Cryssarina’s First Visit - Part 2

This is the second part of a longish story. The first part (also linked at the bottom) needs to be read first to better understand this second part. Anthi Psomiadou has graciously agreed to be included as a fictional character in this unusual visit by Cryssarina to Greece where she hopes to speak to Goddess Athena and find Patrick who may still be alive somewhere wandering around her but possibly somewhere else.

Ancient Greece was robbed by Rome, slowly but surely. But luckily, a lot of the architecture was left almost intact, including all the gods that Rome unabashedly copied and changed their names. Modern Greece in turn was robbed by the European Union (EU) that brought it to its knees with its inhuman financial edicts reminiscent of those perpetrated by Rome. The EU is almost like Rome, especially that most highways in Europe lead to Brussels, its administrative cor non grata (heart not welcome). Yanis Varoufakis (I love him), economist and former Greek Finance Minister, is a great source for this EU blunder. But this is not a story about the EU or Brussels. Rome, however, plays a certain underlying part.

Cryssarina woke up for a second day in Athens, the city always protected by Goddess Athena, even during World War II (enough with the Roman numerals), I mean, World War Two. But where were they, the Greek gods when the Romans took over? Briefly, the Greek peninsula lost to the so-called Roman Republic during the Battle of Corinth (146 BCE) when Macedonia was turned into another Roman province. Southern Greece, however, while also under Roman control, saw a few of its key city states (poleis) remain partly autonomous and thus avoid the crippling Roman taxes and rule.

The Greek gods had decided to remain on Mount Olympus, allowing the humans to continue with their deadly war games, often betting on winners and losers. Goddess Athena was probably the only one chagrined by what she witnessed. Is it any wonder that M fell in love with her? Is it any wonder that Patrick went to look for her as he mentioned in his note, even if he was doing it for M? Is it any wider wonder that she is still loved by most Athenians and the rest of Greece as well? I am sure that even Anthi loves her.

Cryssarina surely knew this about Goddess Athena but needed help from someone local to find every public Athena statue and in the process perhaps Patrick. The hotel manager was nice enough to suggest a few places, but Cryssarina could not rely on one interested source or on a taxi driver who may take her for a ride. She left a message for Anthi on Medium, asking for her help. Anthi, the Greek goddess that she is in spirit at least happily agreed to meet her later that day, which left Cryssarina ecstatic. She was going to meet one of her favourite writers on Medium, who was also keen on helping her find Patrick.

In the meantime, Cryssarina stopped at a few shops to buy presents for M and the two other narrators. She made sure that nothing she bought contained any tree meat, hypocritically known as wood. They were all of one mind by now as to all trees’ plight, swearing to never purchase anything made from them, not even paper. She returned to the hotel to rest a bit and freshen up before her meeting with Anthi. Her heart was pounding at one point from anticipation. She was also about to meet a fellow writer, though she had barely written anything compared to M or Patrick or even the other two narrators, let alone Anthi. She googled her name and was pleased to discover that Anthi meant “flowers” in Greek. She must be beautiful, she thought, as she closed her eyes and thought about all her favourite flowers and plants, and all the trees that were never kissed before being killed.

Someone from the lobby called her to announce Anthi’s arrival. Cryssarina felt elated, instructing the caller to ask her if she wanted to come up first. Anthi agreed and Cryssarina felt her cheeks redden. She was ready but felt that something was missing. Only her mind, it seemed, as it suddenly weighed like one of Athena’s statues. She opened the door before Anthi’s potential knock, unable to say a word except for geia sas, hello in Greek. Anthi quickly sensed her agitation and hugged her. It did the trick for Cryssarina who proceeded to kiss Anthi on both cheeks, taking a bit longer with the second one, which happened to be her right. Anthi was indeed beautiful like a flower, though Cryssarina could not choose which flower suited her best. They chatted for a little while on the balcony where Anthi pointed to her a few of the visible Athenian landmarks.

It was late afternoon, almost evening, that special brief period comparable to the time between two kisses. Anthi instructed a taxi driver to take them to the colossal Athena Statue, a marvellous portrayal of the goddess sitting atop a triangulated column, emulating her statue in the Parthenon back during the Golden Age. Cryssarina could not contain herself when they stood facing her. Created by the Greek sculptor, Vassos Falireas in 1952, it showed Goddess Athena prepared for battle with her shield, spear, and helmet. At the base was a memorial to Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the country during World War Two. Cryssarina’s tears flowed helplessly in front of their goddess. Athena was everyone’s goddess, but most people did not even know her. Anthi knew it very well, as she held Cryssarina to comfort her. They looked around for Patrick, but he was nowhere during the hour that they spent there.

Just before leaving, Cryssarina beseeched their goddess to help them, when almost imperceptibly, they could swear that Athena moved her right foot. They looked at each other, nodding their heads in agreement. Athena was there with them, listening. But could she help them? They kept looking at her, but it seemed that she had left for the night. Cryssarina then told Anthi that she will return tomorrow at first light to spend all day with their goddess. Anthi nodded her head in agreement again and said the following words, looking straight at Athena’s head: S ‘agapó óso tin agapó (I love you as much as I love her). Cryssarina did not understand Anthi’s words but felt extremely loved.

Thinking about life and all its tribulations and happy endings, to be loved is, after all, everything that anyone wishes for. Surely to love as well. But it is never balanced. One always loves the other a bit more, even more than a bit. It is acceptable, I think, and I am sure that Anthi would agree, that to be loved is the greatest feeling there is whether by another human being or a statue of Goddess Athena. We have to love ourselves as well, but that is already a given. May Goddess Athena walk on Earth again and always! Perhaps she does already invisible or unnoticeable.

They both kissed the bottom of the pillar holding Goddess Athena, though they were sure that it was the goddess holding it. They walked hand in hand towards a taxi Anthi had summoned and did not notice the time that elapsed until they reached the hotel. They would have had a meal together but they both felt satiated. Goddess Athena had already nourished them with her light. Anthi kissed Cryssarina both good night and see you tomorrow at first light.

This is a Greek singer I used to listen to during my childhood before Canada became my new home.

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The story below introduced Cryssarina for the first time.

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