It's Canadian Film Night Again!

At least once a year we have our now world-famous Canadian Film Night. With the assistance of the Canadian Embassy we bring some “Canadian Content” to our city. Whether one is from Canada or not, these films provide a different take on the world than what is normally available in the local cinemas, on Greek TV and in the dvd rental shops. This year’s Greek premiere is scheduled for Wednesday, November 5^th at 7:30 PM in the Institute’s Library.

"Our Man in Tehran" is a Canadian documentary from 2013 directed by Drew Taylor and Larry Weinstein that chronicles the true story of Canada's former ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor, who was responsible for the high-risk rescue of six U.S. diplomats trapped in Iran. The film is Canada's response to the Hollywood feature "Argo" uncovering new information on the 1979 hostage crisis and adding ample valuable content.

The world watched with fear in November 1979, when Iranian students infiltrated and occupied the American embassy in Tehran. The Americans were caught entirely by surprise, and what began as a swift and seemingly short-lived takeover evolved into a crisis that would see fifty-four embassy personnel held hostage, most for 444 days. As Tehran exploded in a fury of revolution, six American diplomats secretly escaped. For three months, Ken Taylor, the Canadian ambassador to Iran—along with his wife and embassy staffers—concealed the Americans in their homes, always with the prospect that the revolutionary government of Ayatollah Khomeini would exact deadly consequences. The United States found itself handcuffed by a fractured, fundamentalist government it could not understand and had completely underestimated. With limited intelligence resources available on the ground and anti-American sentiment growing, President Carter turned to Taylor to work with the CIA in developing their exfiltration plans. Until now, the true story behind Taylor’s involvement in the escape of the six diplomats and the Eagle Claw commando raid has remained classified.

So join us and find out the “real story” of what happened 35 years ago!

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director

The Fred Winter Collection

Panorama of the theatre at Pergamon. (Professor Fred Winter, 1988)

Archives lay bare the foundations of Greek Archaeology in the 19th century

Those of us who specialize in archaeological research which focuses on some aspect of the cultures that once existed in what constitutes today as the national borders of the modern Greek state tend to overlook how our broadly-defined sub-discipline called “Greek archaeology” came to its present state. In the last decade or so there has been an increasing interest in examining the history of Greek archaeology from its beginnings in the publications of the early European travelers. More frequently now there are studies of the “pioneers” and their research from a particular country, of a specific chronological period or a particular development. In these ways we are starting to understand more clearly how and why Greek archaeology is as we find it today.

For the past three days at a Synedrio archaeologists from the Hellenic Archaeological Service with significant input from researchers in a number of Greek universities, research centers and societies and archives have put the foundations and development of the Service, the early practitioners, the advent of formal excavations, the creation of public museums and the serious problem of the looting of Greek cultural heritage for personal gain in the “short” 19^th century of modern Greece (from 1834-1899) under the microscope. It should be noted that this was a smaller Greece than we know today, as Crete, Macedonia, Thrace and the Dodecanese islands had yet to be incorporated. 

«Περι των Αρχαιοτητων ιδιως. Η Αρχαιολογια στην Ελλαδα του 19^ου αιωνα απο τις πηγες του Αρχειου των Υπηρεσιων των Αρχαιοτητων», was organized by the Directorate of the National Archive of Monuments. 61 individuals gave papers based primarily on the documents, telegrams, excavations reports, plans, drawings and photographs in the Historical Archive of the Service located at Psaromylingou 22 on the edge of the Kerameikos and Psyrri Districts. Since 2007 the originals of these materials systematically have been organized, catalogued and digitized. This was done first under the direction of Dr. Metaxia Tsipopoulou and then by her successor and current Director, Dr. Eleni Kountouri.

The papers were organized into a number of sessions: Background Addresses; Archaeological Looting and the Protection of Antiquities; History of Research and Excavations; Archaeological Prosopography of the 19^th century; Museums and Collections; Actions of the Foreign Schools, Foreign Archaeologists and Travelers; the Historical Archive and Recent Research. In conjunction with the Synedrio an exhibition of a selection of the archival materials used to prepare the papers was mounted at the Historical Archive. It is entitled, «Ιστοριες επι χαρτου. Μορφες και θεματα της Αρχαιολογιας στην Ελλαδα του 19^ου αιωνα».

