PIRAEUS ATHENA

 The Piraeus Athena is a Greek bronze statue dated to the fourth century BCE. Named for the city in which it was found, it currently resides in the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus.

PIRAEUS ATHENA

Statue of Athena (the so-called "Piraeus Athena").

Bronze.

340-330 BC.

Height 2.35 m.

Athens, Archaeological Museum of Piraeus.

The statue was discovered, among others, in 1959 in Piraeus, at the intersection of Georgiou and Philo streets in a storage room near the ancient harbor. The sculpture was hidden in this room from Sulla's troops in 86 BC.

Description:

The goddess is dressed in a diagonal aegis and a Doric peplos, a large fold of which, thrown back, covers her shoulders. The Corinthian helmet is decorated with two images of an owl. In her left hand, Athena holds a spear, in her right - a vessel for sacrificial libation. The statue is attributed to Kephisodotus or Euphranor. It is either an original work from the 4th century BC or a work of the Hellenistic period, executed in a classicizing style.

Source: museum annotation.

Ancient Greek and Roman art  

The Minoan Palace of Knossos

 The Minoan Palace of Knossos, located on the island of Crete, was the political and cultural center of the Minoan civilization, flourishing between 2000 and 1400 BCE.

It was a vast and complex structure, featuring advanced architecture, vibrant frescoes, and an intricate layout that may have inspired the Greek myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur.

The palace was heavily damaged by natural disasters, including earthquakes and the volcanic eruption of Thera, but it was repeatedly rebuilt before its final decline around 1100 BCE.

British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans excavated Knossos in the early 20th century, controversially restoring parts of the palace based on his own interpretations.

Today, the ruins of Knossos remain one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece, offering insights into Minoan art, religion, and daily life.

Archeology & Ancient Civilizations

100 years of Pauli's Exclusion Principle!

 

100 years of Pauli's Exclusion Principle!

The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of quantum numbers. In simpler terms, it means that each electron in an atom has a unique set of properties, and no two electrons can be in the exact same state at the same time. This principle helps explain why atoms and molecules have distinct structures and why they bond and interact in specific ways.

Why was Pauli's Exclusion Principle important? It solved many puzzles in atomic physics by explaining the arrangement of electrons in atoms, which in turn helped scientists understand why elements behave differently chemically. The principle is crucial for the stability of matter, preventing atoms from collapsing in on themselves and ensuring that matter has a solid structure.

In astronomy, Pauli's principle explains the stability of white dwarf stars and neutron stars. Without this principle, these stars would not be able to resist the force of gravity and would collapse into black holes. The Exclusion Principle ensures that electrons (in white dwarfs) and neutrons (in neutron stars) provide a repulsive force that counteracts gravity.

#todayinsciencehistory

The Secrets Of The Universe 

Rare Coin of Cleopatra VII

 

Rare Coin of Cleopatra VII: A Unique Blend of #Greek and #Egyptian Influence

This fascinating coin of Cleopatra VII, dating to around 32 BC, provides a rare glimpse into the enduring legacy of Egypt's last queen. Struck in Patras, Greece, the hemiobol coin is a perfect blend of Greek and Egyptian culture. On the obverse, the inscription "ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑ" ("Queen Cleopatra") clearly identifies the ruler, while the reverse features the Crown of Isis, a symbol deeply connected with both the goddess and Egyptian royalty. The inscription "ΑΓΙΑΣ ΛΥΣΩΝΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΕΩΝ" ("Agias, son of Lyson, of Patras") identifies the local magistrate, blending Greek and Egyptian influences in a single, striking artifact.

This coin is not only a tangible piece of history, but it also highlights the interconnectedness of Greek and Egyptian cultures during the late Hellenistic period, when Cleopatra's influence stretched across both civilizations.

Greeks Worldwide 

The Secrets Of The Universe

 

A groundbreaking study suggests Earth’s core is slowly leaking helium-3—a rare isotope dating back to the planet’s formation 4.6 billion years ago. Published in Nature, the findings offer unprecedented insights into Earth’s early history and core dynamics.

Key Discoveries

Record-Breaking Ratios: Analysis of 62-million-year-old Arctic lava rocks from Canada’s Baffin Island revealed helium-3 (³He) concentrations 70 times higher than atmospheric levels—the highest ever recorded in volcanic material. Similar anomalies were found in Icelandic lava.

Primordial Origins: The ³He/⁴He ratios, along with neon isotope signatures, match conditions from Earth’s formation, pointing to a preserved reservoir of ancient noble gases.

Core Leak Hypothesis: Simulations indicate helium-3 trapped in the core during Earth’s accretion is seeping into the mantle via slow chemical exchange, escaping through volcanic hotspots like Baffin and Iceland.

Evidence & Methodology

Isotopic Analysis: Researchers studied olivine crystals in basaltic lavas, measuring ³He/⁴He, strontium, neodymium, and neon isotopes to rule out atmospheric contamination.

Mantle Plumes: Both Baffin and Iceland sit above mantle plumes—geological “hotspots” that tap deep reservoirs, enabling helium-3 to rise from the core-mantle boundary.

Why Helium-3 Matters

Rarity on Earth: Most primordial helium-3 escaped into space early in Earth’s history due to its lightness. Remaining surface traces imply a deep, protected source.

Core as a Reservoir: Earth’s iron-rich core likely absorbed noble gases during planetary assembly. Slow leakage over eons suggests an ongoing chemical exchange between the core and mantle.

