December 18.2013

   From the founder of HCA  (Hellenic Culture Advocacy)

   Dear readers and supporters.

 """As we all know the winter Olympics will be held
     in Russia in 2014, and we will be publishing a most
     important article regarding the ORIGINAL OLYMPICS
     in ancient Greece in the location they took place,
     OLYMPIA.

    My article was originally  published in 2002 in the
   "Hellenic Voice"  News paper of Boston, to National
    acclaim for its fantastic accuracy and details totally
    unknown in today's world ."""
                                                   Evi Martyn/ founder

    We urge you to follow us and read it,!!!
                                    **********************************                                          

       
   Our founder Mme Evi Martyn did an outstanding
   research and brought out information that is truly
   rare and unique.

    Again  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

   From the Advocate's Forum!

 

  

       December 14, 2013          

                From all the members
                             of
   THE HELLENIC CULTURE ADVOCACY

    We wish you all a very Merry Christmas
               and a Happy New Year!!

     Evi Martyn 
      Founder
                              It has been a wonderful  two years.!!!!!
                                             Thank you for your support ,

 

    Please, read below about the initiation of our FOUNDER
                                  EVI  MARTYN    November 16, 2013

    To learn more about S.A.I. please, put on
    your browser        Sigma Alpha Iota
                           International - Music- Fraternity
                     

                                                                         November 16, 2013

          CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FOUNDER

                              EVI  MARTYN

      for her successful initiation by S.A.I.
      as an honorary member of this Fraternity
     
    This marks Ms. Martyn's  yet  another
    distinction in her colorful portfolio and
    opens a new path in her Universal efforts
    to support and perpetuate the art of Music.
                             
       From all the members of the Hellenic Culture Advocacy
                                       ******************
     To view the S.A.I  international Music Fraternity, click on

                                  nh@sai-national.org
                                                                             Thank you
 

           

                                              

          

Evi's New Guestbook "Cithaeron Sounds"

Evi's New Guestbook-Cithaeron Sounds
       Click Here

To view the VIDEO on Nikolas Platon, the world renown Greek archaeologist , please, click on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI

July 26, 2013

DAILY LIFE IN ANCIENT ATHENS

AUTHOR:  Georgia Moldovani

Translated from Greek to English: Ioanna Sivridou

During ancient times in Athens daily life started with the sunrise. As Athenians left their home they ate a simple breakfast which commonly consisted of barley bread dipped in wine. They were dressed in white clothes. Their main cloth was a tunic (a piece of cloth whose length reached the knees, with holes fitted for pockets) and on top the tunic, a kind of cloak, that was tied on the chest under the left armpit .

Their head was left uncovered so as their thick hair could be seen which was never cut but coated with oil mixed with spicy essences.  On their feet they were wearing sandals which were tied with leather straps. The cane was used to complete their appearance.

They went to the agora, an area of columns and pillars decorated by statues of prominent men. In the agora one could find the Parliament as well as the Courts which were surrounded by plane trees and poplar trees.

Their salutation was a hand-movement followed by the words, “be happy, healthy and busy.”

The Athenians were social people that cared about health, beauty, friendship and happiness. They claimed that without friendship happiness could not exist, as friendship adorns life.

After their meetings and discussions in the agora they went home for a meal.  They were hospitable people that paid a lot of attention to proper manners.  At the start of their meals the servants offered water to the guests so that they could wash their hands .  Fish and poultry with a special sauce made of olive oil, honey and vinegar was their main meal. They drank sweet wine that smelt of flowers. They called this wine Aphrodites milk.

They were chatting and singing whilst someone played the lyre during their meals.  They drank a lot of wine diluted with water but without extremes.  The Athenians didn’t have a siesta as sleep didn’t play an important role in their lives.  In the afternoon they visited the public schools (high school, lyceum) and the Academies where philosophic discussions took place.  Later they exercised.

