The study looked into factors including cleanliness and the proportion of flower shops, bakeries, and perfume shops. Credit: Titanas. CC BY 2.0/Flickr
People living in Athens may disagree, but a recent study analyzing 30 major cities in Europe and beyond, has found that the Greek capital is the best-smelling city.
The study by HAYPP has shed light on this overlooked aspect of urban life and looked into factors including cleanliness and proportion of flower shops, bakeries, and perfume shops to give each city a “smell score.” And the city that sniffed its way to the top of the charts was Athens, Greece.
The study explains that the bustling street markets, the aroma of fresh produce, herbs, and sizzling Greek delicacies wafting through the air put the Greek capital at the top of the relevant chart.
Athens is a feast for the senses, the study claims, scoring 8.3 out of 10 on the smell-o-meter. From cheesy tiropita (cheese pie) to sticky-sweet baklava, the city’s bakeries are serving up some serious scent satisfaction.
Athens is also a floral paradise, boasting 31 flower shops and 22 perfumeries per 10 square kilometers, which means delicate fragrance lingers around every corner of the city.
The flower shops of Syntagma square are an Athens landmark. Credit: Press Office of the PM of the Hellenic Republic
The city’s commitment to cleanliness is also reflected in its Environmental Performance Index (EPI), receiving a score of 56.2. While Athens may have claimed the top spot, it’s worth mentioning the other cities that have made it to the list of the world’s nicest-smelling cities.
Paris, with its romantic ambiance and elegant boulevards, secures the second position followed closely by Zurich, renowned for its cleanliness and picturesque surroundings, round up the top three. Dublin is at number four, followed by Luxemburg and Nicosia.
Here are the top ten:
Credit: HAYPP
What locals may think about Athens being the best-smelling city
Athenians would perhaps be more skeptical of the results of the study. Athens’ cleanliness is a bit of a mixed bag. Central areas and tourist spots are generally well-maintained, with regular trash collection and sanitation. The historic areas around the Acropolis are quite clean.
However, cleanliness can vary depending on the neighborhood. Some areas are tidy while others might have more litter and graffiti. Air quality is a weak spot for Athens, most local residents would argue. The city struggles with moderate air pollution due to factors like traffic and industry.
The good news is that Athens is taking steps to improve air quality. The city is expanding its metro system and investing in cleaner buses, and it also imposes traffic restrictions on vehicle use in the city center. Electric vehicles are also encouraged through incentives for people to switch to cleaner modes of transportation.
While there’s progress, air quality remains a challenge in Athens.
The research aims to create new ways for audiences to interact with archaeological sites. Credit: University of Sunderland
A Greek student from Crete who studies at the University of Sunderland in England has mapped the Palace of Knossos utilizing 3D laser scanning equipment.
George Vasilakis, who is studying BSc Web and Mobile Development, used cutting-edge technology provided by the university for his project.
The research aims to create new ways for audiences to interact with archaeological sites, using these scans to create a virtual reality experience of the palace and use the University’s 3D printers to construct physical models.
As a native Cretan, it’s a dream come true to access restricted areas of the palace.
“The Palace of Knossos is not only the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete but also the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization,” Vasilakis told the University of Sunderland magazine.
“This remarkable monument, with its complex architecture and stunning frescoes, offers invaluable insights into Europe’s first advanced civilization.
“Through my research, I hope to support Crete’s bid to secure UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage status for Knossos and other significant Minoan palaces.”
Credit: University of Sunderland
Mapping the Palace of Knossos with 3D laser
He added: “Conducting my dissertation at Knossos is a pinnacle moment not just for me, but for the University of Sunderland’s commitment to student-led research that contributes to preserving world heritage.
“I’m excited to process the data and uncover new insights about this fascinating ancient civilization.”
Vasilakis had to get special permission from the Greek Ministry of Culture, all made possible through the support of the University and the Faculty of Technology.
Paul Graham, Interim Associate Head of Computing at the University of Sunderland, said: “George came to speak with me about his project idea, which is a great project for the faculty and his final year dissertation.
“He has used our latest scanning equipment and is looking to develop a VR App where you can walk through the Palace of Knossos in Crete which the Heraklion Archaeological team are also happy with.”
