Koboloi (only for men?)

[Talking Bird]

When I was young, the world was divided into 3 parts:
-a world for men
-a world for women
-a world for kids
all in the same physical space, but in different corners.

Sometimes those worlds came together:
-when the postman came to the café each morning
-at harvest time when everyone went to the fields to help
-at night while sleeping, and at meal times
-at celebrations and church services

Now it seems there's one world that we all share.
Or is it just that I'm old now and I can't see?
Are there still things only for men, only for women?

[Mirta Toledo]

If we need a Koboloi to talk to God, then is for anyone who wants to pray...
Talking Bird, you are not old, but the world you described yes, is old in some parts
of the world, and still a reality in others...
Is nice to have the freedom to share with everybody, and also to keep the women,
men, and kids world if we want...

[Litsa Spathi / NOBODY]

Kobolói or Kombolói

Kombologion is also a subgenus of the gastropod mollusc genus Calliostoma

Kombológia of different materials: turquoise, obsidian, Faturan and Yemeni amberKomboloi, kompoloi (Greek κομπολόι, pronounced [komboˈloj] or [koboˈloj]), or (Greek) worry beads are a part of Greek culture, used to relieve stress and generally pass the time.

Etymology
Modern κομπολόι is derived from medieval κομβολόγιον < κόμβος 'knot' + λόγιο 'collection'.

Purpose and origin
Komboloi worry beads resemble prayer beads, but, unlike them, bear no religious significance. They are merely an instrument of relaxation and stress management. In modern times komboloi is also used by people who want to limit smoking.

The origin of the Greek komboloi is debated. It may derive from the komboskini used by Orthodox monks or the Islamic Misbaha. Armenians also have their own worry beads which serve the same purpose as the komboloi and are also non-religious in nature.

Features
Greek komboloi with secular national or historic symbols accompanying them are often sold to tourists.Komboloi are constructed from any type of bead, although amber, amber resin (such as faturan) and coral are preferred, as they are thought to be more pleasant to handle than non-organic materials such as metal or minerals.

Greek komboloi generally have an odd number of beads (usually one more than a multiple of four, e.g. (4x4)+1, (5x4)+1, and so on) and usually have a "head" composed of a fixed bead (παπάς 'priest'), a shield (θυρεός) to separate the two threads and help the beads to flow freely, and a tassel (φούντα). Usually the length of a komboloi is approximately two palm widths.[1] A variation of the komboloi with an especially long string, often with only two beads, is known as begleri.

Use
A rare komboloi made of Blue Amber.Komboloi can be handled in many different ways. The most common are a quiet method, for indoors, and a noisier method that is acceptable in public places. The most common quiet method is to start at one end of the thread or chain, near the shield, and to pull the thread forward using that hand's thumb and the side of the index finger until one of the beads is reached. Then the cord is tipped so that the bead falls and hits the shield. This is repeated until all the beads have been tipped and then the user starts over.

The second, louder, method is to divide the beads in to two groups. On one end is the shield and a small number of the beads. On the other end is the rest of the beads. Where the two threads are empty, that space is laid between the index and middle fingers. The hand should be in a position where the palm is facing the torso. Then the end behind the hand is swung up and forward so that it hits the other beads, making a noise. The threads are then switched back into the space between the index and middle fingers by holding the threads between the thumb and the side of the index finger. This is repeated rhythmically, creating a louder clicking noise than the quiet method. An easier and soothing method is to hold all of the kombolói in one hand and roll the beads against each other, creating soft clicking sounds.

A more modern version of these worry beads continues to gain increasing popularity. Sometimes called wigglers, these simple strings of beads can be used in a number of ways, including both one- and two-handed methods that involve rapidly wiggling the beads in various directions. Fans claim that wiggling the beads creates a rush of adrenaline, followed by a soothing, calm sensation.

