Neaera, the Athenian Child Slave Raised to Be a Courtesan

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Neaera, the Athenian Child Slave Raised to Be a Courtesan
Neaera Athenian Child Slave
Credit: The Slave Market, painting by Gustave Boulanger. Public Domain

Neaera was a child slave from fourth century BCE Athens whose life is significant and sorrowful. She was put on trial, where she was caught amid petty politics, sex scandals, and personal vendettas.

By Marguerite Johnson

The ancient worlds of Greece and Rome have perhaps never been as popular as they presently are. There are numerous television series and one-off documentaries covering both “big picture” perspectives and stories of ordinary people.

Neaera was a woman from fourth century BCE Athens whose life is significant and sorrowful—worthy to be remembered—but may never feature in a glossy biopic.

Possibly born in Corinth, a place where she lived from at least a young age, Neaera was raised by a brothel-keeper by the name of Nicarete.

Her predicament was the result of her being enslaved to Nicarete. While we don’t know the reason for this, we do know that foundlings were common in antiquity. The parents of baby Neaera, for whatever reason, left her to fate to die by exposure or be collected by a stranger.

From a young age, Neaera was trained by Nicarete for the life of a hetaira (a Classical Greek term for “courtesan”). It was Nicarete who also named her, giving her a typical courtesan title: “Neaera” meaning “Fresh One.”

Ancient sources reveal Naeara’s life in the brothel. In a legal speech by the Athenian politician and forensic orator, Apollodorus, the following description is provided:

There were seven young girls who were purchased when they were small children by Nicarete…She had the talent to recognize the potential beauty of little girls and knew how to raise them and educate them with expertise—for it was from this that she had made a profession and from this came her livelihood.

She called them ‘daughters’ so that, by displaying them as freeborn, she could obtain the highest prices from the men wishing to have intercourse with them. After that, when she had enjoyed the profit from their youth, she sold every single one of them…

The occasion for the passage from Apollodorus is a court case that was brought against Neaera in approximately 343 BCE. Neaera was around fifty years old by the time of her prosecution, which took place in Athens.

Trafficking and abuse of the child slave

The circumstances of her trial are complicated, involving the buying, selling, trafficking, and abuse of Neaera from a very young age.

Piecing together the evidence from Apollodorus’ prosecution speech, which has come down to us with the title, “Against Neaera,” it transpires that two of her clients, who shared joint ownership of her, allowed her to buy her freedom in around 376 BCE.

Afterwards, she moved to Athens with one Phrynion, but his brutal treatment of her saw Neaera leave for Megara, where circumstances caused her to return to sex work.

Further intrigues involving men and sex work saw Neaera eventually face trial on the charge of falsely representing herself as a free Athenian woman by pretending to be married to a citizen.

The charge of fraud was based on the law that a foreigner could not live as a common law “spouse” to a freeborn Athenian. The fact that Neaera also had three children, a daughter by the name of Phano, and two sons, further complicated the trial and its range of legal entanglements.

While we discover neither the outcome of the trial nor what happened to Neaera, the speech of the prosecutor remains and reveals much about her life. Unfortunately, the speech of the defense has been lost.

We do know, however, that the man with whom Neaera cohabitated, Stephanus, delivered the defense. Of course, he was not only defending Neaera—he was defending himself! Should Neaera have been found guilty, Stephanus would have forfeited his citizenship and the rights that attended it.

Stephanus had a history of legal disputes with the prosecutor, Apollodorus. He also had a history of being in trouble with the law. For example, he had illegally married off Phano—not once, but twice—to Athenian citizens. Shady “get rich quick” schemes motivated such activities, and it seems that Stephanus was adept at using both his “wife” and his “daughter’ for bartering and personal profit.

Another accusation revealed during the trial alleged that Stephanus arranged for Neaera to lure men to his house, engage them in sex, and then bribe them. And while Apollodorus provides no evidence for such a scam ever having taken place, judging by Stephanus’ track-record, it does not seem implausible.

Remembering Neaera

Reading through the long, complex, and damnatory speech of Apollodorus, we risk losing sight of the woman at the center of it. Caught amid petty politics, sex scandals, and personal vendettas is a woman who becomes peripheral to the machismo being played out in court.

