The massacre at Distomo remains to this day one of the most heinous crimes the Nazis committed against innocent women and children just months before the German occupying forces pulled out of Greece.

On June 10, 1944, Fritz Laufenbach, captain of the 2nd company of the 1st battalion of the 7th SS armored regiment, was ordered to move his troops from Livadia to Distomo, Steiri and Kyriaki to locate guerrillas on the western side of Helicon Mountain.

This move by the German soldiers was in retaliation for several troops whom the Greek Resistance had killed. As bait, the Nazis had used two Greek civilian trucks filled with SS men disguised as villagers. The two trucks were moving ahead of the main phalanx.

At the same time, the 10th and 11th Amphissa companies of the 3rd Battalion were directed to Distomo to meet the 2nd company. The German troops met outside Distomo without finding any resistance fighters, save for eighteen children hiding near the village. Six of the children who tried to escape were executed.

The Germans entered Distomo, and after intimidating the villagers, they discovered that there were Greek guerrillas at Steiri. The 2nd company headed toward the village, and at Litharaki near Steiri, they were ambushed by fighters from the ELAS resistance group.

The battle at Steiri was so bloody that the Germans were forced to retreat. Approximately forty of them were killed.

Cold-blooded massacre at Distomo

After the casualties they had suffered at Steiri, the Nazis entered Distomo with a clear intention of retaliation for their losses. The cold-blooded massacre of everyone they found in the village then began.

They went from door to door, killing anyone in sight. Their fury was such that they were careless about whether they killed women or children. The slaughter lasted into the night until the Nazi troops had to return to Livadia. However, they did not leave before burning the entire village to the ground.

According to survivors describing the atrocities, SS soldiers bayoneted babies in their cribs, stabbed pregnant women, and beheaded the village priest.

However, the Germans did not stop at Distomo. The executions continued all the way back to their base, as they killed any civilian they encountered on the way. The death count in Distomo amounted to 228 of which 117 were women and 111 men while 53 were children under the age of sixteen.

According to the testimony of International Red Cross Swiss envoy George Wehrly, who arrived in Distomo a few days later, about six hundred people were killed by the Nazis in the wider region.

Haunting pictures from Distomo

A few months after the Distomo massacre, LIFE magazine published a haunting report on the Nazi atrocity. Under the headline “What the Germans did to Greece,” the US magazine interviewed survivors and published photos of the town in ruins.

Among the survivors was Maria Padiska, who came to be known as the “Woman of Distomo.” She passed away in March 2009 at the age of 84.

Her photo adorns the Museum of the Victims of Nazism, located at the entrance of Distomo. The museum was founded in 2005 at the site of the old primary school. It was inaugurated by then President of the Hellenic Republic Carolos Papoulias.

The total area of the museum, which is roughly about 200 square meters, is divided into two levels. On the first floor, one can see photos of all the victims, and there is also a special area with photos of the ossuary, which is located intact at the Mausoleum on Kanales Hill of Distomo.

The museum also holds historical issues of newspapers and magazines of the time with related articles, photographs, and documents.

The story of the ring known as the “Ring of King Minos” sounds like a tale made in Hollywood. It is a mix of ancient Greek history, mythology, and a plot involving a poor boy, a cunning priest, an English archaeologist, and hidden treasure.

The story begins in 1928, when a boy, Michalis Papadakis (1918-1974), accidentally found a ring at the archaeological site of Knossos. The place of discovery alone meant that the ring certainly had a very long history attached to it probably even going back to the Minoan civilization.

Indeed, several decades later, the shiny, gold, seal ring proved to be 3,500 years old (1,500 to 1,400 BC), as archaeologists assured him, and his was the most significant discovery of Minoan Civilization.

The boy’s father, a destitute farmer named Emmanouil, for some unknown reason, hid the ring from his wife and, for another unknown reason, two years later, he handed it over to the village priest, Father Nikolaos Polakis. Yet, before giving it away, he carved a line on the ring with his knife in order to mark its originality.

Father Polakis initially presented it to English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans with the intention of selling it. However, there was no deal struck between the two since the priest demanded an astronomical amount of money.

In 1933 or 1934, Father Polakis decided to take the ring to the Heraklion Museum. At the time, the distinguished archaeologists, Nikolaos Platon and Spyridon Marinatos, were on the staff of the institution. Platon decided that the ring was genuine while Marinatos believed the ring was a fake.

Since the two archaeologists could not come to an agreement, they decided it was best to return the ring to the priest.

