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Dr Maria Athanasiou to give seminar on Theodorakis and the Greek art-folk song

The Greek Herald
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Dr Maria Athanasiou to give seminar on Theodorakis and the Greek art-folk song

In an effort to assess the spectrum of lament in Greece, this seminar considers musicological, cultural and social issues in Greek popular music, paying due attention to Theodorakis’ work and his contribution into the shaping of the Greek art-folk song.

Some well-known examples, varying from rebetiko songs to poetry set to music are presented through their stylistic and formal features, the differences in their morphological structures and their social and cultural influences.

Coinciding with Theodorakis year, as declared by the Greek Ministry of Culture, this seminar also addresses questions of aesthetics and traces the dissemination of the Greek dirge beyond the country through its texts’ translations, recordings’ circulation, concerts, arrangements and new instrumentations, which seem to acquire a metacultural presence that brings these culturally specific expressions of grief before a broader listenership and transforms them into a universal human experience of sorrow and empathy.

BIO:

Dr. Maria Athanasiou is a Lecturer at Newcastle University and a Researcher at Durham University. Her award-winning work focuses on pedagogical methodologies and assessment across the educational board, popular music performance and interpretation as well as activism, social entrepreneurship and digital business in the creative industries and beyond.

She holds a Ph.D. by research in Musicology and has been recently among the Newcastle University Alumni Achievement Awards (2021), the Music and Drama Education Awards (finalist, 2023) and the SHE Inspires Awards (finalist, 2023 and 2024). She is a member of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Event Details:

  • When: Thursday 27 March 2025, 7pm (8am UK time, 10am Athens time)
  • Speaker: Dr Maria Athanasiou
  • Seminar: Theodorakis and the Greek art-folk song
  • Where: Online – Facebook/Youtube
  • Language: English

Monumental tomb discovered in Ancient Greek city of Tenea

The Greek Herald
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Monumental tomb discovered in Ancient Greek city of Tenea

Archaeologists have uncovered a monumental Hellenistic-era (323–31 B.C.) tomb at the site of ancient Tenea, Artnet reports. According to legend, Tenea was founded by Trojan prisoners after the Trojan War during the Mycenaean age. Though long shrouded in myth, the city was only definitively located in 2018, about 12 miles northeast of ancient Mycenae.

The newly discovered funerary complex features a distinctive T-shaped layout, resembling Macedonian tomb architecture. Inside the burial chamber, researchers found a massive monolithic sarcophagus along with five rectangular stone coffins placed against the chamber walls. Human remains, believed to belong to an adult woman, were discovered inside the sarcophagus.

Excavations also revealed an impressive collection of artifacts. Among them are a gold ring engraved with an image of Apollo and his healing serpent, two gold coins from Sicyon, a votive clay finger, small Hellenistic vases, bronze decorative items, glass beads, bronze spoons, and perfume bottles.

Experts suggest the monument remained in use until the 4th century A.D., when it was sealed. However, evidence shows the tomb was looted during the late Roman period and later repurposed for ceremonial use.

This significant discovery sheds light on Tenea’s rich history and cultural connections, further illuminating life in this once-mythical city.

Source: archaeology.org, artnet

‘Hymn to Liberty’ by Dionysios Solomos: A synopsis

The Greek Herald
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‘Hymn to Liberty’ by Dionysios Solomos: A synopsis

By Panayotis Tsambos

‘Hymn to Liberty’ by Dionysios Solomos is comprised of 158 stanzas and describes the desire and epic struggle of Greece to be free from Ottoman subjugation. It accomplishes this by combining historic events in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) with patriotic, religious and classical themes, using imagery both literal and allegorical.

This poem’s story of Liberty has a number of key phases:

1. Liberty Personified The poem begins by introducing Liberty in a human form, possessing a fearsome sword and a watchful demeanour. Given too is Liberty’s origin, as wrought from the sacred bones of Greeks. (This section comprises the national anthem and the reader is reminded of these characteristics by repetition at other junctures.)

