2018 May Term in Greece

Although I have traveled to Europe previously, this trip has been very unique and extremely mind blowing. To see the structures and sculptures the ancient Greeks constructed has been an amazing experience. The Acropolis was easily the most breath taking, especially the Parthenon. To be standing next to a temple that took years to build and was then dedicated to Athena was incredible. Standing on Acropolis hill I felt like an ant. At most of the sites we have visited I have been very curious as to how the Ancient civilizations managed to get massive rocks up to the locations they did and then build the temples and buildings they did.  My second favorite site we visited was the Temple of Poseidon and fire that everyone found to be more intriguing than the temple itself. Being an Aquarius I have always felt some connection to water, thus connected to Poseidon as well. Standing on top of the hill at the temple was a very powerful moment for me, and at the time I don’t think I realiz...

The meals and hotels and views have been incredible. The ancient sites are truly breathtaking. This trip has been a dream, and we’ve only just begun. It’s been such a neat experience to witness the lives these people led so long ago. Visiting different sites each day is exhausting, but very rewarding. It is mind-boggling to imagine even one civilization building and defending such massive walls, but traveling to each of these different sites is incredible. There are so many similarities and differences in the type of construction and with that, there comes the ability to deduce the time in which it was built. I was tasked to report on the Stoa of Attalos in the Agora of Athens. I think doing the small report helped me appreciate this trip and this heritage and culture even further as this provided me the necessity to brush up on my knowledge of ancient Greece. It was very cool to actually get to walk into the building that I’d been researching so heavily before arriving and se...

Day 4 - Acropolis Museum What I really liked about the Acropolis Museum was the architecture of the museum itself. The architecture of a building often adds additional layers of meaning to what is displayed. This museum changed the original blueprints to both preserve and display the findings from the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Even before we stepped foot in the museum, I knew we were in for something wonderful. As we walked up to the entrance, the clear panels in place of some of the side walk allowed us to view the ancient structures from higher ground. At the entrance, there was an open space blocked off by rails in which we could look down clearly into the site. This shows how important history is to Greek culture because instead of demolishing the ruins, they constructed around them to display their history front and center. My favorite part of the museum was the interior structure because of its use of the clear floor panels. This transparency was fascinating because we...

Deja West May 30, 2018 May Term The Temple of Poseidon             So first, mama we made it! I am incredibly happy to be in Greece, and have loved every bit of it (except for the bugs). I never would have imagined that I could have been in a place with such amazing views and sights. Athens the first few days was an amazing experience. As far as ancient sites we got the chance to view, the Temple of Poseidon was my favorite. The architecture of the structure was amazing. I particularly liked the pillars and how they were a Doric style, with 6 columns on two sides and 13 on the other two. I liked it because it was exactly how I imagined it would be. It reinforced the thoughts that I already had about Greece in general. That everything is beautiful and looks like it’s straight off of the cover of a magazine.              Most of all I found it interesting that even a...

Being in Greece this far has been an amazing experience that feels surreal. As it was the first time traveling outside the country by myself. I am grateful for this opportunity all while emerging myself in the culture and history of Greece. The Acropolis has been my favorite site thus far. Although the hike was long and tiring, the view was worth it. It amazes me how the Greeks were able to create these structures of heavy materials. That has lasted centuries and are still remaining and are crucial to Greek history. My favorite temple is the Parthenon located in Athenian Acropolis because the view is breathtaking over the city of Athens especially from that high altitude. Everything seems so micro from the top but the overall view is admirable as these temples located at the very top and can still be visible from the bottom. Which could be seen from a distance especially from our hotel, the 5th-floor rooftop to be specific. As we traveled to different places in Greece, another loc...

Athens view of the Acropolis specifically the Parthenon was mesmerizing. The countless structures, fortification, and building with unique architecture caught my attention from the first step off the bus. The use of narrow streets and marble flooring was also interesting because it was in certain areas like the Plaka. The Plaka was my favorite because it gave me a real authentic feel of Greece with various vendors and genuine conversations. Dinners every night have been memorable for example each night I found myself constantly gravitating towards feta cheese and bread with a side of red wine. While enjoying my dinners I was able to breathe the fresh oceanic smell. As for the monuments presentation, a few of my favorites were the Chryselephantine Cult (Replica) statue of Athena Parthenos and Frescoes and Akrotiri, Santorini.  As for Athenas statue, the statue is reported to have stood to a 41 ft and was standing tall in a battle pose holding a smaller statue of the goddess of victo...

      Never in my life did I think that I would ever be in Greece. Ever since I have arrived, I have been amazed by the beauty and culture that encompasses everything in this country.  One of my favorite places that we have visited thus far is the Acropolis in Athens and the Theater of Dionysus. Both of these locations contain so much history and have greatly influenced the world as we see it today.         The Theater of Dionysus was the birthplace of theater, and if Theater was not created, society would not have the tv shows, movies or plays that we enjoy and love today. I think the layout of this theater was beautiful and it just amazes me how the Greeks didn’t have the advanced technology that we have today and were able to develop such an amazing theater. Once inside the Acropolis, the views of the city of Athens were absolutely gorgeous. Seeing the Parthenon up close just made it seem so much more amazing. I just can’t understa...

This first week has been fantastic, Alibet exhausting, to say the least. There's been very little time to do much else in between the exhibits besides sleep let alone process all of the amazing sights we've been exposed to thus far. Before coming to Greece, I'd be lying if I said I was just coming to see the sights and learn something new. I've grown up, my head buried in books constantly absorbing the various mythologies and stories and histories surrounding the Mediterranean world and wishing I could see for myself where everything had originated. To witness a view of Athens from the Acropolis, stand where its said Klytomnestra stood, plot for the return and demise of her husband, where the great athletes competed against each other for victory for their city-state, and even, in my silliness, recite the Jabberwocky poem at the center of an ancient Greek theater. It's more than surreal to me to experience all of this. even in my perpetually exhausted stupor and ev...

Every site we have visited so far on this trip has left me awestruck. Every column and temple was crafted precisely and with intricate care and has worn the test of millennia. To imagine the ancient peoples who once lived where I have now stood is incredible. I have always loved Greek mythology, and to find myself in the very places that the myths I love speak of is an experience that I never expected to have and am beyond grateful for. In particular I was struck by the temples of Poseidon and Athena, where the myth of Medusa’s origin is set. I could hardly imagine a better place to honor the god of the sea than on a cliff overlooking those who travel upon it. The location and construction of the temple itself also spoke volumes. The hill we climbed to reach the temple was not gentle, and we were not attempting to haul blocks of marble up it. I can only imagine the dedication the ancient Greeks would have felt that drove them to create such an incredible thing. And that temple isn’t e...

This first week in Greece has been an amazing experience. I have always wanted to travel here and learn about its history and I am definitely not disappointed. So far everything we have seen has been very intriguing and full of history. Everywhere you turn there is breathtaking sites to see that make your mind wonder how any of it is real. One of my favorite places to visit has been the Temple of Poseidon. It is amazing to me that it was even possible to construct these beautiful temples thousands of years ago. They did not have the same technology that we have now, so the fact that they were so successful in building the structure and that it is still standing today truly blows my mind. The architects that constructed all the temples that we have seen so far definitely had an eye for beauty and managed to do something that seems impossible for that time and age. Also, the Temple of Poseidon has stunning location. Just something about standing on the hill overlooking the sea made me ...

            Over the past semester I was fortunate enough to learn a lot about ancient Greek civilizations in Professor Seaman’s class, and whenever I heard him saying the phrase “Those of you going on my may term will get to go here,” I found myself overwhelmed with excitement about what these cites would be like in person. While I’ve been fascinated by the ancient ruins and temples we’ve seen so far, two stick out in particular: The Temple of Poseidon and Palamidi.             Poseidon has always been one of my favorite Greek gods, and his temple has easily become my favorite of the ones we’ve visited. While I was expecting the Pantheon to be extremely extravagant based on what I’ve learned about ancient Athens and their love for Athena, I hadn’t heard as much about Poseidon in the lives of ancient Greeks unless it had to do with people traveling by sea. So, when I saw hi...