NASA is searching for cheaper methods for Mars sample return missions. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA wants to find a cheaper and more efficient way to bring back soil samples from Mars to Earth. It is also a top priority in the world of science in general. Due to tight budgets, NASA officials are looking for new ideas. They are welcoming proposals from NASA centers, labs, and space companies. The current plan has faced problems with technology, money, and rising costs.
During a conference call with reporters, agency officials mentioned they anticipate receiving alternative plans for review by this fall or early winter.
NASA’s budgetary issues
Nicky Fox, an associate administrator at NASA, highlighted that the revamp would emphasize “innovation and proven technology” to cut down on development time, risks, and costs rather than relying on major technological advancements.
The challenge lies in using familiar technology for spaceflight systems to achieve something unprecedented like launching a rocket from another planet’s surface. However, how NASA plans to resolve this apparent contradiction remains unclear, as reported by Reuters.
NASA’s decision to change the strategy for returning samples from Mars follows an independent review commissioned by the agency last September.
NASA Seeks Cheaper Ideas for Mars Sample Return Mission Amid Budget Crunch
NASA is looking to streamline its Mars sample return mission due to financial constraints. A formal request for proposals will be sent out to various entities for alternative plans to cut costs and… pic.twitter.com/N7DVr45RbL
The review determined the program faced challenges from the beginning due to “unrealistic budget and schedule expectations.” It also highlighted issues with the mission’s organizational structure, noting that it was not effectively led.
Additionally, the Mars mission has been affected by significant budget cuts imposed by Congress this year. These cuts have resulted in numerous layoffs at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Los Angeles, which plays a key role in the Mars mission.
NASA to send another robotic landing craft to Mars
Since 2021, the robotic rover Perseverance, built by JPL, has been gathering mineral samples from the floor of an ancient Martian lake bed known as Jezero Crater. These samples are being sealed inside tubes for later analysis in labs on Earth. Scientists hope to find potential signs of fossilized microbes.
In the next phase of the mission, NASA, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, plans to send another robotic landing craft to Mars. This craft will retrieve samples collected by Perseverance and launch them into Martian orbit. From there, a third spacecraft will collect the samples and return them to Earth.
Originally, retrieval and orbital vehicles were expected to launch around 2027 to 2028 with the samples returning to Earth by the early 2030s. The estimated cost for the entire process was set between $5 billion to $7 billion.
However, an independent review discovered the actual costs for the Mars sample return mission could skyrocket to as much as $11 billion with the latest designs. Furthermore, the review indicated the samples might not reach Earth until after 2040, according to Reuters.
Collage of Friedrich Hölderlin and the Parthenon. Credit: Left: Steve Swayne, Flickr, CC BY-2.0 / Right: Franz Carl Hiemer, Public Domain
Friedrich Hölderlin was an important German Romantic lyric poet whose great work managed to bridge the Classical and Romantic traditions in literature and poetry and was deeply inspired by ancient Greece.
Throughout his tumultuous life, Hölderlin had a strong and deep passion for and engagement with anything related to Greece and more importantly ancient Greek culture, mythology, and philosophy. These elements profoundly shaped his poetic vision and ideas that ended up promoting philhellenism in his native country.
Hölderlin’s Early Life and Education
Born in the 18th century, and more precisely in 1770 in a town called Lauffen am Neckar, in Württemberg, modern-day Germany, Hölderlin started early his academic life. He studied theology at the Tübinger Stift seminary. There, he met fascinating characters such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, who would later go on to become fundamentally leading figures of German Idealism.
It was during this time that Hölderlin learned how to read and speak ancient Greek and immediately began the daunting yet fulfilling task of translating Greek literature. However, he became increasingly disillusioned with the real prospect of a career in the Lutheran ministry, as it didn’t seem to fulfill his dreams. Thus, truly inspired by the ancient Greeks, Hölderlin took the risky decision to devote himself completely to poetry instead.
Friedrich Hölderlin’s birthplace, Lauffen am Neckar. Credit: Kim Traynor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hölderlin’s Conception of Ancient Greece
For Hölderlin, the Greek pantheon and its glorious gods were not simply abstract symbols. For his Greek-loving soul, these gods were the definition of living, wonderfully life-giving presences that inspired human minds.
The German poet fused the Orphic and Dionysian aspects of the ancient Greek religion with the more contemporary Christian Pietism of his native Swabia. Hölderlin perceived ancient Greece as an ideal form of unity between humanity and nature. According to his beliefs, this had been lost in modern times and needed to make a comeback.
