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How Alexander the Great Prepared for Battle Against the Persians

Alexander Battle of Gaugamela
Alexander the Great was victorious over Darius at the Battle of Gaugamela by Jacques Courtois. Public Domain

Astonishing details of Alexander the Great’s personal armor as he prepared for the Battle of Gaugamela against the Persians are described by the Ancient Greek historian, Plutarch.

Plutarch’s Life of Alexander is one of five extant tertiary sources on the Macedonian conqueror. It includes anecdotes and descriptions of events that appear in no other source.

The battle at Gaugamela took place in 331 BC between the forces of the Army of Macedonians and the Persian Army under King Darius III. It was the second and final battle between the two kings and is considered to be the final blow to the Achaemenid Empire, resulting in its complete conquest by Alexander.

As dawn approached on the day of the battle, Plutarch describes the scene:

[Alexander] put on his helmet, having the rest of his arms on before he came out of his tent, which were a coat of the Sicilian make, girt close about him, and over that a breastpiece of thickly quilted linen, which was taken among other booty at the battle of Issus.

The helmet, which was made by Theophilus, though of iron, was so well wrought and polished, that it was as bright as the most refined silver. To this was fitted a gorget of the same metal, set with precious stones.

His sword, which was the weapon he most used in the fight, was given to him by the king of the Citieans, and was of an admirable temper and lightness.

The belt which he also wore in all engagements, was of much richer workmanship than the rest of his armor. It was a work of the ancient Helicon and had been presented to him by the Rhodians, as a mark of their respect for him.

So long as he was engaged in drawing up his men, or riding about to give orders or directions, or to view them, he spared Bucephalus, who was now growing old, and made use of another horse; but when he was actually to fight, he sent for him again, and as soon as he was mounted, commenced the attack.”

Alexander’s army was outnumbered but victorious at the battle of Gaugamela

Alexander’s army was heavily outnumbered, and modern historians say that “the odds were enough to give the most experienced veteran pause.”

Despite the overwhelming odds, Alexander’s army emerged victorious due to the employment of superior tactics and the clever deployment of light infantry forces.

The fighting took place in Gaugamela, which literally meant “The Camel’s House,” a village on the banks of the river Bumodus. The area today would be considered modern-day Erbil, Iraq.

Plutarch devotes a great deal of space to Alexander’s drive and desire and strives to determine how much of it was presaged in his youth. He also draws extensively on the work of Lysippus, Alexander’s favorite sculptor, to provide what is probably the fullest and most accurate description of the conqueror’s physical appearance.

When it comes to his character, Plutarch emphasizes his unusual degree of self-control and scorn of luxury: “He desired not pleasure or wealth, but only excellence and glory.”

As the narrative progresses, however, the subject incurs less admiration from his biographer and the deeds that it recounts become less savory.

The Gambling Legend That Was Nick the Greek

nick the greek gambling legend
The Gambling Legend That Was Nick the Greek. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

“Nick the Greek” will forever be remembered as one of the most famous legends of gambling in the United States.

On Christmas Eve 1966, “Nick the Greek” took his last breath, leaving behind an almost-mythical life spent as the high-stakes “Gentleman of gambling.”

Many Greeks have made history in the United States, but Nick Dandolos is one of few who is remembered the most. Frank Sinatra and Aristotle Onassis were two of his biggest fans.

The story of Nick the Greek is the stuff that old Hollywood movies were made of. He went from rags to riches 75 times, and it is estimated that during his illustrious gambling career he won and lost more than 500 million dollars.

But as fate would have it in the end, the legendary gambler died penniless, without any property at all.

The life of gambling legend Nick the Greek

Nicholaos Andreas Dandolos was born on April 27, 1883 in Rethymnon, Crete. His family came from Smyrna and they were well-off. His father sold carpets and his godfather was a shipbuilder.

As a young man, Nick studied philosophy at the Evangelical School of Greece. At the age of 18, his grandfather gave him an allowance of $150 a week, a massive sum at the time, to go to the United States.

His first stop was Chicago, but after an unsuccessful relationship with a young woman, Nick the Greek pulled up stakes and moved to Montreal, Canada.

It was there that he began gambling when he met a horse racer who taught him the secrets of that sport of champions.

In just six months, the young Greek managed to win $500,000, which he lost as easily and quickly as he had won.

