Photo Story
History is Alive!
ID # 2668
For many of us, it is hard to study history in school because we do not see how or why it relates to our everyday lives. During my time in Greece and Turkey, I came to see history everywhere and witnessed how integral it is to who we are and where we come from. Almost every time I set out for a stroll around the city of Athens, I would happen upon some new structure or site that has been around for thousands and thousands of years! Even when they were digging to build the underground metro system in 2004, the Greek workers stumbled upon an ancient burial ground, and the tombs are now visible through the glass walls of some of the stations.
The more places like these that I discovered, I continually found myself learning more and more about when, why, and by whom these structures were built. Gradually, I realized how, even 5,000 years ago, the people alive then were just like us: they had families, arguments, religions, delicious food, even dancing! The longer I was in Greece, the more alive history became to me, and through the following photos, I hope to show you how.
By the end of this photo story students will be able to examine, question, and relate their own lives today to the people, places, and events of history, even those from thousands of years ago!
Grade Level: 5-8th
Photo 1: Time to Play
Photo 1: This, as my friends and I referred to it, is “the stadium” in Athens, behind which our apartment was situated, (it’s more formal name is the “Panathenaic Stadium”). It is the birthplace of our modern-day Olympics, and was built entirely of white marble upon the site of an ancient Olympic stadium.
Also, only two days before we arrived here, David Beckham was within it, lighting the Olympic torch for the 2012 Summer Games!
How I knew it during my time in Athens, though, was as a place where we could go after the heat of the day had worn off, and jog (around the track behind the top of all the seats) or just climb to obtain a stunning view of the sunset over the sprawling city of Athens.
What are some of your favorite sports? When do you think these were invented, and by who?
Photo 2: Zeus’ House
Photo 2: While my friends and I were strolling around town, we rounded one corner and this lovely site was laid before our eyes. “What is this?” we wondered. Without our brilliant professor around to enlighten us, we found ourselves simply admiring it for it’s own beauty and wondering about the people who constructed it many thousands of years ago.
Later, while walking by it again, with our professor this time, he informed us that it was, in fact, the Temple of Zeus, the ruler of all Gods in Greek mythology. Wow!
If you worship today, what does your house of worship look like? How do you imagine it may look (and be viewed by societies) in 4,000 years?
Photo 3: Friends in Uniform
Also, this is just one of the many uniforms that the guards wear. It is very traditional, reminiscent of what soldiers wore when they fought for Greek independence back in the 1820s. Some of these outfits [that they wear today] weigh more than 40 pounds!
Some nations, like Greece, have mandatory military service and others, like the US are volunteer; what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each of these?
Photo 4: Popcorn, Anyone?
Photo 4: Here is a great, bird’s-eye shot of the Theater of Dionysus, which we passed on our climb up the Acropolis. Just like us, today, the people of Athens thousands of years ago enjoyed going to a good show and being thoroughly entertained. At this very theater, competitions were held between playwrights during the great Festival of Dionysus (the fun, Greek god of wine), and it is where Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles became famous. It is thought of by many to be the birthplace of drama.
Photo 5: Watch Your Step!
This cave has been considered for thousands and thousands of years to be the mouth of Hell. Thus, what more exciting place for a class photo?! In the Greek myth explaining how the seasons came to be, the goddess Demeter’s daughter, Persephone, is stolen away by Hades, the god of the underworld, who dragged her down to his dreary depths through this very cave opening! Demeter, being goddess of the harvest, refused to let anything grow for the six months that she was wretchedly searching for her missing daughter, and this (according to the myth) is where winter comes from.
What are some of the stories we learn in our society that explain where natural phenomena come from?
Photo 6: Temple of Safety
Photo 6: This is one of my favorite places in the entire world. It is the site of the ancient Temple of Artemis, just outside of Ephesus, Turkey. There was magic in the air here; it is a quiet, secluded place brimming with nature–we even saw a wild peacock strolling about the grassy areas! It is fitting that this is how Artemis’ temple remains today, as she was the goddess of the wilderness.
She was also goddess of childbirth, and she held a very motherly, protective role in the ancient times. Because of this, her temple was a safe place for any one running from danger where they could come and their pursuer was not allowed to harm them: the great Marc Antony was one of these refugees who ran to Ephesus for Artemis’ loving protection.
Where/to who do you go when you are afraid or need a “safe place”?
Photo 7: Professor Aristotle’s Classroom
Photo 7: The very ground we were doing our beautiful yoga poses upon here, is where Aristotle (the famous philosopher) taught Alexander the Great (before he had “the Great” attached to the end of his name). As a teenaged boy, young Alex lived up here in the wilderness with Aristotle, his professor, and some fellow, young male classmates. Just like us, even 300 years before Christ, children still had to go to school–even if they were the son of a king!
…School, theater, family, military, and religious celebrations–just a few of the many continuities of life that have lasted over 6,000 years, linking us today, to the very people who constructed and lived within the historic places of thee photographs. History never died; it is vividly alive, as a constantly developing story of what it means to be human.
ευχαριστώ πολύ! [Thank you so much!…for traveling this photo story’s road along with me.]