ARISTON FOUNDATION PUBLISHES PORTES NO. 12 GREEKS & THE SEAS
The Ariston Foundation for Hellenic Culture & Art is proud to announce the release of Portes No. 12: Greeks & the Seas—Of Ships, Sailors & Sirens—an exceptional issue diving into the everlasting relationship between the Greek people and waters surrounding Greece.
“From ancient mythology and modern art to traditional Greek island life, priceless underwater treasures and the Greek shipping miracle, Greece’s enduring connection to the sea has been a boundless source of inspiration,” says Portes editor Anthe Mitrakos. “Our largest and richest issue to date, Portes No. 12 is the creation of over 40 passionate individuals. Congratulations to the extraordinary authors, artists, scholars, photographers, designers and passionate people who built this issue, a metaphorical ship of stories, images, and ideas. To our collectors, may it carry you somewhere special, spark a sense of wonder, and inspire you to set sail for many more adventures.”
A special launch event in the heart of Athens brought together friends and patrons of the Ariston Foundation to celebrate and honor featured contributors and artists October 9th. The exclusive evening marked the debut distribution of Portes No. 12, alongside a one-night-only gallery exhibition showcasing the featured artists (see Art & Design Program for the full list). The celebration included live music by Chicago-based Nyxtes Magikes featuring local musicians.
“The relationship between Greeks and the sea is, beyond historical, existential. This profound bond constitutes a fundamental element of Greek identity. The sea is never distant. It is always present, shaping everyday life, identity, and imagination,” says President at the Hellenic Maritime Museum and featured Portes No. 12 contributor Anastasia Anagnostopoulou Paloubis.
The limited edition, hand-numbered Portes is printed annually in 1000 copies, this year only 200 copies per featured artist, including Yannis Tsarouchis, the duo Mario Cerrone & Roberta Fotia, Ariston Foundation Collection, Marina Vernicos, and Harris Papapetrou. The 2026 book was designed in collaboration with Panagiotis Dukas of the Piraeus-based PADU Studio. It is distributed as a gift to patrons of the Ariston Foundation.
“Greeks have had a special relationship with the sea since Homer’s time…Greek seamanship has been as much of a continuous thread down through the ages as the Greek language. No matter what trials Greeks have faced on land, the sea has always been their recourse for regeneration or escape,” says Founder of Greek Shipping Hall of Fame, Lloyd’s List Greece correspondent and Portes No. 12 contributor Nigel Lowry.
Art & Design Program
Our unique initiative partners with established and emerging artists to promote Greece-inspired art on a global stage.Select creators highlight artwork through the permanent collection of the Ariston Foundation for Hellenic Culture & Art.
The 2026 Art & Design Program Honorees are:
Christina Angelos — Artist & Illustrator
Mario Cerrone — Artist & Illustrator
Roberta Fotia — Artist & Illustrator
Dimitra Leventi — Sculptor
Paris Vivianne Panigiris — Sculpting Clay Artist
Harris Papapetrou — Designer & Illustrator
Praxitelis Tzanoulinos — Sculptor
Daphne Valente — Fashion Designer
Marina Vernicos — Photographer
2026 featured contributors include:
Elena Agapitou — Filmmaker & copywriter
Nikos E. Alevyzakis — Historian & postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Maritime History, Institute for Mediterranean Studies/FORTH
Anastasia Anagnostopoulou Paloubis — President, Hellenic Maritime Museum
Bessie Argyropoulou — Director, CULTLAB & director, Master’s Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, University of West Attica
Maria-Madonna Constantinides — Artist & founder, Akia Collection
Christos Daniil — Matsie Hadjilazaros archive researcher, PhD in Modern Greek Philology
Panagiotis Dendrinos — Marine biologist & president, MOM Hellenic Society for the Study & Protection of the Monk Seal
Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos — Professor of Functional Ecology, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean
Konstantinos Dimopoulos — Assistant professor of Gymnastics & Dance, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Zisis Fotakis — Assistant professor, Hellenic Naval War College & Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus
Tony Freeth — Founding member, Antikythera Mechanism Research Project & honorary professor, University College London
Maria Georgopoulou — Director, Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Nicol Godsil — Marine program associate, WWF Greece
Niki Grypari — Curator & president, Tsarouchis Foundation
Evangelos Karamenes — Research director & acting director, Hellenic Folklore Research Centre, Academy of Athens
Anna Karatsoni — Public awareness officer, ARCHELON
Ariadne Kritonos — Artist & surface/pattern designer
Christina Loridas — Writer & brand strategist
Nigel Lowry — Founder & director, Greek Shipping Hall of Fame & Lloyd’s List Athens correspondent
Daphne Mavrogiorgos — Director, ARCHELON
Robert McCabe — Photographer & author of The Greeks and Their Seas & Aegean Memories
Vasiliki Mitrakos — Co-founder, Portes Magazine
Andriana Mitrakos — Psychologist, filmmaker & founder, Aperion Consulting
Georgia Mitrakos — Business development & finance consultant
Androniki Papadopoulos — Marketing & communications consultant
Theodoros Papakostas — Archaeologist & author of How to Fit All of Ancient Greece in an Elevator
George D. Pateras — Deputy chairman, Contships Management Inc.
Ioannis G. Plemmmenos — Research director, Hellenic Folklore Research Center
Xenia Politou — Curator of Modern Greek Culture, Aegeas AMKE, Benaki Museum
Olga Polychronopoulou — Archaeologist & professor, University of West Attica
Annita Prassa — Archivist & head of general state archives, Department of Magnesia, deputy director of the Regional Services Coordination Directorate
Dimitra Samiou — Historian
Stella Skordallies — Story coach & founder, The Paros Story Studio
Kalotina Skyllas — President, Union of Kalymnians in Attica
Eleni Tagonidis-Maniatis — Writer, vice-president of the Maniatakeion Foundation Greece
Dimitris Tsiakalos — Media coordinator, MOM Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal
Katerina Tzanakaki — Acting head of the Department of Prehistoric & Classical Antiquities & Museums of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania
Fotis Tzanakis — Writer, editor & musician
Mary Vergos — Architect & head, Teyk Museum, Benaki Museum
Diane Alexander White — Photographer, formerly at the Field Museum of Natural History Chicago
Ariston Foundation for Hellenic Culture & Art
Established on Greek Independence Day in 2011, Ariston Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to promote, celebrate, and preserve Hellenic culture, art, and history by enabling projects and programming including cultural publications, educational material, and special events.
At Ariston Foundation, we believe that Hellenic culture is a gift. Through each of our creative endeavors, we aim to share this gift with the world and spark inspiration that will shape our Hellenic traditions of tomorrow.
