Right in the heart of Athens stands the Temple of Zeus, also known as the Olympieion. It is one of the largest and most impressive sanctuaries of antiquity and took over half a millennium to complete. The ancient travel writer Pausanias, who visited the Olympieion […]
Temple of Zeus in Athens: lesser known stories about Olympieion Read more »
New Year’s Greeting 2025. The new year has just opened its doors, brimming with promise and new opportunities. The Expedition wishes all Greconauts another year of joy, discoveries, and inspiring adventures! While winter still grips us with its icy chill, and snow in some places,
Dodekaímeron in Greek means “the twelve days” and marks an important period in traditional Greek Christmas celebrations. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” also exists in English, an old phrase that carries faint whispers from a bygone era. During this time, as the sun’s movement pauses,
The Kallikantzaroi, according to Greek folklore, are malevolent creatures that emerge from the underworld during the Greek Christmas period and cause trouble for humans. During the winter solstice, when the movement of the sun seems to halt, they creep out: the malicious, mischievous, ugly, and
Kallikatzaroi, the malevolent creatures of Greek Christmas [updated 2024] Read more »
In the heart of Athens, in Psyrri – a charming and historic neighborhood known for its lively tavernas, music bars, and vivid shops – lies a small but unique music workshop. Here, the dedicated and innovative instrument maker Giorgos Karellas works. Amid the smell of
Visiting a bouzouki maker in Psyrri: Greek music and craft, part 1 Read more »
On Amorgos, the easternmost of the Cycladic islands, new life is brought into the traditional crafts. Projects have been launched to restore and preserve the island’s dry-stone walls—structures built without binding materials—which are iconic features of the Cycladic landscape. The timeless role of the walls
On the Greek island of Amorgos, a future is being built with the stones of older times Read more »
Many Greek churches are admirable, but perhaps one of the most remarkable is Agia Foteini in Mantineia, northern Peloponnese. We had the privilege of meeting Kostas Papatheodorou, the civil engineer, architect, artist, and philosopher behind this extraordinary building. He invited us on an exclusive private
Greek churches: the extraordinary Agia Foteini [exclusive content] Read more »
“The Promotion” (Η Εξέλιξη) is the latest feature film by acclaimed Greek director Periklis Hoursoglou. The film will be screened at Zita Folkets Bio on Sunday, October 20, 2024, as part of the “Greek Film Days in Stockholm” event. The Greek Film Days are organized
The Promotion – a Greek film by Periklis Hoursoglou Read more »
The Cycladic island of Amorgos, which gained international attention through the film The Big Blue, has long attracted visitors with its stunning nature and rich history. The following text is a slightly revised version of an article by journalist Dimitris Hatzis from 2010, originally published
In our article series about sanctuaries near Athens, we will today visit Brauron/Βραυρώνα (pronounced: Vravrona), an important and well-preserved temple complex dedicated to Artemis – the goddess of hunting and nature. The sanctuary, located just a couple of kilometers from Athens International Airport, is built
Sanctuaries near Athens, part 2: temple of Artemis in Brauron Read more »
