Bomb Threats Target US, Israel, Egypt Embassies in Athens

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Bomb threats US Israel Embassies Athens
The US Embassy in Athens. Credit: ChristosV – Own work CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons

Police in Greece were placed on high alert on Friday after phone calls to TV stations warned about the placement of bombs in the embassies of Israel, Egypt, and the US in Athens, as well as at the Parliament.

Special bomb squad teams who rushed to the embassy buildings in Athens have not yet found any explosive devices, leading experts to assume it was probably a hoax.

The alert was sounded after callers said that, at 11:30 AM local time, bombs would explode in the embassies and the Parliament.

Reports say that a phone call to SKAI TV warned of a bomb at the US embassy, another call to Kontra TV notified about a bomb at the Israeli embassy, and a third call to Open TV alerted to a threat at the Egyptian embassy. It is not clear whether the phone calls were placed by the same person.

No organization, so far, has claimed responsibility for the bomb threats.

Embassies of the US and Israel in Athens are on high alert

Embassies of the US and Israel around the world are on high alert since the war in Gaza began in October last year.

The US Embassy in Athens has advised US citizens to exercise increased caution. “Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” it has said.

It advised US citizens to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas, and follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Meanwhile, Israeli embassies around the world were reportedly put on high alert in December, with some of them staying closed entirely following a blast that rattled the embassy in India.

Israelis around the globe have been cautioned to be on alert since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, which has fueled and intensified anti-Israel sentiment in parts of the world.

The National Security Council recommended that Israelis reconsider all travel abroad and called on those who do need to travel overseas to avoid outward displays of their Jewish and Israeli identities amid rising antisemitism around the world as Israel fights the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

The advisory called for avoiding crowded areas such as malls and markets, as well as sites associated with Jews and Israelis, being extra vigilant in public places, refraining from the display of Israeli symbols, and avoiding crowded events that aren’t secured. The sharing of photos on social media that could reveal Israelis’ locations should also be avoided.

Ancient Greece a Pioneer in Marketing and Advertising

Ancient Greece Advertising
In what the Louvre considers one of the first advertising slogans, the potter has written: “Buy me, you will be getting a bargain.” Credit: Louvre

Advertising and marketing flourished in ancient Greece and Rome. Although they lacked the sophistication of modern advertising campaigns, there were certainly efforts to draw attention to goods, services, and events.

Advertising was most evident in Greek pottery. Many pots are signed by the artists, their names no doubt helping to sell these wares to collectors just as a signed Monet would be snapped up today.

One bitter potter, Euthymides, even took the time to advertise how much better his work was than one of his rivals. He wrote “better than Euphronios could ever have done” on one of his vases.

In the Louvre, there is a jug showing two men leading horses. It is a pleasant scene, and no doubt, someone would have wanted it in his home. Perhaps not, though, as it has some added text between the figures.

In what the Louvre considers one of the first advertising slogans, the potter has written: “Buy me, you will be getting a bargain.”

But there’s also tantalising evidence that craftspeople also used brand marks to denote a certain pride in their manufacturing. A Greek vase manufactured around 490 BCE bears the inscription “Sophilos painted me.”

Scandalous advertisement in Ephesus

Amongst the Roman and Greek ancient ruins in Ephesus in today’s Turkey, you will find a somewhat scandalous advertisement engraved into the marble walkway.

Advertising ancient Greece
The advertising of a brothel in ancient Ephesus. Credit: CC BY-ND 2.0

The engraving is dated to the 1st century AD, and the footprint is actually a way to lead men to a hidden but not so secret brothel. The left footprint alluded that the location was towards the left, and the size of the foot insinuated you must be of a certain age.

The carving features an image of: a cross, woman, heart, foot, money purse, and library, as well as a hole in the rock.

One interpretation of the carvings is as follows: Up at the crossroads, on the left, you’ll find women whose love can be purchased. But please, only stop in if your foot is at least this big, young men, and you have enough coins to fill this hole. Otherwise, we kindly direct you to the library on the right.

