Greece and India Become Strategic Partners

Arunansh Β. Goswami
-
0
Greece and India Become Strategic Partners
Greece India strategic partners
What are the reasons for the friendship and strategic synergy between India and Greece? Credit: Press Office Greek Prime Minister

India and Greece have now become “strategic partners,” announced Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Greece H.E. Kyriakos Mitsotakis. But what are the reasons for the friendship and strategic synergy between India and Greece?

According to Aristotle in his Nicomachean Ethics, humans are by nature political animals, and politics is guided by history. The history of civilizations is that which determines the manner in which people and nations deal with each other after their transformation into nation-states in the modern world.

Foundational Identities

Indic and Hellenic identities became the foundational cores of the modern nation-states of India and Greece respectively, and their foreign policies were structured over the years substantially congruent to these cores.

American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington argues in his book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order that, after the Cold War, conflicts over cultural and religious identity will dominate global politics.

It is indeed perceptible in different conflicts around the world, says Huntington, that the chasms of the past have transformed into major conflicts. India and Greece have historically been on the same side in a type of “clash of civilizations” against common foes.

While both fought against Turkish aggressors, they even fought against China. The Greeks fought against China in the “War of Heavenly Horses,” and Indians have likewise fought several times against China.

Shared History

India and Greece were pioneers in the field of several disciplines and manifested development of urbanized societies very early. They were not working in isolation, however. Rather, a bridge of friendship and mutual learning developed by the time Indo-Greek kingdoms were established in India.

Indo-Greeks were receptive and appreciative of Indic civilization’s culture and Hellenized Hinduism and Buddhism practices were later adopted by migrant nomads, such as those of the Yuezhi, Huns, and Uyghurs. Greek Orthodoxy and Puranic Hinduism also have several similarities, manifested through the organization of their religious sites and liturgies.

Just consider the icons of Skandamata and Kalki in Puranic Hinduism and Theotokos and St. George in Greek Orthodoxy. These indeed look substantially similar.

Common Challenges in the India and Greece Partnership

In the Turan belt, a historical region in Central Asia, the Turks moved to historic Greek and Indian homelands in large numbers as invaders over the years. There was the establishment of Seljuk and the Ottoman states in Anatolia, Sultanate of Delhi, and later, the Turco-Mongol Mughal Empire in India.

Christian Greeks and Hindu Indians were increasingly discriminated against within their own historic homelands through instruments of discriminatory taxation, military suppression, and religious fundamentalism.

The Turks used Greeks and Indians to subjugate their own countries. During the time of Caliph Sultan Suleiman-ul-Qanuni, the Ottoman Grand Vizier Pargali Ibrahim Pasha, who was born a Greek Christian in the seaside town of Parga, Epirus, played an important role in extending Turkish power in Europe and Egypt.

On the other hand, in India, Malik Kafur, the general of Turkic Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, was born an Indian Hindu in Gujarat and played an important role in conquering major parts of India for his Sultan. Over the years, substantial parts of Indian and Greek lands became Turkified.

The modern nation-states of Turkey and Pakistan are an outcome of a long process of Turkish ideological and military aggression against the ancient civilizations of India and Greece.

Even to this day, Turkey and Pakistan collaborate to broadcast shows depicting the Turkish version of history to South Asian audiences. This spreads hate against the Byzantium and Greece. It is an important part of Turkish soft power.

Furthermore, Turkey has provided Pakistan with four warships through the MILGEM project, and Pakistan has bought the first batch of Bayraktar Akinci combat drones from Turkey. Together, they have fought with Azerbaijan as part of the “three brothers” alliance against Christian Armenians in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

India and Greece: Strategic Partners Working Together

In the India-Greece joint statement issued on August 25, 2023 following the meeting of Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi with Prime Minister of Greece H.E. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the nations of India and Greece shared their vision of a free, open, and rules-based Mediterranean Sea and Indo-Pacific region.

This is in accordance with the law of the sea, in particular the provisions of the UNCLOS, and with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom of navigation to the benefit of international peace, stability, and security.

Such a stance can be interpreted as a message against China, a nation that is seen as a bully in the Indo-Pacific region. An UNCLOS tribunal in the past had called out China for flagrant violation of international law in the China Sea.

Modi and Mitsotakis also strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whenever, wherever, and by whom-so-ever committed. Furthermore, they jointly criticized the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism. This can be interpreted as a message against Turkey and Pakistan.

As per Dr. Christina Lin, Turkey is supporting other countries’ designated terrorist groups. These include the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, ETIM/TIP, Al Nusra, and other Al Qaeda affiliates. Pakistan is a known state sponsor of terrorism as well. Osama Bin Ladin was ultimately found in Pakistan.

However, Greece and India have also made promises to each other to work on much more. The two countries intend to deepen their cooperation in several other fields in order to further their national interests. They have become strategic partners, but now they also need to come together with like-minded countries, such as Armenia, to protect their national interests in a more efficient way.

Hopefully, India and Greece will work together to strengthen their national interests, preserve ancient sites associated with Indo-Greek history, and promote people-to people-diplomacy at a faster pace so as to continue to strengthen the India-Greece friendship.

113-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Footprints Found in Texas

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
113-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Footprints Found in Texas
Dinosaur Footprints Texas
The tracks that recently emerged are usually hidden under the mud, silt and waters of the Paluxy River. Credit: Facebook/Dinosaur Valley State Park – Friends

113-million-year-old dinosaur footprints were discovered in a dried-up part of a river at the Dinosaur Valley State Park in central Texas.

As the name suggests, the park already protects other dinosaur footprints. But the tracks that recently emerged are usually hidden under the mud, silt and waters of the Paluxy River.

This summer, however, water levels have dipped so low that the prehistoric indentations are now visible. So far, volunteers have counted 75 newly exposed footprints in the parched riverbed.

“It has been another very hot, very dry year, so our researchers are trying to take advantage of the drought,” says park superintendent Jeff Davis to the Dallas Morning News’ Sarah Bahari.

Footprints reveal types of dinosaurs discovered in Texas

Two different types of dinosaurs likely made the footprints, according to park officials. One was Acrocanthosaurus, a 15-foot-tall carnivore that weighed approximately 14,000 pounds.

As the gargantuan reptile walked around the area on two legs, it left behind the outline of its three-toed feet.

The other was Sauroposeidon proteles, which has been the official state dinosaur of Texas since 2009.

This long-necked behemoth may have measured up to 100 feet long and weighed closer to 88,000 pounds. It left behind larger, bulbous-shaped tracks that are similar to elephant footprints.

When both types of creatures were walking around the area during the Cretaceous Period, they would’ve been stepping on the squishy mud of a shallow sea.

Over time, however, that sediment solidified into limestone, which preserved the imprints for millennia. The sediment and water of the Paluxy River continue to protect the tracks, but eventually, they will erode away.

“Texas is blessed with a lot of good fossil occurrences,” as James Farlow, a paleontologist at Purdue University Fort Wayne, told the New York Times last year. “It’s a resource that is continually being destroyed but continuously being renewed.”

Five main track site areas have been mapped within Dinosaur Valley State Park. Each of these areas has named individual track sites.

Two types of tracks are visible at these sites:

Sauropod tracks, large elephant-like tracks believed to have been made by Sauroposeidon proteles.

Theropod tracks, smaller and often with a distinct three-toed pattern, believed to have been made by Acrocanthosaurus. Some of the theropod tracks are classified as “elongated” because the dinosaur was walking on its metatarsal bones.

Many of these tracks do not show the typical three-toe pattern because the tracks were made in runny, deep mud, and the toe impressions were buried.

Watch the video of the dinosaur track mapping project.

Why Greece Has Failed to Put Out the Deadly Wildfire in Evros?

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
Why Greece Has Failed to Put Out the Deadly Wildfire in Evros?
Evros wildfire Greece
Despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters, the Evros region in Greece is still burning. Credit: Odysseas Karadis/Greek Reporter

Greece has failed to put out the deadly wildfire in Evros in the northeast of the country that has been burning a virgin forest for more than two weeks.

Experts are trying to figure out why the particular wildfire is proving so difficult to contain. The European Commission has said that the blaze in the Dadia National Park is the largest on record in Europe.

The main reason for the failure is the dense vegetation Kostas Tsigas, president of the Union of Fire Officers, told in.gr.

“Treetops are very close to each other and one overlapping the other. This is a creeping wildfire, spreading at low ground. The aircraft deployed cannot bring about the desired result since the water does not reach the lowest level,” he explained.

“Poor strategy” to combat wildfire in Evros, Greece

The blaze that began near the port city of Alexandroupolis on Aug. 19 joined with smaller fires to form an inferno that has decimated homes and vast tracts of land near the border with Turkey.

The blaze led to the evacuations of thousands of people and was blamed for twenty of Greece’s twenty-first fire-related deaths.

