How Homer’s Epics Survived After the Fall of the Ancient Greek World

Philip Chrysopoulos
-
0
How Homer’s Epics Survived After the Fall of the Ancient Greek World
Homer's epics were the foundation of Western literature
Homer and his guide. Legend has it that he was blind and recited his poems as he traveled from one place to another. Iliad and Odyssey are the cornerstones of Western literature. Crop of a 1874 painting by French painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905). Milwaukee Art Museum, Layton Art Collection. Public Domain

Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey were the two epics that brought the ideas of Greek civilization to the world and served as the foundation of Western literature.

Both works were composed in the late eighth or early seventh century BC. They contain features preserved from the pre-writing age. Historians estimate they were actually put in writing in the middle of the 6th century.

When the Library of Alexandria, Egypt was established in 284 BC, a tremendous project was set in motion for editing all of Homer’s manuscripts for both the Iliad and the Odyssey in order to produce the perfect text.

The Great Library of Alexandria was one of the largest and most significant in the ancient world. Thanks to the efforts of the Ptolemaic kings and the funds they allocated for building it, they managed to procure an estimated forty thousand to four hundred thousand ancient scrolls.

Zenodotus of Ephesus was the first librarian of the Library of Alexandria. He was a Greek grammarian and literary critic who edited Greek poets. Most importantly, however, he was a Homeric scholar and the first to edit Homer’s epics.

Zenodotus, the first editor of Homer’s epics

Zenodotus was a student of Philetas of Cos. He was appointed director of the Library of Alexandria by Ptolemy I Soter, general and successor of Alexander the Great. He was also given the official tutorship of the royal children.

His colleagues in the library were Alexander of Aetolia, who was assigned to the compilation and editing of the works of the tragic writers, and Lycophron of Chalcis, who was responsible for the comic writers.

Zenodotus was charged with the main task, which included the works of Homer, other epic poets, and perhaps the lyric poets. He compiled and compared various manuscripts of Homer and deleted possibly dubious ones. Others he transposed and revised. Lastly, he divided the Iliad and the Odyssey into twenty-four books each. This was the first critical edition of the two monumental epics of Homer.

Certain later scholars attributed the authorship of the Iliad‘s calculation of days in the Tabulae Iliacae to Zenodotus. Grammarians accredited knowledge of the Homeric glosses (Greek: γλῶσσαι), the unusual words the poet used, to him, as well.

Criticism of Zenodotus

The librarian’s first edition of Homer’s masterworks was severely criticized by certain successors of his as well as later scholars who found it overly subjective. Some found his alterations arbitrary, while others disputed his sufficient knowledge of the Greek language. Yet other scholars consented of his overall work.

Zenodotus was especially disputed by Aristarchus of Samothrace (c. 217–c. 145 BC), one of his successors, who was also a Homeric scholar. Aristarchus modified Zenodotus’ work and presented his own edition of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

Following Aristarchus, other scholars disputed the accuracy of Zenodotus’ work on Homer’s epics. However, in the 3rd century AD, the Library of Alexandria was destroyed, as were its treasures.

How Homer’s manuscripts reached the West

About six centuries later, another great library was founded to house the literary treasures of ancient Greece. The Imperial Library of Constantinople in the capital of the Byzantine Empire was established by Emperor Constantius II (r. 337-361 AD) to preserve the knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome.

The priority of the emperor was to save the priceless manuscripts of Homer and those of the Hellenistic era. Ancient manuscripts were written on papyrus, but as papyrus was beginning to deteriorate, they had to be transferred to parchment.

It is estimated that the Imperial Library of Constantinople contained over a hundred thousand volumes of ancient text. It was said it had a scroll of Homer’s text that was one hundred and twenty feet long.

During the Golden Age of Byzantium, the Greek language was forgotten in the West, and there were not many Greek-speaking individuals to read or teach the works of Homer. People knew vaguely about the Iliad or Odyssey because Roman scholars referred to them, and Virgil was influenced by them.

Boccaccio and Pilatus

It wasn’t until the fourteenth century that poets such as Boccaccio and Petrarch realized they would never understand what exactly Homer’s intended messages in his poems was. They didn’t come to this realization, however, until they discovered a manuscript in Constantinople that they took back to the West. They then found a scholar of Greek origin named Leontius Pilatus, one of the earliest promoters of Greek studies in Western Europe, to translate it into Latin.

Boccaccio persuaded him to remain in his residence in Florence so as to translate the works of Homer in their entirety and instruct him in Greek. Pilatus stayed in Florence for more than two years and translated the Homeric epics. Finally, the Iliad and the Odyssey were translated into Latin and published in 1369. The Latin-speaking people of Western Europe could finally read the ancient Greek epics that would soon influence the rest of the Western world during the Renaissance era.