“George is also looking to utilize our 3D Interactive Igloo for his project so there would be no need to use a VR headset in order to walk around the Palace.
Paul added: “This is just one of the great dissertation projects that we are supporting this year that links industry to our computing courses.”
The Palace of Knossos, located about five kilometers (three miles) south of Heraklion on Kephala hill, was the largest of all the Minoan palaces in Crete.
It was also at the core of the highly sophisticated civilization that flourished on the island over 3,500 years ago.
The Riace Bronzes, displayed in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria, Italy, have remained a mystery since their discovery. Credit: Alexander van Loon/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
The mystery over the Riace Bronzes, two magnificent ancient Greek statues, remains, more than half a century after the day they were recovered off the coast of the Italian region of Calabria in August of 1972.
To this day, archaeologists and other scientists have been unable to identify with certainty who the bronze statues depict, when they were created—and how on earth they ended up in Calabria.
The day one of the Riace bronzes was brought on land in Italy. Public Domain
Discovered by Stefano Mariottini in the town of Riace, the two statues were transported to the National Museum of Reggio Calabria, where they underwent an initial restoration that eliminated the layers of concretized sand coating them.
Then, subsequent restorations followed in Florence and Reggio.
Mystery of ancient Greek statues continues
However, it still has not been established with absolute certainty if the pair of statues was, from the beginning, a single group or if their juxtaposition had occurred during transport over the sea.
Their exact identification is also quite uncertain and debated: do they depict athletes, or heroes, such as Agamemnon and Ajax, Mirone and Alcamene, Achilles and Patroclus, Tydeus and Amphiaraus, or deities?
They have almost the same height, around two meters and are both nudes—an emblem of divine or heroic status—and their stance is the same (the right leg is straight, the left is bent).
Originally, they were accompanied by arms, as well, including helmets, coats of arms (supported by the bent left arm), and a lance (held by the lowered right hand).
Anatomical details of the Riace Bronzes
The anatomical details of the ancient Greek statues are represented with extreme precision, and the veins and arteries are visible. Their powerful musculature radiates both strength and the perfection of the human form.
The lips, eyelashes, and nipples of the statues are made of copper while the teeth are made of silver paper. Both were produced using the “lost wax” casting technique.
The statue called “Bronze A” has hair that is bound by a band and a thick and abundant beard with locks that were individually modeled.
“Bronze B” has a smoother head, sloping upward to better accommodate the Corinthian helmet, which is raised above his head to reveal the face.
While dating for the Riace Bronzes is controversial, they certainly represent two masterpieces of the art of bronze statuary from the fifth century BC.
Discovering ancient Greek bronze statues is quite a rare occurrence. While countless bronzes were created in antiquity, most no longer survive.
Throughout the centuries, bronze sculptures were melted down to create coins and other objects out of the precious material. Most bronzes that have been recovered only survived as they were somehow hidden in ancient times—often due to shipwrecks.
97 percent of influencers featured commercial content but only 20 percent consistently acknowledged it as advertising. Credit: Greek Reporter
Influencers in the EU, including 20 Greeks, who have failed to declare profits made through advertising may face penalties by the European Commission.
A Commission sweep carried out from Oct. 27 to Nov. 30, 2023, which scrutinized posts from 576 influencers across major social media platforms found that a staggering 97 percent of influencers featured commercial content but only 20 percent consistently acknowledged it as advertising.
“Problematic marketing practices illustrate the importance of having modern robust legislation that is adequate to ensure digital fairness for consumers online,” the Commission said.
The EU executive – which led the study together with the national consumer protection authorities of 22 EU member states plus Norway and Iceland – screened posts on social media including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Twitch.
Its aim, the Commission said, was to verify whether influencers were complying with EU consumer law. It did not name the influencers but said 358 of them were earmarked for further investigation.
National authorities will contact them to request they follow the rules in place and further enforcement action may be taken if necessary. In Greece, the Development Ministry and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) will request compliance.
The influencers’ posts were mainly about fashion, lifestyle, beauty, food, travel and fitness. The Commission study found that 119 influencers were promoting unhealthy or hazardous activities, such as junk food, alcoholic beverages, medical or aesthetic treatments, gambling, or financial services such as crypto trading.
