The lecture of Emeritus Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mr. Efthimiou Maria, was held with great success on Friday, April 19, 2024, in the packed Concert Hall of the Municipal Conservatory of Larissa, as part of an event organized in her honor by the Directorate of Primary of Education of Larissa, in collaboration with the Region of Thessaly, the Municipality of Larissa, the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Larissa (DEVAL), the Municipal Conservatory of Larissa, the 12th Primary School of Larissa – Principal Mr. Balis Asterios, the Primary School of Terpsithea – D Principal Mrs. Pitsilka Eleni and the Special Primary School of Larissa – Principal Mr. Petrotos Nikolaos.
The lecture by Professor of History, Mrs. Efthimiou, was the main event among a series of actions, which are implemented by the Directorate of Primary Education of Larisa, within the framework of the International Thematic Network of Education for Sustainability, approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture : “The children are ambassadors of their place”, which was founded and coordinated by the Directorate of Primary Education of Larissa with the participation of hundreds of school units from Greece and abroad and dozens of organizations related to culture and the environment from Greece and Cyprus . The remote members of the Network, from the rest of Greece and Omogenia, attended the lecture online, in the context of the support and professional development of the teachers of the school units, who implement Cultural Subjects and Environmental Education Programs.
The opening of the event was announced by the Director of Primary Education of Larissa, Mrs. Karagiorgou Aikaterini, who in her message, warmly thanked the invited speaker for the special honor, as the most expert, to speak about the timeless relationship of the Greeks with the sea . Among other things, Mrs. Karagiorgou Aikaterini said: “The relationship of the Greeks with the sea in historical time is long-standing, with their own sea which they have shared with other peoples since the dawn of history. The sea that they fantastically mythologized with their experiences, which remained alive to be sung by the rhapsodists, centuries later… .
In this long period of time, the conquest of the sea does not have political sovereignty as an exclusive condition. Before this it has another primary condition, that of navigation which will also serve economic needs and together with them political and often hegemonic syndromes. All of this takes place over a long period of time and is simultaneously dynamic and static, creating osmosis and requests for a single kingdom, culminating in a symbiosis of the peoples that was mainly characterized by the absolutism and violence of the hegemonies.
Many ancient civilizations were born on the shores of the sea. The Mediterranean sea and sea of Greece nourished very great civilizations. The eternal summer gave her people the most precious raw material for any form of art: light… .
Over the centuries, the Greek made the sea his second home, tamed it and loved it. The archetypal hero of the Greeks was Odysseus, the restless traveler. The purpose of his journey was exploration, knowledge, self-knowledge through getting to know the other, the stranger.
Today, the Greek either lives in the Greek hinterland, in the Thessalian plain in this case, or in the coastal and island regions he still interacts with it. The cultivation of the land and the sea are, moreover, stable and “building materials” of Greece, a reality described by our great poet Odysseus Elytis: “If you disintegrate Greece, in the end you will see that you are left with an olive tree, a grapevine and a boat. Which means, with so much more, you rebuild it.”
Undoubtedly, the sea is a subject that we Greeks will constantly refer to and approach through time and at the same time interdisciplinary. In particular, in education it is studied at all levels, through the teaching of Greek culture, folk tradition, the science of history, geography and geology and other cognitive subjects. With modern and innovative pedagogical approaches, teachers transform the knowledge and love for the sea, into self-activity and school actions, cultural and environmental, going beyond the limits of a class and a lesson and realizing the openness to the environment, culture and modern life .
The Directorate of Primary Education of Larissa, having as its vision the support of school activities aimed at the experiential interconnection of male and female students with their local culture and the ecosystem of their region, and in order to inspire other school units to be active in this direction, founded and coordinates the International Thematic Network for Sustainability, entitled: “Children ambassadors of their country”. The Environmental and Cultural Education Network, approved by the Ministry of Education, Religion and Sports, involves hundreds of school units from Greece and abroad and dozens of culture and environment-related bodies from Greece and Cyprus. The main objective of the Network is to promote the transition of the provided educational work from introversion to extroversion, through a modern and pedagogically up-to-date network of exchange of ideas, proposals and best educational practices, which will at the same time maintain a continuous and open conversation with society. ».