In the fifteenth century, the peak of the Renaissance, when more and more people learned Greek, Homer’s epics became available in their original language, as well. The fact that Constantinople fell in May 1453 and the Ottomans destroyed the library along with its priceless content, makes the initiative of Boccaccio even more significant for the preservation of Homer’s works.

Ironically, in the 1450s, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press approximately around the time Byzantium fell. However, Homer’s masterpieces were saved, and, in 1488, for the first time, they were printed in Italy and made accessible to the entire world to read.

Ancient Greek Martial Art ‘Pankration’ and Its Influence on MMA

Nick Kampouris
-
0
Ancient Greek Martial Art ‘Pankration’ and Its Influence on MMA
Computer-generated imagery of two muscular athletes competing in pankration in an ancient Greek arena with spectators in the background.
Ancient Greek martial art, Pankration, in action. AI depiction. Credit: Midjourney for the Greek Reporter

Pankration was one of ancient Greece’s most revered sports in the same way that millions of people love MMA today. It was an embodiment of the ancient Greek ideal of excellence, which was known in Greek as “arete.”

This sport combined raw strength with strategic thinking. The Greeks viewed it as the ultimate combat, requiring exceptional levels of discipline. It was a highlight of the ancient Olympic Games.

The audiences were captivated with its blend of boxing, known in Greek as “pygmachia” and wrestling, which was known as “pále.” Its introduction to the world took place in 648 BCE. This historical moment for the world of sports marked a significant evolution in martial competition, as this new sport placed its emphasis not just on physical prowess but also the mental abilities of the athletes.

The evolution of pankration

The origins of Pankration can actually be traced in Greek mythology. This suggests there is clearly a more divine element behind its techniques. Many could argue this was another reason why it was such a popular and respected sport for the Greeks.

However, it was actually the rigorous nature of the moves and minimal rules that set it apart from other forms of martial arts. The participants, known as Pankratiasts, engaged in a contest in which no holds were barred. Victory was claimed by the total submission or physical or mental incapacitation of the opponents. It was a true ode to the man’s endurance, courage, and skills.

Mastery of technique in the Pankration

Ancient Greek black-figure pottery depicting two nude athletes engaged in pankration, surrounded by traditional Greek patterns.
A classical Greek vase showcasing a scene of Pankration, an ancient martial art combining wrestling and boxing. Credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen, British Museum, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

The techniques of Pankration were both diverse and effective. An athlete could use any strategy—from powerful strikes to intricate ground maneuvers—to achieve the ultimate goal. Men who engaged in this sport had to master both the “Ano Pankration” and the “Kato Pankration.”

The “ano” (upper) version focused on standing combat with punches and kicks. The “kato Pankration” (lower) involved grappling and submission techniques on the ground.

The athletes put their emphasis on strategic moves that would help them transition between attacking and defensive postures. Their main goal was to exploit the slightest opening in an opponent’s defense before they attacked.

Pankration in society

Black-figured Greek amphora with two athletes in combat, with a referee overseeing, indicative of the pankration sport.
Greek Amphora Illustrating Pankration Athletes. Credit:  Marie-Lan Nguyen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

Pankration was not simply a sport that was played for enjoyment. It also held a significant place in Greek military training—and for good reason. Greek armies used its practical application in warfare. One of the main reasons for this was the discipline it instilled. Pankration was considered to be essential for hoplites, the soldiers of the Greek city-states.

The legacy continues

The abolition of Pankration from the Olympic Games was ordered by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I in 393 AD. However, this move did not diminish its influence.

The sport’s legacy persisted through the ages, as it was Pankration itself that evolved and inspired modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Today, MMA fighters use techniques that remind us of the ancient Pankratiasts.

The modern resurgence

According to estimates, MMA today is one of the fastest-growing sports in viewership across the world. It also sees great increase in the numbers of people who want to engage in it. The whole industry is valued at over $9 billion.

Of course, this wouldn’t be the case without the ancient Pankration. MMA owes much of its origins to this ancient sport. MMA today combines elements of boxing, wrestling, and kicking with minimal rules. This reminds us all of the ancient Greek competition.

Back then, the athletes of Pankration often found themselves in severe and sometimes fatal fights. This could be described as the ancient Greek version of the high-stakes MMA fights that we see today in the world of martial arts.

Ancient virtues of Pankration in modern times

Pankratiasts used to be celebrated athletes across the ancient Greek world. They represented their city-states with pride in a similar way to what modern-day athletes do when they represent their countries. Their legacy is clearly mirrored in today’s MMA fighters, as these athletes not only engage in physical combat but also challenge themselves to follow a path of excellence in character.

It is known that this ancient sport was valued not only for the brilliant spectacle that it could offer to its audiences but was also loved by the Greeks for its practical combat applications. Famously, some of these aspects of Pankration were used by Spartans in their numerous battles. The Spartans used these techniques to maintain their dominance as one of the strongest military forces of the ancient world.