References
^ Tasos Thomaidis, The Path of Man and Worry Beads, Tasos Thomaidis Publications (2001) ISBN 960-87105-1-0
Aris Evangelinos, The Komboloi and Its History, Komboloi Museum Publications (1998)


Κομπολόι
Κομπολόγια από διαφορετικά υλικά. Το κομπολόι, αποτελείται από χάντρες φτιαγμένες από κόκαλο, κεχριμπάρι, γυαλί, ξύλο κ.λπ., τρυπημένες στο κέντρο και περασμένες σε νήμα του οποίου οι άκρες ενώνονται με κόμπο, και οι οποίες μετατοπίζονται αργά αργά η μία μετά την άλλη με τη βοήθεια του χεριού ως αργόσχολη ανδρική απασχόληση παλαιότερων εποχών. Αποκαλείται επίσης (σε μάγκικη διάλεκτο) και μπεγλέρι.

Στην Λατινική Εκκλησία ένα παρόμοιο αντικείμενο που χρησιμεύει ως βοηθητικό αντικείμενο προσευχής ονομάζεται "ροζάριο", από τη λέξη Rozus= κόμπος.
Αντίστοιχο με το ροζάριο, δηλ. με χρήση προσευχητική και όχι ως κάποια ουδέτερη απασχόληση, είναι στην Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία το "Κομποσκοίνι", που όπως λέει και η λέξη, αποτελείται από κόμπους πλεγμένους από σχοινί.
Το κομπολόι είναι επίσης δημοφιλές στην Τουρκία και τη Μέση Ανατολή. Στην Τουρκία ονομάζεται "τεσπίχ".
Το κομπολόι σήμερα ονομάζεται συχνά και εύχαντρο. Η λέξη «Εύχαντρο» υποδηλώνει τη διαδικασία εκκοσμίκευσης του κομπολογιού από εργαλείο προσευχής με στόχο τον εξαγνισμό του νου και της καρδιάς από τα ανθρώπινα πάθη, σε κόσμημα και σύμβολο κοινωνικού κύρους μακριά από τις αρνητικές προκαταλήψεις του παρελθόντος που συνόδευσαν την πορεία του στο χρόνο, καθώς συνδέθηκε στην κοινωνική συνείδηση με το χώρο του υποκόσμου [1].
Το πρώτο αποτυπωμένο ντοκουμέντο που σώζεται και δείχνει κομπολόι στην Ελλάδα, είναι μια σπάνια φωτογραφία που χρονολογείται περί το 1840 στην Κάρυστο και παρουσιάζει έναν τοπικό προύχοντα με παραδοσιακή ενδυμασία να υποδέχεται τον Όθωνα, κρατώντας στα χέρια ένα κομπολόι.[2]
Από τα χαρακτηριστικότερα ελληνικά λαϊκά τραγούδια που είχαν θέμα το κομπολόι ήταν το "φτωχό κομπολογάκι μου", "θα το δώσω το ρολόι...." και στη συνέχεια του δεύτερου "Δεν πουλάω το ρολόι..."
φτωχό κομπολογάκι μου
εσύ ήσουν το μεράκι μου,
που μου πέρναγες την ώρα
πες μου τι να κάνω τώρα.
...................................
====================
Θα το δώσω το ρολόι
και θα πάρω κομπολόι
να μετράω τους καημούς
και τους αναστεναγμούς
...................................
====================
Δεν πουλάω το ρολόι
ούτε και το κομπολόι
είναι δώρα από σένα
κι είναι θησαυρός για μένα
...................................
Από τη Βικιπαίδεια, την ελεύθερη εγκυκλοπαίδεια

[Talking Bird]

In the archaeological museum on Limnos, I saw something that the museum director told me was a koboloi from the 4th millenium BC (from the "poliochni" excavation site on Limnos). Maybe he was pulling my leg. Or maybe it really was a koboloi, and maybe sometime during the next six thousand years that tradition disappeared from the Aegean world and later was re-introduced from China and India. But how could they know what the ancient people used the beads for?