However, Platon kept a copy of the ring by casting it in plasticine. The cast was later located in Platon’s archive. Several years later, he manifested a new interest in the ring and returned to the priest to ask for it. Father Polakis told him that he had given it to his wife for safekeeping, but she had lost it.

Minos ring depicts three themes

Platon wrote a treatise on the ring saying that it depicts three themes: the Minoans’ rule of the seas (“thalassocracy”), tree worship (dendrolatry), and a goddess descending from heaven to earth and getting into a row boat.

There are other, more recent interpretations of the depictions of the ring including the worship of goddesses, such as Mother Dimitra, and offerings to the Great Mother Rhea and the Great Mother Artemis.

For some time, the ring remained lost. The only information about the ring came from the copies that had been made and a number of archaeological reports which were associated with those copies.

Many years later, when Father Polakis was in his final days, he felt great regret about the “disappearance” of the precious ring. He called Evangelia Papadakis, the wife of the farmer Emmanouil, and apologized for lying to her family. He admitted that he had actually sold the ring to Evans, the English archaeologist, for 100,000 drachmas back in 1938.
However, that was one last lie by the cunning priest. What he had actually sold to Evans was a fine replica of the ring.

Evans had returned to England with the belief that he had bought the actual ring, along with a copy, and donated both, along with other precious artifacts, to the Ashmolean Museum. Today, two replicas of the legendary ring continue to be exhibited at the Ashmolean.

The story of the ring was forgotten for decades, but in the early 2000s, Giorgos Kazantzis, a retired police officer, inherited the house of the priest who was the last person in Greece who had had possession of the priceless artifact.

During renovation work, Kazantzis found a jar hidden inside the wall next to the fireplace. Inside the jar was a ring, which indeed proved to be the original Ring of King Minos. It even had the scratch made by Papadakis over seventy years ago.

Kazantzis delivered the precious artifact to the state, and in 2002, the Central Archaeological Council and a panel of expert archaeologists confirmed the authenticity of the ring. The actual monetary value of the ring was estimated to be €400,000 although its cultural value is incalculable.

Yet, for finding the ring and promptly delivering it to the appropriate authorities, Kazantzis was given a measly finder’s fee of €440.

Today, the priceless, gold Minoan ring is exhibited in all its splendor at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

Recent research shows that ancient Greeks used a primitive type of lifting machine to move heavy stones before they began using cranes 2,500 years ago.

It is commonly believed that the foremost discovery of the ancient Greeks in building technology is the crane. Yet, enormous stone structures were known to have been built in Greece at least 150 years before the use of cranes themselves.

Cranes first appeared in the late sixth century BC, according to research published in the Annual of the British School at Athens, but their mechanical forerunners were used in buildings such as the Temples of Isthmia and Corinth at least 150 years before that, around the middle of the seventh century BC.

The researchers say that ancient Greeks were likely to have first used ramps made of earth or mudbrick to lift the heavy stone blocks used in major construction. The lifting devices are thought to have been similar to the ones used by ancient Egyptians and Assyrians centuries earlier.

The precursor of the crane lifting machine

The paper, written by Alessandro Pierattini, an assistant professor of architecture at the University of Notre Dame, argues that a kind of lifting machine used by the ancient Greeks was the next precursor to the crane, one which was capable of lifting ashlar blocks weighing over 200 to 400 kilograms (440 to 880 pounds).

The lifting machine was originally invented by the Corinthians, who used it to build ships and for lowering heavy sarcophagi into narrow, deep burial pits. It was not a crane, since it did not use winches or hoists. Instead, the builders redirected the force of the weight by using a rope passed over a frame.

“This kind of masonry represents a crucial step in the development of Greek monumental stone architecture, marking a departure both from mudbrick construction, which had been the norm for most Greek buildings, and from previous experiments with stone construction,” Pierattini writes.

The first documented use of the lever in Greek temples

Evidence of the device is considered to be grooves etched onto the bottom of stones used to construct the Corinth and Isthmia temples. These grooves are familiar to historians, but until now, it had been unknown if the grooves had occurred as a result of lifting the blocks during the building process or from moving them around in quarries.

For the study, Pierattini studied stone blocks used in early Greek temples while he also engaged in some hands-on experimental archaeology. He studied the blocks from the mid-seventh-century temples at Corinth and Isthmia and their peculiar markings—two parallel rope-grooves cut into their undersides which turned up on one end.

Using actual stones and ropes, Pierattini found that the grooves could have served a dual function, allowing builders to both lift the blocks and position them tightly against their neighbors along the walls of buildings.

“With heavy stone blocks and high friction between stone surfaces, this was a highly problematic step of construction that in later times would require sets of purpose-made holes for using metal levers,” said Pierattini.