The Synedrio was overwhelming given the number and the variety of the papers. Of particular interest from a CIG point of view were the papers of Alexandra Charami (Θ’ ΕΠΚΑ) on Tanagra - our synergatis at Eleon, Maria Chidiroglou (EAM) on Karystos - a researcher of the Southern Euboea Exploration Project, and Anthi Batziou-Efstathiou on Thessaly. She is the Proistameni of ΚΕ’ ΕΠΚΑ where we have a synergasia with her colleague Sophia Karapanou at Kastro Kallithea. One hopes that all of these papers will be published promptly in the proceedings of the Synedriou as they will form the basis for further research in many directions. It will also open the minds of other archaeologists of the great potential that archives such as that of the Hellenic Archaeological Service for the “backstory” of many topics.

In my role as the President of the Board of Directors of the Syllogos Filon tou Istorikou Archeiou tis Archaiologikis Yperesias I am very pleased to see this Synedrio and the large and diverse audience it attracted. It is unfortunate, however, that so few non-Greek archaeologists resident in Athens attended such an important presentation of the background to where we find Greek archaeology today.

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director

The Fred Winter Collection

Metope from Temple C at Selinus. From the National Museum at Palermo. (Professor Fred Winter, 1988)

Fall Program of Events; First Lecture; Natura2000 sites integrated landscape management

Our Institute is best known for its facilitation of archaeological research by Canadian university-based scholars in Greece. While this is our primary mission it is not our only one. We are also interested in the study of Greece and its culture in the broadest sense through the present using a variety of research methodologies. Related to this goal is fostering the understanding of the nature and extent of relationships between Greece and Canada. This fall we will host three lectures that examine aspects of the recent history of Greece and of Greek immigration to Canada. Central to each of these historical studies is the use of archival sources here in Greece, in Canada and elsewhere. You can find details of our programme (and much more!) on our website: www.cig-icg.gr.

The Canadian documentary film that I promised we would show in the winter is finally available to us this fall. This is “Our Man in Tehran” which reveals the actual events in 1979 involving the Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor which were creatively dramatized in the Hollywood feature film “Argo”.  Stay tuned for further announcements with more details!

The Role of Greece in the Origins of the Cold War

To start our program off, on Wednesday evening, October 22^nd at 7:30 PM, James Horncastle, a PhD Candidate at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies in the Department of History at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, will give a lecture. The title is “Temperature Falling:  The Greek Civil War and the Origins of the Cold War”.

Horncastle’s research into the events in Greece in the 1940s has revealed many facets that are not part of the historical analysis of this seminal period for the shaping of both contemporary Greece and international relations. Traditional examinations of the Cold War usually encompass any political development in the immediate post-Second World War period until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the linkages between the Greek Civil War and the Cold War have often been obscured, or portrayed in binary terms, which detracts from the analytical process. Upon critical examination of the available source material, however, it becomes clear that the Greek Civil War was not only the first proxy war during the Cold War, but also the arena where what would become the two opposing blocs defined their own identities. In so doing, the Greek Civil War helped to shape many of the major dynamics of what would become the Cold War.

International Meeting on the integrated management of the landscapes of Natura2000 sites

Last Friday and Saturday the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation organized a two-day International Meeting in Athens and in Stymphalia (Peloponnesos) entitled “Cultural Landscapes in Natura2000 Sites: towards a new policy for integrated management of cultural and natural heritage”. At the request of Gerry Schaus, the President of the Institute’s Board of Directors, I represented CIG at this impressive event. We were invited to participate most likely as the Cultural Foundation has its Museum of the Environment at Stymphalia, overlooking the archaeological site of ancient Stymphalos, which was excavated in the 1990s by a team from the University of British Columbia and Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Cistercian Monastery at Zaraka, investigated by a team from the University of Toronto.

Thirty-eight individuals gave welcoming speeches, chaired sessions and gave presentations in Athens at the Akropolis Museum and at Stymphalia at the Museum. They came from Greece, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Morocco. The Hellenic Ministries of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change, of Culture and Sports, and of Tourism, a number of Greek universities, the European Commission, European Environmental Agency, Council of Europe, various departments of UNESCO, UNEP, ICOMOS/IFLA, IFLA Europe, ICCROM, ICOM, AECRC, ICMCL, WWF-Greece, Europa Nostra, ECOVAST, MEDWET, EBRD, ECSP, the British Parliament, and the Republic of Cyprus.  It is a truly alphabet soup of acronyms. The Piraeus Bank and its Cultural Foundation (www.piop.gr) were well represented, of course.

The subtitle of the Meeting was in essence the conclusions of the Meeting in relation to Natura2000 sites. That is that in Europe, at least, there really is not much difference from natural landscapes/heritage and cultural landscapes/heritage especially when the Natura2000 network is taken into consideration. Since this is the case then there should be a comprehensive management plan for these sites that integrates these two intertwined landscapes. Such plans should be sustainable, implementable and enforced while addressing the concerns and aspirations of all of the stakeholders. A tall order, eh!

There was a steady stream of repetition of the central themes and concepts (such as mixed landscapes, ecosystems, biodiversity, linkages, identity, synergies, values, stakeholder engagement, public/private partnerships, communication, education, and training) as well as frequent cross-referrals in the presentations. A number clearly had political agendas behind them. The most notable intervention, both for the enthusiasm of its delivery and the novelty of its message in this context, was given by Barry Gardiner, MP from Brent-North in the UK and the Shadow Minister of the Environment for the opposition Labour Party. His most important point was that the concept of “Natural Capital”  as an asset was absence from the financial calculations in determining economic value and importance in the discussion of the environment and what should be done. He argued that Natural Capital belongs to all people and that individual interest does not have priority over its uses or its development. For the environment and the natural landscapes we are the stewards of the present and the guardians for future generations. Gardiner was the odd man out in the subtext that Natura2000 sites should be open for a wide variety of development and not allowed to be “museums”. I believe that the concept of “Natural Capital” can be matched logically by the concept of “Cultural Capital/Heritage” which is a non-renewable resource that should belong to everyone and be protected accordingly for the present and for future generations.

At Stymphalia the theory met practice. The Museum of the Environment there is most impressive and well worth a visit. The Piraeus Bank is using the restoration of the wider ecosystem of the reed-clogged Lake Stymphalos and environs under the title “LIFE Stymphalia Project” as a model project since 2013 for sustainable integrated management of the natural and the cultural landscapes. To date, however, the archaeological heritage of the valley has been mostly absent from these plans despite the prominence of the ancient city state of Stymphalos’ urban center on the edge of the lake and the Cistercian Monastery remains nearby. During the attendees’ visit to the acropolis of ancient Stymphalos to see the present situation in the lake I argued that these remains should be a core element in their integrated landscapes management plan. The Institute is willing to assist in adding this component to the plans with the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

In retrospect, what stood out most on Saturday were the comments of the Hellenic Minister of Tourism, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, on “Cultural Tourism”. These were made in the context of the integrated management of the landscape, where a network of regional nodes focused on these extraordinary (Natura2000 sites) and the ordinary (the remainder of Greece) landscapes would foster cultural/archaeological tourism, eco-tourism, gastro-tourism, oino-tourism as well as such activities as birding, trekking and rock climbing throughout the country. This would be a multi-faceted network of nodes to encourage visitors to Greece to venture beyond the few well-known areas of the country.  Earlier this week I happened to see on the internet a brief article reporting a conference in Athens on the “business of luxury hospitality” in the Mediterranean.  Ms. Kefalogianni gave a keynote speech where she said that her ministry was preparing to table a “national zoning plan for tourism” to facilitate the development of high-end resorts featuring state of the art golf courses and marinas and villas along with the luxury hotels. As any golfer knows it is very boring to have just one golf course to play on when you are staying in an area. These proposed gated complexes for the super wealthy of China, Russia, the Gulf states and other regions (along with the “celebrities”, of course) would naturally be in those coastal areas of Greece which have escaped development so far. It is not clear how the stewardship of these natural and cultural landscapes and their protection for the future under the concepts of “Natural Capital” and “Cultural Capital/Heritage” would be integrated into such large scale interventions in the landscape. Henk van der Kamp, the President of the European Council of Spatial Planners, would argue that planning would square this circle.

The meeting was well-organized, there were some stimulating presentations and the attendees were very well looked after. I met many individuals working in Greek, European and international organizations operating on a broader, policy-oriented level relating to the environment per se than that of most archaeological research endeavors here. Given this, however, the interest in the cultural landscape and its formation/transformation over time by many archaeologists working in Greece is much more relevant to its preservation and appreciation today than the numerous “conventions”, “protocols”, “directives” and “treaties” created on a regular basis by technocrats and politicians in comfortable surroundings in pleasant destinations around the world.

Underneath the hype of the ongoing excavation at Amphipolis and the growing prospect of early national elections in the wake of the need to elect early next year a new President of the Hellenic Republic, there are many things happening that have and will affect the future of archaeology in Greece as well as the country’s cultural landscapes and heritage.

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director

The Fred Winter Collection

View of the surviving portion of the Mercati Traianei from the Forum of Trajan in Rome. (Professor Fred Winter, 1988)

A Farewell from Chris!