2. Liberty’s Burden in Wait Hellenism’s widespread subjugation under Ottoman rule began in the mid-15th century. In the intervening centuries to 1800 there were attempts to garner allies and to regain freedom. Unfortunately, they failed and both Liberty and Greece continued to suffer.

3. Liberty Rekindled A major spark to re-kindle the embers in Liberty was the murder of writer Rigas Feraios, enabled by Austrian Empire officialdom, and executed by the Ottomans. After a period of two decades or so the flames grew to re-take Tripolitsa. See:

a. The Siege of Tripolitsa

b. The Aftermath

4. Liberty’s Struggle Begins The path to freedom is costly. A cost that hit Liberty hard by the Ottoman re-taking Corinth.

5. Liberty’s Struggle Spreads The struggle widens at the 1st siege of Mesolongi, but also enemies drown in the battle at the Achelous River and in naval battles. The hanging of Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople on the day of Easter is a day of infamy. See: a. At Mesolongi

b. At the Achelous River

c. In the Seas

d. At Constantinople

6. Liberty’s Hope The poem ends with Liberty’s hope for Greeks to remain united and for other nations to support the cause of Hellenic independence, and as it was first published in 1825 it could not be celebrate victory as the war extended beyond that year.

(Note that the number or number range preceding lines and section headings identify the associated Solomos stanzas for that line or section.)

1-2: Liberty Personified

1: Liberty is recognised by a fierce sword and watchful demeanour

2: Hail Liberty born from the sacred bones of the Greeks

3-16: Liberty’s Burden in Wait

3–5: Liberty had been living in shame and bitterness, with only memories of past glories recounted tearfully, waiting for a call to return

6–9: Description of Liberty’s desperate waiting, clothing soaked in Greek blood, hearing only chains and cries

10-14: Liberty’s attempts to find allies abroad are spurned, returning alone and humiliated

15: But now, every child of Liberty is relentlessly fighting back, seeking victory or death.

16: Hail Liberty born from the sacred bones of the Greeks

17-74: Liberty Rekindled

17-19: Heaven and earth respond to Liberty’s return, and Rigas Feraios calls out with a battle cry

20-23: All Greece celebrates, the expression of joy reaching up to the Ionian stars and to the islands. George Washington’s land rejoices, the Spanish lion in its tower cries out a greeting of support

24-27: England is startled, angry growls from Russia, and the Austrian Eagle screeches with malice and intent to harm

28-34: Liberty remains unconcerned by threats, like a boulder weathering the stream of water. Woe betides Liberty’s opponents despite that beast thirsting for blood

35-50: The Siege of Tripolitsa

35-37: Liberty faces the walls of miserable Tripolitsa, wishing to bring them down with a fearsome lightning bolt

38-41: The battle begins and when confronted the enemy exposes its back to wounding by retreat to the garrison

42-45: A terrible night battle ensues, with sounds of gunfire, clash of swords, axes and clubs and grinding teeth

46-50: The scene resembles the underworld, with innumerable unjustly slaughtered by Ottoman wrath, rising up from the earth

51-73: The Aftermath

51-54: Bodies cover the fields like cobs of corn, shadows move in the dim moonlight in deathly silence

55-59: The dead dance manically in the blood, making hoarse growls, touching the Greeks on their chests with cold hands

60-65: Description of the intense combat. Fighters oblivious to all but battle. Limbs, and heads fall to the ground

66-70: Both sides fight without care. Going onwards there’s lament for all the killing. Muslims cry “Allah” while the Christians shout “Fire!”

71-73: On the fourth dawn, all enemies lie dead, blood flows like river in the valley. The dawn’s cool air is urged to blow towards the holy Cross.

74: Hail Liberty born from the sacred bones of the Greeks

75-87: Liberty’s Struggle Begins

75-79: The scene shifts to Corinth’s flatland, with brave warriors facing thousands

80-82: The angel of destruction unleashes Death and Famine as skeletons that stalk the land, and scattered on the ground are remains of human loss. Among this on the plain walks a blood-stained but eternal Liberty.

