A THUCYDIDEAN LENS ON 2020 WINTER SPORTS ROUND-UP SGS AND THE CITY HEADMASTER'S SUPERVISION SCHEME - ISSUE 12
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A THUCYDIDEAN LENS ON 2020
WINTER SPORTS ROUND-UP
SGS AND THE CITY
SGS
HEADMASTER’S SUPERVISION SCHEME
ISSUE 12
SGS MAGAZINE No. 12 1
SYDNEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE
ISSUE 12, SUMMER 2020
10 22
26 42
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Every effort has been made to acknowledge
the source of images used within this
publication.
Thank you to all contributors.
3 Jottings 38 Celebrating distinguished careers
10 A Thucydidean lens on 2020 40 Book Week celebrations at
Edgecliff
14 HSC Major Design Projects
16 Musical Notes
42 Headmaster’s Supervision
Scheme
18 HSC Art Exhibition
44 Book Week at College Street
22 Winter Sports Round-Up
46 Vale Rodney Knock
25 Face to face with the President
48 The greening of Grammar
26 SGS and the City
49 St Ives Mini World Cup
EDITOR:
Ms Sharon Ditmarsch
29 Prefects say farewell
50 Old Sydneians in the
COORDINATOR: 30 From the Headmaster Second World War
Ms Dimetra Skondras-Silva
PROOF READER:
33 New acquisitions in prints 52 Postcards
Dr Alex Stevens
34 Grammar Generations 55 The Ties That Bind
EDITING, DESIGN AND PRODUCTION:
Harvest Partners 37 An opportunity to learn more!
2 SGS MAGAZINE No. 12
JOTTINGS
OSU Scholarship
The OSU has had a long commitment to
supporting the School and finding ways to
support boys while at School. The process
and award of the OSU Scholarship is part
of our unwavering commitment. We are
pleased to continue the tradition and support
of outstanding representatives of the School.
The 2020 Scholarship was awarded to
another incredibly talented and worthy boy
– Oscar Eichmann (VI). Oscar has excelled in
many areas of school life. While preparing for
his HSC, he helped organise Linguistics Week
and published 31 Language Lessons, a book
on Latin Grammar. Keep an eye on Oscar as
he is destined for great things!
Miles Franklin recognition
Dr John Hughes, our School Librarian, Senior Premier’s Award for Non-Fiction. Now he is
Master in Academic Extension and much recognised for the power of his fiction.
valued member of the English Department, Quoting The Sydney Morning Herald and
has received Australia’s highest literary its glowing review, the novella is labelled: Mr Walter MacCallum (OS 1987),
Oscar Eichmann (VI) and the Headmaster
recognition for his most recent work of fiction, ‘A fictional exploration of Sydney’s fractured
the powerful and deeply haunting novella, No identity… While I’m loathe to assign any type
One. The terms of the award specify that it is of neat genre to John Hughes’ novella No One,
awarded to ‘a novel which is of the highest it is of that ilk [a reference to ‘Grunge Lit’] –
literary merit and presents Australian life in portraying a realism that is abject, nihilistic,
any of its phases’. A multi-layered study of one fringe-dwelling. And although it’s only 157
person’s narrative that draws in the ‘collective’ pages, No One is not short of ambition. It is
narratives of our Sydney and our nation, it intelligently written, using excursions back
has duly been recognised for the impressive and forth in time to map the many-layers of
quality of its fictional craft and the depth of its Sydney’s fractured cultural identity and guilt-
subject matter. ridden past. Tonally, Hughes plays with the
Dr Hughes’ skill, talent and ability to grit of noir, but evades the genre’s melodrama
connect with his audience have been by venturing into abstract and metaphoric
acknowledged previously, most notably realms.’ (Stanton, 2019)
in his first book, The Idea of Home: The School, his pupils, the English
Autobiographical Essays, winner of both the Department and the Grammar community
National Biography Award and the NSW congratulate John for this notable achievement.
SGS MAGAZINE No. 12 3
JOTTINGS
David McCredie OBE
(OS 1996)
In the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours
for the United Kingdom, David was
appointed an Officer of the Order of the
British Empire “For Services to International
Trade and UK/Australia Relations.” David
has been the Chief Executive of the
Australian British Chamber of Commerce
in Australia for more than a decade,
linking industry and government across
L-R: Mr JK Redenbach (Sportsmaster), Edward Swaney (VI), Thomas Heathcote (VI), Andrew Guest (VI), a wide range of sectors. The organisation
Christopher Jeong (II), Bo Baffsky (III) and Callum Cheung (I) has grown in size and stature under his
leadership, developing international reach
and influence. Currently, he is taking a key
Sportsmaster’s Awards 2020 role in supporting the views of businesses
from both countries to negotiators of the
Congratulations to the 2020 Sports Awards (VI). The Walker Cup for the Best All-Round Free Trade Agreement between Australia
recipients. The Alan Keith Walker Memorial Sportsman in the Middle School was B and the UK.
Cup for notable achievement in summer Baffsky (III). The FR Spofforth Cup for the
and winter sport went to TA Heathcote Best All-Round Sportsman in Form II went
(VI). The Kenny Cup for the Best All-Round to C Jeong (II). The Toby McGill Shield for
Sportsman in the Upper School was awarded the Best All-Round Sportsman in the Lower
to AR Guest (VI). The TR McGill Cup for School was awarded to CK Cheung (I).
Sportsmanship was won by EWK Swaney
OzCLO success
Despite the challenges of 2020 and
cancellations of numerous linguistic events,
our boys remained engaged with linguistic
activities at School and outside, representing
Grammar in the Australian Computational and Newcastle Poetry Prize
Linguistics Olympiad (OzCLO) and achieving
outstanding results on the national level. Senior team, L-R: Lachlan Macfarlan (VI), The Newcastle Poetry Prize is one of
In March this year, we were pleased to Patrick Reed-Stephenson (V) and Cian Bowes (V) Australia’s most prestigious awards for an
hear that our top senior team obtained a individual poem. Housemaster and English
The Junior Team comprised Charley Li, master Dr James Lucas’ long poem ‘Feral’
result of 99%, and were the national winners Harry Baral, Xavier Reichel and Samuel Brew
of the state round of the Olympiad. Our top was a finalist in this year’s award, won by
(All in Form IV). Damen O’Brien. James’ poem interrogates
junior team, with the result of 91%, was the The Senior team comprised Oscar
best junior team in NSW out of approximately the blurring lines between categories of feral
Eichmann (VI), Lachlan Macfarlan (VI), Cian and native in natural history and in more
160 teams competing in our state, and of Bowes (V) and Patrick Reed-Stephenson (V).
about 500 teams in Australia. political contexts. It has been published,
In August, boys also participated in the along with all the short-listed poems, in
These teams subsequently qualified for OzCLO Zoom celebration, an international
the second round of the Olympiad that took the anthology Measures of Truth, available
event consisting of talks by three linguists online from the Hunter Writers Centre
place on Zoom in April due to the ongoing from Because Language podcasts (Daniel
COVID-19 restrictions. Both teams came third https://hunterwriterscentre.org/newcastle-
Midgley, Ben Ainslie, and Hedvig Skirgård), poetry-prize/. James’ first poetry volume
in the national round! and a quiz about language and linguistics.
We congratulate our top teams for their Rare Bird is due to be published by Recent
We congratulate all boys who participated Work Press in March next year.
outstanding OzCLO results: in the Linguistics Olympiad this year.
4 SGS MAGAZINE No. 12
Farewell to
Jason Kaplanez
Jason Kaplanez began at Grammar as
a Laboratory Technician in 2001 and
worked his way through the ranks to
become Laboratory Manager in 2017. As a
technician he was unfailingly conscientious
and approachable. Science masters
knew they could rely on him to provide
the backup they needed, either in the
classroom or through his invaluable work
in producing and editing examination
papers. As a manager, he was a consensus
builder, always willing to take advice from
colleagues, or to offer the benefit of his
experience. When deadlines for practical
examinations loomed, his flexibility and
good-nature helped ensure that things
always ran smoothly.
Most boys would have known Jason
only from a distance, but he was a tennis
coach for twelve years, and is remembered
by his players for his patience and his
humour, and for the supportive way in
which he challenged them to always
give their best on court. In the Science
Department, we will miss him very much,
and wish him every success in his future
endeavours.
Top to bottom: Adam Driussi, Oscar Mason (VI) host, Martin Dalgleish and Jamila Gordon
The Business Society’s Tech Summit
On Wednesday 10 June, the Business Society The Business Society was fortunate
held the inaugural Business Society Tech enough to hear about the importance of
Summit 2020, with panellists Adam Driussi, reputation from Adam, the benefits of
(CEO and co-founder of Quantum); Jamila stepping out of your comfort zone from
Gordon (CEO and founder of Lumachain) Jamila, and the significance of a willingness
and Martin Dalgleish (director and investor in to learn new things from Martin. We
the technology industry). The Tech Summit covered the bleeding vs the leading edge
included pupils from Forms III to VI from of technology, and the potential for data to
nine Sydney schools, including Ascham, transform industry.
Wenona and Baulkham Hills High School. We wish to thank our three guest
The Tech Summit provided insight into panellists, all parents of pupils in Form VI, for
artificial intelligence and big data, as well helping to make the Tech Summit possible. It
as university courses and career paths. We was encouraging to see many pupils getting
discussed the surging demand for a wide involved. Oscar Mason (VI) was instrumental
range of jobs in the technology industry, in running the event.
and personal values such as resilience and
integrity.
SGS MAGAZINE No. 12 5
JOTTINGS
Marina Brun retires
Mrs Marina Brun started at Grammar in
February 1995, initially as Receptionist at
Masters’ Reception, and then in 1996 in the
Music Department as secretary to Ms Rita Fin.
