XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Monday, 22 February 2016 07:00

Top Ancient Greek Artworks

From rare bronzes found in the sea to goddesses that proved a millennium ahead of their time, ancient Greek art is majestic, vital and full of high drama. Here are some of the most important works from ancient Greece:

Fallen Warrior from Temple of Aphain (c 480-470 BC)
There is a tragic pathos to this mighty sculpture of a dying hero from a temple on the Greek island of Aegina. Tragedy is a Greek concept. The tragedies of Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus are still performed. This statue shows a strong man fallen, heroic to his last breath.

The Pergamon altar (180-160BC)
Classical Greek art changed rapidly as Greece itself went through wars and imperial transformations. In what is called the Hellenistic age it became much more emotional, sensual and even sensationalist. The furious sculptures on the Pergamon altar – which can be seen in its own museum in Berlin – are full of passion and psychological drama.

The Riace bronzes (460-420BC)  
These tremendous statues found in the sea off southern Italy in 1972 are important because so few original Greek bronze statues survive.  Most of the classical nudes in museums were carved in marble in the Roman era, as reproductions of such rare, and now largely lost, originals.  Here we see the true majesty of Greek art in its classical age, which occured in the fifth-century B.C.

Goddesses from the east pediment of the Parthenon (c 438-432BC)
Sitting and reclining in graceful unison, these goddesses carved in marble for the Parthenon in Athens are among the most beautiful and mysterious images of human form ever created.  Incredibly, the artist makes the draperies that cover their bodies as real and richly textured as similar garments painted by Leonardo da Vinci a millennium later - and who didn't have to produce his illusions in stone.  These are dream goddesses.

The Dionysus Cup by Exekias (c540BC)
Dionysus, god of wine and madness, sails on his boat, surrounded by dolphins, in this delightful painting. Part of the fascination of Greek art is that its themes were taken up by artists down the centuries, as the myths of this culture were constantly being rediscovered. So this image of Dionysus can be compared with later portrayals of the wine god by Titian, Michelangelo, or Cy Twombly.

To read more, please visit: The Guardian














Greece was the recent guest of honour at Moscow’s recent 29th International Book Fair, which took place early September 2016 at Moscow’s largest exhibition center.
 
The Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication appointed Greece as the Guest of Honour on the occasion of the Joint Year Greece-Russia 2016, while Russia was in turn the Guest of Honour at the 13th International Thessaloniki Book Fair in May 2016.

Visitors had the chance to become acquainted with aspects of Greek culture as there were around 600 publications from 50 publishing houses, all representing the scientific and artistic side of Greece spanning from antiquity, the Byzantine era, the Enlightenment, 20th century, and modern day.

Prominent Greek writers and artists went to Moscow to participate in the programme of events, which included 30 events aimed at introducing the modern cultural face of a small country with a great history that maintains deep historical and cultural ties with Russia through literature, cinema, visual arts, and music.

The programme at Moscow’s International Book Fair was developed by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture with the collaboration and support of Cavafy Archive-Onassis Foundation, the State Museum of Contemporary Art, the Greek Film Archive, the Greek Film Center, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, ASIFA HELLAS, Greekanimation.com, Greek IBBY, the Embassy of Greece to the Russian Federation, as well as with the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies of the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda
Google has announced that it will fund the research at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on the future of digital journalism.

The research will be carried out by assistant professor of the Department of Journalism and Mass Media, Nikos Panagiotou and it will be funded through the Digital News Initiative Fund.

“People are turning to other kinds of information, turning to either blogs or social media, and especially in Greece this is becoming a dominant trend,” Panagiotou said.

He says that Google will help implement his research by providing funding for laboratory equipment, as well as by funding the development of pan-European sample of 5,000 people.

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

The Financial Times has called for better capitalism in The New Agenda, the newspaper's first major brand campaign since 2008.

To mark the occasion, The Financial Times scrapped its paywall for September 18, while also distributing its print edition wrapped in its new campaign cover.

Headlined as Capitalism: Time for a Reset the discussion will concentrate on the pursuit of profit and how to promote a broader sense of corporate purpose. The Financial Times aims to challenge leaders in the boardroom and beyond to safeguard the future of free enterprise and wealth creation by pursuing profit with purpose.

The New Agenda campaign will also be manifested in branded events, field marketing, through partnerships and sponsorships, and other communications.

To introduce the new concept, editor Lionel Barber said: "The liberal capitalist model has delivered peace, prosperity and technological progress for the past 50 years, dramatically reducing poverty and raising living standards throughout the world." "But, in the decade since the global financial crisis, the model has come under strain, particularly the focus on maximizing profits and shareholder value. These principles of good business are necessary but not sufficient. It's time for a reset," he continued.

The campaign is entirely content-driven. Through a series of incentives and articles, audiences will be encouraged to consider the implications of great economic and societal change, including the ethics of investing, the potential risks of high technologies, and the future of the corporation itself.

Finola McDonnell, FT's chief communications and marketing officer, said: "Our readers want a guide to the risks and opportunities that disruption brings. But they also want to be challenged: The FT has the authority and credibility to ask fundamental questions of business and, with this campaign, we are highlighting the choices that will determine the future of the economic order, reflecting what we do every day through our unrivalled journalism."


To Read A Sample Of The New Agenda Content Click Here



 

Have you ever lost something and would try almost anything to get it back? Well, maybe try making a Fanouropita! This spicy cake is traditionally baked in Greece to honor St. Fanourios, the patron saint of revelation, between the 26th and 27th of August. Many Greeks, however, also regularly bake a Fanouropita in the hopes that the saint of revelation will help them find their lost belongings. In fact, the cake’s name also reveals its supposed object-finding powers: it was named after St. Fanourios, whose name originates from the Greek word “fanerono,” which means “I reveal.” So, Fanouropita quite literally means, “a pita that reveals.”
 
Even if you don’t believe in the Fanouropita’s power, or have an app to help you find lost items, the cake is still worth making! This quick, easy-to-make, and versatile cake is perfect for the Lenten season, and can easily be made vegan—all you have to do is replace the honey with sugar and add tahini.
 
Just a word of caution, though. While the main ingredients for the cake are walnuts, a dried fruit of your preference (we suggest raisins here), cinnamon, oil, sugar, and flour, it is said that all the ingredients must add up to an odd number (e.g. 7, 9, 11, 13, and so on). The recipe at the bottom has 11 ingredients without the icing sugar. If you chose to include the icing sugar, which we suggest you do, consider adding a second type of dried fruit to make the number of ingredients odd again.
 
Hopefully, this cake will help you find what you are searching for... And if it doesn’t—at least you got a tasty treat out of the experience!

Yield: 1 cake (25cm)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cooks in: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Ingredients
 
  • 450g of flower
  • 260g of sugar
  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • 1 cup and 2 tbsp of orange juice
  • 100g of walnuts
  • 90g of raisins
  • 4g of powdered cinnamon
  • 1 tsp of powdered cloves
  • 20g of baking powder
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • 1 tbsp of red wine vinegar
  • Icing sugar for dusting (optional)
 
To find out important tips on how to prepare a Fanouropita, please visit: Kopiaste
Thursday, 11 June 2020 07:00

Greek Summer Is A State Of Mind

"Greek Summer is a state of mind… This year, enjoy your Greek summer wherever you are…" is the message of the most recent Greek tourism campaign.
 
The campaign was presented last week at Cine Aegli open-air cinema in Athens. It included the screening of the campaign's new video to representatives of tourism organizations, politicians, the media, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

According to Marketing Greece CEO Ioanna Dretta, the campaign aims to send a positive message and inspire travelers around the world to come to Greece whenever possible.
 
"Through the campaign we aim to create a lasting expectation. To build a new brand and create a desire (for travel) that can be fulfilled for all once the conditions allow it. The Greek summer will always be here," Dretta stated before the screening.

















To read this article in full, please visit: gtp.gr
Tuesday, 02 February 2021 11:28

A Funny, Upbeat Greek Song About Staying Home!

From March till May 2020, and from November 2020 until now, we have been spending lots of time indoors due to the COVID 19-related lockdowns in Greece.

Staying at home is very important given the current circumstances, but it doesn’t have to feel dull. We would like to introduce you to a funny and upbeat Greek song about – what else? – staying home and relaxing!