83-85: Vision of maidens holding hands and dancing, preparing to nurture young future warriors

86: Among the flowers the poet sings songs of freedom, like Pindar.

87: Hail Liberty born from the sacred bones of the Greeks

88-138: Liberty’s Struggle Spreads

At Mesolongi (88-101)

88-90: Liberty arrives at Mesolongi on Christmas Day, and is greeted by Religion with a cross. Religion urges Liberty to stand upright

91-94: Description of church scenes, incense, and heavenly light

95-97: Liberty appears radiant bathed in divine light. With sword in hand Liberty continues growing tall as a tower

98-101: Tells unbelievers that Christ is born and is the world’s saviour. Christ adds “I’m the alpha and the omega, where is there to hide if I’m angered? I shall rain fire upon you till nothing is left except ash”

At the Achelous River (102-115)

102: Who can compare with or vanquish Liberty?

103-104: Description of Liberty’s wrath and its effects on land and sea

105-108: Many of the luckless enemy, drown in the Achelous River before they can escape

109-111: Death in the water of wild-eyed desperate faces, reaching out to others, hoping to be saved

112-114: Wish for the ocean to drown all issue of Ottoman seed, and all their naked dead gathered at Hagia Sophia and retrieved by an (Ottoman) brother of the Crescent

115: Let every rock become a headstone and let Liberty and Religion and Liberty slowly walk among them

In the Seas (116-130)

116-121: More drowning scenes. Comparison with Moses closing of the Red Sea. The Biblical parallel continues with Aaron’s sister Miriam’s celebration

122: Liberty is recognised by a fierce sword and watchful demeanour

125-127: Liberty’s invincibility and mastery over the sea’s power is recognised too

128-130: Naval warfare scenes with sailing ships and destruction

At Constantinople (131-138)

131-132: The sea turns blood-red; reference to the dumping of the corpse of, Gregory V, the hanged Patriarch of Constantinople

133-136: This occurring on Easter Day, when friends and enemies exchanged kisses

137-138: The Patriarch’s curse on those who can but won’t fight echoes eternally

139-158: Liberty’s Hope

139-142: Liberty gestures for silence, looks to Europe, then addresses Greece

143-145: Warning about an unvanquished enemy, the discord among Greeks

146-147: Let brother not fight brother, lest foreign nations say Greek freedom is undeserved

148-150: Call for unity, reminding that all blood shed for faith and country is equally honoured and victory will always follow if all are united.

151-154: Appeal to other nations, showing them, the holy Cross and Greek blood sacrificed

155-156: Asks if they can hear innocent Christian blood crying out like dead Abel’s to God, for justice

157-158: Issues invitation to Europe’s monarchs to keep the holy Cross at the fore and to join in to help Greek independence

Greece slips in global happiness rankings

The Greek Herald
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Greece slips in global happiness rankings

Greece has dropped 17 places in the newly released World Happiness Report, now ranking 81st out of more than 140 countries, according to cnn.com. The report, published on Thursday to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness, highlights a concerning decline in Greece’s overall life evaluations. Cyprus, by comparison, holds the 67th spot.

Finland remains the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, topping the list with an average life evaluation score of 7.736 out of 10. Meanwhile, the United States has fallen to its lowest position ever—24th—reflecting broader declines in happiness and social trust across parts of Europe and America.

The World Happiness Report draws on Gallup World Poll data from 2022 to 2024 and assesses six key factors: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Conducted in collaboration with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the report captures how people evaluate their lives as a whole.

Despite the sobering statistics, John Helliwell, founding editor of the report, offers a hopeful message: “People’s fellow citizens are better than they think they are, and to realize that will make you happier, of course, but it’ll also change the way you think about your neighbors.” Helliwell adds, “There’s room for improvement in believing that we’re all part of a larger group that looks out for each other.”

