The End of a Beginning, and the Warmth of New Blossoms

When I first arrived in Athens, I was overwhelmed with many emotions: this was something I had been working toward for a couple of years, and it was all worth it for the reward.

I had known about the CIG internship for a few years before I was able to apply, and getting the opportunity to experience both the work and Greece are unforgettable. Aside from weekly management of the social media, I did most of my work in the library cataloging, organizing, and digitizing books, reshelving them and doing a brief inventory of the collection. While I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the library (much like Belle from Beauty and the Beast), exploring Greece was half of what made this opportunity so exciting. In my first couple of months in Athens, I went on a variety of solo expeditions from museums as close as the Museum of Cycladic Art, to a bus trip to Cape Sounio. These two trips were particularly moving for me. The magic at Sounio was something I couldn’t even imagine replicating (it helps that the weather was great), and I would recommend it immensely to anyone who could go. The Museum of Cycladic Art was one of the first museums I went to and has stood as my favourite one, especially the temporary exhibit on the Battle of Chaeronea they had on while I was in Athens.

Even though I took many solo trips that I highly enjoyed, my experiences with the friends I made were distinctly memorable. Two of my favourite memories with friends were going to Mycenae with Esmée, a masters student at the Groningen Osteoarchaeology Lab; and walking around Kifisia with Emily, a professor and CIG board member, and Janne, an intern at the Finnish Institute at Athens. While I would have enjoyed these trips alone, having the opportunity to explore them with friends made them even more important to me, memories I will hold for a long while.

As an undergrad student, it can be difficult to fully know where you want to go in the future. Despite having my ideas about my options, areas of interest, and where I think I want to go, being able to experience the very places I study in school and meeting people with similar interests of study have helped me to better get a grasp on where I can go moving forward.

While this chapter of my life comes to a close, I know I won’t forget any it (and hopefully not my relatively-well-pronounced coffee order for next time I return), and I am eternally grateful for being able to have this opportunity to work with the CIG and immerse myself in Greek culture while doing so.

Ευχαριστώ πολύ!!

Emma van Weesenbeek
University of Waterloo intern, Winter 2024

Bronze Production in Northern Greece

On Wednesday 20 March the Institute will host its fifth event of the 2023-2024 academic year. This will be an in-person lecture in the auditorium of the Institute’s premises at Orminiou 3A, Ilisia. [Metro: Megaro Mousikis or Evangelismos]

Starting at 19.00, Justine Lefebvre (Boursière Neda et Franz Leipen de l’Institut canadien en Grèce et doctorante en histoire à l’Université de Montréal) will deliver a paper entitled, “Bronze Production in Northern Greece: Metallographic Study of Bronze Objects from Argilos".

"This presentation will provide an overview of the research conducted by the author during her term as the Neda & Franz Leipen Fellow at the CIG in Athens."

"The focus will be research on northern Greek bronze metallurgy in the Archaic and Classical periods through the case study of the city of Ancient Argilos. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, this project relies on the metallographic and chemical analyses of bronze samples selected from the extensive collection of bronze artifacts unearthed at Argilos since the start of excavations in 1992. Its primary objective is to contribute to our knowledge of metallurgy in northern Greece with new data from hitherto unstudied material."

"The lecture will present a discussion of the metallographic analyses that have been carried out on a sample of 140 artifacts, together with a preliminary interpretation of the newly-acquired data."

We look forward to welcoming you to the Institute for what promises to be a very interesting lecture.

Jonathan Tomlinson  
Assistant Director

Animal Husbandry and Dietary Patterns in Macedonia During the 1st Millenn. BC

On Wednesday 20 March the Institute will host its fifth event of the 2023-2024 academic year. This will be an in-person lecture in the auditorium of the Institute’s premises at Orminiou 3A, Ilisia. [Metro: Megaro Mousikis or Evangelismos]

Starting at 19.00, Dr. Angelos Gkotsinas  (Archaeologist-Zooarchaeologist, Hellenic Ministry of Culture) will deliver a paper entitled, “Zooarchaeological Insights in Animal Husbandry and Dietary Patterns in Macedonia (North Greece) During the First Millennium BC ".

“In this lecture, for the first time, a comprehensive exploration of the evolving dynamics of animal management and dietary practices in North Greece from the Early Iron Age to the Classical era is presented, a period marked by significant socio-economic and cultural transformations. Drawing on extensive zooarchaeological data from key sites like Argilos, Karabournaki, and Kastri Thassos, and integrating literary, archaeobotanical, palynological, and isotopic studies, the presentation offers a captivating look at the development of animal husbandry and consumption patterns, along with the integration of herding with arable farming. It highlights regional variations in animal husbandry practices and the roles of domestic species like sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs in the diets and economies across different settlements and ethnic groups. Insights into the environmental impacts, cultural significance, and regional connectivity are provided, contributing to a deeper understanding of ancient agricultural systems and their role in shaping the socio-economic landscape of the ancient Greek world, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between human societies and their environments.”

 

We look forward to welcoming you to the Institute for what promises to be a fascinating presentation.

Jonathan Tomlinson  
Assistant Director

 

 

Welcome, Emma!

Earlier this month we welcomed our new intern from the University of Waterloo, Emma van Weesenbeek, who will be with us in Athens until April.

Emma is a third-year undergraduate studying Classics. When she graduates, Emma plans to complete postgraduate studies of the ancient world through museum studies and curating.

 

During her time at university, Emma has gained a greater understanding of ancient art and architecture and the intricacies of their creation, meaning, and importance in culture. While studying, she has also learned useful skills in research and communication that allow her to effectively connect audiences to her studies and explorations.

 

Thus, in spending time in Greece, Emma will be able to see how the culture from which her studies stem displays its own artifacts, and hopes she will be able to learn more about how ancient and modern Greek cultures intertwine and affect one another to further her studies and career goals.

 

Jonathan Tomlinson
Assistant Director

Diaspora Politics in Greek Toronto

On Wednesday 25 October the Institute will host its fourth event of the 2023-2024 academic year. This will be an in-person lecture in the auditorium of the Institute’s premises at Orminiou 3A, Ilisia. [Metro: Megaro Mousikis or Evangelismos]

Starting at 19.00, Vasilis (Bill) Molos (Director and Research Lead, HHF Greek Canadian Archives at York University) will deliver a paper entitled, “‘Μην ψηφίσεις τον Έλληνα’: Diaspora Politics in Greek Toronto”.

“By 2019, the enthusiasm that carried Justin Trudeau into power had waned. The Liberal Party of Canada won that year’s federal election but lost the popular vote by a wide margin. Bruised but resilient, they retained 157 seats in the House of Commons. Among these was Scarborough Centre, where Salma Zahid’s convincing re-election left scars.”

“This presentation revisits the race in this riding, considering what it reveals about diaspora politics in Greek Toronto. It departs from two interviews conducted with former Minister of Parliament John Cannis as part of the “Greeks in Canada: A Digital Public History” project. In Cannis’ narration, personal betrayals and inadequate community support turned the race in his opponent’s favour. I suggest that the local Greek community’s unwillingness to support the Greek candidate was a rebuke of Cannis’ broker model of diaspora politics. In doing so, I contextualize the community’s ambivalent stance, portraying it as an outcome of three factors: (i) growing awareness of the broker model’s limitations, (ii) conservative Canada’s retreat from multiculturalism, and (iii) a Greek community organization in transition. The presentation concludes by gesturing toward what a viable and effective model could look like.”

We look forward to welcoming you to the Institute for what promises to be a very interesting lecture.

Jonathan Tomlinson  
Assistant Director

Un premier trimestre qui tire déjà à sa fin

Depuis 2016, j’ai eu la chance de voyager à maintes reprises en Grèce et de visiter Athènes à plusieurs occasions. C’était avec beaucoup d’impatience que j’attendais le début de mon séjour d’un an dans cette ville que je connais et que j’affectionne particulièrement, grâce au soutien de la bourse Franz et Neda Leipen. C’est donc en septembre dernier que j’ai établi résidence à l’Institut Canadien afin d’y poursuivre mes recherches doctorales, lesquelles ont grandement été facilitées par l’accès à aux abondantes ressources de la bibliothèque de l’ICG.

Quoi de plus enrichissant pour une étudiante en archéologie classique comme moi qu’une immersion dans cette ville qui regorge d’histoire, où chaque coin révèle des vestiges archéologiques fascinants! Les flâneries dans les rues d’Athènes, les visites de ses sites et musées archéologiques, les discussions autour d’un (ou deux, voire trois!) freddo espresso, les ascensions hebdomadaires du mont Lycabette ont à chaque fois nourri mon esprit d’idées et d’inspiration. En effet, en plus de ma thèse, plusieurs autres projets, tels que la rédaction d’articles et l’élaboration de présentations, ont vu le jour au cours des derniers mois. À ces fins, il faut tout de même ne pas passer outre la consultation des riches collections des autres instituts archéologiques, qui a elle aussi significativement contribué à l’avancement de mes travaux!

Il est aussi essentiel de mentionner toutes les précieuses rencontres que j’ai faites lors de ce premier trimestre. Entre les nombreuses présentations auxquelles j’ai assisté, ma participation à l’organisation de la CIG Graduate Student Conference et les fameux rendez-vous hebdomadaires au Red Lion, j’ai pu tisser des liens avec des chercheurs et des collègues de partout à travers le monde. Ces rencontres ont su non seulement égayer mon trimestre, mais aussi mener à des échanges plus que stimulants. Un mot tout particulier pour Jonathan Tomlinson, assistant directeur de l’ICG, et pour Athena Wakeling et Taryn Rankin, toutes deux stagiaires à l’Institut pour le trimestre, qui ont grandement enrichi ces quelques mois avec leur présence et leur bonne humeur.

Le soutien de la bourse Leipen me permet de réaliser à la fois mon rêve de m’établir – du moins pour un temps – en Grèce, ainsi que de poursuivre mes ambitions académiques. C’est avec un cœur empli de précieux souvenirs, l’esprit bourdonnant d’idées et de projets et un fort sentiment d’accomplissement que je m’envole vers Montréal pour les Fêtes. Je dois cependant avouer que je suis déjà fébrile à l’idée de mon retour pour le prochain trimestre, afin de continuer de pleinement profiter de cette expérience unique, de continuer de m’en imprégner.

Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Χρονιά!
Justine Lefebvre, Boursière Neda et Franz Leipen 2023-2024

Four Months in Greece as an Intern

 

When I first arrived in Athens at the beginning of September, I had a feeling it was going to be an amazing four months. Unlike others who have completed the internship, this was my fifth time in Greece, as I have direct family ties to the country, and Greece has always felt like a second home to me.

Working as an intern at the Canadian Institute in Greece (CIG) was an amazing experience, I applied to the internship to gain experience working abroad and to complete my postgraduate internship requirements in Museum and Gallery studies. During my time at CIG, I worked mostly in the archives department, starting the process of organizing archaeological documents from the Southern Euboea Exploration Project from 1984 to 2014. Along with archiving, I also assisted with events that took place at CIG, plus posting weekly on the Institute's social media accounts. Other than working at CIG five days a week, weeknights and weekends were about exploring Athens and Greece. I, the other intern Taryn, along with this year's CIG Fellow Justine, were always out exploring. From eating at great restaurants to exploring museums, or just walking the streets with a coffee in hand. There is always something to do in Athens! My most notable memory was our group walk to the top of the Acropolis and eating dinner at “tzitzikas mermigas” located in the center of Athens multiple times during the semester! Sharing these travel experiences with them both will last a lifetime, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to explore the city with them.

Another great bonus about the internship was the chance to explore other parts of Greece during the weekends, and I took full advantage of this opportunity! I had the chance to visit a friend in Thessaloniki on two separate weekends; during my time in Northern Greece I explored the city and visited the local museums. The most memorable was the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, where I learned about the history of Northern Greece, something I have always been interested in learning more about. Thessaloniki is truly an amazing city, and I highly recommend visiting, as it is rich in history and culture! The next solo trip I went on was to Arachova and Delphi; as the two villages are just under two and a half hours from Athens, it is the perfect weekend away from the city! The views were picturesque, and the small villages were charming and very welcoming. Not to mention, the museum and archaeological site of Delphi is one my favourites within Greece, as nothing compares to mountain terrain!

As my time in Athens ends, it is bittersweet to me, as I have learned so many new things, explored unfamiliar places and met new people in the same work field. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity from CIG, and I recommend this internship to anyone who gets the chance. As that is all for now from me, returning to Athens soon is on my itinerary!

Yassou Athens, see you soon!

Athena Wakeling
Georgian College intern, Autumn 2023