Widespread methods of advertising in ancient Greece

Merchants and craftsmen engaged in various forms of promotion to attract customers in ancient Greece.

This involved word of mouth, the use of town criers or heralds to announce special offers or events, and the display of goods in marketplaces. Shopkeepers might use distinctive signs or symbols to identify their establishments, and they might compete with each other to attract customers through the quality and uniqueness of their products.

As noted by Chip LaFleur, sellers in Egypt, Greece, and Rome would paint or carve advertisements onto prominently featured surfaces such as the sides of buildings or large rocks near paths with heavy foot traffic.

In areas with limited literacy among the general populace (or great linguistic diversity among shoppers), vendors would create image-based signs that depicted their primary good or service, which they would then hang outside their door or near their market stall.

The mortar and pestle as a symbol for pharmacists, a hammer, anvil, or tongs as a symbol for blacksmiths, and the Rod of Asclepius for those in the medical profession are all examples of symbols from the ancient world that have persisted to the modern era with remarkably similar meanings to their BCE counterparts.

Advertising ancient Greece
A symbol of health and medicine around the world to this day. Public Domain/Greek Reporter Illustration

Additionally, the ancient Greeks used other means to promote events, such as theatrical performances or athletic competitions. For instance, announcements about the staging of plays during festivals were made, and prizes were offered to encourage attendance.

Melbourne, Sydney Festivals to Celebrate Greek Culture

Lonsdale Street Greek Festival in Melbourne, Australia
The Antipodes Festival of 2024 kicks off on Saturday in Melbourne. File photo. Credit: Facebook / Antipodes Festival

Melbourne and Sydney are gearing up to celebrate Greek culture in two historic festivals that annually attract thousands of expatriates and Australians.

The Antipodes Festival of 2024 kicks off on Saturday in Melbourne. It celebrates Greek culture and community, bringing together local and international performers and offering children’s activities and food for a weekend of fun and feasting.

It’s the perfect way to celebrate the vibrant multiculturalism of Melbourne and explore the beauty of Greek culture.

Melina Aslanidou will take the stage at Antipodes alongside some of the Greek Community’s talented local musicians. Known for her powerful vocals and powerful stage presence, Aslanidou will be sure to have the audience singing and dancing the night away.

There will also be six hundred talented performers across three stages, presenting traditional and contemporary music, breathtaking dance, and captivating demonstrations.

Held in the city’s historical Greek Precinct Quarter on Lonsdale Street, the festival will kick off at 10 am on Saturday and conclude 10 pm on Sunday, local time.

Thousands of Greek Australians and other visitors were able to browse over ninety community and market stalls, all with a Greek theme, selling food, products, or services over the weekend.

After Melbourne, Sydney becomes the epicenter of Greek culture

Meanwhile, the Greek Festival of Sydney officially launched for the forty-second year on Thursday. The festival takes place between February and June 2024.

Attended by a great cohort of politicians, dignitaries, officials, representatives of Greek associations, artists, sponsors, and festival supporters, the launch night was deemed a great success.

Harry Danalis, the president of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, highlighted the importance of the festival in the multicultural Australian society. Greek Australians play quite a significant part while preserving their ethos and traditions as Greeks.

The Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, acknowledged the significance of the festival as a cultural representation of Greece’s “true” identity and development.

He recognized the great contribution in preserving and enhancing the bond between Greece and Greeks abroad that the Greek Festival of Sydney has achieved throughout the years. There are consistent efforts to support the Greek language and educate the younger generations through cultural events.

Eleni Petinos, Shadow Minister for Finance, Shadow Minister for Sports and Member for Miranda, spoke of past festivals and expressed the importance of following up with the great work that the festival has delivered through the years. From a humble attempt to unite and entertain first generation Greeks, the festival has become one of the most important multicultural events of NSW with a great presence in the last forty-two years.

Fire-Hit Greek Hospital in Istanbul Restored

Fire burning Balikli Greek Hospital in Istanbul on August 4, 2022.
The historic Balıklı Greek Hospital suffered extensive damage in a fire in 2022. Credit: Twitter / Order of St Andrew @OrderStAndrew

The exterior restoration of the Balıklı Greek Hospital in Istanbul, which was severely damaged by a fire, has been completed, while interior renovations are ongoing, Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday.