It was when he returned to Chicago that he decided to become a gambler. He soon became a connoisseur of card playing and dice and started winning at card clubs.

The Greek gambling wiz became the master of the bluff. Card club owners tried to recruit him as they believed that it would be better to have him on their side of the table than as a player.

Nick the Greek was known to wager incredible sums

Nick the Greek soon became a legend at Chicago clubs because of the large sums he was gambling.

It was not unusual for him to win or lose $100,000 (some $6.5 million in value today) per day. On a roll of the dice or a game of poker, he would bet thousands. Soon the legend was born.

His wins were as gigantic as his losses. One time in New York, Nick the Greek lost $1.6 million on a dice tournament that lasted 12 days.

In another event, he left a seven-hour poker game with $500,000 in his pocket.

When gambling became legal in the state of Nevada in 1931, Dandolos moved permanently to Las Vegas.

The casinos in “Sin City” became his ultimate playground and he was one of its greatest attractions.

Despite generous offers by casino owners such as Benny Binion, as well as mafia bosses, Nick the Greek stayed independent and never worked for anyone.

Five-month-long poker game paved way for World Series of Poker

At some point, Binion invited Johnny Moss, the only other gambler who could match Nick the Greek, to play against him.

Binion took advantage of the situation to help promote his casino, the Horseshoe, by advertising the two poker giants’ competition at his place.

The whole world was watching and Binion would be the ultimate winner, because no matter which of the two players won, the crowds flocked to his casino.

The battle of the two poker giants lasted five months. At the time Dandolos was 57 and Moss 42. The game was exhausting and the two players only took breaks to eat and sleep.

In order to keep the audience’s interest, the two gamblers were confronted with a number of variations of the poker game.

Day after day, huge amounts of hands were changing, and thousands of people watched with bated breath.

And so one afternoon, as Nick was penniless, having lost $4 million, he stood up and said to his opponent: “Mr. Moss, I will have to let you go.”

Then he walked away, and, according to friends, found consolation in the writings of Plato.

Years later, that memorable battle would give birth to a current legend of gambling the World Series of Poker.

Nick the Greek at the center of many popular stories

Stories and anecdotes about the gambling legend have been widely told throughout the years.

In a historic poker game in New York, with VIP viewers like the King of Egypt, Farouk I, Nick was confronted on the table with the “godfather” of the New York Mafia, Frank Costello.

After Dandolos left the Italian mobster without a cent and made to leave, the mafia boss declared to him: “Greek, you leave the table because you are a coward!”

Nick then wisely asked King Farouk to shuffle the deck, while saying to Costello: “And now, amico, pull a card. The biggest one wins $500,000.” All the mafia boss did was light a cigar, pick up his coat and leave, accompanied by his goons.

The next day the New York Times praised the Greek gambler as the undisputed poker king who had humiliated Costello. This is when Frank Sinatra, Telly Savalas and Aristotle Onassis became his friends.

But the Greek immigrant had many other famous friends already, even Albert Einstein.

As hard as it may be to believe today, Nick the Greek would indeed often go on a night out with the great physicist, but fearing that his patrons would not respect his brilliant friend, he would often introduce him as “Little Al from Princeton.” (Einstein was a member of the Institute of Applied Studies at Princeton University).

Einstein, however, reportedly enjoyed himself a great deal on these outings.

In another memorable incident of his adventurous life, Nick lost $300,000 on a New Year’s Eve game.

A few minutes before the New Year, he moaned: “I hope the change of the year will change my luck as well.” At dawn he won $1.25 million, which he then lost to roulette and horse races.

The death of the great gambler

Near the end of his life, broke once again, Nick the Greek was found playing small-stakes poker games in California.

When an admirer asked him how he could play for pennies when a few years back he was playing for millions, Dandolos replied: “It’s still poker, isn’t it?”

The great Greek gambling legend was mostly playing for the game, not the money.

Over his career, he gave about $20 million to charity, which would today be equivalent to $400 million.

Dandolos continued to play in California until his death at the age of eighty-three.

At the time of his death, some wealthy and influential friends got together and decided to give him the most elaborate funeral they could imagine with a golden casket, and he was buried with all the respect and honors he deserved.

Everyone attended his funeral, including all his famous and wealthy friends from the old days, from the biggest stars to royalty and from the most powerful mob bosses to the biggest gamblers.

Everyone from the heyday of gambling and show business was there.

The first one at the funeral, unsurprisingly, was Frank Sinatra. Crying like a baby, Sinatra said in his eulogy, “Nick, you were so pure and honest that the only properties that you ever claimed were your charities.”

Diaspora Greeks File Lawsuit Against Government Over Email Leaks

Diaspora email leaks
Around 30 lawsuits have been filed to date, directed against the Ministry of the Interior. Credit: AMNA

Dozens of Greeks of the diaspora have filed lawsuits against the Greek government demanding compensation after the leaks of the email accounts that have rocked the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Vassilis Sotiropoulos, a lawyer representing expats who filed a lawsuit, said on Tuesday that around 30 lawsuits have been filed to date, directed against the Ministry of the Interior.

Citizens are turning against the Ministry of the Interior asking for compensation because “it did not protect their personal data provided in order to take part in the elections for the European Parliament, he said.

In the meantime, subpoenas have also been sent to MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, demanding she answer why she possessed voters’ data.

“Email information is confidential and should not be provided to political parties,”  Sotiropoulos said.

“These people have not declared that they want their e-mail to be used by Mrs. Asimakopoulou.”

Last week Asimakopoulou announced that she would not be contesting in the June election. She is a prominent member of the ruling New Democracy, a lawyer, graduate of the prestigious Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, run by the Quakers, and of the Ivy League Cornell Law School.

Deputy minister Michalis Stavrianoudakis resigned, and Nikos Theodoropoulos, a governing New Democracy official was fired over the scandal.

The internal probe ordered by Mitsotakis found that in May 2023 the list of email addresses was allegedly acquired by an associate of Stavrianoudakis, who forwarded them to Theodoropoulos. The list was later passed on to Asimakopoulou.

Asimakopoulou sent a barrage of emails to voters abroad minutes after they were informed how to vote by mail.

The developments followed Mitsotakis’ comments last week, emphasizing the need for an “in-depth” investigation into the matter. He said that his conservative party was conducting its own inquiry.

The Athens Prosecutor’s Office and the country’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) have already taken action regarding the case.

The European Parliament will have elections in June and they are seen as a barometer of party strength in countries as well.

Opposition slams Mitsotakis for Diaspora’s email leaks

The president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis, described the withdrawal of Asimakopoulou from the European ballot as anachronistic, stressing that the questions about the conduct of Mitsotakis remain.

“Another ‘sit aside for a while until it is forgotten and you come back’ by Kyriakos Mitsotakis,” Kasselakis said.

“After the uproar over the violation of the personal data of thousands of diaspora voters, Mrs. Asimakopoulou withdraws – retroactively – from New Democracy’s European ballot,” he commented in a post on Twitter.

As he pointed out, “the questions about Mr. Mitsotakis are still valid. How did the MEP gain access to the personal data of thousands of citizens? Did he cooperate with the Ministry of Interior or how else?

“I call on the prime minister to stop hiding. No matter how many innocent victims he sacrifices, the reality will haunt him.”

 

Greece to Reportedly Send Military Aid to Ukraine

Greece Ukraine Military Aid
Greece is said to be ready to provide military aid to Ukraine, including the pictured M114 155 mm Howitzer. Public Domain

Reports say Greece has agreed to send military aid to Ukraine to help the embattled country defend against the Russian invasion.

Greece will purchase new military equipment for Ukraine from the Czech Republic this year, according to Greek media reports. The two countries are negotiating the cost of the equipment ahead of a formal agreement, according to Kathimerini newspaper.

The equipment will focus on ammunition and air defense, according to the report. Shells and supplies for protecting Ukraine’s airspace have been high on Ukraine’s wish list from its supporters in the 2-plus-year-old war.

Greece’s military aid to Ukraine

Athens wants to hand over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces:

  • 2,000 Zuni air missiles
  • 180 75-mm caliber rockets
  • 90,000 90-mm caliber anti-tank shells
  • 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition
  • 70 American 155-mm M114A1 howitzers of American production

The howitzers come from Hellenic Army stock, but have long been considered unnecessary for its operational needs. They are, however, seen as useful in Ukraine’s standoff battles in muddy terrain.

This is the second batch of M114A1s that Greece will sell to the Czech Republic to have them transferred to Ukraine.

