Hypatia: The Female Greek Philosopher Killed for Her Beliefs

Hypatia
Death of the Greek philosopher Hypatia. Unknown artist. Public Domain

Hypatia, one of the greatest philosophers of Alexandria, was admired for her groundbreaking ideas but was brutally murdered for them by Christian fanatics in the fourth century AD.

Born around the year 360, Hypatia was a female Greek philosopher, astronomer and mathematician who went completely against the norms of the time, yet gained tremendous respect for her great mind and accomplishments.

Her father, Theon, was a mathematician and astronomer who never tried to curb his daughter’s thirst for knowledge.

Hypatia was a member of the Neoplatonic school of philosophy. She would appear draped in the robes of the academic elite — something that only men were allowed to do at the time.

One could safely say that by today’s standards she was a feminist, and definitely one of the first in recorded history.

Her love for astronomy led her to build astrolabes, which are used for examining and measuring celestial bodies in the night sky, and she charted the courses of stars and planets.

Hypatia studied philosophy in Athens and returned to Alexandria, where she taught philosophy, mathematics and astronomy to the young people of the city.

Among her students were the offspring of the most powerful families of Alexandria, who later progressed to assume high positions in Alexandrian society.

Loved and respected in Alexandria

In Alexandria, Hypatia taught Platonic philosophy, the Ptolemaic system of celestial movement, and the advanced mathematics of Euclid.

She was known as a gifted teacher, and was undoubtedly one of the greatest thinkers of the time.

Two of Hypatia’s students were the Bishop of Kyrenia, Synesius, and the Prefect of Alexandria, Orestes.

Hypatia kept up a continuous correspondence with Synesius, parts of which have miraculously survived and reveal the enormous admiration that the Bishop had for Hypatia.

“Even if Hades is a place of complete oblivion, even there I will remember you, dear Hypatia”, he wrote in one of his letters.

The brilliant woman would often head to the city center and give orations on her thoughts regarding Plato. Audiences were captivated, not just by her ideas but by her looks as well.

Hypatia was respected by the the city’s intellectuals and scholars. She was equally respected by Christians, who used her as an example of chastity.

An anecdote that survives about her chastity begins by stating that once a young man had expressed his love for her. In response, she showed him a handkerchief soiled with her menstrual blood to emphasize the impurity of carnal relationships.

Hypatia was celibate, and historians believe she remained a virgin until her death.

Her chastity made her very popular in Greek society, which prized celibacy as a virtue, and therefore she was acceptable and viewed as respectable to both men and women.

Hypatia
Portrait of Hypatia by Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915). Public Domain

Christian fanatics killed Hypatia

Hypatia practiced paganism at a time when Christianity was in its infancy and growing, and therefore some of its followers were more fanatical.

The female philosopher did not try to conceal her pagan beliefs and continued to practice paganism, something that infuriated the city’s Christians.

It was widely believed that Cyril, a notable Alexandrian bishop, made it his mission to eliminate the influence of the idol-worshipping female philosopher and astronomer.

The bishop accused Hypatia publicly as an idol-worshipper, then allegedly ordered a mob of fanatics to kidnap her.

The Christian fanatics indeed kidnapped the woman and dragged her through the streets while torturing her horribly.

It is said that the tortures were extremely cruel, including scraping Hypatia’s flesh with oyster shells.

Then the mob took her to a church where they stripped her naked, lashed her, and tore her limbs from her body.

Hypatia
Rachel Weisz as Hypatia of Alexandria n the motion picture Agora (2009). Credit: Focus Features, Newmarket Films/Telecinco Cinema

Was Hypatia a victim of politics?

According to historian Socrates the Scholastic, the death of Hypatia was the result of a political dispute between the Prefect of Alexandria, Orestes, and the Bishop of Alexandria, Cyril.

In 415 AD, Orestes issued a decree regulating the public feasts of the Jews, as they usually celebrated in large crowds and caused riots. The Jews opposed the regulations.

The decree was affixed to a wall, and a Christian named Hierax loudly supported the new arrangements.

Hierax was a very enthusiastic listener to bishop Cyril’s sermons, and made himself conspicuous by his forwardness in applauding the decree.

The Jews took the act of Hierax as an insult and a provocation to incite sedition, and addressed Prefect Orestes, urging him to order his arrest and have him tortured in public.

Orestes was angered that the Bishop was sending spies to his proceedings, and by his power to influence the Christians, and proceeded with the torture.

The cruel punishment of a Christian citizen angered Bishop Cyril — especially when Orestes acted this way to please the Jews — and in retaliation he launched an attack on the Jews of the city.

After a series of fights, during which both camps suffered heavy losses, Bishop Cyril exiled all the Jews from Alexandria and allowed the Christians to usurp their property.

The Prefect became furious with Cyril and the tension between them peaked. Then 500 fanatical monks arrived to fight on the side of Cyril.

One of them, Ammonius, threw a stone at Orestes, which wounded him in the head. Ammonius was arrested on the spot, then tortured and executed.

Hypatia was a close friend and advisor of the Prefect. According to Socrates Scholasticus, the female philosopher was actually a victim of political rivalries, as she was unfoundedly accused by Christians of turning Orestes against them.

The mob, led by the clergyman Petros, abducted her and took her to a church, where she was stripped naked and beaten. When she died, they dismembered her body and threw every limb into the fire.

Clearly, the fourth century was an era of great political and religious turmoil, with the two intermingling most of the time.

Religious doctrines were at times interpreted according to one’s best interests, and a crowd could be easily manipulated to turn into a mob.

Hypatia’s ideas about philosophy and astronomy were far ahead of her time, winning the admiration of academics and intellectuals, and her achievements will live forever.

Purchasing Power of Greeks Second From Bottom in the EU

Greeks Purchasing power
Greeks face European prices with Balkan purchasing power. Credit: AMNA

Greeks have the second to the bottom—just above Bulgaria—purchasing power in the EU according to Eurostat. These are statistics that put a dent in the Greek government’s triumphant claims about the rise in economic prosperity.

In 2023, substantial differences in GDP per capita, expressed in purchasing power standards, were recorded among EU countries.

Luxembourg and Ireland had the highest levels (140 percent and 112 percent above the EU average, respectively), well ahead of the Netherlands (30 percent above the EU average), Denmark (+28 percent), and Austria (+23 percent).

In contrast, Bulgaria registered the lowest GDP per capita, 36 percent below the EU average, while Greece (-33 percent) and Latvia (-29 percent) were just above that.

Greeks
Credit: Eurostat

Luxembourg has by far the highest GDP per capita among all the 27 countries included in this comparison at 140 percent above the EU average.

This is to some extent explained by the fact that a large number of foreign residents are employed in the country and thus contribute to its GDP, while they are not part of Luxembourg’s resident population. Their consumption expenditure is recorded in the national accounts of their country of residence.

Ireland comes out second among the EU Member States at 112 percent above the EU average followed by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Austria, each with a GDP per capita more than 20 percent above the average. The high level of GDP per capita in Ireland can be partly explained by the presence of large multinational companies holding intellectual property.

The associated contract manufacturing with these assets contributes to GDP, while a large part of the income earned from this production is returned to the companies’ ultimate owners abroad.

Greeks face European prices with low purchasing power

The countries of the European South that were also in the throes of the economic crisis in the previous decade, such as Portugal, Spain and Italy, are ranked much higher than Greece, with GDP per capita in purchasing power units set at 83 percent, 89 percent and 97 percent of the European average in 2023.

Greece is also ranked below many former Eastern Bloc countries, such as Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and even Latvia, ranked 25th, which has a GDP per capita in purchasing power units of 70.1 percent of the European average.

At the same time, the price level is at 88.2 percent of the average (these are figures for 2022, as other data is not yet available from Eurostat), reinforcing the sense of extravagant prices in Greece, causing widespread dissatisfaction as all opinion polls of recent months have shown.

GDP figures are affected by tax evasion, but the fact is that, unlike prices, incomes are below pre-crisis levels.

In the latest Metron Analysis poll for Mega TV, the participants ranked high prices and the state of the economy as the country’s most significant problems.

Santorini Is the Second Best Honeymoon Destination in the World

Santorini Honeymoon Destination
Santorini is the fourth most searched honeymoon destination worldwide with 120,600 Google searches. Credit: Greek Reporter

Research reveals that Santorini is the second-best honeymoon destination worldwide, considering factors such as affordability and romantic dining options.

Slingo’s team of experts examined various factors, including the most searched destinations, popular honeymoon spots, and areas boasting numerous romantic restaurants. These findings assigned each destination an overall score for couples’ vacations.

Santorini Honeymoon Destination
Credit: Slingo

Top three honeymoon destinations, including Santorini

Bali, Indonesia

Bali tops the charts for couples’ vacations, scoring 8.07 out of 10 and boasting 278,100 Google searches for honeymoons in the past year.

It ranks fifth on TikTok and Instagram with millions of posts under #Bali. It’s a budget-friendly paradise, offering affordable dining at just $22.17 (£17.38 | €20.36) for a three-course meal for two.

With an abundance of romantic restaurants and honeymoon activities, Bali is a top pick. One can experience authentic Indonesian cuisine like bakso and beef rendang while exploring adventurous spots such as Nusa Penida and the Ubud Monkey Forest.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini secures second place with a solid score of 6.83 out of 10. It is the fourth most searched honeymoon destination worldwide with 120,600 Google searches, and 49 percent of its restaurants are romantic.

It ranks high for honeymoon spots and is popular on social media platforms with millions of posts under #Santorini.

However, it’s noted for its high dining costs, averaging $90 (£70.57 | €82.67) for a three-course meal for two.

Those interested in history will appreciate Santorini’s rich heritage, shown in museums and archaeological sites. At the same time, adventurous couples can enjoy activities like horseback riding, scuba diving, and jet skiing along its beautiful beaches.

Cancún, Mexico

Cancún takes third place, with a score of 6.80 out of 10. It’s a popular choice for honeymoons, ranking sixth in Google searches. With romantic restaurants and honeymoon-friendly activities on TripAdvisor, it’s perfect for couples.

Cancún trends on social media with 1.2 million TikTok posts and 12.3 million on Instagram, ranking ninth and nineteenth, respectively. Enjoy diverse cuisine, especially seafood, along the Caribbean coast with the average cost of a three-course meal for two at just $43.29 (£33.94 | €39.76) and dive into vibrant nightlife with competitive drink prices.

Top honeymoon destinations in Greece beyond Santorini

Greece, with its six thousand islands and islets scattered in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, is full of honeymoon destinations.