Cultural shift and decline

As is the case for many ancient Greek traditions, the decline of Pankration coincided with the rise of Christianity. The new religion brought a new way of thinking, changing Roman values forever. Hence, Roman society viewed Pankration as a remnant of pagan traditions.

As the Empire adopted Christianity as its state religion, the cultural landscape changed dramatically. This was the main reason behind the disappearance of Pankration from Roman public life. However, the core values of Pankration survived the ages. Proof of this is that it eventually found new expression in modern martial arts.

Pankration today

While Pankration itself may no longer be an official sport in the modern Olympic Games, its spirit lives on in the world of MMA, as this ancient Greek sport provided a solid historical foundation for MMA. It also inspired athletes and spectators alike.

As MMA grows in popularity in today’s world, we can say it carries with it the traditions of this forgotten ancient Greek competition. The athletes of Pankration placed particular emphasis on a balanced approach to combat. They consistently attempted to combine strength with technique rather than engaging in a raw fight without purpose. This is something that we can definitely see in today’s martial arts, too.

The recent resurgence of interest in Pankration helps us reflect on the universal qualities that define the athletic ethos of all sports. Educational programs and martial arts communities worldwide can incorporate Pankration’s techniques and ideals into their curricula. This educational aspect of the modern interest in Pankration shows the importance of the ancient Greek practice of putting equal emphasis both on body and mind.

In conclusion, we can definitely say that the long story of Pankration is not a simple historical footnote in the broader story of ancient sports. It is a practice that survived through time and continues to evolve. It inspires not only those within the martial arts community but everyone else, as well. As MMA continues to grow and captivate audiences worldwide, the ancient spirit of Pankration will continue to live on.

Greek Farmers Take Their Protest to Athens

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
Greek Farmers Take Their Protest to Athens
Farmers Athens
Farmers on their tractors demonstrate in front of the Greek Parliament. Credit: Greek Reporter

Thousands of Greek farmers have arrived, many driving their tractors, in Athens on Tuesday, as they escalate their protests during a time of rising production costs.

Greek farmers’ unions have been in negotiations with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ conservative government for weeks but say the measures announced so far don’t go far enough to satisfy their concerns.

Police patrol cars waited for the tractors just outside Athens to escort them to the capital. The tractors moved in one traffic lane and led to Syntagma Square opposite the Greek Parliament, where their protest is culminating.

The farmers have declared that the number of tractors in Athens will be in the three digits but the demonstration will be peaceful. At the same time, they do plan to communicate their anger and determination to find immediate solutions for their needs.

Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis initially expressed opposition to their arrival in the capital with tractors, suggesting the use of cars and buses instead.

However, the government ultimately opted not to exacerbate tensions, allowing the tractor protest to proceed unhindered, a tactic seen in other European capitals during farmers’ protests.

The farmers, frustrated by high production costs, declared their intent to take their protests to the Greek capital following a meeting near the town of Larissa in Central Greece last week.

Farmers Greece
Credit: Greek Reporter

Additionally, they said they would block highways, harbors, and border crossings on that day.

The government reiterated on Monday that it is willing to discuss a more permanent tax rebate scheme in the future, but it had no fiscal room for any further concessions this year.

“We have nothing more to give,” Mitsotakis said during an interview with Greek Star TV on Monday evening.

“I think farmers acknowledge this and know very well that the government has probably exceeded even their expectations, especially on the power bills issue.”

Greek farmers continue their protest despite concessions

The government had earlier announced that farmers would be eligible for lower electricity costs for two years beginning in April. This is a measure that will be partly financed by proceeds from renewables and carbon market credits.

After that period, electricity prices will be stabilized for a third of their power consumption for another eight years, the energy ministry said in a statement.

Mitsotakis told farmers they had received more than one billion euros in compensation for crops damaged in natural disasters since 2019 and noted Greece’s fiscal constraints.

Farmers’ demands

The farmers’ demands include duty-free agricultural diesel, reduced electricity costs, subsidies on supplies and animal feed, renegotiation of the EU’s new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), full compensation for lost income, and cessation of the labeling of non-Greek produce as Greek.

Many of their demands mirror similar protests that have been gripping Europe for weeks now. However, in Greece, farmers also demand the government deliver on promises made months ago. This includes compensation for thousands of crops and livestock destroyed in deadly floods and rainstorms that battered the farming heartland in September 2023.

In a rash of measures recently announced, Mitsotakis said the state would settle farmers’ overdue power and water bills and a tax rebate of diesel fuel would be extended for another year.

“This is all the funding the budget can provide at this time,” said Pavlos Marinakis, a government spokesman. “If we could offer more we would. But we don’t want to make phony promises.”

