Latest news with #Aeschylus
Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The historic Italian city packed with culture — and the hottest tickets in town
As dusk falls over Sicily, two siblings embrace. She is convulsed by emotion; she thought he was dead. He holds her as she falls to the floor. It's a moment of intense intimacy and fierce privacy — or was, until the air swells with applause. There are 5,000 people watching them, sitting where, nearly 2,500 years ago, their ancestors might have perched to watch this sibling drama play out in the ancient Greek Theatre of Syracuse, southeastern Sicily's cultural centre. And nearly all of them are clapping. This is a relationship that has transfixed people for two millennia. She is Electra, he is Orestes. Their dad was murdered; they will take revenge on their guilty mum and stepdad, but not before Electra has lamented her fate with Hamlet-style soliloquies. Sophocles wrote Electra in about 420BC. Back then drama was for the people — literally 'hoi polloi' — who piled into theatres across Greece and its growing diaspora to watch tragedies and comedies that tied them to their roots. Today, watching Greek drama is an elite cultural event, says Daniele Pitteri — except for here in Syracuse, where, each year, today's hoi polloi descend on the archaeological park behind the city centre to watch ancient Greek drama in an ancient Greek theatre; one where Plato once saw a show, and for which Aeschylus wrote a tragedy. Pitteri is the superintendent of the Istituto Nazionale del Dramma Antico (INDA), or the National Institute of Classical Drama. It was founded in 1913 by Mario Tommaso Gargallo, a local aristocrat who wanted to stage ancient Greek works in this, the world's oldest theatre outside Greece. At the time it was a bizarre proposition. The theatre hadn't been used in centuries; its former Spanish rulers had used it as a quarry and a milling area. The only tragedies involved the workers and donkeys who laboured here. But Gargallo liked the idea of performing ancient plays in their original location. A century on, INDA's annual summer of Greek drama draws theatre lovers from across the globe. The quality is top-notch — the actors are Italian stage stars, the directors from top national and international theatres — but what makes it special is that link with hoi polloi: theatre for everyone, as it was in Sophocles' day. For my two nights of tragedy, the audience was as Sicilian as an Etna rosso wine. 'Here she is!' my neighbour hissed when Electra first emerged. A café owner reportedly refused to charge the season's other star for coffee with the immortal words: 'In my bar Oedipus drinks for free.' Running from May to July, INDA produces both tragedies and comedies — this year Electra and Oedipus at Colonus (both Sophocles) have been joined by Aristophanes' Lysistrata. It's all in Italian but English scripts are available (swerve the simultaneous translation — it's a discombobulating AI voice), and you should try to sit in the lower tiers. Of course Syracuse is one big cultural performance in itself, but not yet as touristy as Taormina, 75 miles up the coast. By day the theatre is part of the Neapolis Archaeological Park (£12; Time compresses here; the theatre itself is a gumbo of Greek and Roman repairs; Caravaggio visited the classical prisons in 1608. In situ until October, monumental sculptures — think a fallen Icarus — by the 20th-century Polish artist Igor Mitoraj remind us of the fragility of man, exactly as Sophocles did 2,400 years ago. • 17 of the best hotels in Sicily for 2025 You can thank the ancient Corinthians for Syracuse's Greek heritage. In 734BC they colonised the island of Ortigia, hovering just off Sicily's mainland, 60 miles south of Mount Etna. The subsequent influx of cultures — Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Normans, Spanish, Italians — layered Ortigia as neatly as a Sicilian parmigiana. Syracuse's cathedral was originally a Greek temple, its chapels wedged between Doric columns, its open colonnades filled in by the Byzantines and its façade all frothy baroque. It's a place so heavily holy that not even sitting next to Whoopi Goldberg at Mass once could distract me (£2; Outside in the piazza, stairs lead down to subterranean Greek aqueducts that were rejigged by the fascists into Second World War air-raid shelters (donation requested). There are more Greek tunnels turned shelters (including graffiti showing British and German bombers) below the church of San Filippo Apostolo, which probably replaced Ortigia's synagogue after Sicily's Spanish rulers expelled the Jews in 1492 (£5; @giudeccasotteranea). Down an alley, wallowing 18m underground, is the 6th-century mikveh, or ritual Jewish baths, sculpted from a Greek cistern by a community that had arrived in Syracuse 300 years earlier. There's early Christian history too. St Paul is said to have preached by the frescoed San Giovanni catacombs (£12; while St Lucy is said to have been martyred in AD304 where the church of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro now stands. There are catacombs below (£9; but here it's best to whirl forward 1,300 years to 1608, when an on-the-run Caravaggio sheltered in Syracuse. His bleak, catacomb-set painting The Burial of St Lucy still hangs behind the altar (free; Again, time concertinas as people in jeans and T-shirts stop to pray in front of it, as they have for 417 years. The modern era calls — and not just the shopping mall by the Greek necropolis. Erected between 1966 and 1994, the Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime is a church that looks like a spaceship. Syracuse's fanciest hotel, the Ortea Palace, is a telegram from 1920, built as the city's behemoth post office in proto-fascist style; today it offers guests calligraphy lessons and dresses its bar with leaves of locally grown papyrus. As for the coastal path around Ortigia, which offers views of Etna on clear days, that's timeless. Ciauru Anticu is my favourite restaurant. Here, the chef Daniele Genovese brings out the best of Sicilian ingredients with his simple dishes, not least a world-class garlic-roasted bream (mains from £16; @ciauruanticuortigiarestaurant). It was Teresa Grande, his maître d', who persuaded me back in March that I could no longer postpone a trip to the theatre; she's gone every year since she was 16. When I returned last month, she brought intel as well as bream. 'People are crying,' she whispered about Oedipus at Colonus. The next night, tears rolled down 5,000 cheeks — including mine — as, offstage, Oedipus died. Later I saw the actor striding into a restaurant for dinner. I would have offered him a coffee, but I knew hoi polloi had that covered. This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Julia Buckley was a guest of the Ortea Palace Hotel, Sicily, Autograph Collection, which has B&B doubles from £256 ( Fly to Catania. The theatre season ends on July 6; one-off music and dance performance on July 17; tickets for 2026 (featuring Sophocles's Antigone, Aeschylus's The Persians and Euripides's Alcestis) go on sale in October (from £21; The north slopes of Etna are fast becoming one of Italy's most exciting wine regions and one of the loveliest vineyards is the family-owned Cottanera. In 2023 the Cambria family turned their own vineyard villa into a 13-room retreat — four rooms in the main villa and nine in the farm buildings next door. Surrounded by vines — bedrooms overlook lines of nerello mascalese grapes — it's a place of heavy peace. Aperitivo hour means glasses of home-brewed flaming Etna rosso and home-cooked food by the chef Paola, while daytimes are for the infinity pool melting into the vines, and tastings at Cottanera HQ, further up the B&B doubles from £179 ( Clifftop Taormina has been blighted by its own beauty in recent years — the town is frighteningly full. That's where Mazzarò comes in. The beach resort town at the foot of Taormina is full of seafront hotels, including this offbeat five-star, sculpted from the cliff itself, which debuted in the 1960s as an Atlantis-themed resort. Rooms have been modernised but some things stay the same: the cave-like corridors, balconies hoisted over the blue and direct access to the twinkling sea. Three minutes' walk away is a cable car whisking you up to B&B doubles from £343 ( Who knew life on a volcano was so delightful? Up here, on Etna's eastern flank, you're between the sea, sparkling in the distance, and the mountain, which rumbles overhead. But you're in your own, 25-hectare Eden here — a biodynamic farm and vineyard with Relais & Châteaux bungalows set discreetly along terraces, sunloungers under olive and fruit trees, and bees buzzing overhead as you slop into your private plunge pool or swim in the main garden pool. Talk about la dolce B&B doubles from £516 ( to Catania
Kiwiblog
08-06-2025
- General
- Kiwiblog
Why economists should like booze
The Economist writes: Consider the economics of the restaurant industry. Alcohol offers higher profit margins than food as it requires less labour to prepare. Indeed, using official American data, your columnist estimates that booze accounts for all the profits of the restaurant industry. Drinkers subsidise non-drinkers. Those who order sparkling water can feel sanctimonious in the short run. But if no one orders a bottle of Bordeaux, many restaurants will go under. Be interesting if this data is the same for New Zealand. Second, abstinence makes people lonelier. For centuries alcohol has served a social function. It helps people relax. Taking a drink also signals to others that you are happy to be slower and more vulnerable—that you have left your weapon at the door—which puts them at ease. A study from 2012 in Psychological Science found that alcohol increases social bonding. Robin Dunbar of Oxford University and colleagues find that frequenting a pub improves how engaged people feel with their community, in turn raising life satisfaction. It is not a stretch to say that alcohol has played a big evolutionary role in fostering human connection. Many couples credit alcohol, at least in part, for bringing them together. So it may not be a coincidence that the alcohol-shunning young are lonely. People do drink to relax and socialise. For centuries creative folk, from Aeschylus to Coleridge to Dickens, have relied on alcohol for inspiration. In the 1960s, when productivity was soaring, everyone was drunk all the time. No other drug has played such a consistent role in human innovation. Being intoxicated opens up the possibility of accidents of insight. Purely rational, linear minds have fewer of the flashes of brilliance that can turn an art form or an industry upside-down. It allows brains to disconnect. A study of American painters in 1946 by Ann Roe of Yale University noted that 'a nightly cocktail before dinner may contribute to the avoidance of a state of chronic tension, especially…when creative activity is at its height.' Studies suggest that alcohol, deployed judiciously, can aid the creative process. Andrew Jarosz of Mississippi State University and colleagues have found that intoxicated people solved problems faster and 'were more likely to perceive their solutions as the result of a sudden insight'. Fascinating.
Business Recorder
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Who won the war?
'In war, truth is the first casualty.' This quote is commonly attributed to the great Greek philosopher Aeschylus, but US Senator Hiram Johnson is purported to have uttered these words sometime in 1918. However, Aeschylus' name has been hammered so much while using this quote that the truth has taken a back seat. The same applies to history, especially the war history, where 'we' always win and 'you' lose. The brief four-day Pakistan-India conflict of May 2025 is yet another example, where the truth appears to have vanished in the poisonous fog of claims and counterclaims, allegations and counter-allegations. Interestingly, the two archenemies have huge claims not just about the war, but ceasefire too. The masses on both sides of the great divide stand confused about how to separate facts from fiction. Let's try to make sense of this short clash, having repercussions not only on the region but beyond it. Who won this 'war'? A simple answer: China Although China did not directly take part in it, the Chinese technology did prove its mettle. In fact, it was the first time that advanced Chinese weapons were tested in a real conflict against cutting-edge western technology. And indeed, the Chinese impressed friends and foes alike. Now along with the economic rise of China, the US-led Western bloc will also have to worry about its technological advancement. As far as Pakistan and India are concerned, they both are claiming victory. But the fact is that, India failed to cower down Pakistan. India's hardline Hindu extremist government, suffering from an acute megalomania, thought Pakistan would prove a pushover. But the game turned the other way. Even the international media acknowledged Pakistan's air superiority – thanks to the Chinese technology – and its kills. While the Indian side is mum about its losses, the Pakistanis boast downing three French-made Rafael and three other combat aircraft. There are no two opinions about the losses suffered by the Indian side. Independent sources also confirm that at least two Rafale fighter planes have been shot down, but this does not mean that there are no others. Both Pakistan and India claim that the rival approached the United States for a ceasefire. The US leadership, which in the wake of simmering tensions in South Asia, had maintained that it had nothing to do with conflict, suddenly jumped to act as a peacemaker. President Donald Trump took the lead and took the credit of brokering a ceasefire, though he did not provide any details. For many, an incomplete truth is more dangerous than a lie. CNN's Nick Robertson reported that India requested a ceasefire from the US President after the intensity of Pakistani counterattack. But the Indians now deny this. Chinese technology proves its mettle: a cyberwar Can fighter planes' navigation systems be