In Ancient Athens the boys of the rich families were sent to private tutors. They wanted their children to be educated. When a child reached the age of seven was sent to the teacher’s home where educated people taught them how to read and write. They were also sent to musicians to learn how to play the lyre, flute or organ so that their soul could be familiarized with harmony.

They were also sent to gyms and to the wrestling ring so that their body could become strong.

The girls stayed at home with their mother learning house jobs. They also learned basic writing , reading, as well as singing and dancing.  The Ancient Athenians were doctors, teachers, farmers.  They enjoyed every day life and life in general.

A  DAY WITHOUT A SMILE WAS A  LOST DAY, that was their motto.  

Evi's New Guestbook "Cithaeron Sounds"

Evi's New Guestbook
  Cithaeron Sounds
       Click Here

To view the VIDEO on Nikolas Platon, the world renown Greek archaeologist , please, click on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI

              July 17, 2013

              Dear friends of the Hellenic Culture,

      Please, read below some of the most famous
      quotes from ancient Greece:

             " He who is in love with MUSIC will be most in 
                    love with the loveliest"   
                                                       "Plato, from his
                                                                 Republic"

                     "I know one thing, that I don't know anything"

                                                                      

                                                                     " Socrates

 

               " He who can not speak his thoughts is a slave"

 

                                                                      " Euripides"

 

               " You can only govern, if you know how to govern

                   yourself "                                    

                                                                       " Solon "

 

            It is with great appreciation and pleasure that we come

            to thank all of our viewers and readers for the continuous

            support they demonstrated so far to our ADVOCACY.

 

            We will continue to provide fantastic articles and VIDEOS

            to educate and entertain our supporters. 

 

            In August we will publish our new NEWS LETTER

            with the latest news and biographies of our authors, who

            are working laboriously to keep you up-to-date.

 

            Thanks again,

 

            Evi Martyn/ Founder of the HCA

 

            Send us your comments on the new guest book "Cithaeron sounds"   of Evi Martyn

 

     

 

                      
                                          
   

   Tuesday June 11, 2013       

             LEARNING FROM THE ANCIENT GREEKS

     Learning  from the ancient Greeks is most appropriate in today's

     troubled times!!

 

     We are quoting this famous slogan by one of the most admired

      Hellines of the ancient Culture that stands as a reminder to

      people and embodies the courage to speak out in a Democracy.

 

 

 

 

       " He, who can not speak his thoughts

                     is a slave "

                                                                            "Euripides"    
      By: Elektra /  ADMIRER OF THE 
                                          HELLENIC CULTURE ADVOCACY                         

Σάββατο, 27 Απριλίου 2013

Evi's New Guestbook "Cithaeron Sounds"

Evi's New Guestbook
  Cithaeron Sounds
       Click Here

To view the VIDEO on Nikolas Platon, the world renown Greek archaeologist , please, click on:

           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI
 

Please view the latest VIDEO on Nikolas Plato, the famous Greek archaeologist

Demosthenes And Our Times

By: Kaiti Mavridou-Livanis

Translation from the Greek by : Evi Martyn

Man today has been driven to living in Society without having learned how to live in the Community, and this maybe the huge problem the world is facing in the 21st Century.  Living in Society is a particle, a molecule, if you will, that is used to develop mechanism with a prearranged design for a specific cause.  Living in the community people have the chance to define their own direction, self criticism, and prominence.

In today's globalized environment and materialistic impasse we have come.  The only solution that is left is to return to the future (Let's go back to the future). There is still room to return to the future utilizing the past from which a man can draw examples from the immortal Greece.

ATHENS 384 B.C.

Alexander the Great, facing the Persian danger, followed the preexistent thinking of his father, King Philip, decided to unite the Greeks in a common confrontation of the enemy and to create Hellenism that would embrace the entire world!!!  He created the first Hellenic Society under the Eyes of "ONE."

