Putin Wins Another Controversial Election to Rule Russia Until 2030

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Putin Wins Another Controversial Election to Rule Russia Until 2030
Russian president Vladimir Putin
President Vladimir Putin, pictured September 2022. Credit: Council.gov.ru / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0

Vladimir Putin won by a landslide in Russia accumulating more than 87 percent of the vote in a Presidential election where no credible opposition candidate was allowed to stand.

The result means Putin will rule until at least 2030, when he will be 77. As Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, he will secure a third full decade of rule.

Western countries lined up to condemn the vote as neither free nor fair. The US said the election was “obviously not free nor fair,” and Germany called it a “pseudo-election” under an authoritarian ruler reliant on censorship, repression, and violence. UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron condemned “the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory.”

With most opposition candidates either dead, jailed, exiled, or barred from running and with dissent effectively outlawed in Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin faced no challenge to his rule.

Putin hails election in Russia

President Putin hailed Russia’s presidential campaign as far more advanced than the US, citing Russia’s use of online voting, which officials said brought in eight million voters.

“It’s transparent and absolutely objective,” he suggested, “not like in the US with mail-in voting…you can buy a vote for $10,” he said.

“What did you want, for them to applaud us? They’re fighting with us in an armed conflict …their goal is to contain our development. Of course, they’re ready to say anything,” he added.

He praised opposition campaigners for encouraging voters to turn out in greater numbers, although he condemned those who spoilt their ballots and said action would be taken against them.

For the first time, he referred to Alexei Navalny—his most vocal critic—by name, a month after he died in a penal colony in the Arctic Circle.

In a remark possibly aimed at rebutting widespread allegations that he had Navalny killed, Putin confirmed reports that he had explored exchanging him for prisoners held in the West on the condition that his rival would never return.

“I said I’m for it but, unfortunately, what happened happened,” Putin said. “What can you do? That’s life.”

The election was also held in occupied regions of Ukraine

Russia also held the presidential election in four Ukrainian regions it annexed during its full-scale invasion. Ukraine said the elections violated international law and would be designated “null and void.”

Russian-installed authorities in occupied Ukraine reported a high turnout of more than 80 percent. However, evidence has emerged of voter coercion. Russian Telegram channels have shown Russian soldiers accompanying election officials as they go house-to-house to collect votes.

One video from Luhansk showed an elderly woman in her apartment filling out an election paper and putting it in the ballot box, while a man in army fatigues stood over her with a rifle slung across his chest.

After the release of preliminary results on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Putin a “dictator” and Russia’s election a “sham.”

Why Greeks Fly Kites on Clean Monday

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Why Greeks Fly Kites on Clean Monday
Clean monday kite
Tradition dictates that Athenians go to Filopapou Hill to fly kites on Clean Monday. Credit:Huhu Uet/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0

Kathara Deftera, or “Clean Monday”—the beginning of Lent among Orthodox Christians—is the day Greeks fly kites (which are symbolic of the Resurrection) and go on picnics outdoors. The holiday is also the unofficial start of spring for Greeks.

Young people and adults organize excursions to open areas all across the country so as to fill the skies with their kites.

Tradition dictates that Athenians go to Filopappou Hill to fly kites on Clean Monday. The hill near the Acropolis is usually shoulder-to-shoulder with kids and their families mostly attempting to fly a kite despite the crowds. The atmosphere is always fun and festive despite the sobriety of Lent.

How to make a kite for Clean Monday

Many traditional workshops have devoted themselves to the making of Clean Monday kites for over seventy years now. Although traditional wooden kites have sometimes been replaced by plastic ones, the kite-making handcraft still has its own secrets.

A light wooden frame on a paper body, cords on the balances and a single cord on the tail make the perfect traditional kite, ready to carry children and grown-ups off their feet if the wind is strong enough.

Making a traditional homemade kite is not easy. It requires patience and time to make it right. But what a great feeling it is to get outside after a long winter and fly a kit on Clean Monday! Here is how you do it:

According to some scholars, the custom of kite flying arrived in Greece from the East. Others claim that its origin in the Mediterranean is traced back to the experiments of ancient Greek mathematician Archytas (428-347 BC).

Kathara Deftera and Lent

Kathara Deftera is considered one of the most important annual feasts in Greece, commencing the 40-day period of Great Lent, or “Sarakosti,” for the Greek Orthodox Church.

