STEM: Greece – Mathematical & Cultural Perspectives

Meet your tour director.

We continue on our journey from Athens to Tolo.

"We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John Dewey On every evening of the program, we will set time aside to update our Reflection Journal and share thoughts and impressions that have come to the fore in the course of the day.

Today we will visit Epidaurus. Epidaurus, one of the most important healing centers in antiquity and today famous for the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece with its unique acoustics. Visit the theatre of Epidaurus, the most famous and best preserved of allthe ancient theatres in Greece. The acoustics are still a marvel of engineering. This impressive venue, known for its exceptional acoustics, is the best preserved of all the ancient theatres in Greece, and is still used today for performances.

At Epidaurus the students will engage in a group discussion within the theater on the construction of an acoustical masterpiece. Designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the late4th century BC, the theater is well-known for its near-perfect acoustics that will be demonstrated by our Greek guide. Our discussion will focus on the mathematical and engineering genius that went into designing a theater that maintains its acoustics to current day. In addition the students will learn about the origins of Greek drama and will be asked to write their own short play, which they will perform at Epidaurus.

Strategically placed between the Peloponnese, central Greece, Italy, and Turkey, Corinth once rivaled Athens for commercial control of the Mediterranean. Corinth was eventually surpassed by the Greek capital, and over the centuries successive waves of invaders have left the city littered with an unusually eclectic collection of ruins -- Roman, Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Turkish gates, fountains, baths, and chapels still stand in Acrocorinth, the site of Corinth's acropolis. The majestic Temple of Apollo in the ancient city, along with other excavated ruins, gives a sense of the enormous scale and wealth of the place during Roman times.

The most interesting surviving building at ancient Corinth is the 6th century B.C. Temple of Apollo, which stands on a hill overlooking the remains of the Roman Agora. Only 7 of the temples 38 monolithic Doric columns are standing, the others having long since been toppled by earthquakes.

Loutraki was once called Thermai Artemis due to its natural thermal springs. It is now a seaside resort area.

Check out the Corinth Canal which connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The canal is very narrow and is not utilized by most modern ships but it was a huge accomplishment when it was finished in the nineteenth century.

After our visit to Corinth we will view the Corinth Canal and engage in a discussion on the engineering behind the canal's creation and the effects this had on Greek commercial, political and cultural life.

Visit Mycenae and the fortified Palace Complex uncovered by archaeologists in 1874.Highlights will include the 13th century BC Lion Gate; Grave Circle A, with its six royal family shaft graves; the Royal Palace and the Secret Stairway, a flight of 99 steps that lead down to a cistern deep beneath the citadel. We will also visit the Treasury of Atreus, the most outstanding of the tholos tombs at Mycenae. The tomb dates back to the 14th century BC and is one of only two double chambered tombs in Greece. It has 120-foot dromos flankedby dressed stone and a small ossuary that held the bones from the previous burials. A 30-foot-long lintel stone stands over the entrance; weighing almost 265,000 pounds. It is still not known how it was hoisted into place, and it is a genuine tribute to Mycenaean building skills.

We will visit the treasury of Atreus, the most outstanding of the tholos tombs at Mycenae. The tomb dates back to the 14th century BC and is one of only two double chambered tombs in Greece. It has 120 ft. dromos flanked by dressed stone and a smallossuary that held the bones from the previous burials. A 30 ft. long lintel stone stands over the entrance; weighing almost 265,000 lbs., it is still not know how it was hoisted into place, and it is a genuine tribute to Mycenean building skills.

Our tour director will lead the students in a discussion on the Trojan War and Homer's Iliad while utilizing the archaeological evidence found in the remains at the Mycenae site. Topics discussed may include the Greek Heroes and Myths, Greek Warfare and Military Strategy, the Curse of the House of Atreus, 19th Century Archaeology in Greece, Tholos Tombs Around the Globe, or Greek Myths in Western Art.

Tour the remains of the Ancient Olympia Complex, including the Palaestra, Pheidia’s Workshop, and the Temple of Zeus, which once contained a 12m statue to Zeus that was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, one of the most important museums in Greece. The museum’s permanent exhibition contains finds from excavations of the sacred precinct of the Altis. This precinct dates from prehistoric times to the early Christian period.

After our tour of Olympia our Greek Tour Director will lead a group discussion on the use of sport in diplomacy using contemporary examples.

Prophet from the past. Explore the impressive ruins at Delphi, which the Greeks considered the center of the world. Within the depths of the Temple of Apollo, a priestess would inhale intoxicating vapors that used to rise from the earth and, thus inspired, deliver the prophecies of Apollo. Modern visitors might find more inspiration in the view from Mount Parnassus, over 8000 feet high.

Gain an understanding of what the Oracle might have looked like at the Delphi Museum.

Athens is one of the oldest and greatest cities of Western Civilization, with a recorded history that extends back 3,400 years. During the Classical Era, Athens was a center for the arts, learning, and philosophy. It was the home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. Modern Athens is still a vibrant city with a rich culture that takes great pride in its long and complex history.

As we enter the city, we will make a stop to explore the archaeological site of the Plato's Academy in ancient Athens. The site today is located on either side of the Cratylus Street inthe area of Colonos. On both sides of Cratylus Street we will view important monuments, likethe Sacred House Geometric Era, the Gymnasium (1st BC - 1st century AD), the Proto-Helladic Vaulted House and the Peristyle Building (4th century BC), which is perhaps the only major building that belonged to the actual Academy of Plato.

Athens is one of the oldest and greatest cities of Western Civilization, with a recorded history that extends back 3,400 years. During the Classical Era, Athens was a center for the arts, learning, and philosophy. It was the home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. Modern Athens is still a vibrant city with a rich culture that takes great pride in its long and complex history.

Visit the Acropolis, which has overlooked Athens for over 2,000 years; habitation traces indicate that it was occupied as early as the Neolithic Age. View the Temple of Athena Nike, and its successor, The Parthenon. The Parthenon is the crowning achievement of the Doric order, built to demonstrate the wealth of Athens in tribute to its patron goddess, Athena.

Syntagma Square, located directly in front of the Old Royal Palace, is the central square of Athens.

Experience an up close look at the history, art and culture of ancient Greece from the foot of the Acropolis. Walk through this magnificent museum to see examples of Greek art and culture from the Archaic period all the way through the 7th century AD. Learn more about the world famous Acropolis, the Parthenon and the history that surrounds them.

The Elgin Marbles are famous sculptures from the Parthenon frieze that are now housed in the British Museum in London. Great Britain acquired them in 1816 when Lord Elgin sold them for $35,000. At the Parthenon, the students will engage in a debate, facilitated by our Greek guide, as to whether they feel the Elgin Marbles should return to Greece or remain in the British Museum in London. The debate will focus on archeology and excavations and reasoning provided by the various governments for ownership of artifacts.

Visit the Theater of Dionysus, located on the southern slopes of the Acropolis. Able to seat up to 17,000 people, the theater was used for the performance of major dramatic works written by men such as Sophocles and Euripides. The theater was closely tied to the Cult of Dionysus as well, who used performances as celebrations of their deity.

Discover the Ancient Agora, the political heart of Athens from 600 BC. With shops, a theater, and schools, the agora served as the center of social and commercial life. Highlights of the complex include the Hephaisteion, a particularly well-preserved temple, and the Stoa of Attalos, a reconstructed, colonnaded building that houses a small museum with finds from the agora.

Explore the Temple of Olympian Zeus, once the largest temple in Athens. Though currently in ruins, its enormous size is suggested by the 15 columns that remain of the original 104. Atone time, this was among the most important temples of the city, but over the centuries it was quarried to provide stone and building materials for the houses and churches of medieval Athens.

Temples were the most important public buildings in ancient Greece and have served as the basis for architecture ever since. While on the Acropolis the students will participate in a group discussion on the development of Temple Architecture in ancient Greece and its significant impact on architecture through modern day. Students will learn terminology and study the engineering skills required to build these massive temples to the Gods.

To truly understand Greek culture and its place throughout history, a visit to the National Archaeological Museum is essential. Home to some of the most important artifacts from a variety of locations and eras, the museum today is considered one of the world’s finest. The museum’s collections span thousands of years, dating all the way back to the Neolithic Era (6800-3000 BC). While it would be impossible to list all that the museum has to offer, highlights include items from Thessaly, Mycenae and the island of Thira (Santorini), along with an unrivaled amount of sculpture, pottery and jewelry.

Table Topic - Euclid's Antikythera Mechanism.

Join hands for traditional Greek line dancing. Next, head to the taverna and live like a local. Enjoy Greek culture, cuisine—and a show!

This evening we make the final entries in our Reflection Journal and share some of the most significant observations and perspectives that have taken shape in the course of our travel experience and how these may be most relevant for us all as we return home.

Throughout the program, we will set time aside time for discussion, guided reflection, and time to write reflections on self-discovery and what we have learned. "We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John Dewey