“OK,” Is This Borrowed From the Greek Language, Too?

OK word
“OK,” Is This Borrowed From the Greek Language, Too? credit: Maximilian Schonherr CC BY-SA 3.0

Ok, or okay, is one of the most frequently used words in the English language, but does it have a Greek origin?

One theory on the etymology of OK is that it was originally an acronym for the Greek phrase “óla kalá” (όλα καλά), meaning “all good.”

Theories on OK’s origin

The theory that OK is of Greek origin was discussed in the April 1942 edition of American Speech. American Speech is a quarterly academic journal focusing on linguistics and language.

In the article, the academic Robert Weber explored a number of possible theories for the origin of the commonly used acronym. Weber referred to another academic, Robert C. McClelland, who likewise explored the word’s roots in the October 1933 edition of The Classical Journal.

McClelland came across the book, When I was a Boy in Greece, by George Demetrios, published in 1913. Demetrios’ explanation was that the acronym, OK, had been used by Greek teachers to positively mark the work of their students since ancient times.

In the preface to the book, Demetrios wrote “I gave him the final manuscript to see if I had been faithful to my task, and after re-reading it, the boy pronounced it όλα καλά (ola kala).”

“The first letters of the two words have been used from time immemorial by Greek teachers to mark the deserving themes of their pupils, and we who so generally write ‘O.K.’ to denote accuracy assign many fanciful reasons for the origin of the expression, not knowing that it is really classical,” the passage continues.

Hence, according to Demetrios, ancient Greek teachers may very well have inscribed the acronym “OK” on the work of deserving students. Aristotle, upon seeing the work of the young Alexander the Great may have marked his papers with the same acronym.

McClelland was not sure what to make of Demetrios’ claim. He wrote, “I have not verified the authenticity of the statement.” In fact, neither McClelland nor Weber settled on a firm theory for the origin of the word OK.

Aristotle and Alexander the Great
According to one theory, “OK” might have been used as an acronym by ancient Greek teachers to mark the work of their students. Credit: Jean Leon Gerome Ferris / Public domain / via Wikimedia Commons

Other theories

Many other theories exist for the etymology of the word OK. In the 1960s, Allen Walker Read theorized that OK was one of many acronyms initially introduced to American English in the early or mid-19th century when there was a fad for abbreviating words.

Another theory is that the Democrat Party ran with OK as an acronym for “Old Kinderhook” during the 1840 presidential election. “Old Kinderhook” was a nickname for the Democrat candidate, Martin Van Buren.

The Democrats hoped that “Vote for OK” would resonate with voters more than his name of Dutch origin. If this theory is true, they may have succeeded in creating a new word, but they failed to win the election.

However, the newspaper of the era ‘Boston Morning Post’ writes that the term comes from the misspelling ‘Oll Korrect’ (instead of the correct ‘All Correct’).

The influence of Greek on the English language

Whether OK really was originally an acronym for óla kalá may never be known. However, what is certain is that the Greek language has had a profound effect on the English lexicon.

In the comedy movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the character Gus insists that every word in the English language has a Greek origin. This is a reoccurring joke throughout the film. Yet, this joke does have a basis in reality. Over sixty percent of words in the English language have Greek or Latin roots.

This figure is even higher at about ninety percent in vocabulary associated with science and technology. In total, over 150,000 English words have been borrowed from Greek. Six to fifteen percent of English words are directly borrowed from Greek, according to estimates.

The Descendants of the Greek War of Independence Heroes

Greek War of Independence
The descendants of the legendary Greek War of Independence fighters, Georgios Karaiskakis, Nikitaras and Laskarina Bouboulina.

With more than two centuries separating us from the events of the Greek War of Independence, the bloodlines of some of its most iconic and influential heroes can still be traced today among the population of modern-day Greece.

Recently GreekReporter spoke to the descendants of the legendary Georgios Karaiskakis, Laskarina Bouboulina, and Nikitaras about the experience of carrying the DNA and legacy of the very heroes who once claimed the lands of the modern Greek state front to front on the battlefields for the future generations.

Eleni Leonida-Karaiskaki

Greek War of Independence
Courtesy of Eleni Leonida-Karaiskaki

The fourth great-granddaughter of military leader Georgios Karaiskakis, Eleni, has been aware of the outstanding legacy of her ancestor since childhood, as there were always mentions of the great commander of the Greek War of Independence in her family’s life.

Through photo albums, narrations, and heirlooms, “Karaiskakis was always omnipresent at home in every form as we were growing up”, she recalls.

In her words, the pride and awe that she has always felt for her heroic ancestor have been weighting on her as a legacy that is much bigger and greater than her very existence.

