September 6, 1955: the Violent Istanbul Pogrom Against Greeks

Philip Chrysopoulos
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September 6, 1955: the Violent Istanbul Pogrom Against Greeks
istanbul pogrom greeks
Turkish people destroying Greek businesses during the Istanbul pogrom. Credit: Public domain

In 1955, the large Greek population of the Turkish city of Istanbul was victim to a heinous pogrom that resulted in the suffering and death of many and the destruction of countless homes and businesses.

The Greeks in Istanbul were a longstanding, thriving community comprised mostly of families of merchants. In 1955, their population was about one hundred thousand, and they were a prominent class in the city.

At the time, Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes (1950-1960) sought to appeal to the conservative religious faction of the Turkish population, causing irritation in the country’s secular Kemalist establishment. The thousands of mosques built during his time as PM are proof of this.

At the time Istanbul, and Turkey as a whole, was not as prosperous as the Greeks.

Additionally, nationalist fever in the country was rising, as the Greek-Cypriots demanded their union with Greece. The rich Greeks of Istanbul were the perfect scapegoat.

It was a good occasion for the Turkish leaders to distract the public from its problems, turning it against the prosperous Greek minority. On August 28, 1955, Menderes publicly, and falsely, claimed that the Greek-Cypriots were planning massacres against the Turkish-Cypriots.

istanbul pogrom greeks
Credit: Public domain

Pogrom result of resentment, discrimination

In essence, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes decided to turn his people against the prosperous Greeks, blaming them for all the woes of the Turks, much like Hitler had turned most Germans against the prosperous Jewish communities in Germany in the mid-1930s.

Terror unleashed against the Greek community of Istanbul over two days beginning on September 6, 1955 in much the same fashion as Nazi Germany’s Kristalnacht.

The Pogrom, or violent riot aimed at a particular ethnic group, against the Greeks of Istanbul broke out on September 6, 1955 after reports circulated that Greeks planted a bomb at the Turkish Consulate in Thessaloniki, which is housed in the residence where Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish state, was born.

The perpetrator of the bomb was a Turkish usher at the consulate named Oktay Engin, who was arrested by Greek authorities.

Turkish media was silent about the arrest and continued to push the idea that it was a Greek who set off the bomb.

Engin later became a hero in Turkey. He was honored in Turkey and appointed provincial governor.

Years later, in an interview with the Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia, Engin denied any connection with the incident and considered himself a victim of Greek authorities.

istanbul pogrom greeks
Credit: Public domain

The blast at Ataturk’s home caused only minor damage to the building’s windows, but Turkish newspapers took advantage of the situation.

Following government instructions, they magnified and distorted the event. Headlines such as “Greek terrorists destroyed Ataturk’s paternal home” of the Istanbul Express and the publication of a series of fake photos of the incident sparked “spontaneous” demonstrations in Taksim Square in the afternoon of the same day.

The brutality and destruction

At five o’clock in the afternoon, a raging crowd of fifty thousand people turned against the Greek properties in the Pera district.

The looting lasted until the morning hours of September 7th, when the army intervened, as the situation was in danger of spiraling out of control.

Until then, the authorities remained apathetic. Menderes’ Democratic Party, which controlled the unions, played a catalytic role in the rioting.

istnabul pogrom greeks
Credit: Public domain

Large numbers of protesters were transported to Istanbul from West Asia Minor for free to take part in the pogrom against the Greek community.

Four thousand taxis transported them to the scene of the riots while trucks of the Municipality of Istanbul were deployed in parts of the city, loaded with axes, shovels, bats, pickaxes, hammers, iron crowbars, and petrol cans, necessary tools for the mob that attacked the Greek stores.

They shouted slogans like “death to the giaourides (faithless)” and “break it, tear it down, he is giaouris.” “Slaughter the Greek traitors” and “down with Europe” were other common slogans and many shouted about “[marching] against Athens and Thessaloniki.”

Although the rage was directed against the Greeks, the anger of the mob did not spare shops owned by Armenians and Jews.

