Greeks are known to be philosophers and innovators. However, there is another side to the Greeks: the side where traditional beliefs, many of which are rooted in ancient times, overtake all sense of reason.

Here are some of the funniest and weirdest Ancient Greek beliefs and traditions!


1. Sneezing Prevents You From Getting Pregnant

This isn’t just some old wives’ tale, you see. Soranus, an ancient Greek physician, actually believed that women sneezing would act as a form of contraception, thus preventing pregnancy. After making love, he instructed women to squat, sneeze, and rinse.

2. Magical Sweat Was A Cure-All

Ancient Greeks admired their athletes and saw them as celebrities of a sort. Not only were they revered, but they were also thought to have magical sweat. How it worked: The athletes all performed naked and were rubbed with olive oil, and the sweat which they expelled during competitions was considered to have magical healing powers.

Slaves would scrape the sweaty skin of athletes after competitions. This sweat/oil mixture was called “gloios.” The gloios was in turn bottled and sold as an all-healing ointment for aches and pains.

3. There Is Evil In The Air

There is one ancient Greek superstition that is even now completely interwoven into the society of modern Greece. Generations upon generations have passed down the belief of the evil eye, or “mati.” There is evidence of the evil eye having an influence on the traditions of Greek society as far back as the 6th century BC when it commonly appeared on drinking vessels.

It is believed that someone can cast the evil eye onto another person out of envy (either good or bad) and jealousy. You are said to be hexed with the evil eye if you are dizzy or if you have a headache and yawn a lot. The good news is that you can have the “spell” broken by someone who knows how to perform a special ritual involving oil, water, and prayers.

4. The Island Of Mykonos Is A Breeding Ground For Vampires

Before the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century, there were creatures endemic in Greek folklore who were considered to be dangerous. These “walking dead” creatures were called vrykolakes.

As the legend goes, vrykolakes would leave their graves at night and knock on the doors of their presumptive victims, saying their names aloud. If there was no answer after the first knock, no harm came to the innocent.

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

For most people having to live without their car is rather challenging, but there are numerous benefits to leading a car-free lifestyle, even if it is only for a while. Think, for example, not having to worry about where to park or how to avoid a traffic jam. Especially, when you find yourself on an island where the road networks aren’t the best.

If you want to experience the stress-free feeling of moving from place to place with no other equipment aside from a comfortable pair of shoes, these 5 islands are ideal destinations for holidays without a car!

Located in the heart of the Argo Saronic Gulf, Hydra is one of the most cosmopolitan and affluent islands of Greece, and since it’s very close to Athens, it is a great weekend destination. The island is rich in history and archaeological interest and has managed to retain its traditional charm. Cars and motorcycles aren’t allowed there, and the best way to explore its cobblestone streets is on foot! 

Located east of Lefkada, Kalamos may not be the typical Greek destination you see on postcards, but it sure is the ideal choice if you are looking for the authentic Greek way of living. It is a tall mountain range that floats on the sea, its northern side overgrowing with towering, thick pine trees and its coast lined up with numerous pebbly coves, often accessible only by sea. You don’t need a car to explore the island, and the few cars you may come across are mainly used for transporting goods.

Donousa


@cecile433

The northernmost island of the Small Eastern Cyclades, Donousa is located east of the island of Naxos. With an area of just thirteen square kilometers, you can walk around it on foot and discover not only its lovely beaches with crystalline waters but also its hiking trails. Some beaches are accessible only by boat, while the island has two taxis.

On the easternmost edge of Greece lies one of the smallest and most charming islands of the Dodecanese complex, Kastellorizo. Except for the one taxi on the island, it is otherwise a peaceful, car-free oasis with a rich history dating back to the early Neolithic era. The Castle of the Knights of Saint John on the reddish rock above the port is one of the island’s must-see attractions. 

