Mikis Theodorakis
A Presentation by Associate Professor Vrasidas Karalis

This presentation examines the life and the work of the most important Greek composer of popular music in the 20th century. Theodorakis is both diverse and contradictory, a man and an artist of extremes whose presence is a testimony to.

Date: Wed 7 May – Part 1 (1950-1970)
Wed 14 May – Part 2 (1970-present day)

Zorba in China
Featuring Our Special Guest From China Mr Li Chenggui

Nikos Kazantzakis was a great admirer of Chinese civilisation. The event will be centred on his impressions from his first visit (1935) and the reception of his work in China.

Date: Sun 6 April 4pm

Kazantzakis’ Odyssey
Are Long Poems Read Today?

In 1939, Nikos Kazantzakis published his long epic poem Odyssey of 33,333 verses. This lecture examines briefly the “longest poem of the Western world” and explains its aesthetics, ideology and form.

Date: Sat 12 April 6.30pm

Homer Day
Co-ordinated by Associate Professor Vrasidas Karalis

This series of lectures examines the influence of Homer’s epic poetry on the development of ancient Greek and European artistic creation.

Date: Sun 13 April 4.30pm

Mistra and the Palaiologoi
A presentation by Anastasia Anastasiadis

Come with us to visit a living museum: Mistra, the last capital of the Byzantine Peloponnese, on its conical hill with a castle at the top and with brilliant churches, palaces and houses on the slopes below.

Date: Wed 16 April 6pm

Book Launch: Women of the Sun
A Novel By Hyllus Maris and Sonia Borg

The novel Women of the Sun, first published in 1985, is a pioneer literary work about the history of the Aboriginal people since the invasion of their country by the colonialists in 1788.

Date: Wed 30 April 6pm

Book Launch: to Hellas & Back
My Modern Day Greek Tragedy, By Lana Penrose

To Hellas and Back is a hilariously funny and deeply moving tale of one woman’s journey through love, loneliness and culture shock, set to the tune of screaming bouzoukia, a million blasting car horns and a fast crumbling psyche.

Date: Sat 3 May 6.30pm

Greek ‘Proxy Brides’ in Australia: Dreams and Realities

Greece after World War Two was a country politically divided and in financial ruin, with an oppressive culture and open wounds inflicted by foreign occupation and civil strife. During that time many young women were forced to make certain life-changing decisions.

Date: Exhibition: Mon 15 April – Fri 18 April Public Lecture: Thur 17 April

How Spartan were the Spartans?
Beyond The Mirage of Austerity and Conformity

Lecture by Dr Brian Brennan Historian and archaeologist Dr Brian Brennan presents an overview of ancient Spartan society using new archaeological material, recent scholarship and a reappraisal of literary evidence.

Date: Tue 13 May 6pm

The Return of the Parthenon Marbles
How And Why They Were Taken and the Case For Their Return

A presentation by founder and chairman of the International Organising Committee – Australia – for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, Emanuel John Comino OAM. Mr Comino has campaigned for 32 years for the Marbles’ return. Britain still refuses to return them to Greece.

Date: Sun 18 May 4pm