In 2004, after some productive years in the
Music department, Marina took on a role with
three distinct components: Secretary to both
Solar my school
the Director of Studies, Mrs Anne Smith, and Old Sydneian Anthony Weinberg (OS 1999) environmental law from the University of
the Senior Housemaster, Mr Tony Miller, and delivered an informative and inspiring New South Wales.
as Help Desk Receptionist. As the various presentation to the Environment Club and The boys from Form I – IV were fascinated
requirements in each of these roles increased, Duke of Edinburgh boys on Friday 11 by his presentation, which simplified a range
Marina’s work for the Senior Housemaster September. Anthony presented to the boys of otherwise complex issues and cultivated
and for the Help Desk were re-assigned and in his capacity as the Regional Environment in-depth discussion relating to a range of
Marina became “just” Secretary to the Director Program Manager at Waverley, Woollahra concerns regarding renewable energy.
of Studies, but with ever-increasing workload and Randwick Councils; a role in which he Anthony’s experience and understanding
and responsibilities. coordinates the highly successful ‘Solar My of Grammar proved to be highly beneficial,
Working with Mrs Anne Smith, Marina School’ programme. as he was able to adapt his presentation
became an essential part of the work of the Upon leaving Sydney Grammar specifically to the Grammar community. The
Director of Studies office, as she demonstrated School Anthony obtained a Bachelor of boys were armed with a range of enticing
time and time again her capacity to handle Environmental Science focused in ecology, and thought-provoking questions.
complex and confidential matters with natural resource management, biology,
discretion, drive, and exemplary attention to geography, environmental economics and
detail. The important role that Marina fulfilled
was recognised with a new title: Assistant to
the Director of Studies. When Dr Alex Stevens
took over as Director of Studies in Term III
Coaching during isolation
2015, after Anne Smith’s retirement, he rapidly During the period of online learning experienced
came to appreciate why Anne Smith had long by all campuses at the start of Term II, an
regarded Marina as such an important part of individual coaching programme was established
the running of the School. at both St Ives and Edgecliff Preparatory
In this role, Marina has continued to play a Schools. Boys could come to School and enjoy
pivotal role in helping staff and boys through a thirty minute, one-on-one lesson with fencing,
all sorts of paperwork and examination football, rugby or tennis coaches. This provided
hurdles, most especially for boys in Form the boys from Kindergarten to Year 6 with a
VI, from subject choices and examination much-needed break from being stuck at home,
schedules, on to the management of whilst developing their sporting skills with
Disability Provisions and ATAR predictions, individualised sessions. Several coaches noted
and beyond. Marina’s care and concern significant improvement in the boys’ skills
for staff and boys has been a key part of within only three individual sessions because
everything that she does and she has made the tutelage was so specific. As the restrictions
the School a friendlier place. Marina retires to were eased, the programme morphed into small
devote more time to her family, and we wish group sessions, and finally back to full team
her the best. trainings.
6 SGS MAGAZINE No. 12
Vale Dr Jean-Pierre
Macquart (OS 1992)
1974 – 2020
In the final week of May this year, my
phone rang. It was J-P. He had accidentally
called me when driving home from Curtin
University. A surname. A list.
“Called you by mistake! Well, we may as
well talk then, eh?”
St Ives major production A quick chat on ‘everyday stuff’, away
from the digital norms.
St Ives’ major production was to have been Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical,
So, a quick toast to a few everyday
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’. Our five weeks of rehearsal were an absolute
memories then. Our College Street days
joy and all boys in the cast, crew and orchestra were a delight to work with, but, alas, the
often began and ended on the train platform
production was brought to a halt. We commend the tireless energy and enthusiasm of nearly 80
at Mortdale Station. We sat together for
boys, staff, parents, designers, costume and prop makers, and the technical crew. All deserve
Mathematics in the Palladium building and
our heartfelt thanks!
went blind reading italics in Coroneos. J-P
Mrs Jacqueline Fane, Mrs Madeline Thomson and Ms Melanie Wheatley scanned out books for me from the basement
library counter and often recommended better
reading choices. During term breaks, we would
meet to ride our bicycles as fast as we could in
Oatley Park. J-P loved the physics of riding fast
and later, driving fast. Birds of a feather.
Indeed, J-P was a giant in the world
of science in astrophysics. He would
humorously ensure I was up to date with
the very latest regarding the very earliest
observable beginnings of the Universe; from
Groningen, from Caltech in Pasadena, from
the VLA in New Mexico (“Jodie Foster in
Grammarphones Contact? THAT place!”). The significance of
sing online his achievements will be lasting. His most
significant breakthrough was published not
even two weeks before his sudden passing:
Remote learning did not stop the August. As a result, the Grammarphones
analysing fast radio bursts to identify all
Grammarphones singing. When school were unable to perform in their final concert
normal matter in the Universe https://www.
moved online and rehearsals were at Grammar, but they were determined to
nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2300-2.
suspended, they each recorded themselves uphold the tradition of singing Loch Lomond
Yes, that was the last part of our ‘everyday’
singing their individual part of a song at at the Form VI Leavers’ Assembly. This time
quick chat, on our very last phone call.
home and these recordings were then the boys were recorded individually singing
“Read it Trev. With this we can weigh the
combined to create this track. The song was their part in Big School, where the assembly
entire Universe… the ENTIRE UNIVERSE! It’s
Billy Joel’s moving and poignant ballad, And would normally take place and, thanks to
all there!”