Related: Farmers’ protests all over Europe

Underwater City of Heracleion, Egypt, and Its Links to Ancient Greece

Patricia Claus
-
0
Underwater City of Heracleion, Egypt, and Its Links to Ancient Greece
Heracleion
Osirian statuettes of gods and goddesses found in situ on the floor of the sea at ancient Heracleion by Franck Goddio. Photo: Saint Louis Art Museum.org/ Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation

The Lost City Of Heracleion, which was once the largest port in Egypt, was discovered underwater after more than 2,000 years in the year 2000. Its legendary beginnings go back to as early as the 12th century BC, and it has many links to Ancient Greece.

Flourishing as long ago as the waning days of the Pharaohs, the city was destroyed over time, as it was weakened by a combination of earthquakes, tsunamis, and rising sea levels, according to archaeologists.

At the end of the 2nd century BC, most likely after a severe flood, the monumental buildings of Heracleion collapsed into the water. Some of its inhabitants stayed in what was left of the city during the Roman era and the beginning of Arab rule, but by the end of the eighth century AD, the rest of Heracleion had sunk beneath the Mediterranean.

Franck Goddio in Heracleion
Undersea explorer Franck Goddio discovering a statue hidden for more than 1200 years in the sunken city of Heracleion near Alexandria, Egypt. Credit: Christoph Gerigk/Facebook/Contemporary Explorations in Mythology LLC

Now, many of its incalculable treasures have been brought up from the watery depths to which they were banished and have been shown around the world, allowing us to get a glimpse into the Ancient Greek and Egyptian world.

Heracleion, better known by its original and Egyptian name Thonis, and sometimes called Thonis-Heracleion, was an ancient Egyptian port city located 32 km (20 miles) northeast of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea.

Its remains are located in Abu Qir Bay, currently 2.5 km off the coast, under just ten meters (thirty feet) of water. A stele found on the site indicates that it was one single city known by both its Egyptian and Greek names.

Before Alexandria was even a glimmer in Alexander the Great’s eye, Heracleion enjoyed its glory days as it served as the main port of entry into Egypt for the many ships arriving from all over the Greek world.

Thonis was originally built on some adjoining islands in the Nile Delta. It was intersected by canals with a number of separate harbors and anchorages. Its wharves, fantastic temples and tower-houses were linked by ferries, bridges, and pontoons.

The city was an emporion, or trading port, and in the Late Period of ancient Egypt, it was the country’s main port for international trade and collection of taxes.

Thonis had a large temple of Khonsou, son of Amun, who was known to the Greeks as Herakles, or Hercules. Later, the worship of Amun became more prominent. During the time when the city was at its zenith between the 6th and 4th centuries BC, a large temple dedicated to Amun-Gereb, the supreme god of Egypt at the time, was located in the middle of the city.

Pharaoh Nectanebo I made many additions to the temple in the 4th century B.C. Sanctuaries in Heracleion dedicated to Osiris, and other gods were famous for miraculous healing and attracted pilgrims from all around Egypt.

Spectacular religious ceremonies, temples, and monumental sculptures

The city was the site of the celebration of the “Mysteries of Osiris” each year during the month of Khoiak. These spectacular ceremonies involved a statue of the god transported in his ceremonial boat as it processed from the temple of Amun to his shrine in Canopus.

During the 2nd century BC just as the city was hit by the multiple disasters, the city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great, superseded Heracleion as Egypt’s primary port.

Underwater explorer Franck Goddio and his team from the European institute for Underwater Archaeology, or IEASM, with the collaboration of the Egyptian Supreme Council, rediscovered the city after it sank into invisibility beneath the Mediterranean more than 2,000 years ago.

Since its foundation, the Institute has been directed by Franck Goddio who devotes himself entirely to underwater archaeology and the dissemination of knowledge gained through these discoveries through the publication of books and articles, as well as the organization of exhibitions.

Goddio’s in-depth website explains the incredible finds he made during the expedition. As is stated on the website, “He has also solved a historic enigma that has puzzled Egyptologists over the years: the archaeological material has revealed that Heracleion and Thonis were in fact one and the same city with two names; Heracleion being the name of the city for the Greeks and Thonis for the Egyptians.”

Furthermore, it is written on Goddio’s website that: “The objects recovered from the excavations illustrate the cities’ beauty and glory, the magnificence of their grand temples and the abundance of historic evidence: colossal statues, inscriptions and architectural elements, jewelry and coins, ritual objects and ceramics—a civilization frozen in time.”

The priceless treasures Goddio is responsible for discovering and showing to the modern world include part of the temple dedicated to Amun/Herakles, a colossal red granite statue of the fertility god Hapi, and a bronze statue of the king/god Osiris.

All the treasures are now in the Grand Egyptian Museum, in Cairo.

