For Homer, olive oil was “liquid gold.” In ancient Greece the olive held an important place both in the nutrition of citizens and in the city’s economy.


In “Oedipus at Colonus” Sophocles calls the olive “nurturer of children.” It was a symbol of peace and whoever offered an olive branch was received with respect. An olive branch was also the prize awarded the winners at games.


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Our findings demonstrate that Extra Virgin Olive Oil directly improves synaptic activity, short‐term plasticity, and memory while decreasing tau neuropathology in the hTau mice. These results strengthen the healthy benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and further support the therapeutic potential of this natural product not only for AD but also for primary tauopathies.”


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An olive branch was used as a symbol of peace whenever the Greeks entered into truce with their enemies and was the awarded to any athlete who won at the Olympics. The symbol of the olive tree has very deep roots in Greek tradition; it symbolizes wealth, health, beauty, wisdom and abundance.


Some days ago it was revealed that 5,000 olives trees were cut by illegal immigrants from the infamous Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesvos in the eastern Aegean.



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Hades, God of the Underworld and His Unsung Powers


In Greek mythology Hades was the god of the dead and the ruler of the Underworld. Thus, he was an important god in the Greek pantheon
Nevertheless, he is not considered to be a member of the Twelve Olympians, as he resided not on Mount Olympus, but in the underworld
instead.

As Hades’ domain is located beneath the earth, the Greeks also believed that he was the god of the earth’s hidden wealth. As one of the major Greek gods, Hades is featured in a number of myths, normally as a supporting character, but sometimes as a main one as well.

How Hades is Viewed

As death was considered to be a taboo subject, Hades was also given several euphemistic epithets, such as Plouton, meaning ‘Of Wealth’, and Theon / Zeus Khthonios, meaning ‘God / Zeus of the Underworld’. Other epithets given to Hades include Polysemantor (Ruler of Many), Polydegmon (Host of Many), and Nekrodegmon (Receiver of the Dead).


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🇮🇷 COVID-19 numbers from Iran, dated April 9, 2020.

Sharp decline in nation-wide infections during the last 24 hours, down to 1634. Deaths are also down to 117. @COVID19Up

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On Good Friday, Jerusalem archbishop urges prayer for the suffering and dying

On a sombre and quiet Good Friday in Jerusalem, the Vatican's apostolic administrator in the Holy Land called for prayer for people suffering and dying from the coronavirus.

➖ @ReutersWorldChannel ➖

Less than 1% of Austria's population infected with coronavirus, study finds

Less than 1% of Austria's population is infected with the coronavirus, a study published on Friday found, based on testing a representative sample of more than 1,500 people.

➖ @ReutersWorldChannel ➖

Notre-Dame service a message of hope for France in coronavirus lockdown

Nearly a year after fire devastated Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, the city's Archbishop held a small ceremony there to mark Good Friday, praying that Easter's message of rebirth might bring comfort to a country stricken by the coronavirus pandemic.

➖ @ReutersWorldChannel ➖

Insights with Rene Girard


René Girard (1923-2015) has been described as the Darwin of the human sciences for his theories of the origin of violence and religion and the imitative character of human behavior (mimesis). His books, among them Violence and the Sacred and Things Hidden since the Foundation of the World, span the fields of Literary Criticism, Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, History, Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology. While his theories have attracted many devoted disciples, Girard has also sparked controversy for his sweeping general claims, tendentious readings of canonical works, and his explicitly Christian perspective. This panel discussion will consider the significance of Girard’s thought for the human sciences.

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