Around & about British Columbia
II
Pharos
lecture
Corinth
in the time of St. Paul
Photos
Pharos,
the
Canadian Hellenic Cultural Society started its new lecture season on
October 27. The first lecture, held in the upper hall of the Hellenic
Community Centre, was co-sponsored with the Vancouver Society of the
Archaeological Institute of America. Professor Paul Scotton of the
University of Washington in Seattle was the guest lecturer and his
illustrated talk was “Corinth in the time of St. Paul”.
Prof. Scotten spent four years working and living in Corinth. He
goes back there almost every year to continue his research. There is still
a huge amount of excavating to be done in that city. The American School
of Classics in Athens has been excavating there since 1896 and it is
estimated that only roughly 3% of the ancient city has been uncovered.
Professor Scotten detailed how a combination of recent finds and
the re-evaluating of others found as early as 1896 led him to the
conclusion that St. Paul’s trial likely took place at the Julian
Basilica at Corinth. From pieces found on the site he was able to
calculate, measure and draw to scale how he thought the building most have
looked like in the time of St. Paul.
Pharos
lecture
“Surely
the Muse was never a whore?”
On November 24, the second in a series of lectures presented by
Pharos- the Canadian Hellenic Cultural Society took place at the Hellenic
Community Centre in Vancouver. Dr. David Creese spoke on the uses of music
in classical Greece.
Dr. Creese joined the Department of Classical, Near East and
Religious Studies at UBC this summer. He earned his BA at King’s College
in Halifax and received his PhD from Birmingham, England. He specializes
in ancient music.
Music held a central place in classical Greece. Much valuable
information about the performers of the music, the type of instruments
used and the purposes the music used is contained in the art and
literature of that period.
There were musical instruments for the professionals as well as the
ordinary folk. The lyre was one of the most commonly used and there were
many versions of it. Musical instruments and the type of music played on
them were often referred to as moral or immoral. By the end of the 5th
century there was a marked change in the style of the music. Many
considered the new music and theatre “style over substance” while
others in turn ridiculed those of earlier times. This provided much
material for the comic theatres.
Kefalonian
Society
Assembly
and elections
On Friday, November 28, the Kefalonian Cultural Society of BC, the
newest of the various Greek societies, held its general annual meeting at
the Hellenic Community in Vancouver. A new slate of officers was elected.
Angelo Marinakis remains as president. The society also elected to
join the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC and Dimitrios Angelatos and Ray
Marinakis were picked as the representatives.
On Sunday, Nov. 30th the society was officially received
into the HCC at its meeting which was held at the basement hall of St.
Nicholas & St. Dimitrios Church.
