IVOS 2: ΚΕΙΜΕΝΑ,ΕΙΚΟΝΕΣ

The Rio-Antirrio bridg e, officially the Charilaos Trikoupis bridge after the statesman who first envisaged it, is the world's longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge . It crosses the Gulf of Corinth near Patras, linking the town of Rio on the Peloponnese to Antirrio on mainland Greece. The 2,880 m (9,449 ft) long bridge (approximately 1.8 miles) dramatically improves access to and from the Peloponnese, which could previously be reached only by ferry or via the isthmus of Corinth in the east. Its width is 28 m (92 ft) — it has two vehicle lanes per direction, an emergency lane and a pedestrian walkway. Its five-span four-pylon cable-stayed portion of length 2,252 m (7,388 ft) is the world's second longest cable-stayed deck; only the deck of the Millau Viaduct in southern France is longer at 2,460 m (8,071 ft). However, as the latter is also supported by bearings at the pylons apart from cable stays, the Rio--Antirrio bridge deck might be considered the longest cabl

Didyma Greek city-unions in Anatolia, Blue are Ion cities Δυόμισι χιλιάδες χρόνια πριν από τον Φρόιντ, ο «Έρως και Αντέρως», γλυπτή σύνθεση δύο σωμάτων αξεδιάλυτα δεμένων στην αντίθεσή τους, ξεχωρίζει για τη διεισδυτικότητα και την πρωτοτυπία του στο Μουσείο της Εφέσου. Μια «ψυχαναλυτική» οξυδέρκεια που προσεγγίζει και ο δημιουργός της Μελπομένης, μούσας του θεάτρου, που κρατά στο χέρι το προσωπείο της, στο Μουσείο της Αφροδισιάδας, στο σύνορο περίπου Λυδίας, Καρίας και Φρυγίας. Το λάξεμα της αντίθεσης, στο φόντο μιας άλλης, ανάμεσα στο άψυχο υλικό του γλύπτη και τη ζωντάνια της σύγκρουσης, ταιριάζει όσο πουθενά αλλού εδώ, στην Έφεσο, πατρίδα του Ηράκλειτου, ιδρυτή της Διαλεκτικής, επιστήμης των αντιθέσεων. Η Έφεσος ήταν στο κέντρο του Πανιωνίου, του ιωνικού δωδεκάπολου του Ηροδότου, που περιελάμβανε δέκα ιωνικές πόλεις, τη Σάμο και τη Χίο. Εδώ γεννήθηκε η Επιστήμη, η Φυσική Φιλοσοφία και η Διαλεκτική, μπήκαν οι βάσεις της Λογικής, των Μαθηματικών και της Μου

(CNN) -- Ancient sites open your mind to just how old "old" can be and how sophisticated our ancient ancestors were in devising their artistic, engineering and construction methods. You'll never equate "ancient" with "primitive" again. You don't need us to call your attention to the Colisseum in Rome or the pyramids in Egypt. So, like archaeologists, we're digging deep for a list of lesser-known ancient ruins. We're abiding by the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of "ancient" as history up to the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD. That means you won't find New World sites on this list. (We'll follow up with that list soon.) Our definition of "ruins" includes some sites that are mere shadows of their glory days and others that have been protected or preserved since, virtually, the beginning of civilization. We recognize that some of these destinations are not recommended for tourists at the present tim

By Sanjay Surana , for CNN August 16, 2013  (CNN) -- Greece's 1,400 islands -- 230 of them inhabited -- are one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful assets. From the Ionian, up by Albania in the northwest, to the Dodecanese, near Turkey in the southeast, they offer vacations you can't get many other places. Each of the island groups has its unique allure, plus some of the most picturesque seascapes on Earth. But for sheer variety in a small radius, proximity to Athens' ferry port at Piraeus and the best inter-island boat connections, none compete with the Cyclades. We present the top nine islands in and around the Cyclades, each with its marquee attraction (for ferry schedules, check www.gtp.gr or www.greekferries.gr ). Santorini is a shutterbug's dream:  sheer rock faces striated in multitudinous shades, villages and towns clinging to the tops of cliffs, the caldera filled with clear deep turquoise w