You can find some of the published inscriptions of Athens and Attica in English translation at the following site: www.atticinscriptions.com “It is being launched with translations of the 281 inscribed laws and decrees of Athens, 352/1-322/1 BC, which have recently been edited by Stephen Lambert as *IG *II3 1, 292-572.” (Seen in Classics list) The material will probably be updated soon enough to include a lot more information. So, keep checking! »
Around 430 BC a poet and musician died in ancient Athens. An excavation of his grave in the deme of Alopeke revealed a lyre, an avlos, a harp, papyri, wax tablets and a pen, all of which gave us clues about his professional life. The findings proved to be crucial for the study of ancient music, since no other harp has been found until then (only representations on vases), while the papyri were the oldest to be found in Greece. The excavation took place in 1981. Since then, the precious artefacts... »
“I would like to inform you about a program in Athens, Greece, this coming January. This 12 day visit of Athens will be a thoughtful exploration of the preservation and conservation issues facing the city. The program involves a series of lectures and tours lead by Athenian architects, historians, conservators and planners who have been dealing with the problem of preserving monuments and cultural heritage in the midst of a growing modern city. Subjects covered will include: history and ev... »
Yesterday I witnessed the Greek protests in Constitution (Syntagma) square in the center of Athens. The square took its name from the chants of protesters during the uprising of the 3rd September 1843. Back then, the Greek people forced their Bavarian king, Otto, to abide by a constitution. Back then, my country was a protectorate of England, France and Russia. Today, Greece is a protectorate of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. As in 1843, Greek people today are asking for... »
I found the following announcement absolutely fascinating. It is a chance for classicists who love ancient theater to participate in a collaborative project with other professionals. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain a deeper understand of the practical aspects of ancient performances. At the same time, classicists could gain substantial experience in different fields, such as acting, directing e.t.c. Even though I participated in such performances during my undergraduate years, under the ... »
When I suggested the commencement of a short MA module in Athens for our Campus-Based and Distance-Learning students, I had no idea about the political, economic and environmental implications. For the past month I seem to have been fighting not only against Greek bureaucracy but also a double dip in the local economy and the volcanic eruptions in Iceland. The omens appeared for the first time a month ago, when the Ministry of Culture denied us permission to teach our Distance Learning students ... »
All the eminent ancient historians who read this blog have not been able to solve the previous quiz. How is that possible? In any case I will withhold the answer until a knight in shiny armour comes forward to rescue the reputation of our professionals. This week Manolis decided to ask you something easy. here it goes: “We have set up equality between slaves and free men” Pseudo-Xenophon (“Old Oligarch”), 1.12 Can you remember the name of a slave who became an Athenian ci... »