The feast begins on the first day of the 7th week before the Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday.
Liturgically, however, Clean Monday—and thus Lent itself—begins on the preceding Sunday night at a special service in which all present bow down before one another and ask for forgiveness.

In this way, the faithful begin the Great Lent with a clean conscience, forgiveness, and renewed Christian love. The day of Clean Monday is sometimes called “Ash Monday” by analogy to Ash Wednesday, the day on which Lent begins in Western Christianity.

Clean Monday also puts an end to the riotous Carnival celebrations that preceded it, inviting all Orthodox Christians to leave behind the sinful attitudes associated with Carnival festivities—and non-fasting foods, which were largely consumed during the three weeks of the Carnival.

As a result, the feast, which is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus, is celebrated with outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish and other fasting foods, as well as the widespread custom of building and flying kites.

Filiki Eteria: The Group That Sparked the Greek War of Independence

Philip Chrysopoulos
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Filiki Eteria: The Group That Sparked the Greek War of Independence
filiki etairia greek war of independence greek revolution
Filiki Eteria played a crucial role in the uprising which led to the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. Image by Greek painter Tsokos. Credit: Public Domain

The Filiki Eteria (Φιλική Εταιρία), or the Society of Friends, as it was otherwise known, was founded on September 14, 1814 and played a crucial role in the uprising which led to the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire on March 25, 1821.

In the beginning of the 19th century, the notion that Greece had to be liberated after almost four centuries of Ottoman rule and that a new Greek state had to be established was ripe.

However, there were two camps: those who believed that the time for Greek revolution or war was “here and now” and those who believed that it was too early.

In 1814, three Greeks of the diaspora came together in Odessa in present-day Ukraine, where a thriving Greek community lived. They formed a secret society with the purpose of initiating a Greek revolution to rid the country of the Ottomans.

The beginning of the Filiki Eteria

The three founders were Nikolaos Skoufas from the Arta province, Emmanuil Xanthos from Patmos, and Athanasios Tsakalov from Ioannina.

Soon after, Panagiotis Anagnostopoulos from Andritsaina joined the organization.

The Filiki Eteria recruited mostly Phanariot Greeks from Russia, local chieftains from Greece, and Serbs.

Two of its early outstanding members were Alexandros Ypsilantis, a prince and high-ranking officer of the Imperial Russian Cavalry; Moldovan lord Michael Soutzos, the father of modern Serbia; and founder of the Karadjordjevic dynasty, Karageorge Petrovic.

Future leaders of the Greek War of Independence, such as Theodoros Kolokotronis, Odysseas Androutsos, Dimitris Plapoutas, and the metropolitan bishop Germanos of Patras also joined the Filiki Eteria.

In 1818, the Filiki Eteria moved to Constantinople. The year was marked by the death of founding member Skoufas. Xanthos and Tsakalov attempted to find a prominent person to take over the leadership of the secret society.

Alexandros Ypsilantis becomes leader

The other two founding members contacted Alexandros Ypsilantis and offered him leadership of Filiki Eteria, which he took up in April 1820.

Ypsilantis started preparations for an armed revolt and set up a military unit he named the Sacred Band.

Initially, the start of the revolution in Constantinople was proposed, but the idea was dropped in favor of the Peloponnese.

The Filiki Eteria created a cash box where a large sum of money was collected to meet the needs for arms, ammunition, and supplies for the revolution.

They even established an auditing system so that there was no abuse of the funds collected.

Ypsilantis recruited many untrained fighters, while at the same time calling on Greeks living in other countries to contribute in any way they could to the liberation war.

Ypsilantis sent fiery letters to all centers of Hellenism, asking diaspora Greeks to participate in the fight.

Failed Filiki Eteria revolt in Moldova; message for Peloponnese uprising

In October 1820, Ypsilantis decided to start the Greek revolution in Iasi, Moldova. It was a catastrophic move, leading to the slaughter of thousands of fighters.

Nevertheless, the revolutionary seed of the Filiki Eteria was planted, and the slogan “Freedom or Death” started playing on the lips of Greeks. They were determined to fight to the death for liberty.

On February 24, 1821, Ypsilantis sent a prophetic letter to his Filiki Eteria colleagues asking them to start the fight or contribute by sending money and supplies for the armed struggle: “Future generations will bless your names and they will praise you as precursors of their freedom and bliss.”

