Greece - October 2023
Group photo of Honors students in front of the Parthenon
Odeon of Herodes Atticus theater
Greeks, Geology, and Gender
The Honors College debuted a new iteration of our study abroad to Greece this fall, led by Drs. Scott Linneman and Tristan Goldman, supported by our communications lead, Hannah Saleeb. The Greece program had to undergo a complete redesign for this academic year due to changes in Federal guidelines, which had us initially thinking we might not be able to offer the opportunity at all. But, fortunately for us, we had Dr. Linneman for this final year, and he was able to dream up what turned out to be a great program for twenty-four of our students. This year the Honors College offered our incoming first-year students an entire suite of courses for the quarter, which included their mandatory, introductory Honors courses, an Honors Colloquium in Geology, as well as an Honors Colloquium in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, but in a package that made traveling to Greece for two weeks during the term possible. It is certainly a program that we are excited to run again this coming fall, and we are already in the process of exploring ways to make the experience even better.
Evzones (an infantry unit of the Greek army) at the Hellenic Parliament in Athens guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
But this year's students certainly had a wonderful experience in their own right. With the logistical support of the Athens Centre in Athens, Greece, our program explored the most famous sites within Athens, but we also made our way out to central Greece and spent the night in Delphi, visiting the famous sanctuary of Apollo. In addition, we completed a four-day, three-night circuit of southern Greece, which included the sites of Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion, Sparta, Pylos, and ancient Olympia. Throughout our time at both the sites and the various museums, both a local docent and Dr. Goldman ensured that the students received detailed accounts of the historical and cultural significance of what we were taking in, while Dr. Linneman offered lessons elucidating the unique local geology of the Greek peninsula. Upon our return, Drs. Linneman and Goldman have had the opportunity to continue to work with the students in and of the classroom from our home in Old Main. The manner in which this particular iteration of the program offers up the chance to synthesize as much time in the classroom with as much time abroad as it does is something that the Honors College looks forward to building on in the future.
Students walking around the Delphi archaeological site
Students Sam, Colette, Sophie, Rye, and Kai smile at Delphi
View of Arachova, Greece
An aerial view of students at the Monastery of Hosios Loukas
Sam stands next to a large vase in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens
Our group gathers in front of the Temple of Aphaia on the island Aegina
A photo of the group at the Temple of Aphaia on the island Aegina
Taylor walking toward Acrocorinth, the fortified acropolis for ancient and medieval Corinth
Our group walking up to Acrocorinth
Students entering the Treasury of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon
A view from the archaeological site of Mystras
Sophia, Zoey, Indigo, and Violet smile in front of ruins of ancient Mystras
Students racing at Olympia
Students racing at Olympia
Statue Hermes of Praxiteles depicts Hermes the messenger god holding little Dionysus in his left hand
Dr. Linneman and Eliot looking at a model of the Acropolis at the Acropolis Museum
Students Taylor, Zoey, Grace, and Anna smile at Delphi
Stone carving of a battle with a lion attacking a person in the Delphi Archaeological Museum
View of Arachova, Greece
The inside of the Monastery of Hosios Loukas
Clay Linear B tablets from the house of an oil merchant on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens
Students crowd around a display of jewelry in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens
The Temple of Aphaia on the island Aegina
Example of a before and after restoration
Zoey looking at the view from Acrocorinth
Students at ancient Corinth
Students in the Treasury of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon
View of students walking through ancient Mystras
Students at the ruins of the Mycenean Palace of Nestor at Pylos
Bronze figurines of various animals including oxen, bulls, and horses
Votive tripods - 8th c. B.C.
The east pediment of the Temple of Zeus: the chariot race of Pelops and Oinomaos
Students at the Acropolis Museum
Delphi archaeological site
Students listening to our guide, Alice, at the Delphi Archaeological Museum
Temple of Athena at Delphi
Monastery of Hosios Loukas
Portrait head made of bronze, found in the Lake Palaestra, Delos, on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens
Central panel from tessellated floor of a Roman Villa with the head of Dionysus in the center - 2nd half of the 2nd c. - 3rd c. A.C.
Tesselated mosaic representing a pastoral scene found at Kokkinovrysi - A.D. 150-200
A view from Acrocorinth
Lena with their arms spread to show the size of the Acrocorinth blocks
Pantanassa Monastery in the ancient town of Mystras
Students at the ruins of the Mycenean Palace of Nestor at Pylos
Students at the ruins of the Mycenean Palace of Nestor at Pylos
Bronze defensive equipment - helmets
Bronze defensive equipment - greaves from the Geometric to Late Archaic periods
Statue of a bull at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia
Dr. Linneman giving a geology lesson
Dr. Linneman giving a geology lesson