The Synoikia was celebrated in the ancient Greek city of Athens on August 15 and 16. Credit: Hamburger Kunsthalle / Lawrence Alma Tadema / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Synoikia was an ancient Greek festival held in Athens between August 15 and 16 to celebrate the unification of Attica. The festival was also known as the Thesean Synoikismos and the Feast of Union. During the Synoikia, the Athenians would also celebrate their mythological founder Theseus and the patron deity of the city, the goddess Athena.
The celebration was held during the month of Hekatombeion, which corresponds to July and August on the modern calendar. The festival was held every second year.
The Synoikia: The Ancient Greek Festival of Athens
The festival’s name originates from the term “synoecism” (or synoikismos in Greek: συνοικισμός), denoting the amalgamation of smaller communities into a larger unified entity.
According to ancient Athenian lore, two synoecisms were recounted: the initial founding of twelve cities in Attica by King Cecrops, followed by the consolidation of these twelve cities into a singular Athenian state by the legendary King Theseus, with its focal point in Athens. The Synoikia festival commemorated the accomplishment of King Theseus in bringing about this union.
During the festival, offerings of ewes and bullocks were presented in sacrifice to Zeus Phratrios, symbolizing brotherhood and unity. The event’s coordination and financial support were undertaken by the phylobasileis, delegates representing the initial four Athenian tribes, which had diminished in significance following the reforms of Cleisthenes in 508 BC.
Although the Athenians observed this festival, there is limited evidence to suggest that the Synoikia was embraced by the demes outside Athens within Attica. Notably, the Marathonian and Erchian calendrical inscriptions do not make mention of this festival.
Evidence
Some insight into the Synoikia emerges from a fragment of the fifth-century code outlining sacrificial regulations, discovered within the Agora of Athens. This fragment notes a festival held biennially at the outset of the calendar, involving sacrifices conducted on the 15th and 16th days of Hecatombaion.
While the inscription does not explicitly name it as the Synoikia, this evidently corresponds to the celebration. Thucydides did not make any mention of a two-year cycle for this event, which might naturally lead one to expect an annual commemoration of a historical occurrence.
However, the section of the code detailing the yearly Hecatombaion festivals has been lost, presumably containing references to the annual Synoikia on the 16th day. It is plausible to envision the festivity taking place annually on this single day, with the biennial observance encompassing a more expansive form spanning the 15th and 16th days.
The festival grows in grandeur
Following the Athenian triumph over the Persians in the First Greco-Persian War and the subsequent reconstruction and repopulation of the city-state, the Synoikia festival expanded into even greater prominence.
The reverence and devotion towards Athena and Theseus, revered as the city’s “divine and heroic guardians,” intensified significantly. The intertwining of these two figures led to a fusion of rituals and practices, previously ascribed solely to one or the other.
Notably, in 374 BC, during a temporary truce amid the Boeotian War, the Athenians introduced an additional “non-bloodshed” offering to Eirene, the goddess of peace, as an act of homage.
Greece celebrated the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on Tuesday, August 15, with liturgies and processions of the icon of the Virgin in places of pilgrimage across the country and beyond. Credit: AMNA
Greece celebrated the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on Tuesday, August 15th with great splendor and devotion, liturgies, and processions of the icon of the Virgin in churches and places of pilgrimage across the country and beyond.
One of the most important holidays on the Greek calendar, the day honors the mother of Jesus Christ as a transcendent mother figure and one who can intercede for the salvation of the faithful or provide true solace during trying times.
Furthermore, the Virgin has been strongly connected to the historical struggles of the Greek nation.
On the island of Tinos, for example, the major pilgrimage center for Dormition Day in Greece, the discovery of an icon of the Virgin in 1823, during the Greek War of Independence, before the Cyclades, to which Tinos belong, had been liberated, was interpreted by the locals as a sign that their fight was just and would be rewarded.
The great pilgrimage of Tinos on Dormition Day
Thousands of faithful once again gathered on the island of Tinos, home to Our Lady of Tinos, also known as Panagia Evangelistria, to pray and pay their respects.
A royal decree in 1836 established an eight-day celebration of the Virgin on the island of Tinos, to August 23, when an Epitaph and her icon are venerated.
