Spyridon Marinatos is one of the most famous archaeologists of the twentieth century, discovering the Bronze Age city of Akrotiri. But on this day in 1974, he died at the age of 72. To mark the occasion, we look back on his incredible life and his miraculous discovery.
Marinatos studied archaeology and philosophy at Universities of Greece, Berlin and Halle.
In 1929, Marinatos’ archaeologist career began when he became director of the Heraklion Museum, along with Georgia Andrea, in 1929. It was his time as Director that he began a working relationship with Sir Arthur Evans, famous archaeologist known for his discovery of Knossos, a city in Crete.
Marinatos (right) pictured at the site of the Ancient city Akrotiri. Source: Greece Is
Marinatos gained firsthand excavation experience while working on excavation sites at Dreros, Arkalochori, Vathypetro and Gazi.
In 1937, Marinatos became the director of Greece’s archaeological service and in 1939, became an archaeology professor at the University of Athens.
It was Marinatos’ time as a professor at the University of Athens that he became interested in what he regarded as the first Greeks, the Mycenaeans.
While working on the excavation site in Knossos in 1939, Marinatos began hypothesising the reasoning behind the destruction of the Minoan people in Crete. Marinatos proposed the idea that because Crete is near the Hellenic Trench, it experiences frequent natural disasters like activity.
The volcanic rocks discovered at the site of Knossos were analysed by Marinatos, resulting in his belief that these were rocks from the nearby island of Santorini.
Ancient city of Akrotiri. Source: On The Luce
Marinatos began working on his theory in 1967, as he oversaw the excavation site in Santorini. While he researched his theory that the Minoan civilisation ended due to a volcanic eruption, he discovered the ancient Bronze Age city of Akrotiri.
Akrotiri was an extraordinary discovery, as visitors are able to get firsthand visuals on what it was like to live during the Bronze Age, as the volcanic ash covered the city and kept it preserved, becoming a Greek version of Pompeii.
Marinatos continued to work on the excavation site until he died in 1974 while working at the site, with the cause of his death still relatively unknown. He will be remembered as one of Greece’s greatest archaeologists.
A Chief Magistrate has criticised NSW Police’s “code of silence” surrounding a case in which two officers were charged over the attempted rape of a schoolgirl in Sydney’s south-west.
Senior Constables James Delinicolis, 29, and Angelo Dellosa, 30, remain on bail after being charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a 17-year-old at The Ramada Hotel in Cabramatta in March.
Police allege Mr Dellosa encouraged his friend and co-worker to carry out the sexual assault after meeting her at a train station while on duty.
The Bankstown police officers, who are both married with young children, are also charged with producing child abuse material, accused of filming the alleged incident on their mobile phones.
James Delinicolis (left) and Angelo Dellosa.
Appearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre court complex today, Mr Dellosa was dressed in a black suit and tie, but covered his face with a mask and dark sunglasses as made his way past reporters and camera crews.
His co-accused, Mr Delinicolis, was required to attend the hearing, but failed to show up, with his lawyer footing the blame, saying “it was my mistake I didn’t know he had to be here.”
Chief Magistrate, Graeme Henson, expressed his frustration at the Director of Public Prosecutions after requesting the case be delayed for at least three months.
The Crown Prosecutor explained she only received a 2,000-page brief of evidence and transcripts from NSW Police yesterday.
“You turned up to court with a code of silence — there is no explanation required other than further inquiries are taking place,” the Chief Magistrate said.
The court heard investigators were still searching for WhatsApp videos of the alleged incident more than six months after it happened.
The pair were arrested at their homes at Moorebank and Concord West in August despite reports of misconduct being submitted to the Professional Standards Command in June.
After the hearing adjourned today, Mr Dellosa spent several hours waiting inside the Downing Centre before pushing his way through a media scrum, saying “I am innocent”.
His wife was waiting for her husband in a white four-wheel drive on Elizabeth Street before the pair drove off.
Greece is taking the initiative for a de-escalation of the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh with Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, calling for an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Permanent Council, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
The Foreign Ministry also underscored that Greece disapproves of any intervention of third parties which incites tension, and it calls on Turkey to refrain from actions and statements that move in this direction.
“The Greek initiative aims to hold a debate within the OSCE with the participation of the two stakeholders and to consider every possible way to de-escalate the crisis,” the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
“The goal remains the urgent resumption of negotiations within the Minsk Group on the peaceful settlement of the dispute.”
The statement went on to say that “Greece is ready to contribute to the efforts for the immediate de-escalation of the crisis.”
“(This) Readiness… was expressed by Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, to his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, during their recent phone conversation,” the statement said.
“During the same conversation, the close ties of friendship between Greece and Armenia were reaffirmed.”
A new conversation with Mnatsakanyan has been scheduled via teleconference on Thursday.
Coffee is an essential element of Greek culture and lifestyle. Whilst many Greek Australians missed out on their Greek summer this year, it doesn’t mean they have to miss out on a Greek frappe by the beach!
In celebration of International Coffee Day, here is a list of the top five types of Greek coffee and how you can make them.
Frappe
Photo: Depositphotos
A frappe is one of the first Greek iced coffees to have been invented and is a well-liked choice today among many Greek Australians. What is a Frappe exactly? A frappe is a blended coffee drink that consists of Nescafe and Water and is blended until a thick, creamy consistency is formed. The coffee is poured over ice with milk and sugar to your liking!
Freddo espresso
Photo: Perfect Daily Grind
A Freddo Espresso is a popular choice among those who like their coffee strong. A freddo espresso is a double shot of frothed, cold espresso that has been poured over ice.
Freddo cappuccino
Photo: Kouzounas Kitchen
Freddo cappuccino is arguably the prettiest choice within the Greek Coffee family. Like a Freddo espresso, Freddo cappuccino has a cold double shot of espresso poured over ice, topped with cold, frothed milk and cinnamon.
Eliniko kafe
Eliniko Kafe (Greek Coffee) is the traditional Greek coffee enjoyed by most Greeks as part of their morning ritual. The coffee is made with a few teaspoons of grounded coffee, water and sugar, to taste in a Briki over heat. Once the coffee comes to boil and froths up it is ready to be served with thick Kaimaki (cream) sitting on top.
Fun fact: the bottom of the coffee cup can be used for fortune telling!
Freddocino
Photo: BBC
Not as popular and not as well known in Australia – the Freddocino is a mocha style coffee that has a smoothie/slushie type texture. It is made by blending coffee, chocolate powder, ice and milk in a blender. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth!
October 1st is of great importance in the history of Cyprus. Ever since 1960, the first day of October marks the anniversary of the island’s freedom from British colonists after the four-year EOKA struggle in 1955-1959.
To mark the occasion of Cyprus Independence Day, we take a look back at the history.
How did Cyprus gain independence?
Cyprus was once under colonial rule and enslaved. It was a colony of Great Britain from 1878 until 1960.
In the early 1950s, some brave inhabitants of Cyprus decided to struggle for the independence of their country from Great Britain. Many wanted to achieve unification, or enosis, with Greece.
As a result, they became involved in a prolonged, and often fierce, battle with the British administration.
The Greek Cypriots fought under the banner of the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston–EOKA), led by Colonel (later General) George Grivas.
EOKA fighters being released from prison in March 1959 after a general amnesty.
Although EOKA included only a few hundred active guerrillas, it enjoyed wide support in the Greek Cypriot community and was able to tie down about 10,000 British soldiers.
Eventually, after raging guerilla warfare for four long years, Sir Hugh Foot, the British governor, read a British proclamation declaring the independence of Cyprus.
EOKA claimed only partial success as their goal of enosis remained unmet.
For members of the Turkish Cypriot minority in Cyprus, who regarded Turkey as their motherland, enosis would have meant becoming a much smaller minority within the Greek nation. This implanted a bitterness in both ethnic communities and foreshadowed post-independence strife.
Post Independence in Cyprus:
Archbishop Makarios III was elected the first head of the new independent state.
The agreement between Greece, Britain, Turkey, and Cyprus was signed in Zurich and finally came into effect on 1st October 1960 – marking Cyprus Independence Day.
Under the agreement, Britain kept two sovereign military bases in Cyprus, which it continues to maintain to this day.
Soldiers from Greece and Turkey were also to remain present on the island in a bid to keep the peace.
And, under the new constitution, Greek Cypriots would elect a president from their own ethnicity and Turkish islanders would vote for a vice president from among theirs.
Archbishop Makarios III, who was exiled during the guerrilla war, was elected the first head of the new independent state while Fazıl Küçük became his deputy.
