Alexander Billinis from the Clemson University (USA) will present an online lecture entitled Hydra and the Flame of the Revolution, on Thursday 3 June, at 7.00pm, at the Greek Centre, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.
The island of Hydra, a largely barren (yet strikingly beautiful) stone massif rising from the Saronic Gulf, became one of the most important centers of the Greek War of Independence. Sparsely inhabited in 1600, waves of refugees sought solace on the rock, and the need for sustenance and agency drove the Hydriots—like Greeks over the millennia—to the sea.
From the first unwieldy ship in 1657, Hydriots became a center of shipbuilding and their carrying trade spread from the Aegean to the larger Black Sea and Mediterranean basins.
Andrea Miaoulis.
They piloted the politics of the era with the same skill as their ships, flying the Russian flag when needed, and sending their sons to the Ottoman Navy in exchange for internal autonomy. They invested in technocracy, founding the first merchant marine academy—in the world—in 1749. By 1820, the island had over 20,000 people and was one of the richest locales in the Mediterranean, but when the Revolution began, Hydriots—particularly and crucially their middle classes—could not turn their back on the cause.
Once the die was cast, Hydra went all in, with their ships and fortunes. Hydriot ships were converted merchantmen with fewer cannon than their opponents’ warships, but their sailors were among the best in the world and knew Ottoman tactics. Older ships were repurposed as fireships, which, piloted by brave crews, often turned the tide in battle against the huge Ottoman frigates. The navy both cleared the Turks from much of the Aegean, but just as importantly, prevented Turkish forces from landing at will in the Peloponnesus and other key revolutionary sites. Hydra, along with her fellow “Nautical Islands” of Spetses and Psara, played a starring role in securing Greece’s liberty.
The story of Hydra’s rise is perhaps even more interesting than her heroic role as the naval and financial center of the Greek War of Independence, for without the decades of hard work and skilful navigation of the waves, literal and political, there would likely have been no 1821 to celebrate. Hydra is a triumph of Greek Agency—personal, economic, and political.
Alexander Billinis is an instructor at Clemson University, in Clemson, South Carolina, USA, where he is also a graduate student in the History Department. He teaches Science and Technology in Society at the University Undergraduate College as well as selected Seminars in the Honors College, where he also runs the prestigious Dixon Fellows Program. He also has lectured on Greek, Balkan, and Byzantine subjects in Greece, Serbia, and throughout the United States.
He has been a member of the East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA) Hellenic American Revolution of 1821 Bicentennial Committee, which has hosted numerous virtual and in person panels on issues related to Greece’s Bicentennial.
When: Thursday 3 June 2021, 7pm
Where:Online seminar only via Zoom, Facebook and Youtube
Neo Christodoulou, co-founder of the Greek restaurant enterprise ‘The Athenian’ in England, has left the Greek street food business and is preparing to launch a rival brand called Smashing Plates.
Reported by Big Hospitality, the new restaurant will open in Canary Wharf, Tooting and Wembley, all locations currently listed as being operated by The Athenian.
It would leave The Athenian with half of its estate intact, including three London restaurants in Shoreditch, Victoria and White City, and a single location in Bristol.
Gyros from the Athenian.
Documents filed to Companies House show that Christodoulou officially left as director of The Athenian earlier this month, with Richard Michael Carl Freke taking over the role.
Christodoulou founded The Athenian in 2014 with Tim Vasilakis, who is listed as still being a director of the business alongside Freke.
In a statement to Big Hospitality, Vasilakis said: “The Athenian was launched by Athens born Tim Vasilakis, as a small street food stall back in 2014, and continues to this day under his ownership.
“The Athenian remains a fiercely independent brand and continues to offer its award-winning gyros with its unique recipes from White City, Shoreditch, Victoria and Bristol as well as nationwide delivery kitchens, and is excited to be announcing new sites across the UK very soon.”
The new restaurant ‘Smashing Plates’ is described as ‘on-the-go-Greek like you’ve never eaten before’. It’s influenced by Christodoulou’s Greek-Cypriot heritage and will feature a menu centred around ‘unorthodox takes’ on classic Greek street-food dishes and gyros.
The 29th of May, 1453, marks the end to one of the longest-lasting Medieval powers and the beginning of centuries of Greek oppression. The Byzantine Empire, an extension of the Roman Empire, fell almost two months into grappling against an Ottoman siege. Constantinople, the centre of the Byzantine Empire, is today known as Turkey’s major city Instanbul. The Greek Herald looks back on how the Ottomans captured Constantinople and the repercussions it had for Greek life and culture.
The first Christian capital: Constantinople had been the seat of the Byzantine Empire since 330 AD.
The Byzantine Empire had been the cradle of Roman civilisation since 330 AD but had slowly dwindled in population and size since. It was once a super-power but centuries of constant warfare and conflict over the East-West schism (1054) in the Christian church had torn the empire apart. It continued to shrink through to 1450, where it was just surrounded Constantinople by a few square kilometres.
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Constantinople was the seat of Imperial Power when Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, declared it his capital. The city had been targeted several times before, falling only once during the Fourth Crusade in 1204, but eventually became threatened by a massive army led by Sultan Mehmed II, who was hellbent on making the capital his new seat of power. Why? Constantinople was not only a bastion holding against Muslim control of the eastern Mediterranean, but it was also the gateway to eastern Europe. Constantinople marks the crossroads between Europe and Asia Minor and it’s fall would allow Ottoman expansion into the continent and leave it’s mostly secular states vulnerable to attack. Rome, which was the last of five major cities not under Ottoman control, was particularly vulnerable. So much so, Nicholas V put out a crusade to retake Constantinople from the Ottomans.
The Ottomans had conquered most of the Balkans and Anatolia dating back to the 14th century. Mehmed II intended to fulfil his father’s vision of the Ottoman Empire’s expansion. Mehmed II and the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Palaeologus, were rallying support ahead of a massive blow-out between the two Empires.
The Battle
The battle saw both lead impressive armies, but one slightly larger than the other. 50 to 80 thousand Ottomans descended on 7 to 10 thousand Byzantines; an army a fraction the size of theirs. The Ottomans were also well-equiped with cannons and artillery. The Byzantines, on the other hand, had one of the strongest sets of fortified walls in existence. This, however, was only enough to hold back the Ottomans for fifty-five days until they finally suceeding in their siege.
The death toll of Byzantine’s was staggering. It is estimated that four thousand Byzantine soldiers died while battling the Ottomans, and a further 30,000 were enslaved in the aftermath. The Ottoman death toll is unknown but is assumed to have been substantial.
The fall of Constantinople is considered to be one of the most important events in human history.
To some historians, it marks the end of the Medieval Period, and to others, the long, drawn-out fall of the Roman Empire.
The Morrison Government’s gas-fired recovery plan was the cause of debate between Andrew Liveris and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young on the ABC panel show ‘Q&A’ a couple of weeks ago.
Recently, Liveris admitted his claim that 850,000 Australians work in industries using natural gas as feedstock was “incorrect”.
Andrew Liveris told RMIT ABC Fact Check that the 850,000 figure was the Australian Bureau of Statistics employment number for all sectors of manufacturing and not all those sectors used gas as a feedstock.
However, he said all manufacturing jobs were “dependent on the aggregation of supply chains and associated manufacturing ventures that draw on gas directly”.
Photo: Screenshots taken from ABC’s ‘Q&A’
Mr Liveris made his claim when Q+A host Hamish Macdonald asked him to justify the need for new, publicly funded gas infrastructure.
“There’s 850,000 Australians employed by industries that use gas as a feedstock,” he replied.
When contacted by Fact Check, Mr Liveris said in an email that he had not had the opportunity to properly explain himself “due to the style of the program”.
“Gas as a key input and enabler, including as a feedstock and source of direct energy, in energy intensive sectors like steel, aluminium, bricks, paper, food production and packaging, cement, petrochemicals, fertilizers, explosives and other sectors impacts 850,000 manufacturing jobs in Australia,” he wrote.
“The literal expression of this on the Q+A program was that its use as a feedstock for all these sectors is incorrect.
“The correct assertion is that 850,000 (the ABS number for workers in manufacturing) jobs are dependent on the aggregation of supply chains and associated manufacturing ventures that draw on gas directly, and not as electricity,” he wrote.
Greece has launched a European Union-wide tender to build two closed-type facilities replacing migrant camps on its islands, a move that has been criticised by a leading human rights advocate.
The conservative government first announced in late 2019 its plan to move asylum-seekers to closed holding centres as part of a tougher policy for managing migrant flows.
The new facilities on Lesbos and Chios islands would be completed within eight months, the migration ministry said in a statement announcing the tender on Friday.
Refugees and migrants stand next to tents in the Mavrovouni camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece, March 29, 2021. REUTERS/Elias Marcou
It said the so-called “Closed Controlled Structures” would improve living conditions for asylum-seekers and alleviate the burden of the migration crisis on local communities.
However, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic earlier this month wrote to Greek ministers, urging them to reconsider the closed nature of the facilities.
“I am concerned that this will lead to large-scale and long-term deprivation of liberty… which has very harmful effects on their mental health, especially on children,” Mijatovic wrote.
Tents are seen in the Mavrovouni camp for refugees and migrants on the island of Lesbos, Greece, March 29, 2021. REUTERS/Elias Marcou
The camps on Lesbos and Chios spilled over into olive groves with flimsy tents and poor, often dangerous living conditions.
The government said this month the number of asylum-seekers on its islands had fallen below 10,000 for the first time since Europe’s migration crisis began in 2015, and down from nearly 20,000 people at its worst point in November 2018.
The camps were originally designed to hold around 6,000 people.
Greece’s prime minister said Friday his country is seeking improved ties with neighbor and longtime foe Turkey, but that the onus is on Turkey to refrain from what he called “provocations, illegal actions and aggressive rhetoric.”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ comments came ahead of a visit to Athens next week by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as the two NATO member countries seek to patch up relations strained by a series of disputes, including over energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
“The only way for there to be an essential rapprochement with Ankara, which we seek and desire, is for the provocations, the illegal actions and aggressive rhetoric to end,” Mitsotakis said during statements with visiting European Council President Charles Michel.
Only Turkey’s “measured steps are those that will speed up the European steps too,” he said, referring to Turkey’s sometimes strained relations with Europe.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his dog Peanut wait for arrival of European Council President Charles Michel at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, on Friday, May 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris).
In March, the European Union offered incentives to Turkey to improve cooperation on migration and trade amid concerns about the country’s energy ambitions in the Mediterranean that had led to a sharp increase in tension with EU members Greece and Cyprus that led to warships facing off in the eastern Mediterranean.
Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads for decades over a long series of issues, including territorial rights in the Aegean, maritime and aviation boundaries and minority rights.
After the escalation of tension last year the two have sought to gradually improve ties, and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Turkey in mid-April for talks with Cavusoglu.
But the joint news conference after their meeting descended into a rare public exchange of accusations, with the ministers trading barbs and listing their respective country’s grievances against the other.
One of the grievances Cavusoglu cited was about the Muslim minority in Greece, which Greece recognizes as a religious minority but Turkey refers to as an ethnic Turkish minority. The community lives mainly in the northeastern Greek region of Thrace, near the Turkish border, and Cavusoglu was to visit community members there as a private visit Sunday, ahead of his official trip to Athens on Monday.
With a new letter addressed to the members of the SA Parliament, the Turkish Government has called the SA government to not support Tom Koutsantonis’ motion to recognise May 19 as the official Greek Genocide Remembrance Day.
The letter, signed by the Turkish Ambassador in Australia, Korhan Karakoc, comes a week after the Executive Secretary of the Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance, Baris Atayman, called the Members of Parliament to “shun Mr Koutsantonis’ biased political manoeuvre.”
“This initiative, as a grave distortion of historical facts, is a bombshell that will introduce severe impacts on the social hanrony in South Australia currently enjoyed by the Turkish and the greater Muslim community,” reads the Turkish Ambassador’s letter.
With a post on social media, Koutsantonis says that the Turkish Government is attempting to have him silenced and reiterates that he will not.
“Call your local MP and ask them to support this motion and don’t let anyone silence us,” reads his post.
On Wednesday, May 23, SA MP Irene Pnevmatikos also called on the South Australian government to formally recognise May 19 as a Day of Remembrance for the genocide of Armenians, Hellenes, Assyrians and other minorities in Asia Minor.
The SA Labor MP said she condemns the genocide “as the ultimate act of racial, religious and cultural intolerance,” and called on the Turkish Republic to accept responsibility and to “finally apologise” for its actions.
Federal member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas, has also submitted a request for the matter to be discussed in the Australian Parliament.
What is the 7th International Summer University all about? What is the role of the Greek diaspora in the preservation of the Greek language and why do global collaborations among universities, organisations and academics of Greek background matter?
Nearly two months before the beginning of the annual conference, set to take place on the island of Hydra, in the flesh and on-line, from July 11 – July 14, we spoke with Program Coordinator Prof. Nikoletta Tsitsanoudis – Mallidis and Head of Macquarie Uni Modern Greek Studies Dr Patricia Koromvokis.
Tsitsanoudis: “Propagating the Greek language is what inspires me“
TGH: Professor, we are two months away from the seventh International University annual conference. What do we expect to see in July and who is this conference for? Does someone need to know Greek to participate?
In a tyrannical period, due to the pandemic, we decided to persist and keep the institution of the International Summer University alive this year, too. The idea that first took shape seven years ago and was born out of the fundamental “ingredients” of lifelong learning and continuing education should not be shaken by the regime of fear that seems to have been imposed by the health crisis and its menacing ripples.
Despite the fact that last year’s event at the Great School of the Nation was suspended again due to the pandemic, demolishing a preparation of more than ten months, despite the disappointment of not realizing a vision – because every year we serve a vision – we ended up planning the 7th program, transforming the harsh reality with a reversal of dream and creative mood.
Συμμετείχα στη διαδικτυακή συνέντευξη Τύπου για το 7ο Διεθνές Θερινό Παν/μιο (Ύδρα, 7-14.7.21) «ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΓΛΩΣΣΑ, ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ & ΜΜΕ» του Πανμίου Ιωαννίνων & για 1η φορά με τη συνδιοργάνωση & την αιγίδα της Γεν.Γραμμ.Δημ.Διπλωματίας & Απόδημου Ελληνισμού https://t.co/hOkIa01eBt
What we expect to see in Hydra, will be an excellent gathering of prominent people from the academic community, the field of Arts and the media, who will share with our students their knowledge and experiences about language and freedom of expression.
Beyond the morning long courses and lectures, the program includes important cultural events, theater and concert activities and we thank the hundreds of people who collaborate for this project. Our thanks also goes the General Secretariat of Public Diplomacy and Greek Diaspora and the Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation Limited, that fully support our project.
As for the second part of your question, yes, knowledge of the Greek language is required, although some sessions will be offered in English.
TGH: This year’s conference is entitled ‘Greek Language, Culture and Mass Media’. What are you aiming to explore with this thematic?
The 7th International Summer University “Greek Language, Culture, and Media” this year has the specific title: “Language and freedom of expression”.
We will explore the language of the revolution, given that the program is incorporated in the anniversary program for the 200 years since the beginning of the Greek Revolution and it’s under the auspices of the Municipality of Hydra.
We will also discuss topics on the linguistic realization of the idea of freedom, the relation of the language and the emancipation, the freedom of expression in the public and the private sphere, but also the expression of the diversity in language. We are also interested in the notion of creativity as freedom of language, as well as the language in education, in a series of topical approaches, that are of interest to students in Australia, as well.
TGH: You are an advocate for the preservation and continuation of the Greek language in the diaspora. What motivates you?
What inspires me is the passion for the spreading of the Greek language in Greece and abroad.
After six years of renowned success in the organization, the “tradition” of cultivating extroversion and synergies with prominent international institutions of education, culture, and media continues.
Regarding the international aspect, in previous years, the International Summer University has been supported by the Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece, Harvard University; the Hellenic Delegation at the European Parliament; the European Federation of Journalists (Greek section); the French Department of the European Federation of Journalists (Club de la Presse Européenne, Paris); the Centre Culturel Hellénique of Paris; and the Instituto De Letras of Rio De Janeiro University. The program last year was under the auspices of His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
This year, we have the great pleasure of cooperating with the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts of Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, as well as The Circle of Hellenic Academics in Boston. I am excited with the high level and quality of the collaboration with the exquisite fellow professors Patricia Koromvokis (Macquarie University) and Nicolas Prevelakis (Harvard University).
Through and behind all these partnerships are people who believed in our work and inspired us to continue. We are grateful to them all and each one of them individually.
Dr Patricia Koromvokis: ‘Creative bridges are of great importance‘
TGH: Dr Koromvokis, Macquarie University’s Modern Greek Studies Program is participating in this initiative. Why is it important for Australia’s Greek diaspora to keep these ‘creative bridges’ alive?
The pandemic crisis has led universities and organisations to a substantial uncertainty, being under big pressure, to rapidly expand their capabilities in the fields of digital learning, teaching and collaboration. I strongly believe that this situation also holds great opportunities.
One of these opportunities is the innovative collaboration with the University of Ioannina – Faculty of Education, Department of Early Childhood Education and the Laboratory for the Study of Social Issues, Mass Media and Education in organising the 7th International Summer University “Greek Language, Culture and Media”. It is indeed the first time that the Modern Greek Studies Program of Macquarie University participates in an initiative that accomplishes international virtual academic collaboration.
The virtual 7th International Summer University will bring together the knowledge and the experience of world’s leading academics, researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate students, foreign institutions, international universities, international media and international funding institutions enabling active intercultural encounters and practical exchange of experience; thereby it aims at developing fundamental skills which will assist the participants to prove themselves in an international level.
Building creative bridges between the dynamic Greek diaspora of Australia and Greece is of great importance, especially now that a multitude of opportunities of quick access to knowledge and research collaboration transcends any geographical distance and socioeconomic barriers.
‘Creative bridges’ between countries, communities, universities, undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers underpin a dynamic academic collaboration, which strengthens intercultural communication and develops new perspectives in a digitally-based academic era and enhances essential team working skills.
