The ancient Greeks were rediscovered by the Renaissance (14th century) and adopted by the Enlightenment (19th century). Nineteenth century rationalists saw their values reflected in Homeric attempts to demythologize the gods and in the golden age of Athenian philosophy. Twentieth century scholarship recognizes that this picture of ancient Greek culture is a caricature, a projection of Enlightenment ideas and values onto the screen of ancient Greece. This caricature ignored other elements of ancient Greece in an attempt to portray the Greeks as the first moderns. Who, then, were the real Greeks? Was their culture as compatible with ours as we've assumed? What debts do American culture and institutions really owe to the ancient Athenians? To answer these and other questions, Willamette University has developed a study program taught in Greece.

During alternate summers we offer a four week one credit program. The courses were developed by Dr Catherine Collins and Dr Jeanne Clark in the Rhetoric and Media Studies Department. The purpose of the program is to explore the rhetoric and archaeology of ancient Greece.

This document provides information on the program. If you offer a similar program, we'd love to hear more about it. We will happily provide additional information about our courses, how the programs are organized, and costs if you would like further information.

The Origins of Western Rhetoric: Willamette Study Program in Greece

The Study Program in Greece will take you to the temples, palaces, marketplaces, and public forums of ancient Greece. Walk the haunts of Plato and Aristotle, read the speeches of Pericles, see the sights that inspired Homer's epics, and relax in the Greek sun.

Trace Greek history and visualize the changes in Greek art, architecture, and lifestyle. Visit museums revealing both the grand and the commonplace artifacts of ancient life. From the navel of the world in Delphi to juror's lots in Athens, from gaming equipment in Olympia to the Mycenaean mask of Agamemnon, we build an understanding of the cultural perspectives which shape and permeate the heritage of ancient Greece.

We see the worlds of Homer, Pericles, Demosthenes, and St. Paul. So seeing, we better understand their discourse and appreciate how it shapes our own

• The Peloponnese: Eleusis, Corinth, Mycenae, Epidauras, Olympia
  
• Delphi
• Athens: Acropolis, Agora, National Museum, Folk dancers, Temple of Olympian Zeus
• The World of Aristotle and Alexander: Thessaloniki, Philippi,Pella, and Stagira