Author: Athanasios Koutoupas

Greek Foreign Ministry proposes to create GC10 – “more than a dozen civilizations”

Greece has agreed with a number of states to create “more than a dozen civilizations” – an international organization that unites the country “with a long history.” This was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Kotzias at a press conference following the conference on the Middle East.

According to him, it is “his favorite idea,” he and his colleagues prepared her 20 years. The project has already been agreed, but it was decided to keep the secret until the end of the conference “Religious and cultural pluralism and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East.”

“The initiative, which began four months with a positive evaluation – is the creation of an international secretariat GC10 -” dozens of nations of great civilizations “, countries with large civilizational history. With this initiative we want to show the importance of culture. Culture, civilization – this economic strength, the path of strengthening on investment to tourism, “- said Kotzias.

“We decided with a majority of countries do not announce this initiative before the end of the conference. We have agreed on a project with the countries from China to Mexico, the ten countries with a great civilization, symbolizing humanity,” – said the Minister.

“From tomorrow we start promoting this agreement,” – said Kotzias.

(en.cyplive.com)

October 5, 2016
Ancient Skeleton Uncovered at the Antikythera Shipwreck

Marine archaeologists have found the partial remains of a 2,000-year-old skeleton while conducting an excavation at the Antikythera shipwreck, the famous site that yielded the freakishly-advanced Antikythera Mechanism. Incredibly, the ancient remains could still contain traces of DNA.

The remains, found just three weeks ago, were discovered by researchers from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). Working at a depth of 165 feet (50 meters), the archaeologists found the partial human skeleton buried under two feet (0.5 meters) of sand and busted bits of ancient pottery. The excavation yielded a human skull (including a jaw and teeth) legs, ribs, and the long arm bones.

The researchers will now see if they can extract DNA from the 2,000-year-old remains. Should they succeed, it will be the first time that scientists have pulled DNA from such an old underwater sample. The remains are surprisingly well preserved, and experts are encouraged that genetic material still exists within the bones.

The Antikythera shipwreck is a fascinating site, and archaeologists are eager to learn more about the ship, its cargo, and ill-fated crew. Prior to sinking sometime around 65 B.C., this impressive ship transported luxury items—including the oddly computer-like Antikythera Mechanism— from the eastern Mediterranean to other parts of Europe, likely Rome. The ship was large, consisting of multiple levels, and with many people on board. Evidence suggests the ship broke apart after a storm sent it careening into rocks, causing it to sink quickly.

Preliminary analysis of the skeleton suggests the individual was a young man. Should DNA analysis be successful, scientists could learn details such as his hair and eye color, and even his ancestral and geographic origin. Other portions of the skeleton are still embedded in the seafloor, and the archaeologists plan a return visit to collect the rest.

“Archaeologists study the human past through the objects our ancestors created,” noted Brendan Foley, a marine archaeologist with WHOI, in a statement “With the Antikythera Shipwreck, we can now connect directly with this person who sailed and died aboard the Antikythera ship.”

It’s exceptionally rare to find such ancient physical remains underwater. The Antikythera wreck was discovered in 1900 by sponge divers, and all visible artifacts were soon collected. Archaeologists suspect that much of the ship’s cargo still remains buried under the sediment. Recent excavations at the site have produced various artifacts, including large anchors, and a “war dolphin”—a teardrop-shaped lead weight that was used by the ancient Greeks as a defensive weapon to smash hostile ships.

(gizmodo.com)

October 5, 2016
Mary Katrantzou Returns to Her Greek Roots with Classical Goddesses and Minoan Princesses in Spring 2017 Collection

“It’s funny, I never wanted to use classical Greek art, because being from there, it seemed too obvious,” she said with a shrug after her show to a journalist from Vogue. “But this time, I thought, ‘Why not?’”

And with the “Why not?” acclaimed fashion designer Mary Katrantzou has presented one of her boldest ever collections featuring obvious hints of her Greek heritage and roots.

She recalled a childhood visit to the ancient palace of Knossos, on Crete, the center of the Minoan civilization, which was a matriarchal society.

This was one of Katrantzou’s angles, the profiles of Minoan priestesses or goddesses, which appear in Cretan murals and the silhouetted paintings on Greek vases and plates, which she transposed onto the bodices of dresses, and, in a couple of cases, printed onto shimmery chain-mail tunics.

Katrantzou said she was also triggered by the words of a girlfriend who happened to remark, “Your work is so psychedelic!” She’d not seen her many-layered digital compositions that way before, but it led her to search out the trippy graphics of late-’60s and early-’70s music posters. So it went: Swirly prog-rock patterns met the symbols of the ancient Greek world in flared trousers and stretch T-shirts, layered under lots of the embellished dresses that have become Katrantzou’s signature.

Kantrantzou is one of Greece’s most successful exports in the field of fashion. Now London based, the designer’s clothes have adorned some of pop culture’s biggest celebrities. Rihanna counts as one of her biggest fans as do Sara Jessica Parker and Angie Harmon.

(www.pappaspost.com)

October 5, 2016
Egyptian-American Rami Malek Wins Emmy for ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series’

Egyptian-American Rami Malek surprised many pundits on Sunday night, winning the ‘Oustanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series’ Emmy for his portrayal of Elliot Anderson in Mr. Robot.

“I am honored to be recognized with such a distinguished and accomplished group of actors,” said Malek as he was accepting his Emmy at the 68th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

“I’m honored to work with a pure visionary in Sam Esmail, I wouldn’t be here without you, to go to work with an absurdly gifted cast, and crew, and writers,” continued Malek about his first ever Emmy win, referring to the show’s producer who is also an Egyptian-American.

“I play a young man who is, I think like so many of us, profoundly alienated. And the unfortunate thing is I’m not sure how many of us would like to hang out with a guy like Elliot. But I want to honor the Elliot’s because there’s a little bit of Elliot in all of us, isn’t there?”

Malek had been competing for the Emmy alongside a number of other actors including Kyle Chandler of Bloodline, Bob Odenkirk of Better Call Saul, Matthew Rhys of The Americans, and Kevin Spacey of House of Cards.

The young Egyptian-American actor previously starred in Night at the Museum, 24, and the Pacific. In Mr. Robot, Malek plays a security engineer and vigilante hacker with social anxiety disorder.

Mr. Robot was written, directed and produced by 39-year-old Egyptian-American Sam Esmail. Last year, the show won a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series.

(egyptianstreets.com)

October 5, 2016