His prophetic proclamation was verified by history. Filiki Eteria was the vehicle for the uprising and inspired the heroes who started the revolt a month later. It was “Freedom or Death” indeed.

Greek Carnival Ends with Spectacular Finale

Philip Chrysopoulos
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Greek Carnival Ends with Spectacular Finale
Greek Carnival
The Greek Carnival, a beloved tradition for all ages, reached its peak on Sunday with countless revelers joining in the joyous celebrations. Credit: Amna

The exuberant Greek Carnival festivities, cherished by both the young and old, reached their climax on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of celebrants across the country joined in the revelry.

The “Apokries” is the most colorful celebration in Greece with every region having its own traditions and ways of enjoying the holiday.

Patras Carnival

For decades, the Patras Carnival is the biggest and most popular by far. People from every corner of Greece flock there every year as they did this year. Even foreigners plan their trip to Greece around this time of the year to attend.

This year was no exception. Hotels and rooms to let were fully booked for the week as more than 60,000 carnival participants with 181 groups, surpassing every previous record, flooded the streets in the grand parades according to the Municipality of Patras’ data.

Despite the capricious weather, the Carnival parade was spectacular, followed by thousands of people in fancy costumes. On Sunday night, thousands of levelers continued to throng the streets dancing and drinking.

Carnival in Northern Greece

Xanthi, in northern Greece, also boasts one of the biggest and popular Carnival parades. Attendance is in the tens of thousands every year. This year locals and visitors ignored the cloudy weather and danced to their hearts content.

Xanthi has the distinctiveness to have a lot of Muslims from the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey. A few thousand people from Turkey arrive every year to join the fan, while tourists from the neighboring Balkan countries tend to partake in the Greek Carnival.

The Carnival in the northern Kozani city had a more traditional tone, with locals dressing in traditional clothes and folk music of the area blasting.

During the season celebration there is a tradition to satirize and mock events in a funny song. It is called Fanos and the satirical song is sung around a fire. This year the “victim” of Fanos was the song by Marina Satti that will represent Greece in the Eurovision song contest. It was sung by a group of elderly men in the local dialect.

The Greek Island of Zakynthos Celebrates Carnival

Beautiful Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea – birthplace of Dionysios Solomos who wrote the poem that became Greece’s National Anthem – wore its Carnival costume and let loose in Sunday’s big parade.

As every year, the parade with Conte Carnavalos (Count Carnival) and all the groups and floats started at the arch of Agios Lazaros and ended at Solomos Square where laughing and dancing continued into the night.

The Greek Carnival is celebrated before the 40-day period of Great Lent called “Sarakosti”. It allows people to enjoy all the food, drinking and dancing before entering the 40 solemn days before Easter.

 

March 17, 1821: Greek War of Independence Begins in Mani

Philip Chrysopoulos
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March 17, 1821: Greek War of Independence Begins in Mani
March 17, 1821, Mani Greek was of independence
March 17, 1821: “Victory or death” reads the sign over the cross in the Greek revolutionary flag of Mani. Credit: dimitrisvetsikas1969/pixabay

Mani was the place where the Greek uprising against Ottoman rule actually started, and not in Kalavryta on March 25th 1821, as is often believed.

Although that date was later designated as the day of revolt and the beginning of the War of Independence, revolutionary acts took place in several areas across the Peloponnese as early as March 17th of that year.

Mani was the first area on the Peloponnesian Peninsula to declare open revolution, and they did so on March 17, 1821.

According to written testimonies, the elites of the region, who had been granted privileged status by the Ottomans — including the appointment of the Bey — asked their leader to be the very first to declare war against the Ottomans.

Their bold declaration was in line with the plans of the secret revolutionary society Filiki Eteria. 

At the call of Petrobey (Petros Bey) Mavromichalis, all the Maniates chieftains gathered in Tsimova, today’s Areopolis, and decided to begin fighting against Ottoman rule.

This led to the lightning-quick liberation of Kalamata and the creation of the Messinian Senate.

However, none of the written testimonies recorded mentions an actual official gathering in Mani at which the proclamation of revolution took place.

Impregnable Mani

Throughout the period of Ottoman rule in Greece, Mani remained virtually impregnable, despite repeated attempts by the conquerors to enslave it.