He also believed that poetry had a real power to help restore this lost unity and reconnect people with the divine, regardless of their origin and class. Although he never visited Greece, which was at that time occupied by the Ottomans, Hölderlin drew great inspiration from the Greek natural world and luminous Mediterranean landscape. We can say that he was a true admirer of the Greek idea.
The Influence of Greek Mythology and Literature on Hölderlin’s Poetry
Many famous and popular Greek mythological figures and members of the Greek pantheon such as Heracles, Dionysus, Apollo, Zeus, and Helios, the sun god, feature prominently in the works of his poetry. Hölderlin’s poems very often celebrate these Greek gods. However, he also explores more somber themes, such as exile, loss, and alienation.
Hölderlin translated the plays of Oedipus Rex and Antigone of Sophocles into the German language, interpreting them for the modern age to be accessible to the average person. He also translated the ancient Greek lyric poet Pindar, whose work greatly influenced his own hymns and odes throughout his lifetime. Other major poems that he wrote, which were deeply influenced by other Greek myths and more broadly the Greek culture include Hyperion’s Song of Destiny, the Archipelago, Bread and Wine, and Patmos.
The first floor of the yellow tower (now known as the Hölderlinturm) was Hölderlin’s place of residence from 1807 until his death in 1843. Credit: Thomgoe; modified by Wildfeuer, Wikimedia Commons, Copyrighted free use
Hölderlin’s Philosophical Engagement with Ancient Greece
Apart from the fact that he was a great poet, Hölderlin was also a contemporary philosopher who was truly and deeply engaged with Greek thought and the big ideas that people such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato had promoted. He was very critical of the separation of humanity from nature and the divine that defined modern times. This contrasted with the unity and wholeness he perceived in ancient Greece, a reason why he fell in love with it so profoundly.
Hölderlin’s only novel, Hyperion, explores the real struggle of an individual who tried to reconcile modern life with the Greek ideal and everything that ancient Greece represented. His deeply rooted philosophical ideas about ancient Greece also influenced his friends Hegel and Schelling and played a crucial and defining role in shaping the development of German Idealism as a whole. One could even argue that Hölderlin’s thought had an impact on later philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger.
Friedrich Hölderlin Memorial in Lauffen am Neckar. Credit: Kim Traynor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Although the life of Hölderlin was marked by personal tragedy, including a mental breakdown that left him completely institutionalized for the last 36 years of his life, his radiant, luminous, and truly rapturous poetry as well as his deep philosophical ideas have undoubtedly secured his place as one of Germany’s greatest poets.
Hölderlin’s profound engagement with ancient Greece, its mythology, culture, and thought, was absolutely fundamental and central focal points to his poetic and intellectual vision, that shaped his overall character profoundly.
He saw in ancient Greece a lost ideal of unity and wholeness that he genuinely believed could help people heal the pain, divisions, and alienations of the modern world. Through his numerous translations as well as poems, essays, as well as his novel, Hölderlin brought the once-forgotten ancient Greeks back to life for modern readers whose native tongue was German. This helped blend the Greek myths and ideas with his own Romantic sensibility, leading to the creation of a body of work of true beauty and power.
Israel calls on 32 governments to impose sanctions on Iran following drone attack. Credit: Hosein Velayati CC BY 4.0/Wikimedia Commons/Hosein Velayati
Israel has called on 32 countries to impose sanctions against Iran, a move taken as Tel Aviv weighs its options in responding to the Islamic Republic’s drone attack over the weekend.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said today that he has sent letters to 32 countries calling on them to enact sanctions against Tehran in a “diplomatic offensive.”
Alongside the military response to the firing of the missiles and the UAVs, I am leading a diplomatic offensive against Iran.
This morning I sent letters to 32 countries and spoke with dozens of foreign ministers and leading figures around the world calling for sanctions to be…
Iran said its offensive on Saturday, which employed more than 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, was in retaliation for Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria, which killed 13 people, including two commanders of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israel’s military reported that 99 percent of the aerial bombardment was intercepted by itself and allies, such as the United States and United Kingdom, and that the attack caused only minor damage, including to a military base in the country’s south.
“Alongside the military response to the firing of the missiles and the UAVs, I am leading a diplomatic offensive against Iran,” Katz said on X.
“This morning, I sent letters to 32 countries and spoke with dozens of foreign ministers and leading figures around the world, calling for sanctions to be imposed on the Iranian missile project and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be declared a terrorist organization,” he said.
Katz did not specify which governments he had reached out to with regard to imposing sanctions. The IRGC is already blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the United States and is subject to EU sanctions. “Iran must be stopped now – before it is too late,” Katz urged.
Tensions are high as Israel weighs up its options after Saturday’s attack with international partners of Tel Aviv urging restraint amid concerns the war in Gaza threatens further escalation of conflict in the Middle East, particularly with Iran.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military commanders have pledged to retaliate, albeit with no specificity on the form as of yet. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said on Monday that “this launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, and drones into Israeli territory will be met with a response,” adding no further details.
Iran’s warning to Israel
Against this backdrop, Iran warned on Tuesday that it would respond swiftly to any action against its interests.
“We categorically declare that the smallest action against Iranian interests will certainly be met with a severe, widespread, and painful response against any perpetrator,” President Ebrahim Raisi told Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency.
Qatar has positioned itself as a mediator amid the Israel-Hamas war over the past six months.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani told state TV on Monday night that Tehran’s response to any Israeli retaliation would be “a matter of seconds.”
Ioannis Kapodistrias: The first governor of Greece introduced the potato to the Greek diet. Credit: G.A. Gippius Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
The introduction of potatoes to Greece by first Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias after the liberation from the Ottomans is a story rich in lore.
It is a famously anecdotal story that involves a shipment of potatoes in a warehouse guarded by soldiers and curious Greeks stealing the “strange” vegetable at night.
The governor who knew the nutritional value of potatoes brought the first shipment of potatoes to Nafplio, the capital of the newly independent Greek state, and offered to distribute them for free. The Greeks were indifferent. They were not even curious as to what potatoes tasted like.
Since the Greeks were distrustful of the new food that the governor from abroad was promoting, Kapodistrias cunningly decided to make the bulk of potatoes seem like a precious product that needed to be guarded by soldiers.
Indeed, potatoes suddenly seemed like something of great value to the Greeks. They stole the potatoes, and, after they tasted them, they realized it was an excellent food. Hence, they began cultivating the potato.
And the myth ends there because, in another part of Greece, the cultivation of potatoes had commenced almost thirty years earlier.
Potato cultivation began on the Ionian Islands
After the Treaty of Campo Formio which was signed on October 17, 1797, between France and Austria, the Ionian Islands passed over to French possession. Three years later, however, an extraordinary alliance between Russia and Turkey, two enemies that had been fighting for centuries, forced the French out and granted the islands of the Ionian Sea relative independence. The islands became a new state called the Septinsular Republic (Republic of the Seven Islands) which was in existence from 1800 to early 1807 and had its own flag.
It was then that Ioannis Kapodistrias started his great political career. He was born in Corfu, but the new state of the Ionian Islands helped him become the Governor of Kefalonia and later Minister of Foreign Affairs. Through this position and other professional roles, he became acquainted with important Russian politicians. This led to his rise in the Russian state. He eventually became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the service of Tsar Alexander I in 1809.
The new air of liberty on the Ionian Islands brought along progress in several sectors, including agriculture. According to the memoirs of landowner Nikolaos Arliotis from Corfu, the first known mention of potato cultivation on the island dates back to 1800. Arliotis planted potatoes that a friend of his had sent him from Trieste. Until then, potatoes had been completely foreign and unknown to the people of Corfu.
Ioannis Kapodistrias established the first School of Agriculture. Credit: Dinkum / Wikimedia Commons CC0
In 1807, the Ottomans severed ties with Russia and allied with France, passing the Ionian Islands to the French yet again. In 1811, the French authorities in Corfu encouraged the new crop and issued official instructions for its cultivation.
In Corfu in 1817, Stefanos Paramythiotis, an administrative employee of the Ionian state, translated an Italian publication on potato cultivation and published the first Greek language book on the potato. Potato cultivation soon took off on the Ionian Islands. This is seen in the correspondence of Governor Kapodistrias in which he asked his brother Augoustinos in January 1828 to send potatoes from Corfu and Zakynthos to the Peloponnese.
George M. Antonopoulos introduced the potato to the borders of the Greek state before Kapodistrias. At the end of 1825, he sent a report to the Parliament of the Revolutionary Government, praising this new plant for its benefits. He informed the administration that he himself grew potatoes in Nafplio and simultaneously supplied the inhabitants of Argos and the garrison of Acrocorinth with similar seeds. Furthermore, he proposed growing potatoes at the Acropolis of Nafplio. It was a proposal that was accepted by the Parliament on December 21, 1825.