Yet, somewhat ironically, this is the only ancient source we have that records not only Neaera and the life she was forced to lead but the life of a hetaira from infancy, girlhood, middle-age, and ultimately, past her “use by” date.

Had she not been taken to court as part of the factional fighting of ancient Athens, had she not had her reputation annihilated so publicly, we would have never known about Neaera.

Were it not for Apollodorus and his ancient version of “slut-shaming,” Neaera’s story would have been lost.

But it hasn’t been lost. Somewhere, amid the male rhetoric, her story endures. Unfortunately, her voice is not preserved. All we can read in the speech, “Against Neaera” are the voices of men—her prosecutor and the witnesses he calls to the stand.

Ironically, these testimonies and accusations—so casually introduced in ancient Athens, but received so differently today—emphasize the inhumanity of the sex trade in an antiquity too often and too unthinkingly valorized.

The document known as “Against Neaera” is the only record we have of this (almost) hidden woman. It prompts us to remember. And it’s important to remember Neaera.

Marguerite Johnson is a Professor of Classics, University of Newcastle. The article was published in The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons License.

Portara: The Massive Marble Doorway Standing Proudly on Greece’s Naxos

Assil Giacheia
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Portara: The Massive Marble Doorway Standing Proudly on Greece’s Naxos
The Portara, the lintel of Lygdamis' Temple of Apollo at Naxos
The Portara, the lintel of Lygdamis’ Temple of Apollo at Naxos. Credit: Manfred Werner/CC-BY-SA-4.0

The imposing ruins of the Portara, or gate, still stand on the islet of Palatia on Naxos. What remains of a temple dedicated to Apollo, which was built in the 6th to 7th century BC and was never completed, stands behind it today in mute beauty.

According to Greek mythology, the god Theseus left Ariadne, whom he had abducted from Crete earlier after he had killed the Minotaur to live on Naxos.

According to the myth, during their trip from Crete, Theseus and Ariadne made a stop at the island. Theseus saw the Greek god Dionysus in a dream while staying there, and the god told him that he had to leave Naxos without Ariadne since she was meant to stay there and become his wife.

Ariadne indeed stayed on Naxos and married the god Dionysus, and her worship as a goddess flourished for centuries on the island.

The history of the Portara in Naxos

At one point, the tyrant Lygdamis began to build a temple on Naxos’ tiny islet of Palatia. He had grand ideas of creating a temple even larger than that of Zeus in Athens or the temple of Hera on Samos.

After the tyrant’s fall, the temple remained unfinished, leaving only its foundation and part of its gate, or Portara.

The gate was originally constructed of four large pieces of local marble, each weighing approximately twenty tons. The Portara has a height of nearly six meters (sixteen feet) and a width of at least 3.5 meters. After the rise of Christianity, a church was built on the ruins of the temple, but this was later destroyed by the Venetians.

Portara today is connected with the Naxos mainland via a paved footpath. The spot offers one of the most enchanting sunsets in Greece.

Where are the marbles of the Portara?

The marbles once comprising parts of the Portara were known to have been used by the Venetians to construct other buildings, mainly the Castle of Chora in Naxos, which was built in medieval times by the Venetian Marco Sanoudo.

Sanoudo constructed the castle on a hill that rises approximately thirty meters above sea level over the remains of the ancient acropolis, which he considered a suitable place for the establishment of the city of Naxos. The most remarkable feature of his castle is that its wall is made up of the houses of the city itself, which were erected along its perimeter.

Today, the visitor, while taking a stroll through the beautiful alleyways of Naxos, can see gleaming marble stones from the Portara in various places around the city. The unmistakable smooth, glassy stone stands in stark juxtaposition to the darker, rougher stone used for the rest of the walls.

The ancient history of the island of Naxos continues at every step, with stones quarried almost three thousand years ago telling an eternal story of destruction and survival.

Why Women in Ancient Rome Had No Names

Maria Rybachuk
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Why Women in Ancient Rome Had No Names
Women, Ancient Rome painting
Vincenzo Camuccin, Roman Women Offering Their Jewellery in Defence of the State. Credit: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

In ancient Rome, there were many traditions regarding the position of women, which from a modern point of view may seem bizarre.