Men and women were raped, and according to the testimony of the famous Turkish writer Aziz Nesin, many priests were forced to be circumcised, with one of the victims being an Armenian priest. Sixteen Greeks lost their lives and thirty-two were severely injured.

turkey
Credit: Public domain

Violence against the Greeks took place not only in Istanbul but also in Izmir, or Smyrna. On the morning of September 7th, Turkish nationalists set fire to the Greek pavilion at the Izmir International Fair.

They then destroyed the newly built church of Agia Fotini, while looting the homes of Greek soldiers serving at NATO Headquarters.

The world remained silent about the pogrom

The Papagos government tried to make the issue known internationally, but without any significant results.

The Americans and the British were unwilling to pressure Turkey, a valuable ally during the Cold War. NATO allies advised Greece to forget about the incident.

Only the World Council of Churches from international organizations demanded an explanation from Turkey for the destruction of ninety percent of the Orthodox churches in Istanbul.

However, in August 1995, the U.S. Senate called on President Clinton to declare September 6th Pogrom Remembrance Day.

The Pogrom against Hellenism in Istanbul resulted in the death of sixteen Greeks and the injury of thirty-two, the death of one Armenian, the rape of twelve Greek women, and the rape of an unspecified number of men, but the real numbers could be much higher.

Furthermore, the rioting caused the destruction of 4,348 merchant stores, 110 hotels, 27 pharmacies, 23 schools, 21 factories, 73 churches, and about one thousand homes owned by Greeks.

turkey
Credit: Public domain

The financial cost of the damages amounted to $150 million, according to international organizations while the Greek government estimated it at $500 million.

Economic destruction and fear forced thousands of expatriates to emigrate to Greece. Of the one hundred thousand Greeks who resided in Istanbul in 1955, only two thousand remain in the city today.

Later, the Turkish state, through President Celal Bayar, promised compensation for the destruction of Greek property. At best, reparations did not exceed twenty percent of the claims, given that assets had depreciated dramatically.

Many details about the September riots came to light in 1961 during the trial for the ultimate betrayal of ousted military Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, who did not escape the gallows.

The book of eminent Greek-American Byzantine scholar Spyros Vryonis, The Mechanism of Catastrophe: The Turkish Pogrom of September 6-7, 1955 and the Destruction of the Greek Community of Istanbul, (Greekworks.com, New York, 2005), is also a valuable resource on the subject.

Oil Prices Rise as Saudi Arabia and Russia Extend Production Cuts

Maria Rybachuk
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Oil Prices Rise as Saudi Arabia and Russia Extend Production Cuts
Oil tanker carrying Russian oil
Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend a one million barrel per day production cut until December with monthly reviews for adjustments marks a major move in oil production. Credit: Wilfredor / CC0 / via Wikimedia Commons

Oil prices hit a new annual high as Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world’s largest oil exporters, announced an extension of production cuts. Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 1.8 percent and traded above ninety dollars per barrel, while the U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), increased by a similar amount to eighty-seven dollars per barrel.

Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend a production cut of one million barrels per day until the end of December with monthly reviews for possible deeper cuts or production increases, marks one of the largest production cuts in recent years. This move complements a previously announced reduction, effective since July and set to continue until December 2024.

Saudi Arabia’s extended oil production cuts may strain relations with the White House, given criticism of their collaboration with Russia despite the Ukraine situation, Financial Times reports.

The Biden administration aims to keep fuel prices in check for the upcoming presidential election, during which inflation and fuel costs could become Republican talking points. Industry insiders are concerned Putin may manipulate oil supplies to influence the election, as suggested by potential candidates such as Donald Trump.

Saudi Arabia’s ties with Trump, their desire for higher oil prices for economic reforms, and their energy minister’s assertive stance on oil policy are also factors.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Novak announced the extension of an additional reduction in production by three hundred thousand barrels per day until the end of 2023. This decision was made to stabilize the situation on the Russian market and support its financial commitments amid ongoing military invasion in Ukraine. According to Novak, the reduction will be reviewed monthly.

In February 2023, Novak announced that Russia would voluntarily cut oil production in March by five hundred thousand barrels per day. This step was intended to help restore market relations in the face of sanctions.