A Fire Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed poor management of the wildfire.

“You have to see where the fire will come to you a day and a half or two later and throw forces there. In the US and Canada, they draw back lines of defense and don’t go aggressively on the fire. The first line of defense is welcome, but we have to put in the second and third, learn to live with it”, he told Kathimerini newspaper.

The official added that the focus of the firefighting forces was to protect the villages and critical infrastructures.

“The priority was the safety of people and infrastructure. I cannot leave the village or the hospital unprotected. You pick out places where you can hold, but the fire is still working in places where it can’t be seen or it’s impossible to tackle.”

Residents and local government officials also point out coordination problems when firefighters who have arrived from other parts of Greece and several other nations, who -they claim – do not know the landscape of the area on fire.

Emphasis should be on the prevention of wildfires

Kostas Lagouvardos, research director at the National Observatory of Athens, told AFP that the emphasis should be on adequate measures to prevent forest fires.

But the recurring problem, he said, was the dysfunctional relationship between the state and scientific bodies.

“The scientific tools exist and can help detect and prepare for difficult climatological conditions,” he said — such as the extreme drought that has struck the Evros region near the border with Turkey and other regions.

Opposition politicians took a similar line during a fierce parliamentary debate Thursday.

They accused the government of having been too slow to put preventative measures in place and of poor coordination between the various government agencies concerned.

Is the climate crisis the alibi for everything?

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed this week in Parliament that fires across Greece were expected to consume more than 150,000 hectares (370,600 acres) of land.

“Is the climate crisis the alibi for everything?” said Mitsotakis. “No, it is not an alibi — but it is part of the interpretation,” he insisted.

Climate change is a theme the government has touched on repeatedly in the context of the wildfires but, as Mitsotakis appeared to at least implicitly acknowledge, it is not the whole story.

He also revealed plans to deploy drones and forest temperature sensors to detect wildfires in their early stages.

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.

“Although we were better prepared than any other year, we faced an unprecedented combination of incidents,” he added.

Part of Isaac Newton’s Manuscripts Were Written in Greek

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
Part of Isaac Newton’s Manuscripts Were Written in Greek
Isaac Newton Greek
Credit: Greek Reporter illustration.

Many of Isaac Newton’s precious notebooks in which he worked out his many influential, ground-breaking theories about the world around him, were written entirely in perfect Greek.

Newton’s ability to effortlessly scribble his theories, thoughts, and discoveries about some of the most complicated elements of science proves not just the genius of the scientist himself but also the prevalence of Greek as a scientific language in seventeenth-century England.

At the time, all educated people in England knew Ancient Greek and Latin, and many of them were well-studied in ancient Greek history, art, culture, literature, and drama as well.

Sir Isaac Newton’s Greek notes

While the titles and subjects—as well as brief explanations on margins of the pages—he was working on are presented in Latin, the subject analysis itself is given in a brief, well-written Greek text in lowercase letters with the necessary diacritical marks.

This is a notebook Newton acquired while he was an undergraduate at Trinity College and used from about 1661 to 1665. It includes many notes from his studies and, increasingly, his own explorations into mathematics, physics, and metaphysics. It was inherited from his stepfather, and scholars believe it helped Newton to make significant breakthroughs in the field of calculus.

Due to the way it is written, with some strike-throughs and scratched-out letters, the notebook was judged ‘not fit to be printed’ at the time. Newton’s notebook was condemned to oblivion as it was passed down through Newton’s relatives for generations.

In 1872, Isaac Newton’s papers, including his notes in Greek, were presented to the Library of Cambridge. Currently, Cambridge owns the most extensive and significant collection of Newton’s papers.

Their collection of the great thinker’s papers was finally digitized and put online by Cambridge University in 2011.

Isaac Newton is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and influential scientists of all time and as a key figure in the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment that followed.

His pioneering book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), first published in 1687, consolidated many previous results and established classical mechanics. Newton also made seminal contributions to optics, and shares credit with German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz for developing infinitesimal calculus.

In the Principia, Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation that formed the dominant scientific viewpoint for centuries until it was superseded by the theory of relativity.

Newton used his mathematical description of gravity to derive Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, account for tides, the trajectories of comets, the precession of the equinoxes and other phenomena, eradicating doubt about the Solar System’s heliocentricity.