Often referred to as “the Achilles of Romiosity”, Karaiskakis was known, except for his military virtues, for his immediacy and tirade manner of speaking -which has played an additional role in the way that the collective memory identifies with him, she feels.

“Besides his strategic genius, Karaiskakis’s personality was unique, which makes him all the more relevant today. Theodoros Kolokotronis may be the first in order in the Pantheon of heroes of the Greek War of Independence, but Karaiskakis comes first in the people’s hearts. He has always been a popular icon”, Eleni believes.

This adoration towards him is today reflected in the response that she gets from the people that she meets. “Every time that someone realizes that I am a descendant, they want to touch me, caress me, have their picture taken with me, and these reactions always fill me with a beautiful feeling”, she describes.

Greek War of Independence
“The camp of Georgios Karaiskakis at Kastella” by Theodoros Vryzakis (1855). Public Domain

As about Karaiskakis’s greatest achievement, Eleni is convinced that it was the event that most historians claim to have been his failure -the lost battle of Haidari, Athens.

“Despite its direct outcome, this battle was a milestone in the Greek War of Independence, after which things started to change -all the involved parties shifted their approach after that event”, she says.

Although the hero’s guns have been donated to museums in Greece long time ago, Eleni’s family still keeps their famous ancestor’s correspondence, most of which is to and from his war companions, who he called his “brothers”.

There is, however, one letter of greater sentimental value to the family. Addressed to his 15-year-old son, it was destined to be his last letter. Karaiskakis wrote he would be soon returning home to see his family but died before he could fulfill the promise.

“It is a very personal and moving letter”, Eleni concludes.

Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis

Greek War of Independence
Courtesy of Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis

On his father’s side, Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis is a 6th generation descendant of Laskarina Bouboulina, from her youngest son, Nikolaos Dimitriou Bouboulis (1808 -1884) a commander in the then Royal Hellenic Navy, and princess Sofia Marinou Comnenos.

Raised on the island of Spetses with his two brothers, in Bouboulina’s actual house, part of which remains their family home to this day, he has been constantly surrounded by her story.

“Since we were also carrying the family name, you can understand that it wasn’t something anyone could easily ignore, and it wasn’t always easy for us. I admit that, as children, our feelings about our heritage were mixed, something I consider completely natural at that age”, Pavlos recalls.

“Of course, as we got older and better understood the important role our great-grandmother played in Greece’s path to independence and the historic legacy of her actions, we grew to respect, admire and love our family’s history”.

Now the Director of the privately owned Bouboulina Museum, he declares immensely proud of his heritage, even though it comes with a great weight on one’s shoulders.

“I do not mean that in a negative sense”, Demertzis-Bouboulis clarifies. “When one is a descendant of a national heroine, an almost legendary individual, who continues to inspire so many people around the world, it couldn’t be any other way.

Greek war of Independence
Laskarina Bouboulina. Public Domain

“It is a responsibility, a duty if you will, to safeguard her legacy and try to live up to Bouboulina’s actions and ideals, in a way fitting today’s modern world”.

People are always surprised when they find out the relation, and there is usually a bombardment of questions about her story and how it feels to be her descendant.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize that there actually are descendants of most of the heroes of the revolution.

“However, I rarely mention my family’s heritage of my own accord, unless it comes up in the conversation. I prefer people to get to know and like me for who I am and not who I am related to. Once that process is over (and hopefully they like me!) then I feel more comfortable mentioning it.

“It is always a moving conversation, especially with the older generation of Greeks, because she means so much to so many people”.

There are funny moments too, though. One of the funniest comments that Pavlos recalls was made a few years ago in the Museum.

“We had just finished a tour, and someone asked whether I was a part of the family. After I said yes, they gleefully responded “so does that mean you are a Bouboulinos?!”. There was quite a lot of laughter after that, by all of us in the room!”.

Greek War of Independence: Nikitaras

Greek War of Independence
Courtesy of Stefanos Nikitas Stamatelopoulos

The family of Stefanos Nikitas Stamatelopoulos are the closest descendants of legendary swordsman Nikitas Stamatelopoulos, best known with his nom de guerre, Nikitaras, as the great-grandchildren of his brother, Nikolaos. The latter was also a powerful chieftain of the Greek War of Independence, although overshadowed by the personality of Nikitaras.

“I believe that heroes belong to all Greeks, but of course, in the family, we feel very lucky, and proud, and in awe of being direct descendants of such a hero”, Stefanos Nikitas states.

His first memory of realizing the significance of his heritage goes back to 1977, when his father entrusted his two sons, then young boys, with the task of laying the wreath during the annual ceremony at the monument of Nikitaras in Chiliomodi, Corinth. A tradition that Stefanos Nikitas keeps to this day, on the second Sunday of October, in honor of the battle at Dervenakia.

