Greece

The island group of Santorini (Thera) is the most well-known and active volcanic centre of the Hellenic (Greek) Volcanic Arc in the south Aegean Sea. It is a complex stratovolcano with a large caldera created by several large explosive eruptions. The different products of 2 million years of volcanic activity have accumulated around a small non-volcanic basement that once formed a small island similar to the other islands. Most of the volcanic layers are visible in the multi-colored sequences of the impressive steep inner walls of the caldera, striking the visitor who reaches the island by boat.

The Minoan eruption of Thera, (Santorini or Thera eruption), was a major catastrophic volcanic eruption which is estimated to have occurred in the mid second millennium BCE. It was one of the largest volcanic events on Earth in recorded history. The eruption seems to have inspired certain Greek myths and may have caused turmoil in Egypt. It has also been suggested previously that the effects of this eruption led to a number of the Ten Plagues of Moses in the Holy Bible, chief among them being the so-called “rain of fire”. Additionally, it has been speculated that the destruction of the city at Akrotiri provided the basis for or otherwise inspired Plato's story of Atlantis.

Kevrekidis Photography at deviantART

© 2009 Jordan Kevrekidis

The Tower of the Winds on the Roman Agora
and Lycabettus Hill in the background.
Athens – Greece.

The Tower of the Winds (Aerides) or Horologion (timepiece) of Andronicos is an octagonal tower representing the eight directions of the wind. The structure is 12 m tall with a diameter of about 8 m and was topped in antiquity by a weathervane-like Triton that indicated the wind direction. It stands on a base of three steps and is built of white Pentelic marble. It has a conical roof, a cylindrical annex on the south side, and two Corinthian porches. The frieze depicts the eight wind deities: Boreas (N), Kaikias (NE), Eurus (E), Apeliotes (SE), Notus (S), Livas (SW), Zephyrus (W), and Skiron (NW). There are eight sundials on the external walls and an elaborate waterclock (clepsydra) in the interior, driven by water coming down from the Acropolis. It was supposedly built by the Greek astronomer Andronicus of Cyrrhus (Kyrrhos of Syria or Macedonia) around 50 BC, but according to other sources might have been constructed in the 2nd century BC before the rest of the forum. The monument had been half-buried by the earth accumulated over the centuries. It was excavated between 1837 and 1845 by the Greek Archaeological Society.

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©2009 Jordan Kevrekidis

Aegean Sea – Greece

Kevrekidis Photography at deviantART

©2009 Jordan Kevrekidis

Immigration in Greece has emerged as one of the major social issues with serious political and economic repercussions. The largest group of immigrants residing in Greece comes from ex communist countries.

There are more than 1 million immigrants in Greece (equivalent to 10% of the population) mostly from Albania, followed by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Pakistan, India, Egypt, Iraq, Kurdistan, Philippines and many African counties.

Wages in Greece for work in the black market are 3 to 6 times higher than standard wages in their home countries. Yet, they have to live their lives in the insecurity and the constant fear of being deported. Since Greece has declared that is not an immigration country, there is hardly any state infrastructure to help immigrants integrate in the Greek society.

Kevrekidis Photography at deviantART

©2009 Jordan Kevrekidis

Eretria is located on the western coast of the island of Euboea (Evia), facing the coast of Attica across the narrow Euboian Gulf.
The earliest surviving mention of Eretria was by Homer in the Iliad, who listed Eretria as one of the Greek cities which sent ships to the Trojan War.
The modern town of Eretria was established in 1824, after the Greek independence, and is now a popular beachside resort.

Kevrekidis Photography at deviantART

©2009 Jordan Kevrekidis