Some destinations are ideal for honeymoon retreats. One has the option to explore the history, sunbathe on beautiful beaches, or wander out into the quiet of traditional villages.

There are many options for newlyweds to choose from in the land of the goddess Aphrodite and the love god Eros.

Discover the top 7 honeymoon destinations in Greece

 

 

Use of Twitter in US Fell by a Fifth Since Elon Musk Took Charge

X Twitter Elon Musk
The number of Americans using Elon Musk’s social network every day as of February 2024 has decreased by 23 percent from November 2022. Credit: Public Domain

Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter and relaunched it as X, its use in the US has decreased by more than a fifth, data from app-monitoring company Sensor Tower shows.

The number of Americans using the social network every day as of February 2024 has decreased by 23 percent from November 2022—shortly after Musk finished his takeover. In the same time frame, every other significant social network saw a decline in users, although none by nearly as much as X did.

Twitter, now X, loses more than other social media platforms

According to statistics, which were first published by NBC News, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat all experienced user slumps of less than five percent, with TikTok experiencing the closest decline, coming in at just under ten percent.

According to Sensor Tower statistics, X performed marginally better globally, losing fifteen percent of its users, amounting to 174 million daily active app users. The app-monitoring company depends on several sources to maintain a reliable panel of people to sample and does not monitor users who use the social network via desktop programs or web browsers.

Social media platform X implicitly rebuffed Sensor Tower’s claims in a public post. In an unsigned message, it said that “250 million people use X every day” with 550 million visiting every month. It also said that “daily average time spent on platform” and “daily active user minutes” are both up year on year.

Fall in the value

The fall in the value of the company has been reflected in assessments by the fund manager Fidelity, one of the investors in Musk’s buyout of the previously publicly traded company.

Fidelity’s blue chip growth fund, which holds its stake, has continuously marked down the value it attributes to the company, hitting its latest low of a 71.5 percent reduction in value from November 2022 to November 2023.

Since Musk paid $44 billion for his stake, that brings Fidelity’s assessed value for the overall company to just over $12.5 billion.

On Monday, a judge in California dismissed Musk’s lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a non-profit that has published reports chronicling the rise of racist, antisemitic, and extremist content on the platform since Musk’s acquisition.

“Sometimes it is unclear what is driving a litigation, and only by reading between the lines of a complaint can one attempt to surmise a plaintiff’s true purpose,” wrote Charles Breyer, the US district judge, in the ruling.

“Other times, a complaint is so unabashedly and vociferously about one thing that there can be no mistaking that purpose,” he added. “This case represents the latter circumstance. This case is about punishing the defendants for their speech.”

How the Iconic Shipwreck of Greece’s Zakynthos Was Created

Shipwreck Zakynthos Greece
Millions of tourists visit the “Panagiotis” wreck, which has become the symbol of the Greek island. Credit: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0/Wikipedia

Lying on a sandy beach on the northwestern coast of Greece’s island of Zakynthos since October 1980, the island’s shipwreck is perhaps the most photographed one in the world.  Millions of tourists visit the “Panagiotis” wreck, which has become the symbol of the Greek island.

It has been rumored the ship was smuggling contraband such as cigarettes and alcohol when it ran aground, on what was originally known as Agios Georgios beach, during stormy weather and bad visibility.

The ship was abandoned, and some of the crew, mostly Greek sailors and the captain, were arrested but later cleared by the court for smuggling.

Shipwreck Zakynthos Greece
Initially, the people of Zakynthos were concerned that the wreck could damage the image of the island. Credit: Kell Kell, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia

How the shipwreck was created

Rumour has it that locals stripped the cargo of contraband cigarettes and alcohol. It is said that the island did not import cigarettes for months after the incident.

Initially, the people of Zakynthos were concerned the wreck could damage the image of the island and deter tourism. How ironic that Navagio Beach or Shipwreck Beach became the most popular tourist destination in Zakynthos.

The captain of the ship, Kefalonia-born Charalambos Kompothekras–Kotsoros, released his account of what happened. He insisted that there was no illegal activity.

According to his recollection, the ship ran aground returning from Albania to Greece during the evening hours of October 2, 1980. This was due to bad weather conditions and mechanical failure.

“I reported the accident to the authorities, but due to the fact that the beach was not accessible on foot by land, we were not able to protect the ship from thieves and other dangers,” he revealed. “As a result, part of the shipment was stolen along with various vessel equipment (radar, VHF radio, etc).

“I went back to the authorities to report that my property was stolen and the General Prosecutor of the area, in my presence, organized a formal on-site investigation with the local police.

“The outcome was outstanding as during the first days of the operation, all stolen items, as well as the stolen part of the shipment, were found in local villages nearby, and 29 persons in total were persecuted and jailed during the following months after the trials were completed,” he concluded.

After being cleared of all accusations by the court, Kompothekras–Kotsoros was later requested by authorities to remove the vessel on his own. When he visited the site to see how he could maneuver it, he was so astonished by the beauty of the rusting carcass that he decided to leave it as is.

Shipwreck on Greece’s Zakynthos under threat

Thus, Navagio Beach or Shipwreck Beach came to be. However, without proper measures to protect it, the icon of Zakynthos is under threat.

Questions have been raised over the responsibility of the famous shipwreck after a surge of bad weather this winter further destroyed it.