Mitsotakis Says Rule of Law in Greece is “Stronger than Ever”

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
Mitsotakis Says Rule of Law in Greece is “Stronger than Ever”
Greece Rule of Law
PM Mitsotakis defended the record of Greece on democracy and the rule of law. Credit: AMNA

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended his government’s rule of law record on Tuesday, saying it is “stronger than ever,” following a meeting with visiting European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

Mitsotakis was commenting on a resolution of the European Parliament approved on February 2nd. 

The resolution, adopted with 330 votes in favor, 254 against, and 26 abstentions, MEPs expressed “grave concerns” about the rule of law in Greece, citing a hostile environment for journalists, the use of spyware against political opponents and journalists, and abuse of power by the police.

MEPs also condemned the instrumentalization of “national security threats” to wiretap political opponents, including MEPs. In response to the wiretapping scandal, MEPs demanded that democratic safeguards be strengthened and called for effective investigations with the help of Europol.

Commission is the final judge of the quality of the rule of law in Greece

“I insist on this, as Greece in the past few years has often been at the center of slander,” Mitsotakis said in statements to the press. This was “sometimes [due to] non-existent cases, like that of little Maria in Evros, which turned out to have been staged by unscrupulous traffickers.”

The Greek PM asserted that “the rule of law…is stronger than ever in the country.”

Mitsotakis said the resolution “has upset our country so much” that the Greek Supreme Court itself sought to deconstruct the allegations.

“The final judge of the quality of the rule of law is the European Commission, which has both the impartiality and the objectivity to be able to check the progress of each member state,” he added.

The Economist hails democracy and the rule of law in Greece

In contrast to the controversial resolution of the European Parliament, The Economist‘s recent report “Democracy Index,” which examines the functioning of democracy in a total of 167 countries said that Greece is among the 20 best democracies in the world.

“The birthplace of democracy has reason to celebrate, having returned to ‘full democracy’ in the ranking of the ‘Democracy Index of 2023,’” it was said.

This marks the first time since 2008 that Greece has achieved this ranking, placing the country one category above the United States and member states of the European Union, such as Italy, Belgium, and Portugal, which are considered “flawed democracies.”

The Index shows Greece was rated 10 out of 10 for electoral procedures and pluralism during the last electoral contests held in the country. This is an achievement that, as the report underlines, only “12 more countries have achieved.”

The Mystery of the Pyramid Structure Discovered Under the Sea

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
The Mystery of the Pyramid Structure Discovered Under the Sea
Pyramid under the sea Azores
The pyramid structure is 60 meters tall. File photo. Credit: Kalana Weeramuni,  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

The mystery of a pyramid structure that was found under the sea off the coast of the Azores Islands in 2013 is still puzzling experts who are not certain whether it is human-made.

Diocleciano Silva found the structure in 2013 while surveying chart ocean depths. He told local news outlets: “The pyramid is perfectly shaped and oriented by the cardinal points.”

It’s located between the islands of Terceira and São Migue, and Silva claimed it appears to be almost perfectly square.

Current estimates obtained using GPS digital technology put the height at 60 meters with a base of 8000 square meters.

Conspiracy theories of the pyramid under the sea and science

Some people online are convinced that the formation is the result of some sort of ancient civilization. Some have also speculated that it is the remnants of the sunken city of Atlantis, a phenomenon that has captured people’s imaginations for years.

Researchers have been speculating about the location or nature of Atlantis since Plato first wrote about it. A huge variety of theories have arisen, especially in modern times. Popular theories include identifying Atlantis with the Azores, Antarctica, or South America.

The problem with that theory is that the area in which the pyramid structure was discovered has been submerged for around 20,000 years.

Given that the earliest known advanced human civilization in Mesopotamia didn’t begin until roughly 17,000 years later around 3,000 BC, it seems unlikely that humans are responsible for building this structure.

The Portuguese navy suspects that Silva may have stumbled upon D. João de Castro Bank. This is an underwater volcano which is located on the sea floor between the same islands where Silva spotted the mysterious structure.

The Azores region experiences frequent volcanic activity and tectonic shifts, contributing to the formation of unusual geological features.

While the pyramid-shaped structure exists, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest it’s artificial. Ultimately, while the idea of an underwater pyramid is intriguing, the evidence currently supports a natural explanation.

Human-made structures made thousands of years ago?

The Azores archipelago is about 1,000 miles off the coast of Europe, about a third of the way to North America across the Atlantic. The islands belong to Portugal, and the official historical record has long held that they were uninhabited until Portuguese expeditions colonized them in the 15th century.

However, a controversial alternative theory is gaining ground. Some experts, including the president of the Portuguese Association of Archaeological Research, Nuno Ribeiro, have said rock art and the remnants of human-made structures on the islands suggest the Azores were occupied by humans thousands of years ago.

Some of the structures appear to be from the Stone Age, suggesting a civilization existed at the time that was advanced enough to travel so far and colonize the remote islands.

A raging debate about claims of ancient settlements in the Azores led Portugal’s government to establish an expert commission to investigate further.