Some of them reflected the patriarchal way of society. In ancient Roman families, girls did not have separate names, and all daughters could bear the same name.

Naming System for Girls

Ancient Rome had its own special naming system by which families called their children. During the birth of a boy, the child received a personal name, praenomen, then a genus name (nomen) and also a nickname (cognomen). For example, if we consider the name of Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar, then Gaius is the personal name while Julius, which is more commonly a surname nowadays, is the genus name. Caesar is a nickname.

However, these rules did not apply to girls. The women of Ancient Rome did not have names as such. Instead, families called their daughters by the name of the family, sometimes also combining the nickname that was assigned to a certain family. Following this tradition, the daughter of Julius Caesar also received the name Julia after the name of the family.

The wife of another famous ancient ruler, Cornelia Cinna, came from the family of the politician Lucius Cornelius Cinna. According to the tradition of her family, instead of her own estate, she was called Cornelia, to which they added the nickname Cinna, or Tsinilla.

Ordinal Number to Call Daughters

The situation in which not one but several daughters were born in the family at once was very common. In this case, all the girls still bore the same name. In a situation where parents had only two daughters, “Elder” or “Younger” was added to the family name of daughters. If more than three daughters were born, then each of them, in addition to the family name, received an ordinal number as part of their name, namely the second, third, and so forth. For example, Clodia Tertia, a Roman matron who was suspected of poisoning her husband Quintus Caecilius, was the third daughter in the Clodian family.

When a woman married, she retained her family name but also acquired her husband’s family name or his nickname. Hence, the name of the daughter of Julius Caesar, who married the commander Gnaeus Pompey the Great, became a mix of the names of her father and husband—Julius Pompey—after this marriage.

Over time, such traditions have slightly changed. During the period of the Late Roman Republic, which fell between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, the cognomen began to play a key role. This was due to the need to distinguish between branches of the same genus. It was followed by a relative diversity in female names as well, and sometimes daughters even received two names. Thus, the naming tradition has become less rigid.

Secret Female Names in Ancient Rome

There is an opinion that some girls did receive personal names, which were kept within the family in the strictest secrecy. It is believed that a daughter was given such a name on the eighth day after birth during a special ritual of purification called lustration.

During the ritual, the girl was washed with water and received her own name, a prenomen. Only members of the family took part in the home ceremony, and they remained the very circle by which her name was known for all the following years.

This secret name was unknown to anyone outside the family, even the woman‘s husband. According to this tradition, when the bride entered her husband’s house, she introduced herself with the name of her new family.

There is even a belief that Rome itself has the same secret name, but this mystery remains unsolved.

Greek Wine Production to Decrease 30% in 2023

Maria Rybachuk
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Greek Wine Production to Decrease 30% in 2023
Alcohol Raises Risk of Over 60 Diseases
Wine industry supports approximately 160,000 families engaged in vineyard cultivation. Credit: Maria Eklind / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Greek wine production in 2023 is expected to drop by 30 percent, primarily attributed to the prevalence of downy mildew, the Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported.

The Greek Winemakers’ Association’s leader, Yiannis Voyatzis, disclosed this projection during discussions with Agricultural Production and Foods Minister Lefteris Avgenakis. Voyatzis emphasized the crucial role of Greek wine as a cultural emissary, contributing significantly to local economies and enotourism.

The landscape of Greek wine production is notably composed of numerous family-operated ventures, prioritizing quality-focused practices over intensive cultivation methods. With nearly 1,400 wineries sprawling across approximately sixty thousand cultivated hectares, the Greek wine industry thrives on its diverse indigenous varietals.

This industry supports approximately 160,000 families engaged in vineyard cultivation, further highlighting the integral role of Greek wine within the country’s socio-economic fabric.

Ancient Roots of Greek Wine

Wine is deeply woven into Greek culture and traces its history back thousands of years. Viticulture’s roots stretch back to the Neolithic era, nearly 6,500 years ago, while the recorded history of Greek wine began around the 15th century BC.

Within Ancient Greece, wine consumption transitioned from a sacred act governed by priests and rulers to a broader cultural phenomenon.