[Litsa Spathi / NOBODY]

In Griechenland erzählt man sich viel, wenn der Tag lang ist und der Tag ist sehr sehr lang, besonders im Sommer, wenn die Touristeninvasionen durch die griechischen Museen ziehen .
In "My big fat Greek wedding " beweist der griechische Vater, dass etymologisch ALLES von der griechischen Sprache kommt. Sogar das Wort Kimono= Chimonas=Winter. Hahaha.
In der Tropfsteinhöhle Drogarati auf Kefalonia erzählt man den Touristen, dass Maria Callas in dieser Höhle gesungen hat. Das ist nicht wahr.
Aber vielleicht hat der Museumsdirektor auf Limnos recht - wer weiss.

Babelfish- English
In Greece one tells oneself much, if the day is long and the day is very very long, particularly in the summer, if the tourist invasions pull by the Greek museums. In " My big fat Greek wedding " the Greek father proves that etymologisch EVERYTHING of the Greek language comes. Even the word Kimono= Chimonas=Winter. Hahaha. In the Tropfsteinhöhle(cave) Drogarati on Kefalonia one tells the tourists that Maria Callas in this cave sang. That is not true. But perhaps the director of museum on Limnos is right - who knows.

[Talking Bird]

At the ruins of the Kabirian temple on Limnos, the guide took me to a cave at sea level just below the temple, and told me it was the cave where Philoktetes stayed when he was abandoned on the way to Troy. It was very convenient that the cave was so close to the temple -- two sites for the price of one.

It's interesting that the koboloi have no religious significance. Usually everything in traditional Greek culture has some religious significance.

Babelfish: An den Ruinen des Kabirian Tempels auf Limnos, nahm der Führer mich zu einer Höhle am Meeresspiegel gerade unter dem Tempel, und mir ihn war die Höhle erklärt, wo Philoktetes blieb, als er auf der Weise zu Troy verlassen wurde. Es war sehr bequem, dass die Höhle also nah zum Tempel war -- zwei Aufstellungsorte für den Preis von einem. Es ist interessant, dass das koboloi keine fromme Bedeutung haben. Normalerweise hat alles in der traditionellen griechischen Kultur etwas fromme Bedeutung.

[Judy Skolnick]

Dressing rooms. Restrooms.

[Litsa Spathi / NOBODY]

[Rain Rien Nevermind]

HIVE MIND is as HIVE MIND does
Run Forest Run...
Biodiverse-City
The only way
we all survive
is by or differ-rinses.
Litsa Itsa Hard Rain za gonna FALL

[Jennifer Kosharek]

I believe only men can pee standing up.
Only women can bare children and breast feed them.
Men can write their name in the snow.
Only children (and me) are truly innocent.
Men still make better soldiers.
Women still make better housewives.
We share one world but it would be better to enjoy differences and relish them instead of trying to make everybody the same. There is great beauty in the differences and I believe we are created to have our differences join together to make a glorious work of art.

[Talking Bird]

I agree completely, except for the part about peeing standing up. Women can do that; I've seen it. But I think it's good for men to spend some time with men only. It makes them appreciate women more, and in some activities they behave better when there are no women around to impress. When I played volleyball, I was always struck by how pleasant it was to play in the men's leagues, and how obnoxious the same men were during a co-ed game. Perhaps it's the same with women-only activities? And the best times of my childhood were when no grown-ups were around. Now it's considered a duty of parents to go to their children's basketball games and soccer matches and scream at the referee. But no adult relatives ever came to my little-league football games or practices. Part of what we were doing was playing at being adults, and having real adults around would have spoiled it.

[Keyla Holmquist]

Friend this world what we all share, is wrong divide

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

No komboloi since January?
Tsk,tsk.
There is a silver bowl on the coffee table in the Greek house
filled with all kinds of komboloi, come take one
(be ye male or female) and let your worries gooooooo!

I going to stop in on the cafe now,
it seems like a nice place to be.