Socrates

"Is what is old new again?" A timeless question heralded the advent of the sixth annual Athens Democracy Forum, convened by The New York Times and aiming to dissect democracy's biggest challenges in its very birthplace.

When asked about Diogenes, Plato described the philosopher as "a Socrates gone mad."

Diogenes was considered mad because he threw people's contradictions, hypocrisy and double standards in their faces…

Or because he strolled around the city squares in daylight with a lamp, saying, "I am just looking for an honest man"…

A couple sit on a bench at the Antonis Tritsis Environmental Awareness Park in Ilion, western Athens, on Saturday. After years of neglect caused by underfunding, a new master plan, set to be completed by the summer of 2017, promises a new lease on life for Attica's biggest metropolitan park.

Plato’s Apology that presents the famous trial of Philosopher Socrates will be played in the original ancient Greek language for one night at the foyer of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki on Saturday evening.

The father of western philosophy, Socrates has influenced the way we think and live our lives in a very profound way. Here are a few sayings attributed to him that will make us ponder.

1. “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing”

Answering to a curious Athenian about the question of marriage, Greek philosopher Socrates supposedly replied that: “Whether a man marries or remains single he will regret it”. Ancient Greece being largely a male-dominated society, Socrates’ purported piece of wisdom referred to men. But what about women? What makes them stay single or decide to get married?

German newspaper Die Welt published an article which rekindles memories of Nazi racism, directly attacking Greece and warning that the Mediterranean country “destroyed European order in the past as well”.

Football supporters defaced the ancient Athenian Long Walls with graffiti. The walls, originally erected in the 5th century BC, were destroyed by Sparta in 403 BC and were rebuilt with the help of the Persians during the Corinthian War.

Woody Allen says he’s definitely interested in shooting a movie in Athens if local authorities also pitch in for the production’s funding, noting that this was the case when he shot in London, Paris, Madrid and Rome.

The collection of Greek monuments at the Athens Square Park in Astoria, Queens, now has a new addition: an imposing bronze statue of ancient playwright Sophocles.

According to DNA info site, the 8-foot statue was installed in the park after years of fundraising by community members.