15 Reasons to Visit Corfu, Greece

Paleokastritsa, Corfu
Paleokastritsa, Corfu. Credit: Greek Reporter

Greece’s greenest island, Corfu, welcomes visitors with the sweet aroma of pine and lemon trees. In the mountainous interior myrtle and bay bushes fight it out, while venerable olive groves descend to its beach-fringed coastline.” That’s how The Guardian introduced the Ionian Island a few years ago.

Corfu’s blend of cultural histories and influences –French, English, Venetian, and, of course, Greek — will leave you with a unique understanding of how the culture of the Ionian Islands developed.

15 reasons to visit Corfu. Greece

Old Town of Corfu

The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit attraction. Wander through its narrow, winding streets lined with Venetian-style buildings, visit the impressive fortresses, and discover charming squares filled with cafes and shops.

Visit historical landmarks like the Old Fortress, New Fortress, and the Liston promenade. Don’t miss the impressive Spianada Square, the largest square in the Balkans.

Venetian Architecture

Corfu’s architecture reflects its Venetian past. The buildings feature influences from both Venetian and British styles, creating a unique blend of architectural beauty that is a delight to explore.

Credit: Dr.K. CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia

Pontikonisi, the Mouse Island

Pontikonisi, also known as “Mouse Island,” is a Greek islet located at the entrance of Halkiopoulos lagoon in Corfu. The islet is better-known for hosting the Byzantine chapel of Pantokrator, dating back to the 11th century and only open to visitors each year on August 6th.

According to the legend, Pontikonisi was Odysseus’s ship, the vessel that brought the legendary king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, to the island of the Phaeacians.

Visit Achillion Palace

Located in the village of Gastouri, Achillion Palace is a stunning neoclassical mansion built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi. Explore the palace’s opulent interiors, beautiful gardens, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Mon Repos Palace

Situated on the outskirts of Corfu Town, Mon Repos Palace is an elegant neoclassical building surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Corfu Greece
The villa’s French name means “My Rest.” Credit: kerkyrainfo.gr

Explore the palace, which also houses a museum, and enjoy a peaceful stroll through the park. Mon Repos was where the late  Prince Philip was born.

Paleokastritsa

Located on the west coast of Corfu, Paleokastritsa is a scenic area known for its beautiful beaches and the Paleokastritsa Monastery. Explore the monastery, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding area and houses a small museum displaying religious artifacts.

Explore the traditional villages

Take some time to explore the charming traditional villages of Corfu, such as Pelekas, Kassiopi, and Benitses. Experience authentic Greek island life, wander through narrow streets, and enjoy local cuisine in traditional tavernas.

Corfu is blessed with natural beauty. The island is adorned with lush green landscapes, olive groves, and cypress trees. Explore the stunning countryside, take a hike in the mountains, or enjoy breathtaking views from the coastal cliffs.

Relax on Corfu’s beaches

Corfu boasts numerous beautiful beaches for relaxation and sunbathing. Some popular ones include Paleokastritsa, Glyfada, Sidari, and Kontogialos. You can also find secluded coves and hidden beaches for a more intimate experience.

Located in Sidari, the Canal d’Amour is a unique formation of sandstone cliffs that create narrow channels and small secluded coves. Legend has it that couples who swim through the canal will find eternal love. Enjoy the natural beauty and take a swim in the crystal-clear waters.

Mouthwatering Cuisine

Greek cuisine is renowned worldwide, and Corfu offers its own delicious culinary traditions. Try local specialties like pastitsada (beef or rooster in a rich tomato sauce), sofrito (beef cooked in white wine), and the famous local cheese, kumquat liqueur, and olive oil.

Water Sports and Outdoor Activities

Corfu’s crystal-clear waters provide ample opportunities for water sports enthusiasts. Try snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, or rent a boat to explore the hidden coves. You can also enjoy hiking, cycling, and horseback riding in the island’s scenic surroundings.

Explore Mount Pantokrator

If you enjoy hiking and panoramic views, consider a trip to Mount Pantokrator, the highest point on the island. Hike to the summit, visit the 14th-century Pantokrator Monastery, and take in the breathtaking vistas of Corfu and the surrounding islands.

Vibrant Nightlife

Corfu is known for its vibrant nightlife, particularly in areas like Kavos and Ipsos. Enjoy beachfront bars, clubs, and live music venues that offer entertainment until the early hours of the morning.

The island also hosts various festivals and cultural events throughout the year.

Corfu the music capital of Greece

Corfu is the most musical island in Greece with hundreds of music associations and dozens of orchestras and bands. Even the way its natives speak is musical, as their speech often sounds like singing.

In fact, the first opera performed on Greek soil was in 1733 after the Venetians converted the local “Loggia” hall into a theater.

Take a boat trip to nearby islands

From Corfu, you can easily take boat trips to the nearby islands of Paxos and Antipaxos. Paxos, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea was the setting of “Maestro in Blue”, the first Greek series on Netflix that screened worldwide in March 2023. Discover the crystal-clear waters, hidden caves, and picturesque villages on these smaller islands.

Greek Hospitality

Greek people are known for their warm and friendly hospitality, and Corfu is no exception. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and find the locals eager to share their culture, traditions, and stories with you.

Migrant Boat Disaster: New Questions Raised Over Greece’s Response

Migrant Boat Disaster Off Greece
The migrant boat was stationary new information obtained by the BBC claims. Credit: Hellenic Coast Guard

Questions were raised over Greece’s official response to the migrant boat disaster last week that claimed the lives of hundreds of people. Pakistan says 300 of its citizens perished in the Ionian Sea.

About 750 men, women and children were on the packed boat when it capsized last week, the United Nations Migration Agency (IOM) said, killing hundreds and making the tragedy one of the worst in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

New evidence obtained by the British broadcaster BBC raises questions about the Greek coast guard’s version of events surrounding the sinking after it obtained computer animation of tracking data from MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics platform.

An analysis of the movements of other vessels in the vicinity based on the data indicates that the overcrowded fishing boat had been stationary for at least seven hours before it overturned.

This contradicts the Greek coast guard’s assertion that the boat was heading towards Italy and did not require assistance during that time.

In light of the new information, the United Nations has called for an investigation into Greece’s handling of the disaster. There are concerns that more decisive action should have been taken earlier to initiate a comprehensive rescue operation.

Greek officials maintain that those on board the vessel said they did not want help and were not in immediate danger until moments before their boat sank.

The Greek caretaker government issued a statement saying that a thorough investigation of the real facts and complex technical judgments is taking place.

“The government listens, notes and carefully evaluates all the relevant information and opinions, but its position is that it is left to the relevant institutions within a state governed by the rule of law, and in particular to the independent judiciary, to issue a final institutional judgment.

“It goes without saying that the Ministry of Shipping & Island Policy will continue to provide updates, information and further clarifications about the shipwreck,” the Greek government said.

More than 300 Pakistanis killed in migrant boat disaster off Greece

More than 300 Pakistani nationals have been killed in the sinking of the overcrowded migrant boat off the coast of Greece, Pakistani officials announced on Sunday.

The chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, disclosed the numbers in a statement Sunday, sending condolences to grieving families of the dead.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we pray that the departed souls find eternal peace,” Sanjrani said. “This devastating incident underscores the urgent need to address and condemn the abhorrent act of illegal human trafficking.”

Greek authorities have yet to confirm Pakistan’s death toll.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared Monday a national day of mourning for those who died in the boat’s sinking.

In a tweet Sunday, he ordered a “high-level inquiry” into the incident.

“I assure the nation that those found negligent towards their duty will be held to account. Responsibility will be fixed after the inquiry and heads will roll,” Sharif wrote.

Ten suspects allegedly involved in Wednesday’s migrant boat disaster in Greece have been arrested in Pakistan.

Suspects arrested in Pakistan

According to the Pakistani news website The News, Sajid Mehmood, the prime suspect of the capsized boat tragedy, was arrested at Karachi airport while he was trying to flee to Azerbaijan. He was reportedly ordered off the plane after his name appeared on the stop-list of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

An announcement by FIA said that the suspect was allegedly involved in smuggling people to Europe via Greece and Libya, as well as in a previous incident with a capsized migrant boat in Libya in March.

Ten suspects allegedly involved in Wednesday’s migrant boat disaster in Greece – one of the deadliest migrant disasters in the Mediterranean – have been arrested in Pakistan.

Rescuers on Wednesday saved 104 passengers and recovered 78 bodies, while hundreds more are fearer dead – including some 100 women and children who were locked in the hold at the time of the sinking.

Murder Of Polish Woman On Kos Island Shocks Greece

woman murdered Kos
Anastazja Rubinska’s body was found naked and wrapped in a bedsheet. Credit: Facebook/Anastazja Rubinska,

The murder of a young woman from Poland on Kos island is the latest femicide to shock Greece.

27-year-old Anastazja Rubinska, a Polish citizen who went missing on Monday, was found dead on Sunday, discovered by a volunteer who had joined the intensive search for the missing woman.

According to AMNA, her body was found naked and wrapped in a bedsheet, while the top part was additionally covered in a plastic bag.

Following the tragic end of the search for Rubinska, police are now focusing on solving the horrific crime, as the prime suspect, who was arrested on Saturday, has not confessed to the murder.

Bangladeshi man arrested on suspicion of abduction

The location where Anastasja was found murdered, under a tree and covered with leaves and branches, is about one kilometer from the house of the 32-year-old Bangladeshi man arrested the previous day on suspicion of abduction.

Rubinska’s mobile phone was also found on Saturday, half a kilometer away from the suspect’s house, its SIM card removed.