Fears are growing over the condition of the tourism-driving shipwreck, with academics and local politicians calling for urgent measures to help retain the site.

Navagio Beach and the shipwreck were temporarily closed to visitors in 2018 following a cliff collapse from above after a 6.8 Richter earthquake. In September 2022, a landslide occurred after a 5.4 Richter earthquake between Zakynthos and Kefalonia.

Professor Efthymios Lekkas, the president of Geology and Geoenvironment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has concerns about the salvaging of the beach itself.

“The ship created a jetty that prevented the sand from going to the bottom,” he stated in a recent interview. “Thus, within four to five years the beach grew, and what has been preserved until today was created. If the ship now disappears, the area will acquire the conditions that existed before and there will be no beach.”

Greek Series “Maestro in Blue,” Season 2 Coming to Netflix in May

Maestro in Blue , Palakaliatis , Andriolatou
Cast members of “Maestro in Blue”. Credit: Maestro in Blue

The acclaimed Greek television series, Maestro in Blue, returns to Netflix for its second season on May 16th.

When Netflix first picked up the series in March 2023, it became the first-ever exclusive worldwide distribution deal for a Greek scripted television series on the streaming platform.

Maestro in Blue was created for Mega TV by Christoforos Papakaliatis, who also stars in the series.

“In May 2024 we will have the opportunity to travel once again to the deep blue waters of Paxos, which, however, hide many guilty secrets,” Mega TV announced on Tuesday.

The second season consists of six episodes, while the series will conclude with a four-episode third season, which is expected to air in the fall of 2024 on Mega TV and Netflix.

Christoforos Papakaliatis
Christoforos Papakaliatis. Credit: capitallink.com

Season Two of Maestro in Blue

Papakaliatis has hinted at season two’s release before. In a recent interview with Alpha TV, he stated that the filming of the second series of Maestro in Blue started in April 2023 and took place in Athens and Paxos. He also revealed that there will be some new faces in the cast.

The first season debuted on Netflix on Friday, March 17, 2023. The television series has had a very strong reception with audiences and holds a 97 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.4 rating on IMDB.

Following the release of the first season on Netflix, it featured in the global top 10s for two weeks, picking up 20.56 million viewing hours. The show featured in the TV top 10s in 53 countries according to FlixPatrol, with the show doing best in countries like Greece (featured in the top 10s for 97 days), Cyprus (42 days), Malta (15 days), Israel (14 days), Serbia (13 days), Romania (12 days), and Turkey (12 days).

Further data from the Netflix Engagement Report covering January through June suggests the show was watched globally for 41.10 million viewing hours. Naturally, as the only show from Greece currently on Netflix, it remains the country’s most-watched Original title to date.

At the time of season one’s release, Papakaliatis said: ”I hold Maestro very close to my heart and I feel deeply honored and happy that this story will travel around the world through Netflix. I’m looking forward to this journey.”

Maestro in Blue, Papakaliatis and Andriolatou in Bathing Suit
Credit: Maestro in Blue

Story and production

Maestro in Blue is set in Greece on the island of Paxos. The island has an interesting history, which includes naval battles, pirates, and a succession of foreign rulers. Even though it is smaller than and not as well-known as Corfu and Lefkada, which are also in the Ionian Sea, Paxos is very beautiful.

It follows a musician named Orestis, played by Papakaliatis, who travels to the small Greek island during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to set up a music festival from scratch.

Confronted with the small society of the island, he finds himself involved in a passionate love story that acts as a catalyst for the manifestation of all the social problems that plague an entire group of people. The characters, being connected to one another, are therefore complicit in the developments.

Speaking about the series, Papakaliatis recently said, “I am very proud of this project because I think that artistically it is a unique moment, not only for me, but for everyone who was involved.”

“I am extremely lucky, because thanks to these actors, the story of ‘Maestro’ acquired meaning and substance. To me that matters. To be able to tell your story in the best possible way and for it to make sense,” Papakaliatis further added.

“The photography, the music, the editing, the cameras and all the collaborators, have all given their best in order to make a project in our language, which will also be able to stand worldwide,” he said.

League of Corinth: The First Time All Greeks United

League of Corinth
Temple of Apollo in Ancient Corinth. Credit: Floodmfx/Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0

The League of Corinth marked the first time in history that most of the Greek city-states (excluding Sparta) came together under a single political entity.

An initiative of King Philip II of Macedon, the League of Corinth unified Greek military forces under Macedonian hegemony in their combined conquest of the Persian Achaemenid Empire.

Also known as the Hellenic League, and led by Philip himself, the idea of a confederation was proposed to the king of Macedon by Isocrates of Athens in 346 BC and was created in 337 BC.

While the League presented a unified front, it also established Macedonian dominance over Greece. Philip II acted as the hegemon, or leader, with significant influence over the League’s council. This ushered in a period of Macedonian power in the region.

The Persian forces and Athens

The Persian forces under Artaxerxes had advanced in Ionia and Lycia and regained control of the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea, taking over much of Athens’ former island empire.

In response, Isocrates of Athens started giving speeches calling for a force — which would later become the League of Corinth — to stop the Persians, but no Greek city-state was strong enough to fight against Artaxerxes’ army.

At the same time, the growing power and territory of Philip II of Macedon made him the strongest possible opponent of the Persians.

Philip’s power did not pass unnoticed by Artaxerxes. The Persian emperor ordered that the Macedon king’s power and influence should be constrained.

In 340 BC, the Persian emperor ordered a force to assist the Thracian prince, Cersobleptes, to maintain his independence against the Macedonian king — who still conquered Thrace despite this.

The first council of the League

The title “League of Corinth” was invented by modern historians because the first council of the League took place in Ancient Corinth.

The organization was the first time in history that the Greek city-states would unify under a single political entity.

The League was governed by the hegemon — King Philip II —  and the Synedrion (council) of representatives of the participating city-states and the Dikastai (judges).

Sparta was the only city-state that refused to join because they were too proud to join under the hegemony of Macedon.

Decrees of the league were issued in Corinth, Athens, Delphi, Olympia and Pydna. The League maintained an army to which each state provided troops proportionately.

Philip established Hellenic garrisons in Corinth, Thebes, Pydna and Ambracia.

The oath

The representatives of the city-states made an oath of allegiance to the League of Corinth:

“I swear by Zeus, Gaia, Helios, Poseidon and all the gods and goddesses. I will abide by the common peace and I will neither break the agreement with Philip, nor take up arms on land or sea, harming any of those abiding by the oaths.

“Nor shall I take any city, or fortress, nor harbor by craft or contrivance, with intent of war against the participants of the war.

“Nor shall I depose the kingship of Philip or his descendants, nor the constitutions existing in each state, when they swore the oaths of the peace.

“Nor shall I do anything contrary to these agreements, nor shall I allow anyone else as far as possible.

“But if anyone does commit any breach of the treaty, I shall go in support as called by those who need and I shall fight the transgressors of the common peace, as decided (by the council) and called on by the hegemon and I shall not abandon…”

The oath continues with the names of the cities to be protected as members of the League, namely Thessaly, Elimiotis, Samothrace, Thasos, Ambracia, Phocis, Locris, Oetaea, Maliea, Ainis, Dolopia, Agraea, Perrhaebia, Zacynthus and Cephalonia.

The League under Alexander the Great

Philip never saw the great alliance in battle as he was murdered the following year (336 BC), with his son, Alexander the Great succeeding him as head of the League of Corinth.

Upon hearing a false report of Alexander’s death, Thebes — a very powerful city-state — revolted from the league and expelled the Macedonian garrison, breaking the oath.

In the previous century when the Persians had invaded Greece, Thebes had made an alliance with the invaders giving them earth and water, leaving the rest of the Greeks defending the land by themselves.

The alliance could not forgive the revolt of Thebes and the only action left was the war against Thebes. The decision for the destruction of the city was taken by the council of the League of Corinth by a large majority.

Alexander’s army acted swiftly and ransacked Thebes. Alexander spared the priests of the city and the house of poet Pindar.

The Thebans were condemned to slavery and its territory was distributed among neighboring states in 335 BC.

After that Alexander took over his father’s plan to invade Persia and with the League of Corinth joining the campaign by contributing to his army. Again, the Lacedaemonians (Spartans) abstained from the campaign in Asia.

Upon leaving, Alexander appointed general Antipater as deputy hegemon of the League of Corinth and recommended that the Athenians attended to its affairs and in case something happened to him, Athens would take over the power in Greece.

The League of Corinth is mentioned by Arrian after the victorious Battle of Granicus (334 BC). Alexander sent 300 panoplies to the temple of Pallas Athena in Athens, with the following inscription:

“Alexander, son of Philip, and the Hellenes, except the Lacedaemonians, from the barbarians inhabiting Asia.”

According to Diodorus Siculus, the League’s council sent a golden wreath to Alexander after the Battle of Issus.

After the Battle of Megalopolis in 331 BC, Sparta appealed to Alexander for terms, to which he agreed on condition that the Lacedaemonians now joined the League of Corinth.

In 323 BC, Alexander the Great died in Babylon. A year later, Antipater and his army fought the Lamian War against a coalition of Central Greece city-states, and after that the League was dissolved.

Former British Museum Curator Ordered to Return Stolen Artifacts

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Former British Museum curator Peter Higgs has been ordered by the High Court to return artifacts he allegedly stole.
Former British Museum curator Peter Higgs has been ordered by the High Court to return artifacts he allegedly stole. Credit: wallyg. CC BY 2.0/flickr

A former British Museum curator who stole and damaged artifacts has been ordered by a high court, which heard that many hundreds of the items were listed on eBay, to return any that remain in his possession.

Before Higgs was fired earlier last year, he was the museum’s head of department for Greece and Rome for more than thirty years and a prominent curator of Greek antiquities.

The cultural institution initiated legal proceedings against Higgs, who was dismissed for gross misconduct in summer last year after more than a thousand items were found to be missing, stolen, or damaged.

Lawyers in service of the London museum’s trustees say there is “compelling evidence” Higgs “abused his position of trust” between at least July 2009 and January 2018, but he denies this, as reported by The Independent.

Justice Heather Williams exacted an order at the High Court in London today, Tuesday, March 26th, stating that Higgs must list or return any stolen items within four weeks. Barrister Daniel Burgess maintained that Higgs, who has been under investigation by the Metropolitan Police but not charged with anything, stole items such as jewelery, gems, gold, silver, and “intentionally” damaged artifacts by removing gold and silver from them, as per The Independent.

