Search Results (29)

Feminist biblical criticism of Proverbs 1–9 has decried the figure of “Dame Folly” as reinforcing pejorative stereotypes of women that blame women for “the world’s sin and corruption.” To be sure, in the history of Christian biblical interpretation, Proverbs has been read in precisely this way—and with tragic consequences. In fact, Proverbs was used as fuel for the witch-hunting craze that infected the Christian West in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with its particular focus on women as being especially “addicted” to heresy and “evil superstitions.” Nonetheless, as this essay demonstrates, a reading which denigrates all women universally as blameworthy is not really native to post-exilic Judaism or biblical literature in general before the Hellenistic period. Instead, it emerges with the influence of Hellenism and the misogynist stereotypes endemic to Greek literature, mythology, and even philosophy that distort and blur the lens through which Hellenistic Jews (and later Greco-Roman Christians) read their Scriptures. Through a reading of Proverbs in its own language, its own post-exilic Jewish world, and its own literary context, this essay both recovers the wise women of Israel, so esteemed and valued in post-exilic Judaism, and uncovers the identity of the real fool of Proverbs 9. Full article

The pursuit of youth and longevity has accompanied human societies for millennia, evolving from mythological and esoteric traditions toward a scientific understanding of aging. Early concepts such as Greek ambrosia, Taoist elixirs, and medieval “aqua vitae” reflected symbolic or spiritual interpretations. A major conceptual transition occurred between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when aging began to be framed as a biological process. Pioneering ideas by Metchnikoff, together with early and sometimes controversial attempts such as Voronoff’s grafting experiments, marked the first efforts to rationalize aging scientifically. In the mid-twentieth century, discoveries including the Hayflick limit, telomere biology, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction established gerontology as an experimental discipline. Contemporary geroscience integrates these insights into a coherent framework linking cellular pathways to chronic disease risk. Central roles are played by nutrient-sensing networks such as mTOR, AMPK, and sirtuins, together with mitochondrial regulation, proteostasis, and cellular senescence. Interventions, including caloric restriction, fasting-mimicking diets, rapalogues, sirtuin activators, metformin, NAD⁺ boosters, senolytics, and antioxidant combinations such as GlyNAC, show consistent benefits across multiple model organisms, with early human trials reporting improvements in immune function, mitochondrial activity, and biomarkers of aging. Recent advances extend to epigenetic clocks, multi-omic profiling, gender-specific responses, and emerging regenerative and gene-based approaches. Overall, the evolution from historical elixirs to molecular geroscience highlights a shift toward targeting aging itself as a modifiable biological process and outlines a growing translational landscape aimed at extending healthspan and reducing age-related morbidity. Full article

The Western genre has traditionally been associated with American identity and male-dominated narratives. However, recent decades have seen increasing attention to female protagonists, particularly the European woman as a cultural mediator within the frontier context. This study aims to identify the archetypes of the European woman in the Western genre through a diachronic and comparative analysis of the visual language found in European painting from the late 17th to early 19th centuries and in 20th–21st century cinema. The research methodology combines narrative, visual, and semiotic analysis, with a focus on intermedial and intertextual parallels between visual art and film. The study identifies nine archetypal models corresponding to goddesses of the Greek pantheon and traces their transformation across different aesthetic systems. These archetypes, rooted in artistic traditions such as Baroque, Classicism, Romanticism, and others, reappear in Western films through compositional, symbolic, and iconographic strategies, demonstrating their persistence and ability to transcend temporal, medial, and geographical boundaries. The findings suggest that the woman in the Western genre is not merely a central character, but a visual sign that activates cultural memory and engages with deep archetypal structures embedded in the collective unconscious. Full article

The individual, as found primarily in modern Western civilization, is defined as “the independent, autonomous and thus (essentially) nonsocial moral being”, “the rational being” who is “the normative subject of institutions”. This is the definition of the individual we adhere to in this text. This text delves into the intricate dimensions of the concept of the individual by exploring the theological foundations inherent in Western thought. Rooted in Max Weber’s assertion regarding the theological meanings of Man’s self-perception, the entry emphasizes the pivotal role of theological understandings in shaping the concept of the individual. Focusing on the influence of Christian perspectives on the development of the concept of the individual, the article traces the historical entwining of theology and the concept of Man between antiquity and medieval times. Full article

In 2024, Eilish Quin published the novel Medea, which is a feminist approach to the Medea myth from Greek mythology. Medea’s myth is heavily influenced by Euripides’ play Medea, a play in which she kills her children to enact revenge on her cheating husband Jason. Quin’s novel is a reimagining of the myth, which explores Medea’s monstrosity and attempts to make her more sympathetic and less monstrous than the source text. I argue that Quin’s novel pulls from established characteristics of Medea that depict her as a monster and attempts to shift the narrative perspective. Using monster theory, I examine Medea’s monstrosity by looking at Euripides’ play and Quin’s novel. Quin attempts to recast Medea as a sympathetic woman instead of a monster through Medea’s anti-woman sentiments and monstrous power, along with her status as an outsider; moreover, Medea’s villainous nature is removed by changing the story surrounding the murder of her brother and children while stressing Jason’s excessively violent nature. Quin’s novel reflects a contemporary concern with female autonomy and victimization, but the novel’s approach highlights the issues with trying to remove Medea’s monstrosity. Full article