RESEARCH PAPER

F. Horton et al., “Highest terrestrial 3He/4He credibly from the core”, Nature (2023)

The Secrets Of The Universe

secretsofuniverse.in

Уважаемые зрители! Обратите внимание! В афише МАЯ появились дополнительные показы спектаклей и концертов.

 

Уважаемые зрители! Обратите внимание! В афише МАЯ появились дополнительные показы спектаклей и концертов.

4 мая в 11:00 на сцене Большого оживет самая известная сказка Пушкина и будет звучать чудная музыка Римского-Корсакова. Зрители увидят музыкальный спектакль "Сказка о царе Салтане".

6 мая в 19:00 нас ждет не просто концерт, а концерт-праздник. Править бал в этот вечер будут Штраус, Кальман, Легар - музыка, наполненная радостью и светом. Жемчужины Венской оперетты - польки, скерцо, знаменитые вальсы и марши, чарующая музыка, прекрасные вокальные номера – в программе «Сказки Венского леса».

Вечер 7 мая станет особенным подарком для всех ценителей прекрасного и тех, кто ищет вдохновение в мире танца. Талантливые артисты балета Большого театра Беларуси представят гала "Весенние грезы", наполненный нежностью, страстью и очарованием. Начало в 19:00.

22 мая приглашаем зрителей погрузиться в удивительный мир Моцарта. Отправляемся в путешествие... души - через испытания - к свету. Позволим себе быть зачарованными "Волшебной флейтой".

Большой театр Беларуси / Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus

 

bolshoibelarus.by/rus

East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA)

 EMBCA 250-

We happy to announce The East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA) is establishing the EMBCA American Hellenic U.S. Semiquincentennial Committee (in short EMBCA 250) to commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026 and to highlight the contributions of Hellenic Americans throughout the nation’s history. This initiative will celebrate the enduring ties between Greece/ Hellas and the United States, recognizing the shared values of democracy, liberty, and independence that have shaped both nations.

Hellenic Americans have played a crucial role in America’s development, from early immigrants contributing to commerce and politics to Hellenic revolutionaries and intellectuals forging transatlantic connections in the 19th century which affected America’s Abolitionist Movement, America’s Civil War, America’s Women Suffrage Movement, and beyond. Figures like George Jarvis, Samuel Gridley Howe within the American Greek Committees, and Hellenic revolutionaries such as Kolokotronis and Bouboulina among many others symbolized the deep bond between the Greek War of Independence and America’s democratic ideals. In the 20th and 21st centuries, Hellenic Americans have continued to influence American society through leadership in business, science, politics, and the arts.

The committee will also explore Hellenic-American foreign relations, emphasizing Greece’s/ Hellas’s strategic role as a U.S. ally. Through exhibitions, discussions, and events, EMBCA’s initiative will honor the past while fostering dialogue on the future of Hellenic-American relations, ensuring a lasting legacy for generations to come.

EMBCA

Success of the opera "Iliad" at the Municipal Theater of Kallithea

 Thursday, March 20, 2025. The educational presentation of Homer's Opera "ILIADA" music and libretto by the composer Panagiotis Karousos was successfully presented at the Municipal Theater of Kallithea with the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea. The opera was presented with an introductory seminar: "Prosody as a connecting link between opera and ancient Greek literature". Lecturer: Panagiotis Karousos, composer (prosody analysis). The members of the "Rhapsodes" Musical Ensemble participated. Irini Konsta (soprano), Rea Voudouri (soprano), Giannis Darios (tenor), Niki Zacharopoulou (chorist), Christiana Manou (piano). Coordination and Artistic Direction: Panagiotis Karousos (music composer). Students of the Theater Group of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea participated interactively with an act of Rhapsody A of Homer's Iliad, under the supervision of Professor Grilis Georgios, theologian. Vasilis - Michael Asproulis (Agamemnon), Panos Lainas (Achilles), Maria Andrikopoulou (Briseis), Vasiliki Papadakou (Athena), Cleopatra Maskalidi (Chryseis), Anna Xefteraki (Thetis), Panagiotis Drimilos (Odysseus), George Nissiotis (Calchas), Nikolas Kontaxis (Chrysis), Christoforos Apostolopoulos (Narrator). Also, the Choral Group of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea wonderfully performed the choral “The Shield of Achilles” from the opera Iliad by Homer under the direction of Niki Zacharopoulou. Greetings were given by Giorgos Gerolymatos, Deputy Mayor of Culture and Events of the Municipality of Kallithea, Nikos Vagenas, Director of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea, and Ifigenia Mantzana, Deputy Director of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea. The presentation of the program of the Opera “ILIADA” by Homer was greatly appreciated by the students who applauded the excellent artists and their participating classmates. The Hymn to the Muse, Achilles' aria "Aphthiton kleos", the choral "Aspida tou Achilles", the aria of Oraia Heleni, the aria of Andromache, and the Doxastic Paean "O Patrida Ellada mou" were performed. As part of the seminar that preceded the opera, examples of Prosody on phrases from Homer's Iliad were performed by Rhea Voudouri in lyrical form and the same examples in chant form by tenor Yannis Darreios and Niki Zacharopoulou. The students were particularly impressed by the video showing Maria Callas in the aria "Casta Diva" from Bellini's opera Norma. The entire performance was dedicated to World Poetry Day, which honored Homer, and to the great opera singer Maria Callas, to whom the song “Maria Callas of Our Hearts” was dedicated by the wonderful soprano soloist of the National Opera of Greece Rea Voudouri. This educational performance of the opera Iliad by Homer by Panagiotis Karousos was greatly enjoyed by the students who participated with great interest and enthusiasm and applauded the opera.