Dr. Panagiotis Androulakis

Adjunct Lecturer @ UoCrete, Philology. Research interests: conspiracy narratives, interpersonal relationships & collective emotions.

[Dr. Panagiotis Androulakis @PanosAndr94]

Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/PEZTyZZKQi via @Change

[stubborn octopus 🦑✨ @AtlasNarratives]

Delphic Festival, Greece, 1930

Preparation of the character of Io, from the tragedy "Prometheus Bound"

📸 Nelly's (Elli Sougioultzoglou-Seraidari)

[Ancient History Hub @AncientHistorry]

Winged Victory, ancient Roman fresco of the Neronian era from Pompeii

[Archaeo - Histories @archeohistories]

Ancient Theatre of Taormina (Teatro antico di Taormina), an ancient Greek Theatre in Taormina, Sicily, Italy 🇮🇹. It was initially built by Greeks in the 3rd Century BC, before being rebuilt and enlarged by the Romans. While known as an amphitheatre, the site is actually an ancient theatre, not the gladiatorial arena of the type normally meant by the term. As well as being a major draw for tourists to the city, today the theatre continues to be used for concerts, plays and other events.

Ancient Greeks inhabited Sicily from 750 BC, establishing many significant settlements on the island to make use of Sicily’s fertile soil and advantageous trading location. Around 3rd Century BC, at the time of Hiero II, Greeks dug directly into the hard rock of Mount Taro to construct a theatre, removing around 100,00 cubic metres of rock. Large columns would have been hauled up the mountain by slaves to encircle the stage.

Greek Theatre, was designed to accommodate dramatic or musical performances and so included an orchestra at the lowest levels of the theatre and a large scene where actors or dancers would perform. The cavea or auditorium steps and seats, were designed so all 5400 spectators could hear wherever they sat. Later, under Roman rule, the theatre was rebuilt, probably around the time of Hadrian or Trajan. It was remodelled in 3rd Century AD, with the orchestra turned into an arena and the stage removed. The theatre had a diameter of 107m and could hold around 10,000 spectators. It become one of oldest theatres in Magna Graeca to have curved cavea, rather than the older trapezoidal design. The cavea were divided into nine sections. On either side of the skene was a basilica. Taormina’s theatre became part of the natural landscape; the light and splendid Calabrian coastal scenery providing a natural backdrop to performances. Remains of another Hellenistic building have been found under the Roman cavea.

After Punic Wars, Romans annexed Sicily, forcing out Carthaginians. While Sicily remained largely Greek culturally, Roman settlers expanded the theatre and shifted its function to reflect Roman entertainment; gladiatorial games. Romans expanded the orchestra, as well as adding columns, statues and covers. During Middle Ages, the grand Corinthian style columns were removed to adorn palaces and places of worship, including the Cathedral.

Today, over 2 millennia later, the Taormina Amphitheatre remains a social space for watching performances. Today, theatre is used as a venue for the annual arts festival Taormina Arte, other entertainment offered includes theatre, concerts, symphonies, operas, ballets and the David di Donatell awards have all been held within the ancient auditorium.

The modern seating has had a mixed response, but allows this fantastic site that has weathered the ravages of time to continue functioning as was originally intended. Be aware the site is not very accessible for those who cannot climb easily. However, those who visit are rewarded with spectacular views of Mount Etna.

📷© world_walkerz

#archaeohistories

[stubborn octopus 🦑✨ @AtlasNarratives]

Delphi - Greece, 1956

📸 Lionel Kazan for Elle

[ArchaeoHistories @histories_arch]

Detail of a Fresco from the North wall of the Tomb of the Diver in Paestum, Italy 🇮🇹, a famous Ancient Greek fresco dating back to the 5th Century BC.

The fresco was discovered in 1968 near Paestum, Italy, a rare example of Greek mural painting. It illustrates a symposium, an ancient Greek drinking party where men gathered for music, poetry, and conversation. The scene highlights intimate male friendships and love, often featuring a bearded older man (erastes) and a younger, beardless man (eromenos).

The kind of love between two men that Plato described in Symposium focuses on the beauty of the soul above that of the body. As Plato clearly states in his works, the love (friendship if you prefer) between two men is above the love a man has for a woman, as in most cases this kind of love includes sex.

According to Plato, spiritually loving another male highlights the absolute beauty of the soul and is the epitome of selfless love that can be compared only with love between a parent and his/her child. In other words, Plato worshiped what youngsters would nowadays describe as “bromance,” but he was strictly against what we define today as homosexuality.

Museum of Paestum 🇮🇹

#archaeohistories

[V. Visuals @Moodsby_v]

Triumph of Peace and Liberty over Tyranny, 1710

[Today in History @TodayinHistory]

Today in 432 BC, the Parthenon in Athens was consecrated and dedicated to Athena!

[Dr. Panagiotis Androulakis @PanosAndr94]

It’s always interesting to find lesser-known artifacts next to well-known ones taking your breath away. At the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, just a few meters away from Eurymedon’s Vase, there is this statuette lekythos from the 4th century BCE, found near Methana.

[Art Gallery @X_ArtGallery]

Pompeii

[🇬🇷Eᴘɪʀᴜs•Mᴀᴄᴇᴅᴏɴɪᴀ•Tʜʀᴀᴄᴇ🇬🇷✨🫒 @greece_northern]

The "Throne Room" at Knossos Palace
15th-14th century BC, Crete

[Civixplorer @Civixplorer]

Map of Greek mythology.

[Francisco Goya @artistgoya]

Blow, 1799 #artbots #goya

[Henri Matisse @artistmatisse]

Music, 1910 #artbots #matisse

[The Art Curator @SeekAfterBeauty]

The Parthenon after the Storm, by Ivan Fedorovich Choultsé (1877-1932)

[ʙʏ ᴍᴏʀ��ᴀʟ ʜᴀɴᴅ @bymortalhand]

Rome, Italy

[Giorgio de Chirico @artistdechirico]

The muse of silence #artbots #dechirico