the entire gamut of Greek myth and history, from Minoan bull-leaping, Hercules' feats and Alexander the Great's imperial campaigns to Greek revolutionary war hero Theodoros Kolokotronis and Karagiozis, the popular underdog of Greek shadow-puppet theatre. Dazzlingly coloured Cycladic and Minoan frescoes were at the head of the parade, followed by black and brick red Geometric vase figures. Then came the Archaic and Classical periods with powdered muscular men posing as Kouroi - monumental statues standing with their hands by their sides - and finally the freer bronze sculpture of Praxiteles depicting athletes in motion. The impressive bandwagon moved quickly through Byzantium, with a passing reference to Emperor Justinian and his Empress Theodora. Towards the end of the parade came the Greek Revolution of 1821, which began to carve a modern Greek state out of the Ottoman empire, featuring national independence fighters in their traditional costumes and fustanellas. Finally came the modern period of popular and high art - ranging from a bouzouki band to the Greek opera diva, Maria Kallas. References to war and religion were pointedly absent. More than 10,800 athletes will compete in the Olympics.

Dimitris Yannopoulos

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