Spanish Resort Residents Plan Hunger Strike Against Overtourism

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Spanish Resort Residents Plan Hunger Strike Against Overtourism
Overtourism
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.

Related: Acropolis Among Worst Destinations for Overtourism as per CNN

 

 

The Lion’s Den: When Big Cats Roamed Ancient Greece

Tasos Kokkinidis
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The Lion’s Den: When Big Cats Roamed Ancient Greece
lion ancient greece lions big cats
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.

Fears Grow of an Imminent Attack by Iran on Israel

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Fears Grow of an Imminent Attack by Iran on Israel
Iran Israel
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.

US Committed to Upgrading Defense Capabilities of Greece

Tasos Kokkinidis
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US Committed to Upgrading Defense Capabilities of Greece
Ambassador Tsunis on Greece-US relations
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.

Related: Delphi Economic Forum Delves Into the Role of Greek Diaspora

Greece Faces Probe Over EU Recovery Funds Fraud

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Greece Faces Probe Over EU Recovery Funds Fraud
Syntagma , Greek parliament
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.

Related: EU Sues Greece for Failing to Revise Flood Risk Plans

The Mystery of Longevity on Ikaria Island, Greece

Tasos Kokkinidis
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The Mystery of Longevity on Ikaria Island, Greece
Ikaria elderly resident on longevity
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.

Ikaria, Greece
Ikaria island. Credit: Stelios Kiousis, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikipedia

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:

 

Alexander the Great’s Sister, Thessalonike, and the Mermaid Legend

Alexander Gale
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Alexander the Great’s Sister, Thessalonike, and the Mermaid Legend
Mermaid
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.

Ancient Egyptians Viewed Milky Way as Goddess Nut, Says New Study

Matthew Norman
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Ancient Egyptians Viewed Milky Way as Goddess Nut, Says New Study
New study sheds light on how the ancient Egyptians viewed the Milky Way.
New study sheds light on how the ancient Egyptians viewed the Milky Way. Credit: Ramy Alaa. CC BY 2.0/flickr

An astrophysicist with the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth in the UK, has shed light on how the ancient Egyptians viewed our galaxy – the Milky Way – thousands of years ago.

A new study published in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, Or Graur, from the University of Portsmouth, has revealed how the Milky Way may have been linked to the ancient Egyptian sky goddess Nut.

“This study is a new way to look at the sky goddess and at the way astronomy may have been used by ancient Egyptians,” the astrophysicist told Newsweek.

For their era, the ancient Egyptians had an advanced comprehension of astronomy. They recorded and cataloged stars, mapped constellations, tracked the courses of celestial bodies such as the sun and moon, and invented the concept of a 365-day calendar, among many other achievements.

Additionally, the ancient Egyptians infused the wonder of the night sky into many parts of their culture and mythology.

Throughout the thousands of years of human history, before modern light pollution, the visible light band of our galaxy was one of the most recognizable and distinctive features in the night sky. Most cultures that have been in existence at one point or another have given a specific name and origin story to it.

However, despite the ancient Egyptians’ evident interest in the night sky, the name and role of the Milky Way in their culture remain unclear.

One theory previously put forward by scholars is that the Milky Way was seen by Egyptians as a celestial manifestation of the goddess Nut, and in this latest study, Graur got to work on determining whether or not this was the case and if the goddess could be linked to our galaxy.

Milky Way galaxy.
Milky Way galaxy. Credit: YellowstoneNPS. CC BY 1.0/flickr

It was already known that Nut played a significant role in ancient Egyptian cosmology, with the goddess typically depicted arched over her brother, Geb, and often studded with stars.

“In Egyptian cosmology, the world, which consisted of Egypt and its immediate neighbors, was surrounded by infinite, inert waters,” Graur wrote in the study.

“The Earth, personified by the god Geb, was protected from the encroaching waters by the sky, personified by Geb’s sister and consort, Nut, who was held aloft by the atmosphere, represented by their father, Shu.”

Nut also played an important role in the ancient Egyptian conception of the solar cycle, in which the sun is ferried by boat across the water of the sky from dawn to dusk. It was believed that Nut swallows the sun as it sets, before giving birth to the burning ball of gas once more when it rises.

How did the Study’s Author Link the Milky Way to the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Nut?

Graur is not an Egyptologist, but an astrophysicist, and came across Nut while investigating the plethora of names and creation stories different cultures have for the Milky Way during research for an upcoming book on galaxies.