The annual liturgy is celebrated the same day as the commemoration of the sinking of the Greek cruiser Elli at the port of the island by the Italians on Dormition Day in 1940.
State leaders attend Dormition services
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the Dormition liturgy at the Tinos Cathedral, led by Syros & Tinos Metropolitan Dorotheus, assisted by the Metropolitans of Servia & Kozani, Serres an&d Nigrita, and Kerkyra (Corfu), Paxi & the Diapontian Islands.
Mitsotakis also attended the service and the commemoration of the sinking of Elli, on board a missile boat that sailed where Elli sank, 550 meters off the port. A wreath was thrown in the sea in memory of the ship’s crew members.
In a message following the procession of the Virgin’s icon, Mitsotakis conveyed his optimism for the future of Greece and highlighted the key role of the Armed Forces in Greece’s security.
The President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, attended Dormition services led by Metropolitan Anthimos in Alexandroupolis, Evros, northeastern Greece.
After the liturgy, she visited the new Ioakimio nursing home and had lunch with the 50 nuns of the women’s monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin, also known as the Virgin of Evros, in Makri.
The Greek people “have always drawn comfort and strength from the protective presence of the Virgin Mary,” President Sakellaropoulou said.
Patriarchal liturgy at Soumela Monastery in Trabzon, Turkey
Despite an initial denial of permission by Turkish authorities, the celebratory liturgy led by Ecumenical Patriarchate Bartholomew for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary did take place at the historic Monastery of Panagia Soumela in Trabzon, as approval was eventually granted in late July.
The Monastery, a significant place of religious worship for all Christians, is located high in the Pontic Mountains and was founded around AD 386.
The liturgy was held at the restored monument in both 2022 and 2021 after it had been closed since 2015 for restoration and reinforcement works.
August 15, 1940: Italians Torpedo Greek Cruiser ‘Elli’ as a Precursor to War. Credit: Naval History and Heritage Command/ Wikipedia Commons
It was August 15, 1940 when the Italian submarine ‘Delfino’ torpedoed and sank the Greek light cruiser ‘Elli’ at Tinos’ port during the Word War II.
World War II had been raging for almost a year in Europe, with Greece maintaining a neutral stance, even though dictator Ioannis Metaxas and the Palace were quietly on the side of Great Britain, which at the time was heavily tested by the Luftwaffe’s aerial bombing campaign.
Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany’s ally, with its powerful fleet claimed the Mediterranean seas from Great Britain. The order for the torpedoing of the Greek cruiser ‘Elli’ was given by Italian Dodecanese Chancellor Cesare Maria de Vecchi, a prominent Fascist.
The Italian submarine ‘Delfino’, commanded by Lt. Gen. Giuseppe Aicardi, started from the naval base in Partheni, Leros on the night of August 14th, with the mission to hit enemy ships on Tinos, Syros and then block the Corinth Canal.
Italians Torpedoing Greek Cruiser Elli
In the morning hours of August 15th, the submarine approached the port of Tinos, aiming to torpedo the passenger ships ‘Elsi’ and ‘Esperos’ carrying pilgrims, but the Italians considered them to be carrying troops.
From the perimeter, Aicardi saw the cruiser ‘Elli’ in the port and decided that should be the first target, as he admitted after the war. Cruiser ‘Elli’ had docked on Tinos to participate in the religious celebration.
At 8.25 a.m., just before the procession of the Virgin Mary icon at the port, thousands of people were waiting piously. At that moment, ‘Delfino’ fired three torpedoes at the Greek cruiser. Only one of the three torpedoes hit ‘Elli’ and that was in the engine room and the oil tanks. An hour later, ‘Elli’ sank, despite the crew’s efforts to keep it afloat.
The other two torpedoes missed their target and exploded on the quay. The one that hit the Greek warship killed a junior officer, eight seamen and injured 24. One woman at the port died of a heart attack after the second torpedo exploded on the waterfront.
Local Greek newspaper reporting the sink of Elli cruiser. Credit: Asyrmatos
Italian Submarine Returned to base
After completing its mission, the ‘Delfino’ sailed away, its identity still unknown. After a few hours it reached Syros, but immediately departed as there was no ship in the port. Then the submarine returned promptly to Leros by order of the Italian authorities. Foreign Minister Galeatso Ciano wrote in his memoirs that the sinking of the Greek ship was attributed to the megalomania of de Vecchi himself.