The area enjoyed a kind of independence through its alliance with Venice.

Its mountainous, barren terrain made it easy to defend against attacks. It was only in 1776 that the area was declared a semi-independent tribal hegemony under the direct jurisdiction of Kapudan Pasha.

One of the area’s chieftains was appointed Bey, and he alone was responsible for keeping law and order.

Previously, Mani had become “the biggest bully of the Ottomans and the refuge of the Greeks,” as local folklore has it.

Due to its peculiar status, there were continuous armed conflicts in the area between the Maniates and the Ottomans.

Hardened warriors of Mani

In fact, this was why the Maniates were also the only experienced, hardened warriors in the Peloponnese.

The fierce reputation of the locals, combined with the relative independence and rugged terrain of the area, which could serve as a base and at the same time as a refuge, had made Mani the most appropriate place to start the revolution, in the eyes of Greeks and their foreign allies alike.

Despite rivalries and disputes which cropped up between the large clans of the region during the last decades of the Turkish occupation, several revolutionary movements were able to take root and the Maniates participation in the great revolution began to take shape.

The leaders assembled at Kitries, at the home of Petrobey Mavromichalis, the last Bey of Mani, and signed an agreement on conciliation and joint preparation in October of 1819.

In addition, many Maniates chieftains, and Petrobey himself, rushed to become initiated in Filiki Eteria, reinforcing the belief that any universal Greek uprising had to be supported by the Mani people.

In fact, Filiki Eteria founder Alexandros Ypsilantis’ original plan was to go there himself to declare a revolution; however, that ultimately did not come to pass because of the dangers entailed by his move into European territory.

Portrait of Petrobey Mavromichalis
Portrait of Petrobeys Mavromichalis, the last Bey of Ottoman rule.

The cancellation of the Ypsilantis plan, instead of frustrating the Maniates, only intensified their revolutionary fervor. Military unrest in the region, as in the rest of the Peloponnese, had been growing since early 1821.

Proclamation of the revolution

Following the orders of Filiki Eteria, Grigorios Dimitriou Dikaios, known by the nom de guerre “Papaflessas,” along with great chieftains such as Christos Papageorgiou (who took the war name of Anagnostaras) and Theodoros Kolokotronis, came to Mani, and traveled around the villages to recruit fighters.

Preparations were carried out in secrecy in East Mani, where the presence of Ottoman forces was virtually non-existent.

Petrobey Mavromichalis had somehow successfully managed to cover up the presence and movements of the chieftains in that area.

He had also avoided going to Tripolis in late February, when the Ottoman governor of the Peloponnese – in order to weaken the insurgency in his territory – had summoned all the local leaders of the Peloponnese on the pretext of conferring with them, but in reality planning to detain them there.

To cover his tracks, Petrobey Mavromichalis sent a message that he was ill and sent his son Anastasios to Tripolis to represent him.

In this way he successfully reassured the Turkish leadership of his loyalty while at the same time buying important time for the chieftains.

The proclamation of the revolution at the Areopolis of Mani took place on March 17, 1821 according to local oral tradition. There are no written testimonies of this monumental event, but nevertheless, on March 17 every year in Mani, a ceremony attended by the President of the Hellenic Republic commemorates the auspicious beginning of the Greek War of Independence.

Real Greece in Mani

Recorded live, watch a tour of one of the most historical and beautiful towns in Greece, Areopoli, as we are visiting the area of Mani to discover the rich history, gastronomy and wonderful proud people known as Maniates. Also visit Limeni and Oitilo and all the other traditional villages of the Mani Peninsula. #Uknown #Spectacular #Greece

Posted by Greek Reporter on Friday, 6 July 2018

Greece-Egypt Sign High Level Cooperation Agreement

Philip Chrysopoulos
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Greece-Egypt Sign High Level Cooperation Agreement
Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi signed a bilateral cooperation agreement
Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi signed a bilateral cooperation agreement. Credit: Prime Minister’s Office

Greece and Egypt signed an agreement on the establishment of the High-Level Cooperation Council in Cairo on Sunday.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi made joint statements after signing the agreement.

The Greece-Egypt bilateral agreement was signed prior to a joint meeting between the two leaders, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of Belgium, Italy, Austria and Cyprus.