How Cypriots celebrate their Independence Day:
On Cyprus Independence Day, festivals and parades are held all across the country, including the display of tanks and advanced armory. Cypriot flags adorn all buildings, streets and towns.
A special Cyprus Independence Day event is also held at the President’s Palace where tribute is given to ancient leaders and people who struggled to gain independence from Britain.
The current President of Cyprus then lays a wreath to the statue of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of the Republic of Cyprus.
The most luxury and lively Cyprus Independence Day celebrations are held in the capital of the state, Nicosia.
Ahead of a crucial EU Summit on October 1-2, Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, wrote a letter to EU officials informing them about Turkey’s stance on the Eastern Mediterranean.
In his letter, Erdogan urged European leaders to take an impartial stance against Turkey after Ankara dispatched a research vessel to survey for gas and oil in an area over which Greece considers its exclusive economic zone.
“Ankara’s policy aims to determine maritime jurisdiction in line with international law and protect its sovereign rights and jurisdiction regarding its continental shelf and guarantee Turkish Cypriots’ rights on access to hydrocarbon resources,” Erdogan wrote in the letter.
“I hope that the EU supports our thoughts, abandons the biased stance against Turkey as a candidate country and stops giving unconditional and unjust support to Greece and Greek Cypriot administration’s maximalist discourse.”
The Turkish President said finding a peaceful solution to the Eastern Mediterranean issue is everyone’s joint responsibility and that the EU should support cooperation and dialogue and avoid taking steps that would further deteriorate the crisis.
“We hope that hydrocarbon resources form the basis for a resolution and a greater EU in the same way coal and steel formed the basis for the EU’s point of origin,” Erdogan wrote.
Later in the letter, Erdogan went on to say Turkey “is not behind the tensions.”
“Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration are,” he claimed. “Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration have consistently disregarded Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, have taken unilateral steps and have adopted a fait accompli policy.
“Greece’s demands for Turkey to halt hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean are unjust.”
EU officials said they were considering new sanctions on Turkey over their gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean. European Council President, Charles Michel, said on Wednesday that “all options are still on the table.”
A new lighting system was unveiled at the Acropolis on Wednesday that Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said would serve to illuminate the democratic principles of ancient Greece as well as the temples overlooking the city of Athens.
“The light of the 21st century now hugs the Acropolis, a celebration that goes beyond borders and languages. The values born here spread all over the earth as the right answer on how to organise society,” Mitsotakis said during a speech.
A new lighting system was unveiled at the Acropolis on Wednesday. Credit: Greek Government.
“The Acropolis is a mine of memory, an eternal compass. Democracy and the principles of classical Athens need more light in our days.”
It was in the fifth century BC under the rule of Pericles when construction of the site’s most important remains, including the Parthenon, one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments, was completed.
An enduring symbol of ancient Greece and Athenian democracy, the Parthenon was seriously damaged during a siege by the Venetians in 1687 when gunpowder stored at the temple was hit by a cannonball and exploded.
The new lighting system, designed by Eleftheria Deko, better exposes the geometry of the site’s monuments and their relief, illuminating the rocks of the hill, the Acropolis walls and the temples with different intensities.
The reveal ceremony on Pnyx Hill was also attended by Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, and the president of Onassis Foundation, Antonis Papadimitriou, which has funded the project.
The Archdiocesan Council of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, including over 25 representatives nationally, gathered yesterday in Sydney to officially address issues.
Accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, the Council conducted extensive deliberations to unanimously resolved nine issues. Among these issues were the devastating ‘Black Summer’ bushfires in Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponement of the Clergy-Laity Conference, and the St Basil’s Aged Care Home tragedy in Victoria.
Read full press release here:
Firstly, we praise the Triune God and express our gratitude and our deepest respect to His All Holiness our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Mother Church for the election of our new Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios. Moreover, we were moved to learn that His Eminence has been invited to be a member of the Holy and Sacred Synod, a first in the history of our local Church.
It is a fact that within a year, our new Shepherd, despite the adversities of the devastating fires and the COVID-19 pandemic, has proven to be a dynamic presence throughout the entire continent. We are aligned with, and fully embrace, the vision of our new Archbishop, which is based on unity and love, so that, together, we may make the Archdiocese of Australia a more formidable force in Australian society. Within this spirit of unity and reconciliation, we thank our Ecumenical Patriarchate for the restoration of His Grace Bishop Paul of Christianoupolis and the priests, Fr George Athanasiadis and Fr Christodoulos Vassilaris, who are now members of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Australia.