Top Secret Investigation
A search carried out by Hellenic Navy divers revealed the torpedoes were Italian and therefore the attack was from an Italian submarine. The Ioannis Metaxas government kept the investigation report secret in order not to challenge Italy and disrupt the neutral stance of Greece.
Eventually the investigation report was released on Oct. 30, 1940, two days after the Italian attack on Greece. Nevertheless, from the very beginning, the Greek public had no doubt about the submarine’s origin.
Italy Grants a New Warship to Greek Navy
In 1950, in the context of war reparations, Italy granted Greece the ‘Eugenio Di Savoia’ light cruiser, which was renamed ‘Elli’ in June 1951 and hoisted the blue and white flag. In the mid-1950s, the ‘Elli’ wreckage was partially dismantled and sold for scrap.
In 1985, Greek divers discovered at the bottom of Tinos the remnants of the Italian torpedo that sank ‘Elli’. The find is exhibited at the Piraeus Maritime Museum.
The sinking of light cruiser ‘Elli’ was the precursor of Greece’s eventual involvement in World War II. Italians were expecting that Greece would be afraid to fight against the Axis forces and surrender. However, the 1940 Greek – Italian war in the Epirus and Albania mountains was a triumph not only of the Greek army but of the Greek spirit as well. The enemy was defeated to the point that Nazi Germany was forced to send valuable forces to occupy Greece instead of sending them to the Soviet Union front.
The origin of the griffin from Greek mythology may well be explained by ancient sightings of dinosaur fossils in the Gobi Desert. Credit: Public domain
Greek mythology is full of incredible beasts and monsters. The griffin is one such example of a famous mythological animal from ancient Greece. It had the body of a lion but the head and wings of an eagle. Obviously, this creature did not truly exist. However, there are various examples of mythical creatures being inspired by reality. In the case of the griffin, it may well be that its origin is connected to dinosaur fossils.
What Greek mythology says about the griffin
Herodotus was one of the earliest Ancient Greek writers to mention griffins. His account came from Aristeas, a Greek traveler who journeyed far to the east of Greece. Aristeas learned many stories from the Issedones, a people of Central Asia.
According to Aristeas, griffins lived in this general area. He explained that they guarded gold. Herodotus was not the only one to work from Aristeas’ information. Another fifth century BCE writer, the poet Aeschylus, also wrote about the griffin. He explained that a tribe called the Arimaspi would steal the gold of the griffins and that they would chase them.
An interesting detail is that Aeschylus figuratively calls the griffins ‘hounds.’ This indicates that they were originally viewed as being flightless, wingless creatures. Apollonius of Tyana, from the first century CE, explicitly described the griffin as wingless.
Where did the griffin live?
It is clear that the griffin was supposedly an animal of Central Asia. However, the exact location is unclear. Herodotus clearly places them far to the east and north of Greece, beyond the land of the Scythians, but it is impossible to be precise.
The Issendones, from whom Aristeas got his information, lived just north of the Massagetae, according to Herodotus. Thus, they must have lived quite close to Mongolia. Therefore, the territory of the griffin must have been somewhere near there.
More or less consistent with this, Ctesias, a Greek writer from c. 400 BCE, placed the territory of the griffin in Greater India. On the other hand, much later, Pliny placed the griffin in Ethiopia. However, this would appear to be a reference to the Ethiopia in the east within Asia, not the Ethiopia in Africa.
The origin of the Greek Mythology’s Griffin in the Gobi Desert
We can combine the fact that the griffin was a creature of Central Asia, probably near Mongolia, with the fact that the Greek writers consistently describe it as guarding gold in the country in which it lived. Aeschylus, one of the earliest sources of the griffin, directly associates it with a desert. Interestingly, in Mongolia, the Gobi Desert was known in ancient times for its gold. Even today, it still has huge deposits of gold.
Therefore, it is likely that the Gobi Desert was the land that the griffins were supposed to have inhabited. Hence, how does this relate to the origin of the griffin? Well, in the Gobi Desert, there are many fossils of dinosaurs. One of the most commonly-found dinosaurs there may well explain the origin of the griffin: the Protoceratops.
