By Christina Savopoulos
Ancient Greek studies are a cornerstone of Greek culture and many spend hours poring over the details of who the Ancient Greeks were and what they accomplished.
Following a series of successful lectures held in 2024, the Melbourne University Greek Association (MUnGA) invited their members to attend a lecture by Dr Hyun Jin Kim on Tuesday, October 7.
The lecture was titled Ethnicity in Antiquity: Greece and China and explored the representations of foreigners in the writings of Herodotus and Sima Qian.
Dr Kim studied at the University of Oxford and the University of Sydney, and is currently a Professor in Classics at the University of Melbourne and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities.
With a deep passion for the topic, Dr Kim carefully dissected the niche aspects of ethnography in the Ancient Greek and Chinese worlds. By comparing these two ancient civilisations, he highlighted the perceptions the Ancient Greeks and Chinese had of their own identities, as well as their views of the people around them.
Speaking to Dr Kim, he said he chose this lecture topic because “there are widespread misconceptions about Greek attitudes toward non-Greeks both among the general public and also in academia.”
He told The Greek Herald, “Some have argued erroneously that the ancient Greeks invented racism. Nothing could be further from the truth. This talk hopefully has demonstrated that the ancient Greeks were among the most open and cosmopolitan of ancient peoples.”
30 attendees at the University of Melbourne tuned in to better their understanding and knowledge of Greece and China in antiquity.
This was the first MUnGA lecture Arthur Papas has attended and he appreciated the chance to learn about this part of Ancient Greek history. He said, “Not knowing much about the topic, it was an engrossing lecture.”
The lecture was organised by newly appointed MUnGA Co-Presidents Christina Damigos and Athanasios Pirpiris. They spoke with The Greek Herald about their experience organising the lecture and learning from Dr Kim.
Christina said, “Dr Kim’s lecture highlights the importance of comparative studies and cross-cultural understanding. It was incredible to gain insight into the complexity of ethnicity, the spread of Hellenism, empires, and geopolitics during antiquity.”
Athanasios added, “We enjoy hosting events such as this lecture as they not only bring Greek youth together but also provide valuable educational insights into our rich history and culture.”
Considering MUnGA as a space for young Greek Australians to gather, Athanasios said the new committee is striving to “create a welcoming community for Greek youth in universities, promoting a sense of belonging and connection.”
University student clubs hosting these lectures unite young Greek Australians and provide a space to learn about Ancient Greek history from experts in the field.