EU findings on influencers
Other key findings of the EU-wide investigation include:
78 percent of influencers engaged in commercial activities, but only 36 percent were registered traders
30 percent did not provide company details in their posts
38 percent did not use platform labels to disclose commercial content appropriately
40 percent failed to maintain visible disclosure throughout their commercial communication
40 percent promoted their own products without consistent advertising disclosure
44 percent operated personal websites, many of which facilitated direct sales.
The Commission stresses that the findings highlight the need for clear legislation to safeguard consumers in the digital sphere. The forthcoming Digital Services Act will mandate disclosure of commercial communications, ensuring accountability across online platforms.
Influencers can shape public discourse
Influencers hold significant sway over public discourse in today’s social media-driven world. They cultivate massive followings on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. This gives them a direct line to a receptive audience, allowing them to spread ideas and information quickly.
They also often craft an image of authenticity and relatability. They might share their lives and experiences, fostering a sense of connection with their audience. This perceived authenticity makes their recommendations and opinions more persuasive.
Influencers can introduce new topics and ideas into the public consciousness. By focusing on specific issues or trends, they can influence what people talk about and what gains traction in online discussions.
Ichthyotitan severnensis was between 22 and 26 meters long. Credit: James St. John, CC2/Flickr
A fossil jawbone found by a British girl and her father on a beach in Somerset, England, belongs to a gigantic marine reptile dating back to 202 million years ago that appears to have been among the largest animals ever on Earth.
Researchers said the bone, called a surangular, was from a type of ocean-going reptile called an ichthyosaur.
Based on its dimensions compared to the same bone in closely related ichthyosaurs, the researchers estimated that the Triassic Period creature, which they named Ichthyotitan severnensis, was between 22 and 26 meters long.
Welcome to the world Ichthyotitan. Roughly the size of a blue whale, perhaps the largest marine reptile ever known.
That would make it perhaps the largest-known marine reptile and would rival some of the largest baleen whales alive today. The blue whale, considered the largest animal ever on the planet, can reach about 30 meters long.
Marine reptiles ruled the world’s oceans when dinosaurs dominated the land. Ichthyosaurs, which evolved from terrestrial ancestors and prospered for about 160 million years before disappearing roughly 90 million years ago, came in various sizes and shapes, eating fish, squid relatives and other marine reptiles and giving birth to live young.
Ichthyotitan is known only from two jawbones, the one found by Ruby Reynolds and her father Justin Reynolds in 2020 at Blue Anchor, Somerset, and another from a different Ichthyotitan individual found in 2016, along the Somerset coast at Lilstock.
“It is quite remarkable to think that gigantic, blue whale-sized ichthyosaurs were swimming in the oceans around the time that dinosaurs were walking on land in what is now the UK during the Triassic Period,” paleontologist Dean Lomax said, according to Reuters.
Ruby Reynolds, who was 11 at the time and is now 15, was fossil hunting on the beach with her father when they spotted a piece of the surangular. Ruby continued to search the area and found a second piece — much larger than the first — partly buried in a mud slope. They subsequently contacted Dr Lomax, an ichthyosaur expert, and additional sections of the bone were unearthed.
“It has been an amazing, enlightening and fun experience to work with these experts, and we are proud to be part of the team and co-authors of a scientific paper which names a new species and genus,” Justin Reynolds added, Reuters reports.
Ichthyotitan was a member of a family of giant ichthyosaurs called shastasauridae, and lived 13 million years later than any of the others known to date, suggesting these behemoths survived until a global mass extinction event that doomed numerous types of animals about 201 million years ago at the end of the Triassic.
No fossils of the rest of Ichthyotitan’s skeleton have been discovered, but the researchers have been able to discern its appearance based on other members of its family including Shonisaurus from British Columbia, Canada.
The surangular is a long, curved bone at the top of the lower jaw, just behind the teeth, present in nearly every vertebrate living or extinct, apart from mammals. Muscles attached to this bone generate bite force.
Greek products are going mainstream in the USA, gaining distribution and consumers way beyond the Greek American market. Credit: Michael Andricopoulos/Greek Reporter
Greek products are going mainstream in the USA gaining distribution and consumers way beyond the Greek American market.
