Hellenic Centre celebrates its tenth anniversary

Entering the cafe, every visitor of the celebration party was able to view a nicely arranged book and poster display showcasing the Center’s development and accomplishments during the decade. In fact, every present or potential friend of Hellenic studies could see for themselves the Centre’s persistent growth and improvement, which attracts more and more fans of the Hellenic world. The Centre has always highly appreciated support of the Embassy of Greece to its mission and was privileged to welcome G. Hadzimihelaks, His Excellency Ambassador of Greece to Latvia. A true Hellenic spirit was introduced by Dr.Philol Brigita Aleksejeva in her lecture „ Pergamon in Berlin: antique perspective today”; she spoke about her experiences at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin and, in particular, about the unique exhibition dedicated to the ancient metropolis of Pergamon. The value of the lecture lies in its ability to combine the ancient with the modern, as well as to give an insight in exhibition pre-show work and challenges accepted by those who are in charge of precise and nuanced reconstruction of ancient realia. Professor Ilze Rumniece, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Ojars Lams, Head of the Department of Lettonic and Baltic Studies ( the Faculty of Humanities) remembered how the idea of the Centre took shape, and spoke about the Centre’s TOP 10 achievements. The Hellenic Center researchers have always managed to keep up with the nulla dies sine linea ( lat.- no day without a written line), as the saying goes, paraphrasing in their own manner- no year without a book. This is the best time to greet all those putting a creative sparkle in book issuing. On the evidence of the past ten years, the opening of „Hellenic Dimension” complete works also took place in summer. In general the evening was fully enriched with travel, bygone, back-home high-spirited atmosphere. A decade is an important time for both the Hellenes and Hellenic experts; it took Odysseus exactly ten years to get back to Ithaca. Hardly anyone knows that Odysseus, after regaining his home, continued his journeys. How could it be explained? Maybe, his mission hadn’t come to an end. The same can be said about the Centre who will also keep pursuing its. It’s been just the first ten years of it.

Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.