The Canadian Institute in Greece

19/10/2026

CIG STUDENT CONFERENCE extended deadline for submissions: November 15, 2026.

This online conference will take place on April 3 and 4, 2027 and, in celebration of the Institute's 50th anniversary, will highlight work completed by CIG students (undergraduate, graduate, and recent graduates) that was supported, directly or indirectly, by the Institute.

Papers may address any aspect of ancient, Byzantine, or modern Greek studies, and should have been supported in some manner by the CIG (e.g., stemming from a CIG field project, inspired by an internship, supported by a fellowship, or studying materials under the purview of the Institute).

Abstracts (250-300 words) and a short bio detailing the applicant's relationship with the CIG may be submitted until the extended deadline of November 15, 2026.

Click here for more information about the CIG student conference and call for papers:
https://www.cig-icg.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CIG-Student-Conference-2027.pdf (EN),
https://www.cig-icg.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ICG-Conference-etudants-2027.pdf (FR).

16/10/2026

Excavations continued this year at the site of ancient Argilos in Northern Greece. More than 80 university and CEGEP students and staff came together to excavate domestic spaces, storefronts, and urban infrastructure in Argilos’s commercial sector. During the 2026 season, the team also focused on water management systems, yielding exciting results about the city’s drainage system and aqueducts!

To learn more about this project, and to read the full article, click here: https://www.cig-icg.gr/fr/streets-shops-and-water-the-2026-season-at-argilos/ (FR), https://www.cig-icg.gr/streets-shops-and-water-the-2026-season-at-argilos/ (EN)

14/10/2026

Did you know that Arachova has its own cheese? Formaela cheese is produced exclusively in this picturesque mountainside town.

Arachova is situated on the southern slope of Mount Parnassus, just 8 kilometres east of Delphi. It is famous for its stunning views, architecture, and steep streets. The town was also the location of the 1826 Battle of Arachova during the Greek War of Independence, in which Greek freedom fighters defeated an Ottoman force.

14/10/2026

12/10/2026

Did you know the Ancient Greeks considered Delphi to be the center of the world? According to myth, Zeus set two eagles to fly in opposite directions around the world; where they met would be considered the “omphalos” or the “navel of the world.” They met above Delphi.

Situated on Mount Parnassus, Delphi was home to the most important and trusted oracle of the Greek world. Here, prophecies were spoken by a priestess of Apollo who held the position and title of the Pythia. The oracle was established in the 8th century BCE and was in use until the 4th century CE.

A number of monumental structures adorn the site, including the temple of Apollo, the theatre, the stadium where the Pythian Games were held, and a collection of small treasuries constructed by various Greek city-states, such as the Athenians, Boeotians, and Thebans.

12/10/2026

Happy Thanksgiving! - Joyeuse Action de Graces! 🙂

09/10/2026

UPCOMING LECTURE: Join us on Tuesday, October 13th for the first installment of the CIG’s 50th Anniversary Lecture Series! “From Colony to City: Excavations at Ancient Argilos” will take place at 19:00 at the Institute's Nick Mirkopoulos Centre (Orminiou 3A, Hilton). Presenters Dr. Zisis Bonias (Επίτιμος Έφορος Αρχαιοτήτων) and Dr. Jacques Perreault (Professeur titulaire, Université de Montréal; Director, Canadian Institute in Greece) will discuss the past 35 years of archaeological work completed at the site of Ancient Argilos.

Click here for more information: https://www.cig-icg.gr/event/lecture-by-jacques-perreault-from-colony-to-city-35-years-of-excavations-at-ancient-argilos/

07/10/2026

Eleusis lies at the end of the Sacred Way, where it served as one of antiquity’s most important religious sites. The Sanctuary of Eleusis was associated with the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. It was also the site of the Eleusinian Mysteries—a sacred rite occurring over the course of nine days in September. Participants in the rite were sworn to secrecy, so much still remains unknown about the mysteries today.

05/10/2026

Along the Sacred Way to Eleusis lies the Sanctuary to Aphrodite at Daphni. The open-air sanctuary dates to the fifth century BCE and served as an important milestone on the path to Eleusis. South of the sanctuary, the Sacred Way branched into two paths: one through the mountains and one along the coast.

Over the sanctuary's lifetime, several structures occupied the site, including a building with a stoa and a sixth-century structure that Pausanias noted for its remarkable polygonal masonry during his journey to Eleusis. The sanctuary's defining features, however, are niches carved into the rock face to hold votive offerings to Aphrodite, such as carved doves, Aphrodite miniatures, and pomegranates.

The sanctuary fell out of use by the fifth century CE.

02/10/2026

Our intern, Amanda, wasn’t the only one climbing Mount Lycabettus to take in the stunning views last weekend; so were the cats!

The first photo shows the view over the Panathenaic Stadium toward the Saronic Gulf; the second overlooks the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus toward Piraeus and Aegina.