Every society has had its own heroes, individuals with special endowments who left the world better than they had found it. The Sumerians had Gilgamesh; the Babylonian had Marduk; the Hebrews had Moses; the Greeks and Romans had countless heroic individuals, from Prometheus, Heracles and Pericles to Aeneas, Cincinnatus and Augustus. And, America and New York have had their special share of heroes as well (Washington, Lincoln and ordinary men and women). Many of the statues of these heroes enhance the parks, squares and public spaces of the city.
On this two-day program, we will explore the concept of the hero and what it means to be a heroic individual. A hero is a mortal who performs some deed remarkable enough to live on after his/her death in the memory of men and women; a hero is a person who becomes a criterion of excellence or value. The actions and life of a hero are a precarious tightrope existence. Above all, the hero excelled at whatever s/he did or said; the middle course in the road was avoided at all costs, even if it led to death. On New York CityÕs street, heroes (ancient and modern) abound. Several public spaces will be the focus of our attention: Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park and the New York Public Library; Union Square and Washington Square. Each of these public centers exhibit statues of individuals (mythical and historical) who speak to the heroic ideal and provide prospective against which to measure our modern day heroes: Prometheus (Rockefeller Center) and Atlas (5th Avenue); JosŽ Bonidacio de Andrada e Silva and William Cullen Bryant (Bryant Park); George Washington, Mohandas Gandi, Abraham Lincoln and Marquis de Lafayette (Union Square); and, George Washington, Alexander Lyman Holley and Giuseppe Garibaldi (Washington Square). As we walk along the streets of Central Manhattan various other heroes and heroines will be encountered: Golda Meir in Golda Meir Square; Ethel Barrymore, Marilyn Miller, Mary Pickford and Rosa Ponselle in the Theater District Ñ each offering individual and unique aspects of the heroic ideal.
This two (2) day program will focus on specific aspects of the hero and heroism which underscore the heritage of the Classical World and the imprint of ancient and modern heros on the streets of New York City.
- Classical and American Heroes on the Streets of Central Manhattan. Heroic Encounters at Rockefeller Center, on Fifth Avenue and at Bryant Park (July 10).
- Classical and American Myths at Union and Washington Squares. Heroic Encounter for Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (July 11).
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2002.
This program will be limited to fifteen (15) participants. Early Registration is advised. For those who wish hotel accommodations in New York City, please contact us for Special Hotel rates at selected sites in Manhattan. Hotel accommodations are not included in the cost of the program, but we can assist you with Special Rates.
For additional Information and Registration Forms contact:
Campanian Society, Inc.
Box 167
Oxford, Ohio 45056
Telephone: (513) 524-4846
Fax: (513) 523-0276
E-mail: campania@one.net
Web Site: http://www.campanian.org
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