The award medallion from the Society
John McK. Camp II, Director of the Agora Excavations, was honored on March 14th, 2011 by the Society of Athenians as a philhellene and for his many years of work in Athens in the field of Classical Archaeology.
John D. Totomis, President of the Society of Athenians, opened the ceremony by expressing how happy it made him to recognize Professor Camp for his contributions to the study of the ancient Athenian Agora and that it was the first time that an αλλοδαπός (foreigner) was inducted into the Society of Athenians and presented its medal of honor. Elefterios Skiadas, Deputy Mayor of Athens, spoke next, recognizing the work of the American School during the past 80 years exploring the ancient Athenian Agora and in particular Professor Camp’s contribution. Elena Korka, Director of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, a friend and colleague of Professor Camp’s for over three decades, spoke about the life, work and contributions of Professor Camp that spans nearly a half-century of work in Greece.
Professor Camp, after being presented with the Society’s medal, concluded the ceremony by recalling various points he had made in a paper written, while at university, on the subject of how ancient Athenians honored and recognized their citizens; speculating on the relative merits of statues, monument bases, wreaths of gold and olive branches and a free meal ticket for life at the state’s expense.
He finished by warmly thanking the Society for their acknowledgment.
John with Elena Korka
John D. Totomis, President of the Society, with Elefterios Skiadas, Deputy Mayor of Athens