Over the last 3 years the Canadian Institute in Greece has become such a big part of my life, providing me friends, opportunities, learning experiences, and inspiration.  Sadly my time in Greece is up, and I'm off on a new adventure in a new land.  While I know that the CIG will remain a part of my life after I leave, it's going to be strange not being as directly involved as I was.

I'll never forget the first few lectures that I attended at the CIG, I thought to myself, who wouldn't want to work with archaeologists in Greece?  Then after meeting with David and Jonathan, it was decided that I had some skills that might be useful.  I did some IT/Web work, but the Fred Winter's photo archive was something I felt I could really sink my teeth into.  This project proved to be something that I can really be proud of.  I've both helped get these photos out into the world, and I was even lucky enough to be asked to write a paper for the CIG's latest publication (pretty good for a "non-academic").

I've also been lucky enough to  work on so many more projects with the CIG (as well as other institutes that I met through the CIG), from art shows at both the CIG and other institutes, setting up online broadcasts of lectures, to the highlight of going out on a dig at Kastro Kallithea, these experiences have taught me so much about archeology in Greece both now and thousands of years ago. The CIG has given me many new tools that I will use forever, and it's also connected me with people that I consider to be life long friends.

So after over 3 years I say goodbye, to Greece, to the CIG, and to the many people who made my life in this culturally-rich country so wonderful.

Chris Stewart

The Fred Winter Collection

Doric architrave with garlands and bucrania, from the Bergama Museum. (Professor Fred Winter, 1988)

Ottoman Athens rediscovered; Now, it is "Amphipolitics"!

Athens is a city that most people associate with marble monuments from the Classical period.  Structures from other periods of its long habitation are mostly overlooked by residents and visitors alike. The four centuries of Ottoman rule have left few visible remnants today. The two major reasons for this were the archaeological excavations in the 19^th century that took place on and around the Akropolis as well as at other substantial ruins and the policy of destruction in the old city to rid the new capital of the vestiges of the past (including small Byzantine churches) that were not part of the grand historical narrative crafted by the recently established monarchy and its western European supporters to link the present to the glories of the “Golden Age” of ancient Greece.

Professor Dimitris N. Karidis (National Metsovian Polytechneion University) will give a lecture on Monday, October 6^th at 18:30 entitled «Αρχειακές πηγές για την Οθωμανική Αθήνα». In his lecture, in Greek, he will trace his thirty-year investigation of the various archival sources for the study of Athens, its town plan and its buildings during the Tourkokratia. In the process Karidis’ research has revealed the general nature of the Greek towns during this period and that of Athens, in particular. These town planning developments of the city can be read from different perspectives. Karidis’ lecture will open one’s eyes to this now hidden past of our city.

This is the first lecture of the 2014/2015 Lecture Program of the Syllogos Filon tou Istorikou Archeiou tis Archaiologikis Yperesias. The lecture will take place at the Istoriko Archeio at Psaromilyngou 22 on the edge of the Kerameikos and Psyyri districts of the city. The Theseio Train Station is the closest access.

Amphipolis, what else?

It is now next to impossible here to talk to a non-archaeological friend or to a doctor who knows that you are an archaeologist without each asking as series of pointed questions concerning the intriguing monument being excavated at Amphipolis in northern Greece. Almost every newscast and most morning gossip/fashion/cooking shows feature what passes as the latest findings from the excavation. The assertions concerning this monument are becoming more fantastic, approaching in some cases the “true stories” of the tabloids. The latest discovery of fragments of a marble door that must be associated with the doorway at the end of the third chamber reinforces the possibility that this is indeed a Macedonian-style tomb as opposed to some other type of monument.

Personalities, politics and national identity are frequently central to this reporting. Our colleagues and friends at College Year in Athens / DIKEMES are organizing a discussion on this aspect of the controversy in their annual lecture series. The “lecture”/discussion on Wednesday, October 8^th at 19:00 is entitled “Amphipolitics: digging up the past to deal with the present”. The presenters are Professor Dimitris Plantzos (University of Athens) and Dr. John Karavas (CYA). Plantzos at least has been speaking recently at various venues in Athens on the circus around the Amphipolis excavations, the selected use of aspects of Greece’s past and the excavation’s potential impact on the future of Greek archaeology. This should be a most interesting presentation on a very “hot topic”. So if you want to know the backstory on this unfolding Greek drama this event is for you!

Keep visiting the “CIG Blog” and our comprehensive “Calendar of Events” (kept current by Jonathan) to stay up to date on what is happening in Athens and beyond relating to archaeology, the past in Greece and Canada-focused events.

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director