A Journey Through Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece and the Classical World
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A Journey through Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece and the Classical World 13 MAY – 2 JUN 2016 Code: 21622 Tour Leaders Em. Professor Frank Sear, Kate Rowe Physical Ratings Explore the cultures of Minoan Crete and Santorini, Mycenaean Greece, the archaic and classical Greek city states, especially Corinth and Athens and the sanctuaries of Olympia and Delphi. Overview Tour Highlights Lectures and site visits by Emeritus Professor Frank Sear, a world expert on Roman architecture, and lecturer on Classical Archaeology as well as Latin and Greek. Frank will be assisted by Kate Rowe, a Monash graduate with a keen interest in history and archaeology, and currently one of ASA's tour coordinators. Spend a full day at the Acropolis - the spiritual and artistic heart of 5th century BC Athens, exploring the Parthenon and her associated temples, wellspring of Western art and culture Make a comprehensive journey through the world of Classical Athens, foundation of philosophical enquiry, artistic rendering of the beauty of the human form, comedy, tragedy, scientific enquiry and democracy Stand where Socrates and Plato delved the mysteries of the universe, Aeschylus, Euripides, Aristophanes and Sophocles described the mysteries of the human condition, and where Pericles, Themistokles and Demosthenes defined the meaning of democratic government. Journey through 4000 years via the pre-Mycenaean, Mycenaean and Minoan sites of Tiryns, Knossos, Pylos, Lerna, Gournia, Mycenae, Phaistos and Akrotiri Enjoy glorious scenery as we traverse the rugged, mountainous landscapes of Arcadia, Attica, Crete and the Peloponnese Visit some of the greatest museum collections in the world in Athens, Heraklion and Santorini Explore the relatively unvisited and beautiful ruins of the city of Messene in the south-west of the Peloponnese Wander the medieval streets of Byzantine Mistra, perched high on a slope overlooking the Vale of Sparta Take to the sea to view Santorini’s historically deadly caldera View a working replica of a Minoan ship at the Nautical Museum in Hania Explore Crete’s pristine southern coast, visiting the picturesque fishing villages of Khora Sfakion (site of the 1941 evacuation of Allied Troops) and Agia Roumeli and the stunning Samaria Gorge Spend time investigating the beautiful Venetian city-ports of Nauplion and Hania Sample traditional cuisine and local wine at some of Greece’s best local restaurants and tavernas, including the Brillant Gourmet Restaurant – ‘since opening in 2007, this restaurant has emerged as offering the finest dining experience in Heraklion’ New York Times (August 2011). 21 days in Greece including Athens, the Peloponnese, Crete & Santorini Overnight Athens (3 nights) • Nafplion (2 nights) • Tóriza (1 night) • Pylos (1 night) • Olympia (1 night) • Delphi (2 nights) • Athens (2 nights) • Hania (3 nights) • Heraklion (3 nights) • Santorini (2 nights) Overview Our journey takes us through historically significant sites around the Aegean, Peloponnese and Attica, to understand the beginnings, fluorescence and transformation of the Mycenaean and Minoan worlds, to the apotheosis of Classical civilisation – a stunning legacy inherited by their Byzantine heirs. On the Acropolis we explore some of the most exquisite architecture ever constructed. We admire the beautiful temple to Athena’s great rival, Poseidon, at Sounion, before heading west across the great Isthmus of Corinth, into the Peloponnese. From our base in the beautiful Venetian city of Nauplion, we explore the brooding hilltop fortress of Mycenae – citadel of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra – and journey to Epidaurus, majestic theatre and shrine dedicated to Asclepius, God of Healing. Heading south to Mistra, we wander streets of the last great Byzantine city before journeying across the jagged Taygetus Mountains to stand in the great hall of A Journey through Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece and the Classical World November 2016 Page 2 legendary King Nestor. We explore the haunting ruins of Messene, great nemesis of mighty Sparta. At the sanctuaries of Delphi and Olympia we investigate the roots of organised sporting triumph and a mysterious, chthonic world of ambiguous utterance. On mountain-spined Crete we traverse a landscape that nurtured a sophisticated Minoan world of palaces and towns, where skilled artisans created frescoes and ceramics whose beauty and vitality still entrance. At Knossos, ostensible palace of King Minos, we stand where Theseus and Ariadne’s doomed love blossomed, celebrated in countless operas, mosaics, plays and paintings. In the old Venetian port of Hania we view a working replica of a Minoan ship. We also explore Crete’s pristine southern coast, visiting the site of the 1941 evacuation of Allied troops and the stunning Samaria Gorge. On the stark, lunar island of Santorini we visit the Minoan Bronze Age settlement of Akrotiri – a world forever preserved by volcanic disaster. Together we share a journey across 4000 years, exploring the foundations of Western culture, in the beautiful cradle of the Greek-speaking world – born of and nurtured by Homer’s “Wine Dark Sea”. A Journey through Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece and the Classical World November 2016 Page 3 Leaders Em. Professor Frank Sear A world-renowned architectural historian who directed the Australian Pompeii Project & Australian Roman Theatres Project (Italy, France & Jordan). Frank has lectured for ASA in Rome, Southern Italy, Sicily, Malta, Greece & Croatia since 2011. Emeritus Professor Frank Sear is a graduate of Cambridge University, where he did both his undergraduate and postgraduate work. As a Scholar at the British School at Rome he did research on Roman Wall and Vault Mosaics and as a Cotton Fellow, he excavated in Benghazi and Leptis Magna, Libya. In 1975 he took up a lecturing position at the University of Adelaide where he taught Classical Archaeology as well as Latin and Greek. He has since been a visiting scholar at the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin, a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and Hugh Last Fellow at the British School at Rome. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. In 1991 he took up the position of Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Melbourne. He was co-Director of the Australian Pompeii Project from 1978 to 1988, and since 1990 has directed the Australian Roman Theatres project, which involved surveying the theatres at Gubbio, Taormina, Benevento and Pompeii in Italy, Jerash in Jordan, and Orange in France. He has written numerous articles on his archaeological work and published a number of books including Roman Wall and Vault Mosaics, Roman Architecture, and Roman Theatres. He has led numerous archaeological tours in Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Egypt, North Africa, Spain and France. Kate Rowe A Monash graduate with a background in Italian Studies, History and Archaeology. Kate taught History at Monash University before joining ASA as a Tour Coordinator and Tour Manager in 2014. Kate completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne in 2000, with major studies in Classics & Archaeology and Psychology. She subsequently completed her Honours degree in Italian Studies at Monash University in 2005; her research explored gender issues in Renaissance literary text and letters. While at Monash she taught medieval and early modern history, as well as Italian language. She also co-led the ASA – Monash University credit course The Renaissance in Florence in 2007. She has recently completed a Masters Degree in Applied Linguistics at Monash University. Kate has travelled extensively and has lived in Italy and the UK. She is fluent in Italian and has worked as a A Journey through Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece and the Classical World November 2016 Page 4 research assistant in Florence, as an English teacher and translator in Naples, and even used her Italian coffee-making skills while working in a coffee bar in Chester, England. Kate joined ASA as a Tour Cooordinator in 2014 and in 2015 she co-managed An Adriatic Journey: from Trieste to Dubrovnik, led by Emeritus Professor Frank Sear. She accompanied Frank to Greece in May 2016 as Tour Manager for A Journey through Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece and the Classical World – and will reprise this role in Sicily in September/October 2016. Combine this tour with Turkey: The Ages of Anatolia 22 APR – 12 MAY 2016 An Adriatic Journey: from Trieste to Dubrovnik 2016 25 APR – 11 MAY 2016 In Search of Literary France: A Book-Lover’s Tour of Paris, Northern France & the Channel Islands 3 JUN – 24 JUN 2016 A Journey through Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece and the Classical World November 2016 Page 5 Itinerary The following itinerary describes daily activities which may change or be rotated and/or modified in order to accommodate alterations in opening hours, road conditions, flight schedules etc. A couple of the sites we plan to visit are currently under going restoration (eg. the Palace of Nestor at Pylos) and our visit is therefore subject to renovation works being completed in early 2016. Participants will receive a final itinerary together with their tour documents prior to departure. The tour includes breakfast daily, lunches & evening meals indicated in the detailed itinerary where: B=breakfast, L=lunch (on several days this will be a boxed lunch) and D=evening meals. Athens - 3 nights Day 1: Friday 13 May, Arrive Athens Welcome Meeting Travellers taking the ASA ‘designated’ flights are scheduled to arrive at Athens airport in the early afternoon. Here you will be met by your private coach and transferred to the Royal Olympic Hotel. Note: if you are not arriving on the ASA ‘designated’ flight you will be required to make your own way to the hotel, or you may wish to contact ASA to arrange a private transfer. (Overnight Athens) Day 2: Saturday 14 May, Athens The Acropolis incl. Odeon of Herodes Atticus & Theatre of Dionysus Acropolis Museum Welcome Evening Meal This morning we visit the Acropolis, the foremost site of Classical Greece.