The Rio-Antirrio Bridge was inaugurated on August 7, 2004, one week before the opening of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Within two decades, it changed the economic landscape in Greece. The Rio-Antirrio Bridge, which connects the Peloponnese with Central Greece, had the aim of making the transport of passengers and cargo much easier. That has certainly been achieved.

The opening of the bridge was a celebration, with the first people to officially cross it being none other than the Olympic torchbearers of the 2004 Olympics. One member of that group was Otto Rehhagel, the German football coach who had led the Greek national team to their triumph in the Euro 2004 Cup just a month earlier.

The official name of the bridge is the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, named after the nineteenth-century prime minister of Greece, who was the first man to envision such a span connecting the Peloponnese with Central Greece. Unfortunately, state finances at the time did not allow for such a large-scale project.

The 2,380-meter (approximately 1.8-mile) long bridge is one of the longest cable-stay bridges in the entire world. It improves access to and from the Peloponnese, which could previously only be reached by ferry or via the Isthmus of Corinth.

According to a recent study by the Observatory of Road Networks in Western Greece and the Peloponnese, the construction of the graceful white cable-stay bridge has already resulted in enormous financial benefits. To date, this amount is estimated to be over 400 million euros.

The experts believe that the total amount of funds the bridge’s construction will bring to the area will be more than one billion euros during the period of 2017 to 2032.

Tourist flows have also improved, which is especially noted with arrivals coming into the area from the north from the port of Patras. Travelers heading for the Ionian Sea islands and areas in Central Greece can now easily and swiftly cross through the central area of the country and back again.

The study also noted that the bridge has already had a positive effect on property values in the northern region, which has led to a significant rise in land prices. This has given added value to an area that had been largely underdeveloped, attracting investment.

Traffic flows have also benefited immensely from the creation of the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge. It not only connects two major motorways, the Ionian Odos and Olympia Odos, but transport connections between Epirus and Aitoloakarnania have been greatly improved, as well.

Before the construction of the new span, Aitoloakarnania had basically been almost completely cut off from the rest of the country.

Rio-Antirrio Bridge considered an engineering masterpiece

The construction of the imposing cable-stay bridge is widely considered to be an engineering masterpiece, owing to several solutions applied to overcome difficulties caused by its location and the geology of the region.

These difficulties included the especially deep waters of the river, the once-unstable underlying ground under the bases of the bridge, seismic activity, the probability of tsunamis, and the expansion of the Gulf of Corinth due to plate tectonics.

The seabed was first reinforced and stabilized by driving two hundred hollow steel pipes into the ground beneath each pier. The pier footings themselves were not driven into the seabed; they rest on a bed of gravel meticulously leveled to an even surface (a difficult endeavor at this depth).

During an earthquake, the piers are able to move laterally along the sea floor, with the gravel bed absorbing the energy. The bridge decking is also connected to the pylons using special jacks and dampers designed to absorb any movement.

View the fascinating video below to see all the special features of this unique and beautiful cable-stay bridge, which has already contributed immensely to the economy of the country.

Nisyros is a magical gem located in the Aegean. The island, part of the Dodecanese archipelago, is situated between Kos and Tilos, and has an active volcano which is also the youngest volcano in Greece.

Nisyros offers untouched villages, quiet beaches, hot springs and ancient walls of black volcanic stone. Top that off with the fact that there are few tourists, and you’ll feel like the entire island and all of its many beauties are exclusively yours.

The amazing villages of  Greece’s Nisyros island

Disfruta de la Grecia auténtica sin prisa ni aglomeraciones. Descubre la isla de #Nysiros y vive la cultura y la historia como nunca antes.⁣
⁣#Grecia #Vacaciones #Travel #GreciaTour #TourPrivado #FelizMiércoles pic.twitter.com/2p23dXOUOS

— GreciaTour.com (@GreciaTour_com) August 10, 2022

There are several quaint villages on the island; the largest is Mandraki. It is straight out of a photo book of traditional Greek island architecture and great views.

The narrow, cobbled streets and squares lace around the villages where you can take a stroll and feel as though you have traveled back to ancient times. The homes, which are made of volcanic rocks and are insulated with pumice stone, boast wooden balconies.

Nightlife on Nisyros is very unlike the hectic pace of party islands in Greece. You will, however, find quaint local tavernas and bars in which to enjoy your lazy summer nights.

The Volcano

You can actually go to the center of the island, walk along the volcano’s rim, and watch its boiling crater. The volcano, which hasn’t actually erupted since 1888, is a spectacular sight.

The Volcanological Museum in Nikia

Located at the edge of the caldera, the view is breathtaking, and you can learn a thing or two about the fascinating geology of the island. 3D animated images to demonstrate various facts about the volcano are available, so be sure to check them out.

Paleokastro, Nisyros’ Acropolis

Dating back to the classical period and ruins of the ancient city, the Paleokastro is constructed from one of the hardest rocks in the world, basaltic andesite, which was spewed out from the volcano. This has helped preserve the acropolis through the passage of time.

A Monastery Built in a Cave

The Monastery of Panagia Spiliani sits atop of a hill in northwest Mandraki, the largest part of it constructed inside a cave. A truly unique experience, the cave is divided into two churches and is definitely worth a visit.

Nisyros’ Thermal Spas

At several points along the coast of Nisyros, you will find spouting hot water springs with temperatures varying from 30 to 60 degrees Celsius (86 to 140 degrees F). The springs are known for their therapeutic effects for muscles and skin.

Around 1.5 km (1 mile) east of the port of Mandraki, you will find the thermal spa of Loutra with hot spring waters at 37 degrees Celsius (or 98.6 Fahrenheit, equal to humans’ body temperature).

Get ready For Beautiful Beaches on Nisyros island

Due to the relatively few numbers of travelers on the island, the beaches of Nisyros are extraordinarily clean, quiet, and relaxing.

You can go to a different beach every day, as there are many to choose from. Some favorites are Lefki Beach, along with Gialiskari, Lyés, Páloi, Pachia Ammos, Katsouni, Aghios Savas, Aghia Irini, and Chochlákia Beaches.

Must-try local cuisine

There are many traditional dishes to be savored on Nisyros island. Some typical “spitiko” or homemade dishes are pita, chickpea nuggets, and kapamas, which is stuffed goat. Of course, as you are on an island, there is always fresh seafood available, too!

Getting there

You can get to the volcanic paradise of Nisyros from the island of Kos or as part of a tour of other islands in the Dodecanese, as well as from Piraeus.

Nisyros is a magical gem located in the Aegean. The island, part of the Dodecanese archipelago, is situated between Kos and Tilos, and has an active volcano which is also the youngest volcano in Greece.

Nisyros offers untouched villages, quiet beaches, hot springs and ancient walls of black volcanic stone. Top that off with the fact that there are few tourists, and you’ll feel like the entire island and all of its many beauties are exclusively yours.

The amazing villages of  Greece’s Nisyros island

Disfruta de la Grecia auténtica sin prisa ni aglomeraciones. Descubre la isla de #Nysiros y vive la cultura y la historia como nunca antes.⁣
⁣#Grecia #Vacaciones #Travel #GreciaTour #TourPrivado #FelizMiércoles pic.twitter.com/2p23dXOUOS

— GreciaTour.com (@GreciaTour_com) August 10, 2022

There are several quaint villages on the island; the largest is Mandraki. It is straight out of a photo book of traditional Greek island architecture and great views.

The narrow, cobbled streets and squares lace around the villages where you can take a stroll and feel as though you have traveled back to ancient times. The homes, which are made of volcanic rocks and are insulated with pumice stone, boast wooden balconies.

Nightlife on Nisyros is very unlike the hectic pace of party islands in Greece. You will, however, find quaint local tavernas and bars in which to enjoy your lazy summer nights.

The Volcano

You can actually go to the center of the island, walk along the volcano’s rim, and watch its boiling crater. The volcano, which hasn’t actually erupted since 1888, is a spectacular sight.

The Volcanological Museum in Nikia

Located at the edge of the caldera, the view is breathtaking, and you can learn a thing or two about the fascinating geology of the island. 3D animated images to demonstrate various facts about the volcano are available, so be sure to check them out.

Paleokastro, Nisyros’ Acropolis

Dating back to the classical period and ruins of the ancient city, the Paleokastro is constructed from one of the hardest rocks in the world, basaltic andesite, which was spewed out from the volcano. This has helped preserve the acropolis through the passage of time.

A Monastery Built in a Cave

The Monastery of Panagia Spiliani sits atop of a hill in northwest Mandraki, the largest part of it constructed inside a cave. A truly unique experience, the cave is divided into two churches and is definitely worth a visit.

Nisyros’ Thermal Spas

At several points along the coast of Nisyros, you will find spouting hot water springs with temperatures varying from 30 to 60 degrees Celsius (86 to 140 degrees F). The springs are known for their therapeutic effects for muscles and skin.

Around 1.5 km (1 mile) east of the port of Mandraki, you will find the thermal spa of Loutra with hot spring waters at 37 degrees Celsius (or 98.6 Fahrenheit, equal to humans’ body temperature).

Get ready For Beautiful Beaches on Nisyros island

Due to the relatively few numbers of travelers on the island, the beaches of Nisyros are extraordinarily clean, quiet, and relaxing.

You can go to a different beach every day, as there are many to choose from. Some favorites are Lefki Beach, along with Gialiskari, Lyés, Páloi, Pachia Ammos, Katsouni, Aghios Savas, Aghia Irini, and Chochlákia Beaches.

Must-try local cuisine

There are many traditional dishes to be savored on Nisyros island. Some typical “spitiko” or homemade dishes are pita, chickpea nuggets, and kapamas, which is stuffed goat. Of course, as you are on an island, there is always fresh seafood available, too!