In 2013, that commission declared that any perceived remnants of an ancient civilization were either natural rock formations or structures of more modern origin.

Related: Was Atlantis a Minoan Civilization on Santorini Island?

Neuralink’s First Patient Controls Mouse by Thinking, Musk Says

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
Neuralink’s First Patient Controls Mouse by Thinking, Musk Says
Neuralink Elon Musk
A robot surgically placed the implants’ threads that help transmit signals in the participants’ brains. Credit: Apoliticnow, CC2

Elon Musk said on Monday that the first human patient implanted with a brain chip from Neuralink appears to have fully recovered and can control a computer mouse using only thoughts.

“Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with neural effects that we are aware of,” Musk said in a Spaces event on social media platform X. “Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking.”

Musk said Neuralink was now trying to get as many mouse button clicks as possible from the patient.

The firm successfully implanted a chip on its first human patient last month. Neuralink received FDA clearance last year for its first trial to test the company’s implant in humans, a critical milestone for the startup.

The study uses a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, Neuralink has said, adding that the initial goal is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts.

Elon Musk’s vision for Neuralink and its critics

Elon Musk believes Neuralink has the potential to become one of the most important technologies of our time. He envisions a future in which implantable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are as ubiquitous as smartphones, and they have the potential to change the way we live, work, and interact with the world around us.

His supporters say BCIs could help individuals with paralysis or other neurological conditions regain control over their limbs and movement. They also argue they could enhance our cognitive abilities, allowing us to learn faster and retain more information.

BCI’s could provide a direct pathway to the vast repository of information on the internet, allowing us to learn and explore at an unprecedented pace.

However, Elon Musk’s project has many critics, including the potential for infections and brain damage. Implanting electrodes into the brain carries inherent risks of infection, inflammation, and damage to brain tissue. Critics argue that Neuralink has not adequately addressed these safety concerns or presented long-term safety data.

BCIs could potentially collect and transmit a vast amount of personal and sensitive information about individuals’ thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Concerns arise about the potential for misuse of this data, including surveillance, discrimination, and manipulation.

The ability to control or enhance human cognition and behavior raises profound ethical questions. Critics worry about the potential for creating a divide between those with and without BCIs, as well as the ethical implications of altering human consciousness and free will.

Ancient Greek Women Held Their Own Olympic Games

Luisa Rosenstiehl
-
0
Ancient Greek Women Held Their Own Olympic Games
bronze running girl olympic games herean games
Every four years, like the Olympic games, ancient Greek women held their own, exclusive sporting event known as the Haraean games. Credit: Caeciliusinhorto / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

The Olympic Games are the most spectacular and historic sporting event in the world. The Games routinely bring together over one hundred countries across 35 different sports and 400 events.

The modern Olympic Games have evolved from the ancient Games that were held beginning in the 8th century BC. The Games were held in Ancient Greece where they originated in Olympia. They derive their name from this site. This early iteration of the competition was reserved exclusively for males as a display of their strength, skill, and endurance.

But the texts of ancient Greek geographer Pausanias describe an Olympic Games held in the second century AD exclusively for women: the Heraean Games.

The History of the Heraean Games

Olympia Hera temple
The ruins of the Temple of Hera at Olympia. Credit: Ingo Mehling / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Very few historical records of the Heraean Games exist, but they were believed to have taken place just after the traditional Olympic Games at around 776 BC. Both versions of the games were held in the stadium at Olympia.

The Heraean Games, named in honor of the Greek goddess Hera, took place every four years. The games, which were associated with adolescents, were considered a rite of passage into adulthood for females.

The competition initially only included running sports. The Heraen Games didn’t include combat sports, which of course were a big part of the men’s games. The Heraean Games included:

  • Stadion: a sprint competition on the stadium’s race track (177 meters)
  • Diaulos: two consecutive sprint races along the stadium’s track (354 meters)
  • Hippios:  four consecutive races across the length of the stadium (708 meters)
  • Dolichos:  an endurance race 18-24 laps around the stadium (about 3 miles)

The winners of each race were crowned with a wreath of olive leaves, and animals were sacrificed in the name of Hera. The Greeks believed that the winners would be endowed with strength by eating the meat of the animal sacrifices.

Winners were also given the ability to dedicate portraits and statues to Hera, and they would memorialize their feats of athleticism by inscribing their names on the columns of Hera’s temple.

The women at the Heraean Games competed wearing a chiton, a kind of robe worn by the ancient Greeks, while the men went through their competitions completely naked.

Both of the male and female games were discontinued in 393 AD when the Roman emperor Theodosius banned the Panhellenic games and other religious festivals that were celebrated in ancient Greece.

The legend of Cynisca and the athleticism of Spartan women

Spartan women weren’t forced to wear long dresses, a custom common across most of Greece. This quality of Spartan female fashion was thought to be emblematic of the freedom, strength, and agility Spartan women were known for.

