#eckerdwt2020

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The trip to visit the Temple of Poseidon was what I was most excited about on this trip. From a young age I loved studying Greek mythology and Poseidon was my favorite, probably due to my obsession of the sea.This was a place where Athenians could come to be in the presence of Poseidon and worship him. His temple sits upon Cape Sounio in the Aegean sea and overlooks the water surrounding the cape.  It is easy to see why this spot was chosen to be the place where ancient Greeks would come to worship Poseidon, due to its proximity to the sea. On top of the rocks, you could feel a close connection to the sea from the wind and the smells that greeted you on top of the rock. Further research showed that not only did the Athenians leave offerings at the top of the cape, they also left an enemy warship at the base as an offering to Poseidon after defeating Xerxes in the battle of Salamis.

Posted by Caroline Bleick, Psychology major, class of ‘21

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THE Acropolis

Being on top of the Acropolis blew me out of the water!!

I am in constant awe during this entire trip! Everywhere I look, there is something that is ancient and fascinating! Greece seems to be the the nation that spread everywhere historically, ironically mirroring the U.S. today, as most places speak english! The more I learn, the more I realize the land we are visiting is the land that has birthed most of the things we come to know today such as democracy, theatre, olympic games, and drinking wine and using olive oil! I feel so full circle coming to the Acropolis because it is the place where Democracy first took place and for centuries to come. Reflecting on my last winter term to the United Nations in NYC, which I took to be propelled into learning about the world of politics, we had the opportunity to sit in and view the rooms where democracy is taking place today! Being in Greece, at the Acropolis, I felt so engulfed by the history and taken aback so far. I appreciate this trip more than anything and am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to experience all of these ancient sites and imagine what daily living was like for the Ancient Greeks and see how far we have come today! I wish our buildings today looked as pretty as these ancient marble ones!! 

(Posted by Aurora Mazza ‘20 Philosophy & Environmental Studies) 

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Most Important Lesson

When coming to understand the Ancient Greeks and their way of life, it is extremely important to have a full account of just how the Greece we know it today came to be! In reading the book, Understanding the Ancient Greeks, it became clear to me that it is definitely hard to choose just one thing that exemplifies Greeks importance. Some things that really stuck out to me was just how important the ocean was for their lives, transportation, food and their love to compare life to the sea and I enjoy reading their metaphors! Having individual independence and sufficiency is extremely important and something that still rings true today! Suspicion for authority I found to be most important because it portrays how critical the Greeks were in establishing a good life for themselves and their people. It is amazing to learn that having the right person in power and serving justice isn’t only important now, but it has been for thousands of years.     (Aurora Mazza ‘20, Environmental Studies & Philosophy)