Bound for Eretria; Ancient Argilos at 25 in Thessaloniki

The Institute is organizing another one of its well-known Saturday excursions on Saturday, May 13^th. This time we are going to ancient (and modern) Eretria on the island of Evia. The Scientific Secretary of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, Dr. Tobias Krapf, will be our expert guide to the Archaeological Museum, the West quarter and city walls, the theatre (without entering: as it is closed), the gymnasium, the Sebasteion, and the House of the Mosaics. After this meander around the excavations we will have lunch in the port at the favorite fish taverna of the Swiss archaeologists. If that is not sufficient stimulation for one day, we will then go to the Avantis Estate Winery (www.avantisestate.gr) outside of Chalcis for a tour and a tasting of six of their award-winning wines.

We will leave Athens (from the corner of Leof. Vas. Sofias and Gennedaiou) at 08:15 sharp (in order to catch the 10:00 ferryboat). The expected return time is 18:30/19:00.

For the Friends’ and supporters of the Institute the cost is 25€, for others it is 35€. The price includes the Pullman, the ferryboat ticket from Skala Oropos, and the wine tasting. Not included are the Museum and site entrance ticket (2€) and the lunch.

As only 25 enthusiastic individuals can join us, I urge you to contact Jonathan (ad@cig-icg.gr) immediately to reserve your place on this most interesting cultural adventure. Participants can pay at the Institute during normal hours of operation prior to the excursion, or on the Pullman.

Ancient Argilos at 25 in Thessaloniki

It is hard to believe that the excavation at ancient Argilos in Macedonia has been conducting significant archaeological research there under the aegis of the Institute since 1992. Over the past 25 years five areas of the site has been excavated. To celebrate this important milestone in this Greek/Canadian synergasia, the Director, Dr. Zisis Bonias (Director Emeritus, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sport), and the Co-Director, Prof. Jacques Y. Perreault (Université de Montréal) are organizing a three-day conference in Thessaloniki on Thursday, May 25^th through Saturday, May 27^th. “ARGILOS, 25 ANNÉES DE RECHERCHES. Organisation de la ville et de la campagne dans le Nord de l’Égée VIIIe – IIIe siècles av. n.è.” will take place in the auditorium of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

Besides the organizers, 33 individuals will give papers, including Gerry Schaus, Mark Lawall and Keven Ouellet from the Institute. I will offer the Institute’s firm support for this timely initiative. The full program is available from our website: http://www.cig-icg.gr/content/international-conference-5.

I hope to see many of our members and friends there next month to mark the 25^th anniversary. The range of papers and the expertise of the speakers will make this a conference not to be missed!

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director

The Fred Winter Collection

Rome, Palatine, views down from upper level into sunken garden court of Palace (Professor Fred Winter, 1978)

The Fred Winter Collection

Terracina, Jupiter, general and telephoto view of temple platform from harbour (Professor Fred Winter, 1978)

A Small Town Girl, Living in a Greek World

I had been to Greece before, so I already knew I loved the country, so when I discovered I had been chosen to intern at the Canadian Institute in Greece, I was ecstatic. With this wave of excitement however, I also received a wave of fear. I spent the next four months terrified for my internship abroad. Nevertheless, January 6^th 2017, the date of my arrival in Athens crept up fast, and I was finally forced to face my fear, and what a rewarding experience it has been. Looking back on my three-month journey, I am proud of how much I have grown, and I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to work, learn, and live in Greece.

I had three major tasks as an Intern at the Canadian Institute in Greece. The first was to reorganize the books in the CIG library in order to fill an empty book case. This job took two weeks and required mostly organizational skills (and a little bit of strength). It allowed me to become familiar with how the books were categorized, labelled, and also what types of books the CIG had in their collection. I shortly started my second task, which was to sort, organize and digitize the papers relating to the Institute’s last six colloquiums. This was the most complicated job I had while here; it required a lot of patience, problem solving and attention to detail, as there were many steps to take in order to keep things unified and organized. With the help of the Institute’s Director, David, the Institute’s Assistant Director, Jonathan, the fellow, Keven, and Google Translate, I was able to accomplish the majority of these colloquium papers. And finally, I ended my internship by updating the Institute’s membership lists and sending out membership renewal e-mails. Aside from these three major tasks, I was responsible for many others, such as doing the weekly laundry for the hostel upstairs, scanning documents and picking up books or papers for Jonathan, and my favorite, preparing and serving food and drink with Keven for bi-weekly lectures held at the Canadian Institute.