The Protoceratops was similar to the more famous Triceratops, except it was smaller and did not have any horns. This dinosaur was a four-legged creature, thus having the same basic structure as a lion. Yet, it also had a beak, like a bird.
How fossils of Protoceratops explain the origin of the griffin
Of course, a living Protoceratops would not have looked anything like the ancient Greek mythology’s griffin. Yet a fossil of a Protoceratops, with just the bones remaining (and usually in poor condition) could easily be mistaken for a four-legged mammal with the head of a bird.
Given that the lion was to many cultures the most fearsome mammal while the eagle was the most fearsome flying creature, it is not surprising at all that those two animals in particular were chosen.
Furthermore, Pliny explains that the griffin would ‘lay eggs in burrows in the ground.’ Interestingly, paleontologists have found fossils of dinosaur eggs in nests in the ground in the Gobi Desert. If the nomadic tribes of Central Asia had seen these fossils during their wanderings through the Gobi Desert, it is easy to see how this could have led to the legend of the griffin.
Additionally, the ancient Greeks usually portrayed the griffin with large, perky ears, which bear no resemblance to those of an eagle. Yet with a Protoceratops, a partially fragmented frill (as seen on many fossils of this dinosaur), very much gives the appearance of tall ears.
Bronze Age depiction of a griffin from the Throne Room, Knossos, Crete. Credit: Wikipedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0
An even older origin of the griffin
One of the biggest criticisms of this theory about the origin of the griffin is that depictions of griffins come from long before the time of Aristeas. He lived in the seventh century BCE, yet we find depictions of griffins in ancient artwork from Crete, Egypt, and other places as far back as the Bronze Age, if not earlier. What does this mean?
Well, all it means is that the concept of mixing body parts of different animals goes back a very long time. Naturally, other people in the past had thought of the concept of placing a bird’s head on a lion’s body. We also find the reverse in Sumerian mythology: a lion’s head placed on the body of an eagle.
All this means is that people in the past did not miss this particular mishmash of animals while creating their countless different mythological beasts. However, that does not refute the idea that the origin of the legend of the griffin, that is, that there were half-lion, half-eagle creatures living in Central Asia and guarding gold there, came from nomadic tribes seeing fossils of Protoceratops.
Supporting evidence for the origin of the griffin
In addition to the simple logic involved in this theory, there is strong evidence supporting it. Significantly, although the griffin does appear in Greek art earlier than this, it suddenly became much more popular after the time of Aristeas. This was the period during which the Greeks began to establish trade routes with Central Asia.
In the words of one scholar, there was an ‘explosion of interest’ in griffins from Aristeas’ day onwards. This intense interest in griffins continued until about 300 CE. Notably, that is when significant Greek and Roman trade links to Central Asia declined.
This strongly supports the idea that the concept of the griffin did not have a firm existence in western lands independent of the legends about them from the eastern nomads. This, in turn, indicates that the origin of the legend of the griffin does indeed come from Central Asia.
Is this origin of the griffin really plausible?
There is another key objection to this theory about the origin of the griffin. Some critics have claimed that the Protoceratops fossils would not have been sufficiently easy to see. After all, paleontologists have to work hard to dig up dinosaur fossils. Surely, then, it is simply not realistic to expect fossils to be sticking up from the ground like something from Jurassic Park.
However, in this case, seemingly-rational skepticism is simply a result of ignorance of the facts. Today, it may not be the case that Protoceratops fossils are just lying around on the ground for everyone to see. If so, this is only because so many fossil hunters have already frequented the area. The reason they frequented it so much is specifically because it was so full of fossils.
In fact, fossil hunters flocked to the Gobi Desert in the 1920s. One explorer from that period observed that the ground appeared to be ‘paved’ with fossils. Indeed, consider the testimony of two paleontologists familiar with the Gobi Desert who were consulted about this theory. They agreed that ‘ancient nomads certainly would have observed constantly emerging, fully articulated skeletons of beaked dinosaurs’ – that is, of Protoceratops.
Was the Protoceratops the origin of the griffin?
In conclusion, we can see that the basic concept of a griffin had been invented in the very distant past, simply because ancient humans enjoyed combining different animal parts. However, the origin of the legend of the griffin recorded in Greek mythology specifically comes from Central Asia.
