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.

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.

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

The quintessential British backdrop

Today's post is actually written by Marina Labrakis, a DPhil candidate in modern Greek at the University of Oxford. 

Marina spotted and sent over the new advert for the Marks & Spencer stores in the UK. 

I republish her comments with her permission and also many many thanks - there's no way I could have put it better myself. 

It's the most recent Marks & Spencer advertising campaign, entitled 'Britain's Leading Ladies', which features a variety of prominent British women and is shot by Annie Leibovitz. In the background of one of the photos used, for some reason there is a classical statue, for instance as seen here.

According to the M&S blurb, "A London artist’s studio sets the scene for the rebellious yet playful ’London Calling’ trend... [which] captures the creative spirit of individuality." 

So it seems the reference to the classical world is there in order to evoke this idea of creativity. But I guess, also, the statue alludes to ideals of beauty, grace, and the perfect form, which of course M&S are keen to flag up in the context of a fashion campaign. Moreover, I'm interested by the appropriation of a classical artefact within a very celebratory British context (the campaign is described as using "quintessentially British backdrops"), in the service of extolling what is inspirational about British heritage.

But why in Lamia?

The following image is courtesy of fellow archaeologist Heinrich Hall, to whom many thanks are due for taking the photograph and sending it over for publication on the blog.
I can't really describe my enthusiasm when I saw it in my mail. 

This is a modern monument, a large marble stele, erected outside the Lamia castle in central Greece. 
It shows the legendary actress and once Minister of Culture Melina Merkouri standing in front of the Parthenon signing for victory. On the base lies an inscription in Greek, a Line from a poem written by the famous Greek poet Giannis Ritsos "Σε τούτα δω τα μάρμαρα κακιά σκουριά δεν πιάνει", which (translated rather freely) means "these marbles here can't be destroyed bad rust". 

This is an intriguing piece of modern art depicting a curious scene which seems/is out of place outside the Lamia castle. I couldn't find any more information regarding the artist or the reason why this monument was erected there. 

P.S. For Greek readers: Ο στίχος είναι από το "Εδώ το φως" από τα "Δεκαοκτώ λιανοτράγουδα της πικρής πατρίδας"

Σε τούτα δω τα μάρμαρα κακιά σκουριά δεν πιάνει
μηδέ αλυσίδα στου ρωμιού και στου αγεριού το πόδι. 

Εδώ το φως, εδώ ο γιαλός, - χρυσές, γαλάζιες γλώσσες,
στα βράχια ελάφια πελεκάν, τα σίδερα μασάνε

WW II Greek Heroes

Today's image should have been published yesterday. The 28th of October is Greece's national holiday commemorating the beginning of the Greek-Italian war and Greece's entrance in World War II. 

Greek archaeologist Valia Papanastasopoulou-Kasri posted the following sketch on her Facebook profile saying it comes from an English newspaper, obviously published during the Greek-Italian war when the Greeks demonstrated remarkable courage and strength. 
In this picture the Greek Heroes, warriors depicted on a Greek pediment, invite a Greek soldier to join them. 

When in Leuven

My dear friend, eminent archaeologist Kostas Paschalidis, sent this just now from Leuven, Belgium. 

This is a restaurant that doesn't fail to attract attention, as it is appropriately decorated to signify ancient Greece in all possible ways: the temple façade  Caryatids in the showcase and a nice original idea of putting a black-figured vase scene on the pediment. You just can't loose any clients, wondering what your cuisine is.