Getting there

You can get to the volcanic paradise of Nisyros from the island of Kos or as part of a tour of other islands in the Dodecanese, as well as from Piraeus.

The Greeks were famous in antiquity for their adventurous and curious spirit, which led to the establishment of numerous Greek colonies across the Mediterranean and beyond. Tucked away on Spain’s beautiful Costa Brava, one of these ancient Greek colonies, called Emporion, was a truly remarkable Greek settlement that thrived far from metropolitan Greece on the other side of the Mediterranean.

Emporion is an excellent example of early Greek expansion, as it became a place where Greek traders and settlers converged to establish a bastion of Greece at the far western end of the Mediterranean.

Emporion became a thriving hub that, for centuries, played a crucial role in shaping the foundations of early European exchange and people’s movements. When discussing Greek colonies, we normally focus on Asia Minor and the Italian Peninsula. However, here on the Iberian Peninsula, these ancient Greek explorers left their unique mark, proving that the ancient Greeks were, in fact, quite the adventurers.

Emporion was a Greek gem on Spanish soil

The story of Emporion started around 575 BC, when Greek seafarers from Phocaea, a Greek city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), set their sights on the western horizon, seeking more land to expand their opportunities. These people were the same adventurous men and women who founded Massalia (today’s Marseille) on the opposite side of Emporion, on today’s Mediterranean coast of France.

Their initial settlement, the “Palaiapolis” or Old City, was cleverly positioned on a small island, now comfortably part of the mainland, due to thousands of years of land reclaiming in the broader area. We can only imagine the spectacle of Greek ships filled with exquisite pottery, fine olive oil, and the kind of wine that only ancient Greeks could produce, setting foot on Iberia.

What was different at that time was that these people weren’t just there to exchange goods and sell their produce; they were there to stay permanently, injecting Greek culture into the local populations, importing fresh ideas, and the unique “Greek spirit” into the local area.

The very name they gave to the city, “Emporion,” means “market” or “trading post” in Greek. It leaves no room for doubt about its core purpose and the reason why this settlement was named after the Greek word for trade. Emporion was intended to become a cosmopolitan crossroads, a vibrant meeting point where Greek merchants met local Iberian populations, thereby establishing a robust trade route in a wide range of goods, from precious metals to essential food supplies.

What is particularly fascinating about Emporion is the relationship that developed between the Greek colonists in the area and the local Iberian tribes, especially the Indiketes. Initially, there was a clear divide—a literal wall separated the Greek and Iberian communities, as is often the case with newly established colonies throughout history.

But as often happens, shared interests and a healthy dose of realism slowly eroded those barriers, bringing locals and settlers together. Over time, mutual benefit led them to achieve a remarkable degree of cultural exchange, resulting in a truly blended society that contributed to the development of a unique community with its own strengths and characteristics.

This community thrived through commerce and cultural exchanges. Centuries later, during the Roman era, Emporion’s strategic value became undeniable. During the tumultuous Punic Wars, Emporion became a crucial landing point for Roman legions, demonstrating its geopolitical importance. The Romans, ever efficient, established their adjacent settlement, which eventually merged with the pre-existing Greek city. The collective name, Emporiae, perfectly encapsulates this dual Greco-Roman identity and heritage, where two powerful cultures merged on one remarkable site.

Today, what truly makes Empúries a must-see is the extraordinary chance it offers to walk through both Greek and Roman streets in a single visit. It’s not every day you get to stand where an ancient agora once buzzed with philosophical debate, and just right next to it, you can envision a Roman forum alive with political drama that only the Romans could offer.

The ongoing excavations, which commenced in 1908, continue to unearth incredible treasures—from formidable city walls and elegant temples, including one dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine (perhaps an early version of a Greek health resort), to private homes adorned with breathtaking Roman mosaics.

The next time you visit northeastern Spain and Catalonia, be sure to visit this site of ancient Greek heritage on the Iberian Peninsula. Admire what is now known as Empúries, a name closely resembling its original one.

For a more detailed description of what led to the Greek colonization of the area, read here.

The Greeks were famous in antiquity for their adventurous and curious spirit, which led to the establishment of numerous Greek colonies across the Mediterranean and beyond. Tucked away on Spain’s beautiful Costa Brava, one of these ancient Greek colonies, called Emporion, was a truly remarkable Greek settlement that thrived far from metropolitan Greece on the other side of the Mediterranean.

Emporion is an excellent example of early Greek expansion, as it became a place where Greek traders and settlers converged to establish a bastion of Greece at the far western end of the Mediterranean.

Emporion became a thriving hub that, for centuries, played a crucial role in shaping the foundations of early European exchange and people’s movements. When discussing Greek colonies, we normally focus on Asia Minor and the Italian Peninsula. However, here on the Iberian Peninsula, these ancient Greek explorers left their unique mark, proving that the ancient Greeks were, in fact, quite the adventurers.

Emporion was a Greek gem on Spanish soil

The story of Emporion started around 575 BC, when Greek seafarers from Phocaea, a Greek city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), set their sights on the western horizon, seeking more land to expand their opportunities. These people were the same adventurous men and women who founded Massalia (today’s Marseille) on the opposite side of Emporion, on today’s Mediterranean coast of France.

Their initial settlement, the “Palaiapolis” or Old City, was cleverly positioned on a small island, now comfortably part of the mainland, due to thousands of years of land reclaiming in the broader area. We can only imagine the spectacle of Greek ships filled with exquisite pottery, fine olive oil, and the kind of wine that only ancient Greeks could produce, setting foot on Iberia.

What was different at that time was that these people weren’t just there to exchange goods and sell their produce; they were there to stay permanently, injecting Greek culture into the local populations, importing fresh ideas, and the unique “Greek spirit” into the local area.

The very name they gave to the city, “Emporion,” means “market” or “trading post” in Greek. It leaves no room for doubt about its core purpose and the reason why this settlement was named after the Greek word for trade. Emporion was intended to become a cosmopolitan crossroads, a vibrant meeting point where Greek merchants met local Iberian populations, thereby establishing a robust trade route in a wide range of goods, from precious metals to essential food supplies.

What is particularly fascinating about Emporion is the relationship that developed between the Greek colonists in the area and the local Iberian tribes, especially the Indiketes. Initially, there was a clear divide—a literal wall separated the Greek and Iberian communities, as is often the case with newly established colonies throughout history.

But as often happens, shared interests and a healthy dose of realism slowly eroded those barriers, bringing locals and settlers together. Over time, mutual benefit led them to achieve a remarkable degree of cultural exchange, resulting in a truly blended society that contributed to the development of a unique community with its own strengths and characteristics.

This community thrived through commerce and cultural exchanges. Centuries later, during the Roman era, Emporion’s strategic value became undeniable. During the tumultuous Punic Wars, Emporion became a crucial landing point for Roman legions, demonstrating its geopolitical importance. The Romans, ever efficient, established their adjacent settlement, which eventually merged with the pre-existing Greek city. The collective name, Emporiae, perfectly encapsulates this dual Greco-Roman identity and heritage, where two powerful cultures merged on one remarkable site.

Today, what truly makes Empúries a must-see is the extraordinary chance it offers to walk through both Greek and Roman streets in a single visit. It’s not every day you get to stand where an ancient agora once buzzed with philosophical debate, and just right next to it, you can envision a Roman forum alive with political drama that only the Romans could offer.

The ongoing excavations, which commenced in 1908, continue to unearth incredible treasures—from formidable city walls and elegant temples, including one dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine (perhaps an early version of a Greek health resort), to private homes adorned with breathtaking Roman mosaics.

The next time you visit northeastern Spain and Catalonia, be sure to visit this site of ancient Greek heritage on the Iberian Peninsula. Admire what is now known as Empúries, a name closely resembling its original one.

For a more detailed description of what led to the Greek colonization of the area, read here.

The wild boar was a significant animal in Ancient Greece, appearing in their mythology, religious traditions, and daily life. It was a respected and feared creature, valued both as a worthy hunting challenge and as a prized source of food.

The wild boar held a prominent place in Greek mythology, symbolizing immense strength, ferocity, and the untamed nature of the world. Heroes were often defined by their ability to confront and conquer these beasts.

The Calydonian Boar was one of the most famous creatures of Ancient Greek lore. The goddess Artemis sent this gigantic boar to ravage the lands of Calydon as punishment for the king’s neglect of her. This provoked a great hunt that drew the most celebrated heroes of the age, including the hero Meleager and the huntress Atalanta, highlighting the animal’s status as an epic adversary.

As part of his legendary labors, the hero Heracles was tasked with capturing this ferocious Erymanthian Boar, which was terrorizing the region of Mount Erymanthos. Heracles had to use his cunning and strength to chase the beast into deep snow and trap it alive. The depiction of this feat was a favorite subject in ancient vase painting and sculpture.

These myths show that the boar was not merely an animal. It was a metaphorical challenge to human civilization, a representation of untamed nature that only the greatest heroes could overcome.

The wild boar in daily life and hunting in Ancient Greece

Hunting was a crucial activity in Ancient Greece, serving as a rite of passage for young men and a demonstration of courage and skill. The wild boar hunt was one of the most dangerous pursuits.

Hunters typically used spears, javelins, and a pack of trained hunting dogs to corner the animal. Confronting a wild boar was a high-risk activity due to its powerful tusks and aggressive nature when cornered. The hunters’ bravery and strategy were highly respected.

The meat was a highly valued delicacy. It was associated with rich meals and was a staple at religious festivals and banquets. The meat was often roasted, and its fat was used to enhance the flavor of other dishes. It could also be preserved through salting or smoking, ensuring it could be enjoyed year-round.