Kapodistrias and the precious potato
Before his arrival in January 1828 to assume the responsibilities of the first governor of Greece, Kapodistrias already had a program in mind to increase the popularity of the potato. On November 12, 1827, the Greek Parliament decided to arrange for the introduction of the potato as well as the re-publishing of the book on the potato that Stefanos Paramythiotis had translated in 1817.
A few days after the establishment of Kapodistrias in Aegina in an area southeast of the island, cultivation began. The governor oversaw the day-to-day operations of the plantation and five hundred workers were employed. This later became 1,500. Soon, potato plantations were established on Poros and Apatheia in Argolis. These plantations were the best solution to the hunger problem, employment of refugees, and wandering populations of liberated Greece.
Ioannis Kapodistrias was assassinated on September 27, 1831 in Nafplio. Credit: Painting by Dionysios Tsokos / Public Domain
In 1829, Christoforos Krateros, the first agronomist of the Greek state, pointed out that potato cultivation was more profitable than that of grains and raisins, the dominant crops until then in Morea (the Peloponnese). This was because potatoes ripen faster than raisins and other grains and provide a larger yield.
Krateros also issued instructions for the best cultivation of the potato. These were circulated in single sheets throughout the Greek territory. In the instructions, there was an early testimony of the way potatoes were cooked at the time: “Potatoes are delicious and very nutritious. They serve as bread, and as an offering – they are cooked boiled in water, baked in the oven, and cooked however you want them. They are also used to make excellent wholemeal bread.”
Another great contribution of Ioannis Kapodistrias to Greek agriculture was the establishment of the School of Agriculture of Tiryns right next to Nafplio. It was the first agricultural school of the Greek state and was dedicated to the theory and practice of the art of agriculture.
Greek statues depict male figures with a small penis. The Artemision Bronze represents either Zeus, the ancient Greek king of the gods of Mount Olympus, or possibly Poseidon, the god of the Sea. Credit: National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Some men do not appreciate ancient Greek art as they resort to jelqing, a practice that involves manipulating the penis, often to increase its size or improve erectile function.
As we know many ancient Greek statues depict male figures with small penises. This is quite intentional and reflects the different cultural values of the period.
Doctors have warned that a bizarre penis-enlarging TikTok trend known as jelqing could actually make your genitals smaller. The supposedly “ancient” technique involves repeatedly stretching a semi-erect penis over time in the hopes that it will enlarge the organ.
In theory, each tug gradually rips the penile tissue, allowing space for scar tissue to fill it out, making it look bigger.
But the practice puts men at risk of Peyronie’s Disease, which is when scar tissue forms in the deeper tissue under the skin of the penis, causing curved, painful erections. It can also make the penis shorter while erect.
Doctors have pinpointed some other risks associated with jelqing including the danger of infection as bacteria can enter into the urethra.
There is a particular buzz around jelqing online in Reddit forums of incels—involuntary celibate men who form their identity around their perceived inability to have romantic relationships with women. They strive to be beautiful, irresistible, and well-endowed.
Meanwhile, on TikTok, thousands of videos posted by young men demonstrate how to execute the technique and claim it adds “an inch and a half” in length and “an inch” in girth.
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, a urologist at Orlando Health, said that the discomfort associated with Peyronie’s, during sex or not, isn’t worth it. “It’s a complete waste of guys’ time,” he told the Daily Mail recently.
“It can be very painful, and sometimes the scarring can take three to six months or even a year to build up for you to even notice the change. So you may think you haven’t seen any negative side effects, but it may just take some time,” he added.
Ancient Greek art provides an alternative to jelqing
Some men resort to jelqing because of the unrealistic beauty standards and societal pressures regarding penis size.
Maybe they should instead take a look at the aesthetics of the male body from ancient Greece, where a small penis was associated with positive qualities like self-control, rationality, and even civility. Large phalluses were seen as linked to lust, barbarity, and lack of restraint.
Satyrs, half-man, half-goat creatures known for their wildness, were often depicted with large phalluses. The Greeks often presented their enemies, the Egyptians, the satirical creatures, and even fools in comedies as having large appendages.
This served as a contrast to the controlled and idealized figures of gods and heroes. The small penis was also a stylistic choice to focus on other aspects of the male form, such as musculature or heroism.
In the ancient Greek world of around 400 BC, erect penises were considered neither desirable nor a sign of power or strength.
In his play The Clouds (c. 419–423 BC), ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes summed up the ideal traits of his male peers as “a gleaming chest, bright skin, broad shoulders, tiny tongue, strong buttocks, and a little prick.”
Historian Paul Chrystal has also conducted research into this ancient ideal. “The small penis was consonant with Greek ideals of male beauty,” he writes in his book In Bed with the Ancient Greeks (2016). “It was a badge of the highest culture and a paragon of civilization.”
Tourist boats make excursions to the island, where there are caves with turquoise waters ideal for swimming and diving. Credit: Video screenshot/Mykonoslive.tv
A small uninhabited island called Tragonisi, located a few nautical miles east of Mykonos, is on the market for sale. It is expected to fetch 50 million euros ($54 million).
According to the ad published by the real estate agency ZL Development Mykonos Golden Luxury, Tragonissi or Dragonisi, covering 617 acres, is being sold either whole or in plots.
The island has no green, only steep, sharp stones and slippery gravel. In the summer, tourist boats make excursions there, as it has caves with turquoise waters, ideal for swimming and diving.
The small church of Panagia is built on its rocks where on June 11th, the day of Saints Barnabas and Bartholomew, a festival is held only for men.
Mykonos’ reputation could attract buyers for the island up for sale
Mykonos’ reputation as a cosmopolitan island with a vibrant nightlife and luxurious offerings attracts a wealthy clientele. Those seeking a secluded escape might find Tragonisi’s proximity highly desirable, offering privacy while remaining close to the action.
The island has transformed into a cosmopolitan destination, attracting celebrities, influencers, and a wealthy clientele seeking luxury experiences. Upscale restaurants, beach clubs with world-famous DJs, and designer boutiques cater to this market.
Being near Mykonos means Tragonisi benefits from easier access. Potential buyers can easily fly into Mykonos and then take a short boat trip to the island. Additionally, Mykonos offers various amenities like marinas, facilitating yacht access to Tragonisi.
The development of the island will, of course, require construction materials, skilled labor, or ongoing maintenance. Mykonos’ existing infrastructure provides a readily available pool of resources for these needs.
Islands in Greece for sale
Several islands in Greece are up for sale in addition to Tragonisi. An island in the Ionian Sea that went up for sale at an auction in 2022 with a starting price of 3.8 million euros ($4.3 million) has found no buyers to date.
The island of Makri in the complex of Echinades is an isolated paradise off the coast of Aitoloakarnania. Six of the Echinades islands, including Oxeia the largest, are owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, who purchased them in 2013 for a reported $10 million.
Makri, along with the rest of Echinades, is part of the Messolonghi-Aetolian Lagoon National Park, which is the largest in Greece and the second-largest in the Mediterranean.
The island is less than one square kilometer (0.38 sq. miles), and its highest point is at 126 meters. The remains of three buildings are still visible on Makri, including a small chapel, a cistern, and a small house.
The ancient mystery of the great sound quality at the ancient Greek theater of Epidaurus has finally been solved, researchers posit in a recent study.
Scientists have been wondering about the high sound quality of Epidaurus’ theater for decades, developing certain theories along the way.
The ancient theater of Epidaurus was designed by Polykleitos in the 4th century BC. The original thirty-four rows were extended in Roman times by another twenty-one rows. It seats up to fourteen thousand people.
The theater is admired for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of un-amplified spoken words from the proscenium to all fourteen thousand spectators, regardless of their seating.
Some even claim that audiences are able to hear a pin drop or a match being struck from any seat in the house.
The theater, renowned for its extraordinary acoustics, is one of the best conserved of its kind in the world. It is still used for musical and poetical contests and theatrical performances.
Sound at the theater of Epidaurus improved by limestone
Over the years, several theories were developed in order to explain the phenomenon, both by academics and amateurs.
Some of these theories suggest that prevailing winds carried sounds, or that masks amplified voices.
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered that the limestone material of the seats provides a filtering effect, suppressing low frequencies of voices and thus minimizing background crowd noise.
Furthermore, the rows of limestone seats reflect high frequencies back towards the audience, enhancing the effect, noted Live Science.