So It Goes, from his 1989 album, Storm Front. the technical wizardry of Mr Marc Warry,
Alas J-P, our world is no longer all there
Since then, it has been a bit of a their performances were combined, and a
without you among us. Thank you for sharing
rollercoaster ride for singers, with choral very moving performance of the wonderful
your short time with us on this planet.
rehearsals resuming at the beginning of Vaughan Williams arrangement was produced
Term III, only to be stopped again in mid- for this special occasion. Trevor Au Yeung (OS 1992)
SGS MAGAZINE No. 12 7
JOTTINGS
St Ives workshop
Our Year 6 boys have been tinkering as they
have been learning how to craft wood with
their hands, in a new workshop, which was a
gift of the Parents’ Association.
Tinkering, as the first step in Kolb’s
‘Experiential Learning’ continuum, became
popular amongst learning theorists in the
1970’s who drew heavily on the work of
earlier psychologists Dewey, Lewin and Piaget.
It promotes learning through experience
and our boys are doing this explicitly by
playing with materials in this new workshop,
developing their understanding of how things
are made, exploring and testing ideas, and
problem solving as they figure out what will
and won’t work.
Lunchtime sessions in the workshop
have been open to all boys in Year 6 and all
are encouraged to take part. This focused,
unstructured time working with their hands Bell Shakespeare Artist In
is also extremely beneficial for their mental Residency Scientific Witches
wellbeing.
The now fully equipped workshop contains
work benches and hand tools, and the boys COVID did not stop us Belvoir HSC Drama and
have been guided through the construction of below: Oddball Cast
a carry-all toolbox, following a basic plan and We are in a very lucky position at Sydney
using several techniques, including marking Grammar School to be able to engage in
out, cutting with a saw, gluing and nailing. a diverse range of learning opportunities.
To observe how the boys have built up their In the past the Drama Department has
skills, from the first session to the last, is really consistently opened its classroom doors to a
satisfying, and they are all so proud of the job range of experts across the many facets of the
they do, which is good to see. I have enjoyed theatrical world. This year we refused to let
passing on some skills that the boys will be able COVID stop us from continuing these ongoing
to use throughout their lives into the future. relationships with experts, and had to think
Mr Darren Palmer creatively about how we could have an
experience that might become a new normal.
In the early stages of lockdown Form III
were able to engage with Fools in Progress,
and delight in their humour through a
Commedia Dell’Arte workshop, showcasing classes to guide the boys in scenes from
their historical knowledge and sense of Macbeth. Boys filmed in different alcoves
fun through stock character scenes. The and locations around the school rather than
boys were left in fits of giggles as they our usual promenade performance. Boys
strengthened their understanding of this now have a stronger understanding of the
topic. challenges of acting for camera but also of
Outside the classroom, but still in how challenging the art of cinematography
lockdown, keen thespians met online weekly can be.
as members of the Drama Club. Once back Finally, our HSC Drama class had a great
at school the group started to work towards revision workshop post Trials with Belvoir
an interpretation of Oddball, a vignette Street Theatre, physicalising the hilarious
performance that celebrated quirkiness. With antics of Black Comedy. Pretending to bury
event livestreaming well underway, it was dead bodies whilst discussing the weather
great to be able to share what had been was a hilariously absurd way to start their
created with the Grammar community. revision for the HSC written examination.
COVID couldn’t stop us from having our We are so lucky to be able to have these
annual Bell Shakespeare Artist in Residency experiences continue in such challenging
Top: L-R: Lachy Webster and Jayden Reid
programme and this year we had two times and to move towards a new normal in
fabulous actors Zoom into Form III and IV Drama.
Above: L-R: Shiv Nandan and Drake Demidov
8 SGS MAGAZINE No. 12
OnSTAGE nominations Boys meet RBA Governor Geography competition
2020 marks an historical moment for Form VI boys met with Dr Philip Lowe, Earlier this year all boys studying Geography
Sydney Grammar School with the first ever Governor of Reserve Bank, about the issues participated in the 2020 Australian Geography
HSC Drama class completing the course. facing economics pupils, as well as the future Competition. The competition involved over
Congratulations to Oscar Seifried (VI) direction of monetary policy in Australia. 65,000 pupils from schools across Australia.
and Ryan Lum (VI) for their OnSTAGE They discussed the current COVID-19 Lachlan Ballard (II) and Daniel Lloyd-Hurwitz
Performance Nominations. OnSTAGE is a situation, and he offered some words of (II) finished equal first in NSW and Kevin
presentation and exhibition of exemplary wisdom for the future. Yuan (V) finished first in Australia in their
individual performances and projects by HSC L-R: Dr Philip Lowe, Fabian Heyde (VI) and
respective years.
Drama pupils. Joseph Hadassin (VI) L-R: Kevin Yuan (V), Lachlan Ballard (II) and Daniel
Lloyd-Hurwitz (II)
Stock pitch competition
The Business
Society held its
second annual
interschool
stock pitch
competition
in August this
year. Having
won their
respective
internal
Right: Duncan Currie, The Cave I, competitions,
(triptych, pictured is 1 of 3) 2018, five teams,
charcoal on paper, 20 x 42cm each from
different
ANU drawing prize schools,
competed virtually to present their investment
Congratulations to Duncan Currie (OS 2019), Duncan Currie is currently in his First idea to professional investors. Congratulations
winner of the 2020 ANU Drawing Prize with Year of a Bachelor of Design. As this year’s to Jamie Penny (V) and Harry Hardge (V),
his piece, The Cave. Winner, Duncan will receive a cash prize who were awarded equal first place with
Guest judge, Dr Sarina Noordhuis-Fairfax, of $1,000AUD. Duncan says, “The Cave is a their buy recommendation on Activision!
