There is a popular perception that words derived from Greek are long, exotic-sounding, and mostly only used in discussions of science and philosophy. It’s true that there are a lot of Greek words that fit this description. For instance, very few people would use words like otorhinolaryngology, homoousian, ataraxia, or peripeteia in casual conversation.

There are, however, a lot of really simple Greek words that people use nearly every day. Some of these words don’t sound Greek at all because they have passed through so many languages that they no longer bear any of the distinctive sounds or spellings that we normally associate with Greek words, but they are still of Greek origin.

Here is a list of commonly-used words in English that don’t sound Greek, but are ultimately of Greek origin:

• The word box comes from Late Latin buxis, which comes from earlier Latin pyxis, which comes from the Greek feminine noun πυξίς (pyxís), meaning “box.”
• The word church comes from the Old English word cirice, which comes from Proto-West Germanic *kirikā, which comes directly from the Greek adjective κυριακόν (kyriakón), meaning “belonging to the Lord.” This word, in turn, comes from the masculine noun κύριος (kýrios), meaning “Lord.”
• The word idea is derived from the Latin word idea, which is derived from the Greek feminine noun ἰδέα (idéa), meaning “form,” “shape,” “appearance,” “sort,” or “idea.” This word is, in turn, derived from the verb εἴδομαι (eídomai), meaning “to be seen” or “to appear.”
• The word lamp comes from Middle English lampe, which comes from Old French lampe, which comes from the Latin word lampas, which comes from the Greek feminine noun λαμπάς (lampás), meaning “torch.”
• The word machine comes from the Latin word machina, which comes from the word μαχανά (machaná), which is the Doric Greek form of the feminine noun better known by its Attic Greek form μηχανή (mēchanḗ), meaning “machine,” “contrivance,” or “device.”
• The word paper comes from Old French papier, which comes from Latin papyrus, which comes from the Greek masculine noun πάπυρος (pápyros), meaning “papyrus.”
• The word place comes from Old English plæce, which comes from Latin platea, which comes from πλατεῖα (plateîa), the singular feminine form of the Greek adjective πλατύς (platýs), meaning “flat and wide.”
• The word plate comes from Old French plate, which comes from Medieval Latin plata, which comes from Vulgar Latin *platus, which comes from the Greek adjective πλατύς (platýs), meaning “flat and wide.”
• The word problem is derived from Middle French probleme, which is derived from Latin problema, which is derived from the Greek neuter noun πρόβλημα (próblēma), meaning “hindrance,” “obstacle,” or “matter for discussion.”
• The word sock comes from the Old English word socc, which comes from the Latin word soccus, which comes from the Greek masculine noun σύκχος (sýkchos), which referred to a kind of buskin shoe worn by comic actors.

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

Amateur and professional athletes of all ages and abilities from Greece and abroad will participate in the top sports tourism event Navarino Challenge and celebrate its 10 years, on October 21-23, 2022, at Costa Navarino and Pylos.

 

With the recent addition of 3 more awards, Navarino Challenge reached 45 awards in total in its history. The event, in collaboration with Costa Navarino and the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor, won 3 Gold Awards at the leading institution in Greece which highlights the best and most innovative practices in tourism, the Tourism Awards 2022. At the same time, it remained as the only event that continues to be distinguished in this institution from its very first year. Navarino Challenge won the Gold Award in the “Health & Wellness Tourism” category for the implementation of top wellness activities in its program, the “Pet-friendly Environment” category for the pet-friendly strategy followed and implemented throughout last year’s event, enabling all people to take part with their pets in all activities and the “Storytelling Excellence” category for the successful dissemination of the event’s message “Sports Unites People” and the promotion of the region’s sports tourism around the world.

Watch here the video with the best highlights from last year and come this year to celebrate with us the 10 years of Navarino Challenge.

