Jillian Lawrence - Reflection #2

As I look back on two weeks in Greece I simply can't imagine time better spent. Visiting Greece has been on my bucket list since I first found Greek mythology in elementary school, and I was certainly not disappointed. Though I know that the recreations at the palace of Minos were not entirely accurate, it was still an incredible experience to see such an ancient site with such advanced architecture. Seeing the model of the ancient palace in the museum really drove home what even the ruins could not; the sheer size of the palace.

One of the places that surprised me with how connected I felt to it was the Acropolis at Lindos. The hike was a bit arduous but the view alone was absolutely worth it, not to mention the relief carving of the ancient trireme. Having seen the recreation earlier in the trip I was astonished at just how much detail was in a decorative wall carving. Though I most likely should have learned to expect that from studying other ancient sculptures, ancient Greek artisanship never ceases to amaze me. The fact that different civilizations kept fortifying and re-fortifying the same area was also really cool to see, the different architectural styles overlapping and interweaving led to a really interesting fortification. One of the coolest things was seeing the staircases from different eras as they entered whichever fortress was there at the time. Generations upon generations of people seeking to create a protected space was oddly poignant, and I’m so grateful I got to see this and so much else.