myAthena

16/02/2023

Greece | You Will Want To Stay Forever

When you plan a trip, the first thing you search for are tips from other travelers, based on their personal experiences. And when it comes to summer holidays in Greece, it appears that there is one specific thing, most of them agree on: "…once you’re in Greece, you will want to stay forever".

And why is that? Because the unpretentious simplicity of Greece – our friendly locals, the narrow alleys, the picturesque boats, the white houses, the everlasting sun, the endless sea, our traditional flavours … all these may act as a "dangerous" temptation, so intense, that you may never want to leave.

When you plan a trip, the first thing you search for are tips from other travelers, based on their personal experiences. And when it comes to summer holidays...

05/07/2022

The helmet is rightly one of the most iconic symbols of . Made to cover the entire head, leaving a T-shaped opening for the eyes and mouth, the struck fear into enemies and inspired pride in follow compatriots.

28/06/2022

Who was goddess ?

Athena is the Olympian goddess of wisdom and war and the adored patroness of the city of . A virgin deity, she was also – somewhat paradoxically – associated with and , especially spinning and weaving. Majestic and stern, Athena surpassed everybody in both of her main domains. In fact, even Ares feared her; and all Greek heroes asked her for help and advice.

The Birth of Athena

Athena was born in most miraculous circumstances. On learning that Metis’ next child may overthrow him, swallowed his first wife who was already pregnant with Athens. When the time came, Zeus started feeling tremendous headaches. As even he couldn’t bear them, struck him with his axe and – lo and behold! – Athena leapt out of Zeus’ head, fully armed and with a cry so mighty and fearsome that and were shaken to their bones with terror. Zeus was delighted and full of pride.

Athena, the Patron of Athens

and Athena had a much-publicized quarrel over who deserves to be the patron of the most prosperous Ancient Greek city, Athens. Poseidon claimed that the city would benefit more from him than Athena and to prove this, he struck his trident into a rock, creating a seawater stream which welled up in the Temple of Erechtheion on the north side of the . Smart as she was, Athena did nothing spectacular: she merely planted an . However, the first king of Athens, Cecrops – who was the judge of the contest – realized that the olive tree was much more beneficial, since it gave the Athenians fruit, oil and wood.

Athena's Portrayal and Symbolism

In and , Athena is usually depicted as a majestic lady, with a beautiful, but stern face, unsmiling full lips, grey eyes and a graceful build, emanating power and authority. She is always regally clad in either a chiton or a full armor. In the former case, she is sometimes represented with a spindle. In the latter case, she wears an elaborately crested Corinthian and holds a long spear in one hand and an aegis in the other.

At the center of her aegis there’s oftentimes an image of a Gorgon’s head (Gorgoneion), symbolizing the gift she got from : the head of . Just like Medusa’s eyes, Athena’s shield can also turn her enemies to stone. As a symbol of her , there’s sometimes an flying in Athena’s vicinity or sitting on her shoulder; from time to time there may also be a snake or an olive branch.

Source: https://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Athena/athena.html

27/06/2022

wall hanging! 🧿

If you've ever seen a person of Greek origin sporting a circular charm that shows a curious blue eye, then you've seen the classic Greek evil eye symbol. This eye's main purpose isn't really an aesthetic one, but rather to serve the function of warding off the effects of the evil eye curse.

The of matiasma is given by one person to another by way of a spiteful or bitter look. This usually happens when the person receiving it is unaware of what's happening. It is a negative energy, such as jealousy, anger, or hostility that creates the evil eye.

So the eye that you have on you or at yourhouse protects you from the bad !

27/06/2022

Greek ceramic : The mythical mouses!

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths that were related orally for centuries in .

24/06/2022

What does the symbolize in greek culture?

While people from many cultures around the world associate the owl with misfortune, the ancient Athenians considered it a good omen.

In classical times, the owl was the emblem of the city of , as it was the sacred bird of the goddess .

Athena was the goddess of wisdom, and the owl was the embodiment of her intellectual powers.

24/06/2022

myAthena is a small souvenirs shop in Plaka, the most popular and historical neighborhood in Athens. The shop is located on Lisikratous street, a vivid place for tourists and locals, which stretches between the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis, just few minutes walking from the new Acropolis Museum.

A family business

Thousands of people have honored our family business that dates back in the 1960s, when Petros Bellos, a tinsmith from Epirus, decided to start a bronze workshop in Attica.

The story says that he attended the service on Good Friday at his village, holding a candle over his hand. Then, small drops of candle wax dripped onto his fingers. The idea flashed into his mind, that he might carve small figurines out of molds and casts.

He had no official training in bronze casting, but he had foreseen the growth of tourism market, so he left his birthplace for Athens in order to learn the casting process and the whole old-school bronze technique. It took him few months to become accepted from the artisan community, so he brought his family Athens. He set up his own foundry and workshop there and started producing bronze sculptures inspired from ancient Greek myths, stories and legends.

A renowned craftsman through the years, he passed his art on to his younger son, Minas. Since 1985, Minas sculptured new models and designs, perfecting the traditional technique he had learnt from his father. His bronze figures of small and medium scale became best sellers in the domestic market all over Greece. One of his sculptures, a bronze trireme—a representation of the dominant warship in the Mediterranean during the 7th to 4th centuries BC—has been given to the US President Bill Clinton as an official gift by the Greek government during his visit to Athens in 1999.

From generation to generation

In 2001, Minas Bellos and his wife, Kiki, opened their retail shop in Plaka, where one can find hand-made bronze statues and the complete collection of products relative to the Greek tourist market. For two decades the ‘small shop’ has become a meeting point for all those who start their journey in ancient Athens, and a sharing memory for all those who discover modern Athens with a promise; to be back.

The third generation of our family, their daughters Eleni and Anna, keep alive the spirit that made our people innovative and creative.

And as we keep saying from this tiny corner of a large metropolis, create memories in Athens and myAthena will make them last forever!

20/06/2022

Bronze statues - magnets! Handmade with l❤ve!

15/06/2022

Souvenirs made with l❤ve!