The production cuts by OPEC+ countries, responsible for forty percent of global crude oil production, have contributed to rising oil prices in recent months, potentially impacting inflation and interest rates. Average gasoline prices in the U.S. have also reached 3.81 dollars per gallon, a few cents higher than the previous year.

Previous Jump in Oil Prices

As it was reported in April, oil prices surged by up to six percent following an announcement that Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and other OPEC+ members would cut production by up to 1.15 million barrels per day from May to the end of 2023.

These cuts had immediate impacts, driving up crude oil prices and likely leading to higher gasoline costs globally. The rise in oil prices posed challenges for central banks, such as the US Federal Reserve, in combating inflation.

New Papyrus With Early Jesus Sayings Released by Scholars

Maria Rybachuk
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New Papyrus With Early Jesus Sayings Released by Scholars
The Last Supper, Juan de Juanes
The newly discovered fragment, which has been titled “Sayings of Jesus,” holds intriguing insights into early Christian thought. Credit: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

The recent discovery of a Christian fragment provides a glimpse into the early Christian worldview before the New Testament’s formation. This artifact is dated to the second century CE, making it one of the earliest known Christian manuscripts from this era.

The importance of this discovery lies not only in its age but also in its content. According to Jeffrey Fish, one of the editors of the fragment, only a few gospel papyri can be securely dated to the second or beginning of the third century.

This fragment stands out as a unique early Christian manuscript. It contains sayings of Jesus that partially align with canonical gospels like Matthew and Luke, as well as some that are exclusively found in the Gospel of Thomas, a non-canonical text.

Its age places it on par with or even earlier than other fragments of the Gospel of Thomas previously unearthed at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt.

Determining the precise date of ancient manuscripts can be challenging, as they lack contextual clues due to their discovery in ancient trash heaps. However, scholars have employed the science of paleography to compare the handwriting in this fragment with that of other dated documents and non-canonical manuscripts. While no dating method is without some degree of uncertainty, experts involved in this research assert that the dating of this fragment is as secure as paleography allows.

Scholars and experts in Christian history will continue to scrutinize and assess the significance of this newfound fragment. Nonetheless, any second-century Christian manuscript is considered invaluable, as it sheds light on the early development of Christian thought and scripture, filling a historical gap in the understanding of the religion’s formative years.

The Importance of the Papyrus Fragment

The recently discovered fragment, which has been titled “Sayings of Jesus,” holds intriguing insights into early Christian thought. While it does not include the phrase “Jesus said,” it appears to be a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus. Its brevity makes it challenging to determine its precise nature, whether part of an unknown Gospel or a text quoting Jesus’s sayings by an early Christian writer.

This fragment’s importance lies in its potential to shed light on how early Christians recorded Jesus’s words. It aligns with the historical idea that, before the composition of the New Testament, early Christians may have initially collected Jesus’s sayings. The Gospel of Thomas, for instance, follows this pattern.

Furthermore, the papyrus touches on the theme of worldly worries, akin to passages in canonical and non-canonical Gospels, urging people not to fret about life’s necessities. Some variations in wording may reflect differing perspectives on human nature.

The fragment also showcases the practice of thematic excerpting and reorganizing of material from the Gospels, a characteristic of early Christian reading and writing practices. This approach, as suggested by scholars Jeremiah Coogan and Jacob Rodriguez, allowed early Christians to synthesize thematic material from various sources, highlighting the fluidity of early Christian thought and the intellectual engagement of the community.

Researchers suggest that early Christians highly valued written records of Jesus’s teachings but weren’t fixated on details, similar to how Matthew and Luke used their sources. The author of this fragment creatively combined various traditions about Jesus, showing a flexible approach to wording.

Guidance from this fragment, alongside canonical Gospels and philosophers like Philodemus, reflects the enduring challenges of ancient life, marked by financial uncertainty and the pursuit of wealth.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Invests in Greek Wineries

Irene Ivanaj
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Giannis Antetokounmpo Invests in Greek Wineries

 

Antetokounmpo wine
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his talented brothers just announced their decision to invest in iconic Greek wine companies. Credit: Hellenic Wineries

The Greek-Nigerian NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his talented basketball family just announced their decision to invest in iconic Greek wine companies.

