Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Dan's Birthday and Archeological Sites
On Monday, the group celebrated Dan Gorman's birthday. Dan is a splendid compadre on this team, and we knew we had to give him the best 20th birthday possible. First, we all got up really early in the morning and went to the archeological sites of the ancient Greek temples and Olympic stadium. While they are mostly remnants, the stone structures makes one realize the essence of time. I found myself realizing that I was walking in the same spots as ancient Greek athletes who founded our Olympic games thousands of years before us. It was pretty surreal. The Temples of Zeus and Hera were some of the earliest monuments in Greece. The original Olympic stadium was located right beneath Mt. Kronos and P. Ryan explained that all of the men would sit on the hillside and watch the events. I could picture the entire scene happening right before me. It's one thing to see these sites in documentaries, or read them in textbooks or journals, but actually visiting them and seeing them with your own eyes gives you a whole new perspective and respect the monuments. We saw many more archeological artifacts at the Olympia Archeological Museum, located right next to the site. It's amazing how these artifacts have lasted this long in time. The most fascinated thing I saw were stones that long jumpers threw behind them during their jump to try and propel them further through the air. C'mon ancient Greeks. We'll give you the ancient olympics, but your physics weren't the greatest.
After posing as archeologists, we had some poolside chilling in the sun. We then presented Dan with his birthday gifts (a fedora and an "I Heart Greece" shirt), and went to a real authentic Greek buffet. There was music, delicious food and even plate smashing. I didn't get to smash a plate, but man does it get you real pumped up just seeing it happen. Dan went out and moonwalked across the dance floor better than MJ himself.
Once we were all partied out, the crew went up to the roof of the hotel and stargazed for a little while. It was an awesome birthday, and it wasn't even mine.
See you soon USA!
-Ian
After posing as archeologists, we had some poolside chilling in the sun. We then presented Dan with his birthday gifts (a fedora and an "I Heart Greece" shirt), and went to a real authentic Greek buffet. There was music, delicious food and even plate smashing. I didn't get to smash a plate, but man does it get you real pumped up just seeing it happen. Dan went out and moonwalked across the dance floor better than MJ himself.
Once we were all partied out, the crew went up to the roof of the hotel and stargazed for a little while. It was an awesome birthday, and it wasn't even mine.
See you soon USA!
-Ian
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Opa Olympia!
Hello everyone! Yesterday, we visited the ancient grounds at Olympia, the pinnacle of our Olympic Odyssey adventure! All the information that Professor Ryan and Professor Burton offered throughout the semester truly came to life right before our eyes. Entering the site sent chills down my spine, as I imagined what past Olympians must have felt as they prepared for competition. According to a Visit Greece pamphlet that we got, "The sanctuary at Olympia flourished from the 10th c. BC to AD 426, the year in which the emperor Theodosius II closed all the ancient sanctuaries." Viewing buildings and relics, previously only seen in textbooks, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Additionally, our group benefited from the countless stories and facts provided by Professor Ares, a "retired" yet lively field anthropologist. Some monuments and areas that stood out included the Temple of Hera, the Stadium, the Treasuries, and the Temple of Zeus. The Temple of Hera was the earliest monumental temple in Greece. It was built for Hera, the wife of Zeus and the goddess of women and marriage. Originally it was built from wood, but as time progressed wood became stone. To provide a glimpse into history, some of the columns have been refurbished and re-erected.
Likewise, the ancient stadium was a holy place for the Greeks and dedicated to Zeus. It is connected to the sanctuary by an overhead gateway, much like modern arenas. Full capacity was approximately 45,000 people. The Treasuries, located at the bottom of Mt. Kronos, date back to the 6th and 5th c. BC. They were located on sacred ground, providing a safe place for people to store valuables. Thus, it was unlikely that anyone would try to steal your belongings. However, if someone stole valuables or cheated during the Olympics, they would have to pay for a statue of Zeus with the offender's name on the front, bringing immense shame onto that individual. It comes as no surprise that the Temple of Zeus is centrally situated in the sanctuary. Built between 470 and 456 BC, it remains one of the most famous monuments in the world. Below are some photos of the Temple of Zeus and Temple of Hera!
After touring most of the sanctuary, we walked over to the Olympia Archaeological Museum (trying to be the best student archaeologists we can be)! It was fascinating to examine artifacts from Early Archaic and Classical periods. Highlights included a small statue of Nike, a room devoted to Pheidias's workshop, and an awe-inspiring statue of Hermes. Later that night, our group went out to dinner at a Greek buffet restaurant. After eating my fair share of food (don't worry I did), my birthday celebration truly commenced as I was given both a second Bar Mitzvah and the opportunity to dance in front of all the restaurant attendees!! Thanks to everyone for making it such a special day! Looking forward to seeing more Olympic-related sites in Athens.
Opaaaa!
Dan
Likewise, the ancient stadium was a holy place for the Greeks and dedicated to Zeus. It is connected to the sanctuary by an overhead gateway, much like modern arenas. Full capacity was approximately 45,000 people. The Treasuries, located at the bottom of Mt. Kronos, date back to the 6th and 5th c. BC. They were located on sacred ground, providing a safe place for people to store valuables. Thus, it was unlikely that anyone would try to steal your belongings. However, if someone stole valuables or cheated during the Olympics, they would have to pay for a statue of Zeus with the offender's name on the front, bringing immense shame onto that individual. It comes as no surprise that the Temple of Zeus is centrally situated in the sanctuary. Built between 470 and 456 BC, it remains one of the most famous monuments in the world. Below are some photos of the Temple of Zeus and Temple of Hera!
Opaaaa!
Dan
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