In major supermarkets, one can nowadays find a wide variety of Greek products such as olive oil, yogurt, feta cheese, gyros, and Greek pies.
For example, in a Los Angeles supermarket, there is a huge selection of Greek foods unimaginable a decade ago. One can buy tzatziki, ouzo, Greek dressings, haloumi, Greek chickpeas, baked beans, olive paste, and pita bread to mention just a few. A whole shopping basket can be filled with Greek products.
Why Greek foods gain in popularity in the USA
One of the reasons why Greek products are increasingly popular in the American market is that Greek cuisine has become more popular in recent years thanks to its fresh, healthy ingredients and flavorful dishes.
Additionally, interest in Greek culture is growing, causing more people to seek out Greek products. Also, American consumers are increasingly interested in genuine products from around the world. Greek products are considered high quality and authentic, making them attractive to American consumers.
Finally, Greek products are increasingly available in the United States thanks to an improved distribution network.
When the US food scene was shaped by Greek products
One of the pioneers that shaped the American food scene is Grecian Delight/Kronos Foods created more than 40 years ago when Peter Parthenis Sr. started up a new Mediterranean food company in Greektown, Chicago.
Today, his creation, headed by his son, Peter Parthenis Jr., has grown enormously and Grecian Delight is once again changing the food game in America.
The 45-year-old entrepreneur expanded the business into more than 185 Greek, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern products moving towards a healthier, and even plant-based, variety of offerings.
According to Parthenis Jr., food trend analysis on products, specifically gyros and other Greek and Mediterranean products, shows that there are still in the growth stage in the US food market. Meaning that there is ample room for increased demand for consumers hungry these protein-based products.
Grecian Delight and Kronos CEO Peter Parthenis Jr. with his father and Grecian Delight founder Peter Parthenis Sr. Credit: GD
He explains that there are four sections of the cycle of consumer demand: “There’s the beginning, which is inception when it begins really ethnic and small, then there’s adoption, when people start to pick up and start buying it, then there’s proliferation, when its becoming mainstream, and then the last stage is ubiquity, which is when you can find it anywhere,” Parthenis Jr. says.
“Greek food, and specifically gyros, is in the stage right before ubiquity. It’s in the mainstream, we still see strong demand and we have a projection of growth for the next ten years.”
“You look in the fridge and you can find milk, cheese, eggs, that are products in ubiquity, you can find them anywhere.” Parthenis Jr.’s long-term goal is to bring his products to everybody’s home.
Greek wine is becoming a sought-after
Other Greek products that are becoming increasingly popular in the USA are honey, mastiha, and wine.
Greek wines have made a spectacular entry into the hospitality sector in the US, and Florida in particular, with better quality products and improved distribution.
Thanks to the efforts of Cretan entrepreneur George Merlemis, Greek wines are becoming sought-after. Not only in Greek restaurants but in American restaurants too.
Merlemis, who operates some of the best Greek restaurants in South Florida, started the import and distribution business of Greek wines a few years ago.
“There has been a renaissance of the Greek vineyard in the last 25 years,” he told Greek Reporter recently. “We improved the distribution and capitalized on the trend for Greek wines.”
Goerge Merlemis was interviewed by a local reporter about Greek wines at his Taverna Opa restaurant in Hollywood, FL. Photo supplied.
“Greek food is very popular in the US. Recently, restaurants with Greek food have been opened by foreigners. Greek cuisine does not have many techniques, but it is the repository of the material. Good materials, good raw materials,” Merlemis told Greek Reporter.
He said that the “tip of the spear” of Greek wine penetration in the US market was the Assyrtiko from Santorini. A white grape native to Santorini, Assyrtiko produces crisp, mineral wines with citrus and white fruit flavors.
Moschofilero is another favorite with grapes growing in the area of central Peloponnese, producing a dry, crispy white wine that is full of aromas. Agioritiko and Malagouzia are also excellent varieties that are being imported by Merlemis.
The Greek entrepreneur says that Greek red wines are also making progress in the US market, especially Xinomavro, a red wine grape of the uplands of Naousa in the regional unit of Imathia, and around Amyntaio, in Macedonia.
Greek foods and cuisine taught at US University
Greek cuisine was recently introduced as a standalone program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) which announced the establishment of the National Hellenic Society Culinary Legacy Fund to promote Hellenic heritage, culture, and cuisine to culinary arts students.
