Louvre Creates Greek-Inspired Exhibition for Paris Olympics

Breal's Cup, awarded to the first-place marathon winner at the first ever modern Olympics, will be on display at the Louvre in Paris.
Breal’s Cup, awarded to the first-place marathon winner at the first ever modern Olympics, will be on display at the Louvre in Paris. Credit: FocalPoint. CC BY-4.0/Wikimedia Commons/FocalPoint

In anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Louvre Museum has curated a new exhibition titled “Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy”, which dives into the rich history of the Olympic Games, including the influence of ancient Greece on them.

The Louvre’s Upcoming Exhibition for the Paris Olympics 2024

The upcoming exhibition is set to open on April 24, and will present a focus on the genesis of the modern Olympic Games, shedding light on France’s significant role in their establishment, especially in Paris.

“The exhibition firstly seeks to tell the unknown story of the creation of the modern Olympic Games and to highlight the role played by France, and Paris in particular. Many may know Pierre de Coubertin as the father of the modern Olympics, but “Olympism” will also spotlight lesser-known figures, like Dimitrios Vikelas, Michel Bréal and Spyridon Lambros,” a statement from the Louvre read.

It went on, “A highlight of the show will be the first Olympic Cup, known as “Bréal’s Cup,” designed by French academic Michel Bréal and given to the winner of the first marathon. The cup is on a special loan from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.”

Other items that will be displayed at the Louvre in Paris include ephemera, from the first Olympics, which took place in Athens in 1896.

Louvre Museum.
Louvre Museum. Credit: archer10 Dennis. CC BY-2.0/flickr

The Louvre’s statement said, “as part of the programme of cultural events accompanying the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the exhibition will show how, in the name of sport, the disciplines of philology, history, art history and archaeology came together to create this global sporting event.”

“Olympism” has been curated by Alexandre Farnoux, Professor of Greek Archaeology and Art History at Sorbonne University; Violaine Jeammet, Senior Curator in the Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Musee de Louvre; and Christina Mitsopoulou, Archaeologist at the University of Thessaly, French School of Athens.

In the lead up to the Olympics, the flagship Parisian museum is working to ready itself for the crowds of visitors expected. In January, it increased its basic ticket price from 17 euros to 22 euros.

According to the Art Newspaper, the 30 percent price hike “will help to subsidise free entry for certain individuals. Teachers of art history, visitors aged under 18 from the European Union, staff from the French Ministry of Culture and disabled visitors all qualify for free admission.”

The First Every Modern-Day Olympics

Athens was unanimously chosen to host the first ever international, modern-day Olympic Games during a congress organized by Coubertin in Paris, on June 23, 1894, during which the International Olympic Committee was also formed.

Olympic Second Place medal, Athens 1896.
Olympic Second Place medal, Athens 1896. Credit: Yoho2001. CC BY 3.0/Wikimedia Commons/Yoho2001

This decision went ahead because Greece was the birth place of the ancient Olympic Games.

The main venue in the 1896 games was the Panathenaic Stadium, where athletics and wrestling took place; other venues included the Neo Phaliron Velodrome for cycling and the Zappeion for fencing.

These Ancient Greek Games Shaped Our Modern World

An AI depiction of ancient Greek athletes.
Victory in the four Panhellenic Games was not merely personal achievement. It was also a matter of great honor for city-states. Credit: AI depiction from DALLE for the Greek Reporter

Not many events in history show what the culture of ancient Greece was like as well as the four main ancient Greek games called ”the Panhellenic Games” do.

These games were much more than just sports competitions. They were a key part of the life of the Greeks. They were exemplary of the importance of a united Greek front, the love of competition, and the deep religious commitment to the gods.

These were times when Greek city-states, which were typically at war with each other, would put a stop to conflicts to share their unique culture and compete in a friendly way. Through their physical talents and skills, participating athletes competed not only for their own fame but also to honor their gods. Their victories motivated fellow Greeks and left a lasting mark on their legacies.

Celebrating Greek unity with the four crown Games

Among the numerous festivals and competitions in ancient Greece, four stood out as the crown jewels: the Olympic, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian Games.

