Radiant Beauty: Ancient Greek Health and Beauty Wisdom for the Modern Seeker

By Anna Maria Poniros

Ever wonder what the Health and Beauty secrets of the Ancient Greeks were? In this book you'll discover the wisdom of the Ancients that in Goethe's words "dreamt the dream of life best." Infused with mythology, ancient health and fitness, beauty rituals, spirituality and religion, and music and festivals- this book covers the details of total wellness in the Ancient world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665555593

Anna Maria Poniros

Anna Maria Poniros has traveled to Greece many times since her childhood and has a deep reverence for the land, health and healing traditions and the Christian faith. She holds a m.s. in nutrition and public health from columbia University. certified in holistic health and detox nutrition, she sees the body as a temple that must be regarded holistically to achieve optimal health. she has worked for many years in the Spa and beauty industry advocating for natural spa therapies and organic skin care. she is also a yoga teacher that weaves spirituality and a body, mind, spirt approach to her work.

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© 2022 Anna Maria Poniros. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-6655-5558-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-5557-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-5559-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022905702

Published by AuthorHouse 04/13/2024

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RADIANT

BEAUTY:

ANCIENT GREEK HEALTH AND BEAUTY WISDOM FOR THE MODERN SEEKER

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I dedicate this

book to my Aunt Lucy, a radiant beauty whose light, smile, and laughter lit up everyone in her path- a shining example of beauty inside and out…. And to my beautiful and strong Spartan grandmother Yiayia Vasiliki, thank you for your love, strength and wisdom and passing on the Greek natural healing traditions.

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Table of Contents

Chapter I:     Ancient Greek Beauty: Gifts from the Heavens

Chapter II:    Ancient Greek Health: Healing from Mother Nature

Chapter III:   The Ancient Greek Diet:Food of the Gods

Chapter IV:   Ancient Greek Fitness: Train like an Ancient

Chapter V:    Ancient Greek Lifestyle: Live life as sacred and pleasurable

Chapter VI:   Ancient Greek Beauty Rituals: For the Love of Beauty

Chapter VII:   Ancient Greek Therapeutic Treatments: Ancient Spa and Healing Rituals

Chapter VIII:  Ancient Greek Music: Healing Melodies and Sound Therapy in the Ancient Greek World

Chapter IX:   Applying Ancient Greek Health and Beauty in the Modern World

Chapter X:    Recipes

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We have always been a people yearning to see light, to overcome darkness, yearning to be free, to excel for greatness and new experiences. We delighted in fashioning wings and flying above the clouds of time, to make ships to furrow the sea of opportunity.

Archbishop Iakovos

Greece, the mystical land of my ancestors, the country that always has and continues to awaken and stir my soul on a profound level, holds such a deep place in my heart that writing this book has truly been a labor of love. I write this book to celebrate Greece in all its glory and beauty and shed much needed light on the wisdom of the Ancients that birthed one the most enlightened civilizations in human history, whom in Goethe’s profound words dreamt the dream of life best.

Having always felt an inexplicable connection to the land, the people, and the history, traveling to Greece, for me, has always evoked a feeling of coming home- as if a piece of my heart gets left behind and the only way to feel whole again is to return. It is here, more than any other place on Earth that I have felt the most centered and healed- physically, mentally, and spiritually. As Socrates affirmed we cannot live better than in seeking to become better. It is my hope that some of this magical and potent Ancient Greek healing energy can be channeled as well, inspiring you to live a healthier and more beautiful life in body, mind, and spirit.

The writing of this book, has also been a culmination of a personal journey for me, as I have been able to integrate some of my greatest loves and expertise- a love for my homeland of Greece, a deep interest and undergraduate studies of History- particularly Ancient history, my master’s degree studies in Nutrition and Public Health as well as my years of work as an esthetician in the healing arts, spa and beauty industry.

Whenever embarking on a creative endeavor, I find that things many times will appear as signs or sources of inspiration. Upon writing this book, I am returning from a beautiful trip to Greece. While Greece, in all her beautiful glory, revealed to me once again so much new beauty, having attended a friend’s wedding on the magical island of Kefalonia with its caves, monasteries, wineries, and world class beaches, I also revisited many of the Ancient sites of the Parthenon, the temple of Poseidon at Sunion, and Ancient Delphi, and Greek Orthodox Christian Monasteries, paying homage to the glory of a past that still is very much alive in modern Greece.

It is my hope in writing this book that I can inspire a desire to live a more healthy, beautiful, and spiritually enlightened life. May this book Light your path and may the Light of Greece burn brightly for future generations!

Please read in good Health! Filakia! (Kisses)

Light and Love,

Anna

Chapter I:

Ancient Greek Beauty: Gifts from the Heavens

Elysian: Adjective- Beautiful or Creative; Divinely Inspired; Peaceful and Perfect

Ancient Greek Beauty

In Ancient Greece, the concept of beauty was revered, sought after, studied-even fought over as it is believed that Helen of Troy was so radiantly beautiful that the Trojan War was fought to win her love. For the Ancient Greeks beauty was considered one of the highest blessings- truly a gift from the heavens in the highest form. For the Greeks, a perfected exterior was direct evidence of an inner perfection- a beautiful face and body mirrored a beautiful mind and soul, which they even had a word for, kaloskagathos, which literally meant beautiful and good.

The Ancient Greek philosopher Plato viewed beauty as the highest ideal and Aristotle believed that it was virtuous characteristics such as kindness, intelligence, gracefulness, politeness, and integrity that made a person beautiful. Epicurus thought alike saying, Beauty is not merely a beautiful exterior-one’s heart and soul reflect beauty. In Ancient Greece, inner beauty was also considered- reflecting an inner Light essence-a radiating quality that shines from ones eyes, heart and soul.

Pythagoras, the Ancient mathematician, believed beauty and mathematics were related with the golden ratio, symmetry and proportion believed to create the most attractiveness. As the Ancient Greeks were very much attuned to beauty and aptly described themselves as Lovers of Beauty, they saw and appreciated beauty in nature, created beauty in their art and architecture and revered beauty in the human form-holding high standards for beauty in each of their respective fields-with ancient philosophers’ creating discussions on art and beauty as part of the traditions of aesthetics.

Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, created a quintessential beauty ideal among women with the goddess symbolizing true femininity and grace, which influenced the Greek’s prestigious, ancient beauty rituals. The Greeks were lovers of physical beauty, and were very in tune with the body, thus they were always seeking ways to improve their appearance, and to stay looking eternally young.

The word cosmetics comes from the Greek word ‘kosmetikos’, meaning ornament or decoration, with dark eye shadows favored using a mixture of charcoals and oils, crushed mulberries used for lip stains, and clay for skin radiance. Thick and prominent eyebrows were preferred and admired. Honey, olive oil, and gold were used in many cosmetic and anti-aging preparations. Women anointed themselves in olive oil, believed to be both sacred and to protect the skin, used honey in facials, and drank tonics with edible gold believed to attain immortality and everlasting youthfulness. Modern Beauty trends still draw from this knowledge, considering olive oil, honey, and gold are still used in skin care treatments and products to this day. The Ancient Greeks bequeathed to future generations many beauty secrets and recipes- leaving a legacy of this nation’s love of aesthetes and perfectionists.

The First Ancient Greek Beauty Pageant

While beauty contests such as Miss Universe may seem like a modern invention, their roots can actually be found in Ancient Greek mythology- with the Judgement of Paris likely the World’s first beauty pageant. The story of the judgement of Paris was so popular that multiple Ancient Greek authors wrote about it including Aristotle, Euripedes, Homer, and Xenophon.