A group of theoretical physicists has explored an alternative theory of gravity known as “teleparallel” gravity. Credit: International Gemini Observatory / CC BY-4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
A fresh perspective on Einstein’s theory of relativity could revolutionize our understanding of black holes. Astrophysics has long struggled with the concept that “black holes have no hair,” meaning they are defined by just three characteristics: mass, electric charge, and spin rate, leaving them devoid of additional information. This limitation has vexed scientists seeking to unravel the mysteries of these cosmic objects.
However, a group of theoretical physicists has explored an alternative theory of gravity known as “teleparallel” gravity. Unlike traditional general relativity, which centers on space-time curvature, teleparallel gravity focuses on the “twistiness” of space-time caused by mass or energy. Though mathematically equivalent to curvature-based relativity, this approach offers novel insights.
In their research, the team introduced scalar fields, quantum entities with widespread spatial and temporal presence, into teleparallel gravity. These scalar fields, previously used to explain phenomena like dark matter and dark energy, were investigated for their impact on black holes. Remarkably, they discovered that within the teleparallel framework, black holes acquire what can be called “hair,” a strong scalar field near the event horizon containing valuable information about the black hole’s properties.
This groundbreaking revelation opens new possibilities for studying black holes from a distance, potentially through gravitational wave observations. Scientists expect to find subtle signs of these scalar fields during black hole collisions that will shed light on the mysterious celestial objects.
First Image of a Black Hole Blasting Out Jet
As it was reported in April, astronomers have managed to capture the first-ever direct image of a black hole emitting a powerful jet. This remarkable image provides unprecedented clarity in observing a supermassive black hole situated at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy, which had never been directly observed before.
In this discovery, scientists have, for the first time, observed the connection between the base of a high-speed jet and the matter surrounding the supermassive black hole before it gets consumed—a process known as “accretion.” Prior images of the M87 black hole and its jet depicted them separately, but this new image presents both phenomena together.
The image, taken with radio telescopes, including the Global Millimetre VLBI Array, the Greenland Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, highlights the emergence of the jet from the emission ring encircling the central supermassive black hole. This ring is fifty percent larger than in previous images, suggesting that the black hole is consuming matter at a faster rate than previously estimated.
The storm affected public transport and turned city streets into rivers. Credit: Vislupus / CC-BY-SA-4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Storm Daniel, which has been raging in Greece the last several days, has hit the capital city of Athens, causing flooding and chaos on streets. Over the past 24 hours, the storm has reached the country’s largest city, bringing with it heavy rainfall and destruction.
Storm Daniel, a powerful tempest, has struck central Athens and other areas in Attica, leading to transportation disruptions. Several Central Athens neighborhoods experienced brief power outages. The heavy rain started in the morning, but by 4:00 PM local time, the situation significantly worsened as the city and its suburbs were hit by heavy downpours and lightning.
Meteorologist Klearchos Marousakis warned that this destructive storm is expected to continue for the next few hours.
Due to heavy rainfall, the streets of Athens have turned into “rivers.” Photos and videos appeared in social media with cars in flooded areas. Citizens have been knocked down by stormy streams of water. Some have tried to fight the flood on their own, clinging to poles and trees. Passers-by have been helping each other to get on their feet amidst the downpour.
Σταθμός ηλεκτρικού στον Άγιο Νικόλαο
Το νερό έχει φτάσει το 1μ. στην υπόγεια διάβαση. Η μισή πόρτα του ασανσέρ έχει εξαφανιστεί κάτω από το νερό.
The storm has also affected public transportation, with metro trains no longer stopping at Evangelismos Station and subsequently being closed due to flooding. It has also caused traffic jams on major roads, creating additional difficulties for residents.
The activation of the civil protection mechanism for the Attica region accompanied the thunderstorm and inclement weather. Approximately fourteen pumps and nine project vehicles were deployed at various points to combat the aftermath of the floods.
Athens-Thessaloniki motorway closed due to flooding
The Athens-Thessaloniki highway was suspended due to flooding on the route, and several roads in various regions were closed for traffic.
The Thessaly Regional Police Directorate ordered a road closure in both directions between the two points.
Storm Daniel continues to pose a threat to Athens and its suburbs, and authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution and follow shelter and road safety recommendations.
Situation in Central Greece
Floods and heavy rains in Central Greece have claimed two lives, with three people reported missing. The worst-affected areas include Thessaly, the city of Volos, Mt. Pelion, and Skiathos island. An 87-year-old woman was found dead in Magnesia’s Paltsi region, and a 51-year-old man died in Agios Georgios Volos when a wall collapsed under water pressure. Two men, aged 85 and 70, are missing in Paltsi, along with a 42-year-old man swept away by a stream in Volos.