“When I first tackled this problem, I thought that the effect of the splendid acoustics was due to surface waves climbing the theater with almost no damping,” said mechanical engineer Nico Declercq. “While the voices of the performers were being carried, I didn’t anticipate that the low frequencies of speech were also filtered out to some extent.”
It is astonishing, however, that the Greek builders of the theater probably did not understand the principles that led to the exceptional audibility of sound from the stage.
The Greeks’ misunderstanding about the role the limestone seats played in Epidaurus’ acoustics likely kept them from being able to duplicate the effect.
Later theaters included different bench and seat materials, including wood, which may have played a large role in the gradual abandonment of Epidaurus’ design over the years by the Greeks and Romans, Declercq said.
Others dispute the sound quality
TheGuardian reports that research conducted by Constant Hak, the assistant professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology, and his team, suggests such assertions are little more than Greek myth.
In a series of conference papers, which also involved experiments at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the theatre of Argos, Hak and his colleagues describe how they tested the claims.
They used twenty microphones, placing each one at twelve different locations around the theater of Epidaurus together with two loudspeakers—one at the center of the “stage”—or orchestra—and one to the side.
Both speakers played with a slight delay between them a sound that swept from low to high frequency with the speakers in five different orientations. In total, they made approximately 2,400 recordings.
The team then used the data to calculate sound strength at different points in the theater.
They then made a series of laboratory recordings of sounds, including a coin being dropped, paper tearing, and a person whispering, and played them to participants, who adjusted the loudness of the sounds until they could hear them over background noise.
The results were then fed into the team’s calculations to reveal how far from the orchestra the different sounds would be heard.
While the sound of a coin being dropped or paper being torn would be noticeable across the whole theater, it could only be recognised as a coin or as paper halfway up the seating.
For a match striking, the situation was worse, while a whisper would only be intelligible to those in the front seats.
Further work, based on the loudspeakers playing voices, revealed that only when actors spoke out loudly would their words be intelligible in the seats furthest from the orchestra.
Aitoliko Island in western Greece. Credit: Video screenshot/ Drone Works
It may be a slight exaggeration, but for many locals, the town of Aitoliko, situated on an island between two lagoons in western Greece is their own, smaller version of Venice.
The old part of the town lies quite romantically on an island between two lagoons, of which the Aitoliko Lagoon extending up to Stamna lies to the north, and the Missolonghi Lagoon, which was Lake Kynia in antiquity, lies to the south where it connects with the Gulf of Patras and into the Ionian Sea.
The town itself has a traditional Greek charm, with narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and a picturesque harbor. The local community is friendly and welcoming, and you can find tavernas and cafes where you can enjoy Greek cuisine and relax by the waterfront.
One of the notable attractions in Aitoliko is the “Bridge of Aktion,” also known as the “Queen’s Bridge.” This bridge connects the town to the mainland and offers scenic views of the lagoon and surrounding landscapes.
A drone video captures the historic center of the town and the bridges on either side that connect Aitoliko to the mainland.
Protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and included in the Natura 2000 network, the Mesolongi-Aitoliko Lagoon National Park is rich in flora and fauna, including 290 species of birds and more than 100 species of fish.
Miles of salt flats and pyramids, as well as marshes hosting exotic flamingos, compose its striking coastline, offering a unique optical spectacle to its visitors.
Aitoliko famous for its Greek caviar
Tidal forces produce strong currents surging back and forth under the arches of the bridges.
The taverns of Aitoliko offer specialties such as smoked or salted avgotaraho — Greek caviar — which is famous around the world for its unique taste and quality.
Avgotaraho, the egg of the fish called kefalos (grey mullet) is considered to be of a superb specialty, some say even superior to caviar, which is the eggs of sturgeon. It is registered as having a Greek and European protected designation of origin (PDO) – one of only a small number of seafood products with a PDO in the EU – and is of significant commercial value to the local economy.
Other specialties include butterflied grilled petali, grilled or baked eel and shellfish, when in season.
During the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, in the beginning of the 19th century, Aitoliko experienced three Turkish sieges before it became a part of Greece. There were 500 Greek defenders and 15,000 Turks in the first siege.
The second siege was repelled, but in the third siege, Aitoliko was re-taken by the Turks at the same time as Mesolonghi, on April 11, 1826.
Stoicism was one of ancient Greece’s philosophical movements founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. Credit: Public domain
Stoicism, was one of ancient Greece’s philosophical movements founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC.
Stoicism is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. For the Stoic, virtue alone is sufficient for human happiness.