The academic was reportedly not convinced by the arguments put forward by the original Egyptologists and thus decided to try and test the link between Nut and the Milky Way using modern astronomical simulations of the night sky, in addition to studying the goddess’ description in as many Egyptian texts as possible.

These investigations made use of a rich collection of ancient Egyptian sources, with the most relevant information in this study found in the Pyramid Texts, Coffin texts, and the Book of Nut.

“None of the previous studies had used the Book of Nut, which turned out to contain the most important link between Nut and the Milky Way,” Graur said. The astronomical simulations Graur ran showed what the night sky would have looked like in ancient Egyptian times.

“Then, as today, the Milky Way’s appearance changed as it rose and set throughout the night, as well as from one season to the next,” Graur wrote in Scientific American. “In the winter, it would cross the sky diagonally from the southeast to the northwest, whereas in the summer, its orientation would flip so that it arched from the northeast to the southwest.”

Graur – after studying Egyptian texts and creating astronomical simulations – proposed that there may have been a link between Nut and the Milky Way, but his claim differs from prior hypotheses.

Depiction of the ancient Egyptian goddess Nut swallowing the sun.
Depiction of the ancient Egyptian goddess Nut swallowing the sun. Credit: Hans Bernhard. CC BY 3.0/Wikimedia Commons/Hans Bernhard

“As opposed to previous attempts to link them, I don’t think the Milky Way is Nut—i.e., a manifestation of her,” Graur told Newsweek. “Instead, I think the Milky Way helped the ancient Egyptians see Nut fulfilling her role as the sky.”

In the paper, the academic argues that the description of the goddess in the Book of Nut is consistent with the appearance of the Milky Way in the night sky, with her head and groin being associated with the western and eastern horizons, respectively.

Graur also claims that Nut’s cosmological roles require her to be ever-present and stationary in the night sky.

“As a consequence, Nut’s body could never be mapped onto the Milky Way. If it were, then she would be seen to rise and set with the Milky Way instead of remaining fixed to the horizons,” Graur told Scientific American.

Instead, the academic claims that the summer and winter orientations of the Milky Way may be seen as figurative markers of Nut’s torso and her arms, respectively – a reminder of her constant presence in the sky.

“During the winter, the Milky Way highlighted Nut’s outstretched arms, while during the summer it sketched out her backbone (or torso),” Graur told Newsweek. “You can think of the Milky Way as a spotlight illuminating different parts of Nut (the sky) throughout the year.”

The astrophysicist was careful to state that the latest study does not provide conclusive proof that Nut was linked to the Milky Way in ancient Egypt; it is just one interpretation. Although he did say that his research fits well into a wider framework of Milky Way creation myths across cultures.

“The more I research the creation stories of the Milky Way, the more similarities I find between cultures around the world and throughout time,” Graur said. “There’s something deeply, fundamentally human about the way in which we think of the Milky Way.”

“This paper is an exciting start to a larger project to catalog and study the multicultural mythology of the Milky Way,” he said in a press release.

Unplugged Version of Greece’s Eurovision Song Released

Matthew Norman
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Unplugged Version of Greece’s Eurovision Song Released
An unplugged version of Greece's Eurovision Song has been revealed on Youtube.
An unplugged version of Greece’s Eurovision Song has been revealed on Youtube. Credit: Vilanova i la Geltrú. CC BY 2.0/flickr

A new unplugged version of the song “Zari,” by Greece’s Eurovision 2024 Song Contest representative Marina Satti, was uploaded on Tuesday night to the official Eurovision YouTube account.

Marina Satti again takes center stage with her performance, which is accompanied by musical instruments such as the clarinet and zurna. The YouTube comments are positive, with many of them coming from abroad and expressing their support for Greek participation.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmo, Sweden on May 7th, 9th, and 11th, and Marina Satti will perform third in the second semi-final, which will be held on May 9th.

In the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 7th, fifteen countries will participate in the following order: Ukraine, Cyprus, Poland, Serbia, Lithuania, Croatia, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, Finland, Portugal, Luxembourg, Australia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.

In the first semi-final, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Germany will all appear and vote.
In the second semi-final, on May 9th, the following will participate in turn: Malta, Albania, Greece, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Israel, Estonia, Georgia, the Netherlands, Norway, Latvia, San Marino, and Belgium.

In the second semi-final, Spain, Italy, and France will appear and vote.

