Mrs. Evyenia Kokkevi, President of the Cultural Society of Chora, addresses the crowd
It was an emotional evening in western Messenia, on September 17, when ASCSA and the Cultural Society of Chora presented commemorative certificates to nearly fifty members of the community in recognition of the role they or members of their family had played in Carl Blegen’s excavations of the “Palace of Nestor.” At times it was impossible to find a dry eye in the audience of more than 120 that convened in the square outside the Museum of Chora to witness the proceedings. Certificates signed by the Director of ASCSA and by Mrs. Evgeneia Kokkevi, President of the Cultural Society, had been placed in a woven reed basket with rope handles (zembili), one used in the actual excavations of the “Palace of Nestor.”
As the names of the honorees were called one by one, they approached the stage to receive their certificate, to shake hands with Davis and Kokkevi, and to receive their personal congratulations. Earlier in the evening, after introductory remarks by Dr. Xeni Arapogianni, Head of the LH’ Directorate of Antiquities in Kalamata, the community of Chora, a representative of the Orthodox church, and of the governor of the Peloponnese, Davis lectured while projecting scenes from Blegen’s life in a movie prepared by Eleftheria Daleziou of the School’s Archives department. There followed a presentation of unpublished watercolors by Piet de Jong, a photograph of De Jong at work by Board President, Bob McCabe, and a “home” movie of the excavations in progress in 1959.
The ceremonies concluded with the induction of Davis as an honorary member of the Cultural Society.
During the reception that followed, poignant stories were told about Blegen by citizens of Chora, many of whom had driven from Athens to share in the festivities. Particularly impressive was a tale told by a young woman whose great-grandfather had been Blegen’s driver. Her grandmother had won, with Blegen’s help, a scholarship to study in America and became a lawyer in Chicago. Her granddaughter has returned to Greece, married back into the village of Chora, and now teaches at the American Community Schools in Athens.
Mrs. Kokkevi emphasized the impact that ASCSA has had on the lives of so many Messenians over so many years, particularly in the 1950s when the country was recovering from the hardships of World War II and the Civil War. ASCSA has, in fact, been a part of the community of Chora since 1939. Our collaboration has been appropriately honored by naming one central street of the town in honor of Blegen.
Member of the Cultural Society distributing certificates of recognition
Director Jack Davis with family and friends of Nionios Androutsakis, Foreman of Blegen’s Excavation and his close friend. On right, daughter Carolina, named for her godfather, Carl