“For us today is an excellent day for this strategic cooperation with Egypt” Mitsotakis said during the joint statements made by all participating parties. “Egypt’s stability and prosperity are of the utmost importance for the EU, and Greece is a supporter,” the Greek Prime Minister stressed.

“Greece is ready to help in any effort to achieve stability in the region. Our country has a leading role in the “Shields” operation, Mitsotakis said.

In regards to the humanitarian aid sent to war-stricken Gaza, Mitsotakis said, “We congratulate Cyprus for opening a new humanitarian corridor”.

Regarding the energy cooperation between the two countries, the Greek Premier said, “Egypt can become an energy center for the region. We will continue to promote projects such as the GREGY interconnection pipeline.”

On his part, the Egyptian President said: “Your visit today is of great symbolic importance because together we made a change in our cooperation.” El-Sisi stressed that it was agreed to hold a summit between the EU and Egypt in the second half of 2024.

“A big concern of ours is the war in Palestine. We will ask for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of corridors for humanitarian aid,” he added.

Mitsotakis Egypt
Credit: Prime Minister’s Office

EU Earmarks €7.4 Million Package for Egypt to Curb Migrant Influx

“Today we have before us a historic day with the signing of a partnership based on six  pillars. I am happy to announce that it will be supported with a new package of 7.4 million euros,” said European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.

The EU official also referred to energy investments and, as she said, the GREGY interconnection program that connects Greece with Egypt increases Europe’s energy security.

“We are all terribly concerned with the war in Gaza, which is facing famine. This is irreversible! Humanitarian aid must reach Gaza,” stressed Von der Leyen.

“Five hundred trucks a day leave for Gaza, 275 million will be provided by the EU to the Palestinians. We have sent over 1,800 tons of medical supplies and we need to be sure that these supplies will reach Gaza,” she said.

Economic pressure in Egypt and conflicts and chaos in neighboring countries could drive more migrants to European shores.

Egypt has been a refuge for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa trying to escape war or poverty. For some, Egypt is a destination. For others, it is a point of transit before attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

The Oldest Submerged Settlement in the Aegean Sea Dates Back 8,000 Years

Tasos Kokkinidis
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The Oldest Submerged Settlement in the Aegean Sea Dates Back 8,000 Years
Kyra Panagia islet , Alonisos , sporades, Greece
Kyra Panagia is the closest island to the submerged settlement of Agios Petros. Credit: wikimedia commons / Chris Taklis cc by 3.0

The small islet of Agios Petros, north of Alonissos, Greece, is believed to be the oldest submerged settlement of the Aegean.

Founded around the end of the 7th millennium BC by a community of farmers, fishermen, and seafarers, Agios Petros presents a unique archaeological example of an island settlement.

In Agios Petros (Saint Peter) a civilization flourished for about 1,000 years. A few dozen families settled permanently on the islet, which at the time was connected by land to its larger neighbor Kyra Panagia, around 6100 BC.

Sporades island map
Agios Petros is located next to Kyra Panagia in the northern Sporades. Credit: Google Maps

“The fact that the marine settlement of Agios Petros is preserved to this day at the bottom of the Aegean several thousand years after it was founded by the first agricultural groups that arrived in Greece, makes it a special archaeological site,” Nikos Efstratiou, professor of Prehistoric Archeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) says.

Efstratiou, who has been heading the archeological research in the area, adds that the site “allows us to investigate a series of important issues concerning the history of the island, the habitation in the Aegean, and the natural environment that the first islanders saw.”

Excavations on the islet have revealed stone rectangular and arched buildings, two children’s burials in natural rock cavities, stone piles, and ancient walls.

In addition, human-like figurines, inscribed ceramic sherds, and tools made of flint were uncovered, as well as food remains from various animals, birds, fish and oysters.

“The islet was not an isolated community but had cultural contacts with other and often more distant areas such as the southern Aegean, Thessaly, the Balkans, and Anatolia. The arrival of agricultural groups from Anatolia to Greece has been proven by archaeological finds,” Efstratiou says.

Inhabitants of Agios Petros were farmers, fishermen and hunters

“We learned from the excavations that the inhabitants of Agios Petros were farmers, breeders but also fishermen and hunters. This is evidenced by the remains of animals, birds and fish found in the archaeological layers, on land, and in the sea,” he adds.

The prehistoric settlement of Agios Petros was first discovered in the 1960s by the archaeologist Dimitris Theoharis, then the Antiquities Commissioner of Thessaly.

Since the 1980s, the head of research has been Efstratiou, who carried out the first marine research in the area, in collaboration with the well-known oceanographer N.C. Flemming and a team of divers from the University of Cambridge.

Agios Petros submerged settlement
In search of the neolithic civilization of Agios Petros islet. Credit: Farmers at sea

Today the research conducted by the AUTH and the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities is part of a promising five-year program.

What archaeologically distinguishes Agios Petros from other projects in Greece is the extensive underwater research, which started in 2021 in the context of an ambitious five-year program (2021-2025).

“Research is focused on locating ancient human DNA and opening test sections at the points where surviving architectural remains have already been identified. We are also looking for clues that will enlighten us about the practices of early navigation in the Aegean, such as for example the type of boats used by the first islanders – something about which we can only make assumptions since there is a lack of similar findings internationally”, he emphasizes.

At the time the settlement was developed, the islet of Agios Petros was connected to Kyra Panagia by a peninsula, which today has been submerged.

“The process of the gradual sinking of the settlement of Agios Petros is a completely natural process related to the continuous rise of the sea level and not due to some dramatic geological phenomenon,” Efstratiou says.

Related: Dispilio: The Lakeshore Prehistoric Settlement of Greece

New Research Sheds Light on the Byzantine History of Tinos Island

Philip Chrysopoulos
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New Research Sheds Light on the Byzantine History of Tinos Island
Byzantine fortifications tell Byzantine history of Aegean islands
Byzantine fortifications found in excavations on Tinos island. Credit: Greece’s Ministry of Culture

New archaeological research on Tinos has revealed the rich Byzantine history of the island that was not known before, shedding new light in Aegean Sea history as well.

The preliminary results of the research project “Byzantine and Latin-ruled Tinos: Old and new archaeological data” were presented at the “Leonidas Zervas” Amphitheater of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

According to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) report, the project is a collaboration between the Cyclades Ephorate of Antiquities of Greece’s Ministry of Culture and the Institute of Historical Research (IHR). Project director is Dimitris Athanasoulis of the Cyclades Ephorate of Antiquities and co-director is Anastasia Giagaki of the National Research Foundation.

Important Byzantine History

Tinos island, Greece
The Greek island of Tinos. Credit: Greek Reporter

“For the first time, systematic archaeological research is being done for the Middle Ages period on Tinos” Athanasoulis said, adding that the medieval period lasted several centuries more for Tinos, and there are more indicators of its importance in the Aegean.

One of them is the active lifespan of Chora, the island’s capital. “With the study of the ceramics and the findings from the old excavations of Chora, the time span of use of the port from the late Roman years, i.e. from the 3rd and 4th centuries, is extended through the 8th century century, Athanasoulis said.”

“It seems that the port survives this transitional period as well and this is very important because it shows us that Tinos still had an important anchorage until the early Middle Ages.”

The second indicator is the fortress of Agia Eleni, located on the imposing hill of Xoburgos in the center of the island. According to the new findings, what until now only existed as a hypothesis is confirmed, namely that the acropolis of Agia Eleni is the Byzantine fortress of the 7th century.

“For the first time, the Byzantine phase of Agia Eleni was identified. There there is a square precinct on the acropolis with a large pentagonal tower. Essentially we have the same pattern as the rest of the castles in the Cyclades identified in our recent studies. In other words, during the time of the Arab invasion, a large investment was made by the Byzantine Empire to protect and control the Aegean and one of these castles is located on Tinos,” Athanasoulis said.

Island Fortification Network in the Aegean

According to the ephorate director there was a rather complex network of Cycladic island fortifications in the  transitional centuries (7th – 9th), each with at least one castle.

“On the one hand, the castles form a visual communication network that covers the entire central Aegean, with coastal castles guarding important ports and anchorages, while those on hills oversee the island, ports and sea lanes. On the other hand, they have accommodation for guards and accommodation for the islanders in times of danger, while they also function as state warehouses for the management of agricultural products and the feeding of the army,” Athanasoulis said.

