To help coordination in this brave new world of sunstroke, drones fitted with thermal cameras were employed, no doubt filming a future heatwave documentary, “When Greece Melts.”

Meanwhile, dozens of firefighters found themselves battling a blaze in a cookware factory in the northern suburb of Kifisa in Athens. Given the high temperatures, it’s likely the best possible setting for any pyro-enthusiast chef with a “grill under pressure” cooking style.

The current heatwave in Greece is expected to continue through Thursday, according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, which probably also advised everyone to stay indoors, or at least avoid activities like frying eggs on the pavement for breakfast cooking exhibitions.

The heatwave trend is part of a more significant pattern, with a combination of human-caused climate change and El Niño contributing to record heat levels last summer. Long-term global warming trends mean heatwaves are set to become more frequent and more severe. One might suggest it’s time we all switch to iced everything—iced coffee, iced tea, maybe even iced… conversations about the weather.

In August last year, Greece saw the biggest wildfire recorded in the European Union in 23 years at Dadia National Park in Evros. If that wasn't a clear hint that we should lay off the carbon emissions, nothing is. Moreover, Greece experienced its hottest winter on record, suggesting that the country might be better off investing in year-round water parks or perhaps turning the Acropolis into a giant cooling station with water slides winding down its steep hills.

In conclusion, while the Acropolis takes a midday siesta to avoid melting into a puddle of ancient ruins, the rest of us are left to ponder our own responses to the heat. Whether that means hiding in air-conditioned rooms, begging the Gods for cooler weather, or simply dreamily wishing for a poolside holiday somewhere far from the flaming Grecian sun, one thing is clear: vacationing in Hades might soon be a cooler alternative.