These were also known as the Panhellenic Games, with panhellenic referring to the whole of Greece. These festivities drew participants and spectators from every corner of the Greek world. They celebrated not only their love for sports but also their religious devotion, artistic expression, and love for a good spectacle; attributes that can be found in our modern world too.

The Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus at Olympia. As we all know today, they were the most renowned. Beginning in 776 BCE, they set the standard for athletic competition, featuring events such as the stadion race, wrestling, and the pentathlon.

olympic flame at ancient Olympia
Olympic Flame ceremony at ancient Olympia, Greece. Credit : Amna

The Pythian Games were centered around Delphi and celebrated Apollo. They included musical and artistic contests alongside athletic ones, reflecting Apollo’s patronage of the arts.

The Nemean Games were also dedicated to Zeus. They were famous for their brutal foot races and combat sports, echoing the heroic struggles of Heracles.

Finally, the Isthmian Games were held in honor of Poseidon near Corinth. They showcased events such as chariot racing and the unique contest of pankration, a no-holds-barred blend of boxing and wrestling.

Each of these festivals had its unique characteristics and events. However, they all shared a common purpose: to honor the gods and forge a sense of unity in the fractured Greek world. Held in sacred sites, these games were both a religious pilgrimage and an athletic endeavor of their own kind.

If we think about the modern Olympic Games, one of its main goal is to unite our fracture world and bring people and communities from across the globe together.

Mythical foundations: The origins of the Games

These four ancient Greek Games called ”the Panhellenic Games” find their deep roots in Greek myths and history. They can be traced to a time of stories with gods, heroes, and the universe. Legends have it that Heracles himself started one of them, the Olympic Games, to honor Zeus after finishing his twelve labors. In a similar way, the Pythian Games celebrated Apollo beating the Python, a monster from Delphi.

Pythian Games Delphi ancient Greece
The stadium at Delphi which was the site of the Pythian Games in antiquity. Credit: wikimedia commons / Zde CC BY SA 4.0

These stories show how the games were not just about religion but also the way the Greeks liked to link events with myths. Beyond these mythological beginnings, of course, these ancient Games were living proof of the Greek ideal of “ekecheiria,” or Olympic truce.

During this period, city-states across the Greek world would stop hostilities to allow athletes and spectators alike to travel safely to and from the games. This remarkable tradition says a lot about the role of these games in a common Greek identity that would transcend the individual city-states. All four games were a time when Greeks from distant colonies and rival city-states would come together—this time, not as adversaries but as participants in a grand, unifying event.

The games included many different contests, honoring various gods. Athletes participated in short and long races, wrestling, boxing, archery, and chariot racing. Each contest tested athletes’ physical strength and mental sharpness, aiming to create well-balanced individuals, a crucial ideal for Greeks.

Training for these contests was obviously tough and could last for months or even years. Athletes worked hard in gyms and training areas all over Greece to improve their bodies and abilities. However, it wasn’t only about physical stamina. Competitors of these games also had to adhere to strict rules pertaining to conduct and fair play, showing the true ethos with which their cities and they themselves fought.

All these fundamental elements of preparation and play during these games have managed to reach our modern world. A modern athlete can undoubtedly understand how important training, being strong and competitive but –above all– being fair is.

This is why the victory in these games was not just a personal achievement. It was a matter of great honor for the city-states themselves. Winners were often granted significant rewards. These would range from financial incentives to lifelong privileges. The names of winners would be immortalized in poems and statues that would adorn their cities. The true prize, however, was glory—both for themselves and for their towns. It was a testament to the value placed on honor by the Greeks. One can indubitably see here the similarities with the glory and fame modern athletes gain.

These events and competitions reflected the values of ancient Greek society. They were a celebration of human potential, showing the world the Greek belief that excellence in sports was linked to excellence in life as a whole. These fundamental beliefs have deeply shaped the modern world of sports as well.

The cultural and religious face of the Games

The Panhellenic Games were much more than just sports. They were a deep part of ancient Greek culture and religion. All four events were highly valued by Greek society—not just for the sports themselves but also for how they connected to spiritual and artistic life. Each festival was filled with religious activities, including sacrifices to the gods, large parades, and the setting up of statues and temples. These acts showed that the games were a way to honor the gods, with sports being simply one way to show respect to them.

In today’s world, we see elements of this tradition in the way many people pray before they take part in a competition or in the way towns, cities and communities organize activities and events before, during and after major athletic competitions.

Moreover, the four main ancient Greek games were also a chance for poets, musicians, and artists of every kind to show their talents to a wider audience, celebrating thinking and creativity. These festivals mixed sports, culture, and religion in a unique and beautiful way. They showcased how all parts of Greek life were connected, bringing people together from far and near. This would allow them to celebrate what they all shared: their sense of being Greek although they hailed from cities that also had many differences.

The timeless impact of the competitions

The impact of the Panhellenic Games extends far beyond the ancient Greek world. It etches through centuries, influencing modern sports and culture.

The revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens, inspired by the ancient Olympics, shows the enduring and timeless legacy of these ancient Greek games. Today’s Olympics try to promote the same spirit of peace, unity, and fair competition, ideals that defined the ancient games.

Additionally, the Panhellenic Games left a lasting mark on the cultural and educational traditions of future generations, too. Today’s concept of the well-rounded individual, excelling in both mind and body, can trace its roots back to these ancient competitions. The games played a vital role in achieving a balance of physical strength, artistic inspiration, and intellectual sharpness.

ancient Nemea stadium, Greece
Ancient stadium of Nemean Games. Credit: Wikimedia Commons /Michael Mehnert CC BY 3.0

The Greek Games’ universal message

We can undoubtedly say that the Panhellenic Games were more than simple sports competitions somewhere in ancient Greece. They celebrated core but fundamental ideals that speak to us all. Physical skills, religious beliefs, and the feeling of unity were among those. The games showed how much the Greeks valued what they called “arete,” related to “excellence.” It was this aim for a balanced growth of body, mind, and spirit that has managed to travel through time and shape our very own lives forever.

Hence, looking back at these four ancient Greek Games, we see how universal Greek ideals have influenced modern sports, culture, and education. The games proved that competition wasn’t only about winning for oneself. It was primarily about honoring something greater as teams of equals rather than fighting factions that oppose each other. This way, the spirit of the Panhellenic Games continues to live on, reminding us of how sports and culture can bring people together and serve as an inspiration.

The Mystery of the Oldest Throne in Europe at the Palace of Knossos

Knossos throne room crete minoan
The Minoan palace at Knossos in Crete is home to the oldest throne in Europe. Credit: Gary Bembridge/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0

The magnificent throne room in the 15th century BC palace of Knossos in Crete at the center of Minoan civilization is believed to be the oldest such room in Europe.

The Minoan civilization flourished for approximately two thousand years.

The magnificent Knossos complex had large palace buildings, extensive workshop installations, and a luxurious rock-cut cave and tholos tombs. As a major center of trade and the economy, Knossos maintained ties with the majority of cities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The palace was a great labyrinthine complex of 20,000 meters (65,616 feet) in length, a ceremonial, religious, and political center that reflected great wealth, power, and highly advanced architecture.

It was based around a central courtyard with more than a thousand interlinked, maze-like halls and chambers.

knossos throne
Photo: Olaf Tausch/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0

Minoan palace of Knossos home to the oldest throne in Europe

The throne room was unearthed in 1900 by British archaeologist Arthur Evans during the first phase of his excavations in Knossos.

It was found in the center of the palatial complex and west of the central court. The chamber contains an alabaster seat on the north wall, identified by Evans as a “throne,” while two Griffins resting on each side are gazing at it, seemingly paying obeisance to the figure who sits there.

The griffins are mythical creatures that combine a lion and an eagle—two beasts that rule the land and the earth and symbolize divinity and kingship. However, these two are unusual because although they are beautifully elaborated with collars and something like a crown, they do not have wings.

fresco minoan
Griffin fresco in the throne room. Credit: Cavorite /Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0

According to Evans’ estimates, a total of thirty people could be accommodated both in the throne room and its anteroom.

