Classics Trip to Greece
Classics Trip to Greece
Before the October half term, the Classics Department and 34 students departed on their own odyssey to Greece.
After a day of travelling, we arrived in Athens, ready for four days of exploring some of the most important sites of the ancient world.
Athens
Our first day was dedicated to Athens. In the morning, we followed in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims, visiting the Theatre of Dionysus, where Sophocles and Aristophanes first staged their plays, before ascending the Acropolis.
Like the citizens of fifth-century BC Athens, we entered through the magnificent Propylaia, catching our first glimpse of the Parthenon, the iconic temple dedicated to the city's patron goddess, Athena.
After exploring the ancient citadel, we visited the Acropolis Museum to view some of its most significant finds, before spending the afternoon in the National Archaeological Museum. Home to treasures from across Greece, its opening gallery, filled with gold from Mycenae, proved a particular highlight.
Delphi
Day two took us to Delphi, which the ancient Greeks believed to be the centre of the world and home to the famous Oracle of Apollo.
Set against a stunning mountain backdrop, the site allowed students to walk up the Sacred Way, passing treasuries and monuments before reaching the theatre and stadium.
Both provided a vivid reminder of the importance of drama and athletic competition even within a religious sanctuary.
Olympia
The Greeks' enthusiasm for sport was on display again on day three at Olympia.
Although the site is now largely in ruins, it was fascinating to reconstruct the layout of the buildings that supported the ancient Olympic Games, from accommodation and council chambers to the stadium itself and the temples of Zeus and Hera.
In the museum, students were able to stand just inches away from some of the finest surviving sculpture from ancient Greece, including the remarkable pediments from the Temple of Zeus, whose contrasting scenes of violence and restrained tension remain striking today.
Mycenae and Epidaurus
Our final visits were to Mycenae and Epidaurus.
Arriving at Mycenae in the evening light, we had the site almost to ourselves. While some students may have appreciated its photogenic setting as much as its historical significance, all were impressed by the mighty Lion Gate, with its enormous stone blocks towering above them.
At Epidaurus, Kitty Cox and Queena Gu bravely demonstrated the theatre's famous acoustics by reciting passages from Homer and Sophocles to classmates seated high above.
We may not have taken ten years to complete our journey, as Odysseus did, but we certainly filled four days with beauty, culture, and a vibrant sense of history.
Dr Wilkinson, Teacher of Classics