Across from the Macedonian storm, Demosthenes, a diminutive, almost sickly, lisping Athenian who with his patience and perseverance and personal methods, achieved with self criticism and self direction to overcome his flaws, become the greatest ORATOR defending Justice.

He defended Athens, which had already lost its grandeur and power due to the bad management of its politicians. 

Demosthenes, became the greatest ORATOR ever as an Athenian and Hellene, using the word “WE” instead of “I” and putting the Community above the Society.  His speeches had power, thickness, discipline, and inner tension displaying his love for his City of Athens for which he often made errors.  Eventually he punished himself by committing suicide in 322 B.C.

The Athenian Democracy 42 years after Demosthenes’ death acknowledged his worth and uniqueness by erecting a bronze statue.  On the base of the statue one reads:

 “Demosthenes, if you had as much power as you had brains the Athenians would never have had to stoop to the Macedonian sword.”

Article by:  Kaiti Mavridou-Livanis

                        Journalist / Author

Translation from the Greek by: Evi Martyn

                        Founder/Hellenic Culture Advocacy

June 1, 2013

Please view the latest VIDEO on Nikolas Plato, the famous Greek archaeologist

Evi's New Guestbook "Cithaeron Sounds"

Evi's New Guestbook

  Cithaeron Sounds


       Click Here

We are sorry for the error on the VIDEO
Here is the correct one:

       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI
 

Please, view our latest VIDEO on Nikolas Plato, the famous
Greek archaeologist.

     http://www.youtuve.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI

  Friedrich Nietzsche on the Greeks
         Translation from the German by: Evi Martyn


The great philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche ( 1844-1900) in one
of his articles on the ancient Greek civilization had this to say:

   " It is a proven fact that in every period of development and
      progress the civilization of western Europe has attempted
      to free itself from the Greeks.''

     That attempt ends up in full disappointment, because what
     ever western Europe has tried to create, which on the surface
     seemed innovative and praise worthy, lost its colour and
     vitality compared to the Greek model !!!

        It shrunc, and became a cheap copy, like a caricature.

    Thus, people continue to feel shame and fear towards the
    Greeks.
    Certaintly, from time to time, some one appears who reco-
    gnises the truth completely----the truth that teaches us all
    that the Greeks are the pioneers in every new civilization
    and the charioteers, and the horses of the new civilizations
    are of cheap quality compared to the pioneers ( the Greeks)
    and finally they drive the new chariots to an abyss, while
    the Greeks can jump right over it with an Achilles's jump"
                                                          -- Friedrich Nietzsche--

    Translation from the original German by:
 
    Evi Martyn//founder of the Hellenic Culture Advocacy
     
   
   

   

 

                                                          ANNOUNCEMENT

                We are elated to know that our Advocacy of the
                             HELLENIC CULTURE
          has now its wings in three continents and people
          as far as Mexico are following our articles and
          publications.

          Please, continue your support and know that we
          extend our deepest appreciation to all of you who
          show us your outpouring and continuous interest.

          Please, also view the most recent VIDEOS by
          our founder Evi Martyn regarding Nikolas Platon
          famous Greek Archeologist - 20th Century.-

          www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI

              Evi Martyn / Founder/ Hellenic Culture ADVOCACY
 

VIDEO LINK:  youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI

 

 

 

THE LEGISLATION OF ANCIENT GREECE

 

WRITTEN BY:  Georgia Moldovani

TRRANSLATED BY:  Ioanna Sivridou

 

The ancient Greeks legally organized the first city-states.  The virtue of justice was considered to be of great significance as it is the foundation for organizing society’s institutions. Between 1100-750 B.C laws were unwritten. It was generally believed that laws were sent by the Gods and they were respected as they were considered to be under the protection of the Gods. However, as the aristocracy used these laws in a way that would benefit them , ordinary citizens demanded that the law was written.

There were provisions related to the way ordinary citizens should live their lives. Such provisions included how ordinary citizens should dress and how contracts should be made.  A well known legislator was Zalefkos who became well known through his laws an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  Another well-known legislator was Charon. His laws referred to false witness testimony, arson and the purchasing and selling of property and military service.

In Sparta, Lykourgos established the cessation of animosities between city-states during the Olympic Games through his legislatory laws. 

 In 624 B.C Athenians  made ‘Drakon’ responsible to write down the laws and in 621 B.C he presented the laws written in marble plates. These marble plates were placed in the agora (market). These laws were very strict and allowed for harsh punishment even when the committed crimes were insignificant. The expression Draconian measures came from here.

Solon was the legislator who followed Drakon (625-552 B.C). His reforms were important as they helped establish more democracy.

Solon was one of the seven wise men of ancient Greece.  He became a leader in Athens in 594 B.C .

He was rich, wise, polite, noble and was also  a poet and a tradesman.  Solon was an important progressive politician of Ancient Greece.  He earned people’s trust and respect through his poetic works. 

 Through his poetry he encouraged and excited the people.  His legislation allowed any citizen to denounce any leader/nobleman to the supreme court. The citizen would be the prosecutor.

Solon created the  Iliea, a civil court with many members.  This court would ensure that justice will prevail.  He forbid the export of all products other than olive oil.  He took measures in order to protect families and marriage.

He also took measures against rape, prostitution and adultery.  However, the most important of the measures he took was a measure that related to citizen equality.  This was the sisahthia.  He forbid poor citizens from borrowing as they risked becoming slaves if they failed to pay back. 

This measure is called sisahthia . It is a composite word. It comes from siw=get rid of and ahthos=weight.  Thererfore, sisahthia means getting rid of the burden on top of me. He rearranged land and gave some of it to the poor.  He changed civil, private and penal law.

These laws were written on wooden square flat stones which were turning around a pivot placed in the agora/market.  His legislation assisted social, financial and political progress of Athens. He is rightly considered to be the father of civil law. 

He himself said that you can only govern if you learn to govern yourself.

VIDEO LINK:  youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI

CORRECTION TO RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLE:

PERICLES' DREAM

By:  GEORGIA MOLDOVANI,

Professor of Greek Language, Thessaloniki, Greece

Translation From The Greek: Ioanna Sivridou

 

(Apologies to our new writers for the typo)

PERCLES’ DREAM

By:  GEORGIA MOLDOVANI,

Professor of Greek Language, Thessaloniki, Greece

Translation from Greek: Ioanna Sivridou

VIDEO LINK:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=noGmCvVc9Gw

VIDEO LINK:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=noGmCvVc9Gw

PERICLES DREAM

PERICLES the son of Agaristes and Xanthipos was undoubtedly one of the most well known men not only of ATHENS but of the whole world.

He was born in Cholargos [Athens]  in 495 BC.  Although he was of Aristocratic descent he belonged to a democratic party who believed in equality amongst citizens.

Despite being highly intelligent and a remarkable orator he was also quite humble.  He took away the power of the Supreme Court giving it to the Assembly of people, where the citizens conferred.  He completed the fortification of Athens and Piraeus with complimentary walls.  In order to make Athens more beautiful he built immortal monuments.

In 450BC he began planning the construction of the Acropoles.  Pericle's dream was to make Athens so beautiful that it would not be able to compare it with any other city.  This dream became true. It was the miracle created by both Pericles and his Architects [ Iktinos, Kallikratis and Mnesikles ].

PERICLES led the democratic party and governed Athens for 30 years.  He died in 429 BC.  During this time Athens was at its highest moment. Athens was a rich, strong, beautiful city and full of glory.  It was the city of Culture and Arts.  Sculptures, Poets and Painters adorned the city.  That was the GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS.

Aspasia his wife stood equally at his side with beauty and spirit, supporting and helping Pericles.  The GOLDEN AGE OF ATHENS declined with the death of the great PERICLES.  Yet his works and fame remain immortal throughout History to this day.