Initially, Evans identified the stone throne as the seat of the mythical king of Crete, Minos, evidently applying knowledge from Greek mythology. Other archaeologists suggest that the throne room was a sanctuary of a female divinity and that a priestess who sat there was the person who represented her on earth.

knossos throne
Photo: Jebulon /Wikimedia commons/ Public domain

According to most archaeologists, the throne itself may have actually had more religious than political significance, functioning in the re-enactment of epiphany rituals involving a High Priestess, as suggested by the iconography of griffins, palms, and altars in the wall-paintings. More recently, it has been suggested that the room was only used at dawn at certain times of the year for specific ceremonies.

Various archaeologists claim that the room and its furniture most likely date to the time of the Mycenaean takeover circa after 1,450 BC when political conditions in Crete were entirely different, as indicated by the concurrent appearance of elite tombs, individual burials, and the presence of the Mycenaean Greek “Linear B” script.

At that time, the palace at Knossos seems to have been modified in a minor way in order to include features such as the throne room. The stylized paintings of heraldically opposed griffins were especially popular in later-era Mycenaean wall painting but uncommon prior to this in Crete.

For instance, similar wall decoration was also found in the throne room of the Mycenaean palace of Pylos in the Peloponnese.

Leak of Greek Diaspora Emails Rocks Government

Syntagma , Greek parliament
A New Democracy Member of the European Parliament sent a barrage of emails to voters abroad minutes after they were informed how to vote by mail. Credit: jebulon cc 1, Wikimedia Commons

The scandal caused by the leak of the Greek diaspora’s emails has rocked the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

On Friday, a deputy minister resigned, a governing New Democracy official was fired, and an MEP withdrew from the elections for the European Parliament.

Interior Ministry General Secretary Michalis Stavrianoudakis on Friday tendered his resignation, New Democracy’s Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Nikos Theodoropoulos, was dismissed and MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou announced that she would not be contesting in the June election.

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.

MEP denies wrongdoing in the leak of Greek diaspora emails

She had earlier denied any wrongdoing. She denied that she hadn’t sought their consent as required by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

​​“One hundred days before the European elections, my office sent a newsletter to Greeks abroad using contact information that I collected during the last five years as an MEP, to ask their permission to communicate with them regularly, as I always have done, concerning personal data and GDPR since 2018.”

“I have never received personal data from the Interior Ministry or any other government body on Greeks living abroad,” she added.

Asimakopoulou 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.

Friday’s developments followed Mitsotakis’ comments on Tuesday, 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.

Kasselakis blames Mitsotakis for the leak of voter email addresses

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.”

SYRIZA Leader Stefanos Kasselakis Begins Military Service

Stefanos Kasselakis military service
Stefanos Kasselakis joined the Greek Army on Friday. Credit: AMNA

Stefanos Kasselakis, the leader of Greek main opposition SYRIZA, is starting his brief military service in an army barrack in Thebes on Friday. He is due to receive basic military training for 20 days.

Military service is mandatory for all Greek males. Kasselakis had been exempt from military service as he was residing in the US since age 14. When he returned to Greece he had two options: Spending six months in the military or serving for three weeks and buying off the rest of his time.

While it has a sizeable number of professional troops, Greece’s military is still conscription-based, with service in most cases set at 12 months.

“Proud to do military service in Thebes”, Stefanos Kasselakis says

Before entering the army barracks he was welcomed by the locals in the the central square of Thebes, who offered gifts and good wishes. Some said it was their honor to have the leader of the opposition in the town.

“It is an honor to be here to serve my country as an expatriate who has returned to contribute to his country,” Kasselakis said.

Earlier this week he posted a video on TikTok having an “army-style” haircut. The video begins with Kasselakis holding his dog, Farley, and saying “I’m going to miss her”. The hairdresser asks how he would like his hair done and he replies: “SYRIZA,” which in Greek means very short, to the roots.

When asked about the parting of his hair, he says “Toward the left, where my heart beats.”

The turbulent leadership of Stefanos Kasselakis

Kasselakis, 36, a former businessman without political experience who is gay, was the surprise winner at the SYRIZA elections held last September.

He took the reigns of the party a few months after the catastrophic election results in June/July 2023 that forced former leader and former PM Alexis Tsipras to resign.

