tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588247216777605704.post8420444959140208580..comments2023-04-05T08:04:07.514-04:00Comments on Bryn Mawr Classical Review: 2013.01.53Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588247216777605704.post-14386146703882227212013-02-07T13:27:56.800-05:002013-02-07T13:27:56.800-05:00Indeed, Diamantopoulou’s statements were both nati...Indeed, Diamantopoulou’s statements were both nationalist and racist, which may have prejudiced your reading of the book. However, I still find the authors’ ambition to contribute to the study of the Greek language, literacy and its contexts, the diffusion of alphabets etc quite legitimate. As Prof. Janko states in his comment above, these are extraordinary discoveries and this book makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of early writing among other things. Yes, the writing in question happens to be Greek and the site happens to be in Northern Greece. If these were finds from Pithekoussai no one would even think of branding this same publication a nationalist project. To my mind, your piece still reads like a vociferous retort, and your rather offensive suggestion that I should brush up my archaeological ethics or check the “dictionary of Triantafyllides” seems to confirm this. I have no intention on continuing this discussion; I suspect, however, that the contributors to this volume will have much to say in defence of their work, and I look forward to hearing from them in due course.Dimitris Plantzoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18047735824476673925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588247216777605704.post-17906896138045108392013-02-07T03:50:33.694-05:002013-02-07T03:50:33.694-05:00It would be nice if Mr. Plantzos can tell what an ...It would be nice if Mr. Plantzos can tell what an “αμελής τροπίδωση“ must to do to become “επιμελής“.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588247216777605704.post-74803438077595766742013-02-06T05:25:50.038-05:002013-02-06T05:25:50.038-05:00Thank you so much for your comment. Last year the ...Thank you so much for your comment. Last year the state financed project of Methone was celebrated at a very special occasion and presented to an audience in Athens. The Minister of Education made the introduction: “The archaeological and linguistic research has proven that the Macedonian language is an ancient Greek dialect. This is a very important conclusion of huge historic and archaeological importance as well as of great national interest. In a period of deep crisis for our country, which is not only financial, but has other components too, I think that such discoveries have a great significance. When we all believe that a grey cloud is moving above our country, it is very important to derive the self-confidence we all need from our culture, history and language” (http://www.diamantopoulou.gr/portal/index.php/blog/item/295). For the rest you can check the relevant literature on pottery and excavation methods (I am sorry but I cannot respond to vague and generalized complaints; I think I was more specific in my review and I am really looking forward for a debate on its substance). There is also a lot recently published on archaeological ethics. Regarding the grammatical shortcomings I strongly insist on my view and I recommend you to check the dictionary of Triantafyllides.Stefanos Gimatzidisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588247216777605704.post-22117871324305507882013-02-05T11:32:30.479-05:002013-02-05T11:32:30.479-05:00I am sorry to say this reads more like a personal ...I am sorry to say this reads more like a personal attack rather than a proper review. I find it difficult to believe that the volume contains nothing of value; more to the point, that this excavation, and the publication at hand, operate on a nationalist agenda, especially since the reviewer has failed, as far as I can tell, to substantiate his claims. Is there anywhere in the book some statement or assertion connecting those elusive Thracians, Macedonians, Euboeans etc with ethnic groups currently associated with the region or Northern Greece at large? Has the reviewer any substantial evidence that the central state has in any way encouraged this particular project or made use of its outcome in any inappropriate manner? The fact that Vergina has become the nationalist circus that it has does not mean that all other materials from Macedonia ought to remain unpublished. What I can verify, however, is that the reviewer’s complaints about the book’s “significant grammatical shortcomings” (see his n. 8) are ALL unfounded. The phrases he cites are written in good Greek language, somewhat technical perhaps, but not in any case incorrect. Is the reviewer (whom I do not know in person) a native Greek speaker? Or perhaps a member of the Greek diaspora? I must say that I find the reviewer’s attempt to Orientalise the objects of his critique (they don’t know how to dig; they don’t know their pottery; they can’t read their own stratigraphy drawings) rather disturbing. I hope I’m mistaken, but in any case I found this review rather unconvincing, to say the least.Dimitris Plantzoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18047735824476673925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588247216777605704.post-61528623370019664102013-01-29T12:56:49.598-05:002013-01-29T12:56:49.598-05:00Dr. Gimatzidis makes some substantial points about...Dr. Gimatzidis makes some substantial points about the presentation of these extraordinary discoveries (as important as "Nestor's cup" from Pithekoussai) from the sealed deposits in what I would interpret as a very deep well, the sides of which kept collapsing until it was soon filled in. The significance of these finds for early trade and the history of early writing (including the textualization of the Homeric epics) is of course very great. As usually happens with such discoveries, it will take time for their implications to become fully apparent, and one must inevitably expect revisions to the initial picture. In fact the editors deserve to be warmly congratulated on bringing out this material so rapidly and in so thorough a manner that their conclusions are open to the level of inspection and reevaluation that we see here. Be it noted that Professors Clay, Rengakos and Tzifopoulos have in their forthcoming volume undertaken to bring together scholarly reactions to these discoveries, including some which were critical on certain points. Richard Jankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588247216777605704.post-29803136407759493032013-01-28T11:40:39.633-05:002013-01-28T11:40:39.633-05:00This review may offer substantial criticism on met...This review may offer substantial criticism on methodological weaknesses and mistakes in the publication of the archaeological material in this volume. It fails, however,to comment on the significance of the archaeological material for a wider BMCR audience...What is the bigger picture here aside from the identity of early Macedonia? Moreover,if the reviewer is right, one wonders whether the publications of the Center for the Greek Language are peer-reviewed... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com