He demonstrated that the motion of objects on Earth and celestial bodies could be accounted for by the same principles. Newton’s inference that the Earth is an oblate spheroid was later confirmed by the geodetic measurements of Maupertuis, La Condamine, and others, convincing most European scientists of the superiority of Newtonian mechanics over earlier systems.

Spectacular Air Show at Athens Flying Week Event

Tasos Kokkinidis
-
0
Spectacular Air Show at Athens Flying Week Event
Athens Flying Week
The Fursan Al Emarat acrobatic team from the UAE in a stunning display at the Athens Flying Week show. Credit: Facebook/Athens Flying Week

The Athens Flying Week, the biggest air show in the Balkans with over 500,000 loyal fans worldwide, returned again for another exciting aviation weekend at the Tanagra Airport, on 2 & 3 September.

Flying at this year’s show at Tanagra north of Athens are, among others, Rafale from France, Eurofighter Typhoon from Saudi Arabia, F-16 ‘Dream Viper’ from Belgium, ‘Dannebrog 800’ from Denmark, the Fursan Al Emarat acrobatic team from the UAE, and American F-35 fighters.

The show attracts thousands of visitors each September, including corporate customers, families with children, tourists from all over the country and abroad, and military personnel.

Visitors can witness the most famous aircraft’s takeoffs and landings, participate in aeromodelling demonstrations, explore the trade fair and splurge on unique purchases and learn about the various types of aviation training from aviation schools and aeroclubs.

The Athens Flying Week highlight was the F-35s

The highlight of the show on Saturday was the presence of three F-35 fighter jets of the USAF – led by a female pilot.

A fifth-generation American aircraft – which the Greek Air Force wants to include in its arsenal and already initiated the relevant procedures – flew at noon over the sky impressing thousands of visitors.

The audience was enthralled by the American F-35A Lightning II demonstration team and Squadron Leader Kristin “BEO” Wolfe in the cockpit of the state-of-the-art fighter who put on a formidable display of flying skills in front of thousands of spectators.

Wolfe is the commander of the F-35 Demonstrator Team, having followed in her father’s footsteps in the Air Force, but is now creating her legacy in the cockpit of America’s most advanced fighters.

Wolfe entered the military in 2011 after receiving her promotion from the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Alabama.

She serves at Hill Air Force Base in Utah after fighter training and operational assignments in Texas, Florida, and Virginia.

Wolfe oversees a crew that showcases the unique aerial capabilities of the Air Force’s flagship fifth-generation fighter and the legacy that led to this technological marvel.

Greece took one step closer to procuring the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet in June after the prospective sale was approved by US Senator Jim Risch, the most senior Republican on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

In February, the committee’s chair, US Senator Bob Menendez, granted approval to the deal. Additionally, Republican co-chair Michael McCaul and Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the committee, have also expressed their support for it.

With the required approvals now secured, the next step will be for the US government to notify Congress about the sale of F-35s to Greece, initiating the prescribed procedure for the contract’s ratification.

Construction Workers Find Roman Temple

Irene Ivanaj
-
0
Construction Workers Find Roman Temple
roman ruins still inhabited
In Sarsina; Emilia-Romagna, inhabitants live next to or on Roman ruins. Pictured is a house atop remains of the Roman Forum. Credit:

In the small village of Sarsina in Emilia-Romagna on the Apennine Mountains in Italy, a group of construction workers were working on building a parking lot, fitness center, and playground. Having cleared the area in December of last year, they then found the ruins of an ancient Roman temple.

Of course, this isn’t unusual in certain small towns around Central Italy, as they were defensive towns during the earlier days of the first Roman expansion.

Several outposts were conquered towns that had been inhabited by neighboring peoples, such as the Umbrians or Etruscans. Some of these, such as Florence, were military encampments established for the conquering of nearby towns.

unique roman theatre in
One such frontier town was Terni, an old Etruscan town where the Romans built this decorated theater. Credit: Irene Ivanaj / Greek Reporter

The temple that was found, a capitolium dating back to the first century BC, might reveal more treasures pertaining to the origin of the city.

Hidden Temple of Sarsina, a Lost History

In early July, the first traces came to light: a single imposing structure of horizontal sandstone blocks and marble slabs all amounting to 577 square meters. Three separate rooms dedicated to the Roman gods Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva were found by archaeologists.

There also seems to be an older, deeper layer of ruins dating back to the 4th century BC from right around the time of the city’s founding. The city had served as a trade and social hub as well as a religious center. The discovery of the temple has sparked the question of how to deal with this find, and it is not without controversy.

