Athens, the twelfth day
Aug. 23rd, 2011 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hawkwing_lbToday, I gave a short talk to students on the Institute's study tour on the Athenian Asklepieion and the cult of Asklepios. Ten minutes, no notes, off-the-cuff presentation.
The A.D.'d asked me beforehand, and I said, Sure, why not? In reality, this involved me meeting the A.D. and K., leading the study tour, when they broke for early lunch by the agora, and joining the 3.5 hour tour of the acropolis, at the very end of which I got to give my talk. Thirty-four degrees, full sun, bare rock, very little shade.
I did end up learning a thing or two I didn't know before. Like, for example, the wonderful nugget that during the Ottoman period, the Erechtheion spent some time as, of all things, a harem. (A.D. did not go into detail, but I imagine it must have been the women's quarters for the commander of the acropolis garrison. Athens was a backwater until the nineteenth century, so I can't imagine who else would have had family quarters in such a prime spot.) Also that in the 19th century, the columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus were believed to be cursed.
Despite my acclimatisation, after three hours on the acropolis rock, I was flagging,. But I think most of the students actually listened to my talk. I know they heard me, at least, despite the wind: I do remember how to project. (Also, starting one's spiel with, "All right, ladies and gentlemen and those who identify as either or neither," at least has the virtue of catching their attention.)
If they weren't listening, I have acquired sunburn and a light covering of dust for no good reason. Oh, sunburn. At least you seem to be quite mild.
I'm practicing my Greek at every opportunity and picking up a bit more food-related vocabulary. Also in terms of directions: I'm getting the hang of "Open" and "Closed", "Up" and "Down" and "Opposite." Possibly "Stairs," but I'm still not quite sure of that one. Also, I have an atrocious accent, but that's hardly surprising. If I were living here for a year or two, I might actually develop the ability to have a conversation in short declarative sentences. I mean, beyond the utter basics that I have already.
The A.D.'d asked me beforehand, and I said, Sure, why not? In reality, this involved me meeting the A.D. and K., leading the study tour, when they broke for early lunch by the agora, and joining the 3.5 hour tour of the acropolis, at the very end of which I got to give my talk. Thirty-four degrees, full sun, bare rock, very little shade.
I did end up learning a thing or two I didn't know before. Like, for example, the wonderful nugget that during the Ottoman period, the Erechtheion spent some time as, of all things, a harem. (A.D. did not go into detail, but I imagine it must have been the women's quarters for the commander of the acropolis garrison. Athens was a backwater until the nineteenth century, so I can't imagine who else would have had family quarters in such a prime spot.) Also that in the 19th century, the columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus were believed to be cursed.
Despite my acclimatisation, after three hours on the acropolis rock, I was flagging,. But I think most of the students actually listened to my talk. I know they heard me, at least, despite the wind: I do remember how to project. (Also, starting one's spiel with, "All right, ladies and gentlemen and those who identify as either or neither," at least has the virtue of catching their attention.)
If they weren't listening, I have acquired sunburn and a light covering of dust for no good reason. Oh, sunburn. At least you seem to be quite mild.
I'm practicing my Greek at every opportunity and picking up a bit more food-related vocabulary. Also in terms of directions: I'm getting the hang of "Open" and "Closed", "Up" and "Down" and "Opposite." Possibly "Stairs," but I'm still not quite sure of that one. Also, I have an atrocious accent, but that's hardly surprising. If I were living here for a year or two, I might actually develop the ability to have a conversation in short declarative sentences. I mean, beyond the utter basics that I have already.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 05:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 07:35 am (UTC)