Peloponnese Field Trip (Day 3): Meat, meat, meat...and more meat!

Peloponnese Field Trip Day 3!!

Archaeologists working at the Palace of Nestor

Our first stop of the day was at the Palace of Nestor, another important center during the Mycenean period. We toured the palace and saw the throne room where the king would have received people, the storeroom with gigantic amphora that would have been filled with olive oil, and the bathtub that Telemachus supposedly bathed in when he sought out King Nestor to ask where his father, Odysseus, was. While we were there, two archaeologists were working on the site. It was interesting to see the type of work they were doing and the amount of attention to detail the work required. We had also talked about the site of the Palace of Nestor in my photography class when we examined the excavation of the Tomb of the Griffin Warrior. Being able to actually see the site and really helped me tie in everything I’ve learned about the site in various classes!   

Our next step was the Bay of Pylos where Professor Dimitri told us about the naval Battle of Pylos that took place in 425BCE during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. We stood on the shore where the Spartans would have set up camp and looked over at the island where the Athenians trapped 420 Spartiate hoplites. I had learned about the Battle of Pylos in my Ancient Greek History class at Tufts but actually being able to stand at the bay and see where it happened while learning about it was a whole new experience.

Looking out at the Bay of Pylos from the Spartiates camp!

And More MEAT!!

Our last stop of the day was at the town of Pylos where we visited the Niokastro fortress. It was also Tsiknopempti! At the square, there was a large group of people grilling meat at a περίπτερο kiosk. They were playing music and some people were grilling meat while others were drinking wine and dancing. A couple people waved us over and started handing us forkful after forkful of meat and cups of wine. As soon as we finished our forkful of meat, they would take the empty fork out of our hands and fill it up again. I think all I had for lunch that day was grilled meat! Not that I’m complaining. The people grilling meat told us about Tsiknopempti and why they celebrate with meat and were curious about what we were studying in Athens. It was an amazing experience to be able to witness and take part in a celebration like that!

Eating meat!!!!!

Niokastro Fortress!