Curator Australian Prints and Drawings at triptych of charcoal drawings. Each one no Ethan Wong (VI), outgoing committee
the National Gallery of Australia, noted that larger than a postcard, they tell the story of member, did an incredible job in organising
“This triptych seems like a perfect metaphor a journey into the unknown depths of the and running the event. The Society is very
for these troubled times. The composition is Earth. The work aims to create a sense of appreciative of the judging panel (Matthew
reminiscent of the 19th century mezzotints awe at the incredibly complex cave systems Loxton, Menno Veenaklaas and Peter Fogale)
of John Martin and the small scale offers a lying beneath us that we are unaware of as who gave up their time to provide valuable
sense of the intimacy that is missing from our we walk on the surface.” feedback to the enthusiastic teams.
current socially-distanced lives.”
SGS MAGAZINE No. 12 9
A Thucydidean lens on 2020
Classics master, Dr Alexander Bril, takes a lighter look at Grammar under COVID-19.
ΠΕΡΙ ΤΩΝ ΑΞΙΟΘΑΥΜΑΣΤΩΝ ΤΟΥΔΕ An extraordinary year at College Street
ΤΟΥ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΚΟΛΛΗΓΗΤΩ
ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΩΝ
1. Ἀλέξανδρος ῥήτωρ Συδνεῖος ξυνέγραψε 1. Alexander a master from Sydney wrote
τὸν ἀγῶνα τῶν Κολληγητῶν1 καὶ τῆς this account of the struggle between the
στεφανοειδοῦς νόσου ὡς ἠγωνίσαντο πρὸς Collegians and the crown-like disease, how
ἀλλήλους, ἀρξάμενος εὐθὺς καθισταμένου καὶ they struggled against each other. He began
ἐλπίσας μέγαν τε ἔσεσθαι καὶ ἀξιολογώτατον from the time it was established, expecting
τῶν προγεγενημένων, τεκμαιρόμενος that it would be a great struggle indeed
ὅτι κίνησίς αὕτη μεγίστη ἐγένετο τοῖς and the most memorable of all those that
Κολληγηταῖς ἀκμάζουσιν οὐδὲ ἄλλο τι had preceded. He based this judgement on
ἐφαίνετο πρότερον αὐτοὺς κατάπληξαν ἐπὶ τὸ the fact that this was the most significant
οὕτως φοβεῖσθαι. ταῦτα μὲν δὴ ἔδοξε γρᾶψαι upheaval ever to befall the Collegians, who at
ἵνα μὴ τὰ γενόμενα ἐξ τῶν διδασκάλων τε καὶ that time were at their peak, and furthermore
τῶν φοιτητῶν τούτου τοῦ ἔτους τῷ χρόνῳ because nothing else ever appears to have so
ἐξίτηλα γένηται. utterly thrown them into such a state of fear.
And he decided to write this account in order
that the things done by masters and pupils
this year should not in time be forgotten.
2. τοῦ μὲν δὴ θέρους τούτου ἡμίσους 2. When half of this summer had passed,
διελθόντος ἡ νόσος στεφανοειδὴς πρῶτον the crown-like disease first made its way
ἤρξατο γενέσθαι τοῖς ἀντίπουσι. ἤρξατο δὲ among the Antipodeans. It is said that the
τὸ μὲν πρῶτον, ὡς λέγεται, ἐκ τῶν Σηρῶν disease first began among the Chinese, little
κατ’ ὀλίγον, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ ἐγκατέσκηψεν by little, and then fell suddenly and so swiftly
ἐξαπιναίως τε καὶ οὕτω κατὰ τάχος ἐς τὴν upon most of the lands of the whole world
γῆν τὴν πλείστην πάσης τῆς οἰκουμένης, ὥστε that fear of each other crept upon the whole
φόβον τινὰ ὑπελθεῖν πάντας ἀνθρώπους ἐς human race. For doctors were not able to
ἀλλήλους. οὔτε γὰρ ἰατροὶ ἤρκουν τὸ νόσημα stop the disease, being unknown and most
ἄγνωστόν τε καὶ δεινότατον ὄν, ἀλλ’ αὐτοὶ terrible, but treating it with inexperience they
θεραπεύοντες ἀγνοίᾳ μάλιστα ἔθνῃσκον themselves were particularly susceptible to
ὅσῳ προσῇσαν· οὔτε ἄλλη ἀνθρωπεία τέχνη death according as they approached near to
οὐδεμία, τῶν ἰατρῶν φασκόντων ἐν τῷ τότε it. Nor was there any other human expertise
πάροντι αὐτὸ εἶναι ἀμήχανον. , and the doctors stated that
at that time the disease was incurable.