Master Chef Diane Kochilas, star of My Greek Table, said she was thrilled to have the opportunity to teach the College’s hospitality students about wellness and other benefits associated with the Greek Mediterranean diet in several classes held over two days at the College.
The initiative for the program belonged to The National Hellenic Society (NHS), which said that it would help bring other chefs, culinarians, and experts who would impart their insights into the Greek Mediterranean diet, culture, traditions, and lifestyle to students.
As the demand for Greek products continues to grow it is expected that even more Greek products will be available to American consumers in the years to come.
Greece has many beautiful sights for you to check out while you are visiting the country. One thing you want to be sure to add to your itinerary is visiting some of the ancient, historical Greek monasteries. Here are ten must-see monasteries in Greece.
This historical structure on the Greek island of Skiathos, which was first founded in 1794 by a group of monks from Mount Athos, played a crucial role in the 1821 Revolution which brought independence to Greece. The first-ever Hellenic flag was also made on a loom at this very location.
A monastery built in a cave is what you will find when you visit the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani. It sits at the top of a hill in northwest Mandraki while the largest portion of the monastery is built inside a cave. A truly unique experience, the cave monastery is divided into two churches and is definitely worth a visit.
Meteora is the second largest monastic and pilgrimage site in Greece after Mount Athos. The towering cliffs were the perfect place for the monks to take refuge from the invading Turkish army around the 11th century.
Here you will find several breathtaking monasteries that still remain some 400 meters (1,312 feet) above the ground, including the most impressive monastery in Greece, and perhaps in the world, the Holy Monastery of Transfiguration of Jesus, better known as Great Meteoron.
Located on Hydra in the hills above Mandraki, the Monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity), is a trekking destination for many who visit the island. The monastery dates back to 1704 when it was founded by the priest Antonios Oikonomou.
Many people visit the island of Aegina to see the church of Agios Nektarios and the monastery of Agia Triada which is perched above the church. The church is still under construction, but progress is constantly being made, and you can still visit and see the inside of the grand dome. Walk a short uphill trail to the Monastery of Agia Triada where you can say a prayer in the chapels and buy religious souvenirs as keepsakes.
6. Mega Spileo, Kalavryta
The Monastery of Mega Spileo, Kalavryta. Credit: Ai@ce/CC BY 2.0
Another breathtaking monastery, Mega Spileo stands eight stories tall and is actually built at the edge of cliffs at a cave opening where it almost appears to become one with the surrounding landscape. Considered to be the oldest monastery in Greece, dating back to 362 AD, it has survived four fires. It played an important role during the Greek War of Independence in 1821 against the Ottomans. The monastery is also home to countless Byzantine icons, frescoes, copper plates, manuscripts, and other unique treasures, such as its library featuring more than 3,000 books.
7. Monastery of Hosios Loukas, Distomo, Boeotia
Monastery of Hosios Loukas. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art. Dating back to the early 10th century, it is built on the slopes of Mount Helicon and was founded by the hermit, Venerable (Greek: Hosios) St. Luke, whose relics are kept in the monastery to this day.
8. Saint John the Theologian, Patmos
The Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Patmos. Credi: WIkipedia/Valeria Casali/CC-BY-SA-4.0
One of the most popular destinations on the island of Patmos, the Monastery is situated near the cave where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation. This UNESCO World Heritage site was founded in 1088 in Chora, Patmos by soldier-priest John Christodoulos, who heavily fortified the exterior of the structure to protect it from threats of piracy and Seljuk Turks.
This monastery, which is located in Rethymno, Crete, has played many important roles on the island over the last eight centuries since it was founded. The monastery has been the center point for everything from producing needlework embroidered with gold during the 17th and 18th centuries to participating in the Greek War of Independence in 1821.
10. Mount Athos Monasteries
Greece’s spectacular Mount Athos, one of the most famous places for monasteries in Greece. Credit: WPFDC/CC BY 2.0
This UNESCO World Heritage Site and autonomous polity in the Hellenic Republic is one of the oldest monasteries in the world. Greeks refer to it as the “Holy Mountain.” Women are prohibited from entry to the Mountain, which is comprised of a series of monasteries. The monastery was first founded in the year 963 by the monk Athanasios. There are twenty monasteries in total on Mount Athos. Thousands of monks reside at the monasteries today.
