Mar 9

"The Classical Debt: From Ancient Athens to Modern Austerity"

Thu, March 9, 2017 • 4:30pm - 5:30pm (1h) • Gould Library Athenaeum

The subject of the talk is drawn from Johanna's forthcoming book, due out in May with Harvard University Press. From the publisher's webpage:

The Classical Debt investigates our abiding desire to view Greece through the lens of the ancient past. Though classical Athens was in reality a slave-owning imperial power, the city-state of Socrates and Pericles is still widely seen as a utopia of wisdom, justice, and beauty—an idealization that the ancient Athenians themselves assiduously cultivated. Greece’s allure as a travel destination dates back centuries, and Hanink examines many historical accounts that express disappointment with a Greek people who fail to live up to modern fantasies of the ancient past...

Today, as the European Union teeters and neighboring nations are convulsed by political unrest and civil war, Greece finds itself burdened by economic hardship and an unprecedented refugee crisis. Our idealized image of ancient Greece dangerously shapes how we view these contemporary European problems.

Event Contact: Jean Sherwin

Event Summary

"The Classical Debt: From Ancient Athens to Modern Austerity"
  • Intended For: General Public, Students, Faculty, Prospective Students

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