The historic Balıklı Greek Hospital suffered extensive damage in a fire that broke out on August 4, 2022, with the smoke visible from many districts of Istanbul.

“Our Greek community received a great blow today,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said on the day of the disaster.

“One of its greatest philanthropic institutions that treated with loving care our older brothers and sisters were heavily damaged by a catastrophic fire,” Bartholomew said.

Despite efforts by fire brigades from various districts, the building, which had stood for years, could no longer be used.

The cause of the fire at Istanbul’s Greek hospital was not determined

Following an investigation by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Fire Department, the cause of the fire could not be definitively determined. After initiating an investigation into the incident, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office decided not to pursue charges, as the hospital management did not file a complaint.

Efforts were then made to accommodate the 104 individuals who had been residing in the wing treating the elderly in the hospital to other sections of the facility.

Under the coordination of the Istanbul Governorship, Zeytinburnu Municipality, and hospital management, restoration work on the building has been completed.

The exterior has been restored to its original appearance, faithful to the building’s historic design.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency about the work carried out, Balıklı Greek Hospital Foundation President Konstantin Yuvanidis said that the exterior of the building had been completed.

Noting that the work inside the building is continuing, Yuvanidis stated that the rooms would be separated, and works regarding bathrooms and toilets, heating installations, elevators, and ventilation would be carried out.

Yuvanidis added that, in line with the instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Zeytinburnu Mayor Ömer Arısoy, and District Governor Adem Uslu helped with the work.

Renovation of the old building of the hospital is expected to be completed by summer. Once completed, the building will be furnished with necessary items for the patients and put to use.

The Greek American community also helped finance the restoration project by pledging 350,000 US dollars. Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who arrived in Istanbul a few days after the fire, informed the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the fundraising.

The history of the Greek hospital in Istanbul

The Balıklı Greek Hospital was originally established in 1753 by the Union of Greek Grocers. The immediate objective of the hospital was to help cure epidemics and common diseases specifically affecting the ethnic Greek population of Constantinople.

By the end of the 18th century, the Greek community of Constantinople had built three hospitals: this particular one in 1762, another in the district of Galata, and, in 1780, a third in Pera. All three hospitals had their own particular constitutions, but they were all placed under the supervision of the Ecumenical Patriarch, who was responsible for nominating the administrative boards of the hospitals.

The hospitals’ records reveal the community’s hospitals were open to all patients regardless of ethnic origin and religious beliefs.

Odysseus Becomes First US Spacecraft to Land on Moon in Over 50 Years

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Odysseus Moon
An important moment, not just for the commercial exploitation of space but for the US space program in general. Credit: Intuitive Machines

The Odysseus lunar lander, nicknamed “Odie,” or IM-1, has become the first US-made spacecraft to touch down on the moon in more than 50 years.

Houston-based Intuitive Machines landed its Odysseus robot near the lunar south pole. Odysseus touched down at 11:23 pm GMT. At first, there was no signal at all from the robot. There were plenty of nerves as the minutes ticked by, but eventually, a communications link was made, albeit a faint one.

This led to some concerns about the status of the lander. Within a couple of hours, however, Intuitive Machines was reporting that Odysseus was standing upright and sending back data, including pictures.

“What we can confirm, without a doubt, is our equipment is on the surface of the Moon and we are transmitting,” flight director Tim Crain announced.

It was an important moment, not just for the commercial exploitation of space but for the US space program in general.

Odysseus moon
An artist’s impression of Odysseus on the moon. Credit: Intuitive Machines

Odysseus spacecraft lands on Moon’s dark and icy side

The targeted landing site was a cratered terrain next to a 5km-high mountain complex known as Malapert. It’s the southernmost point on the Moon ever visited by a spacecraft, at 80 degrees South.

It’s on the shortlist of locations where NASA is considering sending astronauts later this decade as part of its Artemis program.

There are some deep craters in this region that never see any sunlight – they’re permanently in shadow – and scientists think frozen water could be inside them.

“The ice is really important because if we can actually take advantage of that ice on the surface of the Moon, that’s less materials we have to bring with us,” explained Lori Glaze, NASA’s director of planetary science.

“We could use that ice to convert it to water – drinkable drinking water – and we can extract oxygen and hydrogen for fuel and for breathing for the astronauts,” said Glaze. “So it really helps us in human exploration.”

Intuitive Machines has broken the United States’ half-century absence from the Moon’s surface. You have to go back to the last Apollo mission in 1972 for an occasion when American hardware nestled down gently in the lunar soil.

The US space agency NASA had purchased room on Odysseus for six scientific instruments, and its administrator Bill Nelson was quick to add his congratulations to Intuitive Machines for a mission he described as a “triumph.”

“The US has returned to the Moon,” he said. “Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company – an American company – launched and led the voyage up there. And today is the day that shows the power and promise of NASA’s commercial partnerships.”

Related: Massive Moonquakes Jeopardize Plans for Moon Settlement, Scientists Say

Neanderthals Used Glue to Make Stone Tools 40,000 Years Ago

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Experts reveal Neanderthals used glue to make stone tools
Experts revealed Neanderthals used glue to make stone tools. Credit: Science Advances / CC BY 4.0

Around 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals living in what we now call France crafted tool handles using a special sticky substance. This sticky mix was made from ochre and bitumen, materials they gathered from nearby places.

It is the oldest example of this kind of adhesive found in Europe so far. The discovery sheds light on the intelligence of Neanderthals.

The study, shared in the journal Science Advances, involved experts from New York University, the University of Tübingen, and the National Museums in Berlin.

Finding evidence of ancient glue from a Neanderthal site

Led by Dr. Patrick Schmidt from the University of Tübingen and Dr. Ewa Dutkiewicz from the Museum of Prehistory and Early History at the National Museums in Berlin, a team of researchers took another look at artifacts from the Neanderthal site called Le Moustier in Dordogne. Their goal was to identify any signs of ancient tool glues.

Figuring out how early humans made and used adhesives is important because it gives us solid proof of how their culture and thinking abilities evolved over time.

These incredibly well-kept tools reveal a technique that’s quite similar to what early humans in Africa used but with a unique Neanderthal twist, explained Radu Iovita, an associate professor at NYU’s Center for the Study of Human Origins.

The stone tools from Le Moustier are stored in the Museum of Prehistory and Early History collection and hadn’t been thoroughly studied before.

A mixture of ochre and bitumen found on stone tools

The researchers found traces of a mix of ochre and bitumen on various stone tools. These included scrapers, flakes, and blades. Ochre is a natural pigment found in the earth, while bitumen is a component of asphalt that can be found in crude oil or naturally in soil.

Schmidt explained that they were surprised to find that more than half of the mixture was ochre. Normally, air-dried bitumen can stick things together on its own, but it loses its adhesiveness when you add so much ochre.

To confirm this, Schmidt and his team conducted tests to measure how strong the adhesive was and compared it with samples they made in the lab.

When researchers tried using liquid bitumen, it wasn’t great for gluing things together. However, when they added fifty-five percent ochre, it turned into a soft, moldable substance, explained Schmidt.

He said that it’s sticky enough to keep a stone tool in place, but it doesn’t make your hands dirty. This means it is perfect for making handles.

The researchers collaborated with New York University to closely examine the marks of wear and tear on these stone tools under a microscope. They found that the adhesives on the tools from Le Moustier were indeed used in this manner.

Scrutiny of Israel’s Eurovision Song May See Country Leave Contest

Israel may withdraw from Eurovision if the country's song entry October Rain is not allowed by the organizers of the contest.
Israel may withdraw from Eurovision if the country’s song entry, “October Rain,” is not approved by the organizers of the contest. Credit: steven.eason. CC BY-2.0/flickr

Israel’s Eurovision song entry, “October Rain,” which allegedly references the October 7th Hamas attacks, is being “scrutinized” by the organizers of the competition, who are considering whether the lyrics breach non-political rules, one week after Israel was given the all-clear to take part.