Spartan society held firm to the belief that athletic women give birth to strong children. Thus, Spartan women were allowed to ride horses and travel as they pleased, as well as hunt and wear short robes.

One might speculate that the majority of the Heraean Games’ participants were Spartan women.

Cynisca
Cynisca, the daughter of Archidamus II, King of Sparta, the first female winner in the history of the Olympic games. She was the owner of a chariot that won the chariot race in the Games. Credit: Sophie de Renneville / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

In fact, Cynisca, the daughter of Archidamus II, the King of Sparta, was the first woman in history to win at the men’s Olympic games.

Cynisca won the four-horse chariot races in 396 and 392 BC, as she was the owner of the chariot that won the race at those Olympic Games. She was honored by having a bronze statue of her, her chariot, and her horses displayed in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.

The inscription on the statue reads:

Kings of Sparta who are my father and brothers
Kyniska, victorious with a chariot of swift-footed horses,
have erected this statue. I declare myself the only woman
in all Hellas to have won this crown.
Apelleas son of Kallikles made it.

Ancient Greek translation:

Σπάρτας μὲν βασιλῆες ἐμοὶ: πατέρες καὶ ἀδελφοί, ἅρματι δ’ὠκυπόδων ἵππων: νικῶσα Κυνίσκα εἰκόνα τάνδ’ ἔστασεν μόναν: δ’ἐμέ φαμι γυναικῶν Ἑλλάδος ἐκ πάσας τόν [-]: δε λαβεν στέφανον. Ἀπελλέας Καλλικλέος ἐπόησε.

Greece, India to Strengthen ‘Strategic Partnership’ in Mitsotakis Visit

Arunansh B. Goswami
-
0
Greece, India to Strengthen ‘Strategic Partnership’ in Mitsotakis Visit
Greece India
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Athens in August 2023. Credit: PM Press Office.

The PM of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be on a two-day state visit to India beginning on February 21, 2024. The last prime ministerial visit from Greece to India took place in 2008.

India-Greece relations were elevated to a “strategic partnership” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Greece in August last year.

The Greek PM will be accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation. He will also visit Mumbai before returning to Athens.

The Ministry of External Affairs of India said that “India-Greece relations are based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of security and defence, shipping, maritime and marked by convergence on regional and global issues.”

India and Greece have centuries of historical connections. From the Indo-Greeks of antiquity, both Greeks and Indians have learned the importance of civilizational dialogue, and now a Greek PM will be the chief guest and keynote speaker at the 9th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

Rashtrapati Bhawan
Rashtrapati Bhawan India Forecourt Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

As per the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Mitsotakis will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, the home of India’s President. There, Mitsotakis will witness the historical connections of Indians and Greeks.

The Central Dome of Rashtrapati Bhavan is inspired by Indian architecture and, in particular, by the Great Buddhist Stupa at Sanchi. The bottom of the dome is surrounded by railings that can also be attributed to the Stupa of Sanchi.

This Stupa of Sanchi has historical connections with the Greeks, and it is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence. It was a major Buddhist center in India until the twelfth century AD.

According to Sir John Marshall in Monuments of Sanchi, in inscriptions of Sanchi Stupas, there are references to a Greek of Svetapatha making donations: “‘Setapathiyasa Yonasa danam,’ i.e. the gift of a Yona (Greek) resident of Setapatha (Safed-Koh).” Greeks of India played an important role in the propagation of Buddhism in Asia, and Sir John Marshall has written about this in detail before.

As per Hugo Buchtal in his article “The Monuments of Sanchi” in The Burlington Magazine, “The Lion Capital of the Asoka pillar at Sanchi, the earliest monument on the spot, is alien to the spirit of Indian art. It is the product of a Hellenistic school working on Iranian models, and must be ascribed to an Asiatic Greek artist, probably from Bactria.”

The Lion Capital which is at Sanchi is similar to the one at Sarnath. Mitsotakis will see the national emblem of India, an adaption of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, in various places throughout his visit.

Mitsotakis will underscore the importance of Greece-India relations

Prime Ministers of India Narendra Modi with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Image Source: Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Image Source: Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As chief guest and keynote speaker at the 9th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Mitsotakis will underscore the importance of Greece-India relations on the global front. Unlike ancient Persia, ancient India had friendly relations with the Hellenes with an exchange of teaching and learning happening from both sides.

“India was more ready than Iran to receive Greek forms after Alexander’s campaigns because its prehistoric Indus culture had [similarities with] Minoan Crete,” the German scholar K. Schefold had written in Die Griechen und ihre Nachbarn.