What happened to the British Museum artifacts?

The court heard that it is believed the items were stolen or damaged and that many hundreds of them were listed for sale on eBay, using PayPal to facilitate payment. Most of the objects had been kept in a storeroom.

Burgess wrote on his written argument: “Those acts amounted to conversion or trespass, breach of his employment contract and breach of fiduciary duty.” The lawyer claims that Higgs is planning to dispute the claim.

He told the court the defendant had access to the artifacts and attempted to cover his tracks by using fake names, producing false documents, manipulating the museum’s records, and selling items at significantly less than their value.

Higgs was also accused of impeding the British Museum’s investigation into the thefts of artifacts by asking a colleague to delete texts and emails and refusing to offer up relevant information, the court heard.

Burgess said in written argument: “The items that have been stolen from the museum are of cultural and historical significance. There is a compelling public interest in their recovery. The museum (and that public interest) will suffer irremediable harm if the items are lost, including because delay in locating them means that they become irrecoverable.”

The court heard that 356 stolen artifacts have been given back to the museum to date.
Justice Williams also ordered the showing of eBay and PayPal records belonging to Higgs, which could contain evidence of any sales that were made. She said there was “cogent evidence” that the institution’s allegations could be correct.

The Met will also give an independent computer specialist temporary access to devices they seized during a search of Higgs’s home on August 16, 2023.

When Greek Politicians Betrayed the 1821 War of Independence Heroes

Greek politicians who betrayed the Greek Cause
Some Greek politicians put their own interests above Greece and the heroes of the War of Independence. Portrait of Alexandros Mavrokordatos. Public Domain

While the heroes of the glorious 1821 Revolution fought and died for freedom, there were Greek politicians who betrayed them for money and high positions.

These were politicians who usurped the glory of the real warriors of the 1821 Revolution without even raising a pistol against a Turk. They were men who expropriated funds meant for the Greek struggle sent from foreign powers. They even had brave warriors killed or jailed because they did not fit into their treacherous schemes.

Furthermore, they were so corrupt that they shamelessly served their own interests as well as those of foreign powers even at the expense of Greeks who sacrificed everything, including their lives, for the cause of Greek liberation.

After the attainment of independence and establishment of the modern Greek state, these men were put in high posts in government and established themselves through dubious governing abilities alongside the young King Otto, who was too young to understand their machinations much less their guilt-filled past.

Yet, somehow, the names of the particular Greek politicians have been whitewashed in history books, and their portraits still appear next to the real fighters and heroes of the Greek War of Independence in the National Historical Museum, while streets in Athens and other cities are named after them.

Alexandros Mavrokordatos and realpolitik

Alexandros Mavrokordatos was the Greek politician who introduced Realpolitik (real politics) to Greece, as taught by Nicollo Machiavelli, wrote theologian and author Giorgos Papathanasopoulos. Real politics are based on cynicism and amorality in dealing with people, institutions, and states. Whoever applies it is ruthless towards the realization of his plans. “Realpolitik” is a rule in state and international relations and is applied worldwide.

Mavrokordatos joined Filiki Eteria while in Pisa, Italy. He arrived in Patras on July 21, 1821  with a group of people who wanted to fight for Greece’s liberty. At first, he insisted on being called “prince” as a sign of superiority. Then, he tried to become the leader of Morea (modern day Peloponnese). Naturally, the unquestionable leadership of Theodoros Kolokotronis and Dimitrios Ypsilantis (brother of Alexandros) could not be overlooked. However, Ypsilantis was fooled by Mavrokordatos’ hypocrisy.

He then moved to Western Roumeli (Central Greece), where there was a power vacuum, and easily became its leader there. Indicative of his use of Machiavellian tactics was that during the First National Assembly of Epidaurus and while Dimitrios Ypsilantis and Kolokotronis were away fighting the Turks at Acrocorinth, Mavrokordatos took the opportunity and succeeded in being elected president of the Executive Branch of All Revolted Greece, thus pushing Dimitrios Ypsilantis aside. At the Astros’ Second National Assembly, he had formed a group that deified him as “the other Washington.”

In his memoir, Theodoros Kolokotronis wrote that he advised Mavrokordatos to leave and not get involved in Greek politics. The politician did just the opposite. He went to Hydra, met the prominent Kountouriotis family, and convinced them to start a civil war to neutralize his own opponents, while he convinced them that they were their enemies, too.

Mavrokordatos took an English loan sent for the revolt and used the money to pay half the Greeks to fight the other half, according to historian Christos Stasinopoulos. He attempted to exterminate those he considered his enemies because they treated him as an equal. With his actions, he persecuted one of the greatest war heroes of the war, Georgios Karaiskakis, as a traitor. Indeed, a committee of military officers he appointed declared Karaiskakis a traitor, stripped him off his rank, and ordered him to leave Western Roumeli.

Georgios Karaiskakis, hero of greek war of independence
Georgios Karaiskakis. Public Domain

The shrewd Greek politician also assisted in the murder of great fighter Odysseas Androutsos, and although Ioannis Kolettis (discussed below) was seen more as the moral perpetrator, the participation of Georgios Kountouriotis in the execution of Androutsos is documented as well.

Mavrokordatos also spearheaded the imprisonment of Theodoros Kolokotronis in Hydra, the greatest war hero of the entire Greek War of Independence, pushed Miaoulis to burn the Greek fleet, and was among those who contributed to the assassination of Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias.

Greek politicians of 1821
Georgios Kountouriotis: One of the Greek politicians who schemed against the true heroes of the 1821 Revolution. Painting by Dionysios Tsokos. Public Domain

Georgios Kountouriotis: The scheming shipowner from Hydra

Georgios Kountouriotis, a wealthy shipowner from Hydra, reluctantly offered his ships for the cause because he believed it was too early for revolution. In 1823, when a civil war had broken out among the leaders of the revolution, he was convinced by Mavrokordatos to be part of his government. The true motive of Mavrokordatos was to use the clout of politically naive Kountouriotis against his own enemies.

Using his money, as well as the first installment of English loans, the Greek politician  gained advantage over his rivals and his own government with Mavrokordatos was installed in Nafplion. Much of the money from the loans was squandered, meeting the demands of his political friends, members of his family, and the civil strife between the government of politicians and rebelling generals like Kolokotronis and Karaiskakis. During the civil war, the politicians won, and Kolokotronis was jailed on Hydra where he frequently endured torture.

Kolokotronis, hero of greek war of independence
A lithograph portrait of Theodoros Kolokotronis by Karl Krazeisen. Credit: National Gallery of Greece. Public DOmain

In his presidency, few measures were taken to strengthen the rebelling regions. On the contrary, in 1824 the revolution on Crete succumbed to the Turkish-Egyptian troops, while in the same year, the islands of Kasos and Psara were destroyed. Following Ibrahim’s landing in Methoni in February 1825, instead of appointing an experienced military man like Kolokotronis or Karaiskakis, he named one of his seafaring compatriots, captain Kyriakos Skourtis, as head of the army sent against the Egyptians.

Kountouriotis headed to Messenia to be with the troops in their fight against Ibrahim’s army. He rode a fine horse, but, since he was not a skilled rider, he had two Egyptian captives, one on each side so that he would not fall. Behind him, he had a crowd of bodyguards and servants. However, he fell ill and could not reach the field of operations.

The Greeks were disastrously defeated by Ibrahim at Kremmydi in April 1825, and Kountouriotis returned to Nafplion in disgrace and amidst general outcry. After the self-sacrifice of Papaflessas in Maniaki in May, Kountouriotis was forced to release Kolokotronis, who was the only one able to face Ibrahim.

The lack of action of the Kountouriotis government during the last siege of Missolonghi and its inability to provide even rudimentary supplies to the city’s heroic garrison led to the historical exodus. The bankruptcy caused by the makeshift government forced Kountouriotis to resign on April 12, 1826 and retire disgruntled to Hydra.

After the liberation, Kountouriotis took an active part in the opposition against Kapodistrias. Following the assassination of the governor on September 27, 1831, he was appointed by the Senate as a member of the Administrative Committee, made up of representatives of all political factions.

During the years of King Otto, he was appointed vice-president of the Council of State and followed a more moderate policy. On March 1848, he was appointed by Otto as president of the cabinet minister of shipping.

Greek politicians of 1821 Revolution
Ioannis Kolettis: One of the Greek politicians who acted for their own interests. Portrait by Adam de Friedel (1830). Public Domain

Ioannis Kolettis: The ambitious Greek politician from Epirus

Ioannis Kolettis from Epirus studied medicine in Pisa, Italy. In June 1821, he participated in the failed rebellion of Syracos and Kalarriti, and when the two villages were destroyed by the men of Hursit Pasha, he fled to Missolonghi and then to Moria.

He took part in the First National Assembly of Epidaurus (December 20, 1821 – January 16, 1822) as a representative of the rebelling regions of Epirus and was elected a member of the committee for drafting the first Greek constitution. On January 15, 1822, the National Assembly appointed him Minister of the Interior.

An ambitious man, Kolettis sided politically with Alexandros Mavrokordatos. However, his unlimited ambitions provoked the reaction of some military officers, especially of Kolokotronis. To undermine the popularity of Kolokotronis, Kolettis convinced him to break the siege of Patras and then accused him of the same thing. When Kolokotronis visited Nafplion, he treated him disrespectfully. He also disliked Odysseas Androutsos because of his popularity among the revolutionary fighters.

During the first Greek civil war (1823-1824), the Greek politician sided with Georgios Kountouriotis. The power he acquired as a member of the Executive branch allowed him to extend his influence among the military, particularly among the chieftains of Roumeli  of Central Greece He appointed Yannis Gouras as guard of the Acropolis of Athens. In this way, he neutralized Androutsos, one of his main opponents, and contributed to the brutal murder of the hero of the Battle of Gravia in 1825.

His political influence increased when, in October 1824, Kountouriotis retired to Hydra and Vice-president Panagiotis Botassis died. The conflict between the Executive branch and the Parliament, which culminated in the devastating second civil war (1824-1825), increased his power. At his own suggestion, the Executive summoned Roumeliot troops to fight the “anti-government” army in Morea. After the end of the civil war, the influence of Kolettis was consolidated and rested mainly on the chieftains from Roumeli.

However, the third National Assembly (April 6 – 16, 1826), under the burden of the fall of Missolongi, abolished the Kountouriotis – Kolettis government. Not having an administrative position, he again turned to the military, but he failed in his campaigns against the Turks.