His meteoric rise to leadership had upset many leftwing traditionalists who accused him of “right-wing populism” and authoritarian practices.

On 23 November 2023, 9 Members of Parliament (MPs), 1 Member of the European Parliament (MEP), and 57 central committee members declared their departure from the political party in protest of Kasselakis’ leadership.

Notable figures among them included Effi Achtsioglou along with other former ministers. A few days later previously resigned MPs Euclid Tsakalotos and Peti Perka joined forces with the 9 MPs to announce the establishment of a new political entity called “New Left”.

More recently amidst political turmoil and disagreements regarding Kasselakis’ approaches and agenda, MPs and members of the central committee of SYRIZA initiated a rebellion against Kasselakis’ decision to conduct a survey asking the party’s voters whether SYRIZA should alter its name and ideological focus.

Related: Stefanos Kasselakis: The Rising Star of the Greek Left

Buried Next to His Sandals 2,500 Years Ago in Ancient Greek City of Sicyon

Ancient Greek City of Sicyon
The sandals (on the left) were discovered next to the remains of a man who died 2,500 years ago. Credit: Ministry of Culture

The ancient Greek city of Sicyon located in northern Peloponnese may not be as well known as other city-states but excavations in the last few years are bringing to light important clues about its history.

One of the most spectacular discoveries was a 2,500 grave containing the remains of a man. Archaeologists were surprised to find a pair of sandals laid next to the skeleton.

The excavations up to now have not revealed the entire ancient city, but they have unearthed residential remains of the Classical and Late Classical periods, consisting of rooms of houses and parts of domestic workshops.

Pottery from the 6th century B.C. was discovered in addition to pebble mosaic floors, as well as walls clad in red and yellow plaster.

Ancient Greek City of Sicyon
Excavations continue to find more of the ancient city. Credit: Ministry of Culture

The archaeological site lies just west of the modern village of Sikyona (previously Vasiliko) between Corinth and Achaea. It includes the excavated area of the Agora of the Hellenistic and Roman city, the Theatre, the Stadium and the Roman Baths, which have been restored.

The theater of the Ancient Greek City of Sicyon

ancient theater
The ancient theater at Sicyon. Public Domain

The theater was carved into a natural depression at the foothills of the Hellenistic Acropolis and dates back to the late 4th century B.C.

It consists of the Koilon, the Orchestra and the Scene (stage-building); the two vaulted passages at the sides of the Koilon, used for the entrance of the spectators, constitute unique examples of Hellenistic architecture.

During the Roman era, several adjustments were made to the building, especially the Scene.

With a seating area estimated at 122 meters (400 feet) wide and 58 meters (190 feet) deep, it is one of the largest theaters in the Peloponnese.

The present-day ruins at Sicyon are a faint reminder of the Romanized theater the historian Pausanias visited in the second century AD.

In his day, the historian Pausanias recorded the scene at Sicyon thus: “On the stage of the theater built under the citadel is a statue of a man with a shield, who they say is Aratus, the son of Cleinias. After the theater is a temple of Dionysus.”

Sadly, the “statue of Aratus,” as noted by Pausanias, has long since vanished, as have the columns and carved marble ornaments that once graced the theatre’s façade.

Sicyon became a democracy in the 3rd century BC

An ancient monarchy at the time of the Trojan War, the city was ruled by several tyrants during the Archaic and Classical periods and became a democracy in the 3rd century BC. Sicyon was celebrated for its contributions to ancient Greek art, producing many famous painters and sculptors.

In Hellenistic times it was also the home of Aratus of Sicyon, the leader of the Achaean League.

Ancient Greek City of Sicyon
Architectural remains at ancient Sicyon. Credit: Ministry of Culture

Sicyon was built on a low triangular plateau about 3 kilometers (two miles) from the Corinthian Gulf. Between the city and its port lay a fertile plain with olive groves and orchards.

The 4th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Archaeology is responsible for all city excavations, as well as those in the surrounding area. Movable objects which were found at the site are now housed in the onsite Sicyon Museum, which opened in 2007.

What Is Rhodium, More Than Two Times the Price of Gold?