hacked? Can missiles or UAVs be blinded and re-guided? Has China's mysterious technology left the West behind? Is it a non-kinetic warfare era, or we may call it Cyberwar? After the latest Pakistan-India clash, many big questions hover before the world, especially the western powers. On the Pakistan side, J-10C and PL-15 missiles and on other side Rafale fighters and Brahmos missiles with S-400 system. In the wee hours of May 7, the world witnessed the biggest battle in the skies after World War-II, that would long be reviewed and scrutinised by defence experts the world over. This was the first time in history that the Chinese weapons were used in a war. The state-of-the-art Chinese technology and the skills of the Pakistan Air Force stunned the world. China is all set to emerge as a major player in the global arms market, challenging the monopoly of the US and European weapon manufacturers. Beside terms like 'soft kill' and 'hard kill,' many relatively new phrases including 'electronic warfare', 'spectrum warfare operations', 'cyber and space domains', 'stand of weapons', 'microwave weapon', 'spoofing & jamming', the 'multimodel warfare' – all became the buzz words on the traditional and new media. We also learnt that this technological warfare was just a glimpse of the actual super-tech cyber warfare era. Journalist versus jokers The Indian media, which usually remains successful in creating a global narrative against Pakistan, badly flopped in this round. The kind of madness and hysterics witnessed on the Indian news channels find no place in serious journalism. Its anchorpersons and analysts appeared more like inexperienced jokers who even can't perform their acts of folly in style and convincingly. The theatrically and propagandist style of the Indian media failed to convince the world or build even a logical narrative. Performers including Arnab Goswami, Amish Devgan, Rubika Liaquat, Anjana Om Kashyap, Smita Prakash, Sudhir Chaudhry and Barkha Dutt put up a bad show as they plunged into shallow emotionalism and blurted out fake news. Despite their limitation and absence of English-language news channels, it is for the first time that Pakistan's mainstream and social media made an impact on the global forums. The same kind of difference was witnessed in the military briefings of both the countries. The Pakistani appeared confident, logical and mature compared to their Indian counterparts. Actions speak louder than words Many hidden facts about this conflict would emerge with the passage of time, but whatever is available bust the Indian narrative and claims. Firstly, India's global position has suffered a serious blow. India, which is the World's fifth-largest economy and vying for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, failed to emerge as a decisive force in its own backyard. Its ambitions to be seen as a counterweight to China on the back of the support of the US-led Western bloc also lies shattered. Going forward, India's western sponsors would be wary of putting all their eggs in the Indian basket. India, doused in anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan hate and carrying the banner of the extremist Hindutva ideology, has proved that it is no match to China. Setbacks for India India always took a stance that Kashmir remains an internal affair and refused any mediation on this issue. But its misadventure has internationalized the Kashmir issue once again. To the much chagrin of India, it is now clear that ceasefire has been brokered under the US pressure, and President Trump has offered his good offices to settle the Kashmir issue. Now Washington is also pushing for negotiations between the two countries at a neutral venue. Obviously, Pakistan will make the best use of this opportunity to internationalize the Kashmir issue, while India would resist and focus only on the alleged cross-border terrorism which Islamabad firmly denies. Secondly, India's status as a regional power vis-à-vis China has severely been damaged. As India's military capability against Pakistan stands exposed, China has proved its superiority from the shadows. The third important point is that India has increasingly become isolated even in its neighbourhood. It is at odds not just with Pakistan and China, but beside Afghanistan and Iran, Bangladesh has also taken an independent line. Its relations with Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives are also challenging. While, clear stance of Türkiye and Azerbaijan during the war is an indication that China's allies in the world are increasing. Fourthly, Pakistan's image in the region and in the global context has improved significantly, while India's reputation has taken a major jolt. The Modi government