A5/SAND/FIN English

www.grecotel.gr
Sand
Sculpting
1st Annual
BEACH EVENT
July-August 2006
LI
S
EN
G
OLYMPIA RIVIERA RESORT
H
GRECOTEL
Sun, Sea&Sand
AND NOT JUST SAND, BUT THE LARGEST AND MOST AMAZING
sand sculptures ever to be made in Greece!
Grecotel and the World Sand Sculpting Academy are organising the first-ever Sand
Sculpting Beach Event in Greece. Grecotel, the leading hotel chain in Greece, has become
the exclusive regional partner of WSSA for Greece and aims to hold the event on an
annual basis. The beach event will be held at the superb Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort
in Kyllini, West Peloponnese. The international sand-sculpting event is attended by
master sculptors, who are selected by the World Sand Sculpting Academy WSSA, a
renowned worldwide operating organization based in the Netherlands. The theme of the
sand sculptures is fitting for the birthplace of the gods. Three metre high sculptures
depicting The Labours of Hercules will be built by master craftsmen.
THE EVENT
The first official sand sculpting event in Greece to be executed by professional sand sculptors.
Format:
5 sand sculptures:
Theme:
Location:
Period:
International WSSA Sand Sculpting Beach Event
4x4 meters at base and approx. 3 meters high
The Labours of Hercules
Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort, Kyllini
July and August 2006
T I M E PL A N N I N G
19 - 23 June:
24 June:
1 July:
Arrival of the technical crew and preparation of the sand
Start of the sculpting process
End of sculpting process
Given normal weather conditions in the resort, the sand sculptures will remain intact
until the end of August or even longer. During this period workshops for the guests of
Olympia Riviera will be conducted. Both adults and children can learn the basic techniques of
how to build a sand sculpture the professional way.
F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S ( FA Q ' S )
ON SAND SCULPTURE
ARE SAND SCULPTUR E M ADE O F SAN D A N D WAT E R ON LY ?
Yes, only sand and water are used. The sand sculptures stay intact for a longer period of time
because of the compaction of the sand. No additives are used.
W HAT HAPPEN S W HEN IT R A I N S ?
Nothing. The rain goes through the sand and evaporates or percolates into the ground. Water
makes a sand sculpture stronger. Only when very heavy rain storms occur, there might be some
minor damage on the horizontal surfaces of a sculpture, but is easily repaired.
WHAT HAPPEN S W HEN STRO N G W I N D S OC C U R ?
Wind is generally no problem because the sand is compacted densely. This way the sculpture gets
the hardness of almost sandstone. When using the right sand and good compaction techniques, a
sand sculpture will survive winds up to 7bft.
DO YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO SPRAY A SAND SCULPTURE WHEN IT IS FINISHED?
No, only when you work on the sculpture the sand has to be moist. Sculptors use spray bottles
filled with water to keep the surface wet during the sculpting. When the sculpture is finished it
can dry out completely without any problems. The sculpture does not fall apart because the sand
is compacted densely.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE AN ARTIST TO BUIL D S A N D S C U L P T U R E S ?
No, everyone, regardless of age and background can learn the basic techniques. Only you have
to practice a lot and have patience. Also a feeling for 3-dimensional shapes will help a person to
become a good sculptor.
HOW LON G CAN A SAN D SCULPTUR E R E MA I N I N TAC T ?
A sand sculpture built in the open air can survive up to 3 months when weather conditions are
moderate and no sudden or extreme weather changes occur. The record of a sand sculpture built
in the open air is 2,5 years, in San Diego California.
When a sand sculpture is built indoor, it can remain intact for years and years as long as it is not
touched. The indoor record is 19 years, in the City of Kaseda, Japan.
GRECOTEL OLYMPIA RIVIERA RESORT
Kastro Kyllinis, GR-270, Peloponnese, Tel.: +30 26230 64400, e-mail: sales_or@grecotel.gr
Hercules' Ten of Labours will bring Greek mythology back to life at the Grecotel
Olympia Riviera Resort this summer
HE NEMEAN LION
1
In the locality of Nemea near Mycenae, there lived in a cave a fearsome lion which was said to
have been born by Echidna and her own son, the dog Orthos. Hercules resolved to kill this lion,
which was spreading terror over the countryside. Before he arrived at Nemea, he stopped at the
city of Kleonai where he was the guest of Molorchos, a farmer whose son had fallen victim to the
lion. Molorchos gave him information as to how he might confront the beast and wanted to
sacrifice a boar in his honour. Hercules told him to wait thirty days and then, if he did not return,
to sacrifice it. He set off for the cave and some say that he took thirty days to reach its depths
where the lion had its lair. After a tough battle with it, he throttled it with his bare hands. Then he
skinned it, donned the pelt as a suit of armour, along with a garland of wild celery, and set off on
his return. In commemoration of his victory contests were later inaugurated; these were called the
Nemean Games and victors there were crowned with a garland of wild celery.
