Our Favourite Ancient Travel Spots!
The UWAClasSoc committee and club members share some of their favourite travels around the world, including France, Greece, Egypt and Turkey, exploring ancient archaeological sites and museums.
The Arles Ancient History Museum Arles, France
Maddie Hutchison (2017 President)
In 2015 I took Sandra's Roman Archaeology unit, and so
when a family trip to France in 2016 was suggested, I implored my mother and sisters to agree to visiting a number of towns in Provence with ancient historical sites that I had studied. Having walked non-stop in France for almost 2 weeks already, we wearily walked from the
theatre in the centre of town to the museum. And oh, it was worth it for the barge alone!
The most impressive offering of the Museé de l'Arles et de la Provence
Antiques, is the 2000 year old Roman barge pulled from the Rhone river in 2011. This 31m long, 3m wide barge is the centrepiece of a fantastic exhibition of ancient objects discovered in the Rhone. Included in the exhibition is a 20 minute video of the retrieval of the barge, and its restoration.
Though not particularly large, the museum not only houses the fantastic exhibition of Rhone objects, but other major collections as well. These include some of the most beautiful and well preserved mosaics and sarcophagi that I have ever seen. If you ever travel to this part of the world, the museum is a must see!
PHOTO CREDIT: A. HUTCHISON
The Valley of the Kings Luxor, Egypt
Ian Tunmer (2017 OCM)
I went to Egypt with my family in 2010, the year before the revolution. During our stay in Egypt, we went on an impressive tour of Egypt’s ancient monuments and temples. We started in Cairo, then cruised on a dhow down the River Nile. My fondest and most memorable experience was going inside the great pyramid and seeing the ancient burial chamber of the Pharaoh Khufu.
Another memorable moment was visiting the Valley of the Kings. Whilst inside the tomb of Tutankhamen, which at the time had his mummy in the tomb, the lights went out in a power cut and I was in the tomb with Tutankhamun in the dark!
Egypt was an incredible place to visit with magnificent monuments that leave you awestruck at the magnitude and scale of their design. If the political climate of Egypt is stable in the future it is worth a visit.
The Serpent Column Istanbul, Turkey
Amy Hutchison (Club member)
I’ve visited many ancient historic sites, mostly when I was little. And whilst they were amazing, there is something special about visiting a site or seeing an artefact after you have studied it, a little extra excitement! Last year I visited Turkey with my family and although there is a lot to love about the country, one of my favourite parts of the trip was seeing the Serpent Column.
The Serpent Column is a bronze column of three intertwined serpents commemorating the Greeks’ triumph over the Persian Empire at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE, engraved with the names of the Greek states that participated. After studying it in class I was so excited to be able to see it in person at the Hippodrome of Constantinople.
Despite my Mum’s underwhelmed response to what she thought was ‘just’ a column, I was thrilled to see it in person. Is there any better way to spend your holiday than in the presence of history?
PHOTO CREDIT: L. ORR
Jardins de la Fontaine Nîmes, France
Nikki Hutchison (Club member)
My sisters and I travelled across France and Turkey in 2016, and spent most of the 3 weeks indulging Maddie’s love of ancient history. Of all the (ancient) places we visited, Nîmes in particular stands out in my memory. There’s so much to love about Nîmes - beyond the sunny weather and clean small-town Paris feel, which you don’t have to be an ancient history buff to appreciate. My favourite area is the Jardins de la Fontaine.
The gardens were constructed in the 18th century, on the site of an ancient spring (an area worshipped by the earlier celtic inhabitants). Situated in the area of the gardens is the Roman ‘Temple of Diana’ (don’t be fooled by the name - it’s actually a library), and further up the hill a path leads to the Tour Magne - a remnant of the city’s ancient fortifications.
Also worth a visit is the Maison Carrée - a beautifully restored temple which would have dominated the forum of its Roman settlement. And if you’re all about that #aesthetic, Nîmes is the place for you.
PHOTO CREDIT: N. HUTCHISON
The Parthenon Athens, Greece
Morgan Crockett (2017 Secretary)
In 2015 I actualised a long time dream and visited the Parthenon, after a long walk up a hill with multiple stops to pat dogs, which I was later informed might have rabies (not going to lie the dogs are still definitely a highlight of Greece), I finally stood before the most recognisable building of Athens.
Following what I thought was the highpoint of my life, we visited the Acropolis Museum (an obvious next step), and between jokes about the British and posing to look like monuments I’m pretty sure we took in some actual history. I was then in for the real highlight of my life when I found out that the University of Sydney (particularly proud that this is Australia’s contribution to the museum) had permanently donated the Lego Acropolis.
A replica of the 5th Century Acropolis, it shows the Parthenon and surrounding temples in all their glory, decorated with historical figures like Pericles, Lord Elgin and Elton John (definitely all in the same league). Built from more than 120,000 Lego bricks it’s a truly impressive model and definitely worth a visit should you ever find yourself in Athens.
PHOTO CREDIT: M. CROCKETT
Hisarlık "Troy" Çanakkale, Turkey
Maddie Hutchison (2017 President)
There's something incredibly haunting in travelling in the footsteps of ancient peoples. This was my experience of Hisarlık at least, the supposed site of Troy, that place of warring nations and gods. Hisarlık was one of our last stops on our 2016 tour of Turkey. I had spent part of that 4 hour journey relaying some of the debates over the historicity of Troy to a couple of people on the tour with us (they had asked me, knowing I was studying ancient history).
Regardless of whether the archaeological record convinces you or not, there is nothing like tracing this ancient path, contemplating the lives of those from long ago. I cannot even begin to describe the feeling of walking
amongst remains that are thousands of years old, nor in imagining the
presence of the very people described in those stories of Troy.
There's a special kind of wonder that sweeps over you when this occurs, even more so in savouring this memory alongside others, as you each give in to your historical imaginings. Our tour guide recited a poem he wrote about Troy, and with no other tour groups around, it was the perfect moment to just be still and consider the magnitude of what we had just experienced.
PHOTO CREDIT: M. HUTCHISON