For Stoics, emotions like fear, envy, passionate love were merely false judgements and the sage, a person who had attained moral and intellectual perfection, would not be touched by them.
It is a philosophy of life where the individual maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions, and helps him or herself hone their virtues of character.
The name derives from the porch (stoa poikile) in the Agora at Athens decorated with mural paintings, where the members of the school congregated, and their lectures were held.
Birth of Stoicism, one of ancient Greece’s philosophical movements
The philosophy of Stoicism was originally known as “Zenonism” after the founder, Zeno of Citium.
Zeno ended up in Athens after his ship wrecked near the city. He was not a philosopher, but he turned his misfortune into an opportunity by studying all the philosophical resources available in the city.
He sat in on lectures from the other schools of philosophy (e.g., Cynicism, Epicureanism) and eventually started his own.
However, the Stoics did not believe that the founders were perfectly wise. In order to avoid their philosophy becoming a cult of personality, they chose to name it Stoicism after the place they were meeting, the stoa poikile of the Agora.
Zeno’s ideas developed from those of the Cynics, whose founding father, Antisthenes, had been a disciple of Socrates. Zeno’s most influential follower was Chrysippus, who was responsible for molding what is now called Stoicism.
Other prominent Stoics included Cleanthes of Assos, Panaetius of Rhodes, Aristo of Chios, Posidonius of Apameia, Diodotus, and others.
Later, Seneca, Epictetus, and Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius ushered Stoicism to the Roman world. The philosophy flourished until the 3rd century AD.
A bust of ancient Greece’s philosopher Zeno of Citium, the creator of stoicism. Credit: Rama/Wikimedia Commons/ Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon
Stoic Philosophy
According to Stoicism, the path to eudaimonia (happiness) is embracing and accepting the moment as it presents itself by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or by the fear of pain.
The Stoic must use his or her mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan by working together and treating others fairly and justly.
The Stoics are especially known for the teaching “virtue is the only good” and that people must lead a virtuous life to be accomplished and complete human beings.
External things—such as health, wealth, and pleasure—are not good or bad in and of themselves but have value as “material for virtue to act upon.”
The Stoics also held that certain destructive emotions, such as fear or jealousy, resulted from errors of judgment, and they believed people should aim to maintain a prohairesis (will) that is “in accordance with nature.”
To live a good life, a person had to understand the rules of the natural order, Stoics believed, since everything was rooted in nature.
For many Stoics, virtue is sufficient for happiness. Thus, a sage would be emotionally resilient to misfortune and would therefore be considered truly free.
According to Stoics, people don’t truly have control over many things and situations in life. Therefore, they believe that worrying about things outside of their control is unproductive, or even irrational for a person who wants to attain tranquility and happiness.
Stoics differentiate between what is and what is not under human control and do not waste energy and thoughts over uncontrollable adverse events.
Where many people worry endlessly about things out of their control, the Stoics believe they should expend their energy in thinking of creative solutions to problems, rather than the issues themselves.
Stoicism is not about having a set of beliefs or ethical claims. It is not a school of philosophy that is separate from everyday life.
The stoic must continuously practice and train (“askesis”). Stoic philosophical and spiritual practices include logic, Socratic dialogue and self-dialogue.
Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Credit: Eric Gaba/Wikipedia
The Greek term for word is logos. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus used logos (the word) to explain what he saw as the universal force of reason that governed everything.
In the 5th century BC, Heraclitus said that all things happen according to the Logos. The Stoics also believed in the Logos, along with the notions of conscience and virtue.
A few centuries later, Greek-speaking Jews came to view the Logos as a force sent by God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is referred to as the Word — “and the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among men.”
The apostle Paul is known to have met with Stoics during his stay in Athens. In his letters, Paul reflected on his knowledge of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic terms and metaphors to assist new converts in their understanding of Christianity.
Both Stoicism and Christianity teach a person the importance of training their mind and body to be disciplined.
Both encourage the elimination of passions and inferior emotions, such as lust and envy, from one’s life, so that the higher possibilities of one’s humanity can be awakened and developed.
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven,” Jesus preached.
Similarly, as Seneca wrote, “We must give up many things to which we are addicted, considering them to be good.”
The Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodox Church accept the Stoic ideal of dispassion to this day, as do ascetics all over the world.