During Kapodistrias’ governing, he was appointed commissioner of the Eastern Sporades, which included Samos, Ikaria, Paros, Patmos, and Kalymnos. In 1829, he was also appointed a member of the “Panhellenium,” the governor’s advisory body. After the Fourth National Assembly (July 11 – August 6, 1829), he was appointed a member of the Senate.

The Greek politician was yet another member of the new Greek government that opposed Kapodistrias’ modern ideas and secretly joined the opposition. Following the assassination of Kapodistrias (September 27, 1831), he was appointed by the Senate as a member of the Three-member Administrative Committee together with Augustinos Kapodistrias, who was named president, and Theodoros Kolokotronis.

He didn’t sever his ties with the opposition parties of Hydra. In April 1832, Kolettis led 1,200 Roumeliot soldiers and  triumphantly entered Nafplion, while at the same time Augustinos Kapodistrias was leaving for Corfu.

In September 21, 1832, after bloody conflicts between the various factions, he was again appointed by the Senate as a member of the Three-member Administrative Committee, this time, but its authority was limited almost exclusively to Nafplion.

Overall, the presence of Ioannis Kolettis in the political life of post-revolutionary Greece was characterized by the practice of balancing between various factors. These included: the countervailing political and social forces, the decisive presence of the foreign factor (the French party), the stagnation in social development, and finally the degradation of political life in the name of personal gain and party benefit.

Nikitaras, hero of greek war of independence
Nikitaras, a 1821 Revolution hero who was disgraced by Greek politicians. Credit: Gepsimos / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

The Sad End of a Great Hero of the Greek War of Independence

After the liberation of Greece, one of the saddest events was the end of the most selfless hero of the Greek revolution, Nikitas Stamatelopoulos, commonly known as Nikitaras. Nikitaras was a nephew of Theodoros Kolokotronis who fought in most of the big battles against the enemy, with the most important being the sacking of Tripolitsa, and the battles at Doliana, Arachova, Dervenakia, Agionorio and Mehmetaga.

Nikitaras was the victim of Greek politicians who continued to work in shadowy ways long after Greece was free. Being partial to the Russian party it is said that he was among a group of people who were conspiring to overthrow the Bavarian King Otto. He was arrested and put to jail. Since he was suffering from diabetes and tortured while in prison, he lost a big part of eyesight. Meanwhile all the evidence that he was among the conspirators was destroyed so it could not be used against him.

King Otto, fearing that he would lose the support of the pro-Russian party, ordered his release. But when Nikitaras came out of prison, he was almost blind and broke. He was granted a license to beg for money every Friday outside the church of Evangelismos in Piraeus.

In 1843, when Otto was forced to sign a Constitution for Greece, Nikitaras was given the rank of lieutenant general and a scanty pension. In 1844 he served as Speaker of the House for three months and in 1847 he was appointed to a Senate seat. He died on September 25, 1849 at age 68.

His last wish was to be buried next to his uncle, Theodoros Kolokotronis, at the First Athens Cemetery. The Greek government failed to maintain records of his remains, resulting in their loss, and their current whereabouts remain unknown

Titanic Door Frame That Kept Rose Alive Sells for $700,000

Titanic door frame
Titanic door frame sold for more than $70,000 at an auction. Credit: Heritage Auctions

A significant piece of history from the movie Titanic, the “door” that played an important role in the film, has been sold at auction. This particular piece of wood, which saved Kate Winslet’s character Rose but resulted in the demise of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jack, has fetched $718,750.

The auction, hosted by Heritage Auctions as part of their Treasures from Planet Hollywood event, saw this item surpass other famous props like Indiana Jones’ bullwhip from Temple of Doom and Jack Nicholson’s ax from The Shining.

Although commonly referred to as a door, the auction noted that this item was actually a part of the ornate structure just above the ship’s first-class lounge entrance.

The door made of balsa wood with floral accents

The door is made of balsa wood and intricately crafted with beautiful floral designs and elegant curves, similar to the rococo architecture style. The design closely resembles the famous Louis XV-style panel displayed at the Maritime Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Director James Cameron drew inspiration from his visits to the museum while researching for the film. He wanted to recreate a similar piece of debris to depict the emotional final moments of Jack and Rose, according to Heritage Auctions.

Experts believe the original oak panel represents the exact spot where the Titanic split in two during the tragic sinking in 1912. As the ship went down, it’s thought that this panel floated to the surface along with other wreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The famous prop has sparked lively discussions among fans of the movie, with many debating whether the floating wood panel could have actually supported both Jack and Rose. Some argue Jack’s decision to stay in the icy water was unnecessary if they could have both fit on the panel.

To address these debates, James Cameron conducted a scientific study to demonstrate that the plot point was more than just a storytelling device.

The prop itself measures around 8 feet long and 41 inches wide at its widest point, with the back reinforced with hardwood for strength and stability, according to Heritage Auctions.

Most expensive item sold during the auction event

Among the Hollywood treasures up for grabs at the auction, including Tobey Maguire’s black suit from Spider-Man 3, which fetched $125,000, and Harrison Ford’s whip from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, valued at $525,000, it was Rose’s door from Titanic that was valued the most.

Despite the stiff competition from other iconic memorabilia, Rose’s door emerged as the priciest item of the event, as reported by Collider.