The developers who have financed the project are pushing to cover the ruins back up in order to move on with the original plan and stay on track to completion. After all, it is not unusual for such a town to live alongside or atop its ruins.

People in the early outpost cities of Rome throughout Central Italy are actually used to such a phenomena. Indeed, in Italy, digging of any type anywhere can unearth treasures best left untouched as life continues on quietly.

Meanwhile, local politicians and researchers are pressuring key politicians to take advantage of such opportunities in order to further add to the Archaeological Museum of Sarsina. This would turn the town into an archaeological hub.

“We will not tear it down to make room for modern structures, [and] this must be very clear,” the superintendent of the excavation site said. “Previous urban plans will be changed, [and] we will find new construction sites for recreation and sports. The temple is an incredible finding that sheds light on how ancient Roman towns rose and fell across time.”

The temple is certainly unique due to its state of preservation. The city has constantly been inhabited, and the weight of the structure is what kept it from plundering following the fall of the Roman Empire.

There is evidence that the original temple structure was in consistent use during medieval times. An ancient water drainage system also remained in use long after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It seems like cities such as this one, which might never have been plundered, nevertheless still have a lot to offer.

Platonic Love: The Concept of Greek Philosopher Plato

Luis Ospino
-
0
Platonic Love: The Concept of Greek Philosopher Plato
Plato together with other Greek philosophers of the time in The School of Athens
Plato together with other Greek philosophers and scientists of ancient times in “The School of Athens.” Credit: Public domain.

Platonic love is one of the most widely misinterpreted concepts in Plato’s philosophy. It has transcended the realm of philosophy, becoming widely used across culture and has strayed from its original meaning throughout the process.

Plato believed that love is the motivation that leads one to try to know and contemplate beauty in itself. This happens through a gradual process that begins with an appreciation of the appearance of physical beauty and then moves on to an appreciation of spiritual beauty.

Moving through these steps culminates in the passionate, pure, and disinterested knowledge of the essence of beauty, which remains incorruptible and always equal to itself: the knowledge of the idea of ​​beauty.

The true concept of platonic love

This type of love is often interpreted as spiritual rather than physical. Some even go as far as to call platonic love an “impossible love,” although that is perhaps more extreme than Plato’s conception. Plato provides his clearest outline of Platonic love in “The Symposium.”

A symposium, or banquet, was a common celebration where Greeks came together to drink, celebrate, and discuss ideas.

During a symposium held in the house of the tragic poet Agathon, several of the most important men of Athens, including Socrates, Pausanias, Aristophanes, and the most powerful character of the moment, Alcibiades, began a philosophical debate over the true nature of love, with each philosopher providing their own argument.

After having listened to all those present, Socrates takes the floor and narrates what the priestess of Apollo, Diotima, had revealed to him about the meaning of platonic love: that it was a ladder on which love climbs up a series of steps to reach the peak of a “supreme idea.”

For Plato, love is not an end in and of itself but only a means to achieving this supreme concept of beauty. The first step is physical; the senses unleash eros (the love that enters through the eyes and compels one to approach someone). In this stage, love is physical. Plato does not, in fact, reject the physical dimension of love, as many falsely believe. This is a fundamental stage and is necessary in order to reach the supreme idea.

In the second step, one goes from looking for beauty in a particular body to looking for beauty in multiple bodies, thus forging a categorical notion of beauty and prompting the search for the idea behind this notion.

The third step is the one that passes from the physical body to the beauty of the soul. In this state, the person learns to love the soul despite the physical aspect of beauty.

In the fourth step, Socrates elevates love to a very different scale since it enters the world of ethics. The love of beautiful souls increases moral beauty.

In the fifth step, Socrates passes from the rules of conduct to beautiful knowledge referring to institutions and a love for the government.

The sixth step starts from the beautiful knowledge and uses science to reach a delight in the beauty of knowledge and understanding.

In the seventh, the idea of ​​beauty comes into harmony with the universe. It passes from the world to the cosmic category (to beauty itself.) In this phase, beauty takes on the hue of vision, or revelation, experienced through the lens of philosophy.

Plato and his ideal love

Plato’s ideal love is connected with his notion of the ideal world (a world where everything is perfect and our material reality is a copy of its image). That is why this ideal of Platonic love does not refer to having an unattainable love but to love in a sense that is eternal and intelligible: a perfect ideal form.

This framework is closely connected to Plato’s allegory of the Cave. The one who comes to the idea of beauty is the one who has managed to get out of the cave and look at the sunlight. That person has passed from the initial experience of physical love, which could be compared to existing within the cave, to reaching the experience of beauty’s truth, the equivalent of leaving the cave for the outside world.

Autumn on Mainland Greece at Its Best: Must Do Trips

Katerina Papathanasiou
-
0
Autumn on Mainland Greece at Its Best: Must Do Trips
Mainland Greece Autumn
Lake Kastoria. Crédit: Mageiamaya – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Planning your vacation to Greece in autumn can be a fun and exciting experience, but to take the trip is even better, simply because nature’s beauty in Greece during autumn on the mainland is almost magical.

For those who seek a colorful countryside with a mysterious glow under different shades of orange and red, or for those who wish to be intoxicated by the scent of nature after its first rainfall, this trip is an absolute must!

Elati, a mountain escape

Autumn in Greece
Elati, Arta. Credit: Harry Gouvas/ CC BY-SA 3.0

The picturesque village of Elati, thirty kilometers from Ioannina in Epirus, imposing and amphitheatrically built on the verdant slopes of Mitsikeli Mountain, overlooks the mountains and forests of Tymfi from an altitude of 950 meters (3,116 feet).

Its rich vegetation is beautifully supplemented with beautiful stone houses, cobblestone paths, ornate stone arched bridges, watermills, and churches.

In Elati and the surrounding area, besides the natural attractions, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an array of interesting outdoor activities. This mountainous area, featuring canyons and rivers, is ideal for hiking, climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, or kayaking, rafting, and other sports.

Kastoria, a fairytale village in Greece

Kastoria Fairy tale in Mainland Greece
Kastoria. Crédit: Despina Michailidou – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

The beautiful city of Kastoria, standing proudly on the shores of the majestic lake of Orestiada in West Macedonia and surrounded by imposing mountains, charms all visitors at first glance.

In Kastoria, you will feel as if you are in a fairytale, drinking in the spectacular view of the city as it is reflected in the crystal clear waters of the lake.

The area is home to more than seventy Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches, all with unique exterior décor, as well as rare paintings.

During your stay, you can also wander around the splendid 19th century mansions once owned by wealthy fur merchants in the traditional neighborhoods of Doltso and Apozari, but do not forget to visit the highlight of Kastoria, the “Dragon’s Cave,” a spectacular cave with seven underground lakes on the northern side of the city.

Monemvasia is the perfect spot for an autumn vacation in Greece

Autumn in Mainland greece
Monemvasia. Crédit: JustinW, CC0

Located on the southeastern side of the Peloponnese, Monemvasia  is an impressive medieval village with buildings all made of stone, originally founded by the Byzantines in the sixth century. It was later occupied by the Crusaders, as well as the Venetians and the Turks.

The Castle Town is divided into two parts that transport you on a journey back into the past. In the upper part of Monemvasia, you will have the opportunity to explore the remains of old Byzantine buildings.

In the lower part of the town, visitors can admire the ruins of breathtaking historic buildings, such as the Muslim Mosque, a 16th century structure that is now home to an archeological museum, as well as an array of Byzantine churches.

Xanthi is ideal for nature lovers

Xanthi Natural Mainland Greece
Nestos River in Xanthi. Crédit: Adamantios – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nature lovers will be amazed to discover that the city of Xanthi in Thrace is home to an unspoiled paradise.

Take the opportunity to explore the serpentine Nestos River, its delta, the Drymos Forest, Lake Vistonida, and the village of Erimanthos, definitely a must-see for exploring lovers.

North of Xanthi, the birthplace of influential ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus, you will find Pomakochoria, a cluster of approximately forty small mountain villages of great architectural and cultural significance.

Don’t forget to try archery, bird watching, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, hiking, horseback riding, and off-road driving if you happen to visit Livaditis, Nestos, and Vistonida.

Spend your autumn on Mt. Pelio in Greece

pelio
A stone bridge outside of Tsagarada, Pelio. Credit: Grigoris Koulouriotis/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA-4.0

Located on the southeastern part of Thessaly near Volos, Mt. Pelion is a large mountain of extraordinarily natural beauty dotted with over twenty traditional Greek villages and a plethora of magnificent beaches.

Makrinitsa, Milies, Portaria, and Tsagarada, with their grey stone roofs, unique architecture, and paved pathways are some of the villages you should not miss out on during your stay in the area.

The most popular beaches on the mesmerizing coast around Mt. Pelion are Agios Ioannis, Horefto, Damouchari, Fakistra, and Mylopotamos.

The legendary “Mountzouris” narrow-gauge train, which connects Milies with Ano Lechonia, is among the top attractions of the area and also serves as an unconventional way to explore the mountain and some of the traditional villages on its slopes.

Livadeia has a rich ancient history

Livadia
Livadia is the perfect spot for an autumn trip to Greece. Crédit: Thanas Todhe (Guri Q…, CC BY 3.0

Livadeia, the capital of the Boeotia regional district in central Greece, is situated approximately 135 kilometers (83 miles) northwest of Athens. With a population of approximately twenty-one thousand, it developed and grew around the base of Mount Helikon.

The town of Livadeia is referred to as “Mideia” in the works of Homer, the epic poet and author of The Iliad and The Odyssey. The Greek traveler and geographer of the 2nd century BC, Pausanias, reported that the place was named after Levados, the Athenian hero who persuaded the local people to build the town at its current location on the banks of the Herkyna River.

It is famous across Greece for hosting the Oracle of Trophonios Zeus and for participating in the War of Troy. The Pre-revolutionary period mariner Lambros Katsonis was born in Livadeia, one of the first towns to revolt against the Turks under the leadership of Athanasios Diakos.

Anonymous Sudan Hacks X to Put Pressure on Elon Musk

Nisha Zahid
-
0
Anonymous Sudan Hacks X to Put Pressure on Elon Musk
Hackers from Anonymous Sudan take action against X in a bid to exert pressure on Elon Musk.
Hackers from Anonymous Sudan take action against X in a bid to exert pressure on Elon Musk. Credit: Anon Atlas / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

A group of hackers known as Anonymous Sudan caused X, which used to be called Twitter, to go offline in many countries on Tuesday morning. They did this to pressure Elon Musk to start his Starlink service in their nation.

X has become the latest target of this hacking group, which claims to work in favor of Sudan and Islam. Over a span of several weeks, there have been private conversations with the hackers via Telegram. During these discussions, the hackers revealed their methods and reasons.

One member of the group, who goes by the name Crush, informed that their attack on Tuesday overwhelmed X’s servers with an excessive amount of internet traffic, causing the service to go offline. This type of hacking is known for its straightforward and relatively simple approach, which is a signature characteristic of this group.

Another hacking group member, Hofa, explained that their DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing civil war in Sudan. This war has resulted in poor internet quality and frequent regional outages.

Reports of outage by Downdetector

According to Downdetector, a website that tracks service outages, nearly twenty thousand reports of the outage were filed by users in both the US and the UK. This disruption likely impacted a much larger number of people.

As of now, X has not made any public statement regarding the disruption, and Elon Musk has not responded to inquiries about launching his satellite internet service in Sudan.

Accusations from cybersecurity experts

Anonymous Sudan has faced accusations from various experts in the field of cybersecurity. Many suspect that the group might actually be a covert Russian cyber-military unit operating in disguise while creating cyber disruptions that may benefit the Kremlin. This is all done under the guise of a foreign hacktivist organization.

This theory arises from the fact that the group openly expresses support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and their motives seem to align with other hacking groups within Russia.

Despite these suspicions, the group consistently denies any Russian affiliation. In an unprecedented move, they have shared evidence that their operations are based in Sudan.

Crush, who serves as the group’s main spokesperson and plays a significant role, provided real-time location information through the Telegram app as a form of proof. Furthermore, both Crush and Hofa shared images of their Sudanese passports and additional screenshots that suggest their presence within Sudan.

No indication of hackers lying found

While it is possible to create fake evidence with varying levels of complexity, after weeks of discussions with cybersecurity expert Intel Cocktail, there is no indication that the hackers are being dishonest.

“Our long-term goal is to show the world that Sudanese people, although with limited capabilities, have very good skills in many different fields,” Crush stated.

Back in June, the group expressed support for the Russian government in an ongoing rebellion led by Wagner forces. Crush clarified that their motivation stemmed from a similar experience in their own country, during which Russians had shown support throughout a challenging time.

He referred to Russia’s assistance to the Sudanese government during an ongoing civil war. He firmly asserted that their group is comprised of a “small group” of Sudanese hackers who carry out these attacks from within the country, despite frequent disruptions in internet service.

Cyberattacks on different institutions

Since its emergence in January, Anonymous Sudan has effectively disrupted numerous organizations and government websites in France, Nigeria, Israel, and the United States.

Over the past month, the group has targeted Kenya with their attacks, asserting that the Kenyan government is interfering in Sudanese matters. One notable attack caused significant disruptions to Kenya’s eCitizen portal, which is utilized by the public to access more than five thousand government services.

When questioned about the impact on ordinary citizens, Crush defended their actions by stating, “The reason we hit infrastructure is to teach the country and its rulers a lesson, and yes we have red lines, that is if our attacks harm a lot of innocents.”

Nonetheless, the group has made unsuccessful attempts to attack hospitals.

In June, the hackers celebrated when the US cyber authority issued an official alert regarding attacks targeting American organizations. The alert highlighted that these attacks can lead to organizational disruptions, financial costs, and potential damage to reputation as services and resources become inaccessible.

One of their most notable attacks took place in June, causing disruptions to Microsoft services such as Outlook and OneDrive. This compelled the technology giant to release a report offering guidance to customers on how to safeguard themselves from the actions of this group.

Desires of the hacking group

The group asserts that its unlawful actions are driven by a desire to “defend the Truth, Islam, and Sudan.” However, on at least two occasions, they have attempted to extort victims for Bitcoin.

They have also directed their efforts towards websites such as OnlyFans, Tumblr, and Reddit, criticizing them for promoting what they deem to be “disgusting smuts and other LGBTQ+ things.”

 

Cyrene: The Stunning Ancient Greek City of Libya

Nick Kampouris
-
0
Cyrene: The Stunning Ancient Greek City of Libya
Cyrene ancient Greek city
The ruins of the once-great city of Cyrene. Public Domain

Cyrene, the ancient Greek and later Roman city near present-day Shahhat, Libya, was the oldest and most important of all five Greek cities in the region.

It gave eastern Libya the classical name of Cyrenaica that it has retained into modern times. Located nearby is the ancient Necropolis of Cyrene.

More than two thousand years ago, a group of Greeks from the island of Thira (also known as Santorini) headed south, searching for a new place to live. Their journey ended in the northern part of Africa in modern-day Libya.

These Greek settlers established a new city, calling it Cyrene. The city, which was founded in 631 BC, soon had its first King, Battus, ruling over it.

Battus was the first powerful figure in what later became the famous dynasty of Battiads.

Cyrene ancient Greek city
Cyrene, in northern Africa

The Battiads ruled Cyrene for eight generations until 440 BC. Under their rule, the port city of Apollonia was founded, along with Berenice, today’s Benghazi.

Cyrene was prosperous and had trade ties with every Greek city in what is now the modern Greek mainland and islands.

It was one of the principal cities in the ancient Greek world with its temples, tombs, agora, gymnasium, and Cyrene Amphitheatre all thought to be inspired by the historic structures of Delphi.

The city became a Republic in 460 BC following the political tradition that Athens had established.

Cyrene ancient Greek city
The Temple of Zeus at Cyrene. Credit: David Stanley, CC BY 2.0/Wikipedia Commons

Philosophy flourished in ancient city of Cyrene

Cyrene contributed to the intellectual life of the ancient Greek world through its renowned philosophers and mathematicians.

Philosophy flourished on the Cyrenaican plateau at the School of Cyrene. “Cyrenaics” developed here, a minor Socratic school founded by Aristippus, who was perhaps the friend of Socrates or, according to some accounts, a grandson of Aristippus by the same name.

French Neo-Epicurean philosopher, Michel Onfray, has called Cyrene “a philosophical Atlantis” thanks to its huge importance in the creation and initial development of the ethics of pleasure.

Cyrene was also the birthplace of Eratosthenes, who determined the circumference of the earth. The great thinker later went to Alexandria. Statues of philosophers, poets, and The Nine Muses, and a bust of Demosthenes have been discovered in Cyrene, attesting to the great culture which once flourished in this region of Northern Africa.

When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, the Cyrenian Republic became subject to the rulers of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, and a few centuries later, it became part of the Roman Empire as a province.

The famous “Venus of Cyrene,” a headless marble statue representing the goddess Venus, a Roman copy of a Greek original, was discovered by Italian soldiers here in 1913. It was transported to Rome, where it remained until 2008, when it was returned to Libya.

Cyrene’s ruins remain there as a reminder of the region’s rich past, which was shaped by Greeks and Romans alike.

Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982, Cyrene today ranks among the UNESCO’s most neglected and endangered sites in the Mediterranean Basin due to improper restoration and extensive looting of its Greek artifacts.

1...346347348...7,621Page 347 of 7,621