Greek media reported that her DNA was found in the suspect’s house, and that police investigators noticed scratches and signs of struggle on him, which, he claims, originated from a road traffic accident he had recently.

The suspect reportedly told police that Anastazja and he had intercourse in his house before he dropped her off at a location where her partner would pick her up.

Search as Polish woman disappeared on Kos island

Rubinska had arrived at Kos island in the Dodecanese with her Polish partner to work in a hotel in the Tigaki-Marmari area during the summer season.

She was reported missing by her partner on Tuesday. He told police Anastazja had contacted him on Monday night to tell him she was drunk and a little later she sent him her exact location so that he could pick her up. But when he arrived, he found no one there, and her cell phone was switched off.

Anastazja’s last CCTV capture showed her entering a takeaway restaurant in the area a few hours before she went missing, while her last sighting was in a mini market where she appeared to be intoxicated as she met a group of four Pakistani and Bangladeshi men and rode off with one of them – now the main suspect – on his motorbike.

An intensive search including police, firefighters, civil protection, a local rescue team and a sniffer dog continued to look for Rubinska until her body was found on Sunday afternoon.

Her mother had also arrived from Poland with a private detective to aid the search.

 

 

Barack and Michelle Obama Enjoying Vacation On Greek Islands

Barack Obama on the Acropolis of Athens in 2016.
Barack Obama (pictured above on the Acropolis in 2016) is enjoying a short vacation in the Cyclades islands in Greece ahead of his participation in an international conference in Athens next week. Credit: Video screenshot / Obama / White House

Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were spotted enjoying a short vacation in the Cyclades islands in Greece this weekend, ahead of the former U.S. President’s participation in an international conference in Athens next week.

Local sources said that the couple had arrived in Greece on Friday, travelling incognito on a private jet, and were eventually seen on Saturday in Naousa, a picturesque fishing village on Paros island.

The Obamas are most probably being hosted by their friends, Hollywood actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who own a holiday home on the adjacent island of Antiparos.

Tight security for Obamas’ stay on Greek islands

Barack and Michelle Obama were reportedly accompanied by over thirty American security agents who followed their every step as they went out to dine at a gourmet fish restaurant in Naousa, Paros.

According to Greek newspaper ProtoThema, they were sat at a remote area of the restaurant, while the restaurant owner was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement and staff were required to remove their smart watches and put away their phones until the former presidential couple of the United States had left.

Over the weekend, the Obamas and the Hanks reportedly enjoyed mini cruises to secluded beaches of Paros, Antiparos and nearby Ios, where they traveled by private boat.

The only photo leaked so far from the Obamas’ Greek island vacation was shared by a Twitter user who felt annoyed at how “the whole island was disrupted” by their stay on Antiparos.

Barack Obama expected in Athens

Former U.S. President Barack Obama is expected in Athens this week, where he will participate in this year’s SNF Nostos Conference (June 21-23), organized by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. He will join SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos for a keynote conversation focused on how to strengthen democratic culture and the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders.

Obama will be visiting Athens as part of the Obama Foundation Leaders program, which includes 105 emerging change-makers from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe participating in the program, representing 75 nations and territories.

They will meet with the former President in the Greek capital. The convening will mark the culmination of the six-month program.

 

“Over the next few days, Obama Leaders from all over the world will be gathering in Greece to exchange ideas, meet with President Barack Obama, and discuss creating lasting change in their communities at our Athens 2023 Leaders Convening,” The Obama Foundation wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

 

Launched in 2014, the Obama Foundation’s mission is “to inspire people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together.”

Mykonos Villa on Sale For Record-Breaking €50 Million

mykonos windmills
A Mykonos villa owned by British tycoon Charles Worthington is looking to sell for a record-breaking 50 million euro. Credit: Dronepicr/Flickr CC BY 2.0

British celebrity hairstylist and business tycoon Charles Worthington is putting his Mykonos villa on the market for a record-breaking 50 million euro, ten years after buyng the property.

According to Bloomberg, the award-winning hairdresser, known for his A-list clientele, is looking to sell his eight-bedroom villa most likely to another foreign buyer, since the Greek island attracts wealthy fashionistas from all over the world.

The 1,600 sq.m. villa, which falls into the super prime property category, is expected to go on sale with Beauchamp Estates next week.

With the 50 million euro from the sale, Worthington is reportedly planning to buy a plot on Mykonos and build something completely new.

Charles Worthington’s incredible success story

The man who aspires to break the record for the highest property deal in Mykonos enjoyed a glorious career in hairdressing for 35 years, before he “hung up his scissors” in January 2023.

Charles Worthington, one of the most iconic names in British hairdressing, has styled the hair of numerous A-list celebrities, from Diana Ross to Kim Cattrall and Emma Stone, and is credited with having redefined the modern face of British hairdressing and customer experience in the salon.

