Heroic Journeys

7 May 2022 | Hellenic Museum

Many adventures awaited the heroes and heroines of ancient Greek myth, and the narratives of their journeys often mirror each other - from the call to adventure to hazardous returns home from war and enforced migration. Inevitably, they met with challenges along the way, from the hazards of seafaring, to encounters with exotic foreigners and deadly monsters.  Host Gillian Shepherd traces these extraordinary journeys with experts K.O. Chong-Gossard, Claudia Sagona and Heather Sebo. 

Speakers

Gillian Shepherd, Director of the Trendall Research Centre and Senior Lecturer in Classics & Ancient History at La Trobe University
K.O. Chong-Gossard, Associate Professor of Classics at The University of Melbourne
Dr Heather Sebo, Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at  La Trobe University

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Exchanging Artefacts

18 May 2022 | Melbourne Museum

A major motivation for the Greeks to venture beyond their own shores was the search for commodities and luxury items not readily sourced at home - archaeological finds provide clear testimony of these exchanges, both in terms of exotic artefacts found in Greece and the attraction Greek products held for peoples in other lands. Host Gillian Shepherd is joined by experts Peter Acton, Roslynne Bell and Stephie Nikoloudis in investigating the evidence for the processes and practicalities of trade and exchange in the ancient Mediterranean.

Speakers

Gillian Shepherd, Director of the Trendall Research Centre and Senior Lecturer in Classics & Ancient History at La Trobe University
Peter Acton, President, Humanities 21
Dr Stavroula Nikoloudis, Greek Studies Coordinator, La Trobe University
Dr Roslynne Bell, Honorary Research Fellow (Classics & Archaeology) in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne

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Myth in Motion

4 June 2022 | Hellenic Museum

Throughout human history, trade has involved not only the exchange of physical objects, but also of the intangible – ideas, mythology and religion. As cultures interacted, new processes were adopted and adapted, and respective beliefs, deities and myths were often merged, sometimes deliberately. Experts Andrew Connor, Kate McLardy and James Stratford join host Gillian Shepherd in exploring the exchange of ideas, practices and syncretism in myth and religion in the ancient world.

Speakers

Gillian Shepherd, Director of the Trendall Research Centre and Senior Lecturer in Classics & Ancient History at La Trobe University
Andrew Connor, Lecturer in Ancient History at Monash University
Dr Kate McLardy, Independent Researcher
James Stratford, Teaching Specialist - Classics And European Studies, Historical and Philosophical Studies at The University of Melbourne

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Final Journeys: Afterlife and Underworld

16 June 2022 | Melbourne Museum

One journey in particular held special fascination for the ancient Greeks - the final journey to the world beyond that of the living. Much of our surviving archaeological evidence is related to funerary customs, while visits to Hades feature prominently in Greek literature. Host Gillian Shepherd explores routes to the afterlife, roadmaps of the Underworld, and ancient Greek grave furnishings with experts Chris Gribbin, Larissa Tittl and Monique Webber.

Speakers

Gillian Shepherd, Director of the Trendall Research Centre and Senior Lecturer in Classics & Ancient History at La Trobe University
Dr Christopher Gribbin, Adjunct Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at La Trobe University
Larissa Tittl, MA (Womens Studies), Teaching Associate and PhD Researcher, Classics and Archaeology, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne
Dr Monique Webber, Teaching Specialist (Ancient World Studies), The University of Melbourne