There is a clear association between the griffins and gold deposits far to the east, and with a desert in particular. Therefore, it is very likely that the Gobi Desert was their mythical home. That being the case, we cannot ignore the obvious connection between these legendary griffins and the Protoceratops fossils that used to decorate that desert.
Undoubtedly, the origin of the legend of the griffin comes from people seeing these fossils. Contrary to what some critics have claimed, the nomadic tribes would have seen these fossils very clearly in the desert. These fossils explain very well the origin of the mythical griffin, which was originally flightless.
The former Prime Minister of the U.K., Boris Johnson, was photographed driving his car off the ferry boat as he and his family arrived to the island of Evia, Central Greece, on Monday, August 14. Credit: Office of the UK Prime Minister
The former Prime Minister of the U.K., Boris Johnson, is once again enjoying a Greek sea-and-sun vacation with wife Carrie Symonds and their three children.
The politician was spotted driving a white mini van off a ferry boat as he arrived to the port of Marmari, on the island of Evia, Central Greece.
According to local media reports, he was followed by his private security, who were riding in separate vehicles.
Johnson, who has close ties with Greece and is a known philhellene, would be heading to the seaside village of Nea Styra for a peaceful family vacation.
He had stayed in the same area last year, within the municipality of Karystos.
Boris Johnson’s family getaways to Greece
Boris Johnson has become a frequent visitor to Greece, particularly since he resigned from his duties as leader of the U.K. government.
His father, Stanley, who was also a politician, has a summer house in south Pelion, central Greece, but the former U.K. Prime Minister has been spotted vacationing at different locations across the country.
The first time he had been papped in Greece was in 2016, while he was lounging on the beach at the Greek island of Trikeri.
In August 2022, during his last weeks as UK Prime Minister, footage showed Boris Johnson and his wife Carry shopping at a supermarket in Nea Makri, near Athens, where they had traveled for a short holiday.
And in early 2023, while Carry was pregnant with their third child, Johnson enjoyed a three-day stay at the historic town of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese, southern Greece.
A modern-day resort as ancient as Homer’s Iliad
The village of Nea Styra on Evia, where the Johnson family will be vacationing this August, is a modern sea resort with plenty of hotels, cafes, clubs and restaurants, but its history goes back thousands of years.
The ancient city of Styra is mentioned by Homer’s Iliad, as the great Greek epic poem includes Styra in the list of city-states that contributed ships to aid in the rescue of Helen of Troy.
The area is also home to a megalithic site of unidentified origins, the so-called Drakospita (i.e. dragon houses).
There are 25 of them, and although it is unknown when exactly they were built, records of these ancient structures go back centuries.
They are thought to have been built 4,500 years ago, using enormous one-piece stones known as monoliths. The size of each of these stones is 4.0m length x 2.5m width x 1.5m height, similar to those found in megalithic monuments the Philippines and at Stonehenge.
Vlad, the real Dracula, may hade Hemolacria. Credit: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
A new study suggests that Vlad III, widely recognized as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula, may have suffered from Hemolacria. This condition causes an individual to produce tears that are partially composed of blood.
Vlad III – better known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula – was the voivode of Wallachia, a designation commonly attributed to a ruler or chieftain in medieval times. Born as the second son to Vlad Dracul, a prominent figure within the Order of the Dragons known as the Drăculești, Vlad III and his sibling bore the moniker “Dracula,” which translates to “offspring of Dracul.”
Vlad III has a complicated legacy. He is frequently regarded as one of the pivotal leaders in Wallachian history, holding a stature as a revered national hero within Romania for his efforts to withstand the advances of the Ottomans. Conversely, his practice of impaling enemies and supposed penchant for violence also earnt him a reputation for brutality.
Study claims Vlad Dracula may have suffered from Hemolacria
In a study published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, researchers from the University of Catania examined old letters written by Vlad III in the mid-15th century AD. They used advanced tools like High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) technology.
Using this method, the researchers were able to analyze 100 ancient peptides alongside protein data of human origin. By doing this, they found clues about Vlad III’s health. The analysis revealed that he might have had problems with inflammation in his respiratory tract or skin. They also discovered that he could have experienced a condition called hemolacria.