The lyrics from Israel’s entry, “October Rain,” sung by Eden Golan, were leaked to the media. Lines in the song include “There’s no air left to breathe,” and “They were all good children, each one of them,” according to the Israel Hayom newspaper.

The song also makes reference to “flowers,” which the Israeli newspaper reported is military code for war fatalities.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the contest, being held in Malmo, Sweden in May, explained that the competition is a non-political event, and participants can be disqualified if they break this rule.

The war in Gaza has been the subject of many circulating petitions, which call for Israel to be removed from Eurovision, but the EBU announced last week that it had carried out a review and come to the decision that Israel could participate.

According to the organizers in Malmo, the city has made security preparations that factor in the war in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, Sweden’s NATO application, and cybersecurity threats.
“The EBU is currently in the process of [scrutinizing] the lyrics, a process which is confidential between the EBU and the broadcaster until a final decision has been [made],” a Eurovision spokesperson told The Guardian.

“All broadcasters have until March 11 to formally submit their entries,” the spokesperson explained. “If a song is deemed unacceptable for any reason, broadcasters are then given the opportunity to submit a new song or new lyrics, as per the rules of the contest.”

Comments from Israel on Eurovision controversy

Israel’s national broadcaster Kan, which sponsors the Israeli entry, confirmed to Reuters that the leaked lyrics were accurate and said it was “in dialogue” with the organizers about the issue. Israel Culture Minister Miki Zohar said it would be “scandalous” to disqualify the song, which he claimed was not political.

“The song of Israel, which will be performed by Eden Golan, is a moving song, which expresses the feelings of the people and the country these days, and is not political,” he wrote on X.

“We all hope that Eurovision will remain a musical and cultural event and not a political arena—where the participating countries can bring their uniqueness and nationalism to the stage through music,” he said. “I call on the European Broadcasting Union to continue to act professionally and neutrally, and not to let politics affect art.”

Kan released an article on its website saying, “It should be noted that as far as the Israel Broadcasting Corporation is concerned, there is no intention to replace the song. Meaning, if it is not approved by the European Broadcasting Union—Israel will not be able to participate in the competition that will be held in Sweden this coming May.”

Whale Song Mystery Solved by Scientists

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Scientists solved the Humpback whales song mystery
Scientists solved the humpback whale song mystery. Credit: Evadb / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Researchers have figured out how giant whales make their beautiful songs in the ocean. Humpback whales and other large baleen whales have a special voice box for singing underwater.

This discovery, shared in the journal Nature, explains why our noisy activities in the ocean bother these magnificent creatures. Whale songs are in a specific pitch range, which happens to clash with the noise made by ships.

“Sound is absolutely crucial for their survival, because it’s the only way they can find each other to mate in the ocean,” said Professor Coen Elemans from the University of Southern Denmark, who headed the research.

“[These are some] of the most enigmatic animals that ever lived on the planet,” Elemans told BBC News. “They are amongst the biggest animals, they’re smart and they’re highly social.”

Baleen whales, a group comprising fourteen species, including the blue, humpback, right, minke, and gray whale, don’t have teeth. Instead, they have baleen plates to filter small sea creatures from the water.

How they create their intricate and sometimes eerie songs has been a puzzle until now. Professor Elemans expressed great excitement at finally unraveling this mystery, as reported by BBC.

Experiment on the voice boxes of three whale carcasses

Professor Elemans and his team conducted experiments using larynxes, also known as “voice boxes,” taken from three stranded whale carcasses: a minke, a humpback, and a sei whale. They then pushed air through these large structures to create sounds.

In humans, our voices result from vibrations when air flows over vocal folds in our throat. However, baleen whales have a different setup. Their larynx has a large U-shape with a layer of fat at the top. This unique vocal anatomy allows the whales to sing by reusing air and stops them from inhaling water.

The scientists created computer models of the sounds and found that baleen whale songs are limited to a narrow frequency range, which coincides with the noise generated by ships.

