Δευτέρα 3 Νοεμβρίου 2014

The prince of lilies in the sea

It's been a while since I last posted a post on the blog, since of late we're mostly communicating through the Facebook page.

But this new find  is really worth some special treatment. 

Today I stumbled upon an image of the popular Greek singer George Mazonakis reproduced in one of the Sunday papers. The "news" here was that Mazonakis is a winter swimmer, and the paper presented the following photograph testifying this evidently important choice. 




Look more closely though and you will observe the tattoo on the singer's arm: a large and impressive colorful Minoan lily, much like the ones Gillieron pere added in his reproduction of the Minoan fresco of the Prince of Lilies. 




And that actually was worth more to me as a piece of news, than the fact that Mazonakis is a winter swimmer (in Greece of all places). 


Πέμπτη 1 Μαΐου 2014

IDISTI - Greece with a twist

This blog entry and wonderful discovery is written by my dear friend Mania Kostopoulou

Enjoy! 

IDISTI  - GREECE WITH A TWIST is a new Greek company which designs and produces everyday objects and gifts of unique design with a fresh look,inspired from Greek history, culture, nature, architecture, traditional costumes, myths and symbols of Greece from ancient to present times.

IDISTI recently won the 3rd award in the Innovative Service Model category on the Tourism Awards 2014.





Its collections are all beautiful.
It's obvious that I want them all.
But as the blog's theme is Consuming Greek Antiquity, I owe to present you the collection "Monuments of Athens". 










If only I had the body to fit in such a Warholic swim suit with the Caryatids. Even though some will find it kitsch, I love it.


Pay a visit on their site www.idisti.gr


Indulge your curiosity.
https://www.facebook.com/idisti.gr?ref=ts&fref=ts




Παρασκευή 18 Απριλίου 2014

Δευτέρα 7 Απριλίου 2014

A Sounion flower

Thanks to the courtesy of Nikos Mitrogiannopoulos and the Archive of Amateur Audiovisual Material "of the Anonymous" I have the great pleasure to present today a previously unknown photograph, actually a film frame from a 16 mm family film, belonging to the D. Georgopoulos family collection, resting at the Archive. 

This rare family film frame, dating in the 1930's, is taken in the temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion. 

At the center is Cybele, a well-known Greek actress (1888-1978), offering a flower to her husband George Papandreou (1888-1968), one of the most important Greek politicians of the 20th c., who was later to become Prime-Minister of Greece. 


To the right is their friend Aglaia Georgopoulou. The family film was probably shot by Dimitris Georgopoulos, her husband. 






Mr Mitrogiannopoulos who has watched the film tells us more about the action, esp. what precedes this final instance. This is a silent film (as these family films were back then), but it is obvious the the great actress is reciting something, while Papandreou and her friend Aglaia are watching. When this small 'show' is over, Cybele offers a flower to her husband, G. Papandreou. 

The two couples, the Papandreou and the Georgopouloi, were evidently close friends and used to travel together abroad and in Greece. 




Παρασκευή 28 Μαρτίου 2014

An archaeologist designing jewellery

cuff bracelet, collection Mycenaean 

pendant, collection Meander

ring, collection Poseidon

brand bracelets, collection Dorian

ear rings, collection Speira


These are some of the jewellery designed by archaeologist Polina Sapouna Ellis and sure enough her creations are inspired and influenced by Ancient Greek art. 

Polina Sapouna Ellis has a doctorate in Classical Archaeology at the University of Heidelberg, but then painting and jewellery designing won her over. 

In her site [HERE] she tells her story in her own words.


Polina Sapouna-Ellis is an archaeologist by training, with a Doctorate in Classical Archaeology from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. She excavated on the islands of Crete and Evoia for many years with renowned Greek archaeologists Yanni & Effie Sakellaraki. She also studied History of Art, and is an accomplished painter. Her life among invaluable treasures of ancient art, as well as her own need to create, led her to painting and ultimately to her true passion: jewellery design.

“My approach to jewellery design stems from the architectural perspective. SYMMETRIA, the ancient Greek concept of counterbalance is fundamental. I believe in the power of geometry”.

The simplicity of clean geometrical shapes inspires and intrigues me, while it lends minimalistic and often futuristic elements to many of my creations. I view each piece of jewellery as a sculpture, a small structure born out of a concept, urging me to define how it will invade space; should it be large or small, shiny, matte, timid, assertive. I want my jewellery to be dynamic and often transformable, convertible to accommodate one’s mood.
Each one of my works produces its own unique ambience, simultaneously impacting and accommodating both body and soul of those wearing it.
As an archaeologist, ancient Greek shapes and motifs permeate my designs. The collections DORIAN, MEANDER or ANTITHESIS are triggered by the austere simplicity of ancient Greek norms.  The Greek landscape, the sea - THALASSA -, which I adore- infuses and invigorates my work as well. It was the sea that spawned my collection KYMA (wave). The human condition also inspires me.All the pieces in my “convertible” collection: EROS, CONNECTION, HARMONY, worn in various ways, reflect the human need to "connect”. My designs are a fusion of all that surrounds me both physically and conceptually. The Greek archaeology, landscape, art, science and philosophy inspire me and guide my work.

Δευτέρα 10 Μαρτίου 2014

A Greek bar in Sartana, Ukraine

In the small village of Sartana, near Mariupol, Ukraine, the population is mainly Greek. The current political situation puts them in a very difficult spot.

This is a picture of their village coffee-house/ bar, called "Road", "Δρόμος". 








*You may read the interesting story of the Greek population in the Ukraine HERE.

Δευτέρα 3 Μαρτίου 2014

Grecian chic at the 2014 Oscars

Lupita Nyong’o's dress at the Oscars last night was a lovely pale blue custom-made Prada gown in Grecian chic style: an infallible choice! 

The actress said that the pale blue color reminded her of her home-town Nairobi, Kenya. 





*photo via