His empire started from a salon in Charlotte Street in Chelsea, London, in 1987, launched on a budget of under 10,000 British pounds. Within a decade’s time, Worthington opened another three salons in London and one in New York.

He was the resident TV hair expert on Good Morning Britain and also launched a hugely successful product line with his partner, Alan Peters – which they sold to PZ Cussons for 55 mllion euro in 2004.

Greece a diverse international prime property market

A recent report by research network Knight Frank places Greece among Europe’s five most diverse international prime property markets – above the likes of Germany and Portugal.

This suggests that a wide pool of buyers could be interested in buying Worthington’s Mykonos home.

After all, Greece has recently seen a sharp surge in interest from overseas buyers using the country’s “golden visa” scheme, which offers 5-year residency in return for foreign investment.

Applicants for the scheme rose almost 300 percent in the first two months of 2023, according to real estate data firm Recognyte, and a further 75 percent in March, according to investment immigration and relocation provider Astons.  

The surge in applications has been attributed mainly to Greece doubling its investment threshold to €500,000 in certain areas of the country – including Mykonos – from July 31.

The increased threshold will also apply to properties in the center of Athens, the northern and southern suburbs of Attica, Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, and Santorini.

Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War

A statue of Thucydides in front of the Austrian Parliament
Thucydides’s account, History of the Peloponnesian War, is considered a classic, as well as being one of the earliest known history books. Credit: Walter Maderbacher/CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

Thucydides’s historical account, History of the Peloponnesian War, is considered a classic, as well as being one of the earliest known history books.

By Julia Kindt*

Thucydides’s History of the Peloponnesian War breaks off before the story is over. After detailing the armed conflict between the Athenians and the Spartans (and their respective allies) between 431 and 404 BC, the eight-book text ends abruptly in the middle of a chapter as if, one day, the writer simply dropped his pen and left his desk, never to return.

What required such urgent and final attention? And why did Thucydides never return to complete the manuscript? Whatever the answers, the book’s incompleteness adds a human touch to a work that is otherwise an accomplished and polished piece of writing.

The Peloponnesian War Thucydides recounts culminated in Sparta’s surprising late victory over the Athenians and ended a power dynamic that had shaped the ancient Aegean world for decades.

Everything changed in its aftermath. Both major powers came out of the war considerably weakened, opening the door for the later annexation of Greece by Philip of Macedon, his son Alexander the Great, and, finally, the Romans.

In Thucydides, the war found a chronicler of meticulous standards and dedication who created a work that still resonates in the disciplines of history, international relations, and political science. His thoroughness, sharpness, and matter-of-fact analysis have led some people to believe that he, and not fellow historian Herodotus, deserves the title “father of history.”

Thucydides would have agreed. His history includes several direct and indirect attacks on his immediate predecessors, most notably on Homer and Herodotus. While never once referring to him by name, Thucydides accused Herodotus of fabulation, storytelling, and a writing style that pandered to his immediate audience.

Needless to say, Thucydides was convinced that he himself offered a far superior product. He set the bar and set it high:

And the results, by avoiding patriotic storytelling, will perhaps seem the less enjoyable for listening. Yet if they are judged useful by any who wish to look at the plain truth about both past events and those that at some future time, in accordance to human nature, will recur in similar or comparable ways, that will suffice.

As a high-ranking Athenian military commander (or “strategos”), Thucydides brought to the project firsthand experience of the war, as well as an acute understanding of the complex power politics behind events on the battlefield. His analysis of the immediate and underlying causes of the war and his insight into the considerations and motivations of those fighting it remain one of the most brilliant pieces of political history to date.

His sharp analysis of the kind of forces that stir popular sentiments and drive collective decision making still resonates in the modern world. It fulfills its author’s own—somewhat preposterous—proclamation about the nature of his work:

It is a possession for all time (“ktema eis aei”), not a competition piece to be heard for the moment, that has been composed.

No self-esteem issues here.

Nonetheless, his programmatic prediction proved right. More than 2500 years later, Thucydides’ History still stands among the foundational texts in the classical canon due to its enduring analytical sharpness and the acuteness of his observations.

My war is bigger than yours

When Thucydides set out to compose his work, the chronicling of warfare was already a notable tradition launched with a bang by the legendary Homer about three centuries earlier. In his epic poem the Iliad, Homer related the story of the Trojan War as an epic battle involving both gods and humans. He was followed 300 years later by Herodotus who gave an account of the Persian Wars, similarly rich in iconic battles and larger-than-life personalities on both sides of the conflict.

With Thucydides, the relating of war took a new direction. In contrast to the wars of Homer and Herodotus, the armed conflict that concerned Thucydides was fought primarily among Greeks. It also involved events that occurred within the author’s lifetime, which introduced a contemporary dimension to the genre.

Thucydides focused on offering a strong and authoritative account of the war, its causes, and behind the scenes negotiations. To this end, he largely left out the gods and religious explanations more generally—although there is still more religion in Thucydides than one may think.

Instead, he offered a deep analysis of human factors and motivations. Although Thucydides was aware that all authors exaggerate the importance of their topic, he still felt inclined to make a case for his:

And this war—even though men always consider the war on hand the most important while they are fighting but once they have ended it are more impressed by ancient ones—will nevertheless stand out clearly as greater than the others for anyone who examines it from the facts themselves. 

The reasons he gave were three-fold: the Peloponnesian War was fought between two cities at the height of their power; these powers went into conflict prepared; and most of the Greek world (and beyond) was subsequently drawn into the fighting.

The so-called “archaeology” of his work—a succession of observations laid out in the beginning—sets out his method: eyewitness accounts; the critical evaluation of sources and informants; and, finally, his own experience and insight.

What stands out throughout is the sharpness with which Thucydides reports. In contrast to Herodotus, he no longer includes alternative viewpoints and traditions but offers a strong, singular explanation of events. Yet, the authorial voice Thucydides created in the History should not belie the fact that he engaged in his very own forms of make–believe.

Through the speeches, in particular, Thucydides offers evaluations of events and situations in a voice other than his own. Interspersed throughout the History, they provide a commentary on the events from the perspective of the historical actors.

A battle of words, Thucydides’ Pericles

Some modern critics decry the speeches in Thucydides’ History as the failure of an otherwise truthful and authoritative narrator. Yet, Thucydides himself apparently saw no problem; there was no conflict between his aim to tell what really happened and his use of speeches, although he did find the subject important enough to warrant an explanation:

Insofar as these facts involve what the various participants said both before and during the actual conflict, recalling the exact words was difficult for me regarding speeches I heard myself, and for my informants about speeches made elsewhere; in the way I thought each would have said what was especially required in the given situation, I have stated accordingly, with the closest possible fidelity on my part to the overall sense of what was actually said. 

Among the speeches, the so-called “Funeral Oration” stands out. Allegedly delivered by the famous Athenian statesman and orator Pericles’ after the first year of the Peloponnesian war, the speech was intended to celebrate those who had fallen, and offers an appraisal of Athenian culture, identity, and ideology.

Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War
Pericles’s Funeral Oration, (a famous speech from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War) Public Domain.

Thucydides’ Pericles makes an emphatic appeal to the very foundations of Athens’ power and supremacy. His appraisal of Athenian greatness includes references bravery, military strength, democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, as well as “soft” values, such as the love of beauty, education, and the arts.

However, a different picture of life in Athens follows this oration: Thucydides’ detailed account of the plague that broke out shortly afterwards. Thucydides, who was also afflicted, reports in detail on the plague’s impact on the human body, the city, and its people. Lawlessness, disregard for custom, egotism, and a general lack of order in the face of death took hold of Athens.

The strong contrast between the high-minded “Funeral Oration” and the ravages of the plague provides a powerful insight into the principles that guide Thucydidean enquiry. This author is not afraid to point out that ideological premise and historical realities don’t always mesh. Time and again, he shows that in extreme situations, it is human nature to diverge from ideals that are otherwise firmly held.

In these moments, the anthropologist and humanist in Thucydides comes to the fore. Recent scholarship has highlighted this dimension of his work. Even though the main focus in his History remains on warfare and the geo-political deliberations that inform it, there is more on human nature and culture in this work than one may think. And, more frequently than not, Thucydides extends his sharp analysis from politics and warfare to the human and cultural factors driving human history.

The tragedy of power politics

The same sharp analysis runs throughout the work. It cuts to the core of the hidden forces, motivations, and considerations at stake in various historical situations, and informs such diverse accounts as the so-called “Mytilenean Debate” and the “Melian Dialogue.”

The Mytilenean Debate revolves around whether the Athenians should revoke their decision to annihilate the entire western Ionian city of Mytilene in retaliation for a revolt.

Thucydides has two main speakers set out the case. Both speakers make a series of complex arguments revolving around questions of justice, fairness, good governance, and the nature of hegemonic rule. Cleon (a General during the Peloponnesian War) argues for harsh treatment: doing otherwise would set a dangerous precedent for other allies. Diodotus (his opponent), on the other hand, takes up this point and insists that a more lenient response is the superior strategy: it would not corner those rebelling but provide them with a viable alternative that would secure a future source of revenue for Athens.

Diodotus’s argument, in particular, invokes the principles and practices of these aforementioned “soft powers” successfully. As such, the Athenians choose to overturn the decision. A trireme is dispatched just in time to prevent major bloodshed.

However, a very different side of Athens emerges in the Melian Dialogue. This is the only section in the History to be set out like a dramatic fast-paced sequence of direct speech—a dialogue like an Athenian tragedy. Importantly, this conceit allowed both the Athenians and the Melians to present their views directly and as a collective voice.

Should the Melians (a Spartan colony) be allowed to remain neutral? Or should the Athenians insist they submit and pay tribute? The Melians make a passionate plea for justice and the right to remain neutral. The Athenians counter by pointing out that “the standard of justice depends on the equality of power to compel and that…the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.”

Allowing the Melians to remain neutral would set a dangerous precedent and threaten Athenian hegemony.

Over two millennia later, this line of reasoning still resonates. Particularly now, as populism reemerges, insights into the power of words to influence public sentiments and decision-making remain acutely (and painfully) up-to-date.

In a modern context, the American political theorist Robert Mearsheimer calls the dynamics of such considerations which revolve around national self-interest “the tragedy of great power politics.” In his book of the same name, he describes the constant struggle of nation states to maintain and optimize power and hegemony in order to prevent other states from dominating them.

And a tragedy it is. Both the Athenians and the Melians remain steadfast. Melos (an Aegean island inhabited by Dorians) refuses to submit. Athens ends up murdering all men of military age and selling their wives and children into slavery.

Enduring sharp political realism

It is such resonances which make the History stand out and endure. The voice of the characters within the story reverberate with the voice of Thucydides as its author.

Despite his penchant for long-winded sentences—truthfully and painstakingly rendered into English in most translations—Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War has become a classic by virtue of the sharp political realism at its core.

It remains a must-read for all who want to understand how power politics manifest, and learn about its effect on the psychology of humankind, both individual and collective.

All translations are from M. I. Finley and R. Warner’s translation of Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War (New York, 1972).

*Julia Kindt is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Sydney. The article was first published at The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons License.

The Unknown Wife of Ancient Greek Philosopher Pythagoras

theano pythagoras
The head of a woman, possibly Aphrodite. Theano of Crotone, an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician in her own right, is often referred to as the wife of Pythagoras. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Public Domain

Theano of Crotone, an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician in her own right, is often referred to as the wife of Pythagoras.

Many experts believe Theano, who lived in the 6th century BC, to be the first known woman mathematician, although some argue that she may actually be a composite figure of two separate women mathematicians.

Unfortunately, not much is known about Theano’s life. Some sources claim that she was born and raised on the island of Crete and was the daughter of Pythonax, while others claim she was from the Greek colony of Crotone in modern day Italy, and that her father was a philosopher named Brontinus.

Other ancient texts assert that she was the wife of famed mathematician Pythagoras, and others claim she was married to Brontinus, not his daughter.

Those who believe she was married to Pythagoras, one of the most important ancient Greek philosophers and mathematicians, state that the couple had four children–three daughters, Damo, Myia, and Arignote, and a son, Telauges.

Besides wife, Theano was a student of Pythagoras

The Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras was born on Samos to an aristocratic family in 570 BC. He came from the house of Agaios, who was the founder of the colony of Samos.

His father, Mnesarchus was an engraver of precious stones. However, his early life is clouded by mystery, with modern scholars disagreeing about his education and influences.

It is said that Pythagoras was of exceptional beauty and many considered him to be the son of Apollo, who was patron god of philosophers, among others.

Around 530 BC the Greek philosopher traveled to Crotone and founded a school. The Pythagoras schools’ initiates were sworn to secrecy and lived a communal, ascetic life.

It is likely at his school where Pythagoras met and married Theano, who was likely a student. Notably, Pythagoras allowed women to study at his school, which was incredibly rare at the time.

Pythagoras’s contemporaries wrote that the mathematician did not discriminate against women based on their gender, and even praised his female students for inspiring their male classmates.

According to ancient sources, the philosopher’s school once had a total of 300 students, around 30 of whom were women. The three basic criteria for Pythagoras to accept someone in his school were wisdom, justice and bravery. He imposed a strict examination on those young people who asked him to become members of the school.

The huge house in which he taught in Crotone was called Oimakoion. In this organization property and knowledge were considered common. Any discovery was not attributed to a specific member but to all.

The Pythagorean School had a very conservative and strict code of conduct. The students had to keep the teachings and theories secret and if that did not happen it could even cost them their lives, it is said.

Despite the fact that discoveries made at the school were attributed to all of the students, there are several breakthroughs that have been linked to Theano specifically, including the Golden Mean and Golden Ratio.

Pythagoras died around 495 BC in Metapontum, Lower Italy, starving himself for 40 days because of his grief over the persecution of the Pythagoreans.

After his death, sources state that Theano, who was much younger than her husband, continued to run the Pythagorean school in Crotone until her death in the 5th century.

The school stayed open for nearly 200 years after her death, helping Pythagorean philosophy and mathematics spread throughout the Mediterranean.

A number of treatises and theories have been linked to Theano, including: “Pythagorean Apophthegms,” “Female Advice,” “On Virtue,” “On Piety,” “On Pythagoras,” “Philosophical Commentaries,” and “Letters,” but it is unclear whether or not these texts were actually written by the ancient female mathematician or not.

