It all began when one courageous chick suddenly leaped and landed in the water with a splash. Credit: National Geographic/YouTube
Scores of baby penguins bravely dove off a massive 50-foot cliff for their first-ever swim in the icy Antarctic waters below, incredible new footage shows.
Award-winning National Geographic cinematographer Bertie Gregory spent a frigid two months tracking the 10,000-strong flock of Emperor penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula when he captured the chicks’ never-before-seen behavior on camera, he told “Good Morning America.“
“It’s called fledging, when they take their first swim,” he said. “Normally they jump off of sea ice, which is 1 or 2 feet high. We were noticing that these trains of chicks were going past to a different place.
“So I launched the drone, flew it over there to see what was going on, and realized they were stacking up on the edge of a huge 50-foot ice cliff,” he continued.
A lengthy line of hundreds of newborn penguins can be seen waddling toward the intimidating cliff in the video.
The first takes the plunge dozens of young penguins follow
One courageous chick suddenly leaps and lands in the water with a splash, beating its defenseless wings as it descends. The others warily inch toward the edge. A few seconds later, the penguin is seen swimming safely on the video.
Taking courage another few chicks make the jump. Then a few more before dozens of the birds were paddling in the sea for the first time.
“They were falling and there were big chunks of ice floating in the water beneath them, so it’s like falling onto a chunk of concrete,” Gregory said. “But, to my amazement, they were not just surviving, but popping up and going, ‘I can swim!’ This is their first swim ever, the first swim of their lives.”
Gregory’s remarkable footage, which is the first time to ever show penguin chicks cliff jumping, will be featured in Nat Geo’s 2025 installment of its Emmy award-winning “Secrets of” franchise, “Secrets of the Penguins,” which premieres Earth Day 2025.
The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all penguins
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. The male and female are similar in plumage and size, reaching 100 cm (39 in) in length and weighing from 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lb). Feathers of the head and back are black and sharply delineated from the white belly, pale-yellow breast and bright-yellow ear patches.
The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins trek 50–120 km (31–75 mi) over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals. The female lays a single egg, which is incubated for just over two months by the male while the female returns to the sea to feed; parents subsequently take turns foraging at sea and caring for their chick in the colony.
The lifespan is typically 20 years in the wild, although observations suggest that some individuals may live to 50 years of age.
The bronze fitting is measuring no more than 3 centimeters in diameter. Credit : Museum Vestsjaelland
Archaeologists have discovered a bronze fitting depicting Alexander the Great on the Danish island of Zealand.
The discovery was made by Finn Ibsen and Lars Danielsen, two amateur archaeologists who were conducting a metal detector survey near the city of Ringsted.
The object is a small bronze fitting measuring no more than 3 centimeters in diameter and depicts the face of Alexander the Great.
Alexander the Great fitting dates from the Roman period
According to experts from the Moesgaard Museum, the fitting dates from the Roman period and shows a deified depiction of Alexander with his wavy hair and ram’s horns, often associated with the god Ammon.
Alexander often referred to Zeus-Ammon as his true father, and after his death, currency depicted him adorned with horns as a symbol of his divinity.
Archaeologists believe that the fitting comes from a shield and matches a similar example found in a bog at Illerup Ådal. The Illerup discovery was ritually deposited alongside 16,000 objects, such as swords, bows, arrows, lances and shields following a great battle.
Freerk Oldenburger, an archaeologist at Museum Vestsjælland, said: “It’s fantastic. Up here in Scandinavia, you don’t usually find anything about Alexander the Great, and when you stand with such a small portrait in your hands, you get excited”.
How the bronze fitting ended up in Denmark
Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was the greatest military commander of antiquity, whose empire stretched from Greece to India when he died in Babylon aged just 32.
Many hundreds of years after his death, he was still a legend, and he became a great role model for Roman emperors. Especially the tyrannical emperor Caracalla (emperor 198-217 AD) who saw himself as a reincarnation of Alexander the Great.
During Caracalla’s reign, a great battle took place at Illerup Ådal near Skanderborg in Denmark, where two Germanic armies collided. Many lost their lives in the battle, and the swords, bows, arrows, lances and shields left behind were sacrificed to the gods and placed in a lake.
The excavation of the lake was able to show shields that were decorated with small decorative discs with portraits of warriors.
One of these decorative discs bears a portrait of Alexander the Great, which is identical to the portrait on the newly found mount from Ringsted.
