‘Byron and the Mediterranean’ 10th International Student Byron Conference Messolonghi, 22–27 May 2015

Abstract

The Tenth International Student Byron Conference, held from 22-27 May 2015 in Messolonghi, Greece, appropriately acknowledged tenth anniversary of such an ambitious and successful conference by choosing broad theme 'Byron and Mediterranean'. As in past, conference-which as always was flawlessly organised and managed by President of Messolonghi Byron Society. Mrs. Rosa Florou- drew participants from around world for nearly a week of insightful scholarship regarding Byron's life and works, travel spanning region, and intellectual companionship. This year's participants were undergraduate and graduate students, professors and local enthusiasts. They traveled from such places as United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Lebanon, and Greece.Because conference officially began with registration at four o'clock on 22 May, that first Friday was an opportunity for many participants to explore parts of Athens (where most travellers first arrived from their home countries), beautiful coastline and mountains that separate Athens and Messolonghi and that include such famous sites as Corinth Canal, or charming town of Messolonghi itself. Once everyone arrived and checked in at Theoxenia Hotel, participants boarded a coach for Byron House containing administrative office of Messolonghi Byron Society and library of Byron Research Center. There they were greeted by delicious homemade desserts and coffee and had an opportunity to mingle before being welcomed by conference directors Mrs. Rosa Florou, Professor Peter Graham, Director of International Relations for Messolonghi Byron center, and Joint President of International Association of Byron Societies, Professor Naji Oueijan. After refreshments, group was treated to a tour of a variety of significant sites in Messolonghi, including Cathedral of Agios Spyridon, which Byron visited during his time living in 'sacred city', and Gallery of Christos and Sophia Moschandreou to see an exhibition of modern paintings relating to Byron and to local area. Both were beautiful experiences that built nicely towards final sightseeing opportunity at Municipal Museum of History and Art Municipal Gallery, which provided useful historical background information of area. After perusing art in Municipal Gallery, participants were welcomed by Mayor of Messolonghi, Mr. Nikos Karapanos, who gave a warm and passionate speech in Greek, translated into English by several lively impromptu translators. The evening concluded with a welcoming dinner at nearby Archontiko restaurant, followed by (for many of those jet lagged) an early bedtime or else (for those more rested) a night of dancing and socialising in heart of Messolonghi.The academic portion of conference began on Saturday 23 May, at Regional building. There, Rosa Florou, Peter Graham, Jonathan Gross, Naji Oueijan, and Peter Myrian greeted participants but also, more significantly, reflected on life and scholarship of recently deceased English Byron scholar Peter Cochran. Following a moment of silence, first session, chaired by Peter Myrian, began. The first paper, given by Stephen Minta (York), revisited Stephen Cheeke's Byron and Place: History, Translation, and Nostalgia and paid particular attention to Byron's complicated relationship with Greece of past and of his present day using Childe Harold's Pilgrimage as a foundation for his argument. Perhaps even more interestingly, Minta addressed questions regarding 'authenticity of traveller's engagement with what Byron calls the truth of history [...] and of place.' Elli Karampela (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) gave next paper, which made use of Benedict Anderson's theoretical framework 'imagined communities' to examine Byron's own complex relationship with place of England versus place of Greece. …