The Olympic torch embarked on Tuesday on its grand journey from Ancient Olympia, after the conclusion of the flame lighting ceremony, for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The ceremony (hosted by Nikos Aliagas), inspired by antiquity, took place, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in Ancient Olympia, according to the traditional ritual. Following the previous toned-down events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Games, due to the restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the ceremony is again open to public. Greek actress M ..read more

An oenochoe, or wine jug, of the 7th century BC that had been removed from Greece during the German occupation in World War II was returned by the Municipality of Hanover and the August Kestner Museum, the Ministry of Culture announced on Tuesday. The oenochoe has a trefoil-shaped mouth and a cover, and is dated to 620-600 BC. Traces of the decoration around its neck are still visible. The vessel had been given to the August Kestner Museum by geology professor Hannfrit Putzer in 1986. It was accompanied by a letter of provenance, which said it had been handed over to him after being discovered ..read more

Greece’s Independence Day, observed on March 25th, marks a significant milestone in the nation’s history. This annual celebration commemorates Greece’s liberation from Ottoman rule in 1821, symbolizing the enduring spirit of freedom and resilience. Historical Background: For nearly four centuries, Greece languished under Ottoman oppression, facing cultural suppression and political subjugation. The Greek War of Independence, ignited on March 25, 1821, was a watershed moment driven by Enlightenment ideals and the quest for self-governance. Visionary leaders such as Theodoros Kolokotronis and La ..read more

Στα μυστικά της παρασκευής του κρητικού ντάκου και στο άνοιγμα φύλλου για μυζυθρωπιτάκια μυήθηκαν οι φοιτητές και οι καθηγητές του διάσημου πανεπιστημίου «Yale» στην Αμερική. Ο Δημήτρης Καλαϊτζιδάκης, διευθυντής λειτουργιών του ξενοδοχειακού ομίλου της Grecotel (Grecotel Operations Director) έχοντας λάβει επίσημη πρόσκληση από το διάσημο Πανεπιστήμιο, ολοκλήρωσε σειρά διαλέξεων παρουσιάζοντας το πρότυπο του υγιεινού τρόπου ζωής των παππούδων μας στην Κρήτη. Η Grecotel «έστρωσε» το τραπέζι στο εν λόγω πανεπιστήμιο, αφού μαζί με τον κύριο Καλαϊτζιδάκη καλεσμένος ήταν και ο σεφ του ξενοδοχείου Am ..read more

The Unseen Museum is the well-known exhibition project of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens that brings to the fore antiquities stored in its vaults away from the visitor’s eyes. The Unseen Museum presents for the first time the “ stele of the twin babies”. It is a fragment of a funerary monument found in a torrent at Menidi, Attica and delivered to the Museum in November 2008 by a destitute. The fragment preserves in relief two bundled twin babies in the arms of a female figure and is probably part of a tombstone that would have been erected on the grave of a woman who died in chil ..read more

The ceremony for lighting the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia next month, starting the Olympic Torch Relay that will usher in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is to feature a number of changes, including a new High Priestess, redesigned costumes and a new composer. The changes were showcased at a grand event held at the Hellenic Olympic Committee on Tuesday, where the HOC thanked the sponsors and supporters of the Greek team, presented High Priestess Mary Mina and new ceremonies’ composer Dimitris Papadimitriou, as well as the new black-and-white robes that will be worn by the priestesses in the ..read more

Ten serious foreign universities have expressed interest in opening branches in Greece, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, said on Sunday in an interview with Proto Thema, reiterating that “Greece cannot await the revision of Article 16 of the Constitution.” Pierrakakis stated that “the government’s legislative initiative does not violate the Constitution,” and emphasized that “in Greece, public universities are the flagship of higher education.” He also referred to the distinction between colleges “that operate legally, with decisions of the court of th ..read more

A new lighting system will be installed at the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, following the approval of the Central Archaeological Council for a relevant study, the Culture Ministry said on Wednesday. According to a ministry statement, the goal is to upgrade the current system and showcase the monument and its immediate surroundings without interventions or alterations to its character. The new lighting will make the monument’s size and design more perceptible and be environmentally friendly, offering significant energy savings. Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “Twenty years after ..read more

The lighting of the Georgios Schwartz Mansion in the village of Ampelakia, near Larisa, is to be revamped as part of a project for the conservation and refurbishing of its murals and wooden elements, the culture ministry announced on Sunday. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni noted that the mansion, built in 1787 and completed in 1798 was a visitable monument, which was built as a residence but also served as the headquarters of the Ampelakia Cooperative, which had traded in the region’s signature red yarn. “It is an exceptional example of traditional 18th-century architecture. The study on the lig ..read more

The remains of the ancient Greek fortress of Fyli on Parnitha Mountain will be supported and restored under a Ministry of Culture plan to start soon, the ministry said on Thursday. In a statement, the ministry said the Central Archaeological Council approved the architectural report for the immediate start of restoration of the South Gate, the East Central Gate, and the two towers on each side. A part of ancient Athens’ defense system in the 4th century, the Fyli Fortress is one of the best-preserved fortifications on the mountain. It lies in the southwest slope region, nearly 10 km northwest ..read more