Quote of the Month

“He who has music in his soul, is most in love with the lovliest”.

PLATO

“ORIGINS OF GREEK LANGUAGE”

Article By: Evi Martyn-Founder- Hellenic Culture Advocacy

Preface:

In my recent research regarding the Greek language, I was reconfirmed, something I already knew, that the Hellenic language was, is, and will be forever the pillar of all western language.

Science, medicine, architecture, philosophy, arts and all the intellectual pursuits are involved with a fantastic number of Greek terminologies.

Below you will read the origins and the history and periods of that language.

GREEK LANGUAGE

ORIGINS:                                  A SYNOPTICAL PRESENTATION

Greek language is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, native to the southern Balkans, the Aegean island, western Asia minor, and Cyprus. It has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records.

ITS WRITTING system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its History, there are other systems, the Linear B and the Cypriot syllabary.

The Greek language holds a very important place in the histories of Europe (commonly the Western world) and Christianity. Its canon of ancient literature includes works of monumental importance and influence.

The epic poems, Iliad and Odyssey, the Platonic dialogues and the works of Aristotle, the New Testament of the Christian Bible, was written in Koine Greek.

HISTORY AND PERIODS

Its History goes back to the 3^rd millennium B.C.

The Greek language is divided into three periods.

A.           Ancient Greek (Proto-Greek, Mycenean Greek)

B.           Koine (various ancient dialects, Attic, dialect of

              Athens etc.)

C.           Modern Greek (stemming from Medieval Greek,

              up to the demise of the Byzantine Empire)

GREEK DIASPORA

Greek is spoken by 13 million people today, mainly in Greece, Albania and Cyprus. Also world wide by the large Greek diaspora.

Many Greek settlements and regions, like Bulgaria, Turkey, and Black Sea area Ukraine, Russian Romania, Georgia, Armenia, Southern Italy, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon.

Also it is spoken in immigrant communities in many Western European countries, England, Germany, Canada, the U.S.A., Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and others.

Article By: Evi Martyn-Founder- Hellenic Culture Advocacy

                 June 20, 2014                                   

                                                 Coming soon              

           My dear readers and  followers,
                           
           It is with great pleasure that we are going to
           post a most interesting and educational article
           regarding the Origins and the History and Periods
           of the Greek language.

          Please, stay in touch and tell a friend!
                             THIS IS PURE HISTORY!!!
                                                                 
                                                      Evi Martyn/founder
                                               Hellenic Culture Advocacy
                                                       

                                                    
                                                    
                                                                
                                                                  

                                                                                                                             





      May 26, 2014

                    Coming soon.

    We wish to thank all our readers, supporters and
      all those who work tirelessly to advocate for 
      the immortal    HELLENIC CULTURE.
      
     Please, follow us , in the next few days we are going
     to discuss the monumtental importance and influence
     of the Greek language which has the longest documen-
     ted History of any Indo-European language, spanning
     34 centuries of written records.
     
     It is without a doubt the cradle of the Western Wolrd
     and its canon of ancient literature includes works of 
     monumental value and influence.
                                                                 Evi Martyn
                                                           Founder of the Hellenic Culture
                                                                                                                          Advocacy


                                                                

     
                  The quote of the month

           " Friendship is a single soul dwelling
                          in two bodies "
                                                  "Aristotle "

           

The ancient Olympic Games: A history

PART III

Events (continued) –

Boxing - Boxing is considered one of the most ancient games and was very popular during the Homeric years, where we see many references made by Homer in his Odyssey. The athletes would cover their hands with leather, leaving only the fingers free. They had to follow strict regulations regarding the safety of their opponent and they were not allowed to deliver fatal blows. According to the regulations, he who would cause his opponent severe injuries would be considered the loser and the other athlete would be the winner. There was no time set for the game and it would end when one of the athletes went down or raised his right hand index finger, acknowledging defeat.

The Pagration – The pagration was the toughest atholpedia because it combined boxing and wrestling together. In 648 BC at the 33^rd Olympiad, they established the pagration for men and later for children. The athletes competed naked and their bodies were covered with oil and sand. These games were divided into two parts, the upper and the lower. In the upper, the athletes competed only standing and usually this happened during practices or friendly matches. In the lower, the athletes competed even when they fell to the ground. The game was very difficult and often presented tough scenes. The winner was he who would force his opponent to raise his right hand index finger and thus declare a defeat.

The Chariot Races  - The chariot races took place in a racetrack southeast of the Olympia stadium in a space between the stadium and the Alfios River. Because the riverbed changed direction, the current had destroyed everything and we have nothing left today from this racetrack. The first chariot race was established in 680 BC (Tethrippon, led by four horses). Other chariot races were established in subsequent years, like Apini (500 BC), Synoris (408 BC) and several others. It is worthy of mention that even though women were not allowed to attend the games, they were allowed to take place in them by sending their horses. The daughter of the King of Sparta Kyniska is the first woman ever to have won a chariot race and to be crowned with the wreath of victory.

The Announcers and the Trumpeters – This unique competition was held the first day of the games in front of the altar that was the entrance of the stadium. In this game, the victor was he who could be heard from the longest distance. The winner trumpeter would play his trumpet in order to get the attention of the spectators and the winner announcer would call the names of the champions during the coronation of the winners.

The Judges

The responsibility of the preparation, bylaws and other details of the games were left in the capable hands of judges, a very important authority of the city of Ilis, who were selected months before the games. The Judges were dressed in a red robe and were crowned with bay leaves. In the beginning, there was only one Judge, but later, during the 50^th Olympiad, there were two and eventually nine judges. Three were responsible for chariot races, three for the pentathlon, and the rest for the other games. One of their many responsibilities was to supervise the athletes a month before the inception of the games and to assure that the best contestants were selected.

Epilogue

In this brief passing through the ancient Olympiads, we have the feeling that we pulled from the past all those wonderful and skillful athletes that became the beacons of a bygone era – people with all the virtues and vices of humans, who nonetheless, set a world example for generations to follow.

Returning to the present from this retrospection to the magnificent world of light, we reflect on the importance of the Olympic Games and their impact in today’s world, a world that, bearing all the ravishes of ugly wars, needs now more than ever to be re-baptized in light and the divine breath of truce.

 All the previous times, when a new Olympiad began in all the furthest corners of the planet,when the divine flame began its long trip from its cradle, we Greeks felt proud for something of ours that became a worldly event.