Despite being most famous as a mathematician and philosopher, Theano was also known to explore themes related to medicine, physics, and even psychology.

Statue of Greek Philosopher Diogenes Causes Controversy in Turkey

Diogenes statue turkey
The statue of ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes searching for an honest man that caused controversy in Turkey. Credit: Michael F. Schonitzer/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 4.0

The Statue of Diogenes (Turkish: Diyojen Heykeli) is a monument dedicated to the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes in Sinope, Turkey.

The ancient Greek philosopher was also known as Diogenes the Cynic, or Diogenes of Sinope (Pontic Greek: Diogenes o Sinopeas), and he was born in Sinope, an Ionian colony on the Black Sea coast of Anatolia (Asia Minor) around 412 BC.

The municipality of present-day Sinope decided to erect a statue of Diogenes in 2006. The sculpture was crafted by Turan Baş, a Fine Arts Department Lecturer at the Ondokuz Mayıs University in Samsun, historically known as Sampsounta.

The sculpture of Diogenes is located in the center of the narrowest point of the isthmus of the Sinope Peninsula between Sinope and the mainland at the entrance of the city. Νearby points of interest are also Sinope’s Historic Prison, Sinope’s Castle, and Aladdin Mosque.

Measuring 5.50 meters high, it depicts Diogenes the Cynic standing with his dog in the large barrel in which he lived. The ancient Greek philosopher is also shown with his famous lamp in hand, used to “search for a virtuous/honest man,” as he claimed.

Statue of Diogenes stirs controversy in Turkey

After the statue was erected, numerous radical nationalist politicians in Turkey criticized the event symbolized by the statue and claimed that Diogenes’ search for honest people was an insult to the people of Sinope.

However, this was said by Diogenes not in modern Sinope but in ancient Athens, and his philosophical discourse was, of course, purely contemplative.

In 2017, protests took place by Turks who are ideologically close to the Turkish radical Islamic neo-Ottomanism for the removal of the statue, as they claim that it insidiously connects the “Greek ideology” with the people and city of Sinope.

The demands of the conservative “Erbakan” Religious Foundation were also accompanied by the proposal to transfer the statue from the central point where it stands today to the old, abandoned Byzantine church of the Assumption of Mary located in the city (known as Balatlar).

In a statement made at the entrance to the city in front of the statue of the Greek thinker, Ismail Tezic, a spokesman for the Erbakan Foundation, said:

“We are not against art and statues. However, we are opposed to those who try to stick the label of Greek philosophy and ideology on Sinope. We ask that the statue be removed from the entrance of Sinope and be transferred to the Balatlar building. We will try to make that happen. If necessary, we will collect signatures and we will constantly make press releases here…we will fight until the end.”

On the other hand, when the statue became the symbol of Sinope in 2006, the city’s mayor, Zeki Yılmazer, stated that the famous philosopher was very important for the promotion of the city.

“I think the fact that Diogenes was born in Sinope brings positive privileges to our city and our country. We are happy to bring such a statue to our city. Of course, there are some opponents,” said Yılmazer, adding that “Whether he is Greek or from another nationality, it is important for us that he was born in this city.”

Yılmazer pointed out that Diogenes’ “reply to Alexander the Great ‘Don’t stand between me and the sun, I don’t want any other benevolence,’ is something that has gone down in history worldwide.”

Life and philosophy of Diogenes

Diogenes was one of the founders of Cynic philosophy. He was a controversial figure in ancient Greece.

No writings of Diogenes survive even though he is reported to have authored over ten books, a volume of letters, and seven tragedies.

There are not many sources about the first years of Diogenes’ life in Sinope, except that his father Hicesias was a jeweler and mint master. It is known that his father and Diogenes were exiled to Athens and banished from Sinope for debasement of currency.

In Athens, Diogenes criticized many cultural conventions and social values of the city as corrupt.

According to his simple ascetic lifestyle, wisdom and happiness belong to the man who is independent of society and civilization is regressive. He believed that virtue was best revealed in action rather than in theory.

Diogenes maintained that all artificial growths of society were incompatible with happiness and that morality implies a return to the simplicity of nature.

Furthermore, he is said to have eaten in the marketplace, relieved himself on various people who insulted him, defecated in the theatre, and pleasured himself in public, as well as pointed with his middle finger at people, a gesture considered highly insulting.

Greek Judo Champion Teltsidou Takes Third Grand Slam Gold

Greek judoka Elisavet Teltsidou in Kazakhstan, June 17, 2023.
Greek champion Elisavet Teltsidou took her third Grand Slam gold in Kazakhstan. Credit: Twitter / European Judo Union

Greek judo champion Elisavet Teltsidou took her third Grand Slam title in the Women’s middleweight (-70) at the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam on Saturday. 

The Greek judoka defeated Dutch Olympic Bronze Medallist Sanne Van Dijke to take her second Grand Slam gold of the year after a great start in Tbilisi in March.

Teltsidou defeats first competitors in 15 secs, wins gold at extra time

According to the European Judo Union, the only athlete from Europe to take gold on the second day of the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2023, was Elisavet Teltsidou.

The Greek judoka was off to a strong start defeating the home pick, Roza Nyssantaikyzy in the second round within 15 seconds, the European Judo Union describes.

She repeated this 15 seconds success in her quarter final against Serafima Moscalu of Romania.

Eventually, the Greek champion was tested in the semi finals against Yingying Fema of China, before she made it to to the final against number one seed, Sanne Van Dijke of The Netherlands: “As expected, this was no easy feat and the pair went in to golden score, holding two shidos each. After almost two minutes in extra time, Teltsidou capitalised on a weak attack from Van Dijke and countered her for the win and gold medal.”

Teltsidou wins three Grand Slams since October

This was the third Grand Slam title for the Greek representative after two previous triumphs within less than 12 months.

Teltsidou won her first Grand Slam gold last October at the 2022 Judo Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi, defeating Gabriella Willems of Belgium. She then went on to win another Grand Slam in Tbilisi, Georgia, in March.

Although she went in to the Kazakstan tournament ranked as world’s number 9, she climbed a few spots up after winning her third Grand Slam title.

Greek judoka Elisavet Teltsidou defeats her competitor in the finale of the Grand Slam tournament of Kazakhstan, June 17, 2023.
Greek judoka Elisavet Teltsidou defeats her competitor in the finale of the Grand Slam tournament of Kazakhstan, June 17, 2023. Credit: Twitter / European Judo Union

Teltsidou had previously won gold at the 2019 Judo Grand Prix in Antalya and in Tashkent in the -70 kg category, as well as one of the bronze medals in the women’s 70 kg event at the 2022 Mediterranean Games held in Oran, Algeria.

In 2021, she competed in the women’s 70 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she got the 7th place.

This summer, Teltsidou is expected to compete in two more tournaments; the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam on on June 23, and Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam and the European Games (European Judo Championships Mixed Teams) on July 1.

The Ancient Greek History of Truffles and the Thunderbolt from Zeus

truffles truffles greek zeuss
Truffles have long been used in a variety of cuisines around the world. Ancient Greeks debated the origin of the fungus, and some even attributed it to the god Zeus. Credit: Oldsoft/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 3.0

The history of truffles is one of folklore and intrigue, but very few people know of its links to the ancient Greek god Zeus. The pricey, much sought-after fungus has played a prominent role in Greece for its nutritional value, aphrodisiac properties, and delicious taste.

Dating as far back as Ancient Greece, truffles were the topic of great discussion amongst the country’s greatest thinkers.

Many ancient Greek philosophers were completely puzzled by the fungus, which is found underground. Philosophers from across the ancient world actually fiercely debated the origins of the delicious truffle.

Did truffles come from Zeus?

The ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch believed that truffles came about through a complicated combination of natural and spiritual processes.

According to Plutarch, “hydnon,” or truffles, came into existence after Zeus launched one of his powerful thunderbolts down to earth. The heat of the thunderbolt, combined with the natural moisture found in the ground, created the subterranean fungus near an oak tree.

While it seems a bit far-fetched to the contemporary reader, Plutarch’s theory has some basis in truth. Truffles, and other fungi of its kind, form a symbiotic relationship with plant life, meaning that the prized delicacy is usually found growing near the roots of trees.

Similarly, the ancient Roman thinker Juvenal claimed that truffles were composed of thunder and rain. Cicero, the Roman statesman and writer, believed that fungi were born of the earth itself.

If that’s not exciting enough, truffles have been considered to have aphrodisiac properties since ancient times. The ancient Greek physician Galen praised the fungus, writing that not only was it a delicious delight, but that “the truffle is very nourishing and can direct voluptuousness.”

Phyllo Wrapped Feta Cheese with Truffle Honey Recipe

The fungus is a favorite ingredient in many dishes

It seems that, although popular in antiquity, truffles fell out of favor in Medieval Europe, as they are rarely mentioned in writing from the period.

However, during the Renaissance, Caterina de’ Medici and Lucrezia Borgia made mention of them, and fashionable banquets all over Europe used them in exquisite dishes.

King Francois I of France was particularly fond of the ingredient, and truffles were frequently used to flavor the dishes at his royal banquets.

While the fungus was widely consumed amongst peasants in the areas where they were found in abundance, the uptick in popularity during the Renaissance caused the price of the ingredient to skyrocket and limited its availability to only royals and members of the upper classes.

The legend continues on from there as the underground fungus found its way into modern history as a pricey ingredient in sumptuous dishes.

Nowadays, Greeks use truffles, often in the form of truffle oil, in a number of dishes, such as meat, pasta, rice, chick peas, and soups.