“I was a primary school pupil when my father surprised my brother and I by handing the wreath to us two. Aside of the emotion of a young child, who doesn’t understand much of what he is doing, when we experienced the applause of the crowd as we were walking down the stairs from the monument, I felt overwhelmed.

Greek War of Independence
Nikitaras(Nikitas Stamatelopoulos). Public Domain

“And I thought that something important was going on with what I did; that was the first time I felt the “gift” that it is to be Nikitaras’s descendant”, he recounts.

For Stefanos Nikitas, the greatest achievement of his ancestor beyond the battlefields was his honesty and altruism.

“Nikitaras was not interested in loot, that was not what we fought for. He fought for the liberation of the Greeks and he was never compromised; that is why he stayed in history as a pure patriot”, he explains.

A letter that his family keeps today, bears testament to his values. Addressing Papaflessas, then Minister of Interior of the new Greek state,  Nikitaras pleads that, after the conquest of Naflpion, a mosque is converted into a school or a theatre.

“Would anyone expect from a warlord to be speaking of schools, or to have cultural sensibilities? But indeed! He saw ahead and wanted children to be getting education. That’s the size of hero he was, beyond military skill”, Stefanos Nikitas explains.

As a descendant, he is looking to bring the same traits of character out of himself.

“I get to be compared to this great man and brave patriot, and many times I feel that I experience the hero in me. I often consider what would he himself do in a situation, and so I try to also act brave, honest, self-contained, altruistic, and I think that I manage, generally”, he notes.

Having met with other descendants of heroes of the Greek War of Independence through their Union, founded in 1938, he infers that they are all impregnated with the flame and patriotism of their ancestors.

“We try to be worthy continuators, and we all carry the great weight and awe of what we represent”, he declares.

The Ancient Oath of the Greek War of Independence

Oath Greek war of independence
Kalamata enthusiasts reenact the oath of the Greek War of Independence. Video frame/Facebook

The Oath of the Greek War of Independence was taken by Greece’s rebelling chieftains on March 23, 1821 after they liberated Kalamata from Ottoman rule.

Following the surrender of Kalamata, the first liberated city in the Morias (Peloponnese) and all of Greece, the chieftains decided to set up a revolutionary committee.

The chieftains named the committee  “The Messenian Senate.” The purpose of the Senate was to better coordinate the battles and strategy for the Greek War of Independence.

Its leadership was assigned to Petrobeys Mavromichalis, who bore the title of “General of the Spartan and Messenian Army.”

The Oath of the War of Independence

The Messenian Senate leaders then took an oath to fight the Greek War of Independence until the bitter end for the liberation of their homeland.

The oath was the very same one that had been vowed by the ancient Greek warriors before battle, written by orator Lycurgus of Athens:

“I will not dishonor the sacred arms, I will not abandon my fellow warrior, whoever stands next to me in the line of battle.

“I will defend whatever is holy and sacred, alone and with many, and my homeland I will not deliver smaller, but larger and more powerful from what I have inherited.

“And I will willingly obey those who are judges and I will perform my duties as a citizen according to the established institutions and according to all the others the people will establish by joint decision.

“And in case someone tries to overthrow institutions or does not obey them, I will not allow this and I will defend them, alone or with many.

“And I will honor all that is sacred and holy in my homeland.”

The Messenian Senate also decided to write a Proclamation to the European governments and public, to announce the Greek War of Independence.

At the same time, the proclamation calls for aid, reminding Europeans that Greece had always served as the mother of Europe and the cradle of civilization itself.

The Proclamation to Europe of the War of Independence

“Proclamation addressed to Europe by Petros Mavromichalis, Commander-In-Chief of the Spartan Troops, and the Messenian Senate, sitting at Kalamata.

“The insupportable yoke of Ottoman tyranny hath weighed down for over a century on the unhappy Greeks of the Peloponnesus.

“So excessive had its rigors become, that its fainting victims had scarcely strength enough to utter groans.

“In this state, deprived of all our rights, we have unanimously resolved to take up arms against our tyrants.

“All our differences and things that divide us, as fruits of tyranny, shouts lo have been cast aside, and all of us breathe the air of liberty.

“Our hands, tied until now by iron shackles of this barbaric tyranny, are now untied, and they are raised with bravery to take up arms for the elimination of this hideous tyranny.

“Our feet that were running day and night to run errands for our mercilles masters, are now running for taking back our rights. Our head, bowing under the yoke, is now raised and thinks of nothing but our liberty.