THE LERNAIAN HYDRA
2
The next monster that Hercules had to face was also an offspring of Echidna, this time with
Typhoon. It was called the Lernaian Hydra because it inhabited a place near to the lake of Lerna
and was a water-snake with nine heads. Flames emitted from its mouth and poisonous breath
from its nostrils. Hercules took Iolaos, his nephew, with him on this difficult mission. When they
arrived at Lerna and provoked the appearance of the monster by shooting flaming arrows into its
nest, it attacked Hercules. He chopped off its heads with a sickle but this was to no avail, because
new heads immediately sprang up. He therefore sent Iolaos to set fire to the forest and bring
flaming torches. With these he immediately cauterized the wound each time he cut off a head and
thus stopped the blood from giving birth to new heads. The last head, which was immortal, he
threw on the ground and crushed with a heavy stone. Thus he defeated the monster and by
dipping his arrows in its poisonous blood, made them deadly.
THE KERYNEIAN HIND
3
The next mission decreed by Eurystheus was for Hercules to bring back live to Mycenae the hind
with the golden horns, which lived on Mount Keryneia on the border between Achaia and Arkadia.
The hind caused great damage to the fields, but as its golden horns demonstrated, it was no
ordinary animal. Some said that it had been Taygeta, a companion of Artemis whom the latter had
changed into a hind because Zeus had desired her; thus she had escaped his clutches. The divine
hind was impossible to catch, not only because she ran very swiftly but also because she passed
through unknown lands from which nobody had ever returned. Hercules started to chase her from
Arkadia, to Adriatica and then to the land of the Hyperboreans, taking care not to injure her. When
the hind tried to cross the river Ladon, Hercules closed in and caught her. He tied her feet and took
the road home. Then he met Artemis, who was furious because he had captured her sacred
animal. Hercules, however, explained that he was merely carrying out the orders of Eurystheus to
take the hind to him alive.
DON'T MISS One of the world's most famous archaeological sites, the Sanctuary
at Ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Games were held more than 3,000 years
ago. Stroll the ruins, pausing before the hearth where the Olympic torch is lit
THE ERYMANTHEIAN BOAR
4
Eurystheus commanded Hercules to bring him live the Erymantheian boar, the terrible wild beast
that lived on Mount Erymanthos in Arkadia. Hercules went up the mountain and began to call out
as he went in all directions, prompting the boar to keep moving for countless hours over the
snows. When the beast was exhausted Hercules caught it with a noose, bound it tightly, hoisted
it on his shoulders and brought it to Eurystheus. They say that the latter was so terrified that he
hid himself in a pithos that he had sunk into the earth.
THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS
5
In the dense forest by the Stymphalian Lake in northern Arkadia there lived some wild birds with
long legs and iron wings whose tips were so sharp that they killed their victims with them. These
terrible monsters fed on human flesh. As they spread terror by devouring men and plants in the
fields, Eurystheus ordered Hercules to destroy them. Athena supported him on this difficult
mission giving him a pair of metal rattles, wrought by Hephaestos, which would help him to lure
the birds from their hiding-place. So Hercules went up onto a hill and shook the rattles and the
birds flew out in fear. Then he began to shoot them with his bow and arrow, one after the other.
They say those which escaped took refuge on Mars Island in the Black Sea.
THE CRETAN BULL
6
As we know, Zeus kidnapped Europa disguised as a bull and brought her on his back from Phoenicia
to Crete. Some said that he did not transform himself but that the two came to Crete with the help of
a bull. When they arrived they set the bull free but later the gods drove it mad and it began to cause
destruction on the island. Eurystheus set Hercules to catch the bull and bring it to him alive. Thus
Hercules left for Crete where he informed Minos of the reason for his visit. He began to pursue the bull
and at some moment was able to take it by the horns and bind its snout and one of its legs with a rope.
