I have a Greek friend who I have known for the better part of 50 years. We grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I have always had the greatest respect for Gregory as he is very well educated has held CEO positions all over the world for an international advertising agency and knows many things, so when he says something I tend to listen, absorb and believe what he tells me.
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One day he told me that Christopher Columbus was Greek. Another time he told me that the Greeks invented the Hula Hoop. Well, he is also a great kidder and a bit of a practical joker, so knowing that, I told him he was full of s**t. He said that he was not pulling my leg and there is overwhelming evidence which proves what he is saying. He sent me an article written by a Greek author and scholar who makes a very strong case indeed showing that Columbus was actually a Greek Noble and experienced sea Captain. He also sent me evidence that what is called the Hula Hoop was originally used by ancient Greek athletes over 2,000 years ago and sent me a photo of an ancient painted Greek vase showing exactly that.
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Well I guess Gregory knew what he was talking about. Then I saw an article about a discovery of an ancient Greek ship which sunk off the coast of Tuscany about 2,000 years ago. It contained cargo from various ports along the Mediterranean Sea consisting of huge amphoras of flavored olive oil from Greece, wine from various parts of Italy and other goods which were obviously being delivered to merchants and to be sold. In the debris field of the excavation there was what can only be called a Medical Doctor's bag. It contained ancient medical instruments and amazingly, what appeared to be prescription drugs. Pills. They were dry because they were in the medical bag which was waterproof. DNA examination shows that they are, in fact, combinations of vegetables and herbs compressed into pills. These were described by ancient Greek doctors in medical manuals but there was never any evidence they existed until now. Each pill contained, among other things, carrots, cauliflower and yarrow. Now it appears that the Greeks also discovered and manufactured prescription drugs and were the forerunners of modern medicine.
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Gregory probably knew this but didn't tell me as he thought it might be overkill and he is very considerate. I always thought the Romans were great but it appears they took everything from the Greeks. The Romans were probably originally Greek.
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Oh well, I guess I'll have to listen to more of Greg's braggadocio and I guess it will never end. He's probably right, and I love him as my friend, so I will have to put up with it.
I hope I can find something soon that the Italians did, though. It's bad enough I have to accept the facts that the anciient Greeks were the fathers of Democracy and modern theater also.
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I've recently started to do a little genealogical research of my paternal ancestry and traced my great grandparents to the island of Ischia off the coast of Naples. In researching what appears to be my ancestral homeland I have now discovered that Ischia was originally settled by the ancient Greeks. Everywhere I look I see Greeks and more Greeks. Maybe I'm not Italian. Maybe, if I keep tracing my ancestry back far enough I'll find out I'm Greek and if that's the case I will have to buy some goats and some Olive trees and retire. Maybe the greatest composer of opera, Giuseppe Verdi, was a Greek but didn't know it. Maybe we have to add opera to the list of Greek accomplishments.
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Could it be that what Gregory tells me is true? Did the Greeks discover everything??
Maybe the next time Gregory tells me something I should believe him as preposterous as it may sound. And to think I always thought he was just some chubby little kid from Brooklyn.
Go figure.
Frank, as you now know...Columbus was Greek, and he brought the indigenous Pelopennese bird, the Turkey, to the new world.
ReplyDeleteAlso there is some belief that the Ostrich might be a Greek bird as well, brought to Africa, by Greek settlers. Opera was sung by Asia Minor Greeks 3,000 years ago...sorry Frank, although your roots are definitely Greek.
Greg, I knew opera at least, was an Italian invention and you were putting me on. So I looked it up and you were not putting me on. Greeks again. I am not going to waste my time checking out the turkey and the ostrich because I would only find out you were right. I'm throwing in the Italian towel and for a Greek one. I give up.
ReplyDeletemaybe we all have to accept that the greeks invented everything... tho i am not sure about vodka.. i always thought the russians claimed that one..
ReplyDeleteActually the word Vodka was originally found in a 1405 Polish journal. The Russians grabbed and have been drinking it all ever since. But I am sure that Greg knows the date and time when Vodka was distilled by the ancient Greeks.
ReplyDelete