Above: οὐκέτι γὰρ εἴων οὐδένα ἐσελθεῖν τὰς
πύλας ὅστις μὴ πρότερον φαρμάκῳ τινὶ
ἀπολυμαινομένῳ τε καὶ νοσοκτόνῳ τὰς
χεῖρας ἀπονίψειεν
For no longer were they allowing anyone to
enter the gates who had not first washed his
hands with a certain purifying and disease-
killing drug
Right: οἱ μὲν ἐν ταῖς πύλαις φύλακες ἐξέταζον
καὶ συνεμετροῦντο τὴν θερμότην τὴν ἐν τῷ
σώματι τῷ ἑκάστου τοῦ μαθητοῦ
And the sergeants at the gates were 1 οἱ Κολληγηταί: οὗτοί εἰσι οἱ μαθηταί τε καὶ οἱ διδάσκαλοι οἱ φοιτῶντες ἐς τὸ γυμνάσιον ἀρχαιότατον τὸ πάλαι ἱδρυθὲν
examining and gauging the temperature of παρὰ τῇ ὁδῷ τῇ καλουμένῃ Κολληγῇ ἣ φέρει διὰ τοῦ ἄστεως τῆς Συδνείης παρὰ τοῦτο γυμνάσιον. τοῦτο δὲ τὸ ὄνομα
the body of each pupil σημαίνει Ἀκαδημείαν τινὰ δεύτεραν ἢ γυμνάσιον.
Kollēgētai (Collegetae/ Collegians): these are the pupils and masters who inhabit the most ancient gymnasion of the street, which, being
called Kollēgē (College), leads through the city of Sydney beside this gymnasion. And this name means a kind of second Academy or
gymnasium (school).
10 SGS MAGAZINE No. 12Left: ἐν μὲν τοῖς περιστύλοις καὶ
ταῖς ἀτραπαῖς πάντες οἱ
μαθηταὶ ἐκελεύσθησαν ἰέναι ἐπὶ
ἑνὸς στοίχου.
In the corridors and walkways all
the pupils were ordered to walk
in single file.
3. τὸ δὲ ὡς ἤρξατο ἐπιλαμβάνειν πολλοὺς 3. And when the disease began to attack
ταῖς πόλεσιν ἐνοικούντας καὶ τὰ πράγματα many inhabitants of the cities and matters
ἐς τοὔσχατον ἐληλύθειν, ὁ μὲν πρωτεύων ἐν had reached a critical point, the chief
τοῖς διδασκάλοις, γνοῦς περὶ ὅσων ὁ ἀγὼν master, recognising how much was at stake,
εἴη, ἐκέλευσεν τοὺς φοιτητὰς ἀναστῆναι καὶ ordered the pupils each to take his books
ὡς ἑκάστους πάντα βιβλία τε καὶ κτήματα and belongings and to depart home. Later,
λαβόντας ἐπ’ οἴκου ἀναχωρῆσαι. ὕστερον δὲ the government similarly forbade all the
οἱ προεστηκότες τοῦ δήμου ὁμοίως οὐκ εἴων citizens to leave their homes except for the
τοὺς πολίτας ἐξελθεῖν οἴκων εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ τοῖς purpose of attending to the necessaries of
ἀναγκαίοις τοῦ βίου. οἱ μὲν οὖν παῖδές τε καὶ life. Therefore, the boys and the young men,
νεανίαι τῶν ἐπὶ τοῖς πράγμασι παραινούντων upon receiving the advice of the government,
κεχωρισμένοι ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων καὶ οἴκοι καὶ separated themselves from one another
δὴ καὶ ἔνδον διατρίβοντες ἠκροῶντο, οἱ δὲ and remaining at home took their lessons
διδάσκαλοι αὐτοὶ αὐτοὺς ἔτι ἐδίδασκον. there, and the masters themselves were still
teaching them.
4. οἱ μὲν νεανίαι πεντήκοντα, οἱ δὲ 4. The young men for fifty days, and
παῖδες ὄντες νεώτεροι ἑβδομήκοντα ἡμέρας the boys, being younger, for seventy days,
διδασκάλων οὕτως ἤκουον. οἱ δὲ διδάσκαλοι received their lessons in this way. And the
αὐτοὺς τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον παιδεύοντες masters teaching them in this manner used
ἐχρῶντο μηχανῇ τινι θαυμαστῇ τοῦ τηλόθεν a marvellous device for communicating at a
ἄλλοις τοῖς μὴ παροῦσι διαλέγεσθαι ἣν τὸ great distance with those not present which
ζοῦμ τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ ἐκάλουν. ταύτῃ γὰρ they called in their language “Zoom”. For by
τῇ μηχανῇ ἔξεστι ἐναντίον προσβλέπειν τινὰ means of this device, it is possible to look
ἄποντα καὶ ἀκούειν καὶ προσαγορεύειν. at someone in the face who is absent and to
hear him and to address him.
5. τοῦ δ’ ἐπιγιγνομένου χειμῶνος 5. And in the following winter the pupils
ἐπανῆλθον πάντες οἵ τε φοιτηταὶ καὶ οἱ and the masters returned to the College
διδάσκαλοι ἐς τὸ γυμνάσιον τὸ Κολληγητὸν School (lit. the Collegeton gymnasion),
οὗ οἱ ἐν τέλει τοὺς νόμους μεταθέμενοι πολλά where those in charge had changed the laws
γε ἐνεόχμωσαν. οὐκέτι γὰρ περιεώρων and brought in many innovations. For no
οὐδένα ἐσερχόμενον τὰς πύλας ὅστις μὴ longer were they allowing anyone to enter
πρότερον φαρμάκῳ τινὶ ἀπολυμαινομένῳ the gates who had not first washed his hands
τε καὶ νοσοκτόνῳ τὰς χεῖρας ἀπονίψειεν. with a certain purifying and disease-killing Above: καὶ μετελθεῖν τοῖς
ἴχνεσιν ἐν τῷ ἐδάφει
οἱ μὲν ἐν ταῖς πύλαις φύλακες ἐξέταζον καὶ drug. And the sergeants at the gates were
γραφεῖσιν.
ξυνεμετροῦντο τὴν θερμότην τὴν ἐν τῷ examining and gauging the temperature of
σώματι τῷ ἑκάστου τοῦ μαθητοῦ βουλομένου the body of each pupil that wanted to enter, And to follow the tracks
ἐσελθεῖν, ὅστις δὲ καύματι ὑπερμέτρῳ ἁλοίη and whoever was detected suffering from an marked on the ground.
πιεζόμενος, αὐτὸν εἴρξαντες τοῦ ἀκροᾶσθαι excessive degree of heat, they barred him
ἐξέπεμπον εἰ νοσώδης τὸν λοῖμον ἐσενέγκοι. from the lessons and sent him away in case
he had been infected and was bringing the
plague in.
SGS MAGAZINE No. 12 11A Thucydidean lens on 2020
6. ἐν μὲν τοῖς περιστύλοις καὶ ταῖς 6. In the corridors and walkways all the
ἀτραπαῖς πάντες οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐκελεύσθησαν pupils were ordered to walk in single file and
βαδίζειν ἐπὶ ἑνὸς στοίχου τε καὶ μετελθεῖν τοῖς to follow the tracks marked on the ground;
ἴχνεσιν ἐν τῷ ἐδάφει γραφεῖσιν, ἐν δὲ ταῖς in the classrooms ‘the comrades sat apart’
αὐλαῖς σχολαστικαῖς “ἕταροι δ᾽ ἀπάνευθε (Homer Iliad 4,473), and
< ἀλλήλων > καθήατο” (κατὰ τὸν Ὅμηρ. there was ample space between benches and
Δ 473) εὐρυχωρίας μεταξὺ τῶν βάθρων tables. Of each classroom, a certain small
καὶ τραπεζῶν οὔσης. ἑκάστης δὲ τῆς αὐλῆς territory was marked out in order that the
ὥριστο τέμενός τι ὀλίγον ἵνα τῷ διδασκάλῳ master, thus separated, could teach the pupils
οὕτως κεχωρισμένῳ τοὺς πάροντας in safety from the diseased miasma.
Above: ἐν δὲ ταῖς αὐλαῖς σχολαστικαῖς “ἕταροι παιδεῦσαι ἐν τῷ ἀσφαλεῖ τοῦ νοσηροῦ
δ᾽ ἀπάνευθε < ἀλλήλων > καθήατο” εὐρυχωρίας μιάσματος ἐξείη.
μεταξὺ τῶν βάθρων καὶ τραπεζῶν οὔσης.
In the classrooms ‘the comrades sat apart’ and there was ample space between μήτε ἀνταλλάσσεσθαι σῖτον σίτου πρὸς to exchange food with one another and
benches and tables. ἀλλήλους μήτε μετέχειν ἐράνου· ἐὰν δέ τις to make common meals together. On the
βούληται πίνειν, δεῖ αὐτὸν τῶν δημιουργῶν other hand, if anyone wants to drink, he
τὰς κρήνας παυσάντων κομίζειν οἴκοθεν μεθ’ has to bring from home a bottle of water,
αὑτοῦ ἀσκὸν ὕδατος πλήρη. καὶ μὴν οὐκέτι as the workmen had stopped the fountains.
γε ἐξεκλησίαζον ἀθρόοι μὲν οἱ διδάσκαλοί τε No longer were the masters and pupils
καὶ οἱ φοιτηταὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἱερᾷ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης assembling on the day sacred to Aphrodite
ἐν τῇ μεγιστῇ στοᾷ βασιλικῇ, ὡς τὸ πρίν γ’ in the great hall, as they had once been wont
ἐνομίζετο, νῦν δὲ ὁ μὲν πρωτεύων ἐν τοῖς to do. Instead, the chief master, summoning
διδασκάλοις προσκαλῶν οὐδένα εἰ μὴ ὀλίγους none but a few and chosen ones, was now
καὶ αἰρέτους ξυνῆγεν ἐλαχίστην ἀγορὰν. making an exceedingly small assembly.