Hemolacria is when tears contain some blood, usually due to issues such as bacterial eye infections, environmental damage, or injuries. It could also point to a possible tumor in the eye area.
“To our reckoning, this is the first time such research has been carried out and has helped to bring to the limelight the health status of Vlad Dracula the Impaler,” commented the researchers. “It cannot be denied that more medieval people may have touched these documents, but it is also presumable that the most prominent ancient proteins should be related to Prince Vlad the Impaler, who wrote and signed these letters.”
History vs. Myth
The subject of the study, Vlad III, is intimately tied to Count Dracula in popular culture due to the immense fame of the novel Dracula written by Bram Stoker in 1897.
The story revolves around the enigmatic Count Dracula, a centuries-old vampire from Transylvania, who seeks to spread his undead influence to Victorian England. The story follows the efforts of a group of individuals, including Professor Abraham Van Helsing and Jonathan Harker, to thwart Dracula’s sinister ambitions. Set against the backdrop of Gothic horror, the novel delves into themes of fear, desire, and the struggle between good and evil as it explores the relentless pursuit to stop the immortal vampire’s reign of terror.
Naturally, the “real” Dracula was not a vampire but Vlad III did gain notoriety for his brutality. During his reign, it is believed that Vlad III was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 individuals predominantly through the method of impalement.
After a series of confrontations between Vlad III and the Ottoman Turks, Mehmed II led his forces to Târgoviște, where a chilling spectacle awaited him. He encountered the grim aftermath of 23,844 Turkish captives impaled and positioned in concentric circles encircling the city.
Vlad III was killed in battle in 1477. Before his death, stories of his cruelty had already spread to Germany and beyond. How much of this is true versus hyperbole remains a matter of debate.
The US Department of Defense aims to evaluate, synchronize, and use the generative capabilities of AI. Credit: mikemacmarketing / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
The US Department of Defense, DoD, announced the creation of a task force to study the possibilities of using generative AI. The decision comes amid huge public attention to generative AI programs such as ChatGPT and Google Bard.
The Pentagon plans to explore how this technology can be applied to national security, intelligence services, industry, business, and health.
Possibilities of AI technologies
Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks will play a key role in the analysis and integration of generative AI tools. Hicks says the creation of such a group speaks to the DoD’s commitment to innovation, emphasizing that the future of defense, along with the introduction of advanced technologies, requires foresight and responsibility.
The Task Force Lima will be led by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). Specialists will evaluate, synchronize, and use the generative capabilities of artificial intelligence.
“There’s a little bit of fearmongering” around AI, the Pentagon’s Chief Digital & AI Officer tells me, arguing it’s neither panacea nor Pandora’s box.
“It’s not like we’ve gotten to the point where… there’s some monolithic intelligence – which is the way it’s being pitched.” pic.twitter.com/fVwIOgH5GC
According to US Navy Captain M. Xavier Lugo, Task Force Lima mission commander and member of the CDAO’s Algorithmic Warfare Directorate, the use of artificial intelligence in defense is also related to strengthening national security. He noted that the DoD recognizes the potential of generative AI to significantly improve intelligence, operational planning, and administrative and business processes. At the same time, Lugo called the responsible adoption of technology the key to effective management of associated risks.
Craig Martell, the DoD Chief Digital and AI Officer, also emphasized the importance of the responsible approach. The DoD should determine appropriate safeguards and mitigate the national security risks that can result from issues such as poorly managed training data, he said. He also noted the need to consider the extent to which the US adversaries would use the same technology.
Uncertainty related to AI
Artificial intelligence, which belongs to the category of generating AI algorithms, creates new outcomes from training data, diverging significantly from simpler machine learning methods. AI works with structured data for reliable statistical outcomes. Accessible generative tools of artificial intelligence, such large language models including ChatGPT, create text nearly indistinguishable from human speech. However, because these models learn from vast datasets, including the internet, they can occasionally generate “hallucinations” or inaccuracies. Thus, the Pentagon has previously expressed caution in applying generative AI.
Quantifying the impact of unreliability on risk and finding the right balance between pre-trained data and “hallucinations” remains uncertain. A task force seeks industry collaboration to align products with DoD standards, emphasizing risk reduction and user-friendliness.
