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efhernandez_

Active member
A friend of mine actually brought this up to me. There has been recent discussion that the existence of the secret schools (krifa sxolia), where Greek children were allegedly taught how to read and write in Greek during the Ottoman Empire is actually a bit contested. Some scholars say that the Ottoman Empire never actually forbid Greek people from teaching the language, and that the secret schools didn't really exist in the way that we were taught. Others say that the Ottoman Empire forbid any Greek nationalism and that the schools were not teaching the language but were teaching Greeks about how to revolt against the empire in secret.
 

k_tsoukalas

Moderator
I didn't know that this was something that existed, but it's very interesting. I would like to learn more! I know that there were tons of secret churches.
 

What is considered Modern Greece?

So, I always assumed that Modern Greece referred to the time period starting with the War for Independence.

Then, Ancient Greece, I always assumed, ended in BC times.

What about all those periods in between? Is this too simplistic of a way to look at it? How do people classify all the phases of Greek history?

Seeing Ancient Greek Artifacts in the United States...

I just recently visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and bumped into a Greek exhibit. It was very cool... Whenever I am in a museum in the United States (or outside of Greece for that matter) I don't really think about seeking out the Greek artifacts.

The exhibit at the MFA was really cool, and it got me thinking about visiting other museums in other parts of the country. Are there any standout exhibits elsewhere in the United States related to Ancient Greece that I can check out? I would imagine cities like Chicago, New York, etc might have something?

History of the tradition of decorating boats for Christmas

One of the most interesting Greek Christmas traditions to me is the one where people decorate boats. So, I started to research the history. Here's a bit of what I discovered:

The roots of the tradition of decorating boats in Greece for Christmas can be traced back to the country's longstanding ties with the sea. In Ancient Greece, people would often looked to the sea for both sustenance and inspiration, and it was not uncommon for ships to be adorned with religious symbols and decorations.

It also has ties to early Christianity in Greece. According to Greek Orthodox beliefs, Saint Nicolas (aka Santa Claus) was a sailor, and he is the patron saint of sailors. Decorating boats is often seen as a way to honor him.

Over time, this practice became associated with the Christmas season, and the boats began to be decorated specifically for the holiday.

People also make paper boats to decorate. Some call these the "yule boat" or karavaki. One of the most famous examples of this practice is the Yule boat, or karavaki.

The earliest known evidence of decorating boats for Christmas in Greece dates back to the 19th century. During this time, sailors would deck out their boats with lights and tiny boats. These tiny boats were often placed inside the larger boat, symbolizing protection from harm while at sea.

Does anyone have anything to add?

Information About Alexander the Great

I have always been fascinated by Alexander the Great. I have this sense that depending on how you look at what he did, you could see it differently.

Sure, he conquered and spread hellenism. But what about the place he conquered? How did they feel? I am guessing not very favorable towards him.

If found this documentary on YouTube created by the history channel. I thought I'd watch it. I found it interesting and wanted to share.

For Ancient Greeks, Our Modern Democracy is an Oligarchy.

Share and discuss Greek history!

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