Storm Daniel, which began hitting Greece on Monday, has caused landslides, bridge destruction, power pole collapses, and vehicle losses. Greece has experienced unprecedented rainfall, and the National Meteorological Service predicts continued severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and storms, until Thursday.
Marine scientists discovered a mysterious ‘golden egg’ on the Seafloor Off Alaska. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration
A mysterious ‘golden egg’ was discovered on the ocean floor near Alaska. Marine scientists are perplexed and think it might be an egg from an unknown creature.
A group of deep-sea explorers working for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made this discovery last week. The shiny object has a hole in one side, which suggests that a creature might have hatched from it, reported The Telegraph.
During a live video broadcast of a remotely operated dive that occurred two miles beneath the ocean’s surface near an extinct volcano, one researcher was overheard saying, “Something tried to get in… or to get out.”
Another marine scientist expressed concern, saying, “I just hope when we poke it, something doesn’t decide to come out. It’s like the beginning of a horror movie. When our collective knowledge can’t identify it, it’s something weird. What kind of an animal would make an egg casing like that?”
Use of a robotic arm to extract the ‘golden egg’ from rocks
The team used a robotic arm to gently release the “egg” from its rocky surroundings and then suctioned it up for examination at the surface.
While experts expected the texture of the object to be jelly-like, resembling a shark egg, it turned out to be more similar to skin tissue or silk. DNA tests are currently underway to determine its true identity.
Oceanographers have stumbled upon a mysterious golden egg more than 3 km at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean near an underwater volcano. According to most experts, it will most likely be a dead sea sponge or an eggshell of some other marine life. Scientists are analyzing the… pic.twitter.com/NhzeuJs5hk
NOAA said that the most plausible explanation is that it’s an egg casing. Many deep-sea creatures, like sharks and rays, are known to lay such casings in similar environments. However, the exact origin of this peculiar object remains a mystery.
Other suggestions put forward include a new kind of coral, a Pacific barnacle, or a type of sponge, wrote The Telegraph.
Found during the NOAA’s Seascape Alaska 5 expedition
The enigmatic object came to light on the eighth day of NOAA’s Seascape Alaska 5 expedition, a mission that began on August 23. The expedition’s primary focus has been delving into the ocean floor approximately 250 miles south of the Alaskan shoreline.
It’s worth noting that an estimated one-third of marine life in the ocean remains unknown to us.
During this expedition, the team has been collecting samples of creatures residing in deep-sea coral, sponge habitats, and areas with mud volcanoes.
Kerry Howell, a professor of deep-sea ecology at the University of Plymouth, commented to the Mail Online, describing the object as “weird” in nature.
“In my 20 years exploring the deep sea I have not seen anything like that,” said Kerry Howell. She further stated, “It’s always exciting to see new things and I will wait eagerly for the analysis on the sample to understand what it actually is.
The Rolling Stones Release Their First Album in 18 Years. Above, The Rolling Stones at a concert in 2018. Credit: Ralph_PH / CC BY 2.0
The Rolling Stones just announced the release of their new album, the first in eighteen years. Since the release of A Bigger Bang in 2005, the band has stayed together and played together along with other iconic rockers and musicians.
The album is due to be released on October 20th, and a live tour through the United States will be following. The Rolling Stones announced the release of their new album Hackney Diamonds through a livestream with Jimmy Fallon in Hackney.
The band explained during the release interview that Hackney Diamonds refers to the windows of your car when they get smashed in Hackney. The band created a collection of their compositions and recordings from over the last few years. There are also two tracks recorded with the deceased drummer, Watts, from 2019.
“Angry” is the first single from the album, and Ronnie Woods explained in the interview that it is an overarching mood in the upcoming album. It also features ballads and some “country-style” music, as the Rolling Stones return to their origins in this album. Their first experience was in British skiffle music.
Lady Gaga will be featured on track ‘Sweet Sound of Heaven’ from the Rolling Stones’ new album. pic.twitter.com/fTQh4VkC3r
The genre in the 1950s in England gave rise to most 1960s British rock. The likes of The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and Jeff Beck among others have their roots in skiffle music. Jimmy Fallon also takes from this in the live.
The band collected a series of recordings and songs written over the years, including two songs featuring recordings with late drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away in 2021.
