Despoina Bebedeli, a renowned actress, starred in Hecuba, a Refugee, which was the first play performed in an ancient theatre on the uninhabited Greek island of Delos in over than 2,100 years.

The play, which is based on two monologues written by Athenian tragedian Euripides, tells the tale of Hecuba, the queen of fallen Troy who as a captive mourns the loss of her husband and children during the Trojan War.

Over the centuries, this tragic heroine of Greek mythology has become an anti-war icon whose suffering lays bare all the horrors caused by conflict.

‘Our goal was to highlight the grave problem that affects all of us here in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the plight of war and being a refugee,’ Dimitris Athanasoulis told Al Jazeera. Athanasoulis is the director of the department of antiquities of the Cyclades who co-produced the play.

Organisers said they chose Delos, situated in the heart of the Aegean, to raise awareness about the drama of refugees risking everything to reach Europe's shores.

Millions of people fleeing poverty, war and repression in the Middle East, Asia and Africa have tried crossing the Aegean in recent years. Thousands have died undertaking the perilous journey.

Known as "the most sacred of all islands", Delos is the birthplace of Apollo, the son of daylight, and his twin sister, Artemis, the goddess of moonlight, according to Greek mythology.

This small rugged island was first settled in the third millennium BC, and by the third century BC it had become a prosperous and cosmopolitan centre of cultural, commercial and political life in the region.

Its imposing ancient theatre, regarded as one of the most important artistic creations of its time, was built entirely from marble in the third century BC. With a 6,500-strong capacity, it hosted major theatrical productions, dances and other cultural events.

To read this article in full, please visit: Al Jazeera

Exploring European cities in the off-season provides a unique opportunity to experience each place anew. You can visit popular Mediterranean cities in the winter or Scandinavian cities in the summer to avoid tourist hordes and bask in how each destination is bathed in a whole new light as the weather shifts.

Many dream of an Italian summer getaway, but one Italian city is just as dreamy when the temperatures fall. Venice maintains a leisurely place in winter when the heat dies and the crowds disperse, creating a magical atmosphere that deepens one's appreciation of its canals and majestic architecture.

Belgrade's defining gritty urban flair is countered by its unique Balkan charm, making it a haven for the arts. Savamala, a riverside neighborhood, buzzes with creative energy and features two popular art performance spaces. Springtime also means Belgrade is ready to party in full force as the splavovi boathouses on shores of the Sava and Danube rivers pack crowds dancing to all kinds of beats.

Winters may cloak the city of Stockholm in layers of beautiful snow, but summer is the perfect opportunity to enjoy Swedish island life. In a city comprised of fourteen islands, Stockholm in summer is high time for swimming, kayaking or canoeing between the islands. Travellers venture out to the thousands of islands and skerries of the serene Stockhom archipelago during the warmer months.

Central Europe's freezing temperatures are no match for the thrill of discovering Prague when the snow is falling. Winter's gentle sunlight only enhances Prague's fairytale views of sky-high spires, Gothic cathedrals, and cobblestone lanes lit by the soft hue of street lamps.

Innsbruck's famously perfect ski slopes take on a new form each summer as a green haven for outdoor enthusiasts who visit to take advantage of warmer temperatures, the Austrian way. The town itself is awash in pastel-coloured buildings, with the city's rich heritage and modern architecture making it the epicenter of culture in the Tyrol region.

To read this article in full, please visit: Elsewhere Nine

Launched in October of 2015, the Politismos Museum of Greek History is an online museum which brings ancient and contemporary Greek history and culture to a worldwide audience, with a goal to soon establish a physical museum presence in the United States. In this interview, Despina Kreatsoulas, co-founder of the Politismos Museum, discusses the idea behind the museum, its exhibits and related offerings, the museum’s future plans, and the importance of Greek culture within the global community today.

Despina Kreatsoulas: Our hope is to one day have a physical museum in Sacramento, California, and as we were looking at how we do this—I was actually doing some research for another project, at the U.S. Holocaust Museum. It’s a phenomenal museum, and what was most impressive was not the thousands of people who walk through their doors on a daily presence, but the millions of people who they reach with their online exhibits. We thought that this could potentially be a really great way to get the information out there, to build an audience, to start sharing stories, and to start building a profile for ourselves. We thought this would be the ideal way to get started, to build a presence, and to move forward.

I think, actually, that we have a few more opportunities available to us in being creative, in that if we were a physical museum, the challenge is always having a wide variety of artifacts. By being online, we can have images that reflect the stories, the history, and that type of thing. For instance, exhibits that have to do with antiquities, it would be a little difficult getting some antiquities into the United States, of course, so we’re able to use images [online]. It also allows us to get a little creative and to explore some greater things: literature, contemporary art, so we’re able to expand what we’re doing.

We’re working with a historian here in Greece and we’re producing an exhibit on the original Olympic Games, Dr. Elizabeth Whalen-Barber, who is an expert on textiles. We’re doing another one on the ancient dancers of Crete, and we also have a very special exhibit that’s going to be opening, on the Greeks who came to the United States in the early 1900s and who returned to Greece to fight for Greece during the Balkan Wars. And we have a few more that are coming, but we’ll have you visit our site to surprise you with those.

That would be great, but there are so many phenomenal museums in Greece already, that we’d like to just be able to collaborate with all of them. I think the most important thing is that we do want to collaborate and we want to expose people to the amazing things that are already happening here in Greece and the places they should be going to.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek TV

Learn more about XpatAthens’ GB Roof Garden contest, how we are among recommended blogs for expats in Greece, what award the Athens International Airport won, and what will be developed at the Hellenikon land!

 

 

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According to Stride Travel, Greece is among the top destinations for adventure travel in 2017!

From incredible ancient sites like The Acropolis and Epidaurus to the stunning blue waters off Santorini, an adventure tour to Greece will ensure you don’t miss any of the classics. There’s no place like Greece for sailing - head out to sea and enjoy a view of the famous Greek islands from the water.

Some outfitters even encourage you to help skipper the boat. Back on dry land, check out local tavernas where you can taste delicacies such as moussaka and grilled octopus.

Greece is also a relatively inexpensive destination compared to other European countries, which keeps it popular with budget travelers and value-seekers alike.

To read this article in full, please visit: Tornos News

Join in on our love for Greece by exploring the best old towns and villages, learn about how a family traded a life in Canada for a new one in Crete, and more!