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Classics Trip to Greece October 2008
21 November 2008
After setting off on a freezing cold Saturday morning, it was lovely to arrive in the warmth and sunshine of Athens. First stop was obviously the Acropolis- a long walk up the hill was made worhtwhile by the beautiful shining Parthenon, Temple of Athene, and the other wonderful buildings. We visited the new Parthenon Museum on the way down, but were a little disappointed to find it finished and open, but empty. Still, it’ll be good when it’s finished, and the National Archaeological Museum easily made up for it.
After exploring the Ancient Agora and the other sites of Athens, we travelled across to Delphi- easily the most beautiful site in Greece. The ‘Shining Rocks’ provide a stunning backdrop to the Sancuary of the Oracle of Apollo- the Pythia Priestess who provided famously ambiguous prophecies as well as some rather more clear warnings such as the one Oedipus received about killing his own father and marrying his mother.
Down to Olympia, the site of the Olympic Games which ran for over a thousand years. The Temple of Zeus, which used to house the gold and ivory statue of Zeus- one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World- now lies in ruins but the Stadium is still in place, and provided a great opportunity for the girls to run on the very same track as the original Olympians.
After Olympia we stopped at Sandy Pylos to see Nestor’s Palace and Sparta to visit the statue of Leonidas, leader of the 300, before travelling across to Mycenae. There we visited the Tomb of Agamemnon and the site of Ancient Argos, home of the House of Atreus who ruled during the second millenium BC and led the Greeks to war in Troy. Also located nearby is the Theatre of Epidaurus, with the most incredible acoustics. We listened from the very back seats to a piece of paper being torn and a penny being dropped. Then Alyssa, Harri and Jenny pleased the cfrown with a beautiful song.
Then back to Athens via the Isthmus of Corinth, where we stopped to see the world famous canal, and on the plane home. We all had a truly fantastic trip: the girls and teachers alike. All the girls were utterly lovely, and we would all happily take them away with us again.
Miss P. Madams
Head of Classics