The Ancient Greek writer Xenophon, in his work Cynegeticus (On Hunting), provided a detailed guide to hunting techniques, emphasizing their role in the education and lifestyle of aristocratic youth. He believed that the discipline and courage required for the hunt were essential for a well-rounded citizen.

Historians and philosophers on the wild boar

Other ancient historians and philosophers also speak of the wild boar, though their perspectives often differ from the more mythological and heroic focus. They were interested in the animal from a more practical and scientific standpoint.

Aristotle mentioned the wild boar in his work History of Animals. He focused on its physical characteristics and behavior, including its ferocity and its place within the animal kingdom. Aristotle was interested in classifying animals and understanding their relationships, and the wild boar was part of this broader biological inquiry.

Plato used the pig, and by extension the boar, as an example but not always in a positive light. In the Republic, for instance, he discusses a “city of pigs” to describe a society that only seeks basic, low-level pleasures, contrasting it with a more refined, ideal city. This shows how the animal was also used as a symbol for a simple or primitive way of life.

Beyond philosophy, the wild boar appears in the works of various other ancient writers, often in the context of history, geography, and mythography. Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, feature wild boar hunts. The most famous example is the scar on Odysseus‘s leg, which he received during a boar hunt in his youth, a detail that reveals his identity to his old nurse. This highlights the hunt’s role as a formative event and a mark of a man’s courage.

The Greek geographer and travel writer Pausanias mentioned the Calydonian Boar in his Description of Greece. He notes that he saw the boar’s hide and tusks in a temple, providing a quasi-historical reference to a mythical event, which shows how deeply these stories were believed and integrated into Greek cultural life.

The boar in Ancient Greece represented not only the “invincible enemy” but also a raw, primal force of nature that humans strove to master. Its resilience and strength also made it a symbol of fertility and endurance in certain regional traditions.

Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense has condemned a new defense agreement between Cyprus and France, warning that it could destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean and threaten regional security.

The move came after Cyprus and France signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which strengthens defense cooperation between the two countries and allows for the conditional deployment of French military personnel and assets on the island nation.

Following a ministry press briefing, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, Press and Public Relations Advisor and Spokesperson for Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense, said Ankara was closely monitoring what it described as a provocative move that could escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey objected to the agreement by arguing that France has no guarantor role in Cyprus. Ankara also claimed that the deal disregards the will and sovereign equal rights of Turkish Cypriots and seeks to unilaterally alter the delicate balance on the island.

Cyprus and France agreement challenges balance, Turkey claims

According to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, the agreement signed between France and the Republic of Cyprus is contrary to the 1960 Cyprus Agreements and international law.

Aktürk warned that actions of this kind, which, according to Turkey, lack legitimacy and have not been carefully reviewed, could have dangerous consequences for the southern part of the island. Furthermore, any military alliance in the region that disregards the balance in Cyprus and targets the rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots would not succeed against Turkey, he proclaimed.

“As a guarantor country, we will continue to protect the rights and interests and ensure the security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as we have done in the past and as we do today,” Aktürk maintained. He added that the Turkish Armed Forces have both the power and will to respond to the appropriate degree and in the most efficient way possible to any hostile stance which Ankara believes could pose a threat to the security of Turkish Cypriots.

Millî Savunma Bakanlığı Haftalık Basın Bilgilendirme Toplantısı, Denizkurdu-II Tatbikatı’nın Seçkin Gözlemci Günü dolayısıyla Akdeniz açıklarındaki TCG Anadolu’da gerçekleştirildi.

Millî Savunma Bakanlığı Basın ve Halkla İlişkiler Müşaviri ve Bakanlık Sözcüsü Tuğamiral Zeki… pic.twitter.com/whGFkfYCLD

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) June 11, 2026

Cyprus and France sign SOFA in Nicosia

The agreement was signed in Nicosia on Monday by Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas and French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin, who met on the sidelines of the informal meeting of European Union defense ministers, hosted by Cyprus. The SOFA had been discussed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Nicosia on April 23 and was later negotiated between the two governments.

It provides a legal framework for the presence of French military forces in Cyprus and also allows French military assets to be deployed in the southern part of the island under specific conditions, particularly in support of activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

Agreement expands France-Cyprus defense cooperation

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides announced that the agreement has entered into force, reportedly granting France access to military bases and infrastructure in Cyprus.

The deal is also said to include provisions for the sharing of military technology, the conduct of joint exercises, and the establishment of a strategic dialogue framework between Cyprus and France.

WhatsApp founder Jan Koum’s superyacht, Moonrise, has been spotted off Mykonos, drawing attention to the waters around one of Greece’s busiest summer destinations.

The nearly 100-meter (328-ft) vessel belongs to Koum, the Ukrainian-born American billionaire who co-founded WhatsApp. Its presence off Mykonos adds to the island’s long record of attracting large private yachts during the summer season.

Feadship delivered Moonrise superyacht in 2020

Moonrise was built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship and delivered in 2020. The yacht is among the largest vessels produced by the shipbuilder.

At the time of its launch, Feadship said Moonrise was the largest superyacht ever built in the Netherlands by waterline length. The vessel has a gray hull, long horizontal windows, a vertical bow, and a multi-deck exterior design.

WhatsApp founder Jan Koum and the Moonrise superyacht

Koum became one of the most renowned technology entrepreneurs after co-founding WhatsApp. Facebook, now Meta, acquired the messaging app in 2014 in a deal valued at about $19 billion to $22 billion, depending on the calculation.

Koum, now 50, remains among the wealthiest figures in the technology sector, with his fortune estimated at roughly $17 billion. Earlier yacht market estimates placed the value of Moonrise at around $220 million. More recently, Burgess listed the yacht for sale at €325 million ($380 million).

Inside the WhatsApp founder’s superyacht seen off  Mykonos

Moonrise can accommodate up to sixteen guests in eight cabins, while thirty-two crew members handle operations and service on board. The yacht includes a private owner’s deck, movie theater, gym, massage area, hair salon, sundeck, and outdoor guest areas. It also features a beach club, a swimming platform, tenders, water sports equipment, and a helipad.

Feadship designed the superyacht with a focus on reducing noise and vibration. Its engineers worked on the propeller, stabilizers, and anchoring system to limit sound and movement while the yacht operates or remains anchored.

Two MTU engines power the vessel. Moonrise reaches a top speed of 18.5 knots, while specialist yacht listings place its cruising speed at around 16 knots. Moonrise received international recognition in 2021, when it won at the BOAT International World Superyacht Awards in the category Displacement Motor Yachts 3,000GT and Above.

Thick black smoke is billowing over the port of Paxos after a fire completely engulfed a tourist vessel before spreading to a second boat docked nearby. Fortunately, all passengers had disembarked before the outbreak. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

The incident began around 1:00 PM on Thursday at the New Passenger Terminal in Gaios, Paxos.

According to local reports from kerkyrasimera.gr and corfutvnews, the blaze began on a day-boat that operates tourist cruises, quickly spreading out of control due to unknown causes. Fueled by flammable materials onboard, the flames rapidly jumped to a neighboring vessel.

Reports indicate that the passengers, who had just completed a popular daily excursion from Parga to Paxos, had safely stepped off the vessel just moments before the fire broke out.

The Hellenic Coast Guard confirmed that the fire involved two commercial tourist vessels and that no passengers were onboard at the time of the incident. Fire service vehicles, an ambulance and a tugboat have been deployed at the port.

The Parga-Paxos route is one of the single most popular day-trip cruises in the entire Ionian Sea. During the summer season, it is a massive staple of the local tourism economy, drawing thousands of international and domestic visitors every week.

Related: Netflix’s “Maestro in Blue” Island, Paxos, Leads a Growing Push for Tourist Fees

Cape Tainaro (also known as Cape Matapan) is the southernmost point of mainland Greece and the Balkan Peninsula, located at the tip of the Mani Peninsula. It’s a place of rugged beauty, characterized by dramatic cliffs, a wild landscape, and the convergence of the Messenian and Laconian Gulfs.

Tainaro has been important for thousands of years, serving as a maritime crossroads and a place of worship. Today, a lighthouse stands at its very tip, and scattered ruins of ancient settlements and temples can still be found there.

The lighthouse that stands guard in Tainaro is considered one of the most imposing in all of Greece. It is a construction of French technicians, built of stone on a plateau on the natural rocks of the cape, with a height of about 52 feet (16 meters). It began operating in 1887 and was renovated in 1930.

In 1984, an automatic lighting machine was installed there, and the lighthouse was abandoned by its last guardians. The building was restored in 2008 and has since been guarded by Navy personnel. Every third Sunday in August, public access is free as part of World Lighthouse Day.

Cape Tainaro: Gateway to the Underworld (Hades)

Ancient Greeks believed that a cave at the cape’s edge, often referred to as the “Gates of Hades” or “mouth of Taenarum,” was a direct entrance to the Underworld, the realm of the dead, ruled by the god Hades. This mythical entrance was said to be guarded by Cerberus, the monstrous three-headed hound with a serpent’s tail who prevented the dead from escaping and the living from entering.

One of the most famous myths connected to Tainaro is that of Heracles (Hercules). As his twelfth labor, he descended into the Underworld through this cave to capture and bring Cerberus to Eurystheus. The legendary musician Orpheus also used this passage to descend into Hades in his attempt to bring his beloved wife, Eurydice, back to the world of the living.

By some accounts, the sculpted canal on the east side of Porto Sternes was the path taken by the souls of the dead, ferried by Charon, the grim boatman of the Underworld.

Cape Tainaro: Sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon

Cape Tainaro was home to a sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon, the god of the sea. Poseidon was worshiped under various epithets, including “Poseidon Tainarios,” as the god who controlled both the seas and earthquakes.

The temple served as a place of inviolable asylum, offering refuge to criminals and even escaped slaves. A story was recounted by Thucydides about the Spartans violating this asylum by killing helots (agrarian slaves) who had taken refuge there, an act believed to have brought divine retribution in the form of an earthquake.

The site also functioned as a “necromanteion,” or Oracle of the Dead, where Ancient Greeks would perform rituals to communicate with the spirits of their deceased ancestors, seeking guidance or prophecy.

A celebrated bronze statue of the poet and singer Arion, seated on a dolphin, was a prominent dedicatory offering at the temple of Poseidon. It honors the myth of Arion, who was rescued by a dolphin after being cast into the sea by pirates and brought safely to Cape Tainaron.

In medieval times, Tainaro became a notorious pirate base—with merchant ships carefully avoiding it—and during World War II, the Battle of Tainaro (March 1941) was fought off the coast between the British and Italian fleets.

Getting to Tainaro

The only way to get to Tainaro is by hiking along a path that many consider to be the most interesting of the “inner” Mani. It is accessible to all with no significant altitude differences and has a total length of about 1.4 miles. Starting from the village of Kokkinogia, it’ll probably take around fifty minutes to get to the lighthouse.

You will find the village of Kokkinogia at the end of the Areopolis-Tainaro road. The marked dirt path begins at the church of Agioi Asomatoi and passes by the beach of Aria, where you can see a Roman mosaic. The surrounding landscape is typical of Mani: thorn bushes, thyme, low vegetation, flint stones, and no shade—so be sure to wear a hat, apply sunscreen, and bring plenty of water. The views along the way to Tainaro will make it all worthwhile.

Schools are about to close for summer in Greece! But did you know that if you’re a child who goes to school in Greece, you’re likely enjoying a much longer break than your peers in other parts of Europe?

Schoolchildren in Greece have some of the most generous summer breaks on the continent. These summer breaks typically stretch from mid-June (normally around the 15th of June in elementary schools) to the 11th of September, for a leisurely 12 to 14 weeks of fun in the sun.

So why do Greek children and teenagers get such an extended break compared to their neighbors in central and northern Europe? Well, it turns out there are a few key reasons for this.

The long summer breaks of Greece

Historically, the long summer break period in Greece was meant to allow children to help out with agricultural work during the busiest farming months. These traditions go back in time hundreds of years. We should never forget that, particularly in the past, the majority of Greek families were involved in farming and food production. Thus, it made sense for them to give children a break to pitch in during the peak season out in the fields.

Another main reason for the extended summer breaks is Greece’s sweltering summer climate. With temperatures soaring into the 40s Celsius in June, July, and August, it’s simply too hot to expect children (or teachers!) to concentrate and focus on their learning in stuffy classrooms under the extreme heat of the Greek summers. An extended break during the dog days of summer is a practical necessity for them all and is not only a Greek tradition.

On top of this all, we also have the Greek Orthodox calendar which plays a role. With many important religious holidays peppered throughout the year, a longer summer break helps balance out the school schedule for teachers to ensure that all students still get a proper all-rounded education.

The rest of Europe

But how does the Greek summer break compare to that of other European countries? On average, most European students enjoy a slightly shorter 10 to 12-week holiday. However, there’s significant variation between not only individual countries but also regions within the same country.

Southern European countries such as Italy, Spain, and Portugal follow very similar patterns to that of Greece. These Mediterranean and southern European nations embrace a long summer with breaks often exceeding 12 weeks. It must be all that sunshine, anyway!

Meanwhile, Scandinavian countries, Germany, the UK, and Ireland keep things much more studious with a modest average of a 6-week summer break. Ex-Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, such as Poland and Romania, fall somewhere in the middle with 8 to 10 weeks of summer fun for our little friends.

Interestingly, the UK and Ireland—two countries notoriously known for their less than balmy summers—also have relatively short six to seven-week breaks. Perhaps the British dedication to academics trumps the desire for a prolonged escape from the classroom, one might say. Others would argue that since the weather in this part of Europe is so often miserable and grey, there is not great motivation to get out of the classroom anyway!

On a more serious note, however, there are experts who argue that longer summer breaks can lead to “learning loss.” This could be particularly true in cases in which students forget key academic skills and knowledge during these extended breaks as a result of their losing contact with their schools. Countries with shorter summers tend to spread out breaks more evenly throughout the year. This may support more efficient and continuous learning. In England, for example, children normally get six weeks of summer break, three weeks of half-term breaks (one week at a time), two weeks for Christmas, and two more weeks for Easter.

However, research shows that the quality of instruction and total teaching hours matter more than the exact length of the summer holiday and the period that this is offered. Hence, while Greek students may indeed spend more days on the beach, as long as they put in the work during the school year in its entirety, they’ll still come out ahead.

At the end of the day, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the education of our children, especially when it comes to structuring the school year. Nonetheless, students in Greece and other southern European countries have a long tradition of enjoying a long summer break, as it is a beloved and cherished tradition that’s here to stay. It is, after all, a tradition embedded within the cultures of these nations. Really, who can even argue against more time soaking up the Mediterranean sun?

Thus, as the final bells rang and Greek children left school for their three-month adventure, they felt lucky to live in a country that prioritizes a healthy balance of work and play. School may be out, but the learning never stops—whether it’s through travel, spending time with family and friends, or simply relaxing and recharging one’s batteries. Lastly, when September rolls around, kids will be ready to once again walk the school hallways they left behind this June.

Greece is world-renowned for its beaches and postcard-perfect coastlines, but beneath those beautiful, turquoise waters lies danger. When heavy weather conditions strike, a select few of the country’s most popular, breathtaking tourist destinations can instantly transform from an idyllic paradise into a severe survival hazard.

According to safety insights compiled by the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Sailors (PENEN), navigating these stunning but unpredictable waters requires extreme caution.

The 12 most dangerous beaches in Greece

1. Lalaria – Skiathos

“Lalaria” refers to the smooth white pebbles sculpted over millennia by the Aegean waves. Lalaria is a beach of indescribable beauty on Skiathos, famous for its turquoise waters, blindingly white shoreline, and the majestic stone arch of Tripia Petra rooted in the seabed.

However, Lalaria conceals hidden dangers. The coast is accessible strictly by sea. More importantly, when strong northerly winds blow, waves can reach several meters high, generating a violent, dangerous undertow (antimamalo or clapotis wave reflection) that poses a severe threat to both swimmers and small boats.

2. Matala – Southern Crete

When the scorching Livas (the hot southwesterly wind) sweeps through southern Crete, the shoreline of Matala—the iconic former haven of the 1960s “flower children”—turns stark white with crashing foam. Swings in the weather make swimming completely prohibitive.

The sea routinely breaches the shoreline, rushing past the sunbeds. Lifeguards blow their whistles continuously to signal extreme danger to anyone daring to dive. While reckless thrill-seekers often grab inflatable mattresses to play sea adventurers, the physical terrain is ruthless. The coast features an incredibly abrupt drop-off into deep water. Combined with massive waves, the undercurrent will pull anyone but an Olympic swimmer out into the open sea—where you would be lucky to finally wash ashore in Libya. Local lifeguards continuously flag this beach as hazardous, a risk that similarly applies to the nearby beach of Agios Pavlos in Rethymno.

3. Nas – Ikaria

Located in northern Ikaria, Nas is arguably the single most dangerous beach in Greece. It is the only beach in the country fitted with a permanent safety rope anchored into the rocks. This rope exists so brave swimmers can cling to it to avoid being violently swept out into the open sea or smashed against the jagged cliffs by aggressive rip currents. Nas remains highly popular among nudists and free campers. Access involves leaving your vehicle on the main Agios Kirykos–Armenistis road, hiking down a steep cliffside path of stone steps to a riverbed, and traversing the final stretch through the water or over the rocks.

4. Chorefto – Pelion

Chorefto beach in Pelion is world-famous and heavily visited, but it requires extreme caution. As one visitor noted on social media: “It is a gorgeous, sprawling beach, but as you approach the shoreline, the sand turns into jagged stones. When the wind picks up, swimming is virtually impossible. The heavy currents and crashing waves literally ‘dig up’ the seabed, causing the shoreline to drop off precipitously right in front of you.” Chorefto is a beach where, the moment a northern gale strikes, you need to run. The sheer force of the waves and currents will make you “dance” (Chorefto literally translating to dancer) to the frantic rhythm of the wind.

5. Myrtos – Kefalonia

 

 

While internationally celebrated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Myrtos is equally famous among marine experts for its deceptive treachery. Tucked between the feet of two mountains, the beach faces the open Ionian Sea, making it a magnet for fierce winds.

The shoreline features an immediate, precipitous drop-off just a few steps into the water. Because of this unique underwater topography, strong winds create massive, violent waves and a punishing undercurrent. Swimmers who get knocked off their feet by the crashing shoreline waves are frequently dragged into deep water, making it incredibly difficult to swim back to the pebbled shore.

6. Platia Ammos – Kefalonia

While Myrtos beach typically dominates international travel sites as one of Europe’s finest, Kefalonia hides another beach that rivals its beauty but demands expert hiking skills. Platia Ammos is tucked deep within a bay past the Kipouria Monastery, surrounded by sheer, imposing cliffs.

While its deep blue waters are pristine, accessing them used to require climbing down (and back up) over 400 stone steps under a relentless sun. However, severe weather in 2014 collapsed a large portion of the staircase, raising the difficulty level to an extreme “Rambo” mission. If the sea turns rough here, you will find yourself scrambling desperately up the rock face like a mountain goat, wishing you had stayed on a safer beach.