As society evolved, wine emerged as a vital economic asset. The creation of these city-states ushered in new freedoms, including land cultivation for vineyards and olive groves, ultimately giving birth to a small class of merchants.

Greek settlers carried their expertise in wine cultivation to colonies throughout the Mediterranean, introducing the art of winemaking to diverse regions. Athens, in particular, became a thriving wine market, trading Attica’s quality produce across the eastern Mediterranean.

Ancient Greeks had a distinct approach to wine consumption. Mixing wine with water in precise proportions as a form of self-control was customary.

Wine was even used for medicinal purposes under the guidance of Hippocrates. The vibrant deity Dionysus symbolized the essence of wine’s influence, representing the grape harvest, winemaking, fertility, festivity, and the colorful tapestry of existence in ancient times.

Oldest Wine in Europe

In April 2022, special news appeared regarding the history of wine in ancient Greece. The oldest European wine was recently found in northern Greece’s ancient Philippi, as reported by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki’s History and Archaeology Department.

This discovery confirms that wine production originated in prehistoric Greece. The remains of ancient grape seeds and pomace were uncovered in a 4300 B.C. fire-preserved house in Philippi. For over two decades, Aristotle University’s Archaeology Department conducted thorough archaeobotanical research, unveiling insights into Greece’s social, economic, and symbolic history.

Professor Sultana-Maria Valamoti, leading the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Research in Archaeology and the PlantCult Laboratory, emphasized the significance of this work in shedding light on the social, economic, and symbolic aspects of life in northern Greece.

 

Why Are Extreme Wildfires 25 Percent More Frequent Today?

Abdul Moeed
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Why Are Extreme Wildfires 25 Percent More Frequent Today?
Extreme Wildfires Are 25% More Frequent Today - fires Greece
Extreme wildfires, as seen in Greece and Hawaii, this year are 25 percent more frequent nowadays due to climate change. Credit: Amna

According to a recent California study, the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires has increased significantly as a result of climate change. This study, which has implications for preventing future disasters such as those in Canada, Greece, and Hawaii, emphasizes the importance of taking action.

Researchers at the Breakthrough Institute, a nonprofit research center, have determined that the warming caused by human activities has led to a 25 percent average increase in the occurrence of “extreme” wildfires compared to the time before industries took off. This crucial insight comes from a study published in the journal Nature.

Studying a range of fires that occurred between 2003 and 2020, researchers used machine learning to investigate how higher average temperatures and drier environments contribute to the most rapidly spreading fires. These are fires that consume more than ten thousand acres (four thousand hectares) of land in a single day.

The influence of climate change, however, wasn’t consistent across all fires, according to Science Alert.

Under specific circumstances in which the environment was partially dry, the warming of the planet pushed conditions past critical points, greatly increasing the likelihood of extreme fires. Yet, in situations of very dry conditions, the impact was somewhat less pronounced.

Patrick Brown, the main author of the study, explained in a statement that we need to focus our utmost attention on regions and periods which have encountered conditions that are slightly more humid than the critical thresholds.

These are now being shifted from the moister side to the drier side due to the underlying warming, Brown further expressed.

Wildfire risk could increase by 59 percent by end of century

Scientists conducted calculations that project a potential average risk escalation of 59 percent by the conclusion of this century.

The projection holds true in a scenario characterized by “low emissions.” This refers to global warming kept in check at 1.8 degrees Celsius above levels of the pre-industrial era. However, this risk could surge as high as 172 percent in a scenario with unrestricted high emissions.

Notably, the Earth’s surface temperature has already risen by 1.2 degrees Celsius, according to Science Alert.

By analyzing information from documented fires, researchers assessed the likelihood of a particular fire transforming into an “extreme” blaze. Subsequently, they employed computer models to quantify the extent to which the temperature rise since the industrial era has heightened risk.

The release of the study coincided with a summer marked by a series of wildfires. These fires tragically claimed the lives of at least 115 individuals in Hawaii and resulted in the displacement of 200,000 residents from their homes in Canada.

Meanwhile, Greece is grappling with what European Union authorities have identified as the largest recorded wildfire within the bloc. This massive fire spans a front of ten kilometers (approximately six miles) and has killed twenty people.

