Classical Studies in Greece
Prof. Groton and 30 Oles at the Palace of Phaistos
(Photos on this page are all from January, 2007, and were contributed
by Alice Deden, Cory Holec, and Dan Moldenhauer.)
(Photos on this page are all from January, 2007, and were contributed
by Alice Deden, Cory Holec, and Dan Moldenhauer.)
Classics 251 - Classical Studies in Greece
St. Olaf College first offered a Classics Interim abroad course in January, 1973; its instructors were Prof. Lloyd Gunderson (Department of Classics) and Prof. Richard Olson (Department of History). Since then, a Classics Interim to Greece, or to Greece and Italy, has been offered every year except 1975, 1982, and 2004.
In 2008 the course will be taught by Prof. Tim Howe (Department of History).
St. Olaf College first offered a Classics Interim abroad course in January, 1973; its instructors were Prof. Lloyd Gunderson (Department of Classics) and Prof. Richard Olson (Department of History). Since then, a Classics Interim to Greece, or to Greece and Italy, has been offered every year except 1975, 1982, and 2004.
In 2008 the course will be taught by Prof. Tim Howe (Department of History).
Illustrated Course Description for Classics 251
This course introduces students to the history and art of ancient Greece.
This course introduces students to the history and art of ancient Greece.
Parthenon
Athenian Agora
Harbor of Aigina
Theater at Laurion
Aegean Sea
The itinerary takes students to every major region of Greece, with extended stays in Athens, Heraklion, and Thessaloniki.
v
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion
Harbor of Aigina
Theater at Laurion
Aegean Sea
The itinerary takes students to every major region of Greece, with extended stays in Athens, Heraklion, and Thessaloniki.
v
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion
Palace of Knossos
Kaiti Pateraki guiding on Crete
Bus driver Mimis Malatestas and guide Dora Spahi
starring in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter
(performed at Olympia)
Stadium at Messene (Mt. Ithome in background)
It covers more than two thousand years of Greek civilization,
from the Bronze Age through the archaic, classical, and Hellenistic periods.
Medieval town of Mistra
Palamidi fortress in Nauplion
Theater at Epidauros
Stadium at Nemea
Centaur in museum at Eretria
When not visiting museums and archaeological sites and learning about ancient Greek culture,...
Walls of Amphipolis
Public latrines at Philippi
Monasteries at Meteora
Muses - Homeric Hymn to Apollo
(performed at Delphi)
Pirates - Homeric Hymn to Apollo
(performed at Delphi)
Pirates - Homeric Hymn to Apollo
(performed at Delphi)
students have the opportunity to experience modern Greek culture as well.
Almond trees blooming
Sheep on the road
Palm trees in the cemetery
Soccer game in Piraeus
Long waits in the airport
Reflections by Paul Moran (St. Olaf '00):
For those not familiar with St. Olaf's Interim, it is the 1 in our 4-1-4 calendar. For the month of January, students take only one course, meeting every day for varying lengths of time. Its purpose is to allow detailed study of one subject, and to give students a chance to investigate fields outside their major. To this end St. Olaf has developed many Interims abroad, to allow students to achieve this goal in the invigorating arena of the world at large. The Interim to Greece is one of St. Olaf's most popular January programs.
Classics 251 is a class, however, not a vacation, which is what makes it so valuable. The group is led by one of the professors in the Classics department, who provides an easily accessible font of knowlege on all things classical. The professor, however, is not left up to his or her own devices, as the majority of the lecturing is done by a tour guide. This might seem rather a waste of time to any who have been on tours guided by a monotonous voice restricted to a narrow and repetitive script. Fortunately, Greek tour guides are an elite group, receiving their position only after passing the most stringent of tests.
Each day the group arises (fairly) early and, after breakfast at the hotel, sallies forth by 8 or 9 in the morning to parts exotic, either by bus or on foot. The tour guide takes them to one or more sites or museums and delivers a lecture on the site and its significance. The group learns about the culture and events related to the area, as well as that place's importance with respect to other sites visited. The group often eats lunch together, and the structured part of the course ends in the early afternoon. If not on the road, the students then have the rest of the day to explore modern Greece, as well as go back and spend time at classical sites. Sometime during the day the students also must find a moment for reading, as a significant amount of material is covered each day in books on the art, archaeology, and history of the country. Readings are chosen to highlight those times and areas that are to be visited the following day.
In this fashion the course fosters learning in innumerable facets of life. Because the Classics encompass an entire world of human endeavor, and not just a single discipline, the Interim in Greece opens the door for joint exploration in myriad directions. Everyone on the trip can find something of interest, and everyone has knowledge to share that others do not know, whether he or she is studying History or Mathematics, Political Science or English. The Interim to Greece, like any journey into the Classics, is an experience in humanity, and this is what makes it so worthwhile.
Almond trees blooming
Sheep on the road
Palm trees in the cemetery
Soccer game in Piraeus
Reflections by Paul Moran (St. Olaf '00):
For those not familiar with St. Olaf's Interim, it is the 1 in our 4-1-4 calendar. For the month of January, students take only one course, meeting every day for varying lengths of time. Its purpose is to allow detailed study of one subject, and to give students a chance to investigate fields outside their major. To this end St. Olaf has developed many Interims abroad, to allow students to achieve this goal in the invigorating arena of the world at large. The Interim to Greece is one of St. Olaf's most popular January programs.
Classics 251 is a class, however, not a vacation, which is what makes it so valuable. The group is led by one of the professors in the Classics department, who provides an easily accessible font of knowlege on all things classical. The professor, however, is not left up to his or her own devices, as the majority of the lecturing is done by a tour guide. This might seem rather a waste of time to any who have been on tours guided by a monotonous voice restricted to a narrow and repetitive script. Fortunately, Greek tour guides are an elite group, receiving their position only after passing the most stringent of tests.
Each day the group arises (fairly) early and, after breakfast at the hotel, sallies forth by 8 or 9 in the morning to parts exotic, either by bus or on foot. The tour guide takes them to one or more sites or museums and delivers a lecture on the site and its significance. The group learns about the culture and events related to the area, as well as that place's importance with respect to other sites visited. The group often eats lunch together, and the structured part of the course ends in the early afternoon. If not on the road, the students then have the rest of the day to explore modern Greece, as well as go back and spend time at classical sites. Sometime during the day the students also must find a moment for reading, as a significant amount of material is covered each day in books on the art, archaeology, and history of the country. Readings are chosen to highlight those times and areas that are to be visited the following day.
In this fashion the course fosters learning in innumerable facets of life. Because the Classics encompass an entire world of human endeavor, and not just a single discipline, the Interim in Greece opens the door for joint exploration in myriad directions. Everyone on the trip can find something of interest, and everyone has knowledge to share that others do not know, whether he or she is studying History or Mathematics, Political Science or English. The Interim to Greece, like any journey into the Classics, is an experience in humanity, and this is what makes it so worthwhile.
