A big welcome to Bangkok today! I’m so happy to have you in our audience. The city has a series of modesty laws including one that states that you should always wear underwear when you’re in a public space. Don’t worry , nobody will check but make sure it doesn’t show. Thank you for listening Bangkok!

(Piano music) Hello, and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

There’s a tree that is known for its malaria healing effects, its water consuming roots that help dry out marshes and its mosquito repellent scent.It’s native to Australia and it wasn’t brought to Greece until 1862 by the botanist Theodore Orfanides. Indigenous Australians have a different name for every species of this tree- which is around 700- but the settlers used the generic name gum tree. Until, French botanist Charles Louis L’Herritier de Brutelle used two Greek words to name it, based on the complete cover of the buds until their bloom. Ευ (ef) in Ancient Greek meant ‘well/good’ and καλύπτω (calepto) still means ‘I cover’ so a tree that has well covered buds is an ΕΥΚΑΛΥΠΤΟΣ/EUCALYPTUS

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Today, I’d like to welcome Olso in our audience! Oslo has a fantastic first! It was the first city to design a bee highway. A series of rooftops, green spaces and balconies were bees can follow throughout the city and pollinate! Thank you for that and for listening Oslo!

(Piano music) Hello, and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

Here’s a myth that has taken many forms like its protagonists. I’m going to tell you the story of Αλκυόνη and Κυηξ and the rise and fall of their love. Αλκυόνη was a beautiful young Princess , daughter of Aeolus of Thessaly (not to be confused with the winds god). Κυηξ was a handsome young noble man . They fell in love and got married and their love was so passionate and strong that made them feel invincible and unique . Like love does. But the couple took it a little too far. They started believing they were as powerful as Zeus and Hera and even called each other with those names. And that was hubris to the Olympians. They transformed them into birds and cursed them to live by the sea and only be able to lay eggs in the middle of winter. Many years passed and harsh winters kept destroying their eggs. Zeus felt pity for them and gave them 14 sunny and warm days from the middle of January to the middle of February for their eggs to survive. In the rest of the world Αλκυόνη ‘ς name is now a metaphor for calm, happy and prosperous times but in Greece that is the name for the 14 Spring-like days in the middle of winter. ΑΛΚΥΟΝΗ/HALCYON

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This week, I’d like to welcome Reno in Nevada. Did you know that from the 1930s, and well into the 50s, Reno was called the divorce capital of the world? Hollywood actors would go there to get a divorce quickly because it only required a six week residency. Also called a ‘six week cure’. And if you’re wondering, no, it’s not happening anymore. Thank you for listening Reno!

Do you have a fun fact about the city you’re listening from? Email me at yourgreesunday@gmail.com and let the world know!

(Piano music) Hello, and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

There were many games in the Ancient Greek olympics and the most popular ones involved horses! For that purpose a special place was built. It was U shaped and between 400 and 780 meters long (or up to 4 stadia in Ancient Greek measurements). Its name is a combined word that travelled from Greek to Latin to French and, came to England in the 1500s in a translation by William Thomas . Ίππος (ippos) in ancient Greek meant horse and δρόμος (dromos) a word still in use in modern Greek, means road, way and, race. The place were horses compete is an ΙΠΠΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ/HIPPODROME

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