Even though the song Θα Κάτσω Σπίτι (Tha Katso Spiti – I'll Stay At Home) dates back to 1986, nowadays it feels more relevant than ever. The song was originally written and performed by Greek singer-songwriter Loukianos Kilaidonis, while the version you will listen to here is a remake sung by numerous contemporary Greek singers (order of appearance): Violeta Ikari, Giorgia Kefala, Maria Kilaidoni, Christos Mastoras, Panos Mouzourakis, Dimitris Basis, Miltos Pashalidis, Nikos Portokaloglou, and Mariza Rizou.






















It’s a well-meaning initiative to spread the message that people need to stay home (#menoumespiti) whilst looking at the bright side: staying safe and healthy, maintaining a positive attitude, and making the most of these days spent indoors.

Click here to listen to the new cover of Θα Κάτσω Σπίτι (I Will Stay home) and sing along!

To read the lyrics in Greek, as well as the English translation, click here.

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About OMILO

Omilo Greek Language and Culture inspires people from all over the world to learn Greek, while exploring Greece. They offer 1- and 2-week courses for adults that combine beautiful course locations, experienced teachers, and a balanced combination of Greek classes with cultural activities. All these make Omilo a place where people enjoy learning modern Greek and have fun.

Besides the courses, Omilo also creates online publications to help adults expand their language skills through Language Books and eBooks for different language levels.

Parenting and teaching come with their fair share of challenges, but that’s exactly what @you_kiddo_it is here for! This Greek-language Instagram page is all about kids, parenting, emotions, education, and everyday moments—shared in a way that's fun, relatable, and backed by scientific knowledge and experience.

Behind the page are three passionate girls who joined forces to bring their knowledge and love for children to life:

  • Angeliki, psychologist, dives into emotions, behavior, and child psychology.
  • Maria, social worker, explores family dynamics and social skills.
  • Maria, preschool educator, shares creative learning ideas and everyday parenting tips.

What You’ll Find on You Kiddo It

The page covers a broad spectrum of topics, from fun and educational games to more complex subjects like ADHD, emotional intelligence, and behavioral issues. The content is engaging, accessible, and grounded in professional knowledge—making it a go-to source for parents who want to understand and support their children better.

By sharing their expertise in an approachable and visually appealing way, You Kiddo It it's a growing community that empowers parents and educators to navigate the beautiful yet challenging journey of raising kids.

If you're looking for expert-backed, easy-to-digest parenting and teaching advice—all in Greek—@you_kiddo_it is definitely worth following!


Wednesday, 18 February 2015 13:53

Hermes of Praxiteles In Ancient Olympia

Hermes of Praxiteles, also known as Hermes and the Infant Dionysos, is an ancient Greek sculpture, depicting Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and the infant Dionysus, the god of wine. The statue was discovered in 1877 in the ruins of the Temple of Hera at Olympia and it is made of Parian marble. It is attributed to Praxiteles and dated around the 4th century B.C. Praxiteles was one of the prominent sculptors in the Late Classical period in Greece.

Discover Greece through its fascinating art and history!
This article has been brought to you in cooperation with MuseumMasters.


Like all the sculptors of this era, in his sculptures, he mostly used to depict the gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon. The sculpture shows Hermes resting in the trunk of a tree, while the baby is trying to take something from his hand. While Hermes' right arm is missing today, originally it would have probably held a bunch of grapes, taunting the infant. As the myth suggests, Zeus ordered Hermes, his messenger, to hide the newborn from his wife Hera and take him to the nymphs in Crete. Hermes of Praxiteles is displayed at the Archaeological Museum in Olympia.

Friday, 20 February 2015 16:34

Dakos Delicious

Dakos, whether you eat it for breakfast, lunch or as a snack any time of the day, it is always wholesome and filling. To make dákos you start with bread rusks. We like the traditional barley krithári or wholemeal olikís alésios rusks with their chunky texture and wholesome flavour. The word ντάκος comes from the way the bread is prepared. This is slicing the bread loaf three quarters of the way through and then baking. Bread rusks paximádia are enjoyed throughout Greece.

Traditionally in Greece paximádia are made by cutting slices from a loaf of fresh home-made bread and then baking them again in the oven till crunchy.

As you can see dako and paximádia are very similar, the difference being how they are cut before they are cooked.

Drizzle a little water on the rusks to soften, then pore plenty of Cretan olive oil over them. Grate fresh garden tomatoes directly onto the rusks and add onion rings.

To read more, please visit we-love-crete.com

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