Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies

The SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies, along with the SNF New Media Lab, is dedicated to bringing the latest in mobile technology and pedagogy to the teaching and learning of Greek, and seeks to promote a better understanding of Hellenism in the community by staging events for academic and lay audiences throughout the year. At its core, the Centre focuses and supports research at SFU on Hellenic topics, from Antiquity to present-day Greece, through grants and postdoctoral fellowships. At the same time, the Centre supports undergraduate and graduate studies on Greece's history, language and culture through its home department of Global Humanities.

SNF CENTRE EVENTS

Looking for recordings of our previous events?

Visit our YouTube channel.

Updates from Gefyra

The Geraki Weavers | Part 3: The Loom

This video will introduce you to the traditional loom commonly used in crafting kilims in Geraki. The upright or vertical loom recalls the one used by Homer’s Penelope to weave and unravel as she awaited Odysseus's return. Loom weights uncovered in Geraki’s ancient citadel and its medieval kastro indicate that weaving held enduring cultural and economic importance in Geraki, spanning millennia.

With thanks to the Cultural Society of Geraki, the Ephoreia of Antiquities of Lakonia, the Municipality of Evrotas, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

The Geraki Weavers | Part 2: Training

“The art of weaving is related to everyday life and their life stories. So, by unraveling the details of their history, they unraveled the weft and warp of their lives,” said Nikos Zacharakis, MA in Folk Culture, University of Ioannina. Beyond its cultural significance, weaving plays a crucial role in the village's economy, serving as a source of income for its residents. In this video you will be introduced to Geraki weavers and how they came to embrace the practice of weaving.

With thanks to the Cultural Society of Geraki, the Ephoreia of Antiquities of Lakonia, the Municipality of Evrotas, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

The Geraki Weavers | Part 1: Our Community

In this video, we introduce you to members of the Geraki community, including modern-day weavers, experts who have studied the art of weaving in Geraki, members of the Cultural Society of Geraki, and the Mayor of Evrotas.

With thanks to the Cultural Society of Geraki, the Ephoreia of Antiquities of Lakonia, the Municipality of Evrotas, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Gefyra Presents: The Geraki Weaving Project Preview

In 2023, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Centers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) initiated a collaboration with the Cultural Committee of Geraki (Πολιτιστικός Σύλλογος Γερονθρών), the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia, and Geraki Archaeological Project (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) to investigate and relate the story of the history of weaving in Geraki, a village in the foothills of Mount Parnon.

This project is organized by Gefyra, a UCLA/SFU collaboration supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

With special thanks to Mrs. Chrysoula Stamatopoulou, weaver and teacher.

Video by Gregory Tsolakis.