More disjointed description of Greece, plus travel plans for this weekend (Delos!).
So I'm excavating on the surface instead of the ground again, which is on the one hand nice-- I see the sun, I accomplish more physical moving-of-dirt, I don't have to work in incredibly contorted positions-- but naturally as soon as I moved out of the tomb they found three more coins and an ivory hairpin. So it goes. On the surface, though, we've finally hit the "layer of destruction" [excavation team consensus: this would be a good band name] in our building, and I made some observations that were apparently really useful-- so I'm happy. It feels like my technical skill in digging is increasing, as well as my ability to recognize potsherds and my upper-body strength. Soon I'll be able to lift a full zambili of dirt by myself without pain, I swear.
We are finally getting into genuinely hot weather, which makes me appreciate the three-day weekend this week much more than I might otherwise. I'm headed out travelling, partly with some friends here, and probably partly on my own-- I'll go first to Aegina for a day (and maybe part of the next morning, too), with a group, leaving from Athens tomorrow morningish, and then from Aegina to Delos (via Athens and Mykonos) by myself. It's not allowed to spend the night on Delos because of its historic role as a holy site, so I may wind up with a bit of extra time to spend in Athens, or I may head back to Corinth early and spend a day seeing things nearby that I haven't yet been to. I don't really feel like planning this thoroughly, unfortunately, so I hope the ferries aren't sold out.
On that note: ZOMG I AM GOING TO DELOS1. This feels like a pilgrimage.
Ngh. I have things to say and pictures to share and exciting life to talk about, but I'm too exhausted and addled by the heat to formulate my thoughts very much. I read Salman Rushdie for the first time (Shalimar the Clown; in a nutshell, once I adjusted to his idiosyncratic style, I really enjoyed that aspect of his writing, and the book itself is heartbreaking and glorious but also terribly jarring and bleak-- I'll be seeking out more when I get home); now I'm in the thick of rereading Herodotus and edging towards revising my qual. I need to acquire more modern Greek knowledge. Chris Faraone (Ancient Greek Love Magic, Magika Hiera) is giving a seminar on ancient religion to the field school tonight-- he's here at the project to study some lead curse tablets found last year.
I miss you all. Write to me or something, when you're not too busy being exciting lovely people.
1: Of ancient fame as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, the home of the Delian treasury, and the namesake of the Delian league. Of modern fame as the origin of Delos House and its Delian League, of course.
We are finally getting into genuinely hot weather, which makes me appreciate the three-day weekend this week much more than I might otherwise. I'm headed out travelling, partly with some friends here, and probably partly on my own-- I'll go first to Aegina for a day (and maybe part of the next morning, too), with a group, leaving from Athens tomorrow morningish, and then from Aegina to Delos (via Athens and Mykonos) by myself. It's not allowed to spend the night on Delos because of its historic role as a holy site, so I may wind up with a bit of extra time to spend in Athens, or I may head back to Corinth early and spend a day seeing things nearby that I haven't yet been to. I don't really feel like planning this thoroughly, unfortunately, so I hope the ferries aren't sold out.
On that note: ZOMG I AM GOING TO DELOS1. This feels like a pilgrimage.
Ngh. I have things to say and pictures to share and exciting life to talk about, but I'm too exhausted and addled by the heat to formulate my thoughts very much. I read Salman Rushdie for the first time (Shalimar the Clown; in a nutshell, once I adjusted to his idiosyncratic style, I really enjoyed that aspect of his writing, and the book itself is heartbreaking and glorious but also terribly jarring and bleak-- I'll be seeking out more when I get home); now I'm in the thick of rereading Herodotus and edging towards revising my qual. I need to acquire more modern Greek knowledge. Chris Faraone (Ancient Greek Love Magic, Magika Hiera) is giving a seminar on ancient religion to the field school tonight-- he's here at the project to study some lead curse tablets found last year.
I miss you all. Write to me or something, when you're not too busy being exciting lovely people.
1: Of ancient fame as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, the home of the Delian treasury, and the namesake of the Delian league. Of modern fame as the origin of Delos House and its Delian League, of course.