The head of a statue determined by archaeologists to belong to Alexander the Great was unearthed recently during excavations in north-western Turkey.
The marble head, dated to the 2nd century AD, was found at the top of a theater in the ancient city of Konuralp, near modern-day Düzce.
A sunbather on one of the many beaches in Rhodes. Credit: Greek Reporter
Rhodes, the largest Greek island of the Dodecanese archipelago, has lovely beaches that face the pine woods on the mountainsides, as well as a wealth of ancient ruins and beautiful historical buildings to explore.
The idyllic island still has many iconic buildings from the time of its occupation by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades.
The main city on the island of Rhodes has an Old Town, featuring the famous medieval “Street of the Knights,” as well as the castle-like Palace of the Grand Masters. Captured by the Ottomans and then held by the Italians, the palace is now a history museum.
The Old Town truly creates the illusion that you have traveled back to the age of medieval knights, with its medieval castle, stone-paved alleys, and stout walls all creating a unique atmosphere.
The fairy tale castles, as well as the nightlife, the friendliness of the local people, and lovely beaches make Rhodes a popular destination for vacationers.
We have compiled a list of the top ten beaches on Rhodes. However, feel free to visit and judge for yourself which is the most enchanting.
Agathi Beach, Rhodes is situated near a medieval castle
Agathi Beach, Rhodes. Credit: G.Gregorini/CC-BY-2.0
Agathi is a small sandy beach which lies on a scenic cove close to the Medieval castle of Faraklos and Haraki Beach located 10 kilometers (six miles) north of Lindos village and 38 km (24 miles) southeast of Rhodes Town.
The beautiful scenery of this area is complemented by rose-gold sands and turquoise waters. The beach offers sun beds, showers, and umbrellas, as well as three beach bars that offer refreshments and snacks.
Kallithea Beach
Kallithea Beach, Rhodes. Credit: Kishjar/CC BY 2.0
Found 8 km (five miles) south of the town of Rhodes, Kallithea Beach is well known for its hot medicinal springs, which were once exploited by the Italians but are no longer functional.
It is a truly breathtaking place, with beautifully-renovated buildings set among pine and palm trees, and there are Arabic-inspired mosaics at the springs.
The iconic beach of Anthony Quinn Bay
Anthony Quinn Bay. Credit: Michael Zer Mayer/CC BY 2.0
Located 20 km (12 miles) south of Rhodes Town, this well-known beach was named after the lead actor of the film The Guns of Navarone, which was shot there. The original name of the beach was Vagies.
The beach, which is considered to be amongst the island’s most beautiful, is the quietest beach on Rhodes. It is a rather narrow beach, with a combination of rocks, sand, and pebbles.
Ladiko, a scenic cove
Ladiko Beach. Credit: Pjotr Mahhonin/ CC BY-SA 4.0
Located on a lovely bay 2 km (1.2 miles) from the village of Faliraki and 20 km (12 miles) south of the town of Rhodes, Ladiko is a small beach featuring a scenic cove which is a delight to the eye, as well as a calm respite on windy days.
The seashore contains fine, clean sand with some small rocks, providing for a visually-interesting and scenic beach. There are ample beach facilities, and the beach is surrounded by lush vegetation.
Faliraki Beach
Faliraki Beach, Rhodes. Credit: Kraus/CC BY-SA 3.0
Located 10 km (6.2 miles) away from the airport and 16 km south of Rhodes Town, Faliraki offers a well-organized beach which is covered with a multitude of colorful umbrellas and sun loungers. Plenty of restaurants, tavernas, and beach bars from which to choose can be found nearby.
The beach offers water sports, including windsurfing and water skiing. The golden sand of the beach combines perfectly with the turquoise waters of the Aegean sea, which makes for attractive and relaxing scenery.
Located 19 km (12 miles) south of the town of Rhodes, Afandou is a long, spacious beach. A crescent-shaped village of the same name is located on the bay.
Afandou is a pebble and sand beach with many rental facilities and fish tavernas.
Afandou’s clear, sparkling waters remain fresh even during the hottest summer days, providing ideal conditions for swimmers. This beach is also a favorite of windsurfers.
Agios Pavlos Beach
Agios Pavlos Beach, Rhodes. Credit: Narvaleos/CC BY 2.0
The tiny bay of Agios Pavlos (Saint Paul), located close to the ancient acropolis of Lindos, lies 48 km (30 miles) south of the town of Rhodes. The beach features golden sand which forms a giant dune, pebbles, and plenty of sunbeds from which to choose.
