Upper School Students Embark on a Literary and Cultural Journey Through Greece and Turkey
This summer, a group of Gulliver Upper School students embarked on a one-of-a-kind academic adventure through the English department’s summer studies course, Gods & Monsters: An Epic Journey Through Ancient Stories Honors. Designed to bridge literature and lived experience, the course immersed students in foundational Greek texts while transporting them—literally—to the very lands where these epics first took root.
As part of the program, students read canonical works that have shaped Western thought and storytelling, explored modern adaptations of ancient myths through film, and then brought their studies to life through immersive travel to Greece and Turkey. They walked the same paths once tread by heroes and oracles, visiting storied landmarks like the Acropolis, the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Poseidon, and the Oracle at Delphi.
The journey didn’t stop there. Students traveled to Ephesus, an open-air archaeological marvel founded by the Greeks around 2000 BC and later shaped by Roman and early Christian influence. There, they explored ancient ruins including the Agora, the Odeon, and the Library of Celsus, and learned about the once-grand Temple of Artemis—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Their experience also included unforgettable visits to:
-
Mykonos, where students roamed cobblestone streets, admired the iconic windmills, and experienced the charm of Alefkandra—known as the “Venice” of Mykonos.
-
Patmos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where students visited the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist and the Grotto of the Apocalypse—believed to be where the visions of Revelation were received.
-
Rhodes, where history and nature meet on volcanic sands along the Mediterranean Sea.
From literary analysis to cultural exploration, this course embodied Gulliver’s commitment to whole success—equipping students with deep knowledge, global perspective, and unforgettable real-world experiences.
