Guest post by Sophia Baltzoi, Pre-doctoral Fellow in Hellenic Studies 2022–23

Research topic during fellowship: The Birth of Tragic Mask through Ritual Practices

Almost a year ago, I applied for the Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Hellenic Studies 2022-2023. Having been accepted, during the current year, I have gained a lot of important experiences thanks to this fellowship, and I feel more than lucky and grateful as a CHS Fellow.

The Pre-doctoral fellowship, by providing me with the necessary resources and time, helped me to deepen the study of the ritual mask and, by extension, the tragic mask, which is the main subject of my doctoral dissertation. The basic core of this research was the mask, the role it played in the transformation, and the context of the ritual practices, which we can say is also a forerunner of the drama. The research project not only significantly contributed to the overall findings of my doctoral dissertation but also opened up new fields of orientation on research and academic level in the long term.

Except for the undeniable reliability of Harvard University, access to its rich electronic databases was one of the most important aspects of this fellowship, as my Ph.D. thesis mostly relies on bibliographic research. Because of Covid-19, access to most libraries was limited, but the digital library provided me with a great variety of rare books and articles.

What is more, during my fellowship, I had the opportunity to participate in the 11th International Scholars' Symposium on Sports, Society & Culture in honor of the Ionian heritage, which was organized by CHS US and Greece and the International Olympic Academy (IOA), and conducted in Olympia. It was a great chance to meet scholars and exchange ideas about the multifaceted relationship between athletics and the search for identity from ancient to modern times - a wonderful experience in total.

The highlight of this fellowship was the ten-day educational trip to Washington D.C. - a valuable experience both on a research and personal level. I had a great opportunity to discover the resources of the Center’s campus and the US capital, present my research project, and interact with scholars from around the world, generating stimulating discussions. I really appreciated the interesting feedback I received after my presentation and the deep connection I had with professors and other scholars of the community. I hope our communication and connection to be continued in the future.

A special part of my fellowship was another collaboration with the CHS in the context of my Ph.D. thesis. A basic part of my Ph.D. thesis was the creation of an experimental-research performance with the usage of masks. The performance Περί Προσωπείου -a synthesis of Phoinissai and Troades of Euripides- was conducted last October in the ancient theater of Argos with the contribution of CHS Greece. After the performance, the audience completed questionnaires that helped towards examining the reception of ancient drama with masks. The contribution of the CHS was vital as without their encouragement and deep support on a personal level, I could not achieve it.

I would like to express my gratitude to the academic committee which awarded me this fellowship, motivating me to investigate the topic of this research project further, and especially to Associate Professor Anna Lamari, my advisor in this project, for her invaluable advice. Furthermore, I would like to wholeheartedly thank the staff of CHS in Greece and Washington, D.C. feeling really thankful for having met these wonderful people with high professionalism. Firstly, I would like to personally thank Evan Katsarelis for his overall support, organizational skills, and internal culture, Mina Tsentourou for her willingness to help, notably M. Zoie Lafis for the artistic concerns we shared, her politeness and hospitality in Washington, D.C., Matina Goga for her warmth and unfailing interest, Katerina Schoinochoriti for her contribution to my project, Fani Kapetaniou, and the whole staff in Greece and Washington, D.C. for their tireless work, and especially, Christos Giannopoulos for his openness, generosity, and succor to my project as well as the Director of CHS in US Mark J. Schiefsky for his warm welcoming and the constructive discussions we had.

After successfully completing my research project and my Ph.D. thesis, I intend to continue my research on a postdoctoral level to delve deeper into the theme of the mask and the ritual practices. I hope to continue my collaboration with the CHS in my future studies and to develop an institution that promotes the study of Hellenic civilization through the use of interdisciplinary and intergenerational approaches. I feel more than honored to be a fellow of CHS and a member of the community of Harvard University.

About Sophia Baltzoi

Sophia Baltzoi is an MA archaeologist and a tour guide. She has been a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Theatre Studies (Faculty of Fine Arts-University of the Peloponnese) since 2017 and she has been awarded a scholarship (State Scholarships Foundation-ΙΚΥ) to undertake her studies. Her Ph.D. thesis focuses on the tragic mask and the revival of ancient drama using an interdisciplinary approach combining the theory with theatrical practice. Her research interests concern the Archaeology of the Theatre, Classical Pottery Painting, Ancient Greek Costume, Ancient Religion and Rituals, The Revival of Ancient Drama, Experimental Archaeology, and Performance Archaeology.

Pre-doctoral Fellowships in Hellenic Studies

The annual Pre-doctoral Fellowships in Hellenic Studies program welcomes up to 3 Ph.D. candidates from all Greek universities who conduct research on topics related to ancient Greek civilization. Find out more about this research opportunity on the Pre-doctoral Fellowships in Hellenic Studies webpage.