The most famous beach of Messinia -with its unique shape outlining the Greek letter omega (Ω)- and one of the most beautiful in the world, Voidokilia is the ideal destination for anyone who wants to test his strength in running. Navarino Challenge gives participants the opportunity to run in the top Greek Half-Marathon 21.1km, together with the Greek-American ultramarathon runner Konstantinos Dean Karnazes and cross the beautiful beach of Voidokilia. This is the only trail run that combines soil, sand and asphalt. At the same time, they can run the 10km route, or the fun 5km route Powered by Samsung, which can even be completed with dynamic walking.  On the same day, the 1km children’s route will be held in two groups, for children 10-14 years old and kids up to 9 years of age.   

Runners can take advantage of the early bird offers, which are valid until July 31st, featuring discounts higher than 50% on registrations. The children’s race is held with free participation. Register now by completing the available form through the following link.

Enjoy a weekend full of outdoor wellness activities for people of all ages. Book now the event’s accommodation package which is full of sports activities and includes half board. Live this year’s unique sports and cultural experience. For more information on accommodation packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino you may send your email to booking(at)navarinochallenge.com or call Vita N Travel at +30 210 3249070. Check the accommodation packages here. 

 

Samsung Electronics Hellas supports the event for a 6th consecutive year as its Official Technology Partner. 

Luanvi is the Official Sports Supplier.

Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino are the Official Hospitality Sponsors.

Poseidonia Restaurant and Karalis Beach Hotel are Navarino Challenge’s Official Supporters.

Pilia Express is the event’s Partner.

The event is assisted by Vita N Travel and Kayak. 

Explore Messinia, FitnessArt, F45 Barrio Salamanca, Mouratoglou Tennis Center – Costa Navarino, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim O’ Clock, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club are Navarino Challenge’s Athletic Partners.

 

Navarino Challenge will take place under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, whose mission is the formulation of the tourism policy and the executive planning of the tourist development of Greece. The event has joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2022 program of the European Commission and is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports. 

The event is organized by ActiveMedia Group which is also responsible for the event’s Sports Production.

Photo credit: Angelos Zymaras

Once upon a time, there was a new discovery called the internet. It was a strange but magical thing. It was difficult to learn but it could do wonders. At the beginning, only few could have access to it as it was quite expensive and not widely available. As time went by technology developed WiFi so that the internet became an everyday tool. Anyone could have access to it even in remote places.

Today our lives are built around the internet. I’m not only referring to our children’s interest – even addiction sometimes – in gaming. We, adults, use it even more: for work, for social connections, for personal and business transactions, for shopping, for play… As a matter of fact, the way we communicate has changed because we spend so much time on the internet. So what happens when your household WiFi doesn’t work?

I’ll tell you all about it as I came face-to-face with this exact situation a couple of weeks ago. At first, our provider told us the problem would be fixed in a day or two. Then they assured us everything would be up and running in three days. We ended up with no WiFi for two weeks. Apparently, there was a technical problem in the greater area and it took some time.

My initial emotion was frustration. Two whole weeks! Can you imagine? Of course, it was a great opportunity for our daughter to stay out of screens and engage in various other fun activities. But how about my husband and myself? We very often work remotely. During that particular period, we also had to do lots of tax-related work online. Eventually, we prioritized our projects, our needs, and our wants and this meant that some activities – my online yoga classes for example – were put on hold. We used sim cards to create Hotspots but we also discovered nice cafes to work from. Not only did we cope with the situation, but we also enjoyed the time that was “freed up” with boarding games, walks, and interesting talks.

Yes, we did find solutions and no, it was not the end of the world. But this got me thinking. Amazing how excessively dependent on technology we are today. And I’m definitely not saying technology is bad or that we should avoid it. I’m just questioning this dependency and wondering about possible alternatives. It’s always good to have a plan B and even a plan C as it’s always helpful to find the good – however well hidden – in any adversity.

