The journey begins...

Many are rediscovering the rich heritage of the ancient Hellenic world. A broad variety of reasons are given. It doesn't matter whether you are captivated by the elegance of their mathematics, their polyvalent spirituality, their art, literature, engineering feats or have simply wanted to dress up like a hoplite or maenad since you were five. It doesn't matter if you are participating in the restoration of Hellenic Polytheism, discussing pre-Socratic philosophy, putting together the realia needed for historical re-enactment events and living history exhibitions. Perhaps you want to learn Attic, host an educational event, put on a symposium, find props and costumes for your production of the Clouds or just read about you favourite Hellenic topic. At some stage you will wonder how to touch base with the people, places and products that will float your trireme. I hope to make this blog the nexus of those obscure and not so obscure Hellenic highways and byways and share each discovery as I make it.

This blog is named after the hero shrine set up for Odysseus at the cave in Polis Bay on the island of Ithaka. Odysseus is one of the first Greek Heroes renowed for his brain not merely his brawn. Arriving home after twent years absence he had lost and found more treasures than we would see in a number of lifetimes. He had accumulated material, experiental and spiritual treasures on his outward and return voyages. If you believe the myths his adventures did not stop there.

As a member of the Sydney Ancients, one of my main interests is in meeting others doing similar things, asking them where they got their kit or how they made it. Five years ago this was a solitary pursuit with few particpants and very few places to acquire kit or learn how to make it. Today, there is a growing worldwide community of solitary and group re-enactors, living historians, LARPers and a good swag of anachronists engaged in this vice. Enabled by the internet they now have access to a range of bespoke and off the shelf equipment. Helmets, swords, spears, shields, greaves and armour once difficult if not impossible to buy are appearing - admittedly in varying degrees of quality and authenticity. However, a couple of mass market suppliers like Daniyal Steel Crafts are even making quality products that have been meticuously researched by their customers. This is a welcome change to some that keep pumping out near enough is good enough items despite the pleadings of their clients. The highly respected Roman Army Talk Forum has provided dedicated boards for Greek Military History & Archeology as well as Greek Re-enactment & Reconstruction where both neophytes and old hands are welcomed alike. For those interested in earlier periods the Bronze Age Center hosts discussions on the Minoans and Mycenaeans under their Agean studies board.

In 2006 the first International Ancient Greek Festival was held at Watford in the United Kingdom. Re-enactors from the USA intend to host an International Greek Hoplite Festival on the East Coast in 2010. Plans are also being made by a number of international re-enactors to finally, after 2500 years, commemorate Marathon in 2011.  It should also be mentioned that some of our far flung friends intend to become regular features at the Nemead, the revival of the ancient Nemean Games. The academic world has continues to amaze us with new practical research in experimental archaeology. Dr Katherine Scwab of Fairfield University has done a sterling job in her Caryatid Hairstyling Project.

Today is our first day out in shallow waters but I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised as this journey continues.

Ports of call:

Didaskalia is an electronic journal and resource dedicated to the study of ancient Greek and Roman drama in performance.

Hellenica is a website continuously updated by Michael Lahanas with information (text and images) about Hellas / Greece and Cyprus, ancient, medieval and modern.