Our breakfast was delicious this morning - as always. There were many conversations about the readings from the night before and getting into the flow of the Institute.
My morning mini-course on Aristophanes focused on the play The Birds. In this play two Athenians head off in search of a place they can be free of the lawsuits and debts they have in Athens. They eventually end up getting together with the birds to create an empire called Cloudcookooland. Then hilarious (and ironic) things happen. It is quite entertaining. We discussed how this play fits into the structure of Old Comedy and follows the pattern. We also talked about the original Greek and some of the words that had double-meanings. Another great session.
Our seminar then met with all our participants and instructors. We discussed the Funeral Oration and the Final Speech and Obituary of Perikles. We also focused on the public support and influence in decisions of war versus what we have in our modern society. There were great discussions and great comments. It is very interesting to look at the Peloponnesian War in comparison to our own experiences with war as modern Americans.
We then headed to lunch - another super good meal. I sat next to a participant who happens to be an active duty Army Colonial. He has been kind enough to let me pick his brain about what our soliders experience overseas and in war situations. One comment he made that I has made me think today is that the people voting for war in Athens were the people who would fight in the war (for the most part). However, in our modern American situation the people who vote for the war are not necessarily people who will be impacted by the war - either by fighting themselves or sending a son or daughter to war. I appreciate his comments and love that he took vacation time to come to the Institute.
We were then off to our afternoon mini-course. Again, Debby was engaging and exciting. We discussed some of the other buildings on the Acropolis. We also talked about some vase paintings and how the representations of specific scenes have changed throughout the war. For example, a myth about the abduction and rape of women by the sons of Zeus changed from being very explicit in the violence and intentions before the war. At the end of the war we have examples of the same myth that are much more toned down and almost imply a lack of a struggle. The conclusion we came to was that people were exhausted of violence and no longer wanted war, plague or violence explicit in their artwork.
 |
| Various books and notes during my afternoon reading session |
Tonight's lecture was given my Debby Sneed on the Agora in Athens. The Agora (traditionally translated as "marketplace") was much more than a market. Debby walked us through the different buildings and explained how their appearance and function in public life changed throughout the life of the polis. For example, there had never been a need to have a council meeting chamber before the movements toward democracy. This didn't stop the Athenians from designing and building the boule (council meeting place)! It was a great lecture and Debby was very gracious in answering audience questions at the end of the lecture.
Well, another day of classes and lectures has come to a close, but another day of reading and thinking has not come to a close. I must be off to do more 2nd readings and get myself prepared for tomorrow. Until then...