Originally published on: itsmylife.gr

---

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

 

The Athens Avant Garde Film Festival, the Film Archive’s favourite annual event has returned once again, this time in hybrid form. The festival has been organised with the funding of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the NSRF Operational Programme, in collaboration with the Embassy of Portugal and the Instituto Camões, the Embassy of France and the Institut Français, the Embassy of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Culture Institute, the Embassy of Italy and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Atene, the Department of Communication and Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens and finally, the digital platform of ERT, ERTFLIX.

Nick Mason and his band will give two unique concerts in Thessaloniki and Athens giving great rock history lessons. On Friday, June 3, at the Forest Theater and on Saturday, June 4 in Technopolis, the emblematic Pink Floyd drummer is expected to present two spectacular audiovisual shows that we have rarely seen in our country.

Nick Mason is one of the greatest rock musicians of all time, as he participated as a drummer but also synthetically in all the records of the emblematic Pink Floyd who defined with their sound the moments of whole generations of music lovers. Throughout his great 55-year career, Nick Mason became one of the most influential drummers in our contemporary music history. The set he will present as part of his European and world tour will include the most brilliant moments of his discography and an innovative audiovisual show that receives rave reviews from all over the world.

Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets tour set features the musical moments from the early years of Pink Floyd to the 1972 album "Obscured by Clouds", including the epic "Echoes".

The title of the longest sandy beach in the European Union goes to Monolithi in Preveza, which stretches 25 kilometers long and is in western Greece, along the Ionian Sea on the Epirus mainland.

The beach of Monolithi extends along the west coast of the Prefecture of Preveza.

The name Monolithi comes from the Greek roots “Μόνος” + “Λίθος” = “single” + “stone”. It was an oversea rock 10X10m, near the coast, until the year 1942, when German and Italian soldiers destroyed the rock with mortar fire.

The beach extends from the Village Mytikas of Preveza (Cape Komarus) until the Village Kastrosykia also of Preveza City. The wide sandy beach in winter is about 50–10 meters and ends in Monolithi’s protected forest, also in Koukos hills.

The total length of the coastline west of the prefecture of Preveza is 70 km and is a pristine growing tourist area.

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

 

Image Credit: Spyros Vangelakis 

BBC Culture asked writing experts around the globe to pick stories that have endured across generations and continents and changed society. It comes as no surprise that Homer’s Odyssey topped their poll of 100 Stories that has shaped the world.

"If any story can be considered the greatest tale ever told, Homer’s Odyssey has a better claim than most. Twenty-four books long, it runs to more than 12,000 lines of hexameter verse (the poetic form used in Greek epic and Latin epic after it) and follows the adventures of the wily, complicated Greek hero, Odysseus, in the aftermath of the Trojan War. The Odyssey has been valued as a cultural highpoint for millennia: in the 5th Century BCE, the Athenian playwright Aeschylus referred to his tragedies as “slices from the banquet of Homer.

Writers from Dante to James Joyce to Margaret Atwood have taken inspiration from this original quest story. But Odysseus’ quest itself is an almost mundane affair, amid the gods and monsters which populate the poem. Because it is not about sailing off to find something wondrous and new (a golden fleece, for example, or an undiscovered land). It’s about a man trying to get home at the end of a 10-year war.”

BBC Culture polled experts around the world to nominate up to five fictional stories they felt had shaped mindsets or influenced history. They received responses from authors, academics, journalists, critics, and translators from 35 countries, who looked at novels, poems, folk tales, and dramas in 33 different languages. Homer’s Odyssey topped the list, followed by Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

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

For the full list of 100 stories that shaped the world, please visit: bbc.com

Anyone considering visiting Greece for a holiday needs to think twice as once they’re in Greece, they may want to stay forever. That’s the central theme in a new campaign for Greek tourism, launched by the Greek National Tourism Organization on Monday, May 30. 

A video for the “Greece: You will want to say forever” campaign features an Austrian man, Otto, who tells his story of ending up in Greece to a backdrop of beautiful images from the Greek islands.

The Onassis Foundation supports the new summer tourism campaign and Ogilvy produced the promotional video.



Originally published on: ekathimerini.com