also faces a growing tide of opposition within the country as secular Indians, including key religious minorities, are out to challenge Hindutva politics. The upcoming Bihar elections will prove an acid test for this phenomenon. On a concluding note, the remarks of Indian Gen. P.R. Shankar (retd) that the Pakistanis used the Chinese weapons better than the Chinese should bring a smile on the faces of many Pakistanis. The Indian general said: 'I always said (that) between the Chinese and Pakistan, I (would) prefer to fight the Chinese because Pakistanis are good at fighting, even you can see it now.' There can be no greater success than winning a praise from the enemy. But aren't the Indians misjudging the Chinese as they misjudged the Pakistanis? A point to ponder. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Classical Greek era to Hollywood affairs: History and evolution of the magical red carpet
(Image Credits: Pinterest) Award shows or events have become the epitome of celebration, glamour, and recognition across the globe, with personalities in dazzling gowns and sharp tuxedos. These events have become more than just honouring the talented; they are all about showcasing the latest style trends and turning fashion into an art form. However, amidst the paparazzi shots, one thing that remains the same is the inclusion of a vibrant red carpet. To understand how red carpets became so popular in the fashion and entertainment world, it's necessary for us to go back 2,480 years and enter the ancient Greek world. (Image Credits: Pinterest) The first mention of the red carpet The most popular version of the origin of the red carpet is linked to Greek playwright Aeschylus, who mentioned a red carpet showcase in 'Agamemnon', released in 458 BC. It is said that in 'Agamemnon', Clytemnestra, the wife of the main protagonist, speaks all about the floor turning red with crimson broideries for the King's path. However, some fashion historians come with a point of contention, calling the shade to be rather purple. The text translated in simple English from a verse of Agamemnon states, 'Cover the ground for the king to walk soon with the red carpet. Let all the ground be red where his feet pass, and justice, previously absent, bring him home to the hearth he bought; he would never return to.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo Was the shade always red? Many historians still believe that the shade was purple, rather than red, as it was a rare colour because of its expensive pigment and was known as 'tyrant purple'. Described as the royal colour after the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, it simply changed to a deep purplish red called 'blata' by the Greeks. It means 'the colour of coagulated blood'. During the first Elizabethan era in England, the colour purple was soon reserved only for royalty. However, till the 1760s, royals started to use deeper shades of purple, which transformed into maroon using red dyes, and till the 19th century, the vibrant shade of red became a symbol of status. 10 Indian saris every woman should have in her wardrobe The red carpet treatment The red carpet treatment soon landed in modern society, with popular European aristocrats using it to elicit their status in society via hosting extravagant balls and fashion events. It soon became a widespread practice and was adopted in various social circles, used for events such as weddings, receptions, art shows, and balls. A full-blown red carpet event included carriages arriving with elite class members in chic gowns, with the printed press covering the happenings in newspapers. The red carpet, therefore, became a symbol of status for the elite, something the commoners had no access to. (Image Credits: Pinterest) Then Hollywood happened Theatre magnate Sid Grauman, founder of the Chinese and Egyptian theatres in Los Angeles, was the first person to use a red carpet for a Hollywood premiere in 1922. To promote his $1 million film 'Robin Hood', he went all out and hosted a red carpet event with stars ascending and media capturing their appearances. Red carpet and the fashion industry During the 1994 Golden Globes red carpet, actress Joan Rivers was asked a simple question, 'Who are you wearing?', and since then, a red carpet moment has become an essential part of every fashion event. The late '90s and early 2000s saw the peak of red-carpet fashion, where women loved to talk about their designers, silhouettes, and inspirations. This worked like lightning in bottles for the labels as well, with media covering every little detail. (Image Credits: Pinterest) Soon, fashion brands became more invested in the red carpet business and saw the moment as a good advertising opportunity. In 2019, the Cannes Film Festival red carpets generated around $101 million in media impact value for multiple designer labels and brands, making the fashion industry happier than ever. However, the introduction of social media and paparazzi culture is to blame for the decline of chic red carpet affairs, but major award nights in India and globally still use a bright red carpet, taking us back to the retro Hollywood days. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Truth remains the first casualty in India-Pakistan conflict
