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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-01-28
CONTENTS
[01] Remnants of ancient Trikke sanctuary unearthed in Trikala
[02] Prime minister Karamanlis favoured as 'most suitable' for PM post
than Papandreou, poll reveals
[03] Greece to send 45 athletes to 2005 Special Olympics World Winter
Games
[01] Remnants of ancient Trikke sanctuary unearthed in Trikala
Archaeological remnants and pottery, believed to be from the ancient
city of Trikke (or Tricca), were uncovered Wednesday in a quarter of
the town of Trikala, Thessaly prefecture -- which stands approximately
on the site of the ancient city -- during digging on a private land
plot for the construction of a building. Trikke, also known as Tricca
or Trikka, was an important numismatic center of the ancient world, and
is also believed to be the site where the cult of Asclepius, the
mythological god of healing and medicine and son of the god Apollo and
Coronis, originated. Trikke is the site of the oldest asklepieion --
sanctuary devoted to Asclepius -- while primary centres of worship were
also located in Epidaurus, Corinthia, Cos and Pergamon. The finds
included copper coins, shards of pottery and portions of statuettes
dating from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, clay votive tablets with
symbols and faces carved in relief identifying with the god Hermes.
According to archaeologists, the ensuing archaeological excavations on
the land plot have so far unearthed a section of a sanctuary of ancient
Trikke dedicated to the worship of Hermes, the first such sanctuary to
be uncovered in western Thessaly. Also unearthed were sections of the
sanctuary's walls, which are made of large plinths of the local
green-hued sandstone rock.
[02] Prime minister Karamanlis favoured as 'most suitable' for PM post
than Papandreou, poll reveals
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis enjoys a significant lead over main
opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou as the most suitable
for the post of prime minister, according to an opinion poll conducted
by VPR-C on behalf of Skai private radio station, the findings of which
were released on Thursday. Specifically, 1,000 people throughout the
country were surveyed on January 20 and 21 and asked to provide their
views on the country's economy, the power of the mass media, farmers'
protests and other issues. The survey found Karamanlis was popular
with 52% of those surveyed compared with 19% of those favouring
Papandreou. According to the survey, the main issues that concern
those surveyed in the order of greater importance are: unemployment,
low wages and pensions, education, crime and healthcare. In terms of
addressing daily problems, 36% said that New Democracy was more
competent compared with 13% who chose PASOK. As for the role of the
mass media in Greece, 82% responded that the mass media has more power
than the Constitution foresees, while 91% believe that certain
businesspeople influence political life. Additionally, 87% believe that
the fight against corruption and graft is important, while 57% believe
that the government is determined to address it. Asked which party they
trust to curb corruption and graft, 40% of those surveyed said New
Democracy, 17% said PASOK, while 25% said they didn't trust any
government.
[03] Greece to send 45 athletes to 2005 Special Olympics World Winter
Games
Greece will be sending a team of 45 athletes with learning and mental
disabilities, along with their volunteer coaches, to the 8th Special
Olympics World Winter Games, the president of Special Olympics Hellas
Gianna Despotopoulou announced on Thursday. She said the Greek team
will be competing in four events, including Alpine skiing,
cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and speed skating. The Greek
athletes have trained at ski resorts on Mount Parnassus, Mount Olympus,
Metsovo and Tria-Pente Pigadia, while the ice-skaters have trained in
Bucharest due to a lack of ice-skating facilities in Greece. The
Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place on February 25
until March 6 in Nagano, Japan.
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