More than 45,000 runners from 92 countries participated in Athens' Authentic Marathon run on November 13, 2022
The run traces the steps of Phedippides, a news bearing Athenian soldier, who announced the victory of Greeks against the Persians at the Marathon battle in 490 BC.
Pheidippides collapsed and died after he said νενικηκαμεν that translates to "we won"
The Marathon race became one of the most competitive events during the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. Spyros Louis won the gold medal in the first modern Olympics and became a legend in Greece.
The Marathon Race represents the highest effort in which the human body, soul and mind are tested to their limits as the runner presses to reach the finish line.
Here the young and not so young runners near the finish line in the Panathenaikon Stadium in Athens an unforgettable moment for the athletes, their families and friends.
This year a 91-year-old, Stelios Prassas participated and completed the Marathon run. His success reminds us what humans can accomplish if they are physically gifted and have the will to train and prepare for the ultimate test in human endurance.
Porto Rafti is a bay on the east shore of
the Attica peninsula. Four islets
(Rafti, Raftopoula, Praso, Circe) are inside while one (Koroni) is outside and
slightly to the south of the bay. Porto Rafti and the surrounding region belonged
in the demoi (Δημοι) Prasiae
and Steiria, two of the 139 municipalities
of Ancient Athens. Pausanias tells us that
Athenians built a temple of Apollo and erected a statue of Erichthoniusat Prasiae.
Erichthonius, the son of Cecrops
and an Attic hero, was also buried at Prasiae according to Pausanias(1,31,1).
It is
not known whom the enigmatic statue on top of the Rafti islet honored and what
was its purpose. The colossal marble
statue likely was sculpted during the Emperor Hadrian reign (78-138 AD). Pausanias submits that it was Erichthonius
while local folklore suggests it was a tailor as the word rafti means tailor in
demotic Greek vernacular. Even a casual inspection of the statue convinces even
the most uninitiated that the statue is a woman. Therefore, deities such as Athena, Artemis or Demeter or prominent
women such as Hadrian’s wife Sabina or Herod Atticus’ wife Regilla are likely
candidates. Its purpose is also unknown
but I strongly believe that it served as a lighthouse to assist ships returning
at night from the Cyclades islands the nearest of which Kea is 20 miles away
to Attica. Two more reasons in support of
my theory that its main function was that of a lighthouse are first that it is
facing east towards the Aegean islands and Asia Minor and second one of its
arms is raised where I would like to propose a metal cauldron was placed and
used for the purpose of lighting a fire. Etching by Irish traveler E. Dodwell who visited Greece from 1801 to 1806.
Porto Rafti Regatta is a three-day event with the first race run was from the starting line around the islets of Praso, Rafti and back to the finish line a length of approximately 5 nautical miles. The crew of Okyrhoe in day I was my brother Nikos, his wife Alexandra, our friend Kostas and myself.
The course in the second race was similar to that of the first day and the crew of legendary Okyrhoe was Nikos, Kostas, Myrto a most able woman sailor, her daughter and our cinematographer Alecos.
In the third and last day of Porto Rafti Regatta my brother had an all women crew. It is interesting that Okyrhoe was first at the finish line in all three races. It was a most pleasant weekend and a great way for me to celebrate my 73rd birthday with relatives and dear friends. In closing, I would like to thank my friend Alexander Syris who was the cinematographer and producer of the three beautiful videos of Porto Rafti Regatta.
Greek
settlers from Marseille founded Nice in 350 BC. The city grew in the 10th century because
of an influx of settlers from Provence. In 1631, a pandemic of bubonic plague caused the demise of nearly half of the city’s inhabitants. Andre Massena, a General in the Napoleonic
wars and Giuseppe Garibaldi who was instrumental in the unification of Italy
were two prominent citizens of Nice, in 18th century. Nice is a resort town and a major producer of
fresh pasta, olive oil, flowers, perfumes, and deserts. Nice’s airport is the second largest in
France. Nice is known for its Carnival
and its University. A fort that was destroyed in
1706 by General de Berwick used to be on top of the prominent hill in the city.
Nice est fondée en 350 avant j-c
par les Grecs de Marseille. La ville commence a grandir a partir du 10 s
sous les comtes de Provence. En 1631 la ville de Nice agonise pendant sept mois
par l'épidémie de la peste. Deux citoyens distingues: Masséna général de
division de Napoléon, Giuseppe Garibaldi un des principaux auteurs de la
révolution italienne de 1860. Nice a plusieurs industries: huile d'olive,fleurs
et parfumerie,fruits et confits. Est le second aéroport de France aprés celui
de Paris. Nice est bien connue pour son carnaval et son Université. On
désigne ainsi la colline haute de 92 m sur laquelle s'élevait le château fort
de Nice,totalement détruit en 1706 par le maréchal de Berwick.
Nice’s boardwalk has a
magnificent view of the bay of Anges. The
promenade was named for the British visitors who for the last two centuries weather
the cold of the British Isles by migrating to Nice during the winter months.
Offre
sur la baie des Anges des vues magnifiques. La colonie anglaise, nombreuse depuis le 18 s, lui a donné son nom.
Nice’s harbor is busy with large passenger ships traveiling to Corsica, and
with fishing boats and pleasure yachts enjoying the beauty of the surrounding Mediterranean
Sea.
Dans le port de Nice bateaux
marchands,yachts,paquebots de Corse,bateaux de pêche,de plaisance et de louage
y entretiennent une constante activité.
The beauty of Massena Square has inspired troubadours to write lyrics for
popular songs such as “c est si bon”.
Un véritable joyau de la
ville est la beauté de la place Masséna qui a inspiré les troubadours d'écrire des paroles de chansons populaires telles que "c est si bon".
In the old town we find the historic Cathedral of Saint Reparate. Dans la vieille ville, nous trouvons la cathédrale historique de Saint Réparate.
I wrote this post together with my childhood friend Sotiris Cronteras who together with his wife Annie live part of the year in the beautiful city of Nice.