“Our tongue that was unable to speak, except for begging in vain to please our barbaric tyrants, now shouts and in the air echoes the sweet name of liberty.

“In a word, we decided to be free or die. For this reason, we invite the aid and support of all civilized nations of Europe so that we can more promptly attain our sacred and just cause and get back our rights, to resurrect our unfortunate people.

“Greece, our mother, was the lamp that illuminated you, and on this ground it asks for your urgent philanthropy.

“We hope that we will attain our sacred goal and we are obliged to you, and in more prosperous times we will show our sincere gratitude for your contribution. 

(Signed) PETROS MAVROMICHALIS

Given at the head-quarters of Kalamata, March 28/April 9, 1821″

The original text of the Proclamation of the War of Independence is preserved in the archives of the Foreign Office in Britain.

Greek City of Kalamata Reenacts Liberation From Ottoman Rule

Kalamata Liberation Reenactment
Dressed in traditional costumes, citizens of Kalamata reenacted the events of the Greek War of Independence that led to the liberation of the city from the Ottoman rule in 1821. Credit: Youtube / Municipality of Kalamata / Screen capture

Dressed in traditional costumes in the fashion of two hundred years ago, citizens of Kalamata, located in the Peloponnese in Southern Greece, celebrated 203 years since the liberation of the city from Ottoman rule with a majestic reenactment of the events of the Greek War of Independence on Saturday, March 23rd.

Hundreds of visitors were joined by Greek officials to watch the reenactment at the old town center from 4 p.m. local time.

The oath taken by the generals of the Greek War of Independence and reenacted today was the same oath taken by ancient Greek soldiers before they marched to war.

First Greek city liberated from the Ottomans

Kalamata was the first city to be liberated from the Ottomans, as the Greeks rose in the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

On March 23rd of that year, the harbor city was taken over by the Greek revolutionary forces under the command of generals Theodoros Kolokotronis, Petros Mavromichalis, and Papaflessas.

Mavromichalis declared the revolt against Ottoman rule in the Church of the Holy Apostles, located in the middle of the city’s square.

Sadly, a few years later, in 1825, the invading Ottoman forces destroyed the city, but once it was rebuilt in independent Greece, Kalamata became one of the most important harbors in the Mediterranean Sea. The second-oldest Chamber of Commerce in the Mediterranean, after that of Marseille, was founded in Kalamata.

Petrompeis Mavromihalis Kalamata
Petrompeis Mavromihalis liberating Kalamata by Hess. Public Domain

Rich history and culture of the city of Kalamata

In the 20th century, Kalamata gained a reputation for its homonymous olive variety, its excellent quality olive oil, raisins, and figs, which are exported worldwide.

It became the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula after Patras and is the capital of the Messenia regional unit.

Visitors today can still walk around the historical city and learn about the different aspects of life in the area throughout the centuries thanks to its many boutique museums. These include the Municipal Gallery, the Archaeological Museum of Messenia, the Military Museum, and the Folk Art Museum.

Some of the city’s most important sites are the Villehardouin castle, the Ypapanti Byzantine church, the Kalograion monastery with its silk-weaving workshop where the famed Kalamata scarves are made, and the municipal railway park.

The city is particularly popular during the summer season thanks to its beautiful beaches and nature, attracting visitors from across the world with several direct flights from Greek and international airports.

The Brutal Torture of Athanasios Diakos During the Greek War of Independence

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Battle of Alamana
Battle of Alamana, in which Athanasios Diakos made his final stand, painted by Alexandros Isaias. Credit: Alexandros Isaias / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Athanasios Diakos is one of the most famous and tragic figures of the Greek War of Independence.

He spent the early years of his life in theological training at the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos near Artotina. However, he was forced to flee the serenity of monastic life after an altercation with an Ottoman official and took up arms as a klepht (independence fighter).

Diakos is best known for his courageous last stand at the Battle of Alamana, where he was severely wounded and captured by the Ottomans. The Ottomans offered to spare his life and grant him a position in the Ottoman army on the condition that he go against his own people and renounce his Christian faith. However, Diakos refused and was subjected to torture and death as a result.

Early life of Athanasios Diakos

The man who would later become better known by his pseudonym Athanasios “Diakos”, was born Athanasios Nikolaos Massvetas in the village of Ano Mousounista in Phocis, in 1788, athough some accounts say he was born later in 1791, or that he was from the village of Artotina.

His family lineage was perhaps a clue as to his future activities: his grandfather was also a klepht. Klephts were Greek guerrilla fighters who resisted the Ottomans, mainly in the mountainous and rural areas of Greece.

However, in the early years of his life, Athanasios was drawn more to the Bible than to flintlocks and sabers. He was strongly drawn to his Greek Orthodox faith and was subsequently sent by his parents to the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos (St John the Baptist) near Artotina to commence theological training.