About CDAO
Established in June 2022, CDAO is spearheading the integration and enhancement of artificial intelligence capabilities within the US DoD. Its pivotal role revolves around expediting the Department’s assimilation of data, analytics, and AI in order to fortify the digital framework and policies.
Greece won European gold in men’s water polo Under 17 for the first time in the history of the competition. Credit: Facebook / Hellenic Olympic Committee.
The world of Greek water polo is celebrating a new historical achievement as the Under 17 men’s team won European gold on Monday.
This is the country’s first-ever U17 men’s European title.
Serbia, who lost the final to Greece, and Spain, completed the podium, with their respective silver and bronze wins.
The Spanish had suffered a painful shootout defeat against Greece in the semi-finals.
Greek team’s early lead in final
The Greek team defeated Serbia 9-8 to win the title and celebrate their first-ever title in the history of the U17 Europeans.
After the Serbs scored the first goal of the final, four minutes into the game, the Greek team hit three in as many possessions in a span of 88 seconds to go 3-1 up. The Serbs went completely frozen for the following period, as the tournament’s page describes.
Eventually, Greece kept its lead despite the hard battling and reached the middle break with a commanding 6-1.
The Serbs halted their scoreless run in the third period, which ended 7-5.
In the fourth period, the Greek team upped their score to 9-5 with 3:47 minutes remaining, but the Serbs reduced the gap to 9-8 by the end of the game.
Historical first title for Greek U17 Men’s Water Polo team
The Greek youth men’s water polo teams had previously outstanding success in the U20 class at the World championships (winning gold medals in 2001, 2017 and 2019), claimed the U19 European title in 2018 and the U18 World’s in the same year, but in this competition this was their first-ever triumph.
Two years ago, the Greeks had lost the medal to the Serbs 10-6, according to LEN’s account of the tournament.
The Greek men’s water polo U17 team defeated Serbia 9-8 to win the title and celebrate their first-ever title in the history of the U17 Europeans. Credit: Facebook / Hellenic Olympic Committee
Greece Wins Silver in Men’s Water Polo World Championship
In July, Greece won the silver medal in the men’s water polo World Championship, which was also the national team’s best-ever men’s water polo World Championship result.
The cliffhanger final, which took place in Fukuoka, Japan, finished normal time 10-10 and went into penalty shoot-outs to determine the winner, with Greece eventually losing to Hungary 13-14.
The silver medal win brought to Greece the qualification to compete at the Olympic Games of Paris in 2024.
The Greek national men’s water polo team has participated 16 times at the Olympic Games thus far, having always been present in the tournament since 1980.
Maria and the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Honored on August 15. Credit: Public Domain
Each year on August 15th, Greeks around the world celebrate “Summer Easter,” as the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is called in Greek popular tradition. The nation is also ready to honor those bearing Greece’s most popular female name, Maria.
August 15th is an annual bank holiday not only in Greece but in most Catholic and Orthodox Christian countries around the world.
Catholics celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven on this day while the Orthodox celebrate what is called Her “Dormition,” since the Orthodox Church does not teach that Her body ascended into the heavens.
In both cases, however, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is the figure that is at the center of celebrations in August across the Christian world.
Dormition of Virgin Mary on August 15th Celebrated Across Greece
Thus, in countries with the tradition of celebrating saints’ names, such as in Greece, Her name is also honored and celebrated on this special feast day.
However, the name “Mary” itself is not the original name by which the Mother of Jesus was known. Actually, this is a later, Latinized version of the older name “Maria.”
This name was first recorded as such in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.
Since Greek was the original language in which the New Testament was written, Maria (Μαρία) or Mariam (Μαριάμ) were the forms which were commonly used across the Christian world in the first few centuries after Christ before its Latin variation became well-known.
According to experts, its origins are believed to stem from the Aramaic name ”Maryam,” which was a derivation of the Hebrew name ”Miriam.”
There is no clear evidence of what the name Miriam actually meant in Hebrew, but the most popular belief is that it was a term meaning “sea of bitterness” or “sea of sorrow.”
This could actually be quite appropriate considering what Christians believed -and still believe- about the Virgin Mary’s deep sorrow in having witnessed the crucifixion of her son, Jesus.
The name Maria began growing in popularity in the Greek world very quickly after the first Greeks embraced Christianity almost 2,000 years ago, and it is not difficult to understand the reasons why.
Later on in recorded history, Mary became the second most prominent figure in the new religion after Jesus Christ himself.
The loving, maternal figure of the Parthenos Maria (The Virgin Mary), along with the deep admiration the first Christian Greeks displayed for Her, prompted many people to begin baptizing their daughters with this name.
Maria, the Most Popular Female Name in Greece
After centuries of uninterrupted presence in Greek society, the name Maria is not only popular in Greece today, but it is actually still, by far, the most popular female name in the country.
According to a recent announcement by Greece’s Statistics Service ELSTAT, Maria remains the most popular female name in Greece today, with 8.3 percent of the total female population in Greece bearing the name of Christ’s beloved mother.
This means that approximately one in twelve Greek women is named Maria, and while many celebrate their name day on August 15th, others do not. The Virgin Mary is honored several times throughout the year in the Greek Orthodox calendar. Other days on which the Virgin Mary is honored include March 25th, the Annunciation of the Holy Mary; November 21st, the Presentation of Mary; and September 8th, the Nativity of Mary among other days.
Aside from Maria, other names related to the Virgin Mary are also celebrated on August 15th. These names include Marios, Panagiotis, Panagiota, Despoina, Parthena and many more. This is why the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is such a significant religious celebration but also a joyous holiday for most Greek families.
Hence, whether you celebrate your name day today or not, we wish you a very happy August 15th!
A Bvlgari Boutique. Credit: Antonio Barella / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
The Bulgari family visited their ancestral village of Paramythia in Epirus, where the world-famous jewelry house made its first steps in 1870.
Nicola Bulgari, grandson of Sotirios Bulgari, who founded the luxury brand (Bvlgari), visited the memorial sites of his ancestors along with younger family members.
The visit was of great significance as they explored the building, currently under renovation, donated by the Bulgari family. This building, along with the first workshop and goldsmith shop of Sotirios Voulgaris, stood as a testament to the family’s enduring legacy.
Family members were captivated by the transformation of the space into an Art, Education, and Culture Center, a project they pledged to contribute to, as it aims to honor the city’s patrons.
During the visit, the Mayor of Souli, Yiannis Karagiannis, President of the Regional Council, Stavroula Braimi, and Deputy Mayor of Technical Services, Fanis Bellogia, provided insights into the ongoing conversion and the Center’s mission.
Στην Ελλάδα η οικογένεια Bvlgari | Η επίσκεψη στη γενέτειρά τους και το σημείο από όπου ξεκίνησε η αυτοκρατορία https://t.co/VQvmzceOs2
The family also paid their respects at the church of Panagia and the monument dedicated to the forty-nine martyrs.
As reported, Nicola and the family conveyed their enthusiasm for restoration efforts at the former primary school. They underlined their readiness to actively support the project’s realization. Further discussions with the relevant technical services are anticipated, with the Municipality of Souli spearheading the coordination.
The Bulgari family has ended their visit with a meal at a tavern on the banks of the Acheron River.
Bulgari family and brand story
Sotirios Voulgaris was born in 1857 in the Greek region of Epirus. He was one of eleven children and traveled to Italy in 1880 in search of a brighter future with minimal and quite modest resources. His innate talent for working with precious metals and stones paved the way for profitable ventures before he opened his own jewelry store in 1884.
At the dawn of its existence, Bulgari established itself with silver items inspired by the artistic heritage of Ancient Greece, Rome, and Byzantium. Through dedication and creative expression, Voulgaris laid the foundation for a distinctive brand style marked by impeccable craftsmanship and cultural influences.
After the death of Sotirios in 1932, his sons, Giorgio and Costantino, took over the reins of power, shaping the modern Bulgari identity. The brand has attracted famous personalities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Bergman, and Gina Lollobrigida. Amid decades of success, the brand has achieved stunning growth and established itself as a symbol of luxury and innovation.
In 2017, the brand’s state-of-the-art jewelry manufacturing headquarters emerged in Valenza, Italy, spanning fourteen thousand square meters.
Today, this huge international chain, also known as BVLGARI, is world-famous for its high-quality jewelry, watches, perfumes, accessories, and leather goods.