Leipsoi


@stef_greece

Leipsoi is a small cluster of islets in the northern part of the Dodecanese famous for its relaxed atmosphere and its magical beaches, making it a perfect destination for laid-back holidays. Distances are short, so you don’t need a car, but you can rent a motorbike or hop on a bus or minibus if you don’t like walking. 

 

The best wellness event in Europe and second in the world, Navarino Challenge, returns with its key message “sports unites people”, bringing all people together, without discrimination while celebrating with them its 10 years of presence through sports, tourism and the history of Messinia.

 

Amateur and professional athletes from Greece and abroad will participate in the celebration of sports tourism that will be held on October 21-23, 2022, at Costa Navarino and Pylos. 

 

More than 30 sports activities, with the presence of Olympic athletes alongside amateur athletes of all ages and abilities, compose this year’s Navarino Challenge, which now bears its new, 10-year anniversary logo.

 

Enjoy here the teaser video of Navarino Challenge 2022.

 

The participants will have the opportunity to run again this year crossing the dreamy beach of Voidokilia, with the Greek-American ultramarathon runner Konstantinos Dean Karnazes. The remarkable athlete will visit our country this year with his entire family and as a leading ambassador will strengthen for another year the participation of the Greek-American community that began 10 years ago. 

Runners can secure their participation from now on and take advantage of the early bird prices, by completing the available form through the following link. 

Honored guests from 2013 until today

Since 2013, the year that Navarino Challenge started, the event has honored great sports personalities who will be present again this year such as Panagiotis Giannakis, Konstantinos Dean Karnazes, Periklis Iakovakis, Alexandros Nikolaidis, Michalis Triantafyllidis and Dimitris Theodorakakos.

 

One of this year’s honorees will be the European champion and 11-time triathlon champion in Greece Grigoris Souvatzoglou.

 

Navarino Challenge brings new personalities to its 10th anniversary. The Navarino Challenge team is strengthened with:

• Christina Flampouri, the only Greek woman who has conquered the 7 highest peaks in the world, who will be responsible for the indoor climbing activity
• and Georgia Kaltsi, the great wheelchair, basketball and fencing athlete

The award-winning sports tourism event Navarino Challenge excelled for another year at the Sports Marketing Awards, the institution that highlights the “champions” of Sports Marketing in Greece, receiving a total of 7 awards. More specifically, the event received 3 Gold Awards in the “Most Innovative Use of Content Creators & Influencers”, “Running & Live Well” and “Best Native Advertising Campaign” categories, 3 Silver Awards in the “Sports Tourism”, “Best Strategy for Branding” and “Kids / Youth / Grassroots” categories, as well as 1 Bronze Award in the “Best New Sponsorship” category for the sponsorship of Nestle Fitness, proving its steady upward trend, credibility and innovation as an event in the field of sports and tourism. 

 

Navarino Challenge, which highlights the authentic values ​​of the sports ideal, with activities that promote the Olympic spirit and participation of people of all ages, while educating young people alongside model athletes and Olympians, was distinguished among more than 700 events from the #BeactiveHellas program of the European Commission which is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports.

 

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

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

Photo credit: Navarino Challenge 

United Airlines resumed its daily nonstop seasonal service between Athens International Airport (AIA) and New York/Newark.

Flight UA125 departs Athens Airport daily at 12:15 pm, arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport at 4:15 pm the same day. The return flight, UA124, departs Newark daily at 5:15 pm, arriving in Athens at 10:10 am the following day (all times local).

United’s service from Athens to New York/Newark is currently operated with Boeing 767-400 aircraft and as of May 7, the route will be operated with Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft.

The service is planned to operate until October 29 and will be joined next month by United’s daily nonstop seasonal service from Athens to Washington D.C., set to start on May 7.

Seasonal service between Athens and Washington D.C.

Flight UA983 will depart Athens daily at 11:50 am, arriving at Washington Dulles at 3:15 pm the same day. The return flight, UA982, will depart Washington daily at 5:10 pm, arriving in Athens at 9:55 am the following day (all times local).