A velomobile similar to Father Ephraim’s. Public Domain
A Greek Orthodox monk is cruising through Chicago in a velomobile, a pedal-powered contraption, that looks like a giant green-and-yellow popsicle on wheels.
The sight of Father Ephraim on his recumbent bicycle with a full enclosure, streaking down a bustling Chicago street has heads turning, perhaps expecting a lycra-clad cyclist, but instead a priest with a full-length black cassock and a hand-carved wooden cross dangling from his neck appears.
The contrast of the traditional priest and the green-and-yellow velomobile is inherently funny and unexpected.
Ephraim, 53, who moved to the Northwest Side from a remote community in Alaska last year, says he’s no fan of cars, never owned one. So, not long after arriving in Chicago, wanting to be healthy physically as well as spiritually, he ordered a velomobile from Romania.
“You can’t imagine the expressions on people’s face when they see this because it’s such an outlandish thing to see on the roads,” Ephraim, told the Chicago Sun Times.
Greek Orthodox Monk in Chicago studied mechanical engineering at MIT
Ephraim is from Boston and has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from MIT. “It makes commuting or just doing errands extremely enjoyable. The reaction of children is perhaps the most precious.”
Ephraim is a priest at Saints Athanasios and John Greek Orthodox Church in Old Irving Park. And when he’s out running errands, people will sometimes spot the streamlined tricycle in traffic and wonder whether there’s anyone inside. Some think it’s a drone. The police have stopped him twice, he says, to see if it’s a motorized vehicle, which would require a license plate.
“As soon as I tell them there is no motor, they say, ‘Oh, OK, then just be careful,’ ” Ephraim told the Chicago paper.
This is a velomobile. And the man behind the wheel is Greek Orthodox monk Father Ephraim, who moved to the Northwest Side after five years at a religious commune in remote Alaska.
Who wouldn’t want to navigate Chicago streets in a vehicle not much taller than a fire hydrant? pic.twitter.com/WlxdKROmXu
He’s accustomed to drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists peppering him with questions. They’ll notice his eyes staring back at them through the narrow plexiglass windshield. If they’re persistent and polite, he’ll open the hood, unfold his 5-foot-9-inch frame and step out.
In Alaska, Ephraim says he’d paddle five miles by kayak from the convent on the 50-acre St. Nilus Island to the much larger Kodiak Island.
“I was actually able to go right up to a group of finback whales and reach out and touch one of them,” he says.
“Even though there is no heating in it, you generate so much heat just by pedaling, you have to keep the vents open to keep the fresh air coming to keep you cool,” he told the Chicago Sun Times.
His machine isn’t for everyone, he says. When you’re inside its carbon-fiber shell, with only a tiny window to see out, he says it’s like you’re inside a tiny submarine.
Ephraim says he’s ridden it as far as Wisconsin and back, hitting a top speed of 37 miles an hour on Green Bay Road. “Of course, it took me 2 1/2 hours to get there,” he says.
He’s never been in an accident, but, because he’s so low to the ground, he says he has to stay vigilant for drivers who might not spot him.
One of them, Mary Paganis, says when he got to her home for lunch and she saw the vehicle for the first time, she told him: “What in the world is that?”
But Ephraim says most of his congregants don’t view the orthodox priest’s choice of transportation as particularly … unorthodox. And he wouldn’t mind if they did.
“It is important to take into consideration what people think of you…but not to be enslaved to that,” told the Chicago Sun Times.
Fabricated photo of Alexandrer’s tomb shows plenty of gold. Public Domain
For over 2,300 years, researchers and historians have been trying to locate Alexander the Great’s Tomb, which remains one of the world’s greatest mysteries even to this day.
A recent effort to find it has become an acclaimed documentary that was screened at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
The Alexander Complex unravels a bizarre tale of intrigue, politics, and money as an international group of “gentlemanly explorers,’” all with pseudonyms to protect their identities, come together to solve the mystery of the missing tomb of Alexander the Great.
More than a decade ago, a former Algerian soldier, named “Baghdad Djilali Daifallah” and code-named The Inventor, who practiced amateur archaeology, claimed to have found Alexander’s tomb in Jordan and claimed it is filled with thousands of tons of gold and precious jewels.
Daif Allah showed incredible pictures of a mountainous area in Jordan, and an entrance to a cave, leading to chambers full of gold, during a press conference in 2013.
Sitting with the find of the millennium, the man sets in motion a project that has all the elements of a movie thriller and a desert quest.
Telling only one person, a well-connected investor, the two men bring on board a crew of academics, scientists, diplomats, and international businessmen in a hunt that involves royal families, the military, and several costly archaeological expeditions.
Fabricated photo of Alexander’s tomb. Public Domain
Location of Alexander the Great’s tomb still a mystery
They hire French cinematographer Neasa Ní Chianaín and crew and send them to Jordan to uncover Alexander the Great’s tomb. Over the past few years, the team has made two attempts to locate the tomb to no avail.
Despite an enthusiastic start, the expedition was prohibitively expensive and had to be called off. Daifallah insisted they continue claiming there is a very small entrance opening to enter the tomb and persistence was needed to find it. However, the group now felt that it was dealing with an impostor.
The investor who believed in Daif Allah, as well as director Neasa Ní Chianaín, who made the documentary, were in Thessaloniki, Greece for the screening and talked to the audience.
They were asked about the photos presented by the Algerian. “They were fabricated. What led us astray were the inscriptions in Greek, which we even showed to experts in Greece to decipher them for us, but they failed,” said the investor.
The audience asked the director what she thought of the mission. “In my crew, we were divided. Some think we’ve missed the entrance slot to the tomb. Most say that the Algerian is simply a fraud. I think he may believe his story,” Neasa Ní Chianaín said.
Archaeologists from the University of Zadar have found a road built 7000 years ago under the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Credit: University of Zadar
A 7,000-year-old road that may have connected an ancient Hvar culture settlement to the now-isolated island of Korčula has been discovered recently by archaeologists off the southern Croatian coast. The remnants of this road were found at the sunken Neolithic site of Soline, buried under layers of sea mud.
The ancient site of Soline was once an artificial island and was only recently discovered in 2021 by archaeologist Mate Parica of the University of Zadar in Croatia.
Parica was studying satellite images of the water area around Korčula when he saw something that appeared to be man-made on the ocean floor. Together with a colleague, he dove to investigate and uncovered this exciting find.
The archaeologists also discovered stone walls, which could have been a part of an old village or town. The walls were found at a depth of 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 feet) below the surface of the sea. The place where these walls were built was cut off from the rest of the island by a small strip of land.
Archaeologist Mate Parica from the University of Zadar in Croatia mentioned in an interview with Reuters in 2021 that this area is protected from big waves because of the islands that surround it. This has helped in keeping the site safe from natural harm and, thus, preserving it.
7,000-year-old road on the bottom of Mediterranean sea connected the islands
The 7,000-year-old road is about 4 meters (13 feet) wide and is made of stacked stone slabs. It is covered in mud, which is not surprising given its location.
The road was likely built by the Neolithic Hvar people, who once lived in the eastern Adriatic, according to archaeologists.
Divers found a road under the Mediterranean Sea that is 7,000 years old. While humans have walked the Earth, the sea has risen at least 350 feet. This road is only under 15 FEET of water. What else hasn't been discovered? pic.twitter.com/gfE4nmuPy2
This race is also believed to have built the submerged Soline settlement, which was connected to the islands by the road. The settlement is estimated to date back to about 4,900 BCE based on radiocarbon analysis of preserved wood.
The University of Zadar, which was involved in the discovery, said in a statement on Facebook that people walked on this road almost 7,000 years ago.
The discovery was the result of collaboration among experts from several museums and the University of Zadar, along with the help of photographers and divers.
Discovery of a new underwater settlement
The same research team found another underwater settlement on the other side of the island that is similar to Soline and contains some Stone Age artifacts.
Archaeologist Igor Borzić of the University of Zadar noticed interesting structures under the bay’s waters, leading the team to explore the Soline site.
To their surprise, they discovered an almost identical settlement submerged at a depth of 4 to 5 meters, which also contained Neolithic artifacts like stone axes and fragments of sacrifice.
