Who was god Eros? The myth and his love for Psyche

Goddess Aphrodite, the mother of Eros.

According to the myth Aphrodite was born at the coast of Cyprus at the foam of the sea. Zefiros, who is the wind coming from the west, carried her and brought her to Olympus. When the gods saw her they were surprised by her amazing beauty. Aphrodite was very beautiful with white skin and long hair. Her figure was perfect and so men craved for her love.

Among all these gods and men that wanted to make her their wife, finally Hephaestus managed to marry her but he didn’t managed to keep her away from temptations. Aphrodite often had secret affairs with other gods like Dionysus, Poseidon, Hermes, Aris. From these affairs Aphrodite gave birth to many children. The most important of all these affairs was the one she had with Aris, the god of War. Aphrodite got pregnant from Aris and this child was the god Eros, who was the god of love. This child was born one summer with wings on his shoulders and arrows on his hands.

Eros was representing the passion and the love, emotions that create the life. When he was throwing his arrows to people, they started to feel passionate love and desire but at the same time those emotions made them suffer too. God Eros and goddess Aphrodite had a prominent place among the ancient gods. They were representing the beauty and the romantic mood and they make humans experience positive emotions. Humans adored them and until today they consist a source of inspiration for many artists. The most famous artworks of well-known painters have depicted their beauty and eroticism.

Psyche, the mortal girl that Eros fell in love with.

But god Eros got hurt by his own arrows and fell in love for a mortal girl, Psyche. Psyche was a very impressive and beautiful young girl. Her beauty was greater than Aphrodite’s beauty and so the goddess of beauty envied her and wanted to punish her. In order to revenge Psyche, Aphrodite ordered...continue reading 

The heart-shaped island and the ancient shipwrecks!

The Greek heart-shaped island and the ancient shipwrecks!

Opposite to Methoni in Peloponnese is located the island of Sapientza. Sapientza considered to be one of the most beautiful islands of Messinia as it combines wild vegetation with amazing beaches. In the south side of the island exists a historical lighthouse built totally from stones in 1885. The lighthouse was built there to help the passing ships as the area was really dangerous and there have been a lot of shipwrecks.

The visitor can reach the top of the lighthouse by climbing the 75 stone steps! From there appears the famous rocky islet that is heart-shaped! The circumnavigation of the island does not allow the traveler to perceive the special shape of the island. Only aerial pictures reveal the secret of the island! This special Greek heart-shaped island is a very famous attraction among the photo albums of the world.

Read the article and find out more about the heart-shaped island and the ancient shipwrecks here! Video included!

Greece, the ultimate cultural destination

Travelers from all over the word always had a particular interest in Greece. There are several reasons for this, such as the beaches, the weather (most of the time shiny and warm), the people, the food and so many others. But the most important motivation for someone to visit Greece it always has been one, the culture.

The last years Greece (especially Athens) is making huge progress into highlight its precious culture and history. A lot of cultural events, festivals and important exhibitions with international interest are taking place in Greece, while in the same time old historical buildings are being restored. Some of them are: the historical theatre “Acropol Pallas” in Patision Street, the new museum of Greek Art in Plaka, the glorious church of Saint Konstantinos in Omonoia square, the extension of the National Art Gallery in King’s Konstantinos Street and so many other beautiful buildings that consist cultural monuments for Greece.

Anyone who work and live in Greece understands that the country is in a cultural orgasm and the mobility in cruises or in the museums shows that international community has recognized that.

In Germany the inlaid magazine «Zeit Magazin» of the newspaper «Die Zeit» wrote an article with the title: “Athens: The new Berlin”. Many people in Athens, against the crisis and all the adversities, managed to reinvent their city and make it a living cell of artistic creativity and inventive entrepreneurship. Those characteristics are inextricably linked to the metropolis of the arts, Berlin.  The journalist of the same newspaper described Exarcheia (famous area downtown Athens) as the “Kreuzberg of Athens” and a few days after the extensive tribute of “Die Zeit” the ‘Monocle’ magazine wrote an article about Athens that couldn’t agree more with the German newspaper.

In addition to the article of the German newspaper above, the most famous exhibition of the world is coming to Greece. The Documenta, which is the biggest art event in the world, will move from Germany to Athens in 2017. The Art Director of “Documenta”, Adam Szymczyk said to the Greek newspaper “To vima”:  “The history of modern Athens the last 200 years has resulted in a heterogeneous metropolis in a vertiginous acceleration mode. The conflict between the mythical and glorious past makes Athens a beautiful and tough city at the same time. I have decided, however, that is an attractive place that needs to be discovered. I believe that this city is the body and the spirit of its citizens. The city of Athens has the ability to continually transform and the independent people of Athens are taking matters into their own hands. The so-called creative class is another neoliberal buzzword that has no existence in Greece today. You will meet these people in Athens struggling to the difficulties of everyday life and not among the hipsters that drinking their cappuccino or among the macho men showing off their expensive cars”. 

The Documenta art exhibition have been organized since 1955 and every five years in Kassel, a city of 200,000 inhabitants in the German State of Hesse. Ti has been developed into one of the two most important international contemporary art exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale. In 2017 it will be for the first time co-hosted by a different city. This city will be Athens.

Continue reading...

http://www.cultour.gr/how-to-make-greek-tzatziki-sauce-video-and-recipe/

SEE HERE THE VIDEO OF THE RECIPE

This is the ultimate recipe for a traditional Greek tzatziki sauce! It goes perfectly with Greek gyros and if you want to taste a traditional Greek souvlaki, then this sauce is a must! It is a very appetizing, savory sauce that is almost always served with kebabs or souvlaki. It can also be served with baked potatoes, any meats and is surprisingly refreshing as a dip for vegetables!

Ingredients for Greek tzatziki sauce:

• 300 g Greek yogurt (strained yogurt)
• 1 cucumber
• 1/3 of a garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar for the cucumber
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 
• ¼ bunch dill, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• salt
• pepper

Method to make Greek tzatziki sauce:

• Peel the cucumber and grate with a cheese grater, using the large blades.
• Put in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar. Toss and set aside to release its liquid.
• In the meantime, combine the yogurt, 1/3 of a garlic clove (minced), 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix until combined.
• Mix until it is combined and creamy.
• Squeeze the cucumber with your hands to release any remaining liquid. Discard the liquid and add the cucumber to the yogurt mixture.
• Stir into mixture. Add pepper and adjust salt according to taste.
• Add some finely chopped dill and your sauce is ready.
• Refrigerate until needed.
• Serve it with some carrots, peppers, cucumber and Greek pita bread!

SEE HERE THE VIDEO OF THE RECIPE!