News Release
New Greek mythology course from Staellinika adopted by Director of Education Anastasios Koularmanis for Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America schools
By Lauren Gilbert
Why should we study Greek mythology?
Look no further than the behemoth that is the success of DC Entertainment’s storytelling of Amazonian warriors and underwater gods to observe a steadfast obsession with Greek mythology. But the myths and legends that continue to transfix our imaginations are more than just stories of heroes and villains. Their world offers us a way to learn more about ourselves.
The study of Greek mythology not only promotes critical thinking skills, it serves as a source of inspiration in our daily lives,
says Director of the Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Anastasios Koularmanis.
Earlier this week, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America shared the news that it would begin offering a new Greek mythology course to students across the US using Staellinika’s online learning platform.
The course offers a way for youth in the Greek diaspora to connect to their heritage in a virtual space. Koularmanis believes "the stories we learn as children shape our minds by instilling values and morals, while also helping us learn how to communicate with one another."
At the end of May, the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies, in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad (GSPDGA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, and with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), announced the launch of a new course on Greek Mythology designed for children aged 8 years and older. This is the first course from the digital platform that focuses exclusively on Greek culture, with themes focusing on exciting Greek myths and legends including the legend of Talos (the world’s first robot), the defeat of Medusa, the tale of how the city of Athens was named, and more!
The SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies first partnered with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in May of last year to launch the pilot version of Staellinika in select US schools.
Dimitris Krallis, Director of the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies, noted “Staellinika offers a fun and informative learning experience during a time of great anxiety, as our societies take steps into an emerging post-pandemic world. The next generation of the Greek diaspora will be provided with the necessary tools needed to keep Greek language, culture and its history, alive and thriving well into the future, as a result of the collaboration with our long-time partners at the Greek Government and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and with the support of the SNF.”
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the GSPDGA and the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies will continue to work closely together in the coming months. Expect more content and new modules that will further enrich Staellinika with additional mythology, culture and language content—hopefully just in time for the new school year!
Learn more about staellinika at www.staellinika.com
For more information about the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies and its programs, please visit our Media page.
You can visit the StaEllinika website for more information. The SNF New Media Lab has for years been at the forefront of educational technologies, and you can learn about their current and past projects on the Lab page, elsewhere on our website.