Greece
A Mythical Journey: Stories That Shaped Modern Greece
Program No. 24849RJ
Love Greek mythology? Journey into the past on this learning adventure to some of the most well-known settings in ancient stories, including Athens, Delphi and Olympia!
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13 days
12 nights
25 meals
11B 6L 8D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
Epidaurus Theater, Free time
Nafplion
6
Mycenae, Winery
Nafplion
7
Nafplion to Kalamata; Messene
Kalamata
8
Kalamata
Kalamata
9
Pylos and Methoni
Kalamata
10
Olympia archeological site
Arachova
11
Delphi
Arachova
12
Delphi & Transfer to Athens
Glyfada
13
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
Are you fascinated by the history and mythology of ancient Greece? Join us as we delve into the storied past of classical Greece as you explore iconic locations such as the Acropolis and Delphi, home to the famed Oracle. Archaeological sites merge fact and fiction by exploring Greek life from thousands of years ago, including through a unique visit to the Nestor Palace. Take a look into modern Greek life as well as you wander through local markets to learn about agriculture and enjoy a traditional meal with a local family. When the time comes to depart for home, you’ll not only know more about Greek mythology, but you’ll come away with a better understanding of how ancient Greece has influenced the world today.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking uphill and downhill, up to two miles per day, on uneven terrain, cobblestone and marble streets that may be slippery. Steep stairs without railings and standing for four hours per day with breaks at museum/historic sites.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Walk in the footsteps of mythological figures with visits to Delphi and Mycenae, significant settings in the stories of ancient Greece.
- Enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience in Olympia, birthplace of the first Olympics.
- Explore the unforgettable monuments of the Acropolis, a symbol of Athens and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
A Mythical Journey: Stories That Shaped Modern Greece
Program Number: 24849
The Parthenon
A lively tale of the construction, significance and uses of the 2,500-year-old architectural marvel.
The King Must Die
The first in Mary Renault's trilogy of well-researched page-turners features the tale of Theseus, slayer of the Minotaur and the king of Athens. Known for her exhaustive research, Renault is an acknowledged master of historical fiction.
A Traveller's History of Greece
A nicely written survey from prehistory through the 1990s: wide-ranging, accessible and necessarily condensed.
Corelli's Mandolin
This lyrical novel captures the humanity, quirks and loves of village life in the Greek islands. A satire of war, this charming and richly-colored novel is set on Cephalonia during the Italian occupation in the 1940s.
Greek, A Language Map
This durable, foldout card gives easy phonetic pronunciation for several hundred of the most commonly needed words and phrases.
The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece
This pictorial survey of Greek antiquity, recording its culture and expansion, features dozens of full-color maps.
Homer the Classic
Harvard classics scholar Nagy considers how Homer’s poetry was greeted in its own day and in the centuries immediately following the great bard.
It's All Greek to Me
With timelines, a who's who, charts and maps, this handy little primer is a thoroughly entertaining introduction to everything Greek, from poetry and drama to philosophy, history and culture.
The Colossus of Maroussi
Miller captures the spirit and warmth of the resilient Greek people in this inspired tale of a wartime journey from Athens to Crete, Corfu and Delphi with his friend Lawrence Durrell.
The World of the Ancient Greeks
Featuring hundreds of illustrations and invitingly short chapters on topics from the first Greeks to the Heroic Age and classical Athens. With modern color photographs of great Greek cities from Athens and Delphi to Knossos, Ephesus, Pergamum and Priene.
Eyewitness Guide Greek Islands
Color photography, excellent local maps and an island-by-island synopsis of attractions make this book the one to carry with you. Includes a chapter on Athens.
Greece, Land of Light
Brukoff's dramatic color photographs are paired with incisive commentary by award-winning author Nicholas Gage for this striking portrait of the people, land and history of Greece and the islands.
Travels With Epicurus
Daniel Klein's witty meditation on the ancients, life in the Greek Islands, his favorite philosophers -- and growing old gracefully -- is also a delightful romp through the Aegean, primarily set on Hydra.
Ancient Greece: Art, Architecture, and History
This lively illustrated guide covers the architecture, painting and sculpture of Ancient Greece from the third millennium to the end of the Hellenistic period. With 282 color and 28 black-and-white illustrations.
Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea, Why the Greeks Matter
Cahill brings to life ancient Greek society and civilization through the lives and words of politicians, playwrights, a poet, a philosopher and an artist in this eloquent and absorbing tribute.
The Greek Myths, Complete Edition
A new edition of Graves' classic collection with a cover by comic book artist Ross MacDonald. This expert retelling by Graves, a poet, memoirist and the author of I, Claudius (ITL429), still remains the seminal modern translation of the mythologies of Ancient Greece.
Greece Map
A colorful shaded map of Greece, the Greek Islands and the western coast of Turkey (including Istanbul) at a scale of 1:800,000.
Greece, A Traveler's Literary Companion
In this terrific anthology, 24 modern Greek writers offer a flavor of their nation, its culture and people, beautiful landscapes and rich history.
The Complete World of Greek Mythology
With hundreds of color illustrations, site plans, genealogies and maps, this handsome, encyclopedic reference illuminates the world of the Greek gods.
The Most Beautiful Villages of Greece
Organized geographically, this handsome oversize picture book is an illustrated portrait of Greece with hundreds of color photographs accompanying lively essays.