Hellenic Wineries and Boutari Winery are Greek wine companies with over a century of history, and the Antetokounmpo brothers have decided to invest in a ten percent share.

Giannis Antetokounmpo stated, “I am delighted about the investment and our partnership with Elias Georgiades. Together we will be able to develop companies with a history that produce natural products of the Greek land, such as wine and natural mineral water.”

The brothers have nearly all moved to the United States with their careers in the NBA, but they’ve decided on bringing something with them and sharing a piece of Greece with the world.

Giannis, Kostas, Thanasis, and Alex Antetokounmpo are inspired by their passion for their homeland, their relationship to nature and the historical art of winemaking.

Their idea is to invest in preserving the knowledge of winemaking in Greece and sharing their passion for it by exporting wine internationally so as to push for its recognition.

“Together, we aspire to present Greece’s exceptional products to wine lovers and around the world, paving the way for economic development as well as cultural exchanges,” reads the joint statement.

Ante Inc. Launch Joint Venture in Wine

Ante Inc., a global portfolio of businesses by the Antetokounmpo brothers, will be buying shares of Hellenic Wineries. The holding company acquired Boutari Wineries in 2022 and bought the natural mineral water company IOLI more recently.

Giannis, nicknamed “Greek Freak,” earned hundreds of millions per season over the course of a decade beginning in 2010, but his career was uncertain. He was already considering leaving basketball for good, but didn’t want to leave the Milwaukee Bucks. His interest in Greek agrobusiness and winemaking is bound to bring publicity to ancient knowledge.

Other investors in Hellenic Wineries are also delighted to have the Antetokounmpo family on board.

Elias Georgiadis is the CEO of Sterner Stenhus and a major shareholder in the wineries business. He released a statement thanking the brothers for their investment.

“We are particularly pleased to welcome the Antetokounmpo family to Hellenic Wineries, which produces and markets Boutari wines and IOLI water,” he said. “By joining forces, we will be able to pursue and strengthen our strategic goal of spreading Greek products such as wine internationally, as well as promoting wine-related tourism in our country.”

Italy’s Mysterious Mycenaean-Like Cyclopean Walls

Paula Tsoni
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Italy’s Mysterious Mycenaean-Like Cyclopean Walls
Cyclopean walls Italy
The Mysterious Origin of Italy’s Mycenaean-Like Cyclopean Walls. Credit: Stefano Constantini / Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

A wide range of gigantic Cyclopean walls found across Italy—from Tuscany to Sicily and Sardinia—have puzzled archaeologists for centuries, as their origin remains a mystery. Their polygonal masonry greatly resembles the building style of some of the most famous Mycenaean fortifications in Greece. However, there is no solid archaeological evidence so far to establish such a connection.

Dated on the basis of archaeological finds and ancient script mentions to as early as the 8th century B.C., most of the Cyclopean walls of Italy are clearly of pre-Roman origin.

Although archaeology as a science cannot jump to arbitrary conclusions about their provenance in the lack of findings, the mystery of the Cyclopean walls of Italy makes history enthusiasts and individual researchers wonder—and investigate—which could be the missing link.

“Cyclopean walls” term in modern archaeology

The term “Cyclopean walls” comes from the belief of classical Greeks that only the mythical tribe of the Cyclopes had the strength to move the enormous boulders that made up these walls.

It first applied to the masonry style characteristic of Mycenaean fortifications, such as the ones in Tiryns, Mycenae, Argos, and Boeotia.

cyclopean walls in italy and mycenaen lion gate, Greece
Lion Gate at Mycenae, Greece and Cyclopean walls in Italy. Credit: (left) Nicholas Hartmann/ Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 . (right) Stefano Peron / Twitter

In the words of ancient Greek geographer Pausanias, “There still remain, however, parts of the city wall [of Mycenae], including the gate, upon which stand lions. These, too, are said to be the work of the Cyclopes, who made for Proetus the wall at Tiryns.”