World’s 20 happiest countries in 2025

  1. Finland
  2. Denmark
  3. Iceland
  4. Sweden
  5. Netherlands
  6. Costa Rica
  7. Norway
  8. Israel
  9. Luxembourg
  10. Mexico
  11. Australia
  12. New Zealand
  13. Switzerland
  14. Belgium
  15. Ireland
  16. Lithuania
  17. Austria
  18. Canada
  19. Slovenia
  20. Czech Republic

Source: cnn.com

Professor Peter Psaltis leads landmark discovery in tissue regeneration research

Martina Simos
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Professor Peter Psaltis leads landmark discovery in tissue regeneration research

It may have taken nearly a decade of research but Professor Peter Psaltis and his team at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) have made an important breakthrough.

The SAHMRI scientists discovered a new type of cell that potentially could enhance the future of tissue repair and regeneration.

This discovery, led by Professor Psaltis, has been published in Nature Communications.*

Cells with similar functions have been theorised to exist for more than a century however, until now, had never been found. The researchers isolated the cells from mice, grew them, then observed them forming colonies.

Graduation day with his parents.

These colonies have been tested in diabetic mouse models, including Type 1 diabetes where they have shown remarkable improvements in wounds that normally wouldn’t heal. 

Prof Psaltis said this new type of stem cell discovery is found in different tissues of the body and that researchers were able to track them in ‘very early embryonic development’.

Prof Psaltis and Nicholls in 2016.

“Scientists have speculated for a hundred years that there might be stem cells that can perform the function of producing both endothelial cells (the building blocks of blood vessels) and inflammatory cells, but it’s been very hard to demonstrate this,” Prof Psaltis explained.

“What’s unique about these stem cells is that they are important for building new blood vessels but at the same time they also are important for what we call inflammation.

“Inflammation is your body’s response to disease and injury. Depending on the specific situation it can either do good things or bad things for our health.

“The work that we have published so far focuses on these stem cells in the walls of arteries, especially aorta.”

The SAHMRI researchers are excited about their new stem cell discovery and how it might help future research in the long term develop new treatments. For example, in the management of skin wounds and ulcers, and to create better blood flow in people who have blockages in different arteries, such as those to the leg.

“We’re now looking at how the stem cells taken from muscle and skin might be involved in helping those tissues heal themselves when they have an injury,’’ he said.

Peter Psaltis at the Sydney CV Symposium (2024).

“This might help us in the future find new ways to treat people who have got an ulcer on their foot that is not healing because they don’t have enough blood flow and are at risk of needing an amputation.”

In addition to being the Deputy Director of SAHMRI, Prof Psaltis also co-leads its largest department, the Lifelong Health Theme, which studies different health conditions that develop throughout the lifespan, such as heart disease, dementia, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, obesity and gut health.

He also leads SAHMRI’s Heart and Vascular Health Program and co-directs its Vascular Research Centre with 20 scientists.

Prof Psaltis is also the Head of Interventional Cardiology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and does clinical work both there and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and also teaches and is a researcher in the Adelaide Medical School at the University of Adelaide.  

“The people who work directly on my projects number between 10 and 20,” said Prof Psaltis.

“My department (SAHMRI) that I look after, is more than 300 people and focuses on many diseases of the heart, many diseases of the brain, metabolic disease, diabetes, obesity, but because I’m a cardiologist, my research is focused on diseases to do with blood vessels in the heart.”

Maria and Peter Psaltis

He is a second-generation Greek Australian as one of two sons of Greek migrants, Jim (a retired Adelaide GP) and Lela (previously a school teacher). His family roots are from Meligala (near Kalamata), Chios and the Black Sea port-city of Sinope.

Prof Psaltis is married to Maria and has four children who range in ages from nine to 22.

“Outside of work, family time is my priority along with exercise to keep myself as healthy as possible,”  he said.

*This discovery was the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration between researchers from SAHMRI, the University of Adelaide, the Baker Institute and La Trobe University.

Bill Drakopoulos and Alessandro Pavoni snap up Enmore’s iconic Marie-Louise Salon

The Greek Herald
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Bill Drakopoulos and Alessandro Pavoni snap up Enmore’s iconic Marie-Louise Salon

Sydney restaurateur Bill Drakopoulos, a familiar name in the city’s dining scene, is expanding his partnership with renowned Italian chef Alessandro Pavoni, this time heading to the vibrant inner west of Sydney, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Together with Anna Pavoni, they’ve purchased the iconic Marie-Louise Salon building on Enmore Road, currently home to beloved Spanish restaurant Bar Louise.

While Bar Louise will close by mid-June, following the owners’ decision to focus on other ventures like Porteno and Humble Bakery, the site’s future is in trusted hands.

Drakopoulos, who leads Sydney Restaurant Group (including Sails Lavender Bay and Ripples Little Manly), is no stranger to transforming historic spaces into celebrated dining destinations.

Bill Drakopoulos

The Marie-Louise Salon building, with its distinctive pink and purple facade, has stood as a local landmark since 1949.

“It’s heritage listed,” Pavoni confirmed, assuring locals that the cherished exterior will remain untouched. Anna describes its late art deco curves and colourful facade as “post-war optimism.”

The trio plans to launch Vineria Luisa in late July, a nod to the building’s history. It will offer an Italian twist on Enmore’s dining scene, featuring a broad wine list, 20–25 gins (mostly from Italy and Australia), and a menu of handmade pastas, pizza fritta, and small plates. “Ginoterias have become really big in the past five or 10 years,” Pavoni said.

Drakopoulos and Pavoni’s latest venture marks their second foray into the inner west, following their success at Postino Osteria in Summer Hill. As Pavoni puts it, “We really like the people here. They’re friendly, responsive and adventurous.”

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Help! After 7 years of Greek School, my child still doesn’t know the alphabet

The Greek Herald
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Help! After 7 years of Greek School, my child still doesn’t know the alphabet

By Denise Diakodimitriou, Pharos Alliance Secretary

This is a valid concern and an issue Pharos Alliance is also keen to address as we look to support parents in their efforts to help their children learn Greek and, also, to assist schools and teachers to have access to the best resources to carry out their work.

Keeping in mind that it takes years to learn a language, and that some skills may be acquired before others (for example, speaking and listening generally come before reading and writing), learning the alphabet will form part of the first years of your child’s learning journey. Evidence of learning it is usually the ability to read, at least to sound out words which are unfamiliar. Bear in mind, students may be able to do this without being able to recite the letters in order!

To prepare your child to enter the next stage of learning, speak to your child’s teacher and ask for their help in addressing this. They will be able to direct you to some activities to boost your child’s knowledge of the alphabet. You can practice at home, make it a game and make reading together a regular activity (the earlier you start with this, the less self-conscious your child will be).

Keep in touch with your child’s school and the teacher through parent teacher interviews, for example.

As educators of children who are now third and fourth generation or of non-Greek background, we are always looking to enlist the most suitable resources, texts and tools to engage our learners. Together with families, we can build motivation alongside skill, not forgetting that learning Greek can also be fun!

Do you want to know more? President of Pharos Alliance, Professor Emeritus Joseph Lo Bianco, of Language and Literacy Education at Melbourne University, is finalising dates for our next seminar for parents, on raising children bilingually. The third in the series, Professor Lo Bianco can provide general and specific information about how parents can play an important role in family language planning.

Do you have a question you would like the Pharos Alliance to answer, send your query to editor@foreignlanguage.com.au or drop it in the comment section under this article on social media.

Project launched to preserve and enhance the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes

The Greek Herald
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Project launched to preserve and enhance the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes

The Ministry of Culture is advancing a project focused on the preservation and promotion of the Palace of the Grand Master, located within the UNESCO-listed Medieval City of Rhodes. This effort is part of a strategic plan to enhance the historic city, amna.gr, has reported.

