Der Teppich

The mysterious ancient civilisation that resonates now
Why does the first great Greek civilisation continue to inspire artists and designers today? Beverley D'Silva explores the Hellenistic revival and its roots with the ancient Minoans of Crete.
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Corinthian columns; sculptures of goddesses and god-like figures; sun-baked buildings bleached bone white; geraniums planted in olive-oil cans; the obligatory cats lolling about – If you're dreaming of all things Greek, you're not alone. We're in the midst of a Hellenistic revival, a fascination with the Ancient Greek aesthetic that's being most keenly embraced by the post-millennial Gen Z, according to Pinterest. The site reports a rise in trending search terms searches such as Ancient Greek jewellery (up 120%) and wallpaper with an Aphrodite aesthetic (up 180%), and a triple increase in Greek statue art.

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We can but speculate as to why this should this be, but perhaps there's truth in the idea that the fantasy and opulence of magical Ancient Greece is highly attractive in a post-lockdown age – just as Dior's New Look marked a return to indulgent fashion following World War Two's austerity and utilitarian clothing.

What would a flying-free world look like?
Aeroplanes are incredibly polluting, but could we ever live completely without them?
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Aviation has long been a pain in the neck for those working to cut human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. It is the pinnacle of a "hard-to-decarbonise" sector: energy-intensive, lacking in immediate technical options to make it lower carbon, and strongly associated with the lifestyles of the richest and most powerful in society.

It has also become one of the fastest growing sectors emissions-wise. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from planes grew 30% between 2013 and 2019 while the CO2 emissions growth in the wider economy between the same years was just 4%.

The pandemic, of course, stopped this trend in its tracks. As flights were grounded across the world, aviation's CO2 emissions plummeted by up to 60% in 2020. But some experts still expect Covid-19 to only delay aviation's overall contribution to warming by a few years: one recent paper by leading climate scientists projected that the sector will contribute a 6-17% share of the remaining carbon budget to avoid exceeding 1.5-2C of global warming.