Author: Marios Chondrotzis

The Antikythera computer captured the ancient Greek passion for mathematics and especially geometry. By Evaggelos Vallianatos The second century BC was a time of the golden age of Greek science, and civilization centered in the kingdoms of the empire of Alexander the Great, especially in Alexandria, Egypt. However, mainland Greece faced the aggressive Roman Republic soon thereafter. In 146 BC, a Roman army wiped out Corinth, Greece, which became a province of Rome. The victorious Romans did what all empire builders do: loot and rule. Sometime in the first century, a rich Roman citizen or general on Rhodes loaded a…

Built at the foot of Mount Vermion, the Greek city of Veria was the second most important town after Aigai in the ancient Macedonian era. It was also the third most important city of the Byzantine empire from the 11th to the 14th centuries right after Constantinople and Thessaloniki. Veria is also known as “Little Jerusalem” due to the amount of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches in the area. There are over forty-eight of these in the city center alone. Aigai The city of Aegae (modern Vergina) was the first capital of the ancient Macedonian kingdom. In 1977, treasures of priceless archaeological and…

Questions are being raised about the British Museum’s security protocols, its handling of thefts, and how long senior management was aware before action was taken. Now, Greece is renewing its calls for the return of the Parthenon Marbles. The British Museum is in the midst of dealing with the fallout over the theft and sale of items, after the news broke that as many as 2,000 precious items were stolen and sold online, or otherwise damaged. In the context of the scandal, Greek officials are renewing their calls for the return of the Parthenon Marbles. The security questions raised by…

Tourism is a big part of Greece’s economy and the way it develops will have a significant impact on the country’s present and future. Any long-term vision for where Greece should be heading cannot but include the tourism model we choose to follow. In this context, efforts to correct numerous deficiencies in the broader tourism industry should be encouraged. The efficiency and quality of services offered are determining factors that both the government and the private sector should work on. Nightclubs and hotels violating rules and the country’s areas of natural beauty like its beaches, by blocking access to them…

Frankfurt, Brussels (21/7 – 37) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again reversed course, approving Sweden’s bid to join the legacy European military bloc, having been promised a brace of classic F-16 fighter jets. This new deal was hammered out at the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and included a vow by Türkiye to avoid quarrels with ancient enemy Greece also a NATO member. During a 12 July press conference on in Vilnius, Erdogan touched on several issues important for Türkiye, including ratifying Sweden’s NATO bid, its F-16 jet deal with the US, and a “balancing act” between…

While the Anglosphere was wracked by a burst of populism in 2016, most European countries proved remarkably resilient. Long-held grievances in the United Kingdom and United States fueled Brexit and took Donald Trump to the White House, but Europe – seeming at times to look aghast across the Channel and Atlantic – appeared largely immune. Brussels had fretted about a “Brexit domino effect.” In reality, the opposite came to be. In the five years from 2016, French centrism spurted out a new political party led by Emmanuel Macron that quelled the National Front. Angela Merkel’s resignation passed without populist fanfare and delivered a moderate successor.…

The criminalisation of climate protesters is intensifying all over Europe, with multiple countries considering harsh new laws. While human rights activists express concern at the crackdown, experts are divided over the impact on the broader climate movement and policymaking, also with a view to next year’s EU elections. Some fear a spiral of radicalisation that will further contribute to political polarisation. Attention-grabbing climate protests have been a regular media fixture since 2019, when the Fridays for Future movement held its first global school strike and the Extinction Rebellion group staged mass public demonstrations in London. Over the last year or…

Anyone looking to travel to Europe in 2024 should be aware of a new requirement that will go into effect for U.S. passport holders. If you previously traveled to Europe without a visa, you will now need to apply for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, before visiting. Here’s what you need to know. Today, American travelers have visa-free access to 184 global destinations, according to the Henley Passport Index. And while the U.S. passport is currently ranked eighth-most powerful passport to own, that could be set to shift when the European Union adds its new documentation…

European markets closed slightly higher on Monday as investors digested the inconclusive results of Spain’s election and looked ahead to a busy week of corporate earnings and central bank meetings. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally ended the session up by 0.1%, with the U.K.’s FTSE 100 and DAX slightly higher as France’s CAC 40 dipped. Oil and gas stocks led sector gains, gaining 1.5%, while media stocks fell 0.7%. EUROPEAN MARKETS TICKER COMPANY PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE .FTSEFTSE 1007678.5914.860.19.GDAXIDAX16190.9513.730.08.FCHICAC 40 Index7427.31-5.46-0.07.FTMIBFTSE MIB28908.4253.330.18.IBEXIBEX 35 Idx9543.5-28-0.29 Fresh data pointed to a slowdown in business activity in France, Germany and the U.K. in July, adding to recessionary risks in Europe. Spanish elections held Sunday left the country without a…

Greece is anticipating the delivery of the initial batch of heavyweight torpedoes for its Papanikolis-class Type 214 submarines, which are considered the most technologically advanced vessels in the Hellenic Navy. The delivery is expected to take place in December, following a delay of 12 years. The Hellenic Submarines Command, based at the Salamis naval base, is preparing to receive a total of 44 SeaHake Mod4 heavyweight torpedoes, renowned for their dual-purpose capabilities. Additionally, an undisclosed number of training practice torpedoes will also be included in the shipment. The installation of the initial torpedo loads is scheduled to take place during…