7. Kalami – Kythira

The trek from the village of Mylopotamos to the remote beach of Kalami involves navigating slippery, steep, and highly dangerous cliffs. In several spots, reaching the next foothold requires a literal leap into the void over a drop-off. While the final destination is a stunning reward, the journey is a small Odyssey. Anyone without proper hiking gear, physical conditioning, or nerves of steel is highly advised to stay safely beneath the plane trees by the nearby Fonissa (Killer) Waterfall and leave the photos to the professionals.

8. Paradise Beach – Kos

Located on the southern coast of Kos, this beach looks like a calm, shallow haven perfect for families. However, its danger doesn’t come from towering waves or steep cliffs, but rather from a unique volcanic phenomenon occurring beneath the seabed.

Due to the active volcanic network tied to the nearby island of Nisyros, Paradise Beach emits cold volcanic gases from the seafloor, earning it the nickname “Bubble Beach.” While tourists enjoy swimming through the natural bubbles, these underwater thermal currents can cause sudden, extreme temperature drops in the water. Furthermore, the localized release of volcanic gases can occasionally cause dizziness or sudden fatigue for swimmers who linger too long over the vent areas.

9. Anthony Quinn Bay – Rhodes

Named after the famous Hollywood actor who fell in love with the spot while filming The Guns of Navarone, this emerald-water bay is an aesthetic masterpiece. However, its natural geology requires extreme physical caution.

The entire bay—both on the shore and underwater—is a minefield of sharp, jagged rocks and slick, algae-covered reefs. The main hazard here is orthopedic and physical injury; every year, numerous tourists suffer severe cuts, slips, and fractures while attempting to climb over the rocks to enter the deep water. Additionally, the rocky crevices are a prime habitat for sea urchins, meaning a misplaced step can easily cut a vacation short.

10. Kolymbithres – Tinos

Famous for its otherworldly landscape, Kolymbithres features smooth, gray granite rock formations sculpted by centuries of wind and water, creating a series of tiny, sandy enclaves.

Positioned on the northern coast of Tinos—an island famous for its relentless Aegean winds—this beach bears the full brunt of the Meltemi (the fierce summer north winds). When the gales hit, the wind funnels through the granite rock formations with extreme velocity. This creates chaotic, swirling wave patterns and sudden, unpredictable cross-currents within the narrow rocky channels, easily trapping swimmers against the hard granite walls.

11. Kathisma – Lefkada

Kathisma is a sprawling, cosmopolitan paradise on the western coast of Lefkada, famous for its vibrant beach bars and water that looks almost artificially turquoise. However, its beauty masks a lethal combination of open-ocean geography and violent underwater mechanics.
Because Kathisma faces the completely open Ionian Sea with no natural bays or reefs to break the water’s momentum, it bears the full, unbridled force of western winds. When a storm or heavy wind hits, it generates towering, closely packed waves that smash violently into the shore. More importantly, the shifting tide creates a phenomenon known to locals as “sand-shaving.”

The heavy surf literally hollows out the seabed beneath your feet, causing the shoreline to drop off vertically into deep water just a step from the dry sand. This creates an incredibly powerful, vacuum-like undertow. Swimmers who get knocked off their feet by a wave are immediately sucked into deep water, making it nearly impossible to struggle back onto the slick, collapsing shoreline. Lifeguards here routinely change their flags to red, but many tourists fail to realize that even wading knee-deep in Kathisma’s rough surf can prove fatal.

12. Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) – Zakynthos

Navagio is a global bucket-list destination, defined by the stark contrast of a rusted freighter marooned on a strip of white sand, surrounded by brilliant turquoise water and 200-meter-tall vertical cliffs. However, this paradise is so inherently hazardous that it is the only beach on this list that is completely closed to the public by ministerial decree.

Navagio is plagued by two lethal threats: severe seismic instability and unpredictable marine currents. Tucked beneath towering, sheer limestone walls, the beach is highly prone to sudden, massive rockfalls. Following a terrifying 2018 landslide that capsized tourist boats and a 2022 earthquake that brought tons of rock crashing onto the sand, geologists declared the beach a permanent hazard zone. Furthermore, because the bay faces the open sea, sudden, violent swells can trap boats against the cliffs or create chaotic cross-currents. Today, tourists are strictly prohibited from walking on the beach or swimming in the bay; you can only view this beautiful but perilous marvel from a safe distance aboard a boat or from a designated cliffside viewing platform high above.

Ancient Greeks were big believers in aphrodisiacs and ancient love potions and used a variety of fruits, herbs, and other foods in their concoctions. The word “aphrodisiac” itself comes from the ancient Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Those looking to harness the power of ancient Greek love potions don’t need to go on a quest to hunt down obscure ingredients. In fact, six of the most common Greek aphrodisiacs that have been used throughout the centuries can still be found today at your local supermarket.

Natural foods considered aphrodisiacs in Ancient Greece

1. Pomegranates

Pomegranates have long been lauded for their nutritional properties, as they include many nutrients and antioxidants.

Even back in Ancient Greece, the pomegranate fruit was considered nutritious, and it was also believed, in both ancient times and today, that the juice contains aphrodisiac properties.

The link between pomegranates and sexuality may come from the fact that Aphrodite herself is credited with planting the first ever pomegranate tree in Greek mythology.

2. Truffles

Dating as far back as the 1st century AD, this fungus found its way into the limelight as an aphrodisiac.

It is believed that truffles came into existence as a result of the combined action of water, heat, and the power of the god Zeus himself, as Zeus hurled a thunderbolt to Earth which landed close to an oak tree, producing the truffle.

The ancient Greek physician Galen claimed that the truffle, apart from imparting delicious flavor to any dish, can increase sexual prowess.

3. Figs

Figs belong to the category of the most nutritious fruits while at the same time they have at least nine recognized medicinal qualities. Along with grapes, figs were known to be one of the favorite fruit of Ancient Greeks.

Figs are rich in vitamins A, B1, and B2 and minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium among others. They are recognized as being good for our health for their many proven medicinal qualities.

The ancient Greeks linked figs to sexuality, possibly because the shape of the fruit resembles the shape of female genitalia.

4. Leeks

Similarly, leeks were probably considered an aphrodisiac in Ancient Greece because of their phallic shape.

In ancient Greece, leeks were eaten raw and whole or cooked. They provide tons of flavor to any meal.

Nowadays, people still believe that leeks are an aphrodisiac, as they are in the same family as onions and garlic, which have similar properties.

5. Garlic

At some point in time, people stopped believing that garlic was toxic and started consuming it to prevent illness and congestion, and of course, just because it is delicious.

In ancient Greece, people ate garlic nearly everyday. People began to believe that the spiciness of raw garlic made it a natural aphrodisiac.

Try making the Greek dish skordalia, and you’ll be sure to eat a considerable amount of garlic. It is a mixture of garlic and purée of potatoes, walnuts, almonds, or milk-soaked stale bread.

6. Legumes

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribed legumes, such as lentils, as an essential part of the menu for men hoping to maintain their virility.

Hippocrates advised a variety of legumes to be consumed by the bowlful to those struggling with sexual dysfunction.

Lastly, the Greek philosopher Aristotle was a believer in the notion that lentils with the addition of saffron were essential in maintaining a man’s libido active and in top shape.

The Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film) has officially named Greece as its 2027 Country of Honour for the landmark 80th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. This prestigious spotlight celebrates the country’s rapid ascent into a premier global audiovisual hub.

Operating under the banner “Ride the Greek Wave,” the initiative will highlight the convergence of Greek creativity, a booming production sector, and its growing role in international storytelling.

“With the remarkable momentum of its film and audiovisual industry today, Greece embodies the spirit of creativity, openness, and international collaboration that the Marché du Film seeks to celebrate through its Country of Honour initiative,” said Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film.

This major milestone follows a massive influx of high-profile international projects utilizing Greece’s scenic versatility and its highly competitive 40% cash rebate incentive.

Cannes celebrates Greece as a film and TV production hub

Major recent film and television productions that have set up camp across Greece’s islands and mainland include:

Emily in Paris (Netflix): For its highly anticipated new season, the ultra-popular streaming franchise has expanded Emily Cooper’s horizons to Greece. Production crews completely took over Mykonos, filming major scenes featuring Lily Collins and co-star Lucas Bravo at the pristine Agios Sostis Beach, as well as the island’s iconic windmills and the narrow alleys of Little Venice.

The Riders: Hollywood star Brad Pitt spent weeks touring Greece to film this high-stakes psychological drama directed by Oscar-winner Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front). The production spanned diverse settings across the country, from a dramatic artificial storm sequence shot inside a historic studio in Menidi to location shoots on the car-free island of Hydra, the historic railway station of Chalkida, and right in front of Athens Town Hall in Kotzia Square.

The Odyssey (Universal Pictures): Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated, ancient-set cinematic epic based on Homer’s poem, which utilized locations across the Mediterranean, including Greece.

The Return: A gritty, atmospheric retelling of Odysseus’s homecoming starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, filmed extensively amidst the ancient olive groves and rugged cliffs of Corfu.

House of David (Amazon MGM Studios): A sprawling biblical drama series that transformed the landscapes of Attica and the Peloponnese into ancient Israel.

Malice (Prime Video): A psychological thriller series starring David Duchovny and Carice van Houten, which filmed across Athens, Piraeus, and the sun-bleached Cycladic islands of Paros and Antiparos.

Maestro in Blue (Netflix): The critically acclaimed, internationally distributed Greek drama series produced by Christoforos Papakaliatis, which wrapped up its sweeping story against the stunning backdrop of Paxos and Corfu.

Greece’s audiovisual sector

Leonidas Christopoulos, CEO of Greece’s film and media agency EKKOMED, noted that the Cannes distinction is a massive victory for the local industry: “This distinction is both a significant recognition and a unique opportunity to showcase Greece’s vibrant creative ecosystem on the international stage. Today, Greece is a place where cinematic heritage meets contemporary talent, innovation, and international collaboration.”

EKKOMED says that Greece’s audiovisual sector contributes €1.9 billion ($2.18 billion) to the national economy, supports approximately 44,000 jobs, and includes nearly 3,000 companies active across production, post-production, animation, and related creative services.

Authorities in Messenia, Greece are investigating the mysterious disappearance of the historic Battle of Navarino commemorative bell from the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, located in the Niokastro fortress in Pylos.

Weighing 12 kilograms (approx. 26 lbs), the bell holds profound historical and symbolic value. It was gifted to the church by Russian Philhellenes and transported to Greece aboard the Russian warship Azov to mark the 190th anniversary of the Battle of Navarino, a pivotal naval engagement of the Greek War of Independence.

According to state broadcaster ERT, photographic evidence confirms the bell was securely in place as recently as May 29, 2026. However, tourists visiting the castle on the morning of Saturday, June 6, noticed it was missing.

It remains unclear whether the artifact was stolen or removed for unannounced maintenance. Local police and cultural heritage authorities are investigating all possibilities to locate the missing relic.

Bell honored historic ties between Greece and Russia after Battle of Navarino

Originally delivered to Greece on October 19, 2017, the bell was celebrated as a “bridge of memory,” honoring the historic ties between the Greek and Russian peoples. Its sudden disappearance has sparked deep concern within the Pylos community, where it is revered not just as a religious object but as a tangible link to Greece’s journey toward independence.

Fought on October 20, 1827 in Navarino Bay (modern-day Pylos), the Battle of Navarino was a monumental naval clash that effectively secured Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire. It marked the last major sea battle in history fought entirely with sailing ships, pitting a powerful allied fleet of British, French, and Russian warships against the combined forces of the Ottoman Empire and Egypt.

Despite being outnumbered, the Allies possessed vastly superior firepower and tactical positioning, completely decimating the Ottoman fleet in a matter of hours. This decisive intervention by Europe’s great powers turned the tide of the struggling Greek War of Independence, forcing the Ottomans to eventually withdraw and pave the way for the establishment of the modern, independent Greek state.

Long before Aristotle Onassis became the husband of America’s most famous First Lady, he was the center of a bitter, private tug-of-war between two sisters. The billionaire’s overlapping relationships with Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radziwill didn’t just make headlines—they ignited a lifelong sibling rivalry fueled by power, betrayal, and the constant struggle to outshine one another.

Caroline Lee Bouvier was the younger sister of Jacqueline Bouvier, who in 1961 became the first lady of the United States, as Mrs. John Kennedy.

The two sisters — daughters of a Wall Street stockbroker father and a socialite mother — were raised to look beautiful, have impeccable manners and to marry rich, prestigious men.

Jacqueline married John F. Kennedy in 1953, at age 24. Her sister Lee married the Polish nobleman Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł, of the princely House of Radziwill, in 1959.

After the assassination of President Kennedy in November 1963, the widow went on to marry Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis five years later, in 1968, after that becoming known popularly as Jackie O.

Books have been written about the rivalry between the two sisters — with chapters dedicated to an implied relationship between Lee and Onassis.

The Kennedy sisters’ rivalry and Onassis

The two girls adored their father, John Vernou Bouvier III, who was a stockbroker and ladies’ man who resembled Clark Gable. Bouvier always advised his daughters to “be the best.”

Lee and Jackie struggled to be their father’s very best daughter. Lee loved her older sister, but she found it hard to follow Jackie’s many accomplishments in school and in horse riding.

After Jackie married Kennedy and later became First Lady of the United States, she was regarded as one of the most beautiful and stylish women in the entire world.

Her younger sister was equally stylish and beautiful, yet to the world, she was just Jackie’s sister; needless to say, she was obscured by her sister’s shadow.

So she divorced her first husband and became Princess Lee Radziwill.

Princess Radziwill and Aristotle Onassis

When Princess Radziwill started an affair with Aristotle Onassis, the Greek tycoon was still involved with opera diva Maria Callas; Lee’s husband was indifferent and Jackie was still in the White House.

On August 22, 1963, Radziwill and Aristotle Onassis attended the opening of the Athens Hilton in Greece, invited by Nicky Hilton. Their appearance together at the luminous event generated the expected gossip.

Some speculated that Onassis wanted to be near Lee for her connection to the White House. John and his brother Robert Kennedy both disliked Onassis, who had been sued by the U.S. government in 1955 for removing from the U.S. a fleet of ships he had bought and promised to keep in the country.

In order to keep Lee away from Onassis, they asked her to accompany John on a presidential European tour to Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Ireland because Jackie was seven months pregnant at the time.

When John Kennedy made his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in Berlin, he had his sister-in-law, not Jackie, at his side.

Despite that, however, Princess Radziwill returned to Greece and resumed her relationship with Onassis. When in late August of 1963 Jackie gave birth to Patrick, the newborn died 39 hours after being born.

Lee flew to Boston to attend her nephew’s funeral and to comfort her grieving sister. Concerned about Jackie, she urged Onassis to invite her aboard his legendary yacht, Christina.

Despite objections from the Kennedy family, Jackie went on a vacation on the yacht for four weeks, accompanied by her sister. The two sisters were left alone by Onassis for most of the time, resting and exchanging confidences.

When President Kennedy was assassinated in November of that year, Onassis stayed at the White House some days after, at Lee’s request, despite the Kennedy brothers’ distrust of him.

Onassis and the Kennedy sisters

In 1964 the young widow bought an apartment at 1040 Fifth Avenue in New York City and Robert Kennedy persuaded Stanislaw Radziwill to buy his wife a duplex at 969 Fifth Avenue in order to be near Jackie and so that her children could spend more time with their cousins.

Princess Radziwill then became friends with Truman Capote, who admired her style, elegance and femininity. He urged her to become a stage actress, and she embraced this new direction in her life with fervor.

She starred in a couple of plays and had options for film roles, but the reviews were not impressive. Nevertheless, she received great publicity and was on the cover of TIME magazine.

It was speculated at the time that all that was an effort to become more popular than her sister. Yet it was Jackie, again, who continued to gaining more attention as the grieving widow who was carrying the torch of the Kennedy legacy.

At the same time, Jackie Kennedy was relying heavily on her brother-in-law, Robert F. Kennedy, urging him to run for president in the 1968 election.

However, when Robert was assassinated in June 1968 after he and a crowd of his supporters had been celebrating his victory in the California Democratic presidential primary, Jackie fell into depression once more.

Furthermore, she feared for her own life and her children’s, convinced that there were people who hated the Kennedys and wanted to exterminate the family, and saying that she wanted out of the United States.

It was rather sudden when on October 20, 1968, Jacqueline Kennedy married her long-time friend Aristotle Onassis.

Understandably, that came as a blow to her sister. After all, Lee had been the first of the two to have an affair and fall in love with the Greek mogul. She reportedly wept when she heard the news.

Onassis called and asked her sister to be at her wedding. Although she was personally devastated, Lee dutifully served as matron of honor in the wedding.

Sixteen years later, Jackie dealt a final blow to her sister. At age 64 she was diagnosed with cancer and Lee rushed to comfort her ill sibling.

But when Jackie died, Lee found out that her sister had left her out of her will and the substantial holdings and cash her inheritors received. Maybe this was somehow because of Onassis, maybe not.

In any event, although the will included $500,000 trust funds for each of Radziwill’s two children, Tina and Anthony, there was nothing for her — not even one family memento.

When you think of medieval princesses, what comes to mind is probably some beauty locked in a tower, waiting around for a prince to show up. Well, Anna Komnene would have rolled her eyes at that stereotype. This 11th-century Byzantine princess had better things to do than wait for rescue—she was busy writing one of history’s most important chronicles!

Born in 1083 to Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, Anna grew up in the heart of the Byzantine Empire during one of its most turbulent periods. Instead of learning needlework like most girls her age, she was reading Homer and studying philosophy. Her parents, surprisingly ahead of their time, decided their daughter deserved a real education, something that was normally reserved for the male offspring. And when we say education, we don’t mean just the basics—we’re talking about advanced studies in history, mathematics, medicine, and literature.

This education paid off in ways nobody could have predicted.

Anna Komnene was more than Daddy’s little Princess

Anna’s masterpiece, the Alexiad, is her marvellous creation that chronicles her father’s reign with the kind of detail that makes historians rub their eyes from tears of joy. She was there for everything: the First Crusade (imagine those rough Western knights showing up at your doorstep), the Norman invasions, the constant political drama and machinations that kept the empire on the verge of falling apart.

Now, let’s be honest, once someone reads her chronicle, it is more than obvious that Anna worshipped her father. Reading the Alexiad, you’d think Alexios could walk on water. But even accounting for her obvious bias, the work is incredibly valuable to us all today. She provides simply unparalleled insights into Byzantine court life, military strategy, and cultural dynamics.

Her descriptions of the Crusaders are particularly entertaining, too. She thought these Western “barbarians” were crude and uncivilized, but she also recognized their military effectiveness and value when it came to battlefields. It’s like getting a sophisticated gossip column about one of history’s most significant events. That’s what her Chronicles feels like to scholars.

Anna Komnene wrote her way into history

What makes Anna truly remarkable isn’t that she wrote a good book—it’s that she dared to write it at all by herself. You see, medieval women weren’t supposed to be historians. They certainly weren’t supposed to have opinions about military campaigns or imperial policy.

Anna didn’t care about “supposed to.”

The Alexiad is bold, confident, and sometimes brutally honest about her era. She criticizes incompetent officials, praises effective leadership, and offers her analysis of complex political situations. It was serious scholarship demanding to be taken seriously, and it worked. The Alexiad became one of the most important sources for understanding this period of Byzantine history. Scholars today still cite her work, debate her interpretations, and marvel at her accomplishments.

Anna Komnene’s life wasn’t all intellectual triumph, though. After her father died, she found herself increasingly sidelined by those in court. She had hoped to see her husband become emperor, but politics didn’t work out in her favor. Writing the Alexiad partly became a way to preserve her family’s legacy and partly a way to assert her own importance in a world that preferred women to remain silent rather than take on the role of a protagonist in the Empire’s political affairs.

It is easy to understand her frustration coming through the text sometimes. Here was this brilliant, educated woman who understood imperial politics better than most of the men making decisions, and she was expected to just… fade into the background after her father passed away.

So, instead of remaining silent, she picked up her pen and made sure her voice would be heard for centuries.

Why Anna Komnene’s attitude is still relevant

Anna Komnene proved something that seems obvious now but was revolutionary at the time: women could be serious scholars, thoughtful historians, and compelling writers. She opened a door that had been firmly shut and wedged it open for everyone who came after. Every time a woman publishes a memoir, writes a historical analysis, or offers her perspective on current events, she follows the path that Anna Komnene created. Not that Anna gets credit for it—most people have never heard of her. But the precedent she set matters.

The Alexiad remains in print today, nearly 1,000 years later. Students still read it in history classes. Scholars still argue about her interpretations. That’s not bad for someone who was supposed to stay in her (luxurious) room and let the men handle the important issues.

She had something to say, and she said it. In a world that preferred women to stay silent, that was pretty revolutionary.

Delphi offered more than prophecy in the times of the Ancient Greeks, as inscribed on the temple were a series of brief sayings with deep philosophical meaning known as the Delphic Maxims.

These concise statements distilled profound ideas about ethics, self-control, and human nature. Though short in form, they helped shape Greek thought for centuries and left a lasting influence on philosophers such as Socrates and Plato.

Among these maxims, two became especially well known: “Know Thyself” (Γνῶθι Σεαυτόν) and “Nothing in Excess” (Μηδὲν Ἄγαν). The Ancient Greeks did not treat these as simple moral slogans but rather as guiding principles for inner harmony and a philosophical pursuit of knowledge.

Delphi and the center of the Greek world

Few sacred places in the Ancient Greek world carried the same spiritual authority and symbolic weight as Delphi. Greeks from across the region traveled to the sanctuary of Apollo to consult the oracle, offer sacrifices, and seek divine guidance. Kings, generals, philosophers, and ordinary citizens all stood before the same sacred center, hoping to receive wisdom from the god.

The sanctuary was located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in central Greece, and the Ancient Greeks regarded it as the spiritual center of the world. According to myth, Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the earth, and they met above Delphi. The famous omphalos, or sacred stone, marked this divine center. The sanctuary belonged to Apollo, the god of light, harmony, music, prophecy, and rational order. Pilgrims arrived from across the Mediterranean to hear the oracle delivered through the Pythia, Apollo’s priestess.

Yet Delphi also functioned as a philosophical and ethical center. Visitors encountered sacred inscriptions carved directly into the temple itself. Tradition often attributed the Delphic Maxims to the Seven Sages of Greece, legendary figures associated with practical wisdom and political insight. Various sources preserve differing lists, though names such as Solon, Thales, Bias, Pittacus, and Chilon frequently appear among them. According to tradition, Chilon of Sparta is credited with “Know Thyself,” while Solon or Cleobulus is often associated with “Nothing in Excess.” Regardless of authorship, the Greeks regarded the maxims as expressions of divine wisdom connected to Apollo himself.

“Know Thyself” and the common interpretation of the Delphic maxim

The maxim “Know Thyself” became one of the most influential phrases in Western philosophy. Most people interpret it as a call to humility. In this reading, the maxim reminds human beings of their limitations and the notion that mortals should not imagine themselves equal to gods. Pride, arrogance, and excessive ambition were seen as paths toward destruction.

This interpretation certainly existed in Ancient Greece. Greek tragedy repeatedly warned against hubris, the dangerous overestimation of human power. Delphi therefore urged visitors to recognize their finite condition. The maxim also encouraged a more practical form of self-awareness. A wise person understands both strengths and weaknesses, and this kind of understanding helps prevent poor decisions and reckless behavior. However, Socrates and Plato had a far more profound interpretation.

Socrates and the ontological meaning of “Know Thyself”

Plato’s dialogue First Alcibiades presents one of the most profound interpretations of the Delphic maxim. In the dialogue, Socrates questions the ambitious young Alcibiades, who is eager for political power and glory in Athens. Socrates asks Alcibiades a deceptively simple question: what exactly is the “self” that one must know?

Through careful reasoning, Socrates gradually argues that a human being cannot be reduced to the physical body alone. The body functions more like an instrument used by something deeper. Just as a musician plays a lyre, the soul uses the body. The true self, therefore, must be the soul rather than the body.

This interpretation transforms this Delphic maxim into an ontological and spiritual imperative. “Know Thyself” no longer refers only to recognizing personal limits. Instead, it becomes a call to discover one’s true essence and, in some readings, one’s divine orientation. For Socrates, self-knowledge forms the foundation of wisdom and political virtue. A person who does not understand the soul cannot govern properly because ignorance already governs from within.

In this sense, the Delphic maxim directs human beings toward inner awakening. Socrates takes the argument even further in First Alcibiades. He suggests that the soul knows itself by contemplating what is most like the divine. Wisdom, reason, and truth become the means through which the soul aligns with a higher reality. This idea deeply influenced later Platonic philosophy and Neoplatonism in which thinkers increasingly read the Delphic maxim as a spiritual path toward union with the divine intellect.

Within this framework, self-knowledge becomes sacred knowledge. To know oneself is to understand the soul’s origin, structure, and ultimate destiny. The Delphic inscription thus becomes more than an ethical reminder—it stands as a gateway into metaphysics.

The Delphic maxim “Nothing in Excess” and the harmony of the soul

Another great Delphic maxim is “Nothing in Excess,” which carried far deeper meaning than simple moderation. At a practical level, the saying encouraged balance and restraint. Ancient Greeks admired sophrosyne, or self-control. A wise person avoids extremes in pleasure, anger, ambition, and behavior.

Plato later developed this idea philosophically through his theory of the soul. In works such as Republic, Plato describes the soul as composed of distinct parts. Reason must govern spirit and desire in a balanced and harmonious way. When one part dominates excessively, disorder and inner suffering follow.

From this perspective, “Nothing in Excess” reflects a geometrical and proportional vision of the soul. Justice and wisdom arise through equilibrium. Greek philosophy often linked beauty itself to proportion and harmony. The Delphic maxim, therefore, expresses not only a moral principle but also a broader cosmic order.

The speech of Aspasia

Plato places a striking interpretation of “Nothing in Excess” into the mouth of Aspasia in Menexenus. This passage expands the maxim into a broader philosophy of inner independence and self-mastery. Aspasia declares:

“The saying ‘Nothing in Excess,’ spoken since ancient times, appears entirely correct. Indeed, it is the truest principle. The person who depends only on themselves and their own capacities for happiness, and who does not suspend their life on the fortunes of others, is best prepared for life. This individual is moderate, heroic, and wise. Whether they gain wealth and children or lose them, they remain faithful to this maxim above all. They will neither rejoice nor grieve beyond measure because they rely primarily on themselves and their inner strength.”

This interpretation reveals the ethical depth of the Delphic maxim. Moderation here is not merely quantitative but qualitative, shaping one’s entire way of living. It becomes a question of inner freedom.

A balanced person does not collapse under misfortune nor become intoxicated by success. Inner stability produces courage, wisdom, and resilience. Plato therefore connects moderation directly to philosophical strength.

One of the most remarkable inventions of Ancient Athenian democracy was a device used to randomly select citizens for public duties such as jury service and public office.

The kleroterion consisted of a stele with horizontal rows of slots on its front and a vertical metal tube attached to the side. Prospective jurors inserted small, flat bronze tokens known as pinakia into these slots, each engraved with their name, their father’s name, and their deme (municipality). Black and white metal spheres were then placed into a funnel and released into the tube in a randomized sequence.

Candidates whose pinakia aligned with a white sphere were selected as jurors, while those aligned with a black sphere were not. Multiple kleroteria (plural) were installed in front of each court to handle the selection process.

Developed in Classical Athens during the 5th century BC, the kleroterion embodied a radical principle for its time: that ordinary citizens, rather than elites or hereditary rulers, should take part in governing the state through equitable civic participation. Within the broader framework of Ancient Athenian democracy, it represented a systematic effort to formalize political equality.

Although the process may appear simple by modern standards, it was highly innovative in the ancient world. Instead of elections shaped by wealth, family influence, or popularity, the Athenians relied heavily on sortition, or selection by lottery. The kleroterion mechanized this system and significantly reduced opportunities for corruption. Eligible citizens would arrive at the court and place their pinakia into the appropriate slots of the kleroterion, with each column representing a tribe and reflecting the political organization of Athens established after the reforms of Cleisthenes around 508 BC.