Rhodium Gold
Pure rhodium bead, 1 gram. Credit: Hi-Res Images of Chemical Elements, CC BY 3.0.

The most precious and expensive metal in the world is not gold but a rare and hard metal called rhodium, a name derived from the Greek ‘rhodon,’ meaning rose-colored.

The value of rhodium is far higher than the price of gold, which is currently at $2,161 per ounce.

Rhodium, which sells for $$4,750 per ounce, now holds the distinction of the most costly and rarest metal in the world.

Rhodium is found in platinum or nickel ores with other members of the platinum group metals. It was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston in one such ore and named for the rose color of one of its chlorine compounds.

Rhodium belongs to the transition metal series and is chemically unreactive with oxygen, classifying it as a noble metal. This unique property makes it a perfect catalyst, resistant to both corrosion and oxidation.

With its exceptional hardness and a melting point of 1,964 degrees Celsius (3,567 degrees Fahrenheit), rhodium shares its position among the platinum group metals, including palladium, osmium, platinum, iridium, and ruthenium.

The element’s major use (consuming about 80 percent of world rhodium production) is as one of the catalysts in the three-way catalytic converters in automobiles. I

It is often also used as plating for white gold and other jewelry. Jewelry and timepieces are plated with rhodium to create a gleaming, robust surface that resists scratching and tarnishing.

Gold is relatively abundant compared to rhodium

In the Earth’s crust, rhodium occurs at a mere 0.000037 parts per million, while gold is relatively abundant at about 0.0013 parts per million, according to the British Royal Society of Chemistry.

Rhodium production primarily takes place in South Africa, Canada, and Russia, often as a byproduct of refining copper and nickel ores containing up to 0.1 percent of this precious metal.

Approximately sixteen tons of rhodium are produced annually, with an estimated reserve of three thousand tons.

In a May 2023 report, Market Research Future (MRFR) estimated that the rhodium market is projected to reach $3.55 billion by 2030 at a rate of 4.39 percent.

It notes that the requirement for rhodium used in catalytic converters for cars is rising due to various government regulations being implemented in different nations to reduce carbon emissions.

Additionally, the industry is witnessing the development of fresh technologies such as 3D printing, additive production, and nanomaterials, creating fresh possibilities for the use of rhodium.

“Since rhodium is a precious and rare metal, demand is anticipated to increase over the next few years as more people discover its many uses,” MRFR notes in its report.

It warns, however, that when compared to other metals, rhodium is too expensive.

“This limits the applications for which it can be used and is expected to restrain market growth,” the report concludes. “The global rhodium market is anticipated to face challenges from scarce resources and growing demand for applications that will pressure its supply.”

Scylla and Charybdis Embodied Male Fears in Greek Mythology

Scylla and charybdis
The mythological Greek monster Scylla, who was said to haunt the straits of Messina and to have killed six of Odysseus’ men. She is shown with a kētos tail and dog heads sprouting from her body. Detail from a red-figure bell-crater in the Louvre, 450–425 B.C. This form of Scylla was prevalent in ancient depictions, though very different from the description in Homer, where she is land-based and more dragon-like. The monsters of Greek mythology form the very concepts of terror for us. The creatures Scylla and Charybdis are no exceptions to this rule. Photo Credit: Jastrow (2006)/ Public Domain

Through the great power and influence of Greek literary works, the monsters of Greek mythology have come to form the very concepts of terror in the imagination of Western European peoples. The creatures Scylla and Charybdis are no exceptions to this rule.

It is worthwhile then to wonder why there are so many of these beings that are female and what that says about the basic dichotomy of men and women. Were ancient storytellers and writers so scared of females deep down that they had to give them horrifying attributes, portraying them as threatening?

And how has this portrayal affected the present day, influencing our worldviews, and in particular our concept of the female?

In a recent article in Smithsonian, Norah McGreevy posits that “Monsters reveal more about humans than one might think.”

“What counts as human?”

“As figments of the imagination, the alien, creepy-crawly, fanged, winged and otherwise-terrifying creatures that populate myths,” McGreevy says, “have long helped societies define cultural boundaries and answer an age-old question: What counts as human, and what counts as monstrous?”

