Dr Siddharth Gupta being presented monograph authored by ATINER President Dr. Gregory T. Papanikos at Annual International Conference on Health & Medical Sciences held at Athens, Greece
Athens Institute for Education & Research (ATINER) is an association of academics and researchers. It was initiated in Ottawa (Canada) in the mid 1980’s, established in Toronto in 1900 before its statutory establishment in Athens (Greece) in 1995. An independent association with a mission to become a forum where academics and researchers from all over the world could meet in Athens and exchange ideas on their research and discuss the future developments of their discipline.
Athens was chosen as the meeting place for ATINER because of its long history and culture. Athens is not simply the capital of the Greek state; it is a symbol of historical and national memory, the heart of the economic, social and cultural life of the country, as well as its political centre.
Once regarded as the bright-shining star of the ancient world, peerless in all spheres of human activity, and in one and the same period, Athens was home to many important figures such as the tragic poets Sophocles and Euripides, the comic poet Aristophanes, the sculptor Phidias, the philosophers Socrates, Plato, Xenophon and many others. Athens was also the birthplace of the only true democracy in the world, where all decisions were made on the basis of popular vote. Here was created a civilization of unique quality, which even today, so many centuries later, and nurtures mankind.
The organizing and hosting of International Conferences and Symposiums, as well as Research and Publications are the regular activities of ATINER. Since 1995, ATINER has organized more than 400 International conferences and other events. Academically, the association is organized into seven research divisions and thirty-nine research units. At present, ATINER has 1200 members from more than 100 different countries. Each research unit organizes at least an Annual International Conference and undertakes various small and large research projects.
While in Athens, visit to Acropolis is a must. Acropolis means the highest point. Almost all Greek cities had their acropolis or citadel. During ancient times, there were sanctuaries and inhabitants felt safe in times of war.
Athens was no exception to this rule and from the prehistoric era had its own Acropolis, which even today is the paramount reference point of ancient Hellenic civilization and symbol of the city of Athens. In the Archaic period, the temple of Athena known as ‘Archaios Naos’ which means ‘old temple’ and the Archaic Parthenon were built on Acropolis. In the Golden age of Pericles, the Acropolis was a great sanctuary in which, principally, Athena was worshipped, as goddess of wisdom, crafts and peace, but also a martial deity who bestowed victory on the city named after her.
Meanwhile, the Parthenon, stands on the highest and most conspicuous point of the sacred rock of the Acropolis. On the north side of the Acropolis stands the Erechteion, which derives its name from Erechtheus , mythical king and hero of Athens. This is the most sacred space on the Acropolis, which has at present bears cults of many deities Gaia, Hephaistos, Athena and Posedion; and of heroes such as Kekrops, Erechtheus and Boutes.
The National Archaeological Museum, hails its history since late nineteenth century, is the largest and most important museum in Greece for the study of ancient Greek civilization.
The exhibits from Mycenaean dynasty and the jockey from Artemision are worth masterpiece harbored in the museum. On the south side of the National Archaeological museum is the ‘Epigraphical Museum’. Housed in its eleven rooms is the largest collection of inscriptions in the world, spanning the seventh century BC to the fourth century AD.
Piraeus has been the harbor of Athens since ancient times and is today the largest port in Greece. It lies some ten kilometers from the centre of Athens, on the northeast shore of the Saronic gulf. Principal features of Piraeus is its three natural harbours; the Central harbor (kantharos), the Zea harbor (Pashalimani) and the Mounichia harbor (small harbor)
The Piraeus archaeological museum, one of the major archaeological museums in Greece, houses finds of the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Among its most impressive exhibits are the four bronze statues one of the Apollo of 500 BC, two of Artemis and one of Athena hailing from fourth century BC. Also of great merit are the funerary monuments, outstanding among which is the seven-meter high temple-shaped monument of the fourth century BC, which was found in the district of Kallithea.
Besides, visit to the Oedium of Herodes Atticus, Monasraki, Plaka centre, Syntagma square and the Arch of Hadrian is a must.
The Byzantine and Christian Museum was founded initially in the building of the Academy of Athens. Adjacent to the Byzantine lies an impressively large modern building, the War Museum of Greece.
The Tepmle of Zeus Olympios, the largest ancient temple in Athens, is built in an open space, over two hundred meters long. To the north of the templeis an earlier peripteral temple of the Doric order of 500 BC, which was dedicated to Apollo Delphinios, and to the west is a building with ‘Law Court by the Delphinion’.
One myth presents the sea God Posedion and the goddess Athena as contesting for domination of the city. Posedion struck his trident into the rock of the Acropolis and a well of seawater appeared, whereas Athena planted the first olive tree. After a vote was taken by the Twelve Gods of Olympus, Athena was declared victorious and so gave her name to Athens.
Once in Athens, a city of intellectual achievement and ancient democracy, one can relive a civilization of unique quality, which even today, so many centuries later, nurtures mankind. Athens grew gradually at first and rapidly later, and is today a megalopolis which together with its suburbs and the port of Piraeus, is home to more than four and a half million people.
Braving the crisis to be with Euro zone and steep recessive economy, the city of Athens till today symbolizes its cradle of ancient civilization and world’s greatest heritage.