He became a fully-fledged monk at the age of seventeen and was quickly promoted to take on the role of deacon on account of his strong faith and commendable disposition.

Athanasios Diakos
Portrait of Athanasios Diakos by Dionysios Tsokos. 1861. Credit: Dionysios Tsokos / Public Domain / Wikimimedia Commons

Flight from the monastery

The young Athanasios was not destined for a quiet life, and his time spent at the monastery would come to an abrupt end.

According to the traditional story of his life, an Ottoman pasha and his troops visited the monastery where Athanasios lived. The pasha took a liking to the young clergyman and indecently propositioned him

Athanasios took great offense at the Ottoman pasha’s remarks, and in the ensuing altercation the latter was killed.

Athanasios was forced to flee the monastery for fear of Ottoman reprisals and took refuge in the mountains where he became a klepht like his grandfather before him. In reference to his previous life as a clergyman, he took on the pseudonym “Diakos”, meaning Deacon.

Diakos
Sketch of Athanasios Diakos by an unknown author, 1883. Credit: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Life as a klepht

Athanasios Diakos, as he then became known, served under the klepht leaders in the region of Roumeli. He bolstered his reputation as a capable warrior in several skirmishes with the Ottomans during this time.

Diakos also served as a mercenary in Ioannina, Epirus, in the army of the infamous Ali Pasha. It was during this time that he befriended the klepht Odysseas Androutsos, who would also go on to become a prominent hero of the Greek War of Independence.

Diakos later served under Androutsos as his second-in-command when the latter was made captain of a band of irregular fighters stationed in the town of Livadeia in Central Greece.

After a stint as Androutsos’ trusted lieutenant, Diakos founded and led his own band of klepthes in the years preceding the outbreak of the revolutionary war. Like many of the klepht leaders, Diakos joined the Filiki Eteria, or “Society of Friends”, founded in 1814 with the purpose of overthrowing Ottoman rule and establishing an independent Greece.

Diakos fresco
Fresco of Diakos by Theophilos Hatzimihail, 1931. Credit: Theophilos Hatzimihail / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

The final stand of Athanasios Diakos at the Battle of Alamana

Soon after the war began in 1821, Diakos and his friend Vasilis Bousgos, who also led a band of fighters, set out to capture the town of Livadeia.

It took three days to liberate the city of Livadeia and involved grueling urban warfare and hand-to-hand fighting in the houses of the town. However, the Greeks prevailed on April 1, and liberated the town, also burning the residence of Mir Aga, the Ottoman official in charge there.

It did not take long for the Ottomans to respond. Hurshid Ahmed Pasha, the Ottoman governor of the Peloponnese, dispatched 8,000 men led by two of his most capable generals, Omer Vrioni and Köse Mehmed, to crush the rebellion.

The Greeks were heavily outnumbered. Even with reinforcements provided by Dimitrios Panourgias and Yiannis Dyovouniotis, Diakos and Bousgos only had about 1,500 men at their disposal to oppose the Ottoman advance. Nevertheless, they decided to take up defensive positions near the legendary site of Thermopylae.

The Greeks split their force in three to defend the most valuable positions. Dyovouniotis positioned his men to defend the bridge at Gorgopotamos, Panourgias took to the heights of Halkomata, and Diakos covered the bridge at Alamana.

The Ottomans also split their force in three to take on the Greeks at each of their defensive positions. The main Turkish contingent attacked Diakos, but he resisted the assault the longest.

Dyovouniotis’ force could not hold the bridge at Gorgopotamos and Panourgias’ men fled when he was wounded. This left Diakos and his men to face the full force of the Ottoman assault alone.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Bousgos, who had been fighting alongside his friend, urged him to retreat, but Diakos refused and fought on alongside 48 of his men who also chose to stay.

Diakos and his men put up a valiant struggle for a number of hours, despite being massively outnumbered. The fighting was not confined to musket fire and developed into a close melee struggle. Ultimately, Diakos was severely wounded and captured when his sword broke.

Battle of Alamana
Battle of Alamana. Credit: Panagiotis Zographos / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Torture and death

Diakos was brought before one of the Ottoman commanders, Omer Vrioni, who had gained military experience fighting Napoleon in Egypt.

Vrioni made Diakos an offer: his life would be spared if he agreed to take up a post as an officer in the Ottoman army and convert from Christianity to Islam.

Diakos refused to abandon the Greek cause and told Vrioni “I was born a Greek, I shall die a Greek”. He was to be subjected to torture and death as a result.