Scylla greek mythology
Scylla, the female monster who guarded the straits of Messina in Greek mythology, was portrayed with a beautiful face and voluptuous figure by Bartholomeus Spranger in his 1581 painting “Glaucus and Scylla.” Credit: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

More disturbingly, do the stories that relate men’s conquering of these monsters actually translate to an innate desire to dominate women?

Homer confronts Scylla and Charybdis

In the greatest of all Greek epic poems, Homer’s Odyssey, which was composed sometime around the seventh or eighth century B.C., on his way back home from Troy, the hero must make the impossible decision of choosing between fighting Scylla, who is portrayed as a six-headed, twelve-legged barking monster, and Charybdis, a sea creature.

Tasked with passing through what McGreevy describes interestingly as “a narrow, perilous channel fraught with danger,” Odysseus and his unsuspecting men are confronted with Scylla—a monstrous creature that varyingly has six heads and necks that extend to hideous lengths residing in a clifftop cave.

Furthermore, her jaws can catch and devour unsuspecting sailors. On the other side of the strait, sea monster Charybdis threatens to destroy the entire ship, drowning all the men on it.

The wrong woman

Can this simply be a parable for the fear men have of falling into the clutches of the wrong woman? Or—most likely—a way of saying that no matter what a man does, he will indeed fall into the clutches of the wrong woman?

In this work, at least one of the fearsome beings is described as unmistakably female with Homer describing Scylla with few human characteristics. But in the Roman poet Ovid’s retelling of the Greek myth, written approximately 700 years later, Circe, a witch, turns on Scylla in a fit of jealousy toward her “sister” goddess, transforming her legs into barking dogs.

Naturally, in the modern world of today, these fables are seen as just interesting parables that were perhaps a natural result of the tall tales that are told around the campfires of fighting men.

“Quasi-historical reality”

For ancient people, however, McGreevy says that they “reflected a quasi-historical reality,” so common in all of Greek mythology, where the gods cavorted alongside humans and of course even sometimes had offspring with them.

Anything is possible when that happens.

So it makes sense that all the fears and psychological manifestations of anger that men may have had at that time received a free rein in these stories which were recited, let us not forget, almost entirely by men.

Charybdis, which may in reality have been a whirlpool—an existential threat to any sailor— was portrayed as a woman who was a churning pit of insatiable hunger. The Greek historian Polybius, writing in the second century B.C., was the first to suggest that it was indeed a whirlpool that had long threatened actual sailors along the Strait of Messina.

“In men’s hands, they have always been heroic”

Since any man who got near her would be swallowed up, it isn’t difficult to sense the fear of men who were afraid they could lose their freedom to a woman in that particular portrayal.

In The Odyssey, the greatest of all Greek heroes just barely escapes her grasp by clinging to the splinters that were left of his ship.

Journalist and critic Jess Zimmerman argues in Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology that “Women have been monsters, and monsters have been women, in centuries’ worth of stories because stories are a way to encode these expectations and pass them on.”

It is true that frightening female creatures feature in cultural traditions the world over, but Zimmerman focused on ancient Greek and Roman works of literature and art, which have had, by far, the most influence on American culture.

Zimmerman argues convincingly that the “monstrous” qualities these female creatures had to ancient eyes can alternatively be seen by modern readers as their greatest strengths.

Instead of fearing and loathing these ancient monsters, why can’t contemporary readers today view them as heroes in their own right with all the fantastical and usually fearsome attributes that all the Greek gods had in mythology?

“The traits the [monsters] represent—aspiration, knowledge, strength, desire—are not hideous,” Zimmerman says. “In men’s hands, they have always been heroic.”

‘Kinds of Kindness’ by Lanthimos Starring Emma Stone Set for Release in June

Lanthimos Stone
After Poor Things, Lanthimos and Stone are set to release a new movie. Credits:   Anna HanksCC BY 2.0 and Nicholas R. Andrew, Public Domain Mark 1.0.

“Kinds of Kindness,” the next film helmed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, will open in US theaters on June 21.

The announcement was made by Searchlight, the indie studio that’s distributing the film.

