One of the greatest poets of ancient Greece was Hesiod, who lived in the second half of the 8th century BCE. Only three of his major works survive, namely “Theogony,” “Works and Days” and the “Shield of Heracles” (although the … Continue reading
Category Nature
May 1st: celebrating nature
This gallery contains 3 photos.
Today, I’m not going to take you to any archaeological site. Instead, we’re going to Hymettus Mountain, very near Athens, to celebrate May 1st in a pre Covid-19 fashion. May first has been traditionally celebrated by going out in nature. … Continue reading
Dionysus in Delos
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Most people think that Dionysus, the god of wine, was no more than the drunken sidekick of Greek mythology. In fact, he was a rather powerful god who controlled the wild forces of nature. He did not care for the … Continue reading
A plant of gods and mortals
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In the beginning of spring, an impressive flower towers high above all others. It is usually found on roadsides, abandoned fields and archaeological sites all over Greece. It is giant fennel (ferula communis) but, despite its similarity with fennel, it … Continue reading
FAQs: Are these sheep or goats?
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How do you tell the difference between sheep and goats? The distinction may not make much difference when a flock of either blocks the road, but one can’t help being curious. So, for the uninitiated, the best way to tell … Continue reading
No Game, no gain
This gallery contains 8 photos.
Ι have to admit something: I haven’t seen The Game of Thrones yet, despite the fact that I like heroic fantasy and science fiction. I’ve even been known to “spin my own yarn” from time to time – something I … Continue reading
Photo of the week: Marathon lake
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A flock of aquatic birds in the lake of Marathon, a few kilometres outside Athens, herald the arrival of spring. Artificially created, as a result of the building of the dam of Marathon, in 1929, the lake serves both as a … Continue reading
Star Wars locations in Greece
This gallery contains 14 photos.
I have to thank a guest of mine, Lexie, for coming out with the unexpected observation that sparked this post. After some island hopping, she was back in Athens to catch her flight home and we got together for a … Continue reading
Save the Greek seashore
Outcry over bill allowing unlimited construction on Greek coastline Environmental organisations, social media activists, as well as political parties and several public figures have denounced a proposed law that would end free public access to the Greek coastline, remove deterrent … Continue reading
Photo of the week: sparrows nesting in a pillar’s capital
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A couple of sparrows had the pluck to make a nest into the most unlikely of places: the decorative spirals of a capital (ie. head of a column or pillar). You can see the male on the lookout (top right, … Continue reading
Aristotle, Greek tourist guide 