They can’t just decide to sing at a higher pitch to avoid the noise we create in the ocean, clarified Professor Elemans.

Their research revealed how our underwater noise might block whales from communicating across large areas. This understanding could be crucial for protecting humpbacks, blue whales, and other endangered ocean giants, as reported by BBC.

Sailors used to attribute whale songs to ghosts or mythical creatures

The new study also sheds light on questions that researchers have pondered for decades related to these mysterious songs. In the past, sailors sometimes associated the songs with ghosts or mythical sea creatures.

Dr. Kate Stafford, a specialist in whale communication from Oregon State University, called the study “groundbreaking.”

The creation and understanding of sound are crucial for marine mammals, so any research that reveals how they produce sounds has the potential to advance our knowledge, according to Dr. Kate.

Herod: The King Who Preserved His Dead Wife in Honey for 7 Years

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Herod the Great mosaic
Herod the Great Mosaic. YouTube snapshot

Herod the Great, who was the King of Judea during the Roman Empire, is said to have preserved the body of his deceased wife in honey for seven years, despite having ordered her execution.

That was at the end of a full life teetering between greatness and disgrace, honor and shame. It was definitely a life full of contradictions and controversy, as was fit for a king living in the tumultuous decades when the Romans had taken over Judea and Jesus Christ had been born.

The first biographer of Herod was the first century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (born as Yosef ben Matityahu), who undertook the task to write the story of a man who was next to impossible to describe.

Herod and the Massacre of the Innocents

Herod’s name is embedded in collective memory with the Christmas story of the evil king who ordered the slaughter of all children under two years old near Bethlehem upon hearing that the King of the Jews had just being born. Immediately, Herod sent the three Magi to Bethlehem to locate the newborn.

The three wise men followed the Star of Bethlehem and found the infant with Joseph and Mary. They presented him with their gifts. Before they left to return to Herod, they had a dream about the king’s intention to send people to kill the baby. Hence, they never returned to Herod and went back to their homes using an alternative route.

Overcome by rage, Herod ordered that all male infants of Bethlehem under the age of two be slaughtered so that his kingdom would not be threatened by the new king. His order was executed, but Mary and Joseph had already been warned. They took baby Jesus and fled to Egypt.

However, the Massacre of the Innocents, as the atrocious act of Herod has been called, is only mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew. No other gospel or historical account mentions such an incident surrounding the birth of Christ. The majority of historians and biblical scholars consider this story to have been fabricated.

 Who was Herod?

Herod I was born in 72 BC, at a time when Judea was an independent state, following the rebellion of the Maccabees who kicked out the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV in 164 BC.

His father was Antipater, an Idumean from south of Judea, who had converted to Judaism, and his mother was the Arab princess, Cypros, from Nabatea. Herod was thus only half-Jewish to start with.

However, his father had good relations with Roman dictator Julius Caesar who entrusted Antipater with the public affairs of Judea. He, in turn, appointed Herod governor of Galilee in 47 BC. The young man earned the favor of Mark Antony and was named tetrarch in 41 BC.

A year later, the Parthians invaded Palestine, and civil war broke out. Antigonus took the throne with the help of the Parthians, and Herod was forced to flee to Rome.

In an unexpected turn, the Roman senate nominated him king of Judea and equipped him with an army to go back and claim the throne. In 37 BC, Herod became the unchallenged king of Judea. To solidify his power, he divorced his first wife, Doris, sent her and his son away from court, and married Mariamne, a Hasmonean princess.

Although the marriage was with the intent to end his feud with the Hasmonean dynasty, Herod was deeply in love with Mariamne.

Herod’s reign

As a ruler, Herod was good to his subjects. He implemented a program of grain importation from Egypt and thus helped counter the effects of drought, famine, and epidemics. He also  lowered taxes for his citizens.

Furthermore, he was also very successful in infrastructure works. He built his own palace in Jerusalem and named it Antonia, in honor of his patron Mark Antony. He opened the strategic fortress called the Herodian, guarding the southern approaches to Jerusalem.

In 23 BC, he built the magnificent port city of Caesarea Maritima, a modern Mediterranean port that established Judea as a major economic force. His most famous building was the expansion of the Temple of Jerusalem, a grandiose project that glorified the Jewish religion. He also financially supported the Olympic Games.

Rome rewarded Herod’s successes by adding the northern and eastern regions of Trachonitis, Batanaea, and Auranitis to his rule.

Yet, some historians picture Herod as a cruel tyrant who introduced a type of police state of spies who punished by imprisonment, torture, and execution of anyone under the slightest suspicion.

Herod’s cruelty and ruthlessness were not limited to his subjects. During his reign, he did not hesitate to kill several close family members, including three of his sons, his Hasmonean beloved wife Mariamne, and his wife’s mother and grandfather.

Several scholars have focused on his ruthless character, his maniacal behavior, and personality disorders that marked his life and culminated in his painful disease, unsuccessful suicide attempts, and death.

The shocking final chapter

The most shocking detail of Herod’s tempestuous life is the aftermath of his wife’s execution, ordered by Herod himself, and the story of preserving her body in honey for seven years with the insinuation of necrophilia.

The last chapter of the tragic story of Mariamne and Herod’s obsession with her can be found in the Babylonian Talmud, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism:

He preserved her body in honey for seven years. Some say that he had [sexual] intercourse with her, others that he did not. According to those who say that he had intercourse with her, his reason for embalming her was to gratify his desires. According to those who say that he did not have intercourse with her, his reason was that people might say that he had married a king’s daughter.

Greek Island Sees Massive Spike in Airbnb Bookings After Netflix Series

Paros island Greece
Greek island sees surge in Airbnb bookings after the release of Netflix show One Day. Credit: flickr / Marco Verch CC BY 2.0 DEED

Airbnb has seen a 32 percent increase in vacations booked to one Greek island thanks to the Netflix drama One Day, which tells the twenty-year love story of two friends over fourteen episodes. Scenes were shot in Rome, Greece, London, and Edinburgh.

Following the release of the Netflix mini series One Day earlier this year, one Greek island in particular has drawn great interest from vacationers, as the couple in the show spend time there in episode four. The small island in the center of the Aegean Sea is often overlooked, but Airbnb data shows that searches made by guests in the UK for places to stay on the island have increased by almost a third since the show aired.

From a luscious garden maisonette in the idyllic fishing village of Naousa in the northern part of the island to a breezy Cycladic apartment located on the cobbled streets of Parikia, Airbnb has rounded up some of the most coveted homes for a One Day-inspired getaway, on the island of Paros.

Paros, the Greek island attracting Airbnb bookings due to Netflix show

Best Greek islands windsurfing
Windsurfing in Paros. Credit: flickr / verchmarco CC BY 2.0

“One Day has brought one of the world’s most quietly romantic Greek islands, Paros, to the attention of viewers,” Amanda Cupples, Airbnb general manager for the UK and Northern Europe, told Gloucestershire Live.

“With the hit series currently on everybody’s lips,” said Cupples, “you can bring your wanderlust to life with a stay in one of these amazing listings on Airbnb. Mirroring the experiences of characters Emma and Dexter, guests can embark on their own One Day-inspired adventure, crafting cherished memories that will endure for a lifetime.”

In ancient times, Paros was known for its white marble quarries, known as Parian marble. The material was highly sought after for its quality, particularly for use in architecture and sculpture, and especially during the Classical Greek period.

This pure white building material, which quarries on the Greek island still deal in today, was used to create some of ancient Greece’s sculpture masterpieces, including the statues of Hermes by Praxiteles, Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace, Nike of Paionios, and the Caryatids of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis in Athens.

The Netflix show One Day tells the decades-spanning love story of Dex and Em as they reunite on the same day every year. The novel was adapted into the 2011 feature film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. It is now a fourteen-episode British series.

The Netflix story begins in 1988 on graduation night for the two student protagonists, and, although university is coming to an end, the pair speaks for the very first time that day and go their separate ways. The show follows them as they meet on the same day each year to explore their lives as they get older.