My work week was Monday to Friday, so I had the weekends off for travel, exploration and fun. I spent my first weekend visiting family in the UK, whom I do not get to see very often. This definitely helped ease some homesickness as well as got me into the habit of travelling on my own. I quickly became friends with a group of students from the University of Victoria who were participating in a semester abroad and went on many adventures together both in Athens and off to the islands of Hydra and Rhodes. I also made time to travel to Cape Sounion, Elefsina, Thessaloniki, and Delphi and Santorini with my Mom who was happy to visit.

Since I had only been to Athens once before for a very short period of time, there was much I wanted to see and explore. By the end of my time in Athens I had visited the Acropolis three times, the Athenian Agora, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Cycladic Museum, Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, Hill of the Muses, Lykavittos Hill, Flisvos Marina, Anafiotika, the Royal Gardens and more. I was also lucky enough to have made a great group of Greek friends who showed me Athens from a local’s perspective. I ate at many amazing tavernas, listened to live Greek music, learned how to play ρακέτες at the beach, watched four theatre productions in Greek, experienced the Greek night-life, and how to properly use a κομπολόι,. I am thankful for their patience with my awful Greek accent and showing me a side of Athens I could have never experienced on my own.

I really enjoyed my time at the Canadian Institute, and the work I was required to do seemed a very small price to pay for the positive experiences I had here in Greece. Working here gave me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, make great friends, travel to new and old places, and experience Greek culture in a way I never had before. After my three-month stay in Athens, living at and working for the Canadian Institute, I have fallen in love with Athens, a unique city full of variety, fun, and culture, and would hope to even live here one day.

Holly Patrick
University of Waterloo intern, winter-spring 2017

The Fred Winter Collection

Terracina, Jupiter, inner concrete vaulting (Professor Fred Winter, 1978)

The Pasha Recess; Eretria Bound in May!

This afternoon the Canadian Institute will close for two weeks for its annual Pascha recess. We will reopen for business bright and early on Monday, April 24^th at 09:00.

The Director and his family as well as the Assistant Director and his wife will all be in Crete for the holiday. Keven Ouellet and a colleague will be joining a group of shepherds in Evia to follow them as they move their flocks to summer pastures. Holly Patrick has extended her stay in Greece so she can experience Pascha with a family in Karpenisi in central Greece.

So that you will not miss your requisite weekly dose of “Canadian Content” we will upload Holly’s and Keven’s guest blogs on the next two Fridays so that you can learn more about their time in Greece.

Save the Date!

On Saturday, May 13^th we are organizing an all day trip to ancient (and modern) Eretria on the island of Evia opposite the eastern Attica coast for the friends and supporters of the Institute. Dr. Tobias Krapf, the Scientific Secretary of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, will be our expert guide to the Archaeological Museum and the areas excavated by the Swiss School over the years, including the fortification walls and gate, the Temple of Apollo, the House of the Mosaics and the Gymnasion. After this walkabout we will enjoy a tasty lunch on the harbor. To finish the excursion we will visit the Avantis Winery outside of Chalkis to tour the winery and to taste their excellent, award-winning wines.

We expect to leave central Athens by 08:30 on the 13^th and return around 18:30. During the week of the 24^th of April we will send out announcements (as well as via this blog) on the excursion, its cost and how to sign up. Be ready to sign up as there will be only 25 spaces available on the Pullman!

Kalo Pascha!
David Rupp
Director

The Fred Winter Collection

Sperlonga, remains closest to cave and cave entrance (Professor Fred Winter, 1978)