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When you come to know the names of his family, you probably have the impression that they all loved the ancient epics as well as the philosophical side of the Greek culture. His father’s name was Socrates and his mother’s, Penelope. One of his uncles was called Homer and another, Alexander—of course, named after Alexander the Great, and Ari had Aristotle and Socrates as his first and middle names. After the Turks occupied Smyrna in 1927, Ari sailed to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here he succeeded in a few years to gain his fated first million. He frequented exclusive night clubs and restaurants. Whether over the phone or on a cruise ship, Ari fostered a profitable business with his flair and vibrant personality. Although he created an opulent surrounding and impressed his guests and associates with luxuries and novelties, it was his personality that fascinated those around him. Ari seemed to tread the fine line between self-egocentrism and vulnerability. This unique combination formed the nucleus of his character and resulted in a remarkable mix of vitality and melancholy. He presided as a king in the financial world, but fate was not to permit him to reap only happiness from his wealthy life. The Odyssey, which he loved to read, described the punishment of the man who had challenged the omnipotence and authority of the lords, who got infuriated and prevented Odysseus from returning to his homeland. Like Odysseus, Ari seemed to have reached the climax at the Trojan War—his business dealing and wheeling. Then, as if by the punishment of the Olympian lords, he seemed to wander away from the main course of actions to way station. After their struggle with the Cyclops, Book Ten of Odyssey describes that Odysseus and his men land at Aiolia—land of Aiolos, the wind king—where they stay for a month. Aiolos bags the storm winds for Odysseus, but his men are tempted and open the bag. The resulting winds drive them to Laistrygonia, whose cannibal giants destroy eleven of his twelve ships. They land at Aiaia, where Circe turns his men into animals. Odysseus is protected by the moly—a magic plant given to him by Hermes. Odysseus confronts Circe and eventually subdues her, and has her restore his companions, and enters her bed after she swears an oath not to enchant him. After a year, his men convince him to leave. Circe releases him and directs him to consult Tiresias in Hades. Like Odysseus, Ari disembarked at land of Opera and seemed to get enchanted by the diva—Maria Callas. He had to spend some time with Callas. His men or some friends might have convinced Ari to leave. Like Circe, Callas eventually released Ari and directed him to consult the Peeping tom in the underworld. Book Eleven tells us about Odysseus, who makes a trip to Hades, where he encounters Achilles and Agamemnon. Odysseus also sees his mother. he had not known she was dead. Unlike Odysseus, however, Ari lost his mother in his childhood. In 1909, during a time of nationalist hostility at the hands of the Turks, a personal tragedy struck his family. Penelope, Ari’s mother, died of kidney failure, leaving a sad void in the family. His father, Socrates, later remarried, bringing a stepmother to Penelope’s sons. But to Ari, no one would ever love him as his mother Penelope did. In retrospect, Ari had never been satisfied with any one of his women. Is this because he had been looking for the lost love from his deceased mother? Book Twelve states that Odysseus reaches Thriancia, where his men kill the cattle of Helios, despite warnings against this. This brings about the destruction of his ship and his company. Odysseus is diverted by the wreckage to Ogygia, the island of Calypso—a nymph who is to detain Odysseus for seven years. Was Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Ari’s Calypso? Unlike Odysseus, Ari seemed to have never returned to his “homeland”. Ari lost his beloved son in the plane clash, and spent the last two years of his life fighting without enthusiasm and devoid of hope. And the Gemstone file! Is this Ari’s “Odyssey”?
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