On Tuesday October 21 at the University of Adelaide Associate Professor Patrick O’Sullivan (Classics) gave The Constantinos Moraïtis Annual Hellenic Public Lecture (sponsored by the Galatis Fund) on the following topic: “Greek Tragedy, the Emotions and Aeschylus’ Oresteia Reconfigured”.
This invited lecture focused on the ancient reception of Aeschylus as a poet whose stylistic qualities of grandeur and ‘weight’ were crucial to the emotional impact of his works. The talk included a discussion of the influence of these concepts not only on romantics such as Wagner, but even in the re-imaginings of modernist, iconoclastic composers such as lannis Xenakis (1922-2001) whose own Oresteia (premiered in NZ in 2017) still retains much that is consistent with Aeschylus’ image in antiquity.
The Annual Galatis Lecture had renowned scholars giving talks on Byzantine topics made possible by the generous support of Mr. Nick Galatis. Renamed Constantinos Moraïtis Annual Hellenic Lecture in 2007, it widened its scope to all things Greek. The Fund has been supporting the Department of Classics, Archaeology and Ancient History since 1996. The Galatis Fund also funds several prizes for high-achieving students at undergraduate and Honours level as well as a Student Travel Scholarship.
The new name (adopted in 2007) reflects the fact that it is dedicated to the benefactor’s grandfather, Constantinos Moraïtis, who had a special love for the history and culture of the Hellenic World. The new scope of the themed lecture (‘Hellenic’ instead of ‘Byzantine’) has allowed the Department to invite speakers with a wider range of research interests, to facilitate the dissemination of Greek culture to a broad audience. Topics have ranged from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and later periods of Greek civilization, including their reception in modern adaptations.
