A true citizen of the world, singer and songwriter, Georges Moustaki, died yesterday at the age of 79, suffering from a chronic illness.

Born in Alexandria to a family of Greek Sephardic Jews from Corfu, Moustaki moved to Paris in 1951 where he changed his name to Georges in honour of his idol, singer-songwriter and poet, Georges Brassens.

He collaborated as a songwriter with Edith Piaf, Dalida, Françoise Hardy, Barbara, France Gall, and Cindy Daniel, whereas in the mid-60s he became known as a solo artist with songs such as the immigrant ballad Le Meteque [VIDEO] and Ma Liberté [VIDEO] – a tribute to the free spirit of the 60s.

“A wandering Jew with the face of a Greek shepherd”, as he used to describe himself, Moustaki performed many of Manos Hatzidakis’songs in French, whereas in 1970 he featured in the film Nous sommes Deux by Roviros Manthoulis, singing in French the prison songs by Mikis Theodorakis.

His songs are tribute to poetic simplicity and human values.

The ancient Greek festival of Thesmophoria will be revived in Athens today, at the Acropolis Museum, followed by a two-day event, in an effort to promote culture, gastronomy, tourism and agricultural products in a comprehensive package. The event is organised by the Rural Development & Food ministry, in collaboration with the Tourism ministry, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) and the Hellenic Folklore Research Centre of the Academy of Athens. 

Visitors to the Acropolis Museum will have the opportunity to taste Greek food made from agricultural products of exceptional quality, while on May 26, products from different regions of Greece that make up the "Greek Breakfast," will be presented, as well as the “Cycladic Cheese Palet" initiative, followed by cheese and wine tastings. 

• Thesmophoria in Antiquity

In ancient times, Thesmophoria was the most popular of festivals honouring Demeter and her daughter Persephone, where only women took part. During the festival, women would gather at the shrine of Demeter, thus getting the chance to spend a few days away from home. Its nucleus was the distinction of the sexes and the formation of a union of women, in order to emphasize the importance of female fertility both for the community and the land. In Athens, the Thesmophoria lasted three days and followed a special ritual.

Their spouses were not only obliged to consent to their women attending the festival, but also had to cover their expenses. They were not, however, allowed to attend or spy at the proceedings and were severely punished if they did so.


Equally, virgins were not allowed to participate; as to the hetairae or female slaves ... well, it is a moot point. The great comic playwright and poet of antiquity, Aristophanes, parodied the festival in the play Thesmophoriazusae, but did not give much detail about the festival itself.

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With around 1,300 inhabitants, Astypalaia is a small island in the southern Aegean Sea, geographically and culturally laying in-between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese island complexes, administratively belonging to the latter.

Chora, the island’s main settlement, lies atop a rocky hill overseeing the boundless blue and the several islets that spread around Astypalaia. Chora’s landscape is dominated by the Venetian castle of Querini, restored in the 16th century. Emblematic traditional Cycladic-style whitewashed structures lie around it.

Chora is located between the old port of Pera Yalos and the rough downhill slope which leads to Livadi. Pera Yalos offers a beautiful clean beach, where one can take a quick dip and then enjoy traditional coffee or lunch at the little cafés and taverns right above.


The Archaeological Museum and the church of St. Nickolas, easily noticeable by its pale blue dome, are must-visits in the village. Livadi has the only organized beach on the island offering an abundance of alternatives for entertainment, crystal-clear waters and facilities for water sports at only 3 km from Chora.


Maltezana or Analipsi is the second largest settlement of the island deriving its name, most probably, from the Maltese pirates who used to anchor their ships in the area. Maltezana is situated across from Chora. Astypalaia boasts a rich cultural calendar, including local folk celebrations, especially during the summer months, as well as lots of opportunities for alternative tourism. 

• History & Mythology