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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2019)
6 Wednesday, December 25, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Iconic civilization of mind and matter By Chris Morin Correspondent This is the first of a two- part reflection on Sisters art gallery proprietor Chris Morin9s visit to the cradle of Western Civilization. <How will our most positive efforts be regarded in just a few generations? Will anyone remember me 50 years from now?= Unanticipated questions burst into my consciousness. After 45 minutes of hik- ing through avenues, neigh- borhoods, and back streets of Athens, Greece, I9ve arrived at a one-acre, long- abandoned attempt of a tree- ringed park. Now trashy, graffitied, overgrown with weeds, and a home for the homeless in the underbrush, this northern corner of the block is a depression six feet below the sidewalk level because it was once partially excavated. Arguably, this marks the spot where dawn broke on Western Civilization. Under my feet previously stood a school, known then as a gymnasium, that his- tory books refer to as Plato9s Academy. Founded in 387 B.C., the overarching philoso- pher, theologian, idealist, and political theorist himself both developed and recorded the first respected concepts that served as the intellectual foundation for the most pow- erful civilizations humankind would ever come to know, including the United States. I suppose that when you have a vast orchard not every apple makes it into the har- vest basket. Such must be the case with Greece given the absolute plethora of respect- fully conserved ancient sites, artifacts, and historical land- marks that do exist within this exquisitely traditional civilization. Hallowed, well-pre- served ground can be viewed from almost anywhere in Athens due to the cliffs of the Acropolis rising 250 feet above the engulfing city. Upon the flat seven- acre summit, the remaining columns of the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena, the Erechtheum, and Propylaea ascend beyond the fortress walls4so vast that legend holds they were built by a race of enormous Cyclops. Estimates suggest this fortress may have con- tained 100,000 smaller <art= objects at its height, which does not include the vast number of utilitarian com- modities required to support and sustain the population. Rather extraordinarily as it turns out, minute pigments of residue have revealed that the bronzes and marble sculptures were meticulously painted, with white marble the preferred surface. Walking through the Acropolis, humankind9s greatest achievement com- bining both art and architec- ture, simply overwhelms the mental faculties and certainly goes beyond my ability to comprehend the grandiose scale of the citadel. Despite the breadth and depth of antiquities, Greece beckoned to me because of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Commencing college at age 30, then being exposed to them time and again in vari- ous coursework, I immersed myself in their writings, beliefs, and the ramifica- tions of what they started. Figuratively speaking, intel- lectual and emotional chains became unshackled, like the finally freed slave in Plato9s <Allegory of The Cave.= Museums in Athens offer such an enormous volume of work from the ancient times that surveying exhibition after exhibition, hall after hall becomes mentally drain- ing. Sculptures, friezes, sep- ulchers, gods and goddesses of the old myths dominate these collections, along with vases, gilded ornaments, pottery, small brass figures, tools, coins, and jewelry. Just describing the level of work- manship, design, detail, and ingenuity of the multitudes of once-flawless statues could fill an encyclopedia set. The small objects made of gold, bronze, marble, copper, ivory, and clay cause me to envision ancient hoarder-like homes. Did they, and not us, first conceive the concept of downsizing? These pieces are intricate, delicate works that defy rationale about how people that long ago could Come See Us At Our New Location! PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS MORIN The site of Aristotle’s Lykeion. have had the understanding or technology to accomplish such things. Many objects were cre- ated in workshops and guilds for the purpose of burial ritu- als or to be placed in temples thus honoring and appeas- ing the Grecian gods and goddesses. Subsequently, temples overflowed with such works and each site of significance had treasury storerooms. Three days after the museum visits, I hiked to See GREECE on page 22 Our agents are ready to meet your insurance needs As life changes, so should your policy Call or come in today for a free Farmers Friendly Review 541-588-6245 • 257 S. Pine St., #101 www.farmersagent.com/jrybka AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS SAVOR THE HOLIDAYS! Sisters Special... 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