Mysterious 2,800-Year-Old Channels Discovered in Jerusalem

Nisha Zahid
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Mysterious 2,800-Year-Old Channels Discovered in Jerusalem
In a mysterious discovery in Jerusalem, archaeologists find 2,800-year-old channels
In a mysterious discovery in Jerusalem, archaeologists found 2,800-year-old channels. Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

In a remarkable archaeological discovery in Jerusalem, experts have revealed a series of enigmatic channels that date back a stunning 2,800 years to the reigns of King Joash and Amaziah.

This extraordinary discovery marks the very first instance of such structures being unearthed within the borders of Israel. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) made a significant announcement on Wednesday (August 30th, 2023), shedding light on these remarkable installations.

The underground passageways were discovered within a national park that houses the renowned City of David archaeological site. Most scholars widely believe this site to be the original settlement location of Jerusalem.

Ancient channels in Jerusalem

The purpose of the grooves carved into the bedrock in ancient Jerusalem remains a mystery, as stated by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University.

Although these grooves were utilized by the ancient Jerusalemites, the exact nature of the substance they were intended for remains unclear. Recent examination and forensic testing of the channels indicated that they were not utilized for animal slaughter, as no traces of blood were found.

Moreover, the design of the ducts suggests they were not constructed to carry significant amounts of water. The function and significance of these grooves continue to intrigue researchers and archaeologists.

Unique structures and their link to the palace

The purpose of these unique structures in Israel lacks any known parallels, leaving researchers only able to speculate about their function.

Positioned prominently, their central location suggests a link to the economy of the palace or temple during the era they were in use. These enigmatic structures were operational during the period corresponding to the existence of the city’s First Temple.

Recent excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University within the City of David National Park have revealed two installations just slightly more than thirty feet (approximately ten meters) apart. These installations could potentially be components of a larger integrated structure.

While distinct variations can be observed in crafting and structuring the two channels, a notable similarity emerges, as confirmed by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Despite the contrasting approaches in their creation, these channels ultimately reveal a commonality that underscores their significance.

Details of the channels

The channels are characterized by their knee-deep depth and are arranged in two distinct clusters positioned approximately ten meters apart. Crafted from meticulously carved rock, this discovery in Jerusalem boasts dimensions of around thirty centimeters in width and fifty centimeters in height.

Intriguingly, they lack any connections to other water sources, and their design and function appear to deviate from typical drainage or sewage disposal purposes.

“The mystery only grew deeper when we found the second installation to the south,” shared Yuval Gadot from Tel Aviv University’s Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations.

“We looked at the installation and realized that we had stumbled on something unique, but since we had never seen a structure like this in Israel, we didn’t know how to interpret it,” Yiftah Shalev, a senior researcher at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), echoed this sentiment, adding, “Even its date was unclear.”

Historical context of the channels unveiled

Researchers have successfully determined the timeframe when these installations ceased to be in use—specifically, at the conclusion of the 9th century B.C. during the reigns of the biblical Judean kings Joash and Amaziah.

The precise location of these ducts was once occupied by a substantial complex encompassing both industrial and residential elements. This history suggests a range of potential purposes for the ducts, including applications in textile manufacturing, food production, and potentially religious ceremonies.

While the discovery of these ducts remains shrouded in mystery, its significance is undeniable. It offers fresh perspectives into the ancient city of Jerusalem and the lives of its inhabitants. This extraordinary find, while enigmatic, is proving instrumental in enhancing archaeologists’ comprehension of Jerusalem’s historical narrative.

Ancient Humans May Have Used Shoes Over 100,000 Years Ago

Irene Ivanaj
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Ancient Humans May Have Used Shoes Over 100,000 Years Ago
human footprint in the rock
Researchers have found evidence that ancient humans may have adopted primitive footwear earlier than previously thought. Credit: artfulblogger / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The findings made at three archaeological sites in South Africa may show that ancient humans have been wearing footwear for over a hundred thousand years, much older than previously thought.

In South Africa, archeologists discovered 153,000-year-old footprints in May 2023. Now, researchers have identified what appear to be human footprints of someone wearing sandals from a hundred thousand years ago.