Greece agreed to a deal with Germany in September 2022 that it would receive Berlin’s Marder vehicles as part of what is known as a “ring exchange,” with Athens sending its Soviet-era BMP-1 fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

Mitsotakis visited the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa this month and said he “heard the sound of sirens and explosions that took place near us” during the trip with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Reports have suggested that a Russian missile landed between 500 feet and 500 meters of the convoy transporting the two leaders.

“No one will intimidate us,” Mitsotakis said speaking at the European People’s Party conference in Bucharest, a day after the missile attack.

“I think we all have a message for the Kremlin: we will not be afraid, we will continue to support Ukraine and its brave citizens for as long as it takes. And we remain united on this issue,” he said.

“We showed our support to Ukraine in a way that was surprising to some of our enemies,” Mitsotakis continued. He noted that Europe has never shown such a response, with the sanctions on Russia and with the support of Ukraine militarily and financially.

Ukraine in need of fresh supplies

Ukraine is in need of fresh supplies, particularly of ammunition, as Russian forces inch westward in the war-torn country. Kyiv is dependent on Western military aid to sustain its war effort since Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022, but its largest backer, the U.S., has failed to pass a substantial aid package that has languished in Congress for months.

The U.S. Defense Department announced a $300 million injection for Ukraine this month but described the aid as a stop-gap measure falling far short of Kyiv’s needs for the coming months.

Mother of Tempe Victim Blasts Greek Government in European Parliament

Tempe
Maria Karystianou gave an emotional speech accusing the Greek government of a cover-up at Tempe. Credit: AMNA

The mother of a Tempe train disaster victim blasted the Greek government in an emotional speech at the European Parliament on Monday.

Maria Karystianou, who represents the families of the 57 victims of the train accident in Tempe, said that the Greek government “initiated a sequence of bad manipulations and methods, which insults the memory of our dead and the dignity of the victims who survived.”

She was speaking in the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament (PETI), which acts as the bridge between the citizens and the European institutions.

Karystianou noted the government through the Parliament provides the competent minister at the time and current MP Kostas Karamanlis full immunity.

“It doesn’t even refer him to face justice,” she said. Karamanlis resigned after the accident at Tempe in February 2023 that claimed the lives of 53 young people. However, he was re-elected in the general elections of June 2023.

“This blatantly violates fundamental principles of the Rule of Law,” Karystianou said and added that there is a collapse of trust in relation to the proper functioning of the institutions in Greece.”

Failures and cover-ups following the crash at Tempe

Karystianou, whose 20-year-old daughter Marti Psaropoulou died during the crash, underlined a series of failures and cover-ups following the crash.

“In the first 24 hours after the fatal collision, a government cover-up was ordered for which to this day no one has taken responsibility, even though it has been publicly acknowledged,” she said.

“During the collision, flammable and illegal substances caused a huge explosion that incinerated most of them. This cargo was not even declared. Within 5 days they moved the debris and filled the area completely. Crucial evidence of guilt was lost,” she added.

She blamed the government for preventing the prosecutor and investigator from intervening. “Today we and all the Greek people are certain of the cover-up,” Karystianou said.

In a video message marking the first anniversary of the Tempe train tragedy Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised that those found guilty will be punished.

“Some relief will come when all the causes of the evil are brought to light,” Mitsotakis said. “When all doubts are dispelled. When even the most absurd rumors are disproved. And, above all, when the guilty are punished. And that will happen.”

A definitive account of what happened and who may be at fault has not been delivered, with investigators in an official inquiry not due to finish questioning until March 8th.

EU investigation in a tangle

The ongoing investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) on the Tempe tragedy shows that the issue of Greek railway safety is in a twenty-year tangle, showing Greece’s insufficient investment planning and the European Commission’s lax monitoring mechanisms.

Two key projects, namely the installation of the European Train Control System (ETCS) and  the upgrade of the communication and signaling system on trains, both meant to ensure railway safety, have not been implemented.

The first project should have been completed in the 2000 to 2006 period while the second was to have been completed between 2000 and 2013. Both projects were based on digital technology in order to avoid human error, such as was the case with the Tempe disaster that cost the nation fifty-seven lives.