Propaganda from both sides obscures facts in the India-Pakistan air battle, raising global concern over Chinese weapons' effectiveness. Indian soldiers sit inside a vehicle in Wuyan near Indian-administered Kashmir's main city of Srinagar after a loud explosion was heard on May 7, 2025. The death toll from Indian strikes on Pakistan has increased to eight, the country's military spokesman said on May 7, as India fired missiles at Pakistani territory and Islamabad vowed to 'settle the score'. (Photo by TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP) In war, truth is the first casualty. That's a saying attributed to Aeschylus, the father of Greek tragedy. And nowhere is that more true than in the current conflict between India and Pakistan in the disputed Kashmir region, which is split between both countries. When it comes to fiercely nationalistic propaganda, which puts facts in a distant second place to opinion, the military and the media in India and Pakistan are as bad as each other. That is why it is so difficult to make head or tail of the events of last week and, specifically, the major air battle which took place in Kashmir and which is claimed to have been the biggest of its kind since World War II. Each side claimed victory and to have shot down fighter aircraft belonging to the enemy, while the Indians also crowed about heavy damage to Pakistani military installations. Why the battle is being looked at so closely – especially by the military and experts in the West – is that it is being seen as a weapons proving ground. ALSO READ: India and Pakistan agree to ceasefire after days of attacks The most pertinent question being asked is: how effective were the Chinese-supplied weapons systems in the hands of the Pakistanis? Islamabad claimed it had shot down a number of French-made Dassault Rafale multirole fighters from the Indian Air Force – a claimed denied by Delhi. However, photographs taken of the wreckage of at least one aircraft which went down in Indian territory indicate it could be from a Rafale. Why this is important is because, on the Pakistani side, much of the upgrades of its air defence system have been with Chinese-supplied aircraft, missiles and electronic warfare components. The Pakistanis claimed their electronic jamming and radar capability was the reason for their successes – a claim also rejected by India. ALSO READ: Dozens killed as India and Pakistan clash in worst violence in decades What experts did point out was the beyond visual range engagements between the two sides' aircraft required long-range, air-to-air missiles and that the Chinese weapons had the edge, in terms of range, over the Nato-standard ones used on the Rafale. While the truth of the engagement is still elusive, the military planners of the West must at least be a bit worried about how well the Chinese ground and air systems integrated in Pakistan. At the very least, what happened over Kashmir means that Chinese technology can no longer be written off as a threat because of its alleged copycat and poorly made nature. The battle also showed that front-line Russian aircraft, like the MiG-29 and Sukhoi SU-30 – used by the Indians – could also find themselves well matched by Chinese fighters like the J-10, with its PL-15 long-range missiles. It also showed that there is now another major player in the international arms bazaar – Beijing. This will further alter the weapons balance long dominated by the West. ALSO READ: Pakistan tests missile weapons system amid India standoff Players like Türkiye, with its world-leading armed drones and Iran, which is supplying missiles to the Houthis in Yemen, are further adding to the mix. Ironically, South Africa could have also been a significant player in this world had not our arms manufacturing and export industry been steadily eroded by the corruption of ANC cadre deployment. Had this not happened, we might today be the equal of Türkiye at least and with the range of products to rival the Chinese industry. Of course, while the morality of having a major defence sector is open to debate, what is not is the fact that it cements a country's manufacturing base and creates thousands of jobs.