As he was led off to be executed, Diakos, according to popular tradition, poetically remarked, “Look at the time Charon chose to take me, now that the branches are flowering, and the earth sends forth grass.”

The manner of his death would have been excruciatingly painful. Diakos was impaled on a stake which was driven through the length of his body. Depending on the method, impalement could take days to kill the victim whose every writhing movement on the torture device would have inflicted even more pain.

Initially, the grim death of Diakos served the Ottomans well as a deterrent against future rebellion. However, as time passed, his sacrifice for the Greek cause inspired other revolutionaries to take up the sword and musket to fight for the cause of independence.

Athanasios Diakos
Monument dedicated to Diakos. Credit: Sportingn / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Manuscripts From Greek National Poet Dionysios Solomos Exhibited in Athens

Dionysios Solomos Manuscripts on display.
Dionysios Solomos Manuscripts on display. Credit: Facebook / Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens

Conserved manuscripts from Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos are exhibited at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens until the end of April, on the occasion of the Greek Independence Day celebrated on March 25.

The rare exhibits were unveiled to the public on March 21, following the completion of conservation work 200 years since Solomos wrote his Hymn to Liberty, which eventually became the national anthem of Greece in 1865.

Solomos’ manuscripts undergo conservation

Visitors to the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens will have the opportunity to see the 200-year-old manuscripts alongside an informative video about their conservation project until the end of April.

Educational programs will run over the same period at the museum.

Dionysios Solomos Manuscripts on display.
Dionysios Solomos Manuscripts are on display alongside an informative video about their conservation process. Credit: Facebook / Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens

Beyond the Athens show, the poet’s manuscripts form part of the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Dionysios Solomos and Other Eminent People of Zakynthos, his home island.

Besides the manuscripts, visitors of the small museum, located at St Mark’s square in Zakynthos town, can view a selection of Solomos’ personal belongings, such as his desk, inkwell and favorite books, and a portrait gallery picturing the Solomos family.

The ground floor of the museum houses the only Mausoleum in Greece, where the bones of Dionysios Solomos and those of poet Andreas Kalvos and his wife are laid to rest.

Creation of the Greek national anthem

Dionysios Solomos was born at the turn of the 19th century, in 1798, and his work became a monumental influence in uniting Greeks and creating a common national identity following the 1821 War of Independence and the establishment of a free state.

His Hymn to Liberty, written in 1823, consists of 158 stanzas, and combines elements of romanticism and classicism, inspired by the brave men who fought in the Greek War of Independence and Greece’s long history.

It presents the goddess of liberty and recalls the past martyrdoms that occurred during the history of the country, the revolt of its “slaves” under foreign rule, as well as the joys of being a Hellene.

The Corfiot musician Nicolaos Mantzaros composed a melody for the words in 1828, which he kept modifying in 1837, 1839 and 1840, and December 1844 – before he eventually presented it to King Otto I, the ruler of the newly founded Greek state.

The King, who heard the poem’s first three stanzas set to the music by the local philarmonic band during a visit to Corfu, was so impressed that he ordered it to be played during official events; thus, “Hymn to Liberty” instantly became the National Anthem of Greece.

New Study Challenges Beliefs on Human Brain Preservation

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Human Brain Preservation
Human brain preservation. Credit: EUSKALANATO / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

New research, led by Alexandra Morton-Hayward, a forensic scientist from the University of Oxford, challenges what we thought we knew about how human brains decompose after death.

Instead of thinking brains decay quickly after we die, this study, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, shows that in certain situations, human brains can last for thousands of years.

Morton-Hayward and her team have completed a worldwide study. They searched through old records and gathered information from over 4,400 preserved human brains. These brains cover about 12,000 years of history.

Nervous tissues last longer than previously thought

People previously thought it was rare to find preserved soft tissue in archaeological records. Keeping a brain intact was seen as even more extraordinary, especially when other soft tissues were missing.

However, this research shows that nervous tissues actually last longer than we thought. It is because of certain conditions that stop them from decaying.

Morton-Hayward and her team gathered information about brains from all sorts of places. They looked at brains preserved in icy places like the Arctic and dry places like Ancient Egypt.

More than 1,300 of these preserved brains were the only soft tissue left in bodies that had turned into skeletons. This shows how tough the brain is, even when everything else is gone, as reported by Archaeology Mag.

Morton-Hayward pointed out how valuable these old brains are for learning about our history. She said, “We’re finding amazing numbers and types of ancient biomolecules preserved in these archaeological brains, and it’s exciting to explore all that they can tell us about life and death in our ancestors.”

Preservation of ancient brains remains a mystery

The mechanisms behind the preservation of these ancient brains remain mysterious. While factors such as freezing, dehydration, and tanning have been suggested for short-term preservation, the fact that these brains last for millennia implies the presence of preservation mechanisms specific to the central nervous system that we don’t fully understand yet.

Some proposed mechanisms include molecular crosslinking and metal complexation, but further research is needed to fully understand these processes.

Professor Erin Saupe, a co-author from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford, pointed out the wide range of places where preserved brains were found in the study.

She said, “This record of ancient brains highlights the array of environments in which they can be preserved from the high Arctic to arid deserts.”

This research goes beyond archaeology. Morton-Hayward highlighted how these findings could be important for understanding neurological conditions today.

Iron Age House From the 10th Century BC Discovered in Greece

Iron Age House Greece
Numerous stones were in the largest room, which could have once been a paved courtyard. Credit: Thorikos Archaeological Research Proje ct

One of the earliest Iron Age houses in Greece has recently been discovered by archaeologists at Thorikos, an ancient village near the city of Lavrion, south of Athens.

The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Göttingen, under the Thorikos Archaeological Project Gent-Göttingen.

Since there have never before been any building structures from this period discovered in Attica, this find provides fresh insight into the early history of Greece.

The ancient village is close to a historic silver mine. The region is home to Mycenaean dome tombs and a classical settlement with homes, businesses, temples, and graveyards.

Thorikos
Thorikos archaeological site. Credit: Alun Salt, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikipedia Commons

Iron age house in Greece had up to six rooms

2019 saw the discovery of an uncovered wall corner that, at first glance, appeared to point to a traditional tomb building. However, additional investigation showed that it was a building from the 10th to 9th centuries BC, not a burial site.

Researchers have been looking into the building’s size for the past year and have located five to six rooms. Numerous stones were in the largest room, which could have once been a paved courtyard.

Its use between approximately 950 and 825 BC was substantiated by analysis of the inorganic and organic characteristics of the rocks.

The presence of grain-grinding stones suggests that the building once served as a residence. The rooms’ intricate layout suggests a highly developed civilization or a well-established social structure.

The ancient village where the iron-age house was uncovered was only 20 meters above the seashore, indicating no immediate threat from the water. The safer hilltop plateau was more than 100 meters high and wasn’t populated until the 8th century BC. Geophysical research uncovered a tomb from the fifth century BC on the southeast slope.

Additional scientific investigations will shed light on whether animal breeding occurred at the location and whether silver ore, which is pretty standard in the region, was mined during that time.

The theater of Thorikos dates to the end of the Archaic era

Thorikos is an almost-forgotten archaeological site, where the oldest known theater in existence still stands proudly, just north of the ancient mining town of Lavrio and east of Athens.

The theater of Thorikos dates to the end of the Archaic era between 525 and 480 B.C.

But that is not its only distinction. Unlike Greek theaters built in later eras, it is elliptical rather than circular and has a rectangular rather than a circular orchestra.

With twenty-one rows of seats, the theater had an impressive seating capacity of four thousand people when it was constructed.

Theater Thorikos
The ancient theater of Thorikos. Credit: Facebook/Thorikos Archaeological Research Project

In antiquity, Lavrio was famed for its rich silver mines, which are some of the oldest in the world. Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of mining in the area dating back to the year 3,200 BC.

It was from these silver resources that Athens obtained much of its wealth in the Classical Period. This wealth went on to fund their massive fleet of two hundred triremes, allowing Athens to become the greatest naval power in the ancient world.

There is evidence of lead extraction there beginning in the 3rd millennium BC and of silver beginning in 1500 BC.

The ancient city’s center and its acropolis are situated on Velatouri Hill next to the theater.

RelatedHow the Mines of Lavrion Changed Ancient Athens and the World

Sole Surviving Ancient Greek Funerary Relief With Twin Babies Unveiled

The stele of the twin babies on display.
The stele of the twin babies on display. Credit: Archive of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens

The only surviving funerary relief of the ancient Greek world depicting twin babies in the same arms was unveiled at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and will be exhibited only for a few weeks, as part of the “Unseen Museum” exhibition project that brings to the fore antiquities stored in its vaults.

Known as the “stele of the twin babies,” the fragment, featuring two bundled twin babies in the arms of a female figure, is presented to the public for the first time since its 2008 discovery at a river bank by a scavenger who delivered the precious find to the museum.

The heads of the twins are standing out from their swaddling clothes and the mother’s hands are seen holding their little bodies next to each other.

The stele of the twin babies
The stele of the twin babies, 4th century BC. Credit: Archive of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Tombstone for a mother who died during childbirth

The “stele of the twin babies” is dated to the 4th century BC.

Archaeologists believe that the unique fragment is part of a tombstone that would have been erected on the grave of a woman who died in childbirth.

This is the only surviving funerary relief of the ancient Greek world depicting twin babies in the same arms, which indicates their common fate as orphans, the museum says in a statement.

The museum published a collage image of the stele of the twin babies with the relief of Philonoe, suggesting a reconstructed image of what the tombstone might have looked like as a whole.

Collage of the stele of the twin babies with the stele of Philonoe.
Collage of the stele of the twin babies with the stele of Philonoe. Credit; Archive of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens

The one-of-a-kind exhibit will be on display until May 13.

Special presentations will be held on Wednesdays March 27, April 10 and 24, and May 8, and on Sundays March 31, April 14 and 28, and May 12, at 1 p.m., when the public will be received by archaeologists to discuss the story of the find, child mortality in ancient Greece and ancient Greek myths involving twins.

Museum ticket holders on the day will need to express their interest to attend the presentation upon entry, as spaces are limited and admission will be granted on a first come basis.

The stele of the twin babies.
The stele of the twin babies. Credit: Archive of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Myths involving twin siblings frequent in ancient Greece

Twin siblings are a frequent theme in ancient Greek mythology.

Olympian gods Artemis and Apollo were twins, born to Zeus and Leto, and so were the children of gods Demeter and Poseidon, Despoina and Arion.

Poseidon and Zeus were said to have fathered more sets of twins with different mortal women.

A few famous sets of twins in Greek mythology were believed to have been born to  different fathers each, only one of two being the child of a god, such as the Dioscuri – Castor and Pollux- and their twin sisters, Helen and Clytemnestra.

Prominent mortal couples in Greek mythology were also reported to have given birth to twins; twin sons Thessalus and Alcimenes were among Jason and Medea‘s ill-fated children, while Cassandra and Helenus were twin children of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy, born with prophetic powers.

Scientists Squeeze Diamonds to Create an Even Harder Material

Squeezed Diamonds to Create an Even Harder Material
Supercomputer simulations of squeezed diamonds to create BC8 “super-diamond”. Credit: Mark Meamber / LLNL

Experts believe that diamonds, renowned for their hardness, could potentially be compressed to create an even harder substance.

These expensive stones, formed from carbon crystals, occur naturally within the Earth’s depths. Research even suggests that geological events might propel diamond fountains to the surface.

Generally known for their toughness due to a rugged particle structure known as a tetrahedral lattice, scientists have uncovered methods to enhance their durability further.

Rare carbon molecule is the new hardest stable material

Researchers have conducted simulations on a rare carbon molecule that surpasses diamonds in hardness, potentially leading to its synthesis in laboratory settings.

This molecule, referred to as the eight-atom body-centered cubic (BC8) phase, is projected to be up to 30 percent more resistant to compression than diamond, the hardest stable material on our planet, as reported by ScienceAlert.

Physicists from the United States and Sweden conducted precise quantum-based molecular dynamics simulations using a supercomputer. Their aim was to observe how diamond responded to intense pressure and elevated temperatures, conditions that typically destabilize it.

These simulations unveiled fresh insights into the circumstances necessary to prompt the transformation of carbon atoms in diamond into the distinctive BC8 structure.

Previously, the BC8 phase had been observed on Earth in silicon and germanium. By extrapolating the characteristics of BC8 observed in these materials, scientists could predict how this phase would manifest in carbon, according to ScienceAlert.

Carbon’s BC8 phase doesn’t naturally exist on Earth

The BC8 phase of carbon isn’t found on Earth, but it’s believed to exist in the extreme high-pressure environments deep within exoplanets.

Theoretical models suggest that it’s the toughest form of carbon capable of remaining stable under pressures exceeding 10 million times that of Earth’s atmosphere. If scientists could create and stabilize it here, it could unlock remarkable opportunities for research and practical applications.

Diamond’s exceptional hardness stems from its atomic structure. Its atoms are arranged in a tetrahedral lattice, meaning each carbon atom is bonded to four neighboring atoms in a tetrahedral shape.

This arrangement matches the optimal configuration of carbon’s outermost electrons, contributing to the diamond’s renowned toughness, as reported by ScienceAlert.

“The BC8 structure maintains this perfect tetrahedral nearest-neighbor shape, but without the cleavage planes found in the diamond structure,” says physicist Jon Eggert of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. “The BC8 phase of carbon at ambient conditions would likely be much tougher than diamond.”

Despite the potential stability of BC8 carbon under regular conditions, efforts to create it in a lab have been unsuccessful so far. Physicist Kien Nguyen Cong from the University of South Florida led a team of researchers in utilizing supercomputing capabilities to investigate the reasons behind these unsuccessful attempts.