“We’re not claiming we have conclusive evidence of this,”

says Charles Helm at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa.

Archeological evidence shows that early hominids and Neanderthals wore different forms of crude foot wrappings. However, footwear made to last is different and is a rare finding. When it was found preserved, the soft leather of the footwear soon hardened in contact with the surrounding environment.

Although researchers hypothesize that the history of clothesmaking predates the surviving evidence, it is very hard to pinpoint the moment in which ancient humans actually began using shoes. When did rags bound in string become real shoes?

The evidence for the adoption of shoes by ancient humans

In 2008, scientists discovered the oldest preserved shoe. The shoe, found in a cave in Armenia, is quite crude.

It is made of a single layer of leather that wrapped around the foot and was filled with straw to help maintain its shape. Despite appearances, it was crafted and sewn from specially made leather string to bind it. The molding of the shoe—worn down from use—shows it fit the foot snugly.

The perfect state of preservation in the straw attests to a certain care the owner of the shoe took of this useful element of clothing.

The Areni-1 shoe is in fact 5,500 years old and was found in a cave in Armenia, as formerly mentioned, along with the oldest winemaking cellar in the world in 2008.

Now, archaeologists have found evidence suggesting people were indeed wearing footwear prior to the Neolithic era. The unusually preserved footprints in South Africa may have been made by people wearing such shoes.

shoe seen from all sides with measurements
Chalcolithic leather shoe with leather string and filled with straw found in Armenian cave—Areni-1, now preserved in the History Museum of Armenia. Credit: Sandstein /CC BY 2.5

Since the exploration and study in this direction are new, Helm and his colleagues haven’t reached a conclusion. In the meantime, they are focusing on setting up a method of reliably distinguishing footprints.

Scientists continue to question whether our first human ancestors really made and used footwear such as sandals as far back as a hundred thousand years ago. According to archaeologists, our ancestors are indeed known to have been using crude footwear.

Greece to Deploy Drones and Sensors to Combat Wildfires

Alexander Gale
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Greece to Deploy Drones and Sensors to Combat Wildfires
firefighters using a drone
Drones and sensors will be used in Greece to detect wildfires. Credit: U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

On Thursday, the Prime Minister of Greece revealed plans to deploy drones and forest temperature sensors to detect wildfires in their early stages.

The announcement came amid an ongoing crisis that has seen vast swaths of the country engulfed in flames during the summer months.

In some parts of the country, private citizens, community groups, and the private sector have already explored the possibility of using drones to monitor the spread of wildfires to act as early warning systems.

Drones and sensors will aid in the battle against wildfires in Greece

“Although we were better prepared than any other year, we faced an unprecedented combination of incidents,” commented Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Parliament.

Multiple wildfires have spread across Greece since July impacting areas across the country, including popular tourist destinations like Corfu and Rhodes. The latest fires have been occurring in the region of Evros north of Alexandroupolis. Just last week, at least 18 charred bodies were discovered in the region near the village of Dadia.

The Greek prime minister outlined the government’s intentions to procure one hundred drones to monitor wildfires from the air. At the same time, temperature sensors will be installed at vulnerable archaeological sites and forests where fires could cause the most damage.

Additionally, the government plans to increase manpower. As a part of the new measures, five hundred scientists specializing in forests will be hired alongside one thousand firefighters.

The measures were revealed amid ongoing criticism of the Greek government by environmentalists that more funds and resources are being allocated to extinguish wildfires than to prevent them.

Community and private sector initiatives

Drones and sensors are already in use by the private sector to detect wildfires and have been adopted by some communities in Greece ahead of the government’s announcement this week.

Last year, the operation of drones for early detection purposes was initiated in the southern Athens seaside suburbs of Vari, Voula, and Vouliagmeni. The use of these drones also appealed to residents of the northern suburbs of Kifissia, Ekali, and Nea Erithrea. In early August, an initial group of three concerned residents from these northern suburbs banded together to provide funding for the drones. This initial number soon swelled to about 320 people providing donations online for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Managed by drone pilots with advanced training for operating beyond the limits of visual observation and authorized by civil aviation authorities, these drones offer real-time imagery and are equipped to identify fluctuations in temperature. This enables them to forewarn their operators during the crucial initial phases, prior to the escalation of a fire.

