'Arise' project - Greek Mythology photobook by Tristan Dark

When we first heard from Marco Brunetti a photographer from Italy it was in the form of a customer request towards our website greek jewelry shop. But his request from us was far from usual. He wanted to create a work of art in the form of a photographic art-book in full tribulation to the gods of Greece, their origin and their more than notorious mischief and mysterious intertwining relationships.
As he wanted to use costumes and jewelry in true ancient Greek form, it was not such a surprise that he approached our website for some props. I was so amused and quite flattered that he wanted to do something truly beautiful and flattered that the fruit of his 2-3 year project would contain our jewelry that I invited him over to Greece and showed him the best I could of the monuments. What was intriguing was his persistence and vitality in this project which is finaly released and called 'ARISE'. Everything about this book is very stylized and indeed quite imaginative and should I say.. incredibly sexy! After visiting the Temple of Poseidon together for his research and spending a couple of nights in Delphi and , we could only become friends.

Marco clearly dignifies his aesthetic preference to the subject of the female Goddesses, while the infinite drama unfolds, characterized by endless cliff-hanging and symbolic dilemmas that Greek Mythology is so renown for. In Greek Mythology, everthing happens for a reason, characters are born and killed wisely or seductively or with jealousy or hate only to reveal a new state of philosophical being. Most names of Greek gods, particularly the Primal gods and Titans are the core univeral concepts (names) like eg. the Sky, the Sea and Earth. Their relationships critical to the existence a philosophy of embodied concepts and ideals such as the first western one, the Greek one.

Likewise to everything following a rationale in the Greek mythology, 'ARISE' has it's own unique reason for having finally been realized after several years of hard work. It is perhaps the first time I have seen a large format luxury edition extended study of mythology with a predominant approach on the aesthetic principles of Greek mythology. All through the eyes of an Italian photographer.
While the myth unfolds, Marco's eye is on the characters as an observer of these always passionate and tragic personas, the youth, the passion, the envy, the disaster, the fertility and the enigma which always gives birth to something new.
I hope you enjoy the preview photos of this outstanding production.

Arise website
Arise facebook page

It was a pleasant surprise to come across a beautiful set of electronic publications distributed openly on the internet about ancient Greek archaeological sites and museums. We invite all our friends who are interested in ancient Greece and would like to browse specific archaeological sites and museums before visiting (or others who are in the mood for some ancient Greek homework) to browse and enjoy!

The National Archaeological Museum

Author: Nikolaos Kaltsas 
Year Published : 2007
© Copyright: EFG Eurobank Ergasias S.A. / John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation
ISBN: 978-960-89339-2-7
Publisher: OLKOS
Pages: 464E-Book ENE-Book GR

More ebooks on Greek museums and archaeological sites..

• Samos: The archaeological museums
• Τhe Archaeological Museum of Pella
• Τhe Archaeological Museum of Thebes
• Marathon and the Archaeological Museum
• The Archaeological Museum of Olympia
• The National Archaeological Museum
• The Archaeological Museum of Delphi
• The Archaeological Museum of Herakleion
• The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
• Delos
• Elefsis: The Archaeological Site and the Museum
• The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
• The Acropolis Museum
• Greece at the Benaki Museum

The Hellenic Ministry of Culture has the copyright in these photographs and in the antiquities that constitute their subject and the Archaeological Receipts Fund receives the royalties from their (physical?) publication.

A stunning 3D tour of Athens

If you've never actually visited Greece or if you haven't been in a while, there's a stunning little gizmo here that will bring you a little closer! We particularly loved the natural 'Tzitziki' (Greek for Cicada) sound blended into the atmospheric audio that tends to put you right in that sunny dry summer mood that Greece is so divine for.. Ouzo is served with Octopus and Kalamari at noon... Sea you there!

Stunning virtual Athens tour

New product - Large faceted 'ionic' Greek-key motif earrings

Its not regularly that we promote or announce new products - namely because most of the 2000+ jewelry designs in the Greek Jewelry Shop range go back 3-4 generations in the Vaphiadis family history back to the early 1900's and the essence of our jewelry range is virtually timeless. In this sense there's nothing 'new' about this design that constitutes an exception - apart from the fact that it was added to our online store today following the request of a customer who browsed our entire catalogue and 'needed' these earrings for his wife for Christmas.. but this has been a great opportunity to say something about this sensational design.

I felt that the specific earrings - Timothy's 'find' in the full catalog section of our site - deserved not only to be added to our online store, but a special note. Upon reading his email we were actually baffled as to why we missed these earrings in our earlier selections and why we hadn't made these available in our earrings section far sooner!

These large glossy meander earrings have a distinctly feminine appeal in true Grecian style. Despite that their surface is curiously simple (ie, not covered with intricate detail like other Hellenistic rhythms), their incredibly simple and attractive silhouette embodies a pure feminine form in archetypical Greek rhythm - that one would most likely associate to being Ionic.