8. εἰκόνας τε κινουμένας τῶν ῥητόρων 8. Moving images and voices of the
λόγους ἐκεῖ ποιουμένων καὶ φθόγγους speakers delivering orations therein were
ὀργάνῳ εἰδωλογραφικῷ αἱρεθέντας οἱ captured by technicians with an image-
δημιουργοὶ ὄντες ἔμπειροι ταύτης τῆς τέχνης making instrument at the same time that
περιέπεμπον ἅμα τοῖς ἐν τότε παρόντι these events were occurring and these were
γιγνομένοις ἐς τοὺς λοιποὺς μαθητὰς τοὺς sent around to the rest of the pupils watching
ἐν ἑκάστῃ αὐλῇ θεωμένους. ὅστις δὲ ἂν in each of the classrooms. And whoever
βούληται ὕστερον σκοπεῖν τὰ γενόμενα τοῦδε wishes hereafter to look back at the events of
τοῦ ἔτους, τοῦτον οὐ μὴ λήσουσι πολλοὶ this year will certainly not fail to notice that
The “teaching zone”; ἑκάστης δὲ τῆς αὐλῆς ὥριστο διδάσκαλοί τε μαθηταί τε ἢδη καλύπτοντες many masters and pupils were now covering
τέμενός τι ὀλίγον ἵνα ὁ διδάσκαλος οὕτως τὴν ὄψιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα τὸ στόμα καὶ τὴν the face and most especially the mouth and
κεχωρισμένος τοὺς πάροντας παιδεῦσαι ἐν τῷ
ἀσφαλεῖ τοῦ νοσηροῦ μιάσματος οἶός τ’ εἴη.
ῥῖνα προσωπείῳ – ἡμίσει μὲν οὖν προσωπείῳ the nose with a mask – or rather, with a half-
– καὶ, ὃ πάντων θαυμάστατον, οὐκέτι χειρὶ mask – and, what is most remarkable of all,
Of each classroom, a certain small territory δεξιούμενοι ἀλλήλους. no longer greeted one another with the hand.
was marked out in order that the master, thus
separated, could teach the pupils in safety from
the diseased miasma.
12 SGS MAGAZINE No. 129. οἱ γὰρ ἐν τέλει ἀπεῖπον πᾶσι μηκέτι 9. For those in authority had forbidden
τούτῳ τῷ ἀρχαίῳ ἔθει χρῆσθαι. τί δῆτα all to use this ancient custom. Why must
δεῖ λέγειν ὅσον τοῦτο θαῦμα τὰ ἄλλα one say how much this wonder surpassed
ὑπερβέβληκεν; τοσοῦτον γὰρ φόβον ὁ νόσος all others? So great was the fear that the
ἐνειργάσατο ἀνθρώποις μὴ τῷ ἅπτεσθαι disease engendered in people lest they
καὶ τῷ ψαύειν (οὐ γὰρ λέγω ξυνουσίαν ὥς should become infected with it by holding or
φησι Σοφ. Φιλ. 520) αὐτοῦ ἀναπλησθεῖεν touching one another (I will not say by ‘being
ὥστε τοῦτόν γε τὸν δεξιώσεως τρόπον ὃν together’ as Sophocles does Philoctetes 520)
οἱ ξυμπολῖται τὸ πρὶν ἐνενομίκεσαν ἀπὸ τῶν that this method of greeting, which formerly
πάλαι αὐτίκα ἐξίτηλον γενέσθαι. was the custom of all citizens – a custom
that they had inherited from the ancients –
suddenly vanished.
10. τὰ μὲν δὴ αὐτὰ ἐξῆν ἰδεῖν ἐν τῷ 10. It was now possible to see the same
γυμνασίῳ γιγνόμενα. οἱ γὰρ διδάσκαλοι τε things happening at the School. For the
καὶ φοιτηταὶ καίπερ πρότερον τῇ δεξιώσει τῇ masters and the pupils, although they once
διὰ τῶν χειρῶν τερπόμενοι οὐκέτι χεῖρα χειρὶ delighted in greeting one another with the
ἐλάμβανον (κατὰ τὸν Ὅμηρ. Φ 286) ἀλλὰ hand, no longer “took the hand with the
νῦν ἔψαυον ἢ πόδα ποδί ἢ ἀγκῶνα ἀγκῶνι. hand” (Hom. Il. 23.) but now touched either
πρὸ μὲν γὰρ τῆς νόσου οὐδεὶς ἔλαθεν ἄλλους a foot with a foot, or an elbow with an
ὀκνῶν χειρὶ δεξιοῦσθαι καὶ ὠμολόγητο elbow. On the one hand, before the virus,
τοῦτο εἶναι βαρβαρικόν τι εἶναι, νόσου δὲ everyone noticed someone who disdained
ἐπινεμομένης οὐκ ἔφασαν πάντες ἐξ ἑνὸς shaking hands, and it was agreed that this
στόματος χρῆναι καλοὺς κἀγαθοὺς οὕτως was somewhat barbaric; on the other hand,
δεξιοῦσθαι ἀλλήλους. when the disease started to spread everyone
said with one accord that good and noble
men must not greet each other in this way.
Above: πολλοὶ διδάσκαλοί τε μαθηταί τε ἢδη
ἐκάλυπτον τὴν ὄψιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα τὸ
στόμα καὶ τὴν ῥῖνα προσωπείῳ – ἡμίσει μὲν οὖν
προσωπείῳ.
Many masters and pupils were now covering the
face and especially the mouth and the nose with a
mask – or rather a half mask.
Left: ἀλλὰ νῦν δεξιούμενοι ἔψαυον ἢ πόδα ποδί ἢ
ἀγκῶνα ἀγκῶνι.
But now in greeting they touched foot with foot or
elbow with elbow.
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