Are you interested in Greek history and culture? The Greek Community of Melbourne is continuing its focus on the rich history of Greece with the ninth year of the popular History and Cultural Public Seminar series that kicks off on Thursday, 7 March, at the Greek Centre.
Dr Nikos Dallas, coordinator of the public seminar series, believes that the seminars offer an opportunity for everyone to experience the long and fascinating history of Greece and Greek culture in its various forms and stages. “This event has now become an institution with its commencement in the new year awaited by many,” Dr Dallas said.
The ninth series begins by casting the spotlight on Herodotus, considered the “father of history” – though he had been a controversial figure in ancient and modern times with some calling him a fabulist and others referring to him as the “father of lies”. Indeed, the ancient author Plutarch went so far as to pen a treatise accusing him of “malice” (κακοήθεια) in how he wrote history.
Some of the foremost Australian experts of Greek antiquity take the podium to shed light on what we know about the great historian, beginning with Dr Andrew Connor from the Classics Department of Monash University.
His lecture, titled “Great and Marvellous Deeds: Herodotus and his world” will offer insight into Herodotus’ description of the wars between the Hellenes and the Persian Empire.
“In this talk, I will discuss what we know about Herodotus himself, about his timeless work, and about the world it describes. By approaching Herodotus and his work through his eyes, and on his terms, we can not only meaningfully engage with his text as a historical source, but we can appreciate the Histories itself as a ‘deed both great and marvellous’,” Dr Connor said.
Dr Connor’s primary research area is on ancient Greek documentary papyri, and he has published and presented on aspects of ancient Egyptian religion under the Ptolemies and Romans, legal and economic procedure and terminology, and the earliest appearance of alphabetical order in ancient Greek, as well as Herodotus’ descriptions of Persians, tyrants, and scandalous behaviour. As part of his studies, he lived in Greece for a year at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, and participated in excavations at the site of Ancient Corinth. Andrew currently teaches on Periklean Athens, Alexander the Great and Kleopatra, Imperial Rome, Greek and Roman Archaeology, and the Ancient Greek language.
The lecture begins at 7pm on 7 March at the Greek Centre (Mezz, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne). Admission is free. Telephone 03 9662 2722 or email: info@greekcommunity.com