Greek Geeks Week: Day 4

By Emily Zauzmer

In ancient Greece, the mighty gods atop Mount Olympus reigned supreme. With Zeus at the helm, the personality-plus deities ruled the world and dabbled in the affairs of mortals along the way. Legend has it that the campers in the blue and green groups playfully learned about these memorable figures as their week-long introduction to Greece continued at the Penn Museum.

The morning began with a lesson about the altars, structures, and worshiping habits of the polytheistic Greeks. Up next was a scavenger hunt through the museum in search of cards, and each card provided a snippet of a myth. At the end of the search, the campers read the completed myths aloud before heading to the group dining room for a snack.

After gobbling up their nectar and ambrosia – well, grape juice and Chex Mix – some campers crafted Greek friezes while others created their own Spartan helmets and shields. The afternoon wrapped up with games of gaga, preparation for Friday’s showcase, and a talk from a Mediterranean Department official who gave campers a special peek at Greek artifacts that are not typically on view.

See below for photos of the young gods and goddesses enjoying a day that was so much fun that it went by like greased lightning – an object that Zeus held near and dear to his heart. After such a delightful day, leaving camp was surely an Olympian feat!

During the lesson…

During the scavenger hunt…

During arts and crafts…