Many classical writers, such as Strabo and even Aristotle, according to Pliny, also attributed the building of these great walls to the Cyclopes tribe.

In modern day, however, the term was adopted by archaeologists to describe a few types of similar building styles with irregularly-shaped, unworked boulders encountered within the same or different civilizations.

Cyclopean structures are found in many places of Italy, as well as in Kition, Cyprus,  Mallorca and Menorca in Spain, and in the ancient city of Rājagṛha, India. Furthermore, these were also found in later, pre-Colombian civilizations of South America, most characteristically in Machu Picchu, Peru.

Polygonal masonry is believed to have already been widespread among the Italic populations long before the Romans arrived for a number of reasons, such as the inconsistency in elements of architectural nature.

In other instances, Cyclopean walls were located in areas that the Romans had never colonized.

Walls attributed to Pelasgians by local legends

However, since the presence of Mycenaean trade in Italy is, until now, proven to have been very limited during the Bronze Age, archaeological evidence cannot support the theory of Mycenaean colonization either. This could have explained the presence of the gigantic walls in the area.

Local legend in several Italian locations where Cyclopean walls are found attributes the gigantic structures to the equally mysterious Pelasgians, the legendary indigenous population that resided on mainland Greece and the Aegean islands. The Pelasgians are mentioned by several Greek authors, such as Homer, Herodotus, and Thucydides.

Pelasgians were reported to have colonized not only Italy but also Cyprus, which could explain the transfer of knowledge from mainland Greece to other areas in the Mediterranean where Cyclopean walls were also built.

Theories about Italy’s Cyclopean walls

The French scholar Louis-Charles-François Petit-Radel attempted to attribute the walls to the Pelasgians as early as 1801, but again, archaeological findings were unable to date them to the late Bronze Age, at the very least.

Another 19th century archaeologist, Antonino Salinas, attributed the Cyclopean walls of Erice in Sicily to the local Italic tribe of the Elymians, who were reportedly widely Hellenized in the 8th century B.C. For instance, they used the Greek alphabet to write their own language, which hasn’t been deciphered to this day.

Among the many possible theories, Italian archaeologist Filippo Coarelli has hypothesized that the introduction of polygonal work in the area of Lazio around Rome was the result of collaboration of itinerant workers of Greek origin in the 6th century B.C.

Perhaps the truth hides in more than a single theory, as cultural and technological exchange in antiquity could have happened more slowly and more locally than our modern-day minds allow us to fathom.

Earth-Sized Planet Could Be Hiding in Our Own Solar System

Abdul Moeed
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Earth-Sized Planet Could Be Hiding in Our Own Solar System
Earth-Sized Planet Hiding
Japanese astrophysicists suggest that there could be an Earth-sized planet hiding in our solar system. Credit: ESO / M. Kornmesser / CC BY 2.0

In recent years, there has been significant speculation and ongoing research regarding the potential existence of a mysterious ninth planet in the far reaches of our solar system, aptly named “Planet Nine.”

However, scientists have now uncovered evidence suggesting the presence of another celestial body, one resembling our own Earth, lurking within the Kuiper Belt region. This newfound planetary candidate is much closer to Earth than the theoretical Planet Nine.

The Kuiper Belt is a fascinating region situated beyond Neptune, spanning a distance of approximately 30 to 55 astronomical units (AU).

To put it into perspective, one astronomical unit is equivalent to the average distance between the Earth and the Sun. This belt is a celestial neighborhood teeming with a multitude of icy bodies, including an astonishing number of over a trillion comets, wrote ZME Science.

Gravitational influence of hidden planet on the Kuiper Belt

Through careful and precise observations, a team of Japanese astrophysicists has made a noteworthy discovery within the Kuiper Belt.

They have observed certain Kuiper Belt objects exhibiting peculiar behavior—movements that deviate from what would be expected based on conventional gravitational principles.

These unconventional motions strongly hint at the presence of a more substantial celestial body exerting its gravitational influence within the Kuiper Belt.

The unusual movements of these objects can be explained by the existence of a hidden planet within this region of our solar system, according to Japanese astrophysicists.

Kuiper Belt Planet (KBP) would be 1.5-3 times Earth’s mass

The research findings point to the existence of a previously unknown planetary body, referred to as a “Kuiper Belt Planet (KBP),” positioned at a distance of approximately 200 to 500 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun.

This discovery sets it apart from the hypothetical Planet Nine, which was theorized to be located between 400 and 800 AU from the Sun. Furthermore, the newly proposed Kuiper Belt Planet is estimated to be one and a half to three times the mass of Earth.

For context, Pluto, which was once considered the ninth planet in our solar system before being reclassified as a dwarf planet, resides at a distance of roughly 39 AU from the Sun, mentioned ZME Science.

The astrophysicists behind this research, Patryk Sofia Lykawka of Kindai University and Takashi Ito of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, suggest that the presence of such an Earth-like planet within the Kuiper Belt is plausible.

They argue that it’s possible for a primordial planetary body to have survived in the distant reaches of the Kuiper Belt, as many similar bodies existed in the early stages of our solar system’s formation.

Greeks Among the Oldest Young Adults to Leave Parental Home

Maria Rybachuk
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Greeks Among the Oldest Young Adults to Leave Parental Home
Panoramic view of Athens
According to Eurostat, Greeks leave their parental home around the age of 30.7 years old. Credit: Matt Kieffe / CC-BY-SA-2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Greece is in third place in Eurostat’s European ranking of the age at which young people start living independently. According to recent data, on average, Greeks leave their parents’ home at 30.7 years old.

As of 2022, on average, Europeans began living independently at the age of 26.4. However, this figure varies significantly from country to country.

In total, there are six countries in Europe whose young residents leave their parents‘ house after 30 years of age. The top two positions are occupied by Croatia and Slovakia with 33.4 years and 30.8 years respectively.

The next countries on this list are Bulgaria and Spain with the same indicator of 30.3 years old, Malta (30.1 y/o), and Italy, where young people leave their parents at exactly 30 years old.

In terms of the opposite side of the rating, the Nordic countries had the lowest average. The lowest figure belongs to Finland – 21.3 years old, followed by Sweden (21.4 y/o), Denmark (21.7 y/o), and Estonia (22.7 y/o).

At the same time, 14 EU countries over the past 10 years have shown an increase in the average age of young people leaving their parents’ home. A significant jump was registered in Croatia (+1.8 years), Greece (+1.7), and Spain (+1.6).

In 2012, Sweden recorded the lowest average age in the EU in relation to when young people begin living separately, namely at 19.9 years old. However, in 10 years, this average age has increased by 1.5 years.

Men Leave Their Parental Home Later Than Women

As it turns out, in the European Union, men leave their parental home later than women do. The age of men was 27.3 years, while that of women was 25.4 years. This age difference was observed in all countries, indicating that young women began their independent lives earlier than young men.

Among EU countries, men on average left their parents’ home after the age of 30 in Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, and Portugal. Women, on the other hand, begin their separate life later than men only in Croatia.

The largest gender gap of 4.5 years was found in Romania, where young men left their parental home at an average age of 29.9, while women did so at 25.4. Romania was followed by Bulgaria with a gap of 4.1 years, where men started their independent life at an average of 32.3 and women at 28.2. In contrast, Luxembourg (0.5 year difference), Sweden (0.6 year), and Denmark and Malta (both 0.7 years) had the smallest gap between young men and women leaving their parental home.

Previous Data From Eurostat

In 2020, Eurostat revealed that Greece had a high percentage of young people, with almost six out of ten aged twenty-five to thirty-four living with their parents. Only Croatia surpassed Greece in this indicator among 30 European countries. Strong family ties in Greek culture, coupled with youth unemployment and rising rental costs, likely contributed to this trend.

Although families have shrunk in size, relationships remain close and extended families continue to play a significant role in Greek life. Among the barriers to independent living, the unemployment rate was mentioned, especially among those under 25 years of age.

