Guest Lecture: "Classical Spies: American Archaeologists with the OSS in World War II Greece"

On Monday March 24 at 4 p.m. in the Beach Auditorium, there will be a lecture sponsored by Eta Sigma Phi (the Classics honor student association) and the Archeological Institute of America. The lecture is titled “Classical Spies: American Archaeologists with the OSS in World War II Greece” and will be presented by Dr. Susan Heuck Allen.

In her lecture, Dr. Allen will discuss archaeologists in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean who drew on their personal contacts and knowledge of languages and terrain to set up spy networks in Nazi occupied Greece. While many might think Indiana Jones is just a fantasy character, American archaeologists with code-names like Thrush and Chickadee took part in events where Indy would feel at home. These remarkable men and women, often mistaken for mild-mannered professors and scholars, hailed from America’s top universities and premier digs, such as Troy and the Athenian Agora, and later rose to the top of their profession.

There will be a reception to follow this event. See attached image for directions and parking. Please arrive 30 minutes early to park at this event.