The Fred Winter Collection

"Pergamon, Lower Agora, collection of artillery-balls-from area of the arsenals" (Professor Fred Winter 1966)

Scrutinizing Laconian black figure pottery, CIG at the AIA Meeting in Seattle, and the study of stone tools in the Ionian islands

The institute’s lectures lately have avoided for the most part the perennial topic of ceramic studies. On Wednesday, January 30th at 7:30 PM Professor Gerry Schaus (Wilfrid Laurier University and the President of the Board of Directors of CIG) is going to end this drought. The intriguing title of his paper is “Laconian Vase Painting’s BIG BANG Theory”.

The sudden popularity of Laconian pottery on overseas sites, beginning in the 570’s BC, is normally explained by citing the quality of vases produced by two major painters, and several others who followed soon afterwards. The so-called Naucratis Painter is especially credited with establishing the style, building on a home-grown decorative tradition and adding features of Corinthian vase-painting to the elegant, newly-developed high-stemmed drinking cup, the kylix. This view of Laconian’s BIG BANG needs some correction, however, to account for the contributions of a little-known and under-appreciated vase painter who preceded the Naucratis Painter. Recent finds from Miletus in Turkey help cement this older painter’s crucial impact on the style.

After the lecture we’ll cut our pita for the New Year to ensure that health, productivity and friendship will prevail at CIG during 2013. Maybe your piece will contain the flouri??? If so, you will receive the gouri for 2013!!!

CIG Fieldwork and Members in the Limelight
Earlier this month the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) was held in Seattle, WA. Reports on CIG’s fieldwork projects were well represented. Brendan Burke (University of Victoria) and his co-researchers gave a paper on their results from at Eleon in eastern Boiotia in 2011 and 2012. Ian Begg (Trent University) and his co-researchers reported on the final field season in 2011 of the Leukos Survey Project on Karpathos. Hector Williams (University of British Columbia presented his study of the fortification walls of Mytilene. Rodney Fitzsimons (Trent University) discussed the meaning of monumental tomb construction in LH period. Spencer Pope (McMaster University) scrutinized Sicily in the 4th century B.C. Aspects of Middle Cypriote pottery was Laura Gagne’s topic (Trent University). Tristan Carter (McMaster University) was a busy person giving both a paper and chairing a session. Dimitri Nakassis (University of Toronto) chaired a session as well. Finally, James Conolly (Trent University) and Andrew Bevan’s new publication of the results of their survey of Antikythera under CIG’s aegis, Mediterranean Islands, Fragile Communities, and Persistent Landscapes. Antikythera in Long-Term Perspective was on display at the Cambridge University Press exhibit booth. We trust that they will donate soon a copy to the Institute’s Library, eh! If I missed inadvertently any of our members’ active presence there please let me know the details.

Who from CIG will be in Chicago in January, 2014 at the next AIA Meeting, giving a paper???

The Study of Stone Tools in the Ionian islands
The lecture series of the Syllogos Filon tou Istorikou Archeiou tis Archaiologikis Ipiresias continues on Monday, January 28th at 6:30 PM. Associate Professor Georgia Kourtesi-Philipaki (University of Athens) will give a lecture in Greek on the history of the study of stone tools in the Ionian islands at the Historical Archive at Psaromylingou 22 on the border between Kerameikos and Psyrri.

Since the end of the 19th century stone tools have attracted the interest of Greek and foreign archaeologists who were working at prehistoric sites in Greece. The lecture examines the case in the Ionian islands. The first to collect stone tools in their excavations were W. Dörpfeld, S. Benton, W. Heurtley and, more systematically, S. Marinatos in the 1960’s. The real pioneer who set the standards for documentation and study of stone tools was A. Sordinas. He established that stone tools are equally as important as pottery. His study focused not just on typologies but also on more complex matters, crucial for the understanding of an island society, such as the provenance of the material and the methods of acquisition. All these issues will be presented in parallel to the progress of research on the lithic industries in Western Europe. Further, the influence of lithic studies on our understanding of prehistoric societies in general will be evaluated.

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director

The Fred Winter Collection

"Pergamon, Upper Gymnasium , views of court and N embankment from E by N" (Professor Fred Winter 1966)

The Institute’s Winter/Spring Program and our University of Waterloo Intern Arrives

The long awaited Winter/Spring lecture program of the Institute is out. Save the dates!!!

The first lecture is on Wednesday, January 30th with Professor Gerry Schaus (Wilfrid Laurier University and President of the Board of Directors of CIG) speaking on the Archaic period black-figured pottery from Laconia that was found in Miletus. This evening we will also cut the CIG pita. Who will find the flouri???

Coin from Pherai depicting Enodia on horseback

Our Alföldi-Rosenbaum Fellow, Gino Canlas (University of British Columbia), will speak about his dissertation research on the Thessalian deity Enodia and her spread in the Greek world on Wednesday, February 27th.

Finally, on Wednesday, April 10th, Professor Alison E. Barclay (Saint Mary’s University) will explore center and periphery relationships in the eastern Mediterranean as depicted in the art of the Geometric and Archaic periods.

The program has a wide-ranging and interesting topics by Canadian scholars. Who could ask for more, eh?

Welcome Alisha!!!
This winter’s University of Waterloo undergraduate intern arrived in Greece on Friday. Alisha Adams will be with us for three months assisting us on digitizing our fieldwork archives. She is a 4th-year Classical Studies and Biomedical Sciences double major with a minor in Anthropology. She is interested in Greek medicine and the lives of ancient women, as well as the Hellenistic baroque style of art. Her experience in Greece will help decide which specific direction to pursue in graduate school. So please welcome her warmly on the 30th to the Athenian archaeological community!

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director

The Fred Winter Collection

"Assos, vaulted tomb just outside and E of Main Gate" (Professor Fred Winter 1966)

CIG in the Local News and Refugee Relief Efforts in Greece, 1918-1928

Kalli Xronia!!! The Institute has re-opened on Monday for the New Year. Jonathan and I are in the process of finalizing the winter/spring lecture and Friends’ programs. These will be announced next Friday!

I would like to remind you that our library hours continue as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:00-13:00 and Tuesday and Thursday from 09:00-18:00. Our offices are open 09:00-13:00 each weekday.

CIG in Ta Nea

Marking 70 Years of Ellinokanadiki Philia
The Canadian Embassy in Athens, under the guidance of Ambassador Robert Peck, is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the commencement of direct diplomatic relations between the Hellenic Republic and the then Dominion of Canada. Since November there have been a number of cultural events to mark this historic development. The Ta Nea newspaper issued a special section in its Saturday/Sunday edition of November 17th/18th to survey the nature of the relations and the friendships between the two countries.

The section surveys Greek immigration to Canada and Canadian aid to Greece after WW II. The major Canadian business interests in Greece, Bombardier, McCain, Eldorado Gold, Air Transat, Tourgreece, IBI Group and Milos Restaurants were featured. The Institute and its work was also was covered although our relationship with Greece isn’t as long. Besides interviewing Jonathan, Gerry Schaus and me for the story the reporter, Nikola Zois, did a telephone interview with Jacques Perreault. A long and loyal supporter of CIG, Ian Vorres, had extensive coverage of his work and his museum in Paiania. We’re all doing our part to connect the two countries for the mutual benefit of both and their citizens.

Bert Hodge Hill

Bert Hodge Hill and the Greek Refugees of 1918-1928
From 1906 to 1926 Bert Hodge Hill was the Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. As a dedicated philhellene and long-time resident of Greece he was more than just a foreign excavator and foreign archaeological school administrator. He was deeply involved through various philanthropic organizations in the health and refugee relief problems that Greece suffered during and after WW I and then with the Asia Minor debacle and exchange of populations in 1922. My research into Hill’s work at the American School and contributions to Athens College during the same period revealed his deep commitment to Greece, its people and their needs.

Refugees in the Municipal Theatre of Athens

On Wednesday, January 16th Dr. Eleftheria Daleziou (Carl W. Blegen Library Archives, American School of Classical Studies at Athens) will give a lecture in Greek on Hill’s and the American School’s extensive philanthropic activities between 1918 and 1928 based on her research in various archives. The Lecture is sponsored by the Syllogos Filon tou Istorikou Archaiou tis Archaiologikis Ipereseis. It will be held at the Historical Archive at Psaromylingou 22 on the border between Kerameikos and Psyrri. The Thisio railway station is the closest station.

It should be noted that this Lecture was originally scheduled for Monday, January 14th. In as much as the inaugural seminar of the new “Cycladic Seminar” was much later selected for the same date and time with Colin Renfrew as the presenter it was decided to change the date to the 16th.

Cordially,
David Rupp Director

The Fred Winter Collection

"Olympia, area of the S Stoa" (Professor Fred Winter 1966)

The Fellow's Fellowship: Part 1

The past three months have been frighteningly quick. Only 5 more months left of my Fellowship. Okay, so what have I accomplished?

The remains of the east façade of the temple of Enodia in Pherai (modern Velestino), Summer 2012

Most of the research that I’ve been doing for the Institute has centred around the digitization of the archives. I’ve been writing summary reports of the various archaeological projects of the CIG. I have so far worked on reports for Kastro Kallithea, Ancient Eleon, Stymphalos, Zaraka and Karpathos. It has been very interesting to read about such a wide variety of sites and time periods, from the Bronze Age to the Mediaeval Period, from fortified cities to a Cistercian abbey. It was enlightening to look at the different archaeological approaches taken by the different teams in their research. For this project, I have had to read through numerous reports and permit applications and I am becoming more familiar with the archaeological bureaucracy of Greece, which will most certainly be useful for future projects.

Gino standing in front of the inner fortifications at the Kastro at Patras, 28 October 2012

My own personal research project is on the spread of the cult of the goddess Enodia, an important regional deity in Thessaly. I first became aware of the cult of Enodia during my work with the Canadian excavations in Kastro Kallithea in Thessaly. I have since written a Master’s thesis on certain aspects of the cult. I am currently researching the spread of the cult of Enodia throughout the Greek world, which travelled as far west as Syracuse, as far east as Thera, as far south as Egypt, and as far north as Perseis (near modern Debrešte, FYROM). I am currently researching the socio-political factors for the spread of the cult. The rise of the cult’s popularity in Thessaly owes a great deal to the patronage of the tyrants of Pherai, which is evident in the sudden growth of the material evidence for the cult at Pherai during the 4th century BC.

The restoration work inside the Parthenon, facing west, 14 December 2012

I am concurrently working on collecting data for what will probably be my doctoral dissertation, on the distribution and development of Thessalian sanctuaries. By some stroke of Zeus-ordained luck, the British School happened to be hosting a conference on Thessalian cults and sanctuaries earlier this month (of which I was ignorant prior to my arrival in Athens). I attended every lecture and learned so much new information on current work on Thessalian religion. I was also able to make very important contacts for my research. I will be taking a little trip to Thessaly this weekend to check out some of the new information that I learned from the conference. I am eager to present a preliminary report of my research during my lecture at the Canadian Institute next term.

Gino standing inside the opisthodomos of the Parthenon, facing west, 14 December 2012

I’ve been greatly enjoying my Fellowship in Athens so far. I did some day trips with our intern Rachel to Patras and Eleusis, and I also did a quick afternoon trip to Sounion. I was also fortunate enough to be able to join the group from the American School during a trip inside the Parthenon. It was an amazing experience to finally be on the other side of the rope around the temple. I’m also thoroughly enjoying how tight the archaeological community in Athens is. It’s been amazing getting to know everyone and I look forward to another 5 months of darts at the Red Lion pub on Tuesday nights.

Gino Canlas
Alföldi-Rosenbaum Fellow, CIG

The Fred Winter Collection

"Olympia, Gymnasium propylon, foundations, Corinthian capitals, half-column blocks" (Professor Fred Winter 1966)