The album was produced by Andrew Watt, who has worked with such prominent figures as Elton John, Eddie Vedder, and Ozzy Osbourne. Rumor has it he will also be producing Pearl Jam’s upcoming album. The video for “Angry” was directed by Francois Rousselet. It will star the actress Sydney Sweeney, who has already also starred in “The White Lotus” and “Euphoria.”
The Stones also included tracks by Lady Gaga in the album, but they have not mentioned other featured artists. However, they are expected once the album comes out. Ronnie Woods mentioned in the interview that he has recently played with Van Morrison, and his presence is possible in the tracks or live tour. Stevie Wonder’s presence in the album is considered a near certainty.
Mick Jagger was excited to introduce his tracks. Ronnie Woods was sober as usual, though visibly excited, and Keith appeared in his typical cool demeanor.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Credit: Public Domain
Plato’s allegory of the cave is one of the greatest stories of philosophy. It allows us to understand how the Greek philosopher perceived the world in ancient times.
The tale involves a metaphorical explanation, in which the human being is faced with knowledge, of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.
In his theory, Plato explains how the existence of the two worlds can be captured, namely through the sensible world (which is the one known through the senses) and the intelligible world (which is perceived through knowledge without the intervention of the senses).
The Allegory of the Cave
In the allegory of the cave, Plato describes a group of men who remain chained to the depths of a cave from birth; their condition is such that they can only look towards the wall in front of them since they are chained and unable to move.
Illustration of The Allegory of the Cave, from Plato’s Republic. Credit: 4edges/CC BY-SA 4.0
Just behind the prisoners at a certain distance and above their heads, a bonfire illuminates the wall. In the middle, there is a corridor in which men circulate with various objects that, thanks to the illumination of the bonfire, project their shadows so the prisoners can see.
The prisoners consider the shadows of the objects that are projected to be real since they know nothing of what is happening behind their backs. However, if one of the men were to break free from the chains and look back, he would only be confused and annoyed by reality.
The firelight would cause him to look away, and the blurred figures he could see would seem less real to him than the shadows he had seen all his life.
Similarly, if someone were to force this person to walk in the direction of the fire and past it until they were outside of the cave, the sunlight would prove more bothersome to him, and he would want to return to the dark area.
The allegory ends, however, with the prisoner entering the cave once again to “free” his former companions in chains, thereby provoking laughter. The joke would be that this would prove his eyesight to have been impaired by his passage from sunlight to the darkness of the cave.
When this prisoner tries to untie and raise his former companions towards the light, Plato believes them to be capable of killing him; he is sure they would indeed take his life if given the opportunity.
This entire story is an allusion to Socrates‘ effort to help men to reach the truth and their failure in doing so only to be condemned to death himself.
The Allegory of the Cave today
The story brings together a series of very common philosophical themes, namely, the existence of a truth that exists independently of individuals’ opinions; the presence of constant deceptions that keep us from truth; and the qualitative change needed in accessing truth.
Various scenarios are easily comparable to these ideas; one great example is the information that is shared today across the world’s media, including social networks and the rest of the internet.
If we compare this by means of the stages of Plato’s allegory, we will obtain a more detailed analysis of the relation of the story to the present.
First of all, there is deception which posits that the reality provided by these sources of information are merely shadows or breadcrumbs of the intended message or actual truth; in other words, the general population consumes information without even questioning it.
One of the explanations as to how deception is so profoundly impactful on human life is that, for Plato, it is composed of what seems to be an obviously superficial point of view. If we have no reason to question something, we don’t, and its falsehood therefore prevails.
Few manage to access the second stage, liberation, which is achieved through questioning, research, and study.
Liberation involves objectively analyzing the extent as to which one’s beliefs falter, which of course produces uncertainty and anxiety. To get through this state, however, it is necessary to continue advancing and discovering new knowledge.
Acceptance can be considered the most complicated stage since it implies letting go of previous beliefs. This is difficult to accept but once achieved, there is no going back.
Plato took into account the way our past conditions influence the way in which we experience the present, and this is why he assumed that a radical change in our understanding of things had to necessarily be accompanied by discomfort.
The final stage to arriving to truth involves the ‘return,’ which is the culmination of the learning process between the different realities. This consists of the dissemination of novel ideas, the sum of which can generate confusion, contempt, or hatred for having the temerity to question the basic dogmas that structure society.
When Dimitri Tsafendas killed the architect of apartheid South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd on September 6, 1966, the courts decided it was an act of a madman.
Yet, the Greek-Mozambican knew very well that the man he stabbed to death was the architect of apartheid, and he considered it his “moral obligation” to assassinate him.
The little-known story of Tsafendas comes to light in a recently published book titled The Man Who Killed Apartheid: The Life of Dimitri Tsafendas, written by researcher Harris Dousemetzis with journalist Gerry Loughran.
Dousemetzis spent nine years researching the life of the man who, on September 6, 1966, entered South Africa‘s packed parliament building, where he worked as a courier and stabbed the Prime Minister.
PM Hendrik Verwoerd was assassinated in front of all the assembled lawmakers of South Africa, as well as a full contingent of the press.
Tsafendas was brutally tortured during his subsequent interrogation. He confessed that the Prime Minister’s assassination came about as a result of his own initiative purely for political reasons because he considered Verwoerd a racist tyrant.
The Greek-Mozambican assailant was put through a psychiatric assessment and was found to be suffering from schizophrenia. In the end, he was acquitted of the crime by reason of insanity.
Dousemetzis’ book presents evidence showing that Tsafendas was actually a militant advocate of human rights. The writer exhaustively studied police files, psychiatric records, immigration documents, and testimonies of people who had known the man.
The turbulent life of Dimitri Tsafendas
Dimitri Tsafendas was born to a Greek father of Cretan origin who worked as a marine engineer. His father married his Mozambican mother in 1918 in Lourenco Marques (now Maputo), the capital of Portuguese Mozambique.
Young Tsafendas was extremely interested in politics at an early age. Perhaps this was due to the fact that his father was an anarchist, or perhaps it was because his Cretan ancestors had a history of heroism and rebellion against their Ottoman overlords.
In any event, Tsafendas was fascinated by the concept of communism, and Portuguese authorities were already aware of his political activism when, at the age of twenty-one, he emigrated to South Africa.
He joined the Communist Party there and was not intimidated to express his political views openly, a fact that cost him many jobs. In 1942, he embarked on a Greek freighter destined for Canada, working in the ship’s kitchen.
From Canada, he crossed over the border to the United States, subsequently working on American merchant ships before being arrested for violation of US immigration laws. Later on, he was admitted to psychiatric hospitals several different times.
Tsafendas was deported to Greece in 1947 when the Greek Civil War was raging. He joined the communist guerrillas and fought with them in the mountains around Athens and central Greece, and he later moved to the capital to work as an informant for the party.
Shortly before the Civil War ended in 1949, he moved to Portugal, where the authorities jailed him and tortured him because of his previous political activities.
In 1951, Tsafendas attempted to travel to Mozambique, but he was refused entry into the country because of his political activities.
He spent the next twelve years of his life roaming from country to country throughout Western Europe and the Middle East. He had managed to learn several languages during that time and even worked as a teacher in Istanbul.
Return to South Africa where apartheid ruled
In 1963, Tsafendas returned to Mozambique, where he was finally allowed to enter the country. From there, he illegally crossed over into South Africa.
The native black population there, along with all other people who were not white, were terribly oppressed by the strict apartheid regime.
Tsafendas was outraged at the political conditions in the country and decided to act. He got hired as a courier in the parliament with the intention of using his position to kill Verwoerd, who had enacted the most oppressive apartheid laws.
Tsafendas knew that he would most likely be killed for the murder, but his commitment was absolute.
Yet, in the most unexpected twist of events, the South African courts found him not guilty of premeditated murder on the grounds of insanity.
According to Dousemetzis’ book, the killing of the country’s Prime Minister inside parliament made the South African state look incompetent at best.
A well-known communist with a criminal record and a militant past had managed to murder the Prime Minister in front of their very eyes.
The author states that Verwoerd’s family also feared that Tsafendas would become a hero to other anti-apartheid activists, and that was why they decided to declare the killer insane in a fixed trial.
The authorities’ desire to present Tsafendas as insane is clearly exhibited by their refusal during his trial to present his twice-recorded statements that the Verwoerd assassination was a planned political act.
The South African attorney general lied and hid all possible evidence in order to portray Tsafendas as an apolitical schizophrenic who had killed Verwoerd for no political reason.
“A Question of Madness”
Tsafendas was not executed for his crime, but he spent the rest of his life in prison. He was transferred to Pretoria Central Prison in a cell on death row which was specially built for him next to the execution chamber.
Unfortunately, he continued to be tortured and inhumanely treated throughout his imprisonment. In 1989, he was transferred to Zonderwater Prison. In 1994, he was transferred yet again—this time to the Sterkfontein psychiatric hospital outside Krugersdorp.
Despite the fact that the anti-apartheid movement was quite active, especially in the 1980s, Tsafendas’ name was no more than a footnote in the history of the struggle.
In 1999, South African filmmaker Liza Key was allowed to conduct two televised interviews with Tsafendas for a documentary titled A Question of Madness.
Key raised the possibility that Tsafendas’ act had not been the haphazard deed of an insane man but actually was a political assassination.
Dousemetzis’ new book presses the issue further even showing sympathy for a man whom he describes as intelligent, altruistic, and likable.
The author presents a man who deserves to take a place among the fighters against apartheid and perhaps might have done so.
However, instead of taking the nonviolent approach of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or Nelson Mandela, he assassinated a prime minister in cold blood and spent the rest of his life in anonymous ignominy.
Instead of garnering the support and respect of the entire world while unjustly incarcerated, as Mandela did, year after year of his life, Dimitri Tsafendas ended up accomplishing nothing for the cause that meant everything to him.
Migration has been a concern for years and continues to be a main focus of European countries. Pictured Greek PM Mitsotakis speaking to migrants on Lesvos in December, 2020. Credit: PM’s Office
The number of asylum seekers in the European Union, Switzerland, and Norway went up by a significant 28 percent in the first half of 2023. This is as compared to the same period of the previous year, according to statistics recently released by the European Agency for Asylum (EUAA).
There were 519,000 submitted requests between January and the end of June alone, the EUAA estimates. Prior to the end of the year, requests could surpass a million.
The top countries that asylum seekers come from this year include Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Turkey, and Colombia. These few nationalities alone account for 44 percent of total asylum requests. Though they are not necessarily among the more obvious countries of migration or even among the top countries migrants stem from, illegal migrant numbers could be much higher.
Asylum Seekers, They Really Are Increasing That Much
The spike in the number of asylum seekers is quite unique and comparable only to that of the first halves of 2015 and 2016, when Europe was faced with a mass exodus on its Southern shores, as migrants fled the peak of the Syrian conflict. Back then, asylum requests had reached 1.3 million in 2015 and 1.2 million in 2016. In 2022, the number of asylum requests was down to 994,945.
These continue to be impressive numbers, but they are bound to become unpredictable quite soon. Europe seems to not be seeing an end to the increase in people who migrate to and seek asylum in its member states.
Germany is the country with the most number of requests this year (30 percent of the total ones), followed by Spain (17 percent), and France (16 percent). This significant spike is putting pressure on European countries and their ability to process requests bureaucratically. It is also making it challenging to deal with funds needed to guarantee asylum to millions. The number of files awaiting a response has also skyrocketed by 34 percent as compared to 2022.
EUAA has declared that around 41 percent of requests have received an immediate positive response. This number is bound to increase and will have to be dealt with. On top of this, four million Ukrainians are currently making use of the ad hoctemporary protection the EU has granted them. Although they are deemed to be a separate issue, they have been dealt with through the same systems, placing immense pressure on them.
The EU has recently upheld its decision to keep granting Ukrainians access. It is looking into funding for its bureaucratic apparatus that keeps growing in a world that has radically changed.
Scientists unearthed a 34 million-year-old whale skull on an Alabama timber farm. Credit: Zachi Eveno / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
An incredible discovery unfolded in Alabama when a 16-year-old high school student named Lindsey Stallworth and her teacher, Andrew Gentry, unearthed the fossilized remains of a whale skull that thrived around thirty-four million years ago.
This remarkable find sheds light on a carnivorous whale species that existed during the Eocene epoch, a period spanning from 56 million to 33.9 million years ago. During this era, Alabama was submerged beneath a shallow ocean due to higher sea levels.
Start of the journey
Their journey began on Stallworth’s family’s timber property in Monroe County, where they embarked on a summer school project. Stallworth had previously uncovered fossilized shark teeth in the same area, which sparked their curiosity and led them to explore further.
In a matter of mere hours, their efforts were rewarded when they stumbled upon massive bones jutting out from a hill.
Stallworth described the moment of discovery, saying, “We saw something and we were like ‘oh my gosh, what is this?'” As they continued to investigate and excavate the site, they came to the realization that the find was in fact a significant one.
Remains of the whale
The fossilized remains of this carnivorous whale serve as a valuable piece of the puzzle in understanding the history of life on our planet.
Andrew Gentry, the teacher involved in this exciting discovery, revealed that when they first stumbled upon the fossil, they had “very little idea” of its true nature. All they knew was that it was a sizable vertebrate.
The discovery of the whale skull on Stallworth’s family property marked a significant moment in their excavation journey.
In the images, we see a teenage girl at the excavation site, along with a man and a woman crouching behind the massive whale skull beneath a protective tent.
This remarkable find was a collaborative effort that captured the curiosity and dedication of Lindsey Stallworth and Andrew Gentry, as well as the wonder of scientific exploration.
The combined expertise of all researchers
Gentry shared that he reached out to his paleontological colleague, Dr. James Parham at the University of California, Fullerton. They sent photographs of the tooth they had uncovered.
Dr. Parham, in turn, forwarded these images to Dr. Jorge Velez-Juarbe at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, an expert in fossil marine mammals. With their combined expertise, they were able to identify the discovery as a species of carnivorous whale.
Evolution is seen in the clear and marked development of traits in the fossil record with clear and marked changes between species, the whale for example, we can see the migration of the blowhole and the structures of the ear bones in the skull, which only the terrestrial pic.twitter.com/9iodumSDmW
One advantage of the excavation site was that the geology had been previously dated, enabling them to determine the age of the fossil with precision. This made it clear that the whale lived during the Eocene epoch, approximately thirty-four million years ago.
However, the exact species of this whale is yet to be determined. During the Eocene period, Alabama was home to various primitive whale species, including the ferocious Basilosaurus cetoides, which lived between thirty-four million to forty million years ago and could reach lengths of up to sixty feet (eighteen meters).
More details about the whales
The excavation of the whale skull has been a promising start, but there is still much work to be done. According to Gentry, most of what they’ve unearthed is still encased in stone.
While they have a reasonable assumption that the whale belongs to the archaeoceti, a primitive whale family called Basilosauridae, it will take several more months of careful work to fully uncover and identify the species to which this whale belongs.
The skull has been transported to the Alabama School of Math and Science, where it is undergoing the delicate process of cleaning and detailed study. Gentry and Stallworth are not done with their excavation efforts. They plan to resume their work next year.
Other postcranial elements
Gentry mentioned that, aside from the skull, they’ve discovered several postcranial elements during the excavation, suggesting that more parts of the skeleton may still be preserved in the ground.
The hope is that as they continue their work in the coming summer, they will uncover additional elements and gain a more comprehensive understanding of this ancient whale.
This ongoing project showcases the meticulous and patient nature of paleontological research. Discoveries like this one can take time to reveal all their secrets, adding valuable knowledge to our understanding of Earth’s prehistoric creatures.
Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone secretly shot their fifth film together in Greece, the Greek director revealed speaking to Cineuropa.
Led by Emma Stone and shot by Robbie Ryan (The Favourite, Poor Things), he didn’t reveal much about the untitled project, only that it was “much simpler and very different in comparison to Poor Things because that story needed that particular style.”
The four movies by Lanthimos and Stone
Lanthimos and Stone collaborated for the first time with 2018’s The Favourite. They followed it up with the 30-minute film Bleat, which will finally hit North American shores at the 61st New York Film Festival next month, followed by Poor Things, which Stone also produced and is earning the most acclaim of their respective careers following its Venice and Telluride premieres.
Described as a “creepy gothic thriller” and starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and Ramy Youssef, Poor Things is based on the novel by Alasdair Gray and is expected to be equally controversial as earlier work by the director.
Poor Things follows Bella, a young Victorian woman who, after being crudely resurrected by a mad scientist following her suicide, runs off with a debauched lawyer to embark on a surrealistic odyssey for self-discovery and liberation.
Bella is brought back to life by Dr. Godwin Baxter. Initially naïve, Bella is eager to learn about the world around her, albeit under Baxter’s protection. Wanting to see more, she runs off with Duncan Wedderburn, a slick and debauched lawyer, and travels across continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella demands equality and liberation.
For their fourth outing, they shot the anthology feature AND last year co-starring Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and Joe Alwyn, which will get a release in 2024.
Lanthimos is one of the most provocative filmmakers
Lanthimos is one of the most provocative filmmakers of the past decade, who has made a name for himself with films like the psychologically dense The Killing of The Sacred Deer and the thought-provoking dissection of human connections and solitude in The Lobster.
He received the most widespread acclaim and success of his career for his 2018 period drama The Favourite, which went on to be nominated for ten Academy Awards and led to Olivia Colman winning her first Oscar.
The Favourite also won the award for Best European Movie of the Year in 2019 at the European Film Awards which took place in Berlin, Germany.
Wall painting of the OLympian gods by Giulio Romano at the Palazzo del Te in Mantua. Public Domain
As we count down the top five crazy Greek gods, many will wish to know who the absolute craziest is. But what should the criteria for crazy be exactly? This is difficult to say.
