Documented programme · Nea Erythraia · 2018

With Apollo’s Bow.

Με του Απόλλωνα το τόξο

A three-hour experiential cultural workshop for children aged 6–12, in which the world of Apollo became a route into myth, theatre, visual art, music, dance, making, archery and ancient food culture.

Video from the programme · Archaeopolis project archive.

Place2nd Primary School of Nea Erythraia
Year2018
AudienceChildren aged 6–12
DurationThree hours

The experience

The complete programme.

The workshop was designed as a continuous journey rather than a conventional lesson. Children met Apollo and the Python through story and theatrical action, then explored the same myth through different forms of expression. Each stage linked knowledge with participation: they listened, painted, moved, made objects, played and tried recreational archery under guidance.

  1. 01

    Myth and theatrical play

    The story of Apollo and the Python introduced the dramatic world of the programme. Guided theatrical play invited the children to enter the narrative themselves rather than observe it from a distance.

  2. 02

    Painting, games and dance

    The children developed the theme through painting, organised games and movement. These three levels of participation gave different ages and personalities more than one way to connect with the material.

  3. 03

    Ancient Greek music

    Ancient Greek musical material accompanied the activities, shaping the rhythm and atmosphere of the workshop and connecting the practical exercises to their wider cultural setting.

  4. 04

    Making an ancient Greek arrow

    The children followed a memorable chain of materials and ideas — stone, tree and eagle — to understand how the point, shaft and feathers of an arrow relate to the natural world and to ancient craft.

  5. 05

    The Python target and recreational archery

    A specially made ancient-style target represented the Python. With supervised instruction, the children learned the basic logic of the bow and took part in recreational archery as the physical culmination of the myth.

  6. 06

    Ancient food culture

    The programme closed with an introduction to ancient Greek cuisine and the preparation of obeliskoi — small skewered pieces of food cooked over the fire — giving the children a final sensory connection with everyday life in antiquity.

People

Guidance and participation.

The programme joined pedagogical facilitation with practical historical interpretation so that every activity remained accessible, safe and connected to the central story.

Giota Athanasiou

Pedagogue and facilitator responsible for the children’s experiential workshop.

Georgios Katsos

Archery instruction and historical interpretation; certified archery coach.