This paper deals with the landscape design strategy that was followed in the proposal that was submitted to the International Architecture Competition of the New Archaeological Museum of Cyprus. The aim of this document is to analyze how landscape and architecture interact. In the author’s design proposal for the New Archaeological Museum of Cyprus, the various “gardens” integrated into the Landscape are analyzed. The concept of landscape design is related to the sacredness of trees to certain gods in Ancient Greece and Greek Mythology. The proposal addresses the symbolic meaning of trees and water. The design triggered the creation of several “gardens”: the “Sacred Garden”, the “Stone Garden”, the “Olive Garden”, the “Sacred Grove”, and the “Public Garden”, combining their soft landscapes with the hard landscape of the “Plaza” and the “Courtyard”. Each figure in the garden has a symbolic meaning that allows for a dialogue between landscape and architectural design. In addition, the findings provide valuable insights into the historical and spiritual value of landscape elements (plants, water) that are also thermal regulators for sustainable urban planning. The research results may be of value to landscape architects, architects, and landscape designers in the Mediterranean region. Full article

Although some ancient sources relate Parmenides to the religious doctrine of fate, this concept is not usually prominent in the scholarly presentation of the Eleatic thinker. Here, we offer a tentative interpretation of the notion of necessity in Parmenides’ poem, as a peculiar philosophical understanding of the presence of fate in reality. Necessity, divinised by Parmenides, implies that all things are bound together by the chains of fate. Therefore, his philosophical proposal consists in understanding this unity of reality originated by the connexion of fatal necessity. However, this presence of fate in all things is not bad news, but also means that everything is connected by Love. Full article

Strong epigenetic pan-cancer biomarkers are required to meet several current, urgent clinical needs and to further improve the present chemotherapeutic standard. We have concentrated on the investigation of epigenetic alteration of the hTERT gene, which is frequently epigenetically dysregulated in a number of cancers in specific developmental stages. Distinct DNA methylation profiles were identified in our data on early urothelial cancer. An efficient EpihTERT assay could be developed utilizing suitable combinations with sequence-dependent thermodynamic parameters to distinguish between differentially methylated states. We infer from this data set, the epigenetic context, and the related literature that a CpG-rich, 2800 bp region, a prominent CpG island, surrounding the transcription start of the hTERT gene is the crucial epigenetic zone for the development of a potent biomarker. In order to accurately describe this region, we have named it “Acheron” (Ἀχέρων). In Greek mythology, this is the river of woe and misery and the path to the underworld. Exploitation of the DNA methylation profiles focused on this region, e.g., idiolocal normalized Methylation Specific PCR (IDLN-MSP), opens up a wide range of new possibilities for diagnosis, determination of prognosis, follow-up, and detection of residual disease. It may also have broad implications for the choice of chemotherapy. Full article

Nowadays, there is a growing awareness of environmental protection, new findings in the field of sustainable chemistry, the use of biodegradable materials, and the increased use of eco-friendly textile products. For this reason, natural dyes are being used more and more frequently, giving rise to a new way of decorating textiles, namely, plant transfer printing, popularly known as “eco-printing”, in which the shape and/or pigment of a plant is transferred to the textile. In addition, the great interest of the young generation in the application and research into the use of natural dyes can create incentives for cultural and social sustainability through the preservation of national heritage. Plant transfer printing is a method that combines scientific technology and artistic design with corresponding benefits for the eco system. The very fact that the patterns are unique and unpredictable brings out the notion of artistic freedom. In the work, plant transfer printing was carried out on undyed cotton material and on material dyed with pomegranate peels, walnut leaves, coffee, and aleppo pine bark. The influence of the pH value and the capillarity of the fabric, as well as the treatment of the leaves with iron(II) sulphate heptahydrate solution, on the aesthetics of the print and the colour fastness during washing was investigated. Based on the optimised parameters and a sustainable fabric design, the clothing collection “Hamadryad”, inspired by Greek mythology, was realised. Full article

The Star Trek franchise’s depiction of artificial intelligence (AI) and affiliated technologies—namely, supercomputers, androids, and holograms—evokes common themes and motifs from the myths of the ancient Mediterranean. This article analyzes the mythological underpinnings of Star Trek’s historical treatment and approach to AI, from The Original Series to The Next Generation and up through the newest additions to the canon, Short Treks, and Picard. AI in Star Trek, like Data, the Doctor, and Zora, expresses qualities associated with divinity: superhuman strength, intelligence, and agelessness. These very qualities distinguish them from humans and bar them from considerations of personhood. Like the Greek gods of myth, AI can present as immortal, which fundamentally distinguishes it from mortal humans, as seen in the tensions between gods and humans in Homer’s Odyssey and the Homeric Hymns. The ancient tension between mortal and immortal is manifested in the combative relationship between organic creator and artificial creation, a common sci-fi trope, that can lead to a cycle of fear and hostility evocative of the divine generational warfare in Hesiod’s Theogony. The artificial–organic tension resonates with the contemporary audience’s conflicted experiences with evolving technologies and problematizes the show’s presentation of the evolution of humanity into a posthuman existence. Just as mythology is used to consider humanity relative to the divine, narratives about AI are fertile ground to analyze what it means to be human and establish parameters for what is decidedly not human. Full article

This article considers the work and reception of Friedrich Hölderlin with regard to the impact of German Idealism on religion. To this end, two questions must be clarified in advance: can Hölderlin, who is known primarily as a poet, also be placed in the context of German Idealism, and does his work have a significant relationship to religion? I argue that both questions should be answered in the affirmative. Ernst Cassirer’s study Hölderlin und der deutsche Idealismus (1918/19) clearly laid the foundation for appreciating Hölderlin’s place within German Idealism, and the question of God is a leitmotif of Hölderlin’s entire oeuvre. I seek to trace Hölderlin’s influence on understanding religion in three steps: First, I want to show that Hölderlin, in a critical continuation of Kant, does not consider religion solely within the matrix of practical reason, but brings into play the dimension of aesthetics. By situating religion in relation to the two focal points of ethics and aesthetics, a fundamental question of the philosophy of religion is addressed. Second, I employ several examples to show the various conceptions of the divine that the poet elucidates and juxtaposes in his work (Christian motifs, Greek mythology, pantheistic concepts, etc.). This leads to a philosophy of religion that is not determined by dogmatic boundaries. Third, I point out how religion plays a major role in the reception of Hölderlin. Full article

This work examines alluvial gold deposit mining and processing methods from the Argonautic expedition until the Renaissance. According to Greek mythology, the mountain rivers of Colchis (Georgia) carried coarse sand and gold particles, which were washed in special wooden sluice boxes. The finer fractions were held in the lower part of the device, which was lined with sheepskin. Using a sheepskin to extract gold from riverbeds gave rise to the myth of the Golden Fleece. Afterwards, during the Roman Empire period, the mining of alluvial gold was performed manually until the discovery of hydraulic mining, a technique that contributed to a massive increase in production. At the same time, the Romans employed various techniques to separate the metals from the total mass of the ore. Gold refining was carried out through cupellation and the mercury amalgamation process. During the Renaissance, Georgius Bauer Agricola wrote De Re Metallica, one of the essential machinery books in mining in the 16th century. He developed a new type of pump to remove water, the uncontrolled flow of which caused significant problems in the underground mining process. The bucket chain pump, the “pater noster” pump, and the piston pump are some of the most innovative devices he presented in his work. Also, Agricola extensively referenced the recovery techniques for gold and other precious metals during the Archaic period that helped preserve the myth of the Argonautic expedition and the Golden Fleece. Full article

This article examines the revitalization of the ancient Greek religion in modern Greece and the way some of its adherents approach mythology. This religious movement challenges the dominant religious discourse in modern Greece by claiming legitimacy through indigeneity, while making important arguments regarding the perceived spiritual and value crisis in their culture. At a time that right-wing extremisms and fundamentalisms are rising globally, this religious movement places emphasis on worldview and imagines a kind of citizen who engages with universal ideals while maintaining a strong connection to a unique ethnic identity. At the same time, Ethnikoi Hellenes challenge prevailing understandings of religion by making ‘logos’ or reason central to their theology. Thus, they challenge the association of Indigenous religions with “irrationality”, while pointing out the inconsistencies and irrationalities of monotheistic religions, which they consider responsible for the widespread “cultural” crisis facing humanity. The example of one group’s engagement with geomythology has been used to demonstrate that they do not conceive religion and science as contradictory but complementary, thus exhibiting transreligiosity. Full article

Concerned with the representations of fruits in Greco-Roman mythology and Genesis, this paper first explores the various meanings of charis and its conceptualization, and their embodiments. It then addresses object agency, before questioning the possible propriety of certain fruits in visual and textual narratives to emanate and/or appropriate charisma. To do so, the paper presents a discussion of the linguistic and conceptual mutability and malleability of the term ‘charis’ and its conceptualization into charisma, as well as its possible manifestations or translations in fruits, thus transforming the latter into (accidental) actors. Finally, this study provides an exploratory reflection on the ambiguity and metamorphic aspect of “charismatic” fruits in the context of myths and the Genesis narrative represented in the visual arts, and their translation into fairy tale narratives and modern advertising campaigns. Full article