We also express our deep gratitude to our Ecumenical Patriarch and our Archbishop for the election of our new and worthy Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, Bishop Elpidios of Kyaneon and Bishop Silouan of Sinope, who have already assumed executive positions within the Holy Archdiocese, and we consider the creation by His Eminence of separate Archdiocesan Districts in Perth, Northcote and Canberra to be beneficial in effectively dealing with the administrative and spiritual issues in those areas.
Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
We gladly accept our Archbishop’s proposal for the regular convening of the Archdiocesan Council, as defined by the Special Regulations of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. It should be noted that today’s convening of the Archdiocesan Council was set during the meeting of the Bishops of our Archdiocese on 7th August of this year; the previous sittings of the Archdiocesan Council had met were in 2015 and in 2012.
The Clergy-Laity Conference of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia was due to take place next January. However, due to the restrictions of the pandemic, the local authorities have advised us to postpone its convocation. We therefore decided to reschedule the commencement of the event to 30th May 2021, as long as we are free from the restrictions of the pandemic. The theme of the Clergy-Laity Conference will be “For Faith and Nation”. Also, the National Youth Conference will begin on 24th September 2021. For these two major events, the Archdiocesan Council will convene again soon and relevant details will be announced in due course.
In a spirit of unity, a National Committee was established by His Eminence to celebrate the Bicentenary of the beginning of the Greek Revolution (1821-2021). The National Committee is working with great fervour and a rich program of events for the whole country will soon be announced. The Archdiocesan Council approved the proposal of the Committee and that of the Archbishop for the minting of a commemorative coin and the printing of an anniversary stamp.
With deep pain, we experienced the consequences of the pandemic in Victoria and especially at our St Basil’s Aged Care facility in Melbourne. We all share in the pain of the relatives of the victims. We are praying for the repose of their souls, while proceeding with a restructuring of the organisation. At the same time, we wish the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of St Basil’s in Melbourne, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Evmenios Vasilopoulos, every success, as well as to the new CEO of St Basil’s in NSW and the ACT, Mr Spiro Stavis.
Ambulance workers push a stretcher into the St Basil’s aged care facility in Fawkner on Monday. Photo: Getty Images
The Archdiocesan Council accepted responsibility for not providing an official residence for the incumbent Archbishop, as there is for each Hierarch all over the world. The small lodgings adjoining the Archbishop’s office are completely unsuitable as a permanent residence of any person, let alone for the leader of our Church in Australia. The purchase of an apartment by the Consolidated Trust, with all due process, provides an asset of the Archdiocese, and not His Eminence. To this day, the Archbishop continues to reside in the Archdiocese. It is our respectful decision and our request that the Archbishop should occupy the apartment until the completion of the renovations of the Archdiocese, in which a residence for the serving Archbishop will be incorporated.
Finally, with great disappointment we note the continuing hostile conduct of Mr Nicholas Kalliouris and Mrs Vasso Morali, former journalist, and both residents of Greece, as well as other non-institutional and para-ecclesiastical elements against the Archdiocese, St Basil’s Aged Care and our Archbishop personally. We agree with the position of His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevasteia that their publications are “blasphemous lies.” With abhorrence, we condemn what they have written and inform the faithful that they have all been referred to the justice system. We assure everyone that His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, as well as the Archdiocese with its benevolent institutions, will not be blackmailed or influenced in their decisions by their malicious conduct and their defamatory publications.
Once the most popular Greek hangout in Australia, the infamous Cazzie Club in Kingsford has been rebranded, relocated and reinvented into a new Castellorizian Cultural Centre, with an official name to be decided upon soon.
Castellorizian Association of NSW President George Pazanis spoke exclusively with The Greek Herald to share the details about the new Castellorizian Association premises, and what he hopes it will bring to the Greek community.
“It’s all about preserving what we have now, but most importantly about bringing back what we had,” Pazanis says to The Greek Herald.
“The old Castellorizian Club in Kingsford was the best Greek club or association house in all of Australia. Everybody knew it, it was iconic.”