Recognizing the monument’s importance, the Ministry assigned the Technical University of Crete to conduct a detailed study. The research aims to assess the current condition, analyze structural issues, and propose restoration solutions for the landmark.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni noted: “The Medieval City of Rhodes is one of the enormous comparative advantages, not only of Rhodes and the Dodecanese, but of Greece. It constitutes a residential complex, unique in our homeland, which has been preserved almost intact, with its fortifications and urban organisation, public buildings, temples and residences. We must invest in this area, which was declared and included in the UNESCO World Heritage monuments, in order to create a better future for the city itself and its inhabitants. A dominant and major monument is the building complex of the Grand Master’s Palace.”

The Palace, situated at the northern end of the medieval city, reflects the ancient street layout. Its architecture is marked by asymmetry from multiple construction phases. The four-level structure, with three basement levels, serves multiple functions: visitor areas, conservation workshops, and exhibition spaces. Key exhibitions on the first floor include “Hermes Balducci pinxit. Mosaic floors from Kos” and “From the Hospitallers to the Knights of Malta.” The basement houses part of Rhodes’ historical exhibits.

Source: amna.gr

Larissa inaugurates its first pet cemetery, embracing a global trend

The Greek Herald
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Larissa inaugurates its first pet cemetery, embracing a global trend

Larissa has opened its first pet cemetery, offering a dignified resting place for beloved animals. Located at the 12th kilometer of the Old National Road from Larissa to Volos, near Glafki, the 2.5-acre site provides a peaceful, green space where pet owners can say their goodbyes in a respectful setting.

According to tovima.com, the initiative addresses a growing emotional and social need. Until now, Larissa’s pet owners had few respectful options, often resorting to landfills, trash bins, or improvised graves. The new cemetery offers a regulated alternative, receiving strong support from veterinarians who frequently help grieving owners navigate their loss.

The cemetery, named “Saint Modestos,” complies with all necessary regulations, according to AMNA. Plans are also underway to build an on-site crematorium for those who prefer cremation.

This development aligns Larissa with a global trend recognizing pets as family members. Around the world, pet cemeteries have long provided spaces for remembrance. Notable examples include Le Cimetière des Chiens (France), Hartsdale Pet Cemetery (USA), Tokyo Pet Cemetery (Japan), and Hyde Park Pet Cemetery (UK). These sites reflect a shared desire for respectful farewells to animal companions.

The rise of pet cemeteries worldwide underscores shifting cultural attitudes toward animals, offering families dignified ways to honor their pets—much like they would human loved ones.

Source: tovima.com

Santorini is ready to welcome visitors from around the world

The Greek Herald
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Santorini is ready to welcome visitors from around the world

Santorini, one of the most iconic tourist destinations worldwide, is fully prepared for the new tourism season. The island’s infrastructure is operational, the local economy is thriving, and visitors can enjoy its unique natural and cultural wealth in complete safety.

Greek Tourism Minister, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, visited the island and participated in an extensive meeting with local authorities, where it was confirmed that:

  • There are no issues with the island’s tourism and essential infrastructure, which are functioning normally.
  • Scientific committees are continuously monitoring the situation to ensure timely and responsible updates.
  • The government remains on high alert, taking all necessary measures to safeguard the safety of both residents and visitors.
  • Civil protection plans have been updated, further reinforcing the sense of security.

Visitor interest in Santorini remains exceptionally strong. At the ITB Berlin International Tourism Fair, the response was outstanding, reaffirming that travellers from around the world continue to choose Santorini as a top holiday destination.

Following the meeting, the Minister of Tourism stated: “Santorini is a safe, well-organised, and responsible tourism destination, fully prepared to welcome travellers from all over the world. With proper management and collaboration, this tourism season will have a positive trajectory for the island. We are not just returning—we are moving forward!”

The Mayor of Thira, Nikos Zorzos, added: “Santorini can now operate as a tourist destination just as in previous years. Santorini is ready to welcome tourism.”

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