On Tinos, the fortification network includes the castle of Xobourgos. “In contrast to coastal fortifications, such as on Kythnos, Mykonos and especially Paros and Naxos, Xobourgos is founded inland. As is the case with other inland castles, such as Apaliros in Naxos, its role is to protect the agricultural production of the island and, at the same time, to supervise Tinos and the sea routes around it. The visibility analysis from the citadel confirms this role. From Xobourgos one could have visual contact with a large part of the Cycladic archipelago,” Athanasoulis elaborated.

Tinos Island Greece
Tinos island Greece. Credit: GreekReporter

And he continued: “In this position there would be the Byzantine garrison of the island and it would function as a place to store the production and a refuge for the Tinians in times of danger. Even though the buildings that presumably exist inside the walls have not been excavated, the pottery from the site confirms such a use.”

Athanasoulis further said that the Venetians who arrived later resumed the use of Xobourgos and in the acropolis of Agia Eleni they added to the fortifications of the transitional centuries. Their negligent use of masonry is evident as the small stones they added stand out from the large stones the Byzantines used before.

“In the case of the large pentagonal tower, its geometric shape is altered and the sharp end gives way to a higher, rounded corner. After all, one can distinguish more than one intervention, indicating the constant use of the acropolis.”

Fifth Century Basilica Found Under 16th Century Church

The third important information the research provided is found in the excavation at Agia Anastasia in the “Redia” site as it reveals a much earlier phase.

“Agia Anastasia is a two-aisled church from the 16th century, under which we discover an early Christian basilica from the 5th century. And this is very important, because it is the oldest church that has been built on the island and which continued to be used until the end of the 7th century,” Athanasoulis said.

After a gap in its use, the church was used again in the mid-Byzantine period (12th century) and later, in the 16th century when it was reconstructed into a two-aisled structure.

The research program “Byzantine and Latin-ruled Tinos: Old and new archaeological data”, carried out from 2019 to 2023, will continue. The focus is on the above excavations positions, as well as others on which preliminary work has been done.

One of them is Paleokklisia in the area of Zodemeni, also one of the oldest churches on the island, although newer than the early Christian church of Agia Anastasia. It is a large-scale temple, which was covered with a sloping stone roof, a particularly rare solution found in only one other monument in the Cyclades. The site is included in the plan for further research.

How Boxing Became a Popular Sport in Ancient Greece

Philip Chrysopoulos
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How Boxing Became a Popular Sport in Ancient Greece
Boxing ancient Greece
Ancient Greek depiction of boxing on a Panathenaic amphora in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen /Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.5

Boxing, or Πυγμαχία in Greek, meaning “fighting with the fists,” in ancient Greece originated as a very tough sport, much harder than professional boxing as we know it today.

There are archeological discoveries showing that the ancient Greeks held boxing matches as early as in the Minoan and Mycenaean periods. There are numerous legends pertaining to the origins of boxing in Greece.

One of the most bizarre stories holds that the heroic ruler, Theseus, invented a form of boxing in which two men sat face to face and beat each other with their fists until one of them was killed. With time, however, boxers began to fight in a standing position, as we so often see them pictured on Ancient Greek pottery.

The boxing rules in the early days were draconian. No Marquess of Queensberry rules applied in those days.

There were no weight categories, no rounds with intermediate breaks, no points or victory or defeat on points, no interruption when the fighters began to bleed; nor of course, were there any gloves, and judges enforced the rules by hitting the offenders with a switch or whip (as seen above).

The winner was simply the boxer who knocked out his opponent or forced him to leave the match. In the case of a match of especially long duration with no clear winner, the brutal  “scale” rule applied with the agreement of both opponents.

Boxing ancient Greece
The “Boxer,” a Hellenistic Greek bronze sculpture. Credit: Livioandronico2013/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 4.0

The “scale” was in a way similar to the modern penalty shootout in soccer. Each of the two opponents remained completely still and received a punch to the face without making any move whatsoever to avoid it.

The order of these blows was determined by lot and the winner was the one who would remain standing. There have been cases in which boxers were killed during the “scale” after receiving a lethal punch.

Also, there were no gloves for protection. The boxers wrapped their fingers and wrists to make their joints more stable–not to reduce the force of the blows on the opponent.

Through the years, though, boxing became more civilized and more of a sport. In fact, it became an Olympic Games sport as early as 688 BC. Onomastus of Smyrna was the first winner in Olympic boxing.

