Ancient Eleon at CYA; Stylianos Alexiou in his Cretan context

An educational program is always proud when one of its alumni/ae follows the chosen professional career and later achieves recognition for his/her accomplishments. The long-running College Year in Athens has many such success stories over the past decades. One alumnus (from 1989) that CYA can be especially proud of is Professor Brendan Burke (University of Victoria). He is in Athens this winter leading a semester abroad program for undergraduate students from his Department of Greek and Roman Studies.

CYA/DIKEMES has taken this opportunity to invite him to give a public lecture on his ongoing archaeological excavations at ancient Eleon in eastern Boeotia, under the aegis of the Canadian Institute. On Tuesday, February 14^th at 19:00 Prof. Burke will give a lecture entitled “Bronze Age and Archaic Boeotia: New Research at Ancient Eleon”. The venue is the DIKEMES Auditorium at Plateia Stadiou 5 – Kallimarmaro. This an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest developments at this important site!

Stylianos Alexiou in his Cretan Context

The challenges of serving in the Hellenic Archaeological Service are many. The commitment by its archaeologists to preserving the rich cultural heritage of Greece is palpable. In areas with touristic development potential, such efforts are not always seen in a positive light by the local residents and land owners, and even less so by developers. This is especially true for the “Big Island”, Crete, over the past fifty years.

On Monday, February 13^th at 19:00 Dr. Metaxia Tsipopoulou (Director Emerita, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sport) will give a lecture entitled «Ο Στυλιανός Αλεξίου ως Έφορος Αρχαιοτήτων. Στοιχεία από το Ιστορικό Αρχείο της Αρχαιολογικής Υπηρεσίας». In her lecture she will explore some of the memorable experiences of the multifaceted Stylianos Alexiou while he was a member of the Hellenic Archaeological Service, from 1947 to 1977, especially as an Epimelete, Ephor and Ephor General on Crete, and the Director of the Herakleion Museum. The materials in the Historical Archive of the Hellenic Archaeological Service are the sources upon which this insightful lecture is based.

The lecture is part of the 2016/17 Lecture Program of the Σύλλογος Φίλων του Ιστορικού Αρχείου της Αρχαιολογικής Υπηρεσίας. It will be held in the Library of the Canadian Institute in Ilissia. The public is most welcome to attend.

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director