Stoicism today
Daily Stoic, How to be a Stoic, The Modern Times Stoic, Modern Stoicism, Traditional Stoicism: these are only a handful of the websites that hail the importance of—even the need for—Stoicism in the 21st century.
Is it possible, though, for today’s man to embrace a philosophy that teaches indifference to material things and possessions in a ruthlessly material world?
An intellectual and popular movement called Modern Stoicism began at the end of the 20th century which is aimed at reviving the practice of Stoicism.
However, before that, Stoic philosophy served as the original philosophical inspiration for modern cognitive psychotherapy, particularly as mediated by Dr. Albert Ellis’ Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the major precursor of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
In the original cognitive therapy treatment manual for depression by Aaron T. Beck et al., it is stated, “The philosophical origins of cognitive therapy can be traced back to the Stoic philosophers.”
A well-known quotation from the “Enchiridion” of Epictetus was taught to most clients during the initial session by Ellis and his followers: “It’s not the events that upset us, but our judgments about the events.”
This subsequently became a common element in the socialization phase of many other approaches to CBT.
Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way; Stoicism—A Stoic Approach to Modern Life, by Tom Miles; Modern Stoicism, by Steve Brooks; and Modern Stoicism—How to Be a Stoic in the 21st Century, by Stephen Ryan are some of the books on Stoicism that have been published recently.
Famous Stoic quotes
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.”
“To live a good life; we all have the potential for it, if we learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.”
“Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back.”
“Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?”
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is nature’s delight.”
“It is not because things are difficult that we don’t dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”
“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”
“The bravest sight in the world is to see a man struggling against adversity.”
“Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack.”
“Life is never incomplete if it is an honorable one. At whatever point you leave life, if you leave it in the right way, it is whole.”
“Man is affected not by events, but by the view he takes of them.”
“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”
“If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.”
“He suffers more than necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.”
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”
“If you want to improve, be content to be foolish and stupid.”
“The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.”
“Seek not the good in eternal things, seek it in yourselves.”
“It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.”
“No man is free who is not a master of himself.”
“It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.”
“Never depend on the admiration of others. There is no strength in it. Personal merit cannot be derived from an external source.”
“Our seas are not for sale,” reads the slogan projected on the Parthenon. Credit: Greenpeace
Representatives from at least 100 countries have gathered in Athens this week for the “Our Ocean Conference,” uniting in a concerted effort to address the formidable challenges confronting the world’s oceans.
Greenpeace’s call for enhanced ocean protection sets the stage for a pivotal conference in Athens, Greece, drawing attention to pressing issues such as corporate exploitation, deep sea mining, and the imperative for equitable treatment of coastal communities.
Projected messages like “Our Ocean is Not for Sale,” “Ratify the Global Ocean Treaty,” and “Stop Deep Sea Mining” illuminated iconic landmarks across the city, including Acropolis Hill and the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounio.
These projections converge on the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, the epicenter of discussions.
Greece’s agenda at the “Our Oceans Conference”
At the core of the “Our Ocean Conference” agenda lies discourse on sustainable tourism along coastal regions, combatting marine plastic pollution, and navigating the green transition in the Mediterranean.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis told reporters that Greece will be placing particular emphasis this year on sustainable tourism, microplastics, eco-friendly shipping, and the Mediterranean environment.
“Our Ocean” is the only conference to address all ocean-related issues under one roof. At the previous summit in Panama in March 2023, participants pledged $19 billion in initiatives to protect oceans.
These included projects involving sustainable fishing, the fight against pollution, maritime security, and protected areas.
The plan for a marine park in the Aegean Sea has irritated neighboring Turkey, which said last week it was not willing to accept a possible “fait accompli on geographical features whose status is disputed.” In response, Greece accused Turkey of “politicizing a purely environmental issue.”
The first “Our Ocean Conference” was launched by then-US Secretary of State John Kerry in 2014 and has since been hosted in all parts of the world with the participation of governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society and those with a heightened environmental awareness. The aim was to generate tangible results and actions that would improve the level of environmental protection.
The “Our Ocean Conferences” have extracted 2,161 specific commitments from states and international organizations. These have pledged both funding and regulatory action.
Greece is pushing ahead with 21 initiatives worth 780 million euros ($830.9 million) to protect the seas and tackle coastal pollution, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday.
Mitsotakis said other initiatives underway include campaigns to curb plastic pollution, setting up a monitoring system for protected marine areas because fishing practices that damage the seabed will be prohibited, and constructing charging stations at 12 ports for electric vessels.