At the time, the god Apollo was regarded as the inventor and guardian of the sport of boxing.

Boxers in Ancient Greece who went down in history

Obviously, winning a match in such a sport required huge reserves of physical–and even mental–strength. Therefore, the few great boxers whose names have gone down in history were revered as superheroes.

The Spartan Ipposthenes was most likely the top boxer in ancient days in Greece, winning first place in five consecutive Olympic Games. This means that for 16 consecutive years, he boxed at the very highest competitive boxing level.

Boxing ancient Greece
August Vinchon, “Diagoras Carried by his sons after Olympic victory,” 1814. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Public Domain

Diagoras of Rhodes, a one-time Olympic champion, four-time champion in Isthmia, and two-time champion in Nemea, was over two meters (6 feet 6 inches) tall and boxed without twisting aside or ducking, making no effort to avoid his opponent.

On the contrary, he went straight for his unfortunate competitors. Everyone admired this giant of a man who was known to combine power with great personal virtue.

Melankomas, from Caria in Asia Minor, followed the completely opposite tactic, however. But as we can see today, his name has also gone down in history as one of the great ancient pugilists.

He was so flexible and nimble that he could easily avoid being hit by his opponent. The latter usually left the match exhausted without throwing so much as a single punch but also without receiving any, as “noble” Melagomas was only interested in avoiding the blows, and not throwing any!

The most courageous boxer in all of history was perhaps Evrydamas from Cyrene. In one match, his opponent broke Evrydamas’ teeth, but he swallowed them so that the other would not realize that fact and feel that he had an advantage.

Then, with a series of overwhelming blows, Evrydamas simply knocked his opponent out cold.

Athina Onassis Joins Board of Directors of French Supermarket Chain

Philip Chrysopoulos
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Athina Onassis Joins Board of Directors of French Supermarket Chain
Athina Onassis
Athina Onassis. Credit: wikimedia commons / Michael Kramer CC BY 3.0

Athina Onassis is taking a new step in the business world by joining the board of directors of French supermarket chain Groupe Casino.

According to French financial newspaper Les Echos, the granddaughter and heiress of Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis, entered the French company after changes in the composition of the Groupe Casino board of directors and an increase in the share capital.

The new consortium will have the majority stake owning 52 percent of the Groupe Casino share, the newspaper states.

The new board of directors will include Athina Onassis, Elisabeth Sandager, general manager of Helena Rubinstein (L’Oréal group) and Branislav Miškovič from Daniel Kretinsky. Nathalie Andrieux remains in her position in the Casino board of directors.

Other than its eponymous brands Casino Supermarkets and Géant Casino, the Group developed Monoprix, Franprix, Leader Price in France, but also Pao de Açúcar and Extra in Brazil and Exito and Carulla in Colombia.

Athena Onassis, who is also heiress to the French pharmaceutical group Roussel-Uclaf, is close to Daniel Kretinsky and her well-known name will be added to the list of the new board of directors members.

The Sole Heiress of the Onassis Estate

Athina Onassis, born January 29, 1985 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, is the sole heiress of Christina Onassis, daughter of Aristotle Onassis who inherited 55 percent of the Greek shipping magnate’s fortune. Her father is Thierry Roussel.

In November 1988, when she was three years old, her mother – who was reportedly addicted to drugs and alcohol – died at the age of 37 after a heart attack in Argentina. She thus became the sole heir to her mother’s assets, half of which were managed by a charitable foundation based in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

Her father, Roussel, sued the “Onassis Foundation” to release the inheritance to him, but the courts decided against him because he was already divorcing Christina Onassis. The trust company Fides KPMG in Lucerne was commissioned to manage the Onassis assets from 1999 until Athina’s 18th birthday.

Athina Onassis grew up in sheltered circumstances with her father in France, Spain and Lucerne, Switzerland. Roussel managed to keep his daughter away from public eye.

In 1992, The New York Times cited a report from the Associated Press, naming Onassis one of the year’s new billionaires. Athina is often referred to as a “billionaire heiress” in the media, but the true extent of her wealth remains unknown. Some accounts claim that Onassis’ net worth is less than $1 billion.

There have been several estimates of her inheritance, including the island of Skorpios in Greece, which was later sold to trusts connected with Ekaterina Rybolovleva, daughter of Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, who bought the island for $153 million.

 

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