James Bond Star Pierce Brosnan Enjoys Vacation in Kavala, Greece

Maria Rybachuk
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James Bond Star Pierce Brosnan Enjoys Vacation in Kavala, Greece
Pierce Brosnan in the Kavala Airport in Greece
Brosnan arrived in Kavala, Greece with his billionaire friend John Paul DeJoria to head to the North Aegean. Credit: Facebook / Delyn Veaudry

The airport of Kavala in northern Greece, welcomed some unexpected VIP guests, including James Bond actor, Pierce Brosnan. The Hollywood star, looking relaxed in summer attire and a Panama hat, delighted fans by taking photos with them.

Brosnan arrived in Kavala on September 3rd with his billionaire friend John Paul DeJoria, known for his involvement in the hair products industry and for owning Patrón tequila. DeJoria has a special connection to Kavala, as his mother hails from the city.

The duo, accompanied by their spouses and two friendly couples, arrived via a private flight from France and checked into the Imaret Hotel, where they intended to stay for a bit before setting sail for the North Aegean.

Their itinerary initially included a visit to the archaeological site of Philippi, but weather forecasts with heavy rain and wind might have prompted a schedule adjustment.

This isn’t DeJoria’s first visit to Kavala, as his mother, Magdalini Kontoudi, was born there. His previous visit to the city was in the summer of 2021.

One of the most prominent of Brosnan’s roles is related to Greece. The first Mamma Mia! movie, filmed on Skopelos, Skiathos, and in Pilio, was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and released in 2008.

Charming Beauty of Kavala, Greece

Kavala, a picturesque coastal city in Northern Greece, offers a rich historical backdrop and stunning natural beauty. Known as the “Thermopyles of Macedonia,” due to its strategic location, Kavala is split between the Old Town (Palia Poli) and the New Town (Nea Poli). It stands on the Bay of Kavala with views of the island of Thassos and easy access via the Egnatia motorway.

Once known as Neapolis in antiquity and later as Christoupolis during the Middle Ages, Kavala has a diverse history, including Ottoman and Bulgarian occupations. After the Greco-Turkish War in 1922, it saw prosperity, especially in tobacco processing and trade.

Notable attractions include the historic Kavala Castle, the well-preserved Kavala aqueduct, and the Tobacco Museum, showcasing the region’s tobacco industry. Visitors like to wander around the charming lanes of the Old Town in the peninsula of Panagia and explore the historic Imaret.

Kavala’s connection to the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia and its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Philippi add to its historical significance. Additionally, Kavala boasts beautiful beaches such as Batis, Tosca, Kalamitsa, Rapsani, and Perigiali, making it a perfect seaside destination.

Kavala also serves as a gateway to Thassos, a stunning Northern Greek island paradise with crystal-clear waters and a laid-back atmosphere, providing visitors with a chance to immerse themselves in nature and experience the warm hospitality of the region. It is the ideal starting point to explore this Aegean gem.

What Questions Did Ancient Greeks Ask the Oracles?

Philip Chrysopoulos
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What Questions Did Ancient Greeks Ask the Oracles?
View of Delph
View of Delphi. In ancient times, this was a sacred place that served as the seat of Pythia, the great oracle who was consulted about important decisions. Credit. Wikipedia/Public domain.

Ancient Greeks were curious people, and they would frequently ask questions about the world and themselves, as the writings of philosophers of the times indicate. At the same time, in some aspects at least, they resembled modern people who try to discern their own futures by searching for answers from astrologers, coffee grounds, tea leaves, or psychics.

In ancient days, Greeks went to oracles to obtain the answers they desired. After extensive research, Professor Mika Kajava from the University of Helsinki found some of the most common questions ancient Greeks asked the oracles. 

Kajava found that the concerns and wishes of ancient Greeks were not very different from the ones modern Greeks have. And like today’s Christian Orthodox faithful who pray to God and ask for guidance and answers, the Greeks of older days ran to the oracles asking very similar questions.

