Kirk Douglas, best known for his starring role in the 1960 film Spartacus, passed away recently at the age of 103. In the Brock News, Katharine von Stackelberg reflects on the legacy of Spartacus.
“The film was pivotal to 20th century history of confronting injustice and oppression,” says Katharine von Stackelberg, Associate Professor with the Department of Classics at Brock. “People keep thinking slavery is just something that belongs to the past, but as I emphasize in the slavery module of my introduction to Roman civilization course, slavery is very much a present and ongoing issue.” The study of Classics and ancient history encourages students to engage with current social justice issues, she says.
Learn more in CLAS 1P92: The Grandeur of Rome, offered by von Stackelberg in Summer 2020.
What was strange about Delphi was the abandoned part of the site. The gymnasium was inaccessible, having been closed off with a padlock and chains at both entrances, but the temple of Athena Pronaia remained open. I suppose that means I will just have to go back, visit another time and hope that area is open then.
Lake Vouliagmeni was a hidden gem an hour outside Athens — hidden from my knowledge anyway. The lake itself was refreshing, moderately warm and did not require travel by ferry — so it was an easy yes when Hilary suggested we go. I figured it would be a popular tourist site and there would be few Greeks there, but to my surprise, we tourists made up only a handful of the crowd. It seems that a lot of Greek families spend their time tanning by the water and having the little fish peck at their toes as a spa treatment. Personally, I did not enjoy the fish, although the swimming was nice.
