Coming off an exciting and fun weekend, I was a bit tired Monday morning; especially for 9 AM Latin. However, I have survived and actually gained a lot of respect for ancient Greece this week. First, learning Latin has been pretty neat - definitely in a completely dorky way. I didn't think I would have that much of an interest in it, but already I've really enjoyed the class. It also helps that its just myself and the professor so basically I have a private tutor. I decided to take the class for medical derivatives and such and on the first day we did the verb, terrere, to terrify. Which, in the 3rd person singluar conjugates terret, which happens to be terrets syndrome - which already makes sense. It's just neat to see the language I have spoken for the last 21 years come together. Right: Theatre of Dionosys.

     Secondly, in my Athens archaeology course we did some studies around the Acropolis this week. I've gained so much more respect for what Athens was at its height. Not to mention the fact that its incredibly cool to be standing on the spot where the original democracy met. We went and sat by the Theatre of Dionosys and learned it was basically where political criticism originated and where free thought flourished; the site where the original political satires came about. I couldn't help but think to attribute this site to the creation and success of Southpark - ok, maybe thats a bit extreme. But the point is, Athens was the city that gave rise to these ideas of freedom that we know and live today.

     We also learned a cool myth. Apparently, Poseidon and Athena fount atop the acropolis for patronage of the city of Athens and Athena won (obviously). However, next to the Parthenon (dedicated to Athena) is a second temple, probably to Poseidon, in ionic style. Next to that, a well which has salt water in the bottom which is rare. So the myth goes that Poseidon left his mark atop the hill or whatever - just thought it was neat. Left: Temple of Poseidon

     Finally, in philosophy, we studied Paremenides today including the first time the mention of persuasion and rhetoric is documented. I guess I've just been a bit overwhelmed and fascinated by the fact that I'm standing and learning the most ancient thoughts of man. Even more interesting is how perplexing and valid these thoughts still are today. Point and case: even though its been easy, I'm still learning in the classroom.