He hoisted it onto his shoulders and after saying farewell to Minos, went to Eurystheus. The king was
captivated by the beauty of the bull and wanted to dedicate it to Hera. She however, in order not to
contribute to the fame of Hercules whom she hated, released the animal, which started to wreak havoc
until it arrived at Marathon. Amongst its victims was Androgeos, son of Minos. Theseus saved Athens
from the terrible beast.
CERBEROS
7
The guardian of Hades, Cerberos was the offspring of Echidna and Typhoon; he was a monster
with three dog's heads and a tail which had the head of a snake at its tip. Eurystheus ordered
Hercules to bring the animal to him. He was accompanied by Athena and Hermes on this difficult
journey to the world of the dead. After he had met a number of the dead and released Theseus,
he asked Pluto and Persephone to 'lend' him Cerberos for one day, in order to take him to the
Upper World. They agreed on condition that only his hands but no weapons would touch the dog.
Hercules indeed managed to tame the monster and bring him to Eurystheus; the latter, as had
been the case with the Erymantheian boar, was so terrified that he hid himself in his bronze
pithos.
every four years and challenge yourself to a sprint down the same stadium where
the great heroes of ancient Greece competed. Admire the sculptures decorating
one of the most important ensembles of ancient Greek art, that include
THE BELT OF HIPPOLYTA
8
Hippolyta was queen of the warlike Amazons who lived in the city of Themiskyra, near the Black
Sea. As a symbol of her power she had a belt, which had been a gift from her father. Eurystheus
wanted it and ordered Hercules to bring it to him. The latter gathered together some brave
comrades and set off on the long journey. On the way, they stopped on Paros where four sons of
Minos were living. As the latter murdered two of his comrades, Hercules killed them as well and
laid siege to the island. With two prisoners of war he resumed his journey to the land of the
Amazons. Hippolyta welcomed him there and promised to give him the belt. However, Hera had
changed herself into an Amazon and let it be known that Hercules had come to seize power, thus
the Amazons took up their weapons and launched a frenzied attack on Hercules and his
comrades. In the mel_e which ensued, he killed Hippolyta and snatched her belt. Having
decimated the army of the Amazons, he set off for Mycenae and after several adventures, handed
over to Eurystheus the belt, which he had so coveted.
THE CATTLE OF GERYON
9
A new order issued by Eurystheus was for Hercules to bring him the red-haired cattle of Geryon,
a monster with three bodies, which Kallirhoe had born to Crysaor. The cattle were to be found on
an island called Erytheia and were guarded by Eurytion and his monstrous dog Orthos. Herakles,
after many adventures, crossed Europe and arrived at the strait, which separates it from Africa.
After having raised the 'pillars of Hercules' there, in order to cross the sea, he made use of the
golden cup of Helios to sail to Erytheia, where he immediately killed Orthos and the shepherd with
his club and stole the cattle. Geryon heard the news and ran to stop him, but he killed him with
his arrow. Then Hercules took the road home. He gave back the cup to Helios and having faced
many difficulties on the way, including the thief Kakos in Sicily, Scylla, and the snake-woman in
Scythia, he arrived at Mycenae and presented the cattle to Eurystheus.
THE APPLES OF HESPERIDES
10
The final demand made by Eurystheus was that Hercules should bring him the golden apples of
Hesperides. These were to be found in the garden of the gods, in the far West, where the
Hesperides - the daughters of Night - had their home. The apples were guarded by Ladon, a
serpent with one hundred heads. Following instructions from Nereus, Hercules travelled from
Africa to Asia and from there to the Caucasus where he set Prometheus free. The latter, to thank
him, advised him to ask for help from his brother, Atlas, who lived next to the garden and held up
the sky in his hands. The Titan consented to help Hercules, thus finding an opportunity to have a
rest from the weight that he had been supporting. He handed him the sky and then set off to take
the apples. Thanks to the help of the Hesperides, who sent Ladon to sleep, Atlas picked three
golden apples and brought them to Hercules. However, not wishing to take back the great burden,
he suggested that Hercules should remain holding the sky and that he instead would go to
Eurystheus. Hercules pretended to agree and asked him to hold the sky for just a short moment
until he could put something soft on his shoulders to make things more comfortable. . .
Thus, he managed to escape, having handed the burden back to Atlas.
depictions of the labors of Hercules--son of Zeus, a Greek hero, and founder of
the Olympic Games.