A white marble statue of a nude male figure was uncovered during preparatory work for laying natural gas pipes, according to the Culture Ministry.
Ekathimerini.com, has reported that the statue, designed in the Hermes Ludovisi style, was found in a trench approximately one meter wide near the south side of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, at the intersection of Erechthiou and Kalliperi streets.
The artifact dates back to the Roman Imperial period (1st–5th century AD), when the area was home to urban villas.
The headless statue was discovered within a structure made of rectangular bricks.
After thoroughly documenting the find, the Athens ephorate of antiquities transported the statue to its conservation workshop for further analysis and preservation.
Greek cuisine has claimed the top spot in the 2024 Taste Atlas “100 Best Cuisines in the World” Awards, surpassing culinary giants like Italy and Spain. Scoring an impressive 4.6 out of 5, Greece edged out Italy (4.59/5), Mexico (4.52/5), and Spain (4.5/5). This recognition marks a major milestone for Greece, which ranked third in last year’s awards.
Taste Atlas, an online platform dedicated to traditional dishes and local ingredients, evaluates cuisines based on expert reviews, authentic recipes, and nearly half a million user ratings. This year’s rankings incorporated 477,287 valid reviews across 15,478 dishes.
The global admiration for Greek flavors is evident, with the cuisine rated highest in countries like the Netherlands (4.7/5), Germany (4.5/5), and the United States (4.4/5).
Among Greece’s culinary treasures, Aegina’s pistachios (Fystiki Aeginas) took the spotlight with a stellar 4.8/5 rating, celebrated as the world’s best pistachios. Also highly ranked were Finiki Lakonias olive oil (4.8/5), Kalamata olive oil (4.8/5), and Fava Santorinis (4.7/5), a signature dish from Santorini.
This honor elevates Greece’s global reputation as a gastronomic destination.
The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) Victoria hosted its annual Christmas party at the stunning, island-inspired venue, Olympia, in Oakleigh. The event was a celebration of the organisation’s achievements and a testament to its commitment to empowering the Greek Australian community, particularly women.
Ms Kypraios described the past year as a period of “tectonic shifts” for HACCI Victoria. She highlighted the addition of new board members Helen Kapalos, “probably the most famous Greek woman in Australia,” and marketing expert Mia Fileman. She also acknowledged the departure of long-standing board members Alex Ninis, Alex Christou, and Arthur Baoustanis.
Monash Business School Professor Christou told The Greek Herald of the importance of diversity and inclusion in any healthy organisation. Apart from his work with HACCI, he has served on the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia’s Women Leadership Committee.
“HACCI Victoria has an equal number of men and women on the board, and we are incredibly proud of Fotini Kypraios,” he said.
The HACCI Victoria event was enjoyed by all.
Professor Christou is one of a growing number of Greek Australian men who are abandoning the macho migrant stereotype to take a stand against gender-based bias.
“If we want to reverse the trend of increasing gender-based violence, every member of society has a role to play,” he said, adding that there has been a shift with more senior leaders supporting the cause of gender-based violence prevention in recent years.
Entrepreneur Alexia Fragedakis and Martha Oplopiadis, a leader in engineering and advocacy for women in STEM, reflected on the roles their fathers played in their success.
“We’re just two girls from Coburg that did good,” Alexia said, reminiscing about growing up with Martha in the neighborhood.
“We came from a family of hard-working immigrants. More than that, our parents didn’t just say ‘you’re girls so just sit there, look pretty and you’ll be taken care of.'”
Martha nodded, acknowledging the huge influence her father had on her life choices.
Apart from giving women a space to thrive, HACCI is also helping youth. Ms Kypraios said the Young Professionals Network mentoring program is on track to reach 500 people. She added that lifelong relationships develop between mentors and mentees.
The HACCI Membership offerings were also launched this year.
“It’s the best way to open HACCI to every professional, to every entrepreneur, to every business in our community, and bring them in,” Kypraios said regarding the revised membership options.
Membership offerings may help, but what is already bringing them in is HACCI’s values and inclusive identity.
For the seventh year, Youth In Action, the youth group of The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Burwood and District St Nectarios, has prepared 120 Christmas hampers for refugee families, to be delivered through Metro Assist next week.
The youth held a successful fundraising event, Rock Around The Clock Trivia Night, in November, which raised $3,942 for this important cause, allowing the youth to shop for groceries for the hampers. Parishioners also donated additional groceries and made further donations towards the shopping.
Youth In Action representatives spent five hours last Saturday, sorting grocery donations and then shopping for the balance of groceries needed. The final step was to pack the hampers earlier this week, which saw local youth and other Parishioners, friends and volunteers joining together, with a great spirit of fun and camaraderie to pack the hampers, ready for delivery.
An official Christmas Hamper presentation day for refugee families takes place at Metro Assist next week, with Youth In Action representatives to meet and greet the recipients and help Metro Assist staff hand out the hampers.
“This is definitely one of the highlights of the year for Youth In Action,” Nicole Economos, Youth In Action Coordinator, said.
“Everyone really gets behind this important cause and it’s such a great feeling to know we’re genuinely spreading some love and showing compassion to families who have experienced unimaginable challenges.
“We are so proud to deliver some cheer and share in the true meaning of Christmas with those less fortunate.”
This year, eight volunteers from global bank BNP Paribas also offered their assistance to Youth In Action, to assist with the hamper packing. This was part of the bank’s 1MillionHours2Help program, which sets a target for the bank’s global employees to work a collective total of one million volunteer hours per year, supporting charitable causes.
Including the 2024 efforts, Youth In Action has to date raised funds for and donated a total of 840 Christmas Hampers to refugee families through Metro Assist, as well as about 100 toys each year – a truly remarkable achievement.
The Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney and New South Wales continued its proud association with Kingsgrove North High School on Thursday, December 12, presenting the prestigious Odysseus Elytis Academic Award for Excellence.
The annual award, named in honour of the renowned Greek poet from Lesvos, was presented to Nicholas Haralambous for his exemplary academic performance.
The award was presented by the President of the Mytilenian Brotherhood, Peter Psomas, alongside committee member Helen Kouroulis.
The presentation highlighted the enduring relationship between the Brotherhood and Kingsgrove North High School, underscoring their shared commitment to academic excellence and cultural heritage.
“We would like to wish Nicholas and all the other students the very best in their future studies,” the Mytilenian Brotherhood wrote on Facebook, reflecting their ongoing support for student achievement.
On behalf of the committee, the Mytilenian Brotherhood also took the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the school’s principal, Angelo Stassos, for his remarkable 40 years of service in the education sector.
As Mr Stassos prepares to step down from his role, the Brotherhood extended their best wishes for his future endeavours and expressed gratitude for his dedication and support over the years.
The Odysseus Elytis Academic Award remains a significant marker of excellence, inspiring students to strive for academic success while honouring the cultural legacy of one of Greece’s most celebrated literary figures.
The release of VCE results is always a momentous occasion for students, families, and staff. This week’s ATAR results prompted Alphington Grammar School‘s Principal Dr Vivianne Nikou to express her pride in the Class of 2024, highlighting their impressive performance with a median study score of 30.
Dr Nikou elaborated that as an open-entry school committed to encouraging students in scored pathways, their smallest Year 12 cohort faced unique challenges, particularly the VCAA exam material leakage. This uncertainty understandably added stress to the examination process. Despite these potential disruptions, the students demonstrated remarkable resilience and focus.
Top ATAR: 97.85
Median Study Score: 30
Average ATAR: 75
Percentage of ATARs >80: 48%
Percentage of ATARs 90: 21%
The School announced this year’s Dux and Valedictorian, Joudy Sallam, who achieved an ATAR of 97.85, placing her in the top 3% of students across the state. She excelled in English Literature, Legal Studies, Chemistry, Mathematical Methods, including a perfect score of 50 in Business Management. She aspires to pursue a double degree in Bio Medicine/Commerce at Monash University.
Dux and Valedictorian, Joudy Sallam.
This year, 12.4% of the School’s students earned study scores of 40 or above, a benchmark that reflects the calibre of their efforts. Notably, perfect scores of 50 were achieved by:
George Mouratidis in General Maths
Joudy Sallam in Business Management.
Subjects in which students excelled with study scores above 40 include English, English Literature, General Mathematics, Psychology, Business Management, Visual Communication and Design, Legal Studies, Global Politics and Biology.
“This is a wonderful way to finish off our 35 year celebrations,” chair of School Council, Michael Karamitos, said.
Alphington Grammar’s award ceremony to celebrate its Year 12 students.
In a letter to parents and the Greek community, Dr Nikou expressed her praise saying, “these results reflect the diverse talents of our students, who not only excel academically but also contribute richly to our school community through House and School Events, Sports, Music, and the Performing Arts. Many also balanced part-time work, club sports and community commitments alongside their studies, embodying a holistic approach to success.”
The School board extended their best wishes to the Class of 2024 and all that lies ahead and thank the Principal and the staff for all their hard work.
The artefacts span over 8,000 years of Greek civilisation, from 5,800 BC to the Greek War of Independence, and their return to Greece is a meticulous process.
In a statement to The Greek Herald, Hellenic Museum Director Sarah Craig said “the Gods, Myths and Mortals exhibition has been an important part of our [the museum’s] story over the last 10 years.”
“While we are sad to see the collection return to the Benaki Museum in Athens, we are committed to the relationship we have built with the Benaki team and look forward to collaborating with them again in the future,” Ms Craig added.
Sarah Craig.
‘Their current condition is exceptional’
Naoum Kokkalas, a Benaki Museum conservator, will leave with the first lot of antiquities at the start of next week. Accompanied by heavy security, he will take off on an undisclosed flight.
Speaking with fellow Benaki Museum conservator Eleftheria Gkoufa at the HACCI Christmas party on Thursday, December 12, she said the artefacts have already been examined and are ready to be sent home.
“Being a conservator comes with a strong responsibility,” Ms Gkoufa said. “We checked their current conditions, and I can tell you, everything was exceptional.”
She emphasises that she has the authority to stop the flight if she notices anything suspicious.
“I can stop everything if I suspect there is risk to the artefacts, but I have flown with precious artefacts below and have never had to stop a flight,” she explained.
Inside the exhibition.
Decades-long exhibition returns home
Ms Gkoufa feels sentimental remembering the artefacts’ journey to Australia 10 years ago during a landmark deal valued at over $5 million, which included the refurbishment of the Hellenic Museum’s galleries to host the display.
“It’s amazing what you can achieve when great minds come together,” Ms Gkoufa said, recalling the charisma of museum chairman Harry Stamoulis, who flew to Athens at the peak of Greece’s debt crisis to propose the collaboration.
When asked why Melbourne is the only city with such a collaboration, Ms Gkoufa pointed to the city’s unique character.
“You’ve kept Greek values and traditions that are slowly disappearing in Greece. Hellenism beats with such strength, appetite, spirit, values, and vision,” she said. “You’ve shown this vision in a contemporary way. I’m lucky to see how you embrace Greek culture.”
Benaki Museum conservator Eleftheria Gkoufa. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
The Hellenic Museum’s next chapter
Ms Gkoufa also hinted at an exciting new display that is currently in the works.
“It’s going to be a huge new display. You’ll be impressed once the announcement is made, but I can’t spoil the surprise,” she teased.
“All I can tell you is that even though the Hellenic Museum’s new venture is not with the Benaki, it’s collaboration with our museum definitely helped secure it.”
Hellenic Museum Director Ms Craig added that whilst she too, can’t share too much about the next chapter, “we are excited about what lies ahead and are working hard to develop a new, compelling international exhibition.”
Sydney’s newest Greek dining hotspot, Olympus, was abuzz on Thursday evening as guests gathered for an exclusive event featuring Greek football legends Giorgos Karagounis, Theodoros Zagorakis, and Angelos Charisteas.
The night, hosted by Liberty IT, celebrated not only the achievements of these iconic players but also the 20th anniversary of Greece’s historic UEFA Euro 2004 victory.
Liberty IT CEO John Dimitropoulos warmly welcomed an esteemed guest list, which included the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yiannis Mallikourtis, renowned supporter Paul Nicolaou, CEOs, industry leaders, members of the media, and representatives of the Football Brilliance Academy.
(L-R) Giorgos Karagounis, Theodoros Zagorakis, and Angelos Charisteas. All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Takis Triadafillou.
In his opening remarks, Dimitropoulos thanked the Academy for its pivotal role in organising the evening and set the stage for what was to come.
With drinks and cocktails in hand, guests erupted into applause as the football legends were introduced. The evening’s co-emcee, Marina Paul, shared her personal connection to the UEFA Euro 2004, reminiscing about her time reporting on the monumental event in Athens. She facilitated a panel discussion with the players, blending football insights with personal anecdotes.
The discussion revolved around the importance of teamwork in sports and business. The players shared motivational stories, including one about a coach whose rallying speech inspired a team to go undefeated for 15 games, rising to the top 10 in world rankings. Insights into the Greek national team’s defensive strategies, pivotal in their Euro 2004 success, also captivated the audience.
Zagorakis reflected on his life post-football, including his time in the European Parliament, and shared advice about playing to one’s strengths and persevering in the face of challenges.
The engaged audience took full advantage of the Q&A session, posing questions about soccer strategies, including how the team exploited Portugal’s defensive weaknesses in the historic 2004 final. The players also highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent, suggesting the involvement of Greek legends in training Greek Australian players.
Dinner followed, featuring Olympus’ signature dishes, including tender octopus and succulent lamb. The culinary delights perfectly complemented the evening’s celebrations.
Guests at the event enjoyed the event. All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Takis Triadafillou.
Later, an auction, led by Nicolaou, saw signed jerseys of the football stars go under the hammer, raising significant funds for the Football Brilliance Academy.
As the night concluded, guests had the opportunity to engage directly with the football icons, capturing selfies and exchanging stories.
The event seamlessly combined culinary excellence, football nostalgia, and community spirit, leaving attendees with unforgettable memories and inspiration.
For those who attended, it was a night to cherish, celebrating the legacy of Greek football while strengthening connections within the Greek Australian community.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Takis Triadafillou.
The Australian government will introduce a new tax requiring tech giants like Facebook, Google, and TikTok to support Australian journalism, even if they do not host news content.
The tax will apply to companies with Australian revenue over $250 million, but can be reduced to zero if they sign funding agreements with media outlets.
This plan follows Meta’s threat to stop hosting Australian news, similar to its 2021 blackout. The government aims to prevent such moves while compelling platforms to support journalism.
Tech companies like Google and Meta have criticised the plan, warning it could undermine existing agreements. Meanwhile, major media organisations, including the ABC and Nine, have welcomed the move as a step toward securing sustainable funding for public interest journalism.
Legislation will be introduced in 2024, with the tax backdated to 1 January. The government has not revealed the tax rate, allowing room for negotiation with tech giants.
His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos has been officially welcomed to Australia, marking a significant spiritual event for the Greek Orthodox community.
The visit, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) and the 200th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Four New Martyrs of Rethymno on Crete, has been highlighted by the presentation of sacred relics and a series of ceremonial gatherings.
On Thursday, December 12, Metropolitan Prodromos visited the Greek Consulate in Sydney, where he was greeted by Consul General Ioannis Mallikourtis. Metropolitan Prodromos was joined by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and an entourage of other clergy.
Expressing his gratitude for the visit, Mallikourtis emphasised the importance of the occasion and extended heartfelt thanks for the honour of welcoming the delegation.
Official Doxology service in Sydney
Later on Thursday, a grand Doxology service was held at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of our Lady in Redfern, Sydney.
During the service, Archbishop Makarios welcomed Metropolitan Prodromos and assured him that “Australia is your second home.”
In response, Metropolitan Prodromos expressed gratitude for the warm reception, reflecting on his positive impressions from a previous visit to Australia in September 2023 during the Clergy-Laity Assembly of the GOAA.
Sacred relics from the Four New Martyrs of Rethymno — Saints Manuel, Angelis, George, and Nicholas.
The service was then marked by the Metropolitan’s presentation of sacred relics from the Four New Martyrs of Rethymno — Saints Manuel, Angelis, George, and Nicholas. Metropolitan Prodromos requested the relics be enshrined in the Cathedral, “to bless your sacred mission, the clergy, and the Christ-loving faithful of your Church.”
As the visit continues, the Greek Orthodox community in Australia celebrates this spiritual milestone, inspired by the presence of the sacred relics and the strong ties with the Church of Crete.