Though the plot remains under wraps, “Kinds of Kindness” is an anthology film that reunites Stone with her “Poor Things” co-stars Willem Dafoe and Margaret Qualley, as well as “The Favourite” actor Joe Alwyn. Jesse Plemons, Hong Chau, Hunter Schafer and Mamoudou Athie will round out the cast.

Lanthimos penned the screenplay with Efthimis Filippou, with whom he co-wrote the dark thrillers and absurdist comedies, “The Lobster,” “Killing of a Sacred Deer” and “Dogtooth.” The movie, originally titled “And,” was shot in New Orleans in late 2022.

The Athens-born director teased what audiences can expect from the new contemporary film set in the US, during a British Film Institute event in January.

“It’s three different stories, and we’re finishing the edit right now, and I still can’t tell you exactly what it is about,” he said at the time.

“But I also wouldn’t want to tell you what I thought the stories are about because it just makes it so small. I try not to even think about it during the process because I’m afraid that it will make my choices more narrow.”

“Kinds of Kindness” comes after Lanthimos and Stone Oscars

The news comes as Lanthimos’ Poor Things won four Oscars from 11 nominations earlier this week, including Stone’s second Academy Award trophy for best actress following 2016’s La La Land.

Poor Things also won best production design, costume design, and makeup and hairstyling.

The pair also previously worked together on 2018’s The Favourite, which landed 10 Oscar nominations including best supporting actress for Stone, with the movie’s lone win going to Olivia Colman for lead actress.

In between the two highly praised films, the two worked together in Greece for Bleat, a surrealistic black-and-white short film about a grieving widow that’s only screened a handful of times as it requires a live orchestra.

They are already in talks to arrange their sixth movie, a remake of the South Korean fantasy comedy “Save the Green Planet.”

Stone has spoken about her creative partnership with Lanthimos, saying: “Yorgos feels like a lot of his process of working with people or putting people in his films has to do with who they are as a person. It’s not just performance-based.”

Polio Survivor Who Lived in Iron Lung for 70 years Dies

Paul Alexander polio survivor
Paul Alexander pictured in 1986 was a polio victim since the age of six, and had spent much of his life in an iron lung. Public Domain

Paul Alexander, an American who had polio and spent more than 70 years living in an iron lung, passed away at the age of 78.

Living in Texas in the summer of 1952, Alexander was six years old when he contracted the virus. It took until 1955 to license the first polio vaccine that proved effective.

Alexander was placed in an iron lung, which at the time was cutting-edge life support technology that breathed for the patient, as the infection rendered him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe on his own.

In the ensuing seventy years, Alexander attended college, practiced law, and wrote a memoir called “Three Minutes for a Dog”.

On Tuesday, March 12, news of Alexander’s passing was shared via a GoFundMe campaign set up by Christopher Ulmer, an American disability rights activist who had the opportunity to meet and speak with Alexander in 2022.

“His story traveled wide and far, positively influencing people around the world,” Ulmer wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Paul was an incredible role model that will continue to be remembered.”

Polio that can lead to paralysis almost eradicated

Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious, viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of 5 and can sometimes invade the nervous system, leading to paralysis.

In the early half of the 20th century, polio outbreaks in Europe and the United States led to the introduction of iron lungs. At Boston Children’s Hospital, the first one was utilized in 1928 to save the life of an 8-year-old girl.

The devices are large, horizontal cylinders that act as artificial respirators, which work by mimicking the breathing process: air is first sucked out of the box by air pumps that are operated either manually or using a motor.

This creates a vacuum that causes the patient’s lungs to expand and draw air in. Then, the air is let back into the boxes, increasing the pressure inside and thus deflating the patient’s lungs to expel air.

The first polio vaccine rolled out in the 1950s, was developed by an American virologist named Jonas Salk. Following this, a global initiative sought to eradicate the disease — to drive the number of cases to zero, permanently — from 1988 onward.

Only a small number of people who were previously utilizing iron lungs, like Alexander, continue to do so as the number of polio cases has decreased.

These days, patients who require assistance breathing are provided access to sophisticated ventilators that do not require the patient to be immobilized in a tube.