Archaeological discoveries, particularly from the Athenian Agora, have confirmed ancient written accounts and revealed the sophistication of the system. The kleroterion ultimately illustrates how deeply equality, civic participation, and safeguards against corruption were valued within Athenian democracy.

The foundations of Athenian democracy and the kleroterion

The foundations of Ancient Greek democracy in Athens were established through the reforms of Cleisthenes in 508–507 BC and later expanded during the 5th century BC under leaders such as Pericles. During this period, Athens actively sought to prevent the concentration of political power in the hands of aristocratic elites. One of the key mechanisms used to achieve this goal was random selection. As Aristotle explains in Politics (Book IV, 1294b), the distinction between democracy and oligarchy was clear and fundamental: “It is accepted as democratic when public offices are allocated by lot; and as oligarchic when they are filled by election.”

This statement highlights the ideological importance of the kleroterion within Athenian democracy. Elections tended to favor wealthy and influential citizens who already possessed reputation, education, and good social networks. Random allotment, by contrast, gave ordinary citizens an equal opportunity to participate in governance. The Athenians believed that political equality, or isonomia, depended on broad participation from the citizen body rather than dominance by a small elite.

The kleroterion was particularly significant in the selection of jurors for the dikasteria, the large popular courts of Athens. Each day, thousands of jurors were chosen to hear legal and political cases. Aristotle also describes this procedure in The Constitution of the Athenians (63): “Each juror, after presenting his ticket, receives a staff and enters the court to which the lot assigns him.”

Random selection in the courts was designed to make bribery and manipulation far more difficult. Because no one could predict who would serve on a given jury, corrupt politicians and wealthy litigants found it harder to influence outcomes in advance. In this way, the kleroterion functioned as a safeguard against corruption and tyranny in Ancient Athenian democracy. In a society deeply wary of concentrated power, randomness itself became an essential democratic instrument.

The randomization process in Ancient Athenian democracy

The randomization process operated in several stages. Citizens first inserted their tokens into the designated slots of the kleroterion. Colored balls were then released from the attached tube in a randomized sequence. A white ball typically indicated that a corresponding row had been selected, while a black ball signaled rejection. Citizens whose tokens aligned with the selected rows would then serve on juries or councils.

This system helped ensure a fair distribution of civic responsibility across different tribes and social groups. Over the course of their lives, thousands of Athenians could participate directly in governing roles. Thus, political participation was understood not merely as a privilege but as a civic duty requiring active engagement.

Regular rotation of officeholders also helped limit the emergence of entrenched political elites. Ancient historians often emphasized the active role of ordinary citizens in Athenian political life. Thucydides, in his account of Pericles’ Funeral Oration in History of the Peloponnesian War (II.37), captures this democratic ethos: “Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people.”

Through the kleroterion, this ideal of collective governance was translated into practical reality. Ordinary citizens could be selected to serve on juries or councils at any time. A farmer, craftsman, or merchant might suddenly find himself serving alongside fellow citizens, reinforcing civic identity and strengthening a shared sense of responsibility for the polis.

Modern classicists on the significance of the kleroterion in Ancient Athenian democracy

Modern historians have long recognized the revolutionary nature of the kleroterion system. The classical scholar M. H. Hansen writes in The Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes: “The Athenians regarded sortition as the most democratic method of selecting officials because it gave every citizen an equal chance of holding office.”

Hansen’s observation underscores how differently the Athenians understood democracy compared to most modern states. Today, democracy is commonly associated with representative elections, but in Athens, elections were often viewed as less democratic precisely because they enabled wealth, status, and rhetorical skill to dominate political life. In contrast, the kleroterion directly challenged social hierarchy by affirming that ordinary citizens were fully capable of public service.

Hansen also emphasizes that the system reflected confidence in collective civic wisdom rather than reliance on specialized expertise. Offices assigned by lot were typically short in duration, and officials were subject to scrutiny both before and after their terms of service. This structure helped reduce the risks associated with inexperience while maintaining broad participation. In practice, Athenian governance depended less on professional politicians and more on the continual rotation of citizens through public duties.

Another modern scholar, Paul Cartledge, highlights the symbolic dimension of the kleroterion in Democracy: A Life, writing: “The allotment machine was democracy made stone.” Cartledge’s phrase captures the broader cultural significance of the device. The kleroterion functioned not only as an administrative tool but also as a physical embodiment of democratic equality. Each citizen’s bronze token occupied an identical slot, with no distinction between aristocrat and laborer once the allotment process began. In this sense, the machine itself stood as a tangible symbol of political fairness and civic equality.

Ordinary citizens in public office

The kleroterion also reflected broader Greek ideas about fate, equality, and civic order. Although the use of chance in political selection may seem unusual to modern observers, the Athenians believed that sortition helped prevent factionalism and personal ambition from undermining the state. Because officeholders could not easily manipulate or predict their selection, the process reduced political competition and eased social tensions.

As historian Josiah Ober explains in his book Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens, “Lottery selection was intended to institutionalize political equality and to minimize elite domination.” Ober argues that Athenian democracy succeeded in part because it actively integrated ordinary citizens into the institutions of the state. The kleroterion was central to this integration. By opening public roles to a broad cross-section of the citizen body, it encouraged loyalty to the polis and helped reduce the alienation often associated with political exclusion.

At the same time, the system had clear limitations. Citizenship was restricted to free adult males born to Athenian parents, while women, enslaved people, and foreigners were excluded from participation. As a result, the democracy supported by the kleroterion was limited according to modern standards. Even so, within the citizen body itself, it pursued political equality to a remarkable degree. The idea that ordinary individuals could collectively govern was profoundly innovative in the ancient world.

The decline of Athenian democracy in the 4th century BC and the subsequent rise of Macedonian power led to the reduced use of institutions such as the kleroterion. Nevertheless, its intellectual legacy endured. Political philosophers and modern democratic theorists continue to debate the value of sortition, and some contemporary scholars have even proposed reintroducing forms of random selection to modern governments as a way to counter corruption, polarization, and elite dominance. In several modern democracies, citizens’ assemblies selected by lot reflect renewed interest in these ancient practices.

Archaeological evidence has further enriched modern understanding of the kleroterion. Excavated examples, now displayed in museums, reveal the advanced administrative organization of Athens. These carefully constructed stone devices demonstrate the seriousness with which democratic participation was approached. Far from being primitive or chaotic, Athenian democracy relied on highly structured procedures to ensure fairness, accountability, and broad civic involvement.

A trio of major Israeli defense contractors recently delivered their final proposal dossiers for Greece’s €3 billion ($3.5 billion) ‘Achilles Shield’ program, a sophisticated, multi-layered air, anti-ballistic, and counter-drone defense network powered by cutting-edge Israeli technology.

The proposals by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), its subsidiary ELTA Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, satisfy all criteria mandated by Greece’s General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDAEE), according to a report by newmoney.gr.

The nationwide shield stands out as one of the most critical crown jewels within Greece’s broader Long-Term Defense Procurement Program (2025–2036), which outlines an overall budget of €30 billion.

Industrial co-production

The final procurement contracts are now navigating the signature pipeline through the Ministry of National Defence (YETHA) and the General Staffs. Officials are pushing to have the program formally added to the agenda of the upcoming KYSEA session, tentatively scheduled for June 18, 2026, or the subsequent meeting in early July.

The report notes that a pivotal victory for Greek industry was securing a domestic industrial participation rate locked at a minimum of 25%, spanning both localized manufacturing and technology transfers.

The Israeli consortium has already engaged in extensive talks with domestic contractors, signing several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and strategic partnerships. Industrial analysts estimate that the final domestic footprint could realistically reach 30%, backed by fully drafted proposals to establish dedicated production lines on Greek soil.

Key examples and partners already tapped for the program include:

• IAI & Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAB): This existing partnership has already yielded results, notably the successful integration of Greece’s proprietary “Centaur” counter-drone system into the Barak weapon architecture.
• Domestic Consortium Partners: Major Greek defense, industrial, and infrastructure players have secured preliminary roles, including Metlen, Miltech, Scytalys, Akmon, Salamis Shipyards, and GEK TERNA, with the roster expected to expand over the program’s three-year rollout.
• Tactical Logistics: The specialized utility vehicles tasked with transporting the mobile defense systems will be sourced from IVECO, represented in Greece by the Syngelidis Group in partnership with Metlen.

The tech blueprint: Inside Greece’s ‘Achilles Shield’

The architecture of the shield relies on a unified, network-centric ecosystem. It is designed to seamlessly interface with Greece’s upcoming Belharra (FDI) frigates, upgraded F-16 Viper fighters, incoming F-35 stealth jets, and existing Patriot missile batteries.

The primary systems slated for integration comprise:

• IAI Barak MX: Operating as the backbone of the entire network. Utilizing three missile variants with ranges spanning 35 to 150 kilometers, it will completely phase out legacy, Cold War-era Hawk systems.
• Rafael David’s Sling: Tasked with mid-to-upper-tier interception of advanced ballistic missiles and long-range threats. This system will functionally replace the Soviet-origin S-300 systems currently in the Hellenic inventory.
• Rafael SPYDER: Providing short-to-medium range coverage (15, 20, and 40 kilometers). These mobile batteries will replace aging eastern-bloc legacy systems like the OSA-AK and TOR-M1.
• ELTA EL/M-2084 MMR Radars: These mobile, Multi-Mission Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars will overhaul the Hellenic Air Force’s Air Control System. The state-of-the-art arrays can simultaneously track up to 1,200 airborne targets at ranges up to 475 km, or up to 200 weapon ballistic trajectories within a 100 km radius.
• Greek-Built C4I Hub: The vital Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) architecture will be co-developed and assembled in Greece alongside domestic software and engineering firms.