TGH:Young Greeks in Australia and non-Greeks aspire to learn the language. Why should they?
Through my role as a Lecturer and Head of Modern Greek Studies Program at Macquarie University, I am often asked ‘Why to study Greek?’. My answer always is ‘Why not to study Greek?’.
Current and former students of Modern Greek Studies who participated in the very successful virtual event on the 7thFebruary 2021, ‘Pathway stories in career through Greek language’, gave answer to the question ‘Why to study Greek language at a tertiary level?’.
Apart from the typical arguments of studying Modern Greek – or any other language – that of identity, travelling, communication etc., they also presented their own experience in studying Modern Greek at Macquarie University and how the Greek language has resulted in a successful career with social impact and a critical way of thinking, emphasising the importance of language learning in careers and critical way of thinking in a globalised world.
Language gives a strong sense of identity or origin in the Australian multicultural environment. Greek language has been identified as the strongest marker of Greek identity and remains a key identity marker for Australian-born generations. Greek language is seen as cultural capital that defines group membership and contributes to preserving Greek cultural heritage and ethic identity in the diasporic environment of Australia.
TGH: Do we expect to see more collaborations like this one in the near future?
Of course! The 7th International Summer University is actually the beginning of an (new) era of international collaborations – virtual and non-virtual – that should be developed and institutionalised between universities and organisations. It has always been one of my core beliefs that only through cooperation we can start applying effective concepts that the students need and that will result in social impact in the future.
*For expressions of interest and more information please contact Head of Mcquarie Uni Modern Greek Studies Program, Dr Patricia Koromvokis on patricia.koromvokis@mq.edu.au or Prof. Tsitsanoudis – Mallidis on nitsi@uoi.gr
Seventh International Summer University is an initiative proudly supported by The Greek Herald
Jodi McKay has announced her resignation as leader of the NSW Labor Party during a press conference on Friday afternoon.
“I have spent the last six days reflecting on how to achieve unity,” she told reporters on Friday. “This is the only way I know that I can unite our party.”
Former transport spokesman, Chris Minns, is expected to run for leadership.
Ms McKay was under increasing pressure to stand down, after Labor’s poor result in the Upper Hunter by-election. It’s understood has been struggling to fill shadow cabinet positions in her planned frontbench reshuffle.
McKay was elected Leader of the Opposition in June 2019. She is currently the Member forStrathfield.
The following contains NO spoilers about the play.
Alex Lykos’ one man show, Jawbone, went off without a hitch at it’s premiere at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville on Wednesday night.
The one man show was promoted as a provocative, bold, and controversial dark comedy which examines the mythology of the modern day “successful man.” One thing is for sure, it delivered on this promise.
Jawbone revolutionises the idea of the word ‘success’. Without revealing too much about the show, the main character, Tim, is constantly overshadowed by his brother and external adversaries. Facing whirlwind feelings of depression, he’s then hit hardest by an expected family death.
Red carpet at Alex Lykos’ one man show. Photo: The Greek Herald/Peter Oglos
Red carpet at Alex Lykos’ one man show. Photo: The Greek Herald/Peter Oglos
Spinning him into a solemn cycle, the play explores Tim’s path as he finally stands up to his more “successful” married brother, quits his job, gambles, drinks, explores his sexuality and finds love.
The play was certainly provocative, but expertly laid out the expectations of a man in the 21st century, and what can happen if these expectations are failed to be reached.
Lykos spoke to The Greek Herald before the play’s premiere to reveal his inspiration.
“Someone actually told me the success of a man is measured by the number of square metres he owns and the number of kids he has. This person’s definition of success I guess haunted me in many ways. In a city like Sydney, if you don’t have money, you can easily feel like a complete failure,” Lykos said to The Greek Herald previously.
“So telling a story from the perspective of someone who is essentially a failure and is now in a position where he has nothing to lose, opened the story up.
“I want the audience to laugh, cry, feel and perhaps stimulate discussion about the serious themes that are being examined.”
The play doubled as the 15 year anniversary of Marrickville Theatre Company with a gala opening night on the 26th of May, celebrating 15 years of independent modern Australian storytelling.
Production photo for Jawbone. Photo: Supplied
Prior to Lykos’ performance, a video was shown to showcase the incredible 15 year history of the theatre and Alex’s performances. Major sponsors were also presented with a gift as acknowledgement for their longstanding contribution.
Alex Lykos is the writer of Alex & Eve feature film and stage trilogy, festival darling feature film Me & My Left Brain, critically acclaimed Better Man, A Long Night, The Negotiating Table, It’s War and Australia’s Game The Musical.
