After losing his job in 2012, Mr. Koursoumis was also–eventually– left homeless. "When I was walking, whenever I felt tired I looked for a quiet place to sleep. I've slept on the ground, in the entrances of apartment buildings in Athens many times" he says.

During his time on the street, Mr. Koursoumis, collected discarded books from trashcans across the city which he later sold to the second-hand book stalls at the Athens flea market. The pursuit of old books gave him the idea to open a second-hand bookstore where he and the friends he met on the streets could work and make a living.

Today, he is confident that through the bookstore, he and his friends will be able to reclaim a part of their old lives. He is aiming to create a community center run by the homeless for the homeless at a new permanent spot he has found in Tavros, near the center of the city and hopes to move his book shop to the new premises in the next couple of weeks.

To read this article in full, please visit: dw.com

The 2019 Epidaurus Festival premiered last Friday, June 21, with the successful performance of Oedipus by the highly acclaimed stage director, Robert Wilson.

This weekend June 28 &29 the National Theatre of Greece presents a bold, original concept; Oresteia, the only extant ancient drama trilogy is presented in Epidaurus in a single performance by three talented female directors in their Epidaurus debut, featuring a single cast and crew: Agamemnon by Io Voulgaraki, The Libation Bearers by Lilly Meleme, and The Eumenides by Georgia Mavragani.

Part 1: Agamemnon by Io Voulgaraki

In the first part of Aeschylus’ trilogy, King Agamemnon returns to Argos, shortly after the end of the Trojan War. Agamemnon triumphantly marches into the city and his palace, flaunting the Trojan princess and Apollo priestess Cassandra as his captive. Clytemnestra welcomes her husband, all pomp and circumstance. However, her enthusiasm conceals a deadly, well-orchestrated plan.

Part 2: The Libation Bearers by Lilly Meleme

In the second part of Aeschylus’ trilogy, Electra takes center stage, mourning her murdered father and obsessively anticipating the return of her brother, Orestes, her beacon of hope, with whom she plans to take revenge for Agamemnon.

Part 3: The Eumenides by Georgia Mavragani

The third part of the trilogy revolves around Orestes’ pursuit by the Furies and the holy trial he must submit himself to be acquitted. In this play, the Areopagus court is established, which is why it is often considered to be a foundational play of Athenian Democracy.

To learn more about the perfromance, please visit: Athens & Epidaurus Festival

Travel to Epidaurus comfortably, reliably, and on time with YK Executive Transfers.

About The Book

The ancient Greeks adored the olive from the twilight of history, and even in prehistoric times they used olives in medicine, cooking, religion and many other aspects of everyday life. Until today, scientists, botanologists, archaeologists and geologists have been trying to peel away the secrets of the olive and its uses in Ancient Greece. In this book you will find out how the ancient Greeks used the olive, through paintings, activities and amusing texts... Let yourself be surprised by the facts, as the olive is still used today in multiple ways and in many cases in the same ways that it was used back then!

About The Author

Vasiliki Markaki studied International Relations and History of Art in Athens and holds two Masters Degrees, in Art Management and Museum and Gallery Management, from City University London.

She has collaborated with natural history museums in Greece and the UK, for the development of learning activities and has also worked for the London-based British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. In 2015, she joined the team that planned and managed the development of the House of European History, the new museum of the European Parliament, designing the learning strategy and all related material for physical and online visitors. Since 2017 she has been working at the Μuseum of Cycladic Art as the coordinator of the museum’s e-learning program.

Her children’s book “Discovering the Ancient Secrets of the Olive” was published in Greek and English in 2013.

Real Madrid in Santorini!

Coinciding with the 10-year birthday of the Acropolis Museum, the inauguration of new exhibition space has been announced; an entire ancient neighborhood has been excavated right below the museum building revealing ancient villas, streets, workshops, and bathhouses.

"For the first time we are able to see how people lived in the shadow of the Acropolis," said Dimitrios Pandermalis, the museum's director pointing towards a gorgeous ancient courtyard and a chamber where aristocrats held symposiums.

Building a €130m museum so close to the Acropolis in an area so rich in archaeology, was a difficult task and the discovery of so many ancient ruins – some of which date back the late classical era– significantly delayed the completion of the museum.

But the 13 years of digging paid off and helped archaeologists learn even more about ancient Athens, the birthplace of democracy.

To read this article in full, please visit: The Guardian

10 Years Acropolis Museum Celebration

Thursday, 20 June 2019

The archaeological excavation will be open to the public with the general admission fee ticket. The excavated area of 4,000 sq. meters comprises houses, workshops, baths and streets of an ancient Athenian neighborhood that existed from the classical to the Byzantine years, in successive phases. This impressive archaeological site will soon be enriched with the most representative findings of the excavation. Architectural ruins will be organized in a unique exhibition set that sheds light on the everyday life of an ancient neighborhood that existed in the shadow of the Acropolis. On this day the Museum exhibition areas will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

1. Greece is the 3rd largest olive oil producer in the world and the biggest exporter of extra virgin olive oil. Greek extra virgin olive oil is even exported to other oil producing countries such as Italy and Spain.

3. Each Greek person consumes an average of 26 liters of olive oil a year!

4. A mature olive tree will produce 15- 20 kilos of olives each year. It takes about 5 kilos of olives to make a liter of oil; therefore, an olive tree yields 3-4 liters of oil each year.

5. Extra virgin olive oil has a delicious, clean flavor and is produced from the first pressing of the olives without any use of solvents, and in specific temperatures that will not degrade the oil.

6. The fresher the olive oil is, the better it tastes. After about a year, it's best to use the oil for cooking, while keeping the fresher oil for dressing salads and other cold uses.

7. Olive oil has a high content of monounsaturated fats; studies have shown that replacing saturated fats with monounsaturated fats, can lower the risk of coronary heart disease.

8. It is a proven fact that olive oil helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL).

9. Olive oil is very high in oleic acid, which helps reduce blood pressure and contains several antioxidants such as vitamin E, carotenoids, and oleuropein.

This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab