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Morphological similarity between an intruder and a native species can hinder the detection of the intruder. The undetected non-native species will thus have more time to affect the local ecosystem and spread. This paper describes an instance of unnoticed introduction of a fish species morphologically resembling a native endemic species. We report on the first established population of the Rhodes minnow, Ladigesocypris ghigii (Actinopterygii: Leuciscidae), endemic to Rhodes Island, which has been recently introduced to a river near Athens, mainland Greece. When it was first noticed, in 2017, the species was misidentified due to its morphological similarity to Pelasgus marathonicus, the only native leuciscid of the streams and rivers around Athens, until it was subject to genetic and detailed morphological examination. Genetic analyses based on both mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and nuclear (recombination activating gene, RAG1) markers unambiguously identified the collected individuals and provided information on the relationships of Ladigesocypris at both the species and generic level. Our investigation supports that L. ghigii was recently established near Athens, and that the population probably originated from Rhodes Island, an eastern Aegean island. In 2021, a high-density thriving mainland population coexisted solely with the native European eel (Anguilla anguilla) along at least 9.7 km of river habitat. It was assessed as being of high invasive risk for the region where it was established by the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) screening tool. We propose a feasibility study be undertaken to investigate the application of measures that may include actions to exterminate or contain the population. Special attention is required since the species is considered vulnerable in its native range, while the translocated population coexists with native biota within a stream ecosystem of outstanding local conservation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing people are willing to protect wildlife when they feel connected with nature, we used owls as a case study to review owl symbolism in Greek history (2900 BC - 2000 AD). For five millennia, Greek civilization thrived and used owls as a dominant symbol in major cultural expressions. Consequently, a broad spectrum of social beliefs evolved towards owls. Until 1500 BC, they were mainly used as decorative attributes. During the Mycenaean era, though, owls began to be worshipped as eerie creatures in funeral rituals, inducing fear and respect. When Greek civilization peaked during the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods, an important shift is noticed in social perceptions. Owls are transformed into major symbols of wisdom, power, justice and divinity, connected to the goddess Athena and the city of Athens. Their significance faded in the subsequent Roman period and was absent throughout the Byzantine era, for 1500 years. When owls reappeared after 1800 AD in cultural aspects of modern Greece, society again considered them fearsome creatures. We finalize our historical review with a recent survey in Greece, capturing up-to-date trends. Our survey indicates that today: (i) owls are mostly considered beneficial and deserving of protection, but part of the population still perceives owls as bad omens, powerful and scary; (ii) elementary concepts of raptors' importance in ecosystems are still unknown to many; (iii) a small but impactful percentage still deliberately kill house-nesting owls, outlining the need to educate and provide nest-boxes as a relocation solution. By performing a thorough review of historical perceptions toward owls, important insights are offered on how to positively connect people with their wildlife and cultural heritage. We claim that people who understand how nature was related to their country in the past are inspired and more inclined to protect it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidermis on the Parthenon sculptures refers to the orange-brown surface layer encountered on many Greek and Roman monuments, often called scialbatura, calcium oxalate film, patina, etc. Despite the open-ended debate on the origin of the epidermis, it delineates authentic surface because it preserves tangible evidence of ancient craftsmanship and, possibly, creative intent. Based on this premise, an analysis of the condition of the west frieze of the Parthenon was undertaken in 1992 before is was dismantled, based largely on photographic interpretation, which enabled the calculation of the rate of erosion during the twentieth century. The comparative photographic interpretation of geological characteristics and weathering patterns for Pentelic marble further serves to inform hypotheses on she progress of erosion. This same method was used to identify abrasion in terms of surface area incurred in 1937-38 on the Parthenon marbles in the British Museum, an intervention which has aroused great controversy in recent years. This paper documents that analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the author's experience of traveling around the world in 1974. He went to Athens wherein he doesn't experience any difficulty with the customs procedure, hotel reservation and others. The next day, he went to Piraeus for he wanted to have plenty of time for sailing to Paros but the steamer, Elli, was harbored bound by the storm in Naxos. Thus, he decided to go back to Athens and returned in Piraeus in the evening to fulfill his ambition of seeing the Aegean island.

Information about several papers discussed during the 2nd World Congress on Controversies in Neurology (CONy) held in Athens, Greece on October 23-26, 2008 is presented. The event is said to be an international congress dedicated to debates in several areas of neurology. It was attended by more than 1,200 participants who tackled issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson's disease, dementia, epilepsy and headache.

George Grote's History of Greece (1846–56) was instrumental in overturning the traditional view of Athens as an oppressive and corrupt society. In particular, Grote's rewriting of the story of the Athenian demagogue Cleon illustrates the difficulties he faced in attempting to argue for the legitimacy of popular government and popular rhetoric. His defense of Cleon—and more broadly, his defense of rhetorical democracy—helped to challenge the ascendancy of rhetoric as belles lettres and to stimulate the modern revival of Athenian popular rhetoric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The centrality of war, and its commemoration, to the political, social, and cultural history of classical Greece is widely acknowledged, but the subject has often been approached in a rather limited way. Attention has focused on democratic Athens, and interpretations of the available evidence have, in turn, concentrated on its function in creating and reinforcing a specifically Athenian and specifically democratic ideology. This article attempts to broaden that focus. Concentrating on late fifth-century monuments from three anti-democratic, and anti-Athenian, city-states (Megara,Tanagra, and Thespiae), it explores the complex pattern of similarity and difference which is visible in these monuments, and suggests that this pattern must be explained with reference to an equally complex network of social, cultural, and ideological factors. War memorials, by their nature, encourage monologic interpretations, but a closer engagement with a broader range of Greek commemorative material reveals the fluidity that underlies those dominant narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with the low-relief frieze classical art executed for the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis between 447 and 432 B.C.E. Reasons for the obscurity and attendant proliferation of interpretations on the frieze; Iconography; Possible meaning of the groupings of the gods on the frieze; Description of the frieze; Element of time; Influence.

Examines the significance of Elgin marbles in Parthenon, Athens, Greece. Cultural biography of the artefacts; Influence of sculptures on social and political reality; Contribution of Parthenon marbles on the Hellenic national project; Impact on social nationalism and cultural economy.

Identifies the different approaches used to identify the space and place of the genius loci, a symbolic locus of Western civilization, known as the Acropolis of Athens. Information on conflictual national and global interpretations of space and place; Comparison of landscaping by American school of classical studies and Greek architect Demetris Pikionis; Information on the genius loci.

Focuses on the rhetoric, possibility and status of women during ancient times in Athens, Greece. Areas of Athenian life in which Athenian women were not permitted to participate; Relationship between the rise of democracy within the city-state of Athens and the increased subordination of women; Benefits of characterizing the changing status of Athenian women as an overarching trend from relative inclusion to near total exclusion from the public sphere.