There is certainly a profoundly contemporary and modernistic feel derived from minimalist forms such as these, which revives the essence of classical Greek perception. A timelessness which is always current (much like in the case of an Ionic column) because of the 'wisdom' surrounding it's simplicity of form.

It is perhaps no coincidence that most professional and skilled designers today, whether in jewelry, architecture, fashion or even industrial design will most likely confess that it is a much greater challenge and more difficult to reduce a form to the essentials, than to add features - which often lead to clutter.

The fact that the Greek civilization achieved to reach the core essential, archetypical and fluid lines in their structures and art - is a reflection of the phenomenal advance which they also achieved in social sciences, politics, philosophy, fine art and theater. The principle of reduction (αφαίρεση = subtraction) alone leads to conclusions and a deeper understanding of nature and key motives which not only appeal to the senses but are building blocks in civilization.

Greek Jewelry Shop Product Link: Large faceted 'Ionic' Greek-Key motif earrings

Material: Sterling Silver

Length: Approx 4.6 cm in length (approx 1 3/4 inches)

GreekJewelryShop's jewelry collection visits Sydney on the 24th November with ancient Alexander treasures

We're happy to announce partnership with another one of the world's key museums. November 24th is the opening date for the first ever display on such large scale of Greek antiquities at the Australian Museum in Sydney lent from the permanent collection of the Hermitage. Apart from viewing one of the most significant collections of antiquities from the reign and era of Alexander the Great, visitors to this event from around the world will also be able to view and purchase a large collection of Ancient Greek Jewelry from our very own collection which will be the official merchandise at the Museum gift shop.
Over 400 significant ancient artifacts from the hermitage will be on show which are travelling in 3 different shipments from Russia for security purposes. The selection of our jewelry available for purchase at the gift shop consists of numerous Hellenistic jewelry and coinage jewelry in the form of rings, necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks and earrings.

Tickets and further information about the event are available from the dedicated Alexander in Sydney website

Eroica (heroically)

A nostalic composition by the sensational Marios Strofalis. The collection of photographs in the slide show depicts immense Hellenic personalities of the past - among others the one and only Konstantinos Kavafis, the brilliant Manos Hatjidakis, Nobel prize-winning poet Odysseas Elitis and George Seferis while it opens with rare photos from Athens in the 1920's.
Revisiting these hauntingly nostalgic images, if one has a familiarity and long connection with Greek people.. one cannot ignore the fact that however small the country, its impact on humanity is too often under-rated and that the survival and growth of Greece has never been an easy business.

Greece at its best has been a birthplace of culture and this has always been its wealth, its abundance.With a mythology so rich embedded in its very language, with the understanding of the compassion, the anger and even the fears of 'the gods', there's no comedy or tragedy that you can teach a Greek nor can you better explain the concept of irony to him. The mere meaning of democracy and tyranny,
the difference between syp-pathy, em-pathy and anti-pathy
poly-nomy, auto-nomy and anti-nomy,
mono-poly, duo-poly and oligo-poly
pluto-cracy vs demo-cracy vs theo-cracy
and hundreds if not thousands of concepts more that are Greek principles by birthright that have evenhandedly gifted the rest of the world with their own wealth.

Claiming that Greeks also have to make excellent bankers, financial analysts and politicians is like expecting all people to be the same when they are not. Almost like giving little mirrors and bangles away to an indigenous people in south America who are nomads and years later expecting them to be like you, dress like you and talk like you. Greeks are apparently also a little different. While Anglo-Saxon cultures have excelled in banking and insurance, the Greeks have freely gifted them most of the words and concepts which their contracts are worded with.

But apparently there is some trade-off...
The current sticky situation in Greece is an ugly one but not a new one for the Hellenes who have spent their entire existence conquering and being conquered and cycling between rise and declines. The test of time shows that after Nemesis (Νέμεσις) has washed away the Hubris ('Υβρις) there will again come a peaceful time for the Hellenes and they will stand on their feet again. The question is will Europe be able to eventually see through its 'defeat' and embody new meanings to its new state when Greek words have finished.

Hot discounts at the hottest time of year!

Its that time of year again when our skilled artisans simply deserve to spend quality time with their families after a hard year's work!
The heat is on in Greece for good.. in more than the Celsius scale! And rest is the best way to prepare before another battle this September. The sky is blue, the sea is soothing and there's nothing new to us-Greeks about comedy and tragedy - all an inseparable part of life.

While we're on a break, and dipping in the rich Aegean blue waves, your orders get a bonus of 25% off all our prices - That means that by waiting to receive the items just a little longer, you get an incredible 1/4 of our prices off for your valued custom!

Customer service will still be open to answer any customer questions by email.

Details about how to participate in this super-deal can be found at special discounts and promotion codes (the offer is 25% at the time of publishing but will finish if you wait longer than August 20th or so)

An old house entrance on the island of Kythnos