Calling people crazy is sometimes insulting. Mere mortals are burdened with love, family matters, paying the rent, and hunger. This often makes them snap. Of course, we live in a pretty maddening world.
But why do supernatural personalities have so many issues? One may think those who live beyond the laws of nature or scientific understanding have free reign to do as they wish. Why lash out at mere mortals or other gods? What is behind such overwhelming insecurity?
What does crazy mean for the Greek Gods?
Crazy implies demented, deranged, and insane in the membrane. On another level, crazy can suggest enthusiasm, passion, and bordering on fanatical. We must keep in mind that in the stories of Greek mythology, mere mortals act crazy, too. But we will be counting down the craziest gods, so kindly keep this in mind. Do gods or goddess act crazy independent of the provocation of other supernatural powers?
In fact, maybe what we see as “crazy” among the gods and goddesses of the Greek ancient world reflects some human challenges that appear to have been with us for time immemorial. Myths and legends have a way of implying this. They also tend to have an overlapping presence in comparative societies. What is crazy appears under many names and locations but conveys similar dilemmas of passion and violence.
So, as we count down the top five, let us begin with number twenty-three. Just seeing if you are alert!
Wild, virile, but also lazy?
Number 5 is Pan. What makes him worthy of the top five crazy? Pan is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, and companion to the nymphs. He had the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat but otherwise appeared human. Pan is the god of spontaneous music and other impromptu activities. His special powers included tremendous strength, speed, and stamina. He could not be injured. Pan could teleport across time and space.
The Greek God Pan. Credit: Natasa Dorcevic/Instagram
Still, Pan is lazy and gets annoyed if awakened from his naps. Often, he is represented with an erect phallus. The origin of the Pan flute is he fell in love with one of the water nymphs, Syrinx. She tried to trick him by representing herself as a reed to observe him more closely. Pan tried to blow the reed up, anticipating the sound of a flute.
He tries to mate with anything moving. Whether a goddess, nymph, man, woman, or animal. The word “panic” comes from the god Pan, who was said to stir fear in humans and make them run away at his very sight.
Cut off his father’s balls and ate and threw up his children
Number 4 is Cronus. What makes him among the elite crazy Greek gods? Cronus was a male deity worshipped by the pre-Hellenic population of Greece. Cronus cut off his father’s, Uranus (translated as Sky), balls with a scythe. He threw them into the water. They erupted and gave birth to the goddess Aphrodite.
Greek God Chronus Eating his Offspring. Credit: Peter Paul Rubens, 1636. Museo del Prado, Madrid. Public Domain
Cronus swallowed his children in response to a foretelling vision. They would grow up to overthrow him. Cronus’ children were the gods Poseidon, Hestia, Hades, Hera, and Demeter. Cronus’s sister-wife, Rhea—a little incest never disturbed the gods—gave birth to Zeus. She hid Zeus from Cronus’ hungry appetite and gave him a rock to eat instead. As an adult, Zeus forced Cronus to regurgitate his brothers and sisters (or were they his cousins?), clashed with Cronus, and finally took control.
In past foreign policy disputes, politicians abroad have been drawn in cartoons as Cronus swallowing the Greeks. A decade ago, Angela Merkel was depicted in this way, where Germany was perceived as economically disciplining Greece.
The god of anarchy, wine, and intoxication
Number 3 is Dionysus. This crazy Greek god many consider a force of anarchy and ecstasy. Dionysus is unique among the Olympic gods as one of his parents, his mother Semene, was a mortal. The god of wine, intoxication, chaos, and ritual frenzy. He transforms into a bull or lion and drives mortals insane.
Greek God Dionysus. Credit: world history CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Dionysus was also the Greek god of the theater. His name in Latin is Bacchus. And all over the world “bacchanal” suggests a party or festival bordering on debauchery. This is especially so in Latin America and the Caribbean, where carnival, mass, and Mardi Gras take place. However, Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka in his own interpretation of the Bacchae of Euripides reminds the bacchanal has its origins in a Greek communal feast consistent with how the Yoruba commune with their gods. It has traveled the African diaspora. The scholar George D. Thomson explained that the original Dionysian theater was not a form of passive entertainment for Greek spectators. Rather, it was a communal rite. One way to imagine this mediation of the gods is the wearing of masks in ancient Greek theater. Archaeologists have found a mask of Dionysus in Western Turkey.
Dionysus created women-only raves that took place at night in the rural areas. Participants danced until dawn, intoxicated with wine, song, and passion. Their husbands were not pleased.
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche saw Dionysus, in contrast to Apollo who represented structure and order, as a fount of intellectual creativity even to the point of ecstasy.
The rage of Hera against other women
Number 2 is Hera. What places this crazy Greek goddess among the males? Hera, daughter of Cronus and Rhea (mother of Zeus), is often associated with all aspects of women’s lives including marriage and childbirth. Hera was also one of Zeus’ seven wives. It seems her power as a goddess was the unenvious role of jealous wife. Zeus was always having affairs.
The “Hera Campana,” a second century AD Roman copy of an ancient Greek original. Hera was one of the most important goddesses in ancient Greek mythology. Credit: Public Domain
Zeus took another lover, the mortal Semele, after seeing her sacrifice a bull in reverence to him. Well, Zeus “visits” Semele often. When she becomes pregnant, Hera discovers Zeus’ infidelity. Hera entraps Semele by encouraging her desire to see Zeus naked. Zeus apparently gets jiggy in the dark. Well, Hera knows the rules; mortals are not allowed to look directly at the Gods. Zeus, having promised Semele whatever wish she desired, grants the wish only for Semele to burst into flames.
Hera also compels another of Zeus’ paramours, Leto (the goddess of fertility) to walk the earth pregnant, forbidding anyone from offering her assistance. Hera also sent monsters to Leto to attack and violate her and prolong the pain of her pregnancy.
The most famous subject of Hera’s wrath was her step-son Hercules. Hercules is the child of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmene, who Zeus tricked by disguising himself as Amphitryon, who was off to war. Surprisingly, Amphitryon came home in the middle of the night and Alcmene gave birth to twins, one by both of them. Hera manipulates Zeus and Alcmene and finds a way to make her child, Eurytheus, be born prematurely.
Hera has an ironic role as someone who watches over mothers and children. Strangely, she was perhaps the first goddess to have a rooftop sanctuary dedicated to her.
5-4-3-2…And the #1 craziest Greek god ever…would have to be Zeus
Zeus lives atop of Mount Olympus and rules over all the assembled gods and goddesses. The god of lightening, sun, and thunder in ancient Greek religion, he was said to have grown up on the island of Naxos. Homer’s Iliad explains that Zeus was the all-father who assigned roles. Some of the most iconic temples in antiquity are dedicated to Zeus. He presided over the Greek Olympic Pantheon. If you find truffles (often confused with mushrooms which are another type of fungi) tasty, legend has it Zeus invented them.
Zeus’ preferred method of seduction was to transform into a beautiful swan. He would have sex with anything that had hands, legs, and eyes.
We have already given some indication of Zeus’ relations with women. He also took the form of a serpent to seduce the maiden goddess Persephone. Zeus impregnated Medusa in the Temple of Athena. Poseidon also raped Medusa in Athena’s temple. Athena, apparently with Zeus’ blessing, turned Medusa into a hideous old hag with hair of live snakes. Medusa’s gaze upon anyone could turn them to stone. After Perseus beheaded Medusa, both Athena and Zeus used her head as a type of shield to ward off evil.
Zeus condemned Sisyphus to roll a boulder up the hill for all eternity. I mean, this is small potatoes. It has nice existential and proletarian symbolism, but it is more sadistic.
Zeus of Otricoli Ancient Roman copy of Hellenistic Original. credit: wikimedia commons. Public Domain
Zeus: on the side of the rich or poor?
Tantalus, a mortal son of Zeus, served the gods his own son for dinner. This certainly turns things up a notch! But Zeus’s response was condemnation of him to eternal hunger within reach of a fruit tree and thirst while standing in a pool of water. This seems to be a creative pursuit of justice. Paradoxically, it also seems to foreshadow the empire of capital.
Perhaps contrarily, Zeus once submitted a community to a flood after posing as a homeless man in need of refuge. He found only one in a thousand would welcome him. He killed all but two in this village. Vindictive, one can’t deny this has certain merits.
Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock and left him to perennially live through the menace of birds picking at his liver as a consequence for trying to steal his thunder and, some say, lead a revolution. He manipulated Pandora to unleash evil on the world as an offshoot of her desiring equality and knowledge.
Still, when we keep in mind all the troubles Zeus gave women, even manipulating them to degrade each other, this undoubtedly makes him the craziest. Furthermore, his interaction with Prometheus, Pandora, and Cronus sort of proves that he was only fond of social transformation when he led such an endeavor. Otherwise, he was a repressive figure against those who wished to take the same initiative. When you have all the power and live above society, in this case on a mountain, one must connive to remain at the top.