Priestess Pythia, the oracle of Delphi

The Delphic oracle was the most prestigious, with both kings and common people asking their questions about their future plans and waiting to receive a response about what the gods thought of them. The Pythia, who presided over the holy sanctuary of Delphi, is the best known priestess, or oracle.

Lycurgus Consulting the priestess Pythia at the Greek Oracle of Delphi
Lycurgus Consulting the Priestess Pythia at the Oracle of Delphi. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain

Delphi became so busy that long lines would form on certain days of the month on which the priestess could be consulted and, in later times, several oracular priestesses would operate at once. However, consultants had to be careful how they interpreted the often unclear answers of the oracle.

Questions ancient Greeks asked of the oracles

Questions about happiness with future spouses, about whether or not one would have children, and about whether or not one would find a good job were all common questions asked by ancient Greeks. Other concerns were the safety of future journeys to colonies and about sacrifices to gods to ensure continued good health. These were some of the questions ancient Greeks asked of the oracles and for which they would never get a clear answer.

Some of the people visited the oracles asking questions in order to solve crimes and mysteries, expecting the wisdom of the gods and their representatives on earth. These included questions such as the identity of thieves, the individual who poisoned certain people, or even whether or not the child a wife was carrying was in fact that of the husband.

A very common question ancient Greeks asked the oracles was: “To which god should I pray in order to see my business prosper?”

However, the answers were almost always enigmatic. King Croesus of Lydia asked the oracle whether or not he should go to war on his neighboring kingdom. The oracle replied that if he went to war, a great kingdom would fall. Croesus interpreted this as being his enemy’s, but it turned out to be his own kingdom.

When the Persian army under Xerxes approached Athens, the Athenians wanted to know whether to fight the Persians, and of course, they went to Delphi to ask the Pythia. Ambassadors also consulted the oracles as to what policies were the best to pursue.

Greece, Turkey Speak of ‘New and Positive Era’ in Ties

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Greece, Turkey Speak of ‘New and Positive Era’ in Ties
Greece Turkey
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis (left) with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. Credit: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Turkey has entered a new and positive era in its relations with Greece, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis in Ankara.

“Ankara and Athens have differences of opinion in the Aegean and Mediterranean. The sides now must bring a new approach to solving their problems,” Fidan told reporters after holding talks with Gerapetritis addressing their string of decades-old disputes.

“We have agreed to maintain dialogue with Greece without preconditions,” Fidan said, stressing that Turkey is prepared to develop ties “on the basis of common interests in all areas.”

On his part, Gerapetritis spoke about “the climate of optimism” that allows for the de-escalation of tension between the two countries.

“We want relations to continue on the basis of cordial coexistence and tolerance with mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs,” added Gerapetritis.

And he continued: “Exogenous crises are becoming the norm, rather than the exception. This demonstrates the need for cooperation. Our mission is to resolve the cutting-edge issues between the two countries and to prevent tensions.”

Road map for Greece, Turkey relations

The Greek Foreign Minister revealed that Athens and Ankara agreed on a road map for this new positive era.

“The road map will include three levels. The level of the political dialogue, which will start on October 16, and will take place at the level of deputy ministers. Secondly, the discussions on confidence-building measures that will start soon. And thirdly, the issues of a positive agenda, such as tourism and the climate crisis.”

As he noted, “the pivotal point is the meeting of the two leaders in New York on September 18. And then, the convening after 7 years, of the Supreme Cooperation Council of Greece – Turkey, which will take place in Thessaloniki”.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the context of the UN Assembly in New York.

Gerapetritis said that he also discussed with his Turkish counterpart issues such as Cyprus, Turkey’s European perspective, immigration and the war in Ukraine.

In July Mitsotakis met Erdogan on the sidelines of a NATO summit. He said the meeting “was an opportunity for a restart in relations with Turkey following four difficult years.”

“It confirmed my view that Turkey appears to be ready for a change in direction in its foreign policy,” he said during an interview on Skai TV.

“This could only benefit Greece from such a change. Whenever needed, we defended our sovereignty and our sovereign rights, but it is better to live like friends,” Mitsotakis added.

Related: Turkey’s FM Highlights Opportunity to Improve Relations With Greece

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