My first book, The Many Faces of Hellenic Culture, is out now. Here in an interview with Neos Kosmos the author, Billy Cotsis, talks about his book and the journey that inspired it. Advertisements
From Cleopatra to Averoff, just a quiet day in Hellenic Alexandria
Alexandria, there is no place like it. A Hellenic city, still influenced by its Greek roots and a passionate Greek Community, this Mediterranean delight has had a profound effect on history and Hellenism. As I sat by the 1920’s style Greek owned cafe opposite the harbour, I reflected on 2 simple questions I had asked…
Once were Greeks … the Hellenes of Auckland and New Zealand
It was at the home of school teacher Ilias Pavlidis that it hit me. Auckland is essentially Greece in disguise. For what you will find here, nestled amongst the population of 1.6 million is a small Greek community that brings to you all the wonderful aspects of filoxenia that one traditionally finds in a village….
The Despotate of Epiros: another forgotten Greek kingdom
When we think about Greek empires we tend to think of the achievements of Alexander, Ptolemy, the Spartans, Corinth or the Byzantine Empire. Who can begrudge the heroic defiance of Constantine in 1453 or the last stand of Leonidas as their respective territories were challenged? Heroism, glory, romance, passion. Image credit: Wikipedia
Bulldogs Bite: Multiculturalism and Rugby League in ‘Greek’ Belmore
For sheer athleticism and history, Rugby League is a sport which can captivate and at the same time divide opinion for its ability to give itself a headache every other week. League attracts almost as many negative stories in Sydney as positive ones, which can at times frustrate the fans and those who have grown…
Football and a Greek identity in many leading clubs in Europe
It is fair to say that football was a creation of the ancient Greeks and Romans, playing a brand that required kicking ‘balls.’ The name given to the sport was episkyros by Antiphanes, eventually making its way to Rome, Alexandria and other cities. In Rome, the balls were first filled with air and as has…
A Leonidas in Brussels: an Overview of the local Greek Community
Sitting in the aptly titled Pita (Greek) Street in the centre of Brussels having a yeeros and speaking Greek…my trip to Belgium began in earnest. I had ventured here on the recommendation of a priest. A few years ago I had met Father Christos Sidiropoulos who drives from Belgium to Rotterdam in The Netherlands to…
New feature
To add a little more life to the blog, we now have a new Hellenic Travels in Visuals section where, as the name suggests, we let the visual splendour of Greece do all the talking. Please let us know what you think! https://herculean.wordpress.com/hellenic-travels-in-visuals/
Hellenic Romania: from Greek Colonies to Dracula
Straddling the Black Sea and bounded by Hungary to the north, I was curious by the Hellenic history of Romania and decided to pay a visit. Greek history in Romania dates back over 2700 years! Just don’t call them Eastern European… When I interviewed Ramona a friend of mine from Ploesti, a small inland city…
November 17: the day democracy died and was reborn in Athens
You can hear the screams. If you walk by the Polytexneio University in Athens as I have done many, many times in my life you can feel it. ‘Brother, lay down your weapons, we are students, we are merely protesting…’ Your heart can melt here. In 1973, the world was shocked and horrified by the…
Hellenic Crimea and the discovery of a Greek Principality
The sound of waves crashing on the shore and lush nature that traverses the interior, this could be yet another location in Greece. Instead it is something else. The peninsular at the tip of the Ukraine is known as the Crimea. Whilst it may be in dispute between Ukraine and Russia, it was virtually a…
The Luxury of a Greek Refuge: Luxembourg Hellenes
The hair on the back of my neck stood up as the packed congregation of the Greek Church sang the National Anthem. It was October 28, and the Church was filled by patriots, the local community, members of NATO and a lone tourist from Australia. They sang from the heart, as loud as their voices…
Jerusalem: Hellenic Perspective of an Incredible City
One of the most incredible cities in history, from its establishment by King David in Biblical times to the present day. It is one of the most sought after cities in the world, having been ruled by Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Crusaders, Arabs, Ottomans, British, Jordanians, Jews…. And of course the Greeks. This is not an…
The Many Faces of Hellenic Identity
[Lecture delivered on 4 March 2014 at the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW’s Greek Festival] Where do you start with Hellenic culture?
Hellenic Ocean: Surreal Memories from the Black Sea
A disclaimer or rather a plea from the writer. No article can succinctly detail the Greek history of the Black Sea, for it is such a lengthy period. Virtually the entire ocean was covered by Greek colonies or Byzantine hierarchy. I will merely provide you with a few personal anecdotes. The Black Sea first welcomed…
Opportunity & Adventure: The Greek Presence in Africa
Timing can be everything. I was just about to book my trip to see my adventurous Greek friend Will, a guy who had lived in 4 countries, including his latest residence in Libya. I was in for a rude surprise.
Una Fatsa, Una Ratsa…Venice and the Greek Horses of Power
I remember sitting in St Mark’s Square, Venice, admiring what was in front me. Such a romantic city, this was the place to be. There was a gala, lots of colour, people enjoying themselves and the horses… The famous horses of St Mark’s Square are now located in the main Basilica, though until recent years…
A Greek tale about a Hellene in London
They say New York is the City of Dreams. I say London is the theatre where it all happens. With over 2000 years of history London is a city where every nationality under the sun is represented; and where you can be and achieve whatever you want. For me it was about discovering some more…
Scratch the Surface and you will find Athens
Sitting by the water in Sydney, a place that is summed up with one word, Spectacular, I cast my mind back to where it was in the world that I felt more comfortable, more at ease and immersed in the local culture as I am in Sydney at times. No, it’s not my wonderful London…
With a Greek tear down my cheek…Olympic Games from Sydney to London
Surrounded by a group of Greek speaking friends, the hair on the back of my neck suddenly stood up as my friends rose as one and sang their hearts out to the Greek National Anthem. As the lads sang, se gnorzo ap thn opsi….. everyone in this packed London pub turned to watch us. It…
