Reflections from Athens: A semester of research and discovery

I have been extraordinarily fortunate to spend the last two years in Greece, and I am grateful for the opportunity provided by the Neda and Franz Leipen Fellowship, which has allowed me to continue living in a city and country that I have come to love deeply. In September 2025, I began my stay at the Canadian Institute in Greece with the hope of finishing my PhD thesis over the course of the academic year. The resources and hospitality of the CIG have greatly aided my progress towards this goal.

My doctoral research centers on Greek pottery collected during a field survey of the landscape around the ancient city of Metaponto in southern Italy. In particular, I have developed a revised typology for the important black gloss pottery from the Classical and Hellenistic periods. With ceramic studies, it is essential to have access to a broad variety of comparative material – in this I have been very well served by the libraries of the CIG and other foreign archaeological institutes such as the American and British Schools. I have also been able view material from important collections such as those housed in the National Archaeological Museum and the Athenian Agora. With the help of these resources, I have revised several chapters of my dissertation this semester and submitted a journal article related to my work.

In addition to my own research, this semester has been full of social and cultural enrichment. I have been able to expand my horizons by attending academic and cultural events in Athens. Highlights include a concert at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, movie night at the CIG, and the Greek Religion Seminars at the Swedish Institute in Athens. Such events are also a great opportunity to make connections with other scholars, many of whom have become good friends!

It is a true privilege to live in Athens for a long period. Becoming a regular at local coffee shops, seeing the Acropolis from every vantage point, sampling the best of both Greek and foreign cuisines – these are just a few of the joys that come from calling this city home (at least temporarily!). The city is also a great base for exploring other parts of Attic and Greece, and I have been able to take short trips to incredible sites like the cave of Pan at Daphni. These trips have broadened my knowledge of both ancient Greece and the modern nation.

My first semester at the CIG has flown by in a blur of library work, coffee breaks, and museum visits. I am very happy to have made good progress in my work and developed many personal connections in Athens. I am grateful for the support of the Institute’s staff and the Neda and Franz Leipen Fellowship, which have facilitated this wonderful experience. As I return home for the holidays, I am already looking forward to another great term in 2026!

Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Χρονιά!
Eric Del Fabbro, Neda and Franz Leipen Fellow 2025-2026