Greece India
Grand Cross of the Order of Honour being conferred on PM of India Shri Narendra Modi by the President of Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Image Credits: Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

India Greece Elevating Ties

As per the India Greece Partnership Booklet 2023, in “India Greece Elevating Ties,” Greece and India have signed several agreements in the twentieth century, such as the Agreement on Cultural Exchange in 1961 as well as the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation in 1967.

Moreover, they have also signed the following: the Agreement for Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, 1983; the Agreement of Cooperation between Hellenic Foreign Trade Board and India Trade Promotion Organization, 1996; the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation, 1998; and the MOU on Defence Cooperation, 1998. In the twenty-first century, they signed several more agreements.

Greece India
Air Force Chiefs of India and Greece. Image Credits: Indian Air Force .

Recently, India-Greece relations were significantly elevated to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Greece in August of last year. This reflects shared cultural values and a mutual commitment to economic growth and collaboration in various sectors. Both countries have pledged to double trade between the countries by 2030. 

Nowadays, most Indians view Greeks as friends. The Indian public perception of Greece is quite positive in fact. “We want to position Greece in the top five list of European destinations that every Indian would want to visit,” Greece Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura told PTI in 2017. Indeed, there has been an increase of Indian tourists in Greece.

Similarly, it is expected that arrivals of Greek tourists to India will increase, as well. After all, there are numerous sites with Indo-Greek influence in the country.

Christian Community Living in Primitive Conditions Discovered in Greece

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
Christian Community Living in Primitive Conditions Discovered in Greece
Greece Amish
Police arrested the father of a family living an “early Christian” community lifestyle on the Peloponnese in a case dubbed the “Amish” of Greece. Credit: ERT, Greek Public Television

Police recently arrested the father of a family living an “early Christian” community lifestyle in a basic hut on the Peloponnese in a case dubbed the “Amish” of Greece.

The extended family was living in a semi-underground structure with a mud roof, resembling a cave complete with a 30-meter (98-feet) tunnel, and arrested the 45-year-old father for not sending their children to school.

He was taken into custody and his 15-year-old son was located and taken to a juvenile facility under a prosecutor’s order while authorities were looking for the rest of the family not found during a search.

The case has captivated public opinion in Greece. Many argue that as long as the family did not bother anyone, the police should have left it alone to live under its own chosen lifestyle.

The family was living without electricity or running water in a community likened to the lifestyle of the Amish in the United States. The hut was found near the village of Manna in the Corinthia region.

Amish family lived in “deplorable conditions”

Initially, when the police went to the area last Sunday, they found the “Amish” family, originally from Ikaria, living in primitive conditions for the past three years.

When the family members saw the police, they attacked them, with the daughter of the family even hitting a police officer with a wooden bat, causing injury.

During a thorough search of the improvised dwelling and the father’s car, a pellet gun, 102 bullets for a hunting rifle, 81 cartridges, 7 makeshift bows, 20 arrows, 4 knives, an improvised rifle, and an axe were found and confiscated.

The family had three other underage children, one of whom was a one-year-old infant all living amidst the mud in what was described as “deplorable conditions.”

Further investigations led to the discovery, hidden along a rugged path used by the family members in their attempt to escape, of two makeshift firearms with modified one-inch barrels and a military-type M-4 rifle.

Charges were filed against the four arrested individuals—the father, mother, adult daughter, and one underage son—for arson, serious physical injury, threats, disobedience, damage to property, resistance, and weapons offenses.

The family’s father told MEGA TV that they do not send their children to school because they do not consent of the Greek public education system.

He stated, “We are a community of early Christians, following the examples of ancient Russia or the Amish in America, rejecting technological progress and living traditionally, like the first Christians.”

He added, “I call my wife Sister Sebastiani and my son Brother Nikolaos. We are all brothers.” According to him, there are four such communities in Greece.

He claimed that the weapons found in his possession were not weapons but “artifacts.”

“In ancient Greece, bows were considered shameful; ancient Greeks had spears,” he explained. “During Roman times, because we are Romioi, which means not Greeks, but Romans, the bow came to Byzantium.”

“Therefore, we have the bow in our emblem, which differentiates us from the Greeks,” added the 45-year-old. “It is an artifact, we make it traditionally, and we do not treat it as a weapon; it is a sign of our civilization.”

Father of “early Christian-Amish” family in Greece was working remotely

Interior Minister Niki Kerameos requested an investigation into the employment status of the 45-year-old father.

“I have requested that relevant authorities conduct an inquiry to determine the employment status, and under what capacity, the 45-year-old father of the ‘early Christian’ family in Corinthia is serving in the Eretria Municipality on the island of Evia,” stated Kerameos in Parliament on Monday.

According to the mayor of Eretria-Amarynthos, Nikolaos Gournis, the 45-year-old, has been working remotely in recent years.

Since the 2020 pandemic, “he has been providing remote services, as instructed by the previous administration,” Gournis said. “He has been completing the tasks assigned to him,” he added.

1...119120121...7,629Page 120 of 7,629