How Greece has fared in Eurovision in the past

During the 1990s, Greece finished in the top-ten spot twice at the Eurovision Song Contest with Cleopatra and Katy Garbi reaching fifth and ninth place in 1992 and 1993, respectively. The country competed every year until 1999, when it was relegated from participation. This was because Greece’s five-year points average had fallen below the limit for participation after Thalassa’s 20th-place finish in 1998.

The following year, ERT announced it would not return for the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 despite its eligibility due to financial reasons.

Greece returned to the contest in 2001, represented by the Greek-Swedish duo Antique, comprised of Helena Paparizou and Nikos Panagiotidis. Their song “Die for You” was selected through the national final Ellinikos Telikos 2001 and placed third at the 2001 contest, a new record for the country.

Then, thirty-one years after its debut, Greece won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2005, with Helena Paparizou singing “My Number One,” which, at the time, tied for the record for the highest number of twelve points awarded to the song (10).

The song also meant Greece was the first country that wasn’t a member of the Big Four to win the contest without going through a semi-final. After Eurovision, the song topped the charts in Greece, Cyprus, and Sweden and entered the top ten in Romania, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Belgium, as well as the American Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart.

Gold Price Hits Record Highs as Countries Ease Reliance on US Dollar

Matthew Norman
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Gold Price Hits Record Highs as Countries Ease Reliance on US Dollar
The price of gold has hit record highs as countries try to ease their reliance on the US dollar.
The price of gold has hit record highs as countries try to ease their reliance on the US dollar. Credit: covilha. CC BY 2.0/flickr

The price of spot gold reached $2,364 per ounce on Tuesday after hitting record highs for seven consecutive sessions and trading at $2,336 per ounce on Monday. Year on year, gold is up 16.5 percent.

The main driver of the price increase is investors who expect the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark interest rate. However, the surge is boosted by other things, including central banks, led by China, buying up gold to ease reliance on US dollars.

Central banks view the precious metal as a long-term stock of value and a safe bet during times of economic and geopolitical turmoil.

The precious metal is considered to be a resilient investment. When interest rates fall, gold prices typically rise, as bullion becomes more appealing than income-paying assets such as bonds. Investors also trust gold to be a hedge against inflation, betting bullion will retain its value when prices rise.

China purchased gold for the seventeenth consecutive month in March, adding 160,000 ounces to bring reserves to 72.74 million troy ounces of gold, according to Reuters.

Central banks could potentially move away from US dollars and buy gold amid geopolitical uncertainty, as per an April 9th UBS research note, and as China builds its reserve, demand is driving up prices already boosted by usual investors.

Chinese buyers are relying on gold as an alternative asset during downturns in property valuations and equity prices in past years, according to an April 9th Capital Economics research note. Other central banks, including India and Turkey, are also working to increase their gold reserves. India’s GDP growth is driving those purchases, according to UBS.

According to Ulf Lindahl, CEO at Currency Research Associates, central banks demanding the precious metal is a sign of lessening reliance on the dollar, as reported by CNN, and dollars are increasingly unappealing for central banks that want to decrease economic reliance on the US, Lindahl added.

Countries not partnered with the US in any way may accumulate gold to “mix away from dollars” to reduce vulnerability to sanctions, according to a March JP Morgan research note. Central bank purchasing has fueled the rise in gold prices since 2022, according to the note.

Gold may be entering a strong period, as central bank uptakes of gold in 2022 were more than double the average annual purchase across the decade prior, according to JP Morgan.

The surge in prices comes as the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited China to discuss financial stability in US-China relations, including what Yellen termed the overproduction of Chinese electric vehicles. Oil prices are also increasing, creating a threat to the US economy, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s.

It is probable that higher oil prices will stoke concerns over inflation, boosting gold prices, as per the UBS research note.

Why has there been a surge in the price of gold?

Some investors are taken with the hype around gold bullion as prices surge, driving them ever higher. On Reddit, purchasers of gold often post threads about their stocks.

Costco started to sell gold bars online in August and silver coins in January. The company may now be selling as much as $200 million in gold and silver each month, according to an estimate by Wells Fargo. Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti told analysts in December that the company had sold more than $100 million of gold bars in the previous quarter.

“The accelerating frequency of Reddit posts, quick on-line sell-outs of product, and [the company’s] robust monthly eComm sales suggests a sharp uptick in momentum since the launch,” the April 9th investment note said.

It’s also worth noting that the precious metal is a traditional asset to hold during political uncertainty and upheaval. Voters in more than sixty countries are set to head to the polls this year, including for the US presidential election. That uptick in geopolitical and economic unpredictability underscores the precious metal’s stable value.

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