United’s service from Athens to Washington Dulles will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

To read this article in full, please visit: news.gtp.gr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Acropolis of Athens naturally sends eyes skyward to take in the glories of the Parthenon and other buildings atop it, but its best-kept secret is a chamber inside the sacred rock.

The secret chamber of the Acropolis is actually a Byzantine church. Restored in 2017, the Acropolis, once a place of worship, burrows deep into the base of Athens’ most renowned mountain. Above the Dionysus Theater, is the church called Panagia Spilotissa, or the Virgin Mary of the Cave, which was converted from an archaic temple.

Ironically, the church originated as a temple to celebrate the ancient Greek god of festivity and religious madness. Dating back to 320 BC, the cave was a temple dedicated to Dionysus, built by Thrasyllos. Two Ionian pillars still stand on top of the entryway, easily spotted from the pedestrian walkway, the Dionysios Areopagitis, that borders the Acropolis.

Acropolis’ Secret: First an Archaic Monument, Then an Alternative Church

The monument was erected to celebrate Thrasyllos’ victory as the benefactor of a chorus that performed in the annual dramatic festival that honored Dionysus. After the victory, Thrasyllos had the monument constructed. It was again modified in 297 BC, following his son, Thrasyklis, victory to include inscriptions.

The cave was most likely considered sacred long before the construction of the monument. It may have been dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. The rock face was cut back to form a flat vertical surface, and the mouth of the cave was enlarged into a rectangular opening. Two broad stone steps led up to the entry.

A Doric marble portico was set at the front of the cave, in imitation of the Propylaea, on the southwest wing of the Acropolis. The structure would have been surmounted with three bronze tripods that served as the actual prizes in the annual competition that involved drama, comedy, and musical performances. The tripods were eventually replaced with a statue of Dionysus.

Best-Preserved Examples of post-Byzantine Hagiography

“The fresco decoration of Panagia Spiliotissa comprises the best-preserved examples of post-Byzantine hagiography in the area of the Acropolis and its slopes,” according to Dr. Konstantinos Boletis. Boletis serves as a restoration architect for the Department/Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens.

The church was one of the “alternative” places to worship that began to emerge in Athens during the sixth century following the decrees sent down by the Byzantine emperors.

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

Although we know Greek history and mythology is loved all over the world, probably not many would guess that a Greek Mythology Museum exists in South Korea. What makes this museum all the more interesting is that it’s not even on the Korean mainland, but on the holiday destination of Jeju Island.

The museum itself is modeled after classical Greek architecture, featuring a row of columns outside and replicas of ancient Greek statues and famous paintings depicting scenes from Greek mythology.

The impressive museum is divided into seven large galleries that are all focused on one aspect of Greek mythology, such as the “Olympus Galley,” the “Love Gallery,” and the “Hero Gallery.”

Each gallery features spectacular white-plaster replicas of imposing ancient sculptures, as well as information regarding Greek mythology and history in both Korean and English.

It even features a replica of an ancient Greek village that visitors can explore, as well as historically accurate costumes they can wear, which help to transport them through time back to ancient Greece.

In the “Olympus Gallery,” replicas of famous ancient Greek sculptures of the gods line the room, along with copies of famous paintings depicting stories from Greek myth. Visitors can learn about each of the twelve gods and admire the artwork displayed in the museum.

The site is also home to a number of replicas of important items from Greek mythology, such as the Trojan Horse, albeit on a smaller scale. The museum also features interactive displays about zodiac signs and the constellations and even explains the Greek myths behind many of the constellations.

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

From outdoors activities to some of the best cycling routes, see what's included in this week's newsletter! 

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It's Clean Monday in Greece  bringing Carnival celebrations to an end, inviting everyone to leave behind the 'sinful' attitudes associated with Carnival festivities and non-fasting foods!

 

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Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn