What a Clinic Looked Like in Ancient Greece

Ancient Greek Clinic
The young physician is depicted in a sitting position using a small type of lancet to stimulate bloodletting from the patient. Public Domain

The first realistic depiction of an outpatient clinic in ancient Greece is on a drawing on a small vase created in Athens around 470 B.C. now on display at the Louvre Museum in France.

The drawing on the vase called aryvallos depicts a physician performing bloodletting on a patient. Another five males, four of them with injuries holding canes, are waiting their turn.

Among them, a dwarf holding a hare on his shoulder can be seen. Suction cups on the wall and a copper basin on the floor for blood collection are also included in the picture.

Ancient Greek clinic
The waiting patients at the clinic. Public Domain

The characters depicted in the clinic of ancient Greece

The young physician of light complexion is depicted in a sitting position using a small type of lancet, to cause bloodletting from a vein of the right arm of an almost nude, bearded man with dark hair who is standing and supporting himself with a cane which he holds in his left hand.

The painting includes another five male figures. On the right side of the patient, there is a male figure. That man is sitting and is unclothed above the waist. He has a beard and dark hair. A bandage can be seen covering his upper arm.

Another man who is dressed and also has a beard and dark hair is standing behind him, raising his right hand in a gesture, as if addressing the physician. A bandage covers part of his left arm. It can be assumed that the two latter men are awaiting their turn to be examined.

An additional bearded man with dark hair is standing behind the previous one. He stands and crosses his feet. He has his right hand on his waist and is leaning to the left, supported by a crunch.

This last figure is looking down at a bearded nude dwarf who carries a hare on his shoulder. Finally, there is another man, who is dressed and has no beard and a light complexion. He appears to be moving with the support of a cane towards the rear of the physician who is sitting. A bandage covers part of his left leg.

On the wall, above the physician who is sitting, three suction cups can be seen—two on his left and one on his right side.

Earliest known realistic scene of medical service

The vase (aryvallos) depicts the earliest known realistic scene of medical service in Western history, the authors of a recent study wrote in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

“All previous Ancient Greek scenes which dealt with relevant themes, invariably included ‘holy’ and divine interventions,” says co-author Manolis Stefanakis, Professor of classical archeology at the Department of Mediterranean Studies of the University of the Aegean.

“Trauma management, as well as bloodletting seem to form part of the everyday medical practice of that time, while gifts to physicians (one of the possible explanations of the dwarf’s hare, which is depicted in the aryvallos scene) were common.

“Additionally, historical sources reveal that Ancient Greek physicians were well-paid and much respected,” the Greek professor adds. “Medicine has always been an honorable practice throughout the centuries.”

“Through the illustration of the vase, the painter approaches in a rudimentary, but clear way, issues such as the space and furniture of the doctor’s office, the doctor’s position and attitude, his morals and remuneration, the patient’s attitude, the dressing of a wound—with indirect reference to the practice of phlebotomy and the use of bloody suction cups-, as well as the special case of achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that is the most common form of dwarfism,” Stefanakis told the Athens Macedonia News Agency (AMNA).

The vessel stands out for its two particularities: its shape and the figurative decoration it bears on the belly band.

As for the shape, it is relatively rare to find a spherical aryvallus in Attica, a shape—and a vase in general—that is mostly assigned to Corinth during the 7th and 6th centuries BC.

As far as the figurative decoration is concerned, the vase stands out both for its red-figure technique and for its historical contribution to the daily life of the ancient Athenians, being the only figurative testimony to date of an active Athenian medical center,” Stefanakis told AMNA.

Greek Wines Command Higher Prices in World Export Markets

Greek wines
A 12.7 percent price jump in Greek wine exports to France and a 6.4 percent in the US was recorded last year. Credit: Facebook/Taverna Opa Restaurants

Greek wines are steadily commanding higher prices in overseas markets, underscoring the increasingly premium quality of the country’s vintages and helping to support the overall value of Greek exports.

Last year, the price of Greek wine increased between 3.6 percent and 5.8 percent on average across the country’s major export markets inside and outside the European Union.

That included a 12.7 percent price jump in Greek wine exports to France, one of Europe’s most sophisticated wine markets, and a 6.4 percent price increase in exports to the U.S., one of the world’s fastest-growing and most competitive wine markets.

The data, derived from official statistics by Greece’s Central Cooperative Union of Wine Products (KEOSOE) also show that exports to Germany, Greece’s single biggest export market that accounts for more than half of Greek exports, rose to €2.71 per kilogram last year, up 6.4 percent from €2.55 in 2022.

Overall, the rising prices commanded worldwide surpassed the average price increase over the previous five years, confirming the premium trend in Greek production.

Greece’s wine industry has been transforming with the entry of hundreds of new vintners and a growing appreciation for Greek wines abroad. Four Greek wineries are among the world’s top wineries listed by Wine & Spirits Magazine, while leading international media, like The New York Times, have favorably reviewed Greek wines in recent years.

Related: Top Ten Greek Wines

Drop in production of Greek wines

However, higher prices are also due to the fall in worldwide production, including in Greece.

In 2023, the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) predicted world wine production would fall to its lowest level in sixty years and, in Greece, a significant decrease of 45 percent compared to 2022 was expected.

This was due to poor harvests in the Southern Hemisphere and in some major European producers, including Greece.

Based on the information collected on twenty-nine countries, which accounted for 94 percent of the global production in 2022, world wine production (excluding juices and musts) in 2023 was expected to have been between 241.7 mhl and 246.6 mhl, with a mid-range estimate at 244.1 mhl . This would represent a decrease of seven percent compared to the already below-average volume of 2022, OIV said.

Greece had an expected wine production in 2023 of 1.1 mhl. This volume represents a significant decrease not only from 2022 (-45 percent) but also from its last five-year average (-50 percent).

This can be attributed to the heavy rainfalls during spring which caused grape diseases (notably downy mildew) and to elevated temperatures and drought in summer months that strongly impacted the vines, OIV notes.

In early September 2023, the Greek Winemakers Association’s leader, Yiannis Voyatzis, said that wine production was expected to drop by 30 percent, primarily attributed to the prevalence of downy mildew.

Related: The Cretan Who Made Greek Wines Famous in Florida

 

Hypatia: The Female Greek Philosopher Killed for Her Beliefs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Loved and respected in Alexandria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christian fanatics killed Hypatia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Was Hypatia a victim of politics?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purchasing Power of Greeks Second From Bottom in the EU

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

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

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

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

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

Greeks
Credit: Eurostat

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

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

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

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

Greeks face European prices with low purchasing power

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

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

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

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

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

Santorini Is the Second Best Honeymoon Destination in the World

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

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

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

Santorini Honeymoon Destination
Credit: Slingo

Top three honeymoon destinations, including Santorini

Bali, Indonesia

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

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

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

Santorini, Greece

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

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

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

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

Cancún, Mexico

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

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

Top honeymoon destinations in Greece beyond Santorini

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

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

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

Discover the top 7 honeymoon destinations in Greece

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fall in the value

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

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

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

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

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

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

How the Iconic Shipwreck of Greece’s Zakynthos Was Created

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

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

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

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

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

How the shipwreck was created

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shipwreck on Greece’s Zakynthos under threat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christoforos Papakaliatis
Christoforos Papakaliatis. Credit: capitallink.com

Season Two of Maestro in Blue

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

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

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

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

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

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

Story and production

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

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

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

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

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

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

League of Corinth: The First Time All Greeks United

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

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

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

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

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

The Persian forces and Athens

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

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

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

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

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

The first council of the League

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

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

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

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

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

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

The oath

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The League under Alexander the Great

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Former British Museum Curator Ordered to Return Stolen Artifacts

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

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

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

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

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

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

What happened to the British Museum artifacts?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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