Related: Greek Railway Disaster Expert Speaks of Crucial Omissions in Tempe Probe

Turkey’s Erdogan: All Cyprus Could Have Been Ours

Turkey Erdogan Cyprus
Erdogan claimed that Turkish Cypriots were facing the threat of genocide. Credit: Presidency of Turkey

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that if Turkish forces had advanced further south in 1974, Cyprus would be fully Turkish now.

In a speech he delivered to Turkish military personnel at a dinner he defended the Turkish invasion of Cyprus calling it a “peace operation” and said that Turkish Cypriots were facing the threat of genocide.

“Half a century ago, the Turkish Cypriots came back from the brink of genocide. In the Peace Operation of 1974, 498 of our soldiers from all corners of the country, officers, non-commissioned officers and civilians, were martyred.

“Despite all the pressures, if it were not for Turkey’s intervention, neither the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus nor the Turkish Cypriots would exist today.

“In fact, perhaps if we had pushed south, and I say this as a child of the present, there would be no more south and north and Cyprus would be completely ours,” Erdogan said.

Wishing success to soldiers, who carry out their duties at the cost of their lives for the state’s permanence and the nation’s security, Erdogan stressed that Turkey must have a powerful defense.

“It is an obligation, rather than a preference, for us to have a powerful military. We are a country, nation, an army that should always maintain a maximum level of deterrence. Only our own strength, only the means and capabilities that we ourselves develop can protect us, the Turkish nation, against our enemies.”

He added: “We know from our bitter recent experiences that when we are on our own, neither the alliances we are a member of nor the international organizations whose duty is to protect the global peace are of any use. That is why we constantly say ‘domestic and national defense industry’ and work for a ‘fully independent Türkiye in every area’.”

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus and President Biden has been urged to mark the occasion by inviting the Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to the White House.

In January the Congressional Hellenic Caucus sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to take meaningful actions to strengthen the U.S.-Cyprus relationship.

The letter acknowledges President Biden’s understanding and unwavering support for the reunification of Cyprus.

It highlights Turkey’s invasion in 1974 and the ongoing occupation. Furthermore, it proposes inviting Christodoulides to the White House, convening a 3+1 Foreign Ministerial meeting, expediting Cyprus’ inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, and extending the lifting of the arms embargo on Cyprus beyond 2024.

Norway Set for $47 Billion Super-highway to Transform Coastline

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Norway has developed plans to take on its largest infrastructure project to date, a $47 billion highway scheme set to transform the country's western coastline.
Norway has developed plans to take on its largest infrastructure project to date, a $47 billion highway scheme set to transform the country’s western coastline. Credit: Elder Kid. CC BY-2.0/flickr

Norway has developed plans to take on its largest infrastructure project to date, a $47 billion scheme set to transform the country’s western coastline with a series of tunnels and bridges in a highway that will create a brilliant road trip.

The E39 Superhighway will reduce the need for ferries – the current mode of transport used – to navigate one of Europe’s most beautiful coastlines, by building a state-of-the-art highway connecting Oslo in the southeast to the coastal cities of Stavanger, Bergen, Alesund and Trondheim.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA), upon recognizing the various barriers posed by the nation’s intricate waterways, fjords and difficult terrains, has proposed a solution.

The existing network of small highways and high reliance on the ferry system has hindered accessibility, leading to an overall decline in the population of the region. Mayor Martin Kleppe of Tysnes, a municipality in an archipelago off the coast, claimed that the ferry system, while providing scenic views, is more of an obstacle than a reliable transport connection.

How Will Norway’s New Highway Help the Country?

The engineering plans promise to link remote island towns and improve accessibility from the rest of Scandinavia.

The enormous suspension bridge planned for Sognefjord is set to be a record breaker, with looming 1,500-foot-high towers and a 12,100-foot-long span that would surpass iconic structures such as Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Millau Viaduct in France.

The difficult geography of the area, freezing weather and jagged mountainous terrain make for a relatively inhospitable combination, and so only a select few have acclimatised to living in this region. The E39 super-highway project has the goal of not only improving accessibility issues but also to counteract the declining population in these remote areas of Norway.

For example, Tysnes has seen a 50 percent decrease in population over the last century, and the project is seen as a key step towards revitalizing such rural municipalities.

The grand infrastructure project in Norway isn’t the only one taking place in Europe. A new $15 billion giga-project tunnel that will be the longest in the world is hanging in the balance, and if built, will link Tallinn in Estonia with Helsinki, in Finland, two countries currently only linked by ferry and plane.

The enormous project, which could see the construction of the world’s longest railway tunnel, known as the Helsinki-Tallinn Tunnel or the FinEst tunnel, is a proposed undersea infrastructure project that – according to initial plans – would connect the capital cities of Finland and Estonia.

The tunnel’s ultimate length would be dependent on the route chosen, and the shortest option for this project would see the creation of a tunnel with a submarine length alone of 50 miles.

Was Golden Ratio the Ancient Greek Secret to Harmony?

Doryphoros roman copy of ancient Greek statue
Artists and architects from ancient Greece to the modern era have relied on the golden ratio to make their works of art beautiful. Credit: Sergey Sosnovskiy, Flickr, CC BY 2.0

Over the years, millions of people have explored ancient Greece’s golden ratio, a magical number that has fascinated the minds of experts and amateurs alike for centuries.

At approximately 1.618, the golden ratio is not just an abstract figure of mathematics. Rather, it is a symbol of deep beauty that has inspired artists, musicians, and architects throughout history.

The mathematical marvel of the golden ratio

The golden ratio is a uniquely special number. It is symbolized by the Greek letter phi (Φ). To understand it, imagine cutting a line into two pieces so that the large piece divided by the small piece is the same as the whole line divided by the big piece.

This special way of splitting a line exemplifies the golden ratio. As we can tell, it is not just like any other number. This 1.618 figure is a magic number that pops up everywhere we look into it.

Golden ratio rectangle
Imagine cutting a line into two pieces so that the big piece divided by the small piece is the same as the whole line divided by the big piece. Credit: Ahecht (Original); Pbroks13 (Derivative work), Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.

The golden ratio in nature and art

You can see this captivating and mysterious magic of harmony in the swirling of galaxies or the way plants grow. You can even witness it in the shapes of animals and humans. It is in the sparkling structure of crystals, too, and it’s not just in nature, as you might think.

Artists and architects from ancient Greece all the way to the modern era have used the golden ratio to make their works more aesthetically pleasing. Think about the ancient Parthenon in Athens or the famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, such as the “Vitruvian Man” and the “Mona Lisa.” What do they have in common? You guessed it—phi.

This is why the concept of the golden ratio goes beyond mere mathematics. It’s about finding a perfect balance that simply feels right when you look or listen to it. It connects the real world with the world of ideas in a uniquely mysterious way and mixes science with art and feelings with reality. This blend makes the golden ratio unbelievably fascinating. What is it, and why is it there? Is it even real, or is it just a coincidence that fascinates our imaginations? The answers to these questions remind us of the search for beauty and perfection in the patterns that surround us. It shows us how everything is harmoniously connected in this world, regardless of human understanding.

The ancient Greeks and the golden ratio

The ancient Greeks, as with anything else they dealt with, were onto something special with this ratio. They didn’t just use random numbers whilst walking around on a sunny evening near the beaches of the Aegean Sea. Many believe they used it in their art and buildings, statues, temples, and many other things, creating masterpieces that still dazzle us today. One can claim that the golden ratio became a secret recipe for perfection for the ancient Greeks.

Pythagoras and Euclid: Pioneers of mathematical beauty

Can you fathom that Pythagoras and Euclid, two of the most influential ancient Greeks, were fascinated by this humble number? Pythagoras saw the golden ratio as a cosmic harmony, while Euclid called it the “extreme and mean ratio.” These two mathematicians weren’t just number nerds, as someone might call them today. They were visionaries who shaped our world with their mathematical logic.

Next time you see and admire an ancient Greek temple or work of art, remember—there’s so much more to it than meets the eye of the 21st-century man. This is the reason why we always need to remember that the golden ratio isn’t just a number that was calculated thousands of years ago. It is a gateway to a world where beauty and math dance together in perfect harmony, creating results that please the human senses.

The Parthenon, on the Acropolis, Athens.
Many believe that the Greeks used the golden ratio to build aesthetically pleasing temples. Depiction of the Parthenon on the Acropolis, Athens, Greece. Credit: Arch_Sam, Flickr, CC BY 2.0

Tracing the footsteps of these ancient Greek mathematic masterminds, we see that the history of the golden ratio is deeply interconnected with the legacies of Pythagoras and Euclid. Pythagoras, an expert in both mathematics and philosophy, perceived this ratio as a key to the harmony of the universe. Conversely, Euclid thought of it as an extreme element of perfection.

These historical figures combined their mathematical genius with the arts and architecture, setting the foundations of Western mathematics as we know them today. Their groundbreaking work on the golden ratio helped insert a “divine” elegance into masterpieces of Greek music, sculpture, and architecture among many other artworks and constructions.

Far from mere academics, these two figures were true mathematic pioneers. They charted the course of Western mathematics and enhanced Greek artistic and architectural achievements with a…touch of golden ratio magic!

Hence, whenever someone examines the Greek world of mathematics and art, the myths around the golden ratio provide us with a better idea as to what the ancient Greeks thought of it.

However, it’s not all that simple. Recent studies suggest the ancients might not have been as precise with it as we previously thought, casting doubts in what we thought the Greeks knew about the golden ratio. Of course, one might argue that in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter. This is especially so when we consider the marvels that the Greeks created, regardless of whether they were based on this ratio or not.

The golden ratio in modern creativity

In today’s world, the golden ratio still captivates us. It continues to spark creativity in design, art, and science among other areas. Our fascination with patterns and proportions echoes the desire of the Greeks to find beauty and meaning through harmony.

The mystery surrounding the ancient origins of the golden ratio continues to inspire modern thinkers. Even as we uncover that its historical use might have been more intricate than we thought, its legacy continues to inspire us to this day.

Using the golden ratio is like a timeless dance between the past and present, wherein this figure continues to apply its magic across different fields, connecting us to a legacy that has inspired so many.

The golden ratio’s lasting legacy

The journey of the golden ratio from ancient calculations to modern fascination shows that our search for beauty and order is never ending. While some believe that its impact on Greek art may be more legend than fact, it makes us wonder about the blend of math and creativity when it comes to artistic expression.

Whether rooted in history or myth, the golden ratio’s tale continues to inspire us to explore how balance and proportion shape our perception of the universe and our humble understanding of what is beautiful and what is not.

It prompts us to rethink how we define beauty and harmony today in a world so saturated with audio and visual stimuli.

Trump Unable to Get $464M Bond in New York Fraud Case

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Donald Trump is unable to find a private company to guarantee the full amount of his $464 million New York civil fraud judgment against him.
Donald Trump is unable to find a private company to guarantee the full amount of his $464 million New York civil fraud judgment against him. Credit: Gage Skidmore. CC BY 2.0/flickr

Former US President Donald Trump is unable to find a private company to guarantee the full amount of his $464 million New York civil fraud judgment against him, his lawyers have said in a court filing.

The filing today, Monday, March 18th, stated that obtaining a bond has proven to be “a practical impossibility,” adding that “diligent” efforts carried out to secure a bond have included “approaching about 30 surety companies through four separate brokers” and “countless hours negotiating with one of the largest insurance companies in the world.”

These efforts have shown that “obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount” of the judgement “is not possible under the circumstances presented,” the filing states.

Interest included, Trump owes $456.8 million. In total, he and co-defendants, which include his company and top executives, owe $467.3 million, according to the Associated Press. To get a bond, they would need to post collateral worth $557 million, Trump’s lawyers said. Trump’s two eldest sons must also pay millions of dollars in the case.

In addition to Trump’s fraud case payment

On top of ordering Trump to pay the penalty, New York Judge Arthur Engoron banned the former President from running any businesses in the state for three years. This was after he found Trump falsely inflated assets to secure better loan deals.

A judge paused Trump’s business ban last month but did not permit his bid to provide a smaller bond amount to cover the fine. In the latest fraud filing, Trump’s lawyers included an affidavit from a president of a private insurance firm who said that “simply put, a bond of this size is rarely, if ever, seen.”

“In the unusual circumstance that a bond of this size is issued, it is provided to the largest public companies in the world, not to individuals or privately held businesses,” the lawyers added.

Trump’s team also said that bond companies would not accept “hard assets such as real estate as collateral” for the bond but only cash or “cash equivalents,” such as investments that can be quickly liquidated, as reported by the BBC.

According to a Forbes estimate, Trump is worth around $2.6 billion, and he testified last year that he had $400 million in liquid assets. Yet, as his company is private, his finances are not clear. According to the Financial Times, “Some of the documents published on Monday by Trump’s legal team show that Deutsche Bank, one of his top lenders, had made drastic downward adjustments to his stated net worth and liquid assets in its own credit reports.”

However, the $464 million judgement is not the former President’s only expense. He was ordered to pay $83 million in January after losing a defamation case to E. Jean Carroll, a woman he was found to have sexually abused. Trump has already posted a bond in that case.

New York’s attorney general has vowed to seize Trump’s assets if he does not pay the fraud penalty. The fine will continue accruing interest by at least $112,000 per day until he makes the payment.

A GoFundMe page was also started in February to help Trump raise the money he has been ordered to pay, with the efforts being organized by Elena Cardone, the wife of property tycoon Grant Cardone. The MAGA fan has so far raised just $1.3 million towards the former President’s expenses.

Video of Mysterious ‘Giant Skull’ at Meteora, Greece Goes Viral

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Meteora, Greece, where the 'giant skull' was discovered by two hikers.
Meteora, Greece, where the ‘giant skull’ was discovered by two hikers. Credit: OneEighteen. CC BY 2.0/flickr

A video of a ‘giant skull,’ wedged between two stone pillars at Greece’s Meteora rock complex, a UNESCO-listed site at the northwest edge of the Thessaly Plain near the mountains of Pindos, has gone viral on social media.

The complex, featuring enormous stone pillars topped with ancient monasteries, has people believing there are age-old secrets yet to be revealed. In fact, the social media video, taken by unsuspecting hikers, claims to have uncovered one.

Mystery of the Meteora giant skull

The two hikers were exploring Meteora’s towering sandstone structures when they noticed an unusual sight. Squeezed within the dark crevice between two stony escarpments was an object that appeared to be a giant human skull.

The explorers took a video of their discovery, and the footage has since been circulating on social media, with viewers adamant the pair had stumbled upon the remains of a giant. Sharing it to her TikTok account, paranormal enthusiast Myra Moore said, “Now, I’ve zoomed in, I’ve zoomed out, changed the coloring and to me, it truly looks like a skull and not some sort of weird rock formation.”

@_theparanormalchic

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♬ original sound – Myra Moore-Official Account!

Others who commented on the Meteora skull video seemed to agree, with one writing: “You’re spot on. That is a giant humanoid skull. And the little bit underneath it could be the rest of the skeleton.” Another commenter posited that the alleged skull’s owner may have gone climbing and fallen. “Looks like it’s wearing clothes too,” they added.

Others rejected the suggestion that the object was a skull, making particular reference to the nature of decomposition. “It’s not a skull,” one commenter argued, as “the bottom jaw would have dropped off a long time ago.”

This latest discovery is not the first time “evidence” of so-called giants has been uncovered at an ancient site. In 1911, archaeologists unearthed mummies that apparently measured between eight and 10 feet tall in a cave in Nevada. They were subsequently dubbed the Lovelock Giants. Not long after this find, two skeletons measuring 8.5 and 10 feet in height, respectively, were reportedly discovered in a dry lake bed near the Lovelock site.

Local myths of Meteora

Meteora, however, is most commonly known not for giants (or their skulls) but for a different mythical beast. In such magnificent and surreal rocks, it is inevitable for the imagination to conjure up mythical creatures.

Thus, the Dragon’s Cave has earned its name. It is nestled at the southern base of the rock housing one of Meteora’s six remaining monasteries, the Varlaam Monastery. According to local lore, a terrifying dragon once dwelled there, subdued by a divine intervention—a lightning bolt that shattered part of its lair, entombing it beneath rock fragments.

This cave still exists today, penetrating the entirety of the rock’s thickness just like a tunnel. Nowhere else in the rocky expanse of Meteora will you find a cave quite like it. At its base lie scattered boulders, hindering passage from one opening to the next.

Similarly mysterious is the rock hosting another creature, situated in Rouxiori, a once-inhabited area of Meteora now deserted (with its residents assimilated into the area of Kastraki). The half-humanoid, half-beast apparition—with a beard trailing to the ground—would materialize and vanish within a darkened cavern.

Unlike the numerous accessible caves in Meteora, local legends recount how the elders of Kastraki refrained from utilizing this specific cave for their livestock. They often discovered slaughtered lambs with no visible signs of injury there. The terrifying creature was deemed responsible for this unexplainable phenomenon.