“It’s been our dreams for the last six years to get this new place up and running.”
New Castellorizian Cultural Centre. Photo: Supplied
Opening in late November on the corner of Gardner’s road and Houston road, the new Castellorizian premises will have the Alevri Greek restaurant and bakery at the front of the store, which the President says he is most excited for.
“I’m pretty excited about the restaurant. I’ve always wanted something in there like a Mediterranean or Greek style restaurant, which are now lucky to have.”
On the rear side of the building, construction is soon to be started on a unique Castellorizian Cultural Centre. The “museum style centre” will be a public gallery of artefacts and paintings collected over the last 90 years. It will also feature a family tree information section, where future generations will be able to read up on their family’s history.
“It’s more about preserving the history of the people… because we came here over 100 years ago. Knowing their background and the island,” Pazanis says.
“In these trying times at the moment, with what’s going on in Greece with Turkey, we want to show that we are in full support of the island.
“It’s important that we realise that that is the most important thing, the island itself. And we pay homage to it with every house like this built around Australia.”
While the official name of the new Castellorizian Association of NSW premises is yet to be decided, Pazanis says the board has avoided the branding of the new cultural centre as a club, looking to bring a new and different opportunity to the community.
“We decided that the idea of calling it a club, with poker machines and alcohol, was not the way we wanted to go,” Pazanis explains.
“So we wanted to make it more of an association as a get-together place for people to come to.”
The new Greek hangout will also feature a brand new Castellorizian function centre, which will be able to house 120 people with an outdoor entertainment area.
“We will still do events like ladies bingo and Greek dancing lessons, like the old Cazzie club used to do. And once Covid is said and done, we’ll be able to do a lot more.”
A large investment by the Castellorizian Association of NSW, Pazanis says it will ultimately become an $8-9 million building.
“It’s been a really tough battle, trying to get the finances and get the building built.”
“We’ve always had constant roadblocks but we’ve just jumped over them. Because that’s the sort of spirit we have.”
Castellorizian migration book nominated for prestigious award
Nominated for the multicultural book category, it was released in July as the second part of a two volume series, highlighting the rich history of Cazzies in Australia.
“We, 7 women, a diverse range of practitioners drawn from various disciplines, are overjoyed to see recognition coming through for our heartfelt Oral History project, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of this nomination,” Anna Koutsis, Castellorizian Association of NSW History and Archives Committee member says.
“When I say ‘we’, I mean ‘all of us’ because this was a collective endeavour. We, Irene Elliott, Victoria Kazaglis -Gallagher, Maria Skyllas- Kazacos, Anna Koutsis, Despina Lucas, Petula Samios and Patricia Sechos feel it’s great to be nominated for something we feel so passionate about.
“In terms of what being nominated means to us, it is a great accolade and public recognition for what we have done.”
The series, broken up into two separate unique volumes, presents over 130 family stories and 700 precious old family photographs, which were produced and self-published by the History and Archives Committee of the Castellorizian Association of NSW.
The first book released in 2018, Journey to a new land, brought readers into the early life of Castellorizian in their transition into Australian culture.
The stories, which provide one of the first, comprehensive studies of Castellorizian migrant memories, are about dislocation, hard work, and fitting in and rebuilding a community.
A goalless draw between Olympiacos and Omonia Nicosia has meant the Greek Super League side will face off against Europes best in the UEFA Champions League.
Olympiacos finished with a 2-0 aggregate score after beating Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia in Piraeus six days earlier.
Two Omonia Nicosia players were unavailable for the match after they tested positive for Covid-19. UEFA’s health committee then requested that the entire squad be subjected to new tests on Monday, to make sure that no infected players take part in this morning’s game.
Mathieu Valbuena and Youssef El-Arabi managed to score one goal each last week, yet couldn’t find the net again in Piraeus.
Photo: Olympiacos
Brazilian goalkeeper Fabiano for Omonia played his game of the season so far, denying every opportunity by the Greeks. Unfortunately, his efforts between the posts went unrewarded due to Olympiacos’ defence denying Omonia’s attacking force.
Olympiacos will find out their opponents in the group stage on Thursday, while Omonia will play in the group stage of the Europa League.
On Wednesday PAOK hosts Krasnodar, looking to overturn its 2-1 deficit from the first leg and join Olympiacos at the group stage.