“Μy paper demonstrates that the builders of the early temples at Corinth and Isthmia were already using levers for the final setting of the blocks. This represents the first documented use of the lever in Greek architecture,” the professor explained to Gizmodo.

Ancient Greek scientist Erasistratus (300-250 B.C.) is credited with being among the first human lie detectors. He devised a specific technique to read a person’s physical response so as to spot when an individual was lying.

While in Alexandria, Egypt, he is said to have proven Prince Antiochus was desperately in love with his father’s new wife, Stratonice. He noted how his pulse increased significantly whenever the queen’s name was mentioned, despite his insistence that he did not have the hots for his stepmother.

Love-struck, he fell ill with passion and chose to pine away in silence. The physicians were unable to discover the cause and nature of his disease.

Erasistratus himself was at a loss at first, until, finding nothing amiss about his body, he began to suspect that it must be the man’s mind that was diseased and that he might perhaps be in love.

Erasistratus confirmed his conjecture when he observed that the skin of Antiochus grew hotter, his color deeper, and his pulse quicker whenever Stratonice came near him, while none of these symptoms occurred on any other occasion.

The Greek physician eventually told the father, King Seleucus, that his son’s disease was incurable, for he was in love with the monarch’s wife and that he chose to die rather than to disclose his secret.

According to the anecdote, Seleucus not only gave up Stratonice, but also resigned to his son several provinces of his empire.

Erasistratus founded school of anatomy in Alexandria

Erasistratus, along with fellow physician Herophilus, founded a school of anatomy in Alexandria where they carried out anatomical research.

He is credited for his description of the valves of the heart. He also concluded that the heart was not the center of sensations. Instead, he said, it functioned as a pump. He was among the first to distinguish between veins and arteries, believing that arteries were full of air and carried the “animal spirit” (pneuma).

Together with Herophilus, he is credited by historians as the potential founder of neuroscience due to his acknowledgment of nerves and their roles in motor control through the brain and skeletal muscles.

Furthermore, Erasistratus is seen as one of the first physicians/scientists to conduct recorded dissections and potential vivisections alongside Herophilus.

The two physicians were said by several Roman authors, notably, Augustine, Celsus, and Tertullian, to have performed controversial vivisections on criminals to study the anatomy and possible physiology of human organs while they were in Alexandria.

Related: Ancient Library of Alexandria One of Greatest Treasures of Mankind

The village of Kandanos on Crete was burned to the ground, and Nazi troops massacred all 180 residents on June 3, 1941 during the years of the German occupation.

It was one of the worst atrocities committed by the occupiers and has haunted Crete and Greece for decades.

Battle of Crete

The Battle of Crete began on May 20, 1941, with Germany employing 750 glider-borne troops, 10,000 paratroopers, 5,000 airlifted mountain soldiers, and 7,000 seaborne troops. It was the first occasion when German parachutists were used en masse and the first mainly airborne invasion in military history.

It was also the first time German soldiers had encountered mass resistance from a civilian population, and they suffered unexpectedly large numbers of casualties.

The outnumbered Greek soldiers, along with the Allied forces based on Crete, fought bravely but were vastly outnumbered. Cretan civilians joined the battle with whatever weapons were at hand—mostly kitchen knives, but rakes, clubs, and even walking sticks were used in desperate hand-to-hand combat for their homeland.

German parachutists were often knifed or clubbed to death as they landed on fields of Crete. In one recorded incident, an elderly Cretan man clubbed a paratrooper to death with his walking cane before the German could even disentangle himself from his parachute.

In another incident, a local priest and his son broke into a village museum, took two rifles from the Balkan War era, and sniped at German paratroops as they landed. The Cretans also began to use small arms from captured German soldiers as the battle continued.

However, this courage came at a terrible cost, as the Germans retaliated as soon as they managed to gain control of Crete.

The temporary German commander of the island, Kurt Student, ordered a series of brutal reprisals against the local population immediately after the surrender of Crete on May 31, 1941.

Every last resident of Kandanos, amounting to a total of 180 men, women, and children, were brutally massacred, and their ancient village was burned to the ground.

Nazis order for the destruction of Kandanos

Below is the order of the German commander:

“It is certain that the civilian population including women and boys have taken part in the fighting, committed sabotage, mutilated and killed wounded soldiers. It is therefore high time to combat all cases of this kind, to undertake reprisals and punitive expeditions which must be carried through with exemplary terror. The harshest measures must indeed be taken and I order the following: shooting for all cases of proven cruelty, and I wish this to be done by the same units who have suffered such atrocities. The following reprisals will be taken:
1. Shooting
2. Fines
3. Total destruction of villages by burning
4. Extermination of the male population of the territory in question
My authority will be necessary for measures under 3 and 4. All these measures must, however, be taken rapidly and omitting all formalities. In view of the circumstances the troops have a right to this and there is no need for military tribunals to judge beasts and assassins.”