Operating around the clock, the drones are manned by pilots who undertake shifts lasting six hours each. Integrated into Greece’s Civil Protection framework, volunteer teams collaborate closely with professional fire departments. Given the absence of a fire station within the broader Kifissia region, these volunteers frequently exhibit the ability to reach local fires more promptly.

The drone company’s operations are centered at the headquarters of the volunteer firefighters, ensuring their swift responsiveness at the slightest indication of a fire outbreak.

“The first few minutes are the most crucial for a fire,” commented Giorgos Dertilis, who leads the local volunteer firefighting unit. “At the start, it’s easier to put out the fire. The more the minutes go by, the harder our job becomes”.

The drone program has already enabled personnel to put out fires in the local area before they were able to spread or grow in size. Clearly, the integration of these measures at the community level is promising, but it is doubtful that poorer communities would be able to afford the operating costs.

Unknown Greek Gods You May Not Have Heard Of

Maria Rybachuk
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Unknown Greek Gods You May Not Have Heard Of
Selene, goddess pf the Moon
They often remained in the shadow of more famous gods but were remembered for their unusual roles. Selene, goddess of the Moon. Credit: Jastrow / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Greek mythology is full of unknown gods that remained in the shadows of the more well-known ones, such as Zeus, Ares, or the patroness of hunting, Artemis.

They did not spend their days on Olympus, and relatively little was known of them in contrast to more famous gods. However, they were remembered for their unusual roles, for which they were revered.

Priapus, Unknown Deity Associated With a Giant Phallic Symbol

The little-known Priapus played a minor role in Greek mythology and was the god of fertility, protector of livestock, fruit plants, gardens, and male genitalia.

The latter became the main attribute of his image. On the ancient frescoes from Pompeii, he is depicted with an exaggerated phallic symbol, around which myths were also concentrated. His mother was Aphrodite, and, according to sources, his father was either Hermes or Dionysus.

According to ancient legends, the huge genitals were the curse of Priapus. It is believed that Hera, the wife of Zeus, cursed him out due to a mixture of indignation and jealousy with the promiscuity of Aphrodite. The mother quickly abandoned her son, who was raised by shepherds. Later, Priapus finally managed to ingratiate himself with Hera, becoming a dance teacher for her son, Ares, the future god of war.

Horai, goddesses of the seasons

Horse and the seasons, mosaic
Mosaic of Horae and the Seasons, 2nd century AD. Credit: Tomisti / CC-BY-SA-4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Several important but little-known characters in Greek mythology were responsible for the seasons and natural periods of time. They were the guardians of the Olympus gates and supervised the rotation of the celestial constellations by which the year was measured. The ancient Greeks believed that they had three sisters, the Moirai, who wove the web of fate.

Since they ruled the seasons, their main admirers were farmers. Ancient agriculture depended heavily on the rising and setting of the stars, which were considered to be measures of the passing season.

It is believed that they joyfully welcomed the newborn Aphrodite, dressing her in heavenly clothes.

Selene, Embodiment of the Moon

Another sky-bound and unknown goddess, Selene, was the titanic goddess of the moon. She was depicted as a woman sitting on a side saddle upon a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged horses. Her head was often crowned with a lunar sphere or crescent. There was a belief that she was driving a wolf team. Her other attribute, the crescent moon, was compared to a pair of bull horns.

She was greatly loved by the beautiful shepherd-prince Endymion. Zeus gave him eternal youth and immortality but then placed him in a state of eternal sleep in a cave on top of Mount Latmos. According to legends, Selena did not leave her lover and visited him there at night.

This is not the only woman associated with the moon in ancient Greek mythology, but only Selene was depicted by ancient poets as the living embodiment of the moon.

Proteus, Unknown God of the Sea

Everyone knows the mighty god Poseidon, but his son, Proteus, who could predict the future, largely remained in the shadow of his father.

Proteus was also considered a sea god and was known as the sea’s old man. In ancient Greece, it was believed that Proteus had knowledge about the past, present, and future but was in no hurry to share it with anyone. To get a response from Proteus, he had to be captured first. This was possible only at noon, when the god was asleep. At the same time, the difficulty lay in Proteus’ ability to morph himself into any shape he wished.

This superpower of Proteus was reflected in ancient Greek observations pertaining to the nature of the sea. Over the centuries, observers have noted the constant variability of the sea. Its surface is constantly fluctuating, and it quickly transitions from a serene state to furious waves.

Nemesis, a vengeful, less-known goddess

Nemesis, a Greek goddess
Marble statue of Nemesis. Credit: Gary Todd / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Strict and vindictive Nemesis would hardly like those lucky people who won the lottery. She was associated with retribution for evil deeds and undeserved good fortune. The goddess symbolized the fury aroused in the minds and hearts by unpunished criminals or even by those who enjoyed extraordinarily good fortunes. Nemesis maintained a slight balance, directing life events in a way that kept harmony. Her name translates to “she who restores or distributes.”

She measured well-being and unhappiness, strictly ensuring that there was not too much happiness. If the balance was disturbed, Nemesis could bring some harm. In ancient myths, she was the embodiment of a vengeful and punishing deity.

She was often depicted with wings and apple tree branches. In some Trojan War legends, Nemesis was also Helen’s mother.

Perfect Spots for Walking in Downtown Athens

Gabi Ancarola
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Perfect Spots for Walking in Downtown Athens
athens walking
Athens is a great city for walking. Credit: A Savin/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 3.0

The many fascinating views of the Greek capital, Athens, are better appreciated and enjoyed if walking down its streets at a relaxed pace rather than trying to navigate it by car or other vehicle.

A stroll or two in the center of Athens offers excellent opportunities to experience one of the most important cities in the world. These are some of the areas worth exploring on foot in Athens.

Exarchia

This hip haven of bohemian atmosphere boasts a controversial past. Exarchia is a district populated by students, artists and intellectuals which made it to the headlines in 2008 for the riots taking place after a policeman shot and killed a 15-year-old boy. Exarcheia is also home to the University of Athens.

Students often choose the neighborhood to live, adding to its already famous laid-back vibe. The main spot in the area is located in Exarchia Square, a small plaza with cafés and restaurants.

The streets that surround the square are home to interesting shops and curious buildings with walls covered in graffiti.

For music lovers, Exarchia is also known for its clubs which feature live jazz and blues as well as traditional music played on a bouzouki.

Plaka and Anafiotika

Plaka is one of the oldest parts of the city, adorned with unique beauty and charm, making it a great place to go walking in Athens. It’s nestled in the shadow of the Acropolis and develops in a maze of winding streets with traditional houses, some dating back to the 19th century.

There are plenty of cafés for sitting and relaxing as well as art shops displaying paintings, carvings and hand-painted icons. Scenes of everyday life unfold through the presence of flower sellers, street musicians and residents.

Among the many historic landmarks of the neighborhood, the Tower of the Winds is worth a visit.

Psiri

The area, famous for its restaurants and traditional ouzeries, bustles with locals and tourists mostly during weekend nights. Most venues offer not only traditional Greek foods, but also more cutting-edge gastronomic adventures.

The area of Psiri begins where Ermou Street and Athinas Streets meet in Monastiraki. Graffiti can be found anywhere, mingling with the atmosphere of the neighborhood.

Walking in the National Garden of Athens

The National Garden is a peaceful, green space covering 15.5 hectares in the center of the capital. In the garden, it is also possible to visit some ancient ruins, and see Corinthian columns with their beautiful capitals.

In the southern area, there are busts of Kapodistrias, the first head of state of modern Greece, and of the great Philhellene Eynard as well as of celebrated Greek poets, such as Dionysios Solomos, author of the Greek national anthem.

In the Garden, there is also a duck pond, a small zoo, a botanical museum, a small cafe, and a children’s library and playground.

From Monastiraki to Thissio

A hidden market behind the electric station in Monastiraki inspires walkers to venture along the pedestrian street overlooking the Acropolis, right next to the train lines.

Considered to be one of the most picturesque streets in Athens, the walk leads to Thissio -the final destination of this route – with plenty of green spaces and beautiful views of the city.

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