This project is to introduce you to the beautiful Greece sites that I virtually got to travel to this summer during a pandemic. This virtual abroad program is about engaging the art, history, culture, and philosophy of Greece to your traveling inspiration.
Above is a photo of me at the Colosseum in Italy in fifth grade. Europe has made my heart full with its unique beauty and I cannot wait to explore Greece with you in the same way!
I will be introducing you to the various Athens, Mycenae, Delphi sites in Greece. Let's take a look at these beautiful places and discover their histories, culture, philosophy, and more! One of my favorite quotes about traveling is below:
"The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to."- De Botton, The Art of Travel
De Botton has inspired me to travel with a happy mindset and a sense of beauty appreciation. I always remind myself to not let my mind wander to distracting thoughts. I have so far enjoyed seeing and learning about the Athens sites through George's live videos and Dr. Thomas' lectures, and I really appreciate the ancient incredible structures of different cities in Greece.
Traveling virtually is an enjoyable experience! I am glad to be able to observe the sites through a small screen. It felt like as if I were there to experience the view as George was. Here are some of my thoughts on the sites:
Acropolis: My favorite memory of the site is the beautiful detailed carvings of events, people, and the columns. I am fond of the precise design of the columns that attract myself and other travelers. These designs make me appreciate the beauty of art and become aware of the petite details in the structures. I love how the Athenians were so thoughtful in honoring their gods and city that make me think that the integrity for their city was amazing.
Theater of Dionysus gives me an insight of the Athenians' free activities of dancing, competition, and celebration of wine and fertility. I felt the sense of freedom in the theater and the cooperation in the Athenian community. . Another theater is at Epidaurus where the theater has the perfect acoustics, impressing me with how thoughtful the Greeks were in their theater design.
Panathenaic Stadium celebrated athletic events and singing poems of Iliad and Odyssey to remind the Greeks of the importance of bonding and self-development. I think that these ideas are still important to embrace today because we become more aware of our mindset during traveling just like De Botton's experience. I like how the procession connected multiple places in Athens together for the celebration, making me feel a sense of bonding in Athens. I am also impressed by philosopher Nietzche of Agon who focused on the idea of pushing yourself through painful difficulties and finding your boundaries. These ideas have been one of my favorite motivation to keep a positive mindset under all circumstances, even during our tour to Greece.
Battle of Marathon and Salamis trigger my curiosity to how the 'Double Pincer Formation' and Themistocles' navy strategy could create an advantage for the small Greek forces over huge Persian forces. These strategies impress me with how smart the Greeks were to handle the battle with their small forces. I am also impressed with the soldiers' run from Marathon back to Athens with their heavy gears to catch up with the Persians on time.
Mycenae struck me with the myths of Pelops Legacy and Agamemnon's death and curse. I think that killing your loved ones in the Greek myths was very common and revenge also triggered the next generation to fix the problem. On the other hand, I think that these myths were also helpful in a way that they contributed to the foundation of the Athenian legal justice system. Moreover, my favorite part of the Mycenae site was the Lions Gate. I love the image of the two lions flanking a pillar and forming a triangle. They seemed as if they were protecting Mycenae with the huge stones as their anchor to prevent penetration and destruction.
Kerameikos, Pnyx, and Areopagus in Athens all gave me an insight of where the cemetery, democratic assembly, and high court were located in Athens. I like how sacred the Kerameikos cemetery was with their Dipylon and Sacred Gates to secure the tombs behind them. I am inspired by the 'after life' grave stele at the cemetery as the Athenians viewed death as a reconnection of souls with their deceased loved ones in the after life. I like how the Athenians demonstrated death on a positive message. On another topic, the Pnyx has made me curious about the origin of the democratic assembly and its constitution for Athens. I think that this impact of democracy that the Athenians had at the assembly still influences us in the U.S today. Besides, the olive tree was also an important and sacred tree to the Athenians and Greeks. I like how the Athenians embraced their values at the Areopagus as damaging a sacred olive tree was a more serious crime than murdering someone. I admired the Greeks and their protection of values from any harm.
The Athenian Agora was a public marketplace located just downhill from the Acropolis. It was the central daily lives of Athens with political, economic, and military discussions. I really like how it was a place for the Athenians to worship gods and heroes and gather up to stay informed of the city news. Besides, I admired Socrates for sharing his philosophical ideas with the Athenians and challenging their minds with self-acknowledgment. I think that he deserved to be rewarded and not being executed for any wrong doing. Even though he decided to stay true to his beliefs and sacrificed his life, I really think that he was a great man to Athens.
Delphi's Oracle of Apollo was an ancient Greek religious and holy site that interested me the most because of its connection between humans and the divine. It impressed me with how interpretation of the Oracle was important as it could impact the Greeks in making decisions in the ancient times. I also appreciate the fact that you had to purify yourself at the spring before entering the temple as to show respect for the Oracle and the gods.
Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum inspired me with how these academies have followed and kept Socrates' philosophical ideas going in Athens and improving its development of art, culture, and knowledge. I like how both Plato and Aristotle managed to return to Athens to find their academies and spread their teachings to others in the same city that Socrates began his teachings in. I would love to sit at their academies in Greece one day and absorb all of their wonderful contribution into my soul.
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