After the surrender of Germany, General Kurt Student was captured by the British. In May 1947, he came before a military tribunal to answer to charges of mistreatment and murder of prisoners of war by his forces on Crete.

Greece’s demand to have Student extradited was declined. Student was found guilty of three out of eight charges and sentenced to five years in prison. However, he was given a medical discharge and was released in 1948. Student was never tried for crimes against civilians.

Today, Kandanos has been rebuilt and is the seat of the eponymous municipality. Reproductions of the somber Wehrmacht signposts commemorating the village’s destruction are displayed on a local war memorial.

Related: Greek Scientists Identify Nazi Victims Executed 83 Years Ago in Crete

Baby names drawn from Greek history and mythology are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. The rich pantheon of gods and goddesses from Greek and Roman myths provides a wealth of inspiration for unique and meaningful names. Whether it’s Athena, Zeus, or another timeless figure, you may discover the perfect name for your extraordinary new arrival.

The Babycenter blog, an American parenting website says that the Ancient Greek legacy is not just confined to science, art, and philosophy. “Their influence can still be felt today, and that even extends to baby names! Many modern names, such as Sophia and Alexander, have their origins in ancient Greece.”

Whether you love Greek mythology or want to pay tribute to values that originated in ancient Greece, Hellenic baby names are sure to appeal, it says.

You can take Greek names in many different directions, depending on your naming style. Though ancient, Greek names such as Luca, Zoe, Atlas, and Orion feel fresh and modern. Some lend themselves easily to gender-neutral use: Nico and Kyrie, for example.

Or, go for a regal vibe with names of Greek gods and goddesses, like Athena and Apollo. Greek names like Agatha, Daphne, and Demetrius are sophisticated – and uncommon enough that your child won’t be one of many on the playground, the Babycenter blog adds.

Greek mythology baby names for girls

Among the girls’ names are:

Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and protectress of the wilderness—the Greek equivalent to the Roman goddess Diana.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, the arts (spinning and weaving specifically), and warfare. She’s best known for her spectacular birth, which, legend tells, involved her leaping out of Zeus’s head, fully armed.

Circe, daughter of Helios, god of the sun. She specialized in potions, spells, and magical herbs which she often used to turn her enemies into animals.

Gaia is a name that means “earth” in ancient Greek. She is the goddess of the planet Earth, thought to personify earth itself, and she’s considered to be the ancestral mother of all life.

Hera, the ancient goddess, is considered to be the queen of the gods. Married to Zeus, she was considered the god of and ruler over marriage, family, women, and childbirth.

Persephone is the Greek goddess of spring’s bounty. She is the wife of the god Hades, and thus queen of the underworld for the winter months. Each time Persephone returns to Earth, she brings spring with her flowering meadows and the growth of crops.

Greek mythology baby names for boys

Ajax was a formidable warrior in the Trojan War, named in his time, it’s said, after an eagle sent from Zeus as a sign of Ajax’s impending birth. This hero appears in Homer’s epic novel, The Iliad, as well as in Shakespeare’s play Troilus and Cressida.

Apollo is the name of a Roman and Greek god of sun, light, music, and poetry, as well as medicine and healing. The most widely-known representation of Apollo is most probably a statue of the god, covered only by a laurel leaf and carved from stone.

Atlas was a primordial Titan (pre-Olympian) god of astronomy who was forced by the god Zeus to eternally hold the sky on his shoulders. The world maps we all used before Google came along are called Atlas maps in honor of this very god.

Leander means “lion man” in Greek. While not a god, Leander features prominently in a mythical love story that ends tragically although Leander and his true love, Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, end up together into eternity.

Zeus is the most renowned as the highest-ranking of the Greek mythological gods. Zeus ruled the sky from his perch on Mount Olympus and controlled the weather, wielding thunderbolts as his weapon of choice. This powerful and literally lofty name is made all the more appealing by its one syllable with decisive zip.

Recently, Arnold Schwarzenegger conquered social media in the runup to the Super Bowl with an Instagram post he released of himself portraying the Greek god of thunder.

In the post, Schwarzenegger has golden hair and a golden beard and sports burnished golden armor. The skies behind him are angry with dark blue clouds and lightning striking the earth.

For more recommendations inspired by ancient Greece watch the following video: