A large number of the refugees from the 1922 Greek – Turkish population exchange were Karamanlides, Cappadocian Greeks who only spoke the Turkish language but wrote it in Greek characters. They left what had be their home for thousands of years…
Easter bread and the number 8
Symbols for warding off the evil influences and christian symbols play an important part in the Greek festive breads. In parts of Greece, the early Christian tradition of number 8, symbol of Jesus resurrection,* survived in the Easter breads. However,…
Magic rain and the wish for water
Rituals of Magical – Rain Making in Modern and Ancient Greece: A Comparative Approachand From Modern Greek Carnivals to the Masks of Dionysos and other Divinities in Ancient Greece are two very interesting articles about the Kalogeros (monk), a carnival…
Ancient Eros
Alexis, dwelling on the aphrodisiac properties of bulbs, says: “Pinnas, crayfish, bulbs, snails, buccina, eggs, extremities, and all that. FIf anyone in love with a girl shall find any drugs more useful than these . . .(Athen. 63F)Aphrodisiacs… and pharmaka (drugs) and enchanting charms for…
Christmas with the Emperor
The Byzantine celebration of Christmas attracted the attention of the Arab Harun ibn Yahya, who had been captured by the Byzantines in 911/12. Leo VI, the Wise, had already introduced an innovation according to which muslim prisoners were invited to the official…