Perse Classics students sample sights and sounds of Greece
Ziggi (Year 10) shares her experiences of the February half term Classics trip to Greece.
Our first taste of Greece came with a scenic drive down to Nafplio, one of the first cities to be liberated during the Greek War of Independence in 1821, and most importantly, serving as the first capital of modern Greece.
We were given free time by the port before continuing our journey to Tolon, where our hotel offered magnificent views of the glistening blue waters.
The start of our first full day in Greece took us to the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, home to the astonishing ancient theatre, famous for its phenomenal acoustics. Standing in the vast auditorium, we were astonished to hear Mr Foster’s voice carried across the stone seats. We then ventured to Mycenae, where we climbed to the top of the Bronze Age citadel, to witness the breathtaking views across the ancient remains and valley below, before stopping by the Treasury of Atreus.
The day’s excitement continued with a visit to Nemea, where we took the opportunity to participate in our own version of the Nemean Games with unconventional events such as wheelbarrow races, one-legged sprints and piggyback contests, in a stadium that once seated 30,000 spectators.
We then had a brief stop at the Corinth Canal, which serves as a striking reminder of the engineering brilliance of more recent history, before arriving in Athens. We visited the Plaka region in the evening, eating out at a local restaurant.
We started the next day with a trip to the Acropolis Museum, home to over 4,000 artefacts. Nevertheless, the real highlight was visiting the Acropolis itself, built during the second half of the 5th century BC. Perched high above the city, the climb to the Acropolis was challenging, but as we made it to the top, Athens unfolded before us, a sea of white buildings stretching far and wide. At the heart of the Acropolis lies the iconic Parthenon, surrounded by other grand structures such as the Erechtheion, with the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus clinging to the slopes below.
After lunch in Monastiraki, we visited the Agora, once the communal heart of Athenian life, and the Temple of Hephaistos, which stood impressively intact. After a meal out and a quiz in the hotel, we headed to bed!
Our final day commenced with a visit to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, once a colossal structure boasting 104 towering columns, before ascending the Pnyx, the very hill where Athenians once gathered to debate as part of their early democracy. This encouraged us to engage in our own lively discussion over whether true democracy can exist or not.
We ended our trip with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum and more free time in the streets of Plaka, making our way past the lively cafes and shops brimming with souvenirs, having one last stop for ice cream as we reflected on an unforgettable trip to an ancient, yet modern, Greece.
The trip was nothing short of extraordinary as we travelled through ancient ruins, stood where history was made and immersed ourselves in the rich culture that shaped the western world. Overall, the experience was phenomenal, with the Classics staff guiding us through each historical site with so much enthusiasm, plus an engaging physics talk from Mr Bevan, making it a trip to remember.