The event was honored with their presence by the MPs of Larissa, Mr. Kellas Christos, Mr. Harakopoulos Maximos, Mr. Kokkalis Vasilios and Mr. Liakoulis Evangelia, who addressed a greeting, while a greeting was sent by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Elassos, Mr. Hariton, the Member of Parliament for Larissa, Mr. Kapetanos Christos, the Member of Parliament for Magnesia, Mr. Meikopoulos Alexandros and the Member of Parliament for Trikala, Mr. Lioutas Athanasios. Also present were Mrs. Nepka Charitini, representing her husband Mr. Koureta Dimitrios, Regional Governor of Thessaly, Mrs. Kolovou-Mamakou Agapi, representing her husband Mr. Mamakos Athanasios, Mayor of Larissa, the Mayor of Tembo Mr. Manolis Georgios, the Secretary of the Decentralized Administration of Thessaly – Central Greece, Mr. Tzanakoulis Konstantinos, the Head of the Inspection of Forest Policy Implementation of Thessaly and Central Greece, Mr. Ftika Zoi, the Regional Councilor of Thessaly, Commissioner for Equality, Mr. Simos Vassilios, the Deputy Mayor of Culture Municipality of Larissa, Ms. Retsianis Thomas, the Deputy Mayor of Culture, Sports, Education and Social Policy of the Municipality of Tyrnavos, Ms. Mamanou-Hatzi Eugenia, the Vice-President of the Municipal Gallery of Larissa – Museum G.I. Katsigra, Ms. Kossiva Katerina, the Mandated Municipal Councilor for the Care of Stray and Domesticated Animals, of the Municipality of Larissa, Mr. Goula Evrydiki, the Municipal Councilor and former Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Larissa, Mr. Soultis Georgios, the President of the Appeals, Ms. Koutsogiannoulis Anastasia, the President of the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Technology of the University of Thessaly, Professor Mr. Papachatzis Alexandros, the Director of the Surgical Clinic of the P.G.N.L., Professor of the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly, Mrs. Zacharoulis Dimitrios, the Director of the Folklore History Museum of Larissa, Mrs. Kalokairinou Fani, the Director of the French Institute of Larissa, Mr. Voulgaraki Chrysa, the Director of the Municipal Conservatory of Larissa, Mr. Lenoutsos Christos, the Cultural Affairs Officer of the Municipality of Farsala, Mrs. Flora Anna, the Regional Director of Eurobank , Mr. Mantas Vassilios, the General Director of the Association of Thessalian Businesses and Industries (STHEB), Mrs. Kamateri Elena, the President of the Lyceum of Greek Girls of Larissa, Mrs. Papagianni Vasiliki, the President of the Dim.T.O. N.D. Larisas, Mr. Zahari Sofia, the former Director of Primary Education of Trikala Kafanelis Charalambos, the Senior Director P. E. Larisas and Director of the 1st Board of Directors. Giannoulis, Mrs. Arida Sofia, Senior Head of the Department of Educational Affairs of D.P.E. Larissas, Mrs. Apostolaki Maria, the former Principal of P. E. Larissa and Principal of the 2nd School of Larissa, Mr. Papadopoulou Sophia, the Head of the Independent Directorate of the Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Thessaly, Mr. Iakovakis Ioannis, the Education Advisors Mr. Kotsiopoulou Dimitra, Mr. Patsadakis Manolis, Mr. Sotiriou Apostolos and Mr. Dimitriou Eleni, the President of ADEDY Larisa Mr. Tziatzias Michalis, the President of ELME Larisa, Mr. Fountas Athanasios, the Member of the Board of Directors of ENERYP, Mr. Karatsoulia Maria, the Director of the 2nd S.D.E. Larisa (Reservation Shop of Larisa) and journalist, Mr. Trantas Georgios, Members of PYSPE Larisa, Principals, Heads of School Units of D.P.E. of Larisa, as well as Teachers, parents/guardians and a large number of people.
The distinguished Historian, with the scientific, but also accessible to everyone, reason that distinguishes her, developed the topic: “The sea and the Greek. A story of a dynamic relationship through historical time”, highlighting the historical continuity of the unbreakable bond of the Greeks, from the Mycenaean era to the present day, with the sea. During her speech, which kept the interest of the audience undiminished, she focused on particular aspects of Greek history, from antiquity and Byzantium, to the foundation of the new Greek state and the heyday of Greek shipping, as integral parts of the world of history, even interpreting, based on her long and multi-year research, events and social institutions of the past, which are however related to the modern Greek reality. The talk was followed by a discussion, during which the audience had the opportunity to ask the Historian questions.
After the lecture, the Director of Primary Education of Larissa, Mrs. Karagiorgou Aikaterini, awarded an honorary plaque to the Emeritus Professor, Mrs. Efthymiou Maria, as an expression of gratitude for her great contribution to Greek Education and Letters.
The event, which was coordinated by the renowned journalist, Mr. Polyzos Sotiris, was framed and brightened by their presence, the High School of Greek Girls of Larissa and the student choir of the 18th and 32nd Primary Schools of Larissa. In particular, at the beginning of the event, the student choir, under the direction of the Music teacher, Mr. Tsakpinoglou Efis, performed in a unique way the songs: “Mother Great-Spirit”, “A lad of 20 years” and “You lands and seas”, which were connected with the history of the people, while passages of texts were recited, which moved the audience.
The closing of the event included a unique dance performance from the Larisa Greek High School, which captivated the audience with its impressive stage presence. In this, selected traditional dances were presented under the guidance of the Teacher of the Lyceum of the Hellenic Girls of Larissa, Mr. Tsiplakoulis Dimitriou and performed with the accompaniment of musical instruments, traditional songs from the cultural and folkloric tradition of the island and coastal regions of Hellenism, which reflected the deep relationship of the Greeks with the sea.
The Director of Primary Education of Larissa, Mrs. Karagiorgou Aikaterini, expressed her warm thanks to all the agencies that cooperated for the implementation of the action, to the Hellenic Red Cross – Regional Department of Larisa, for their always valuable help and presence, to the Head of the Department of Informatics and of New Technologies of D.P.E. Larisa, Mr. Kolokotroni Dimitrios and the staff of the Department as well as the staff of the Municipal Conservatory of Larisa, for the technical support. He also addressed wishes and congratulations to the members of the administrative staff of the Directorate of Primary Education of Larissa, Mrs. Eleni Liarou, Mrs. Dana Irini, Mrs. Christina Popota, Mr. Christina Souliotis, Mr. Domtzidis Spyro, Mr. Liapi Vasilios, Mr. Zotou Vasiliki, Ms. Havda Athina, Ms. Dafouli Ioanna and Ms. Scarpa Electra, for their valuable support in the perfect organization of the event.
Finally, he thanked the sponsors of the event, which were Fresh Patisserie, Mikel Coffee Shops, Inspiration Florist, Tyrnavos Agricultural Wine Cooperative and Soffi Stationery.
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