The beach of Agios Pavlos was named after the white chapel, located right on the beach itself, dedicated to Saint Paul, who came to Greece and preached Christianity in the year 43 AD.
Pefkos Beach
Pefkos Beach is a pebble beach with soft, golden sand. A number of rocky coves, with ideal shallow-water swimming spots, are located at the very end of the beach.
Many shops, bars, and tavernas can also be found there. Indulge in a variety of fresh seafood by visiting any of the waterfront tavernas.
Located 36 km (22 miles) from Rhodes Town, Haraki is a very peaceful beach with crystal-clear waters ideal for water sports, such as scuba diving.
The cove provides a lovely landscape, and the neighboring beaches, such as Agia Agathi and Kokkini Ammos, are idyllic to swim in, while the rocks and caves provide opportunity for exploration.
Haraki has an archaeological history, as well. The castle of Feraklos can be found on the left side of the beach. This castle was the first fortress on the island and was used as a base of operations by Aegean pirates.
Located 65 km (40 miles) from the airport, and 50 km southeast of the town of Rhodes, Kalathos Beach offers soft, golden sands with crystalline waters.
Bamboo umbrellas and wooden lounge chairs may be had for just a few euros. Some accommodations are available near the beach while more can be found in the village of Kalathos itself.
Overtourism is killing us say residents of the Canary Islands of Spain. Credit: Wouter Hagens, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Residents in the Canary Islands, a Spanish autonomous island complex in the Atlantic, have launched protests, including a hunger strike, in a backlash against overtourism.
Campaigners say the unsustainable influx of visitors is ruining life in the holiday hotspot. One activist group on the island of Tenerife has planned a hunger strike over the construction of two new hotels. Others report locals sleeping in cars and caves due to soaring house prices.
In 2023, the archipelago attracted 14.1 million foreign visitors, a record for the island group.
Demonstrators in Tenerife have organized a hunger strike next week over two new hotel developments. Authorities had halted work on Hotel La Tejita and Cuna del Alma in Tenerife’s Puertito de Adeje over environmental breaches but construction has recently resumed.
Canarias Se Agota (Canaries Sold Out) also plans to hold demonstrations on 20 April in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma under the tagline ‘The Canaries have a limit’.
Canarias se exhausta (The Canary Islands are exhausted) is another key group behind the plans for the islands-wide protests.
“We in these islands have always been very welcoming to tourists. But we want more sustainable tourism,” Ruben Zerpa, of Canaries Sold Out, told the UK-based Independent newspaper.
“Tenerife is a small island with limited resources. The roads are overwhelmed with traffic, there is a hydraulic emergency going on and hotels are full.”
Overtourism on Canary Island increases rental prices
Zerpa added that tourism has forced up rental prices making it unaffordable for many local residents.
“I earn about €900 and live with my partner but the rent is €800 per month. That is Santa Cruz, which is not even one of the most expensive parts of the island,” he said.
Ivan Cerdena Molina, who is helping organize the protests, told local news outlet The Olive Press that locals are being forced to sleep in their cars and even caves as housing gets snapped up by tourism operators.
“We have nothing against individual tourists but the industry is growing and growing and using up so many resources and the island cannot cope,” he said.
“Airbnb and Booking.com are like a cancer that is consuming the island bit by bit.”
Greece faces a similar problem
Short-term holiday rentals have caused housing shortages and rent increases in cities around the world. The impact has been significant in many places in Greece, especially in Athens and the Greek Islands.
Anna Theodorakis, a local resident who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, recently told France24: “I think the answer is to go in the streets and block everything and just not do something because people are losing their homes. It is very depressing.”
Theodorakis expressed her concern over the rising number of Airbnbs, stating that they were “wiping out the traditional places” and lamenting that she felt like “a foreigner in my own country”.
For many families whose household incomes were battered during the crisis, the ability to take advantage of Greece’s tourism industry and make some extra money through rental sites has provided a lifeline.
But for those likely to be living in rented accommodation – such as single or divorced people, students, seasonal workers or doctors and teachers in temporary postings – these platforms’ popularity is causing housing shortages and pushing rents up.
In addition, a recent report by Europa Nostra warned overtourism in the Cycladic islands of Greece threatens their integrity.
The Cyclades, renowned for their unique charm and rich culture, find themselves grappling with a myriad of challenges it says are caused by unchecked construction.
Lions used to roam around in ancient Greece. Credit: Public Domain
Greek scientists believe that a cave near Vravrona, about 40 km (25 miles) east of Athens, was a hideout for lions and panthers which roamed the ancient Greek countryside thousands of years ago.
Fossils belonging to small and large mammals, including lions and panthers, have recently been unearthed in the cave by researchers. Other animal species identified from skeletal remains include wolves, bison, horses, bears, and deer.
Excavations in the cave began in the mid 1970s and continue to this day. Scientists say that the fossils found there date from a large period between twenty-five thousand to seven thousand years ago.
They believe that the cave was either a natural trap for animals or was perhaps a place where large predators, such as lions, would bring their prey to enjoy a quiet dinner.
Because most of these species became extinct in Greece such a long time ago, little is known about the animals’ possible ranges throughout the country.
Yet it is clear from not only fossils but also from eyewitness accounts that lions and big cats roamed the land in ancient Greece.
The ancient Greek myth of the Nemean lion
Lions feature very prominently in ancient Greek mythology and writings, and the most well-known story is likely the myth of the Nemean Lion.
This animal, which was believed to have supernatural powers, was said to have occupied the sacred town of Nemea in the Peloponnese.
The Nemean Lion was famously slain by Heracles, constituting the first labor that the Greek demigod was tasked with performing. It was said that the lion’s fur was impervious to attacks because it was made of gold, and its claws, sharper than mortal swords, could cut through armor.
Heracles managed to kill the Nemean Lion by strangling it, and he wore the lion’s pelt ever after.
Lions symbolized power and wealth for the ancient Greeks. Aristotle and Herodotus wrote that lions were even found in the Balkans in the middle of the first millennium BC.
When King Xerxes advanced through Macedonia in 480 BC, he reported encountering several lions.
The big cats, now only native to Africa and India, were once found throughout the European continent. Yet they became extinct in antiquity.
Lions were reported to have become extinct in Italy before the year 20 BC and from Western Europe as a whole around the year 1 AD.
According to historians, by the year 70 AD, giant cats were contained in northern Greece in the area between the rivers Aliakmon and Nestus.
By the year 100 AD, they became extinct in Eastern Europe, as well, and after that lions in Europe became restricted to the Caucasus mountains, where a population of Asiatic lions survived all the way into the tenth century.
Benjamin Netanyahu stands in front of American-made F-15 fighters on Thursday. Credit: Israeli Government Press Office
Fears are growing that Iran could hit Israel with missiles or drones in the next few days in apparent retaliation for the Israeli bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus on 1 April, which killed a top Islamic Revolutionary Guards general and six other Guard officers.
A strike would mark a dangerously significant escalation in a long-simmering war, fought until now by proxy, or by strikes in third countries, such as Lebanon and Syria.
The Israeli military said it was fully prepared for an incoming strike and multiple international actors warned Tehran against a major assault on the Jewish state.
Israel is “on alert and highly prepared for various scenarios, and we are constantly assessing the situation,” IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said at a press conference.
“We are ready for attack and defense using a variety of capabilities that the IDF has, and also ready with our strategic partners,” he said.
Israel would rely heavily on US-supplied weaponry in any response to an Iranian strike, a point that Benjamin Netanyahu made implicitly on Thursday, by standing in front of American-made F-15 fighters at the Tel Nof airbase in southern Israel to tell reporters: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them.”
The US said it had restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheba areas amid Iran’s threats “out of an abundance of caution.”
US in diplomatic push to avert Iran-Israel conflict
The Times of Israel reports that Israeli and US officials across various agencies have been in contact over the last few days to prepare for an attack they believe is imminent.
The US hopes that strong messages of solidarity and support for Israel from Joe Biden and the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, could still deter Tehran from seeking to hit a target in Israel.
Blinken spoke by phone to Chinese, Turkish, Saudi and European counterparts “to make clear that escalation is not in anyone’s interest and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate,” state department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Thursday.
Biden said on Wednesday that Israel could rely on “iron-clad” US backing, and Blinken called the Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant, to tell him that Washington would “stand with Israel against any threats by Iran and its proxies”.
US officials say much will depend on the specifics of any Iranian attack. The Guardian reports that if Israel intercepts incoming missiles or drones, or if they fall harmlessly wide of their mark, the Biden administration will appeal to Netanyahu’s government not to act rashly.
If any Iranian attack causes significant Israeli casualties either on Israeli soil or at any Israeli mission or institution abroad, however, Israel would be entitled to a forceful response in the eyes of the administration, according to the British paper.
Greece is a very important partner of the US, Ambassador Tsunis said. Credit: Delphi Economic Forum
The US is committed to upgrading the defense capabilities of Greece, Ambassador George Tsunis told an audience at the Delphi Economic Forum on Thursday.
Tsunis referred to the Letter of Offer and Acceptance to the Greek defense ministry on Wednesday about the procurement of F-35s by Greece, noting that Greece is a very important partner of the US, as Greece supports NATO’s southeastern flank.
Asked to comment if Greeks should worry that Turkey is purchasing F-16s from the US, Tsunis said the neighboring country has had F-16s for decades just like Greece and what the focus should be on instead is the significant improvement in Greek-Turkish relations, as both countries are NATO partners.
In March, the US Senate overwhelmingly voted 13-79 against a resolution that would have blocked a $23 billion F-16 sale to Turkey that the Biden administration approved the previous month.
Turkey has sought to lock down the sale, which includes 40 new F-16s made by Lockheed Martin as well as modernization kits for 79 fighter jets in its current fleet for several years.
Speaking at the Forum, Tsunis also referred to the talks about Greece contributing to the production of US Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigates. He said it was a great issue, and talks were sincere and serious, but there was no date as to when such a collaboration could begin.
US investments in Greece
In terms of US investments in Greece, the ambassador said that leading companies in his country had discovered Greece, while the country offered what US companies looked for, which was intellectual capital.
Speaking of the energy projects that are either ongoing or nearing completion in Greece, Tsunis said the United States saw the Vertical Corridor as key. He also said it was necessary to stop being dependent on Russian natural gas and to restrict that country’s ability to weaponize energy.
Russia’s energy exports allow it to invade sovereign states, he noted. With projects like the Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Alexandroupolis, the Trans Adriatic (TAP) natural gas pipeline, and the IGB natural gas pipeline with Bulgaria, Greece holds a key position in the efforts for energy transition and ending dependence on coal (lignite).
Among other issues, Ambassador Tsunis said there is no rift between the US and Israel over Gaza, and he called for united support to Ukraine in order for citizens to reclaim their country.
He also referred to the “Our Ocean Conference” taking place in Athens on April 16-17, which will bring to Greece leaders and representatives of over 120 states, and said the US embassy would attend the upcoming Europride event in Thessaloniki in June.
At least 10 Greek companies are under investigation over EU Recovery Fund fraud. Credit: Jebulon, CC1/Wikimedia Commons
Greek and EU authorities are investigating allegations of fraud linked to the way €2.5 billion in EU funds has been awarded to just 10 companies in Greece, Politico revealed earlier this week.
The funds are related to the EU Recovery Fund, also known as the Next Generation EU (NGEU), a €750 billion economic recovery package launched by the European Commission in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to support EU member states as they recover from the economic and social consequences of the pandemic.
According to the report, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has launched an investigation in parallel with a probe by the Greek competition commission.
The Greek investigation centers on public tender processes where companies allegedly colluded to avoid more than one of them competing for the same contract ― limiting the number of firms who benefited.
This may have driven up the fees they could charge, ultimately preventing Greek taxpayers from reaping the full benefits of its EU money, Politico says.
Greece is a beneficiary of the EU fund
With projects worth €35.95 billion, Greece is one of the main beneficiaries of the fund. About a fifth of that amount goes toward making the country more digital, according to the plan submitted to the European Commission.
To date, some 600 digital projects worth more than €2.5 billion have been tendered and contracted, according to data from the Central Electronic Register of Public Procurement.
In a statement, Greece’s competition commission said it was examining whether there was a violation of the EU treaty that “prohibits anti-competitive agreements and decisions of associations of undertakings that prevent, restrict or distort competition, unilateral practices that constitute invitation to collude or future price announcements to competitors and the abuse of a dominant position.”
10 companies in Greece investigated for EU fraud
Politico reports that the offices of the country’s three telecommunications firms — Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova — as well as five IT companies and two consultancies were raided by investigators from the Greek competition commission last month.
Between them, the 10 companies under investigation won contracts for more than 600 projects in the technology sector between 2020 and 2023, each one worth at least €100,000. Few of those projects had more than one bid during the tender process.
Accusations of fraud relating to the EU Recovery Fund are not limited to Greece. Last week Italian police arrested 22 people and seized assets worth over 600 million euros as part of an investigation into alleged fraud.
According to Reuters Italian police seized flats, villas, Rolex watches, Cartier jewelry, gold, cryptocurrencies and luxury cars such as a Lamborghini and a Porsche, in addition to some 600 million euros worth of illegitimate tax credits for home improvements.
Over the past few years, researchers have worked to uncover any secrets behind the longevity of the people who live on the island of Ikaria. Credit: Anastasios Papapostolou / Greek Reporter
Ikaria is a beautiful island located in the eastern Aegean, may look like any number of other Greek islands, but there is one vital difference—people there live much longer than the population on the mainland or even on other Greek islands.
In fact, people on Ikaria live on average ten years longer than those in the rest of Europe and the United States. Approximately one in three Ikarians lives into their nineties.
They not only live longer, however, but better, as well—at least where it concerns their health.
According to scientific studies, the island dwellers also have much lower rates of cancer and heart disease, suffer significantly less depression and dementia, maintain their sex lives into old age, and remain physically active and well into their nineties.
Ikaria, which is named after Icarus, the young man in Greek mythology who flew too close to the sun and plunged into the sea, is one of the five so-called “Blue Zones,” a name given to five regions in the world where people routinely surpass average global life expectancies.
The other areas are Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California in the United States.
Longevity and diet on Ikaria
There are secrets to the longevity of the islanders that scientists have attempted to identify over the last several years. One factor which all researchers seem to agree on is their diet, characterized by simplicity and natural ingredients, following what is generally known as the Mediterranean Diet.
The diet includes olive oil, the most common source of monounsaturated fatty acids, which is also rich in antioxidants. The oil has been proven to have cardioprotective properties and to contribute significantly to the increase of “good” HDL cholesterol.
Vegetables are also prominent in the Mediterranean diet. Rich in water, which hydrates the body, they are also excellent sources of vitamins and minerals needed to support the immune system.
Garlic is known to protect both cardiac and brain cells. Ubiquitous in this diet, and traditionally known as an elixir of youth, garlic actually detoxifies and strengthens the immune system. Eaten regularly, it can lower cholesterol and blood pressure and deter the formation of blood clots.
Omega-3 fatty acids and fish are perhaps the ace in the hole of the Mediterranean diet. Sardines, salmon, herring, and trout are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids and are cardioprotective.
They are known to help lower triglyceride levels in the blood and are essential to the operation and development of the nervous system. They are even believed to deter the development of degenerative dementia.
Nuts, including almonds and walnuts, are common in the diet of these areas. All tree nuts are rich in gamma-tocopherol and vitamin E, which help regulate the levels of lipids, lowering levels of LDL cholesterol to prevent clogging of the arteries by plaque formation.
Whole grains are better in general than processed cereals because they retain more of their nutritional value.
Wholegrain breads, pasta, and rice can easily be added to any diet, and they can have a protective effect against various types of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Diet is an important but not the sole factor affecting the lifespan of Ikarians in particular. Research has shown that there are other factors which lead to their longevity.
These include good physical condition due to daily exercise as a result of manual labor and rural living. The walking which Ikarians do on a daily basis, combined with the mountainous topography of the island, enhances one’s physical condition.
Furthermore, the Mediterranean midday rest, comprised of a short nap, has been proven to protect and improve cardiac function while emotional attachments to others, including strong family and social ties between Ikarians, have been proven to increase lifespan.
Lastly, the relaxed pace of daily life, including a minimized level of anxiety and stress, has also been known to lead to longevity. Ikarians are an optimistic group of people!
In a recent interview with the BBC, retired doctor Christodoulos Xenakis spoke about how Ikarians avoid unnecessary anxiety in their lives.
“No one really sets appointments here,” one island resident stated. The concept of time is an important part of life on Ikaria, Xenakis explained, but not in the way most people think.
“It’s more like ‘see you in the morning, afternoon, or evening,'” the doctor explains. “We don’t stress.”
Watch a documentary on the Ikaria phenomenon below:
According to legend, Alexander the Great’s sister transformed into a mermaid: Credit: Charles Murray Padday / Pinterest / Stephanie Clemens
Alexander the Great’s sister, Thessalonike of Macedon, was a remarkable figure. Outliving her half-brother, she would go on to become the queen of Macedon through marriage to one of Alexander’s generals, Cassander.
During his conquests, Alexander the Great named a myriad of cities after himself, and although his sister certainly did not enjoy the widespread fame of her conquering sibling, the second biggest city in Greece is named after her.
Perhaps the most intriguing detail about Thessalonike is the myth that spread in Greece after her death. A popular folk tale asserts that the Macedonian queen became an immortal mermaid who questions voyaging sailors. Give the right answer, and a peaceful voyage ensued, but to get it wrong assured destruction.
The early life of Alexander the Great’s sister
Born in 352 BC, Thessalonike was the daughter of King Philip II of Macedon and his wife or concubine, Nicesipolis. Her mother hailed from the Thessalian nobility, and the name “Thessalonike” was bestowed upon her in honor of Philip’s military victory over the Thessalians. According to the Byzantine scholar Stephanus, Nicesipolis died just 20 days after her daughter was born.
As a member of the Argead dynasty, Thesssalonike was born into a family that would shape the course of ancient history. Her most notable connection was her half-brother, Alexander the Great, who ascended to the throne following their father’s assassination. Alexander’s military campaigns and conquests brought him immense fame and power, making him one of history’s most prominent figures.
Thessalonike likely had interactions with her brother, although the extent and nature of their relationship remain uncertain. She was only about six or seven years old when Alexander left to campaign against the Persians and she was around 21 when he died.
The young princess appears to have been brought up by her stepmother and mother of Alexander, Olympias. Olympias was a Molossian princess from Epirus and married Phillip II in 357 BC to secure an alliance between the Molossians and Macedonians.
Queen of Macedon
Thessalonike played a significant role in the political landscape of ancient Macedon during the tumultuous years following Alexander’s death. Her later life encompassed her marriage to Cassander, her involvement in the governance of Macedon, the foundation of the city of Thessaloniki, and her eventual demise.
After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, a power struggle ensued among his generals, known as the Diadochi, to assert control over the vast empire he had built. Thessalonike was married to one of these generals, Cassander, who emerged as a prominent figure. As a sister of Alexander the Great, the marriage helped to solidify Cassander’s claim to power and legitimize his rule.
Thessalonike and Cassander had at least three children together: Philip IV of Macedon, Antipater I of Macedon, and Alexander V of Macedon. After Cassander died in 297 BC, it was left to Thessalonike to guide them towards ruling Macedon.
According to Kris Waldherr, “Thessalonike used the teachings of her wily stepmother to manipulate Philip, Antipater, and Alexander to her advantage. But the queen was no Olympias – death soon visited them all.”
Philip, Thessalonike’s eldest son, died from a disease, not long after becoming king of Macedon. He was succeeded by Antipater, but according to the Roman historian Justin, Thessalonike insisted that he rule alongside Alexander.
Historian Elizabeth Carney theorizes that Thessalonike made this insistence so that she could effectively co-rule through Alexander as regent. Whatever the case, this displeased Antipater and he murdered his own mother. Antipater was in turn assassinated by another challenger to the throne.
Interestingly, Thessalonike was not the only sister of Alexander the Great to have been murdered. His other two sisters, Cynane and Cleopatra were also murdered.
Mermaid legend
The legend tells of Alexander the Great’s pursuit of the Fountain of Immortality, which led him to acquire a flask containing immortal water through great efforts. Variations of the tale suggest that Alexander either used the water to wash his sister’s hair, granting her immortality or inadvertently used it to nourish a wild onion plant, failing to inform Thessalonike of its contents.
Following Alexander the Great’s demise, his sister, consumed by grief, sought to end her life by plunging into the sea. However, instead of meeting a watery fate, she transformed into a mermaid, destined to pass judgment on mariners across countless centuries and the vast expanse of the seven seas.
Every encounter with sailors bore a consistent query: “Is King Alexander alive?” (Greek: Ζει ο βασιλιάς Αλέξανδρος;). Only the correct response of “He lives and reigns and conquers the world” (Greek: Ζει και βασιλεύει, και τον κόσμο κυριεύει!) would appease her, allowing the ship and its crew to sail away safely on tranquil waters. Any other reply would awaken her wrathful Gorgon form, determined to send the vessel and its sailors to the depths below.
