Location: “Xenia” Student Cultural Center, University of Crete, Rethymnon, Crete, Greece

Dates: Sunday, 21 June – Saturday, 27 June

Language: English

Fee: 550€

Overview

Right at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, on the crossroads of the trading routes that connect Southern Europe with North Africa and the Near East, Crete developed a marvellous civilisation in the Bronze Age. The island’s rich history and culture exercise an enduring fascination.

The Summer School in Classics at the University of Crete offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Cretan culture and history while enjoying the island’s stunning beauty. It includes the study of ancient literary texts, organised visits to major archaeological sites, and group activities in a multicultural environment.

This year’s summer school is entitled “Receptions of Crete”. Through complementary courses, participants will examine how the island’s archaeological sites and landscapes, myths and legends, and literary traditions have been represented and reinterpreted from antiquity to the present in film, drama, poetry, and music. Together, the courses offer a rich and multifaceted journey into the creative afterlives of Crete’s most iconic stories.

Program highlights:

Minoan Palaces, Labyrinth, Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon
Cretan myths, Crete in film
Crete in Roman literature, Greek symposium, Eleutherna site visit
AI workshop, Erotokritos sessions
Knossos site and Heraklion Museum excursion

Organizing Committee:

Stelios Panayotakis, Zacharoula Petraki, Georgia Tsouni

Instructors:

Athena Kavoulaki (University of Crete), Alexander Katsigiannis (University of Crete), Panayiota Mini (University of Crete), Costas Panayotakis (University of Glasgow), Stelios Panayotakis (University of Crete), Maria Papadopoulou (University of Crete, Talos Lab) & Rafail Giannadakis (Talos Lab), Dimos Spatharas (University of Crete), Georgia Tsouni (University of Crete)

How to Apply

Eligibility: BA/MA students and graduates of all disciplines; PhD students are welcome to contact us.

English B2+ required.

Fee: 550€ (includes accommodation, meