Daily Updates
Week Five: 20 October
20 October. Brian Meyers Reporting:
This morning we departed from Syracuse on our bus and headed towards Morgantina. What should have been a two hour bus ride balloned due to heavy traffic. We ended up arriving at the site four hours after our departure owing to the traffic and an unexpected detour for a pit stop. We did see a large helicopter that had landed on the other side of the road when we passed a bad accident site along the way. Once we arrived at Morgantina, we disembarked from the bus and began to examine the site. It was an exactly preserved site that has remenants dating from the early bronze age around the 19th century B.C. We examined the town that was was first Greek and then later Roman. The Greek influences were clear as we examined the Agora and looked the remains of the stoa that lined one side of the Agora. The Roman presence was also evident in a macellum, an enclosed Roman marketplace, that had been erected in the center of the Agora. There was also a restored Greek Style theater that was interesting to see. After examining a sanctuary that was probably related to the mystery cult of Demeter and Persephone and two kilns, we took a look at the remains of some domestic structures on the hill overlooking the Agora. After we finished at Morgantina, we piled back onto the bus and headed to Piazza Armerini. When we arrived, we first ate lunch and then walked through the giant villa that once been at the site. It was amazing. Mosiac floors that served as much better decoration than the floor decoration of many of domiciles that we had previously seen barely waranted comment. That having been said, the Piazza Armerini mosaics do come from 200 to 1000 years later than most of the other material that we have examined. The high quality mosaics were really cool things to see. Unfortunately most of the better ones were dry and dusty, not the ideal conditions for viewing such mosaics, but Professor Ulrich did manage to show us the difference in the appearance of the mosaics when water was applied to them. We walked through most of the large building that had once been the home of some rich magnate during the period of the Tetrarchy (300-310 A.D.) and then walked back to the bus to drive to Agrigento. Along the way, Professor Ulrich pointed out some illuminated temple ruins on the hillsides of the road. We all arived safely in Agrigento. The day went well, despite some early delays. - Brian 'Aldo' Meyers signing out
The site of Morgantina.
The Eklesiaston.
A view from the site.
Prickly pear growing on a cactus.
A close-up of one of the many shells imbedded in the stone.
Looking at the Hunt Mosaic in Piazza Armerina.
A water-treated mosaic from Piazza Armerina.
A water-treated mosaic from Piazza Armerina.
The central courtyeard from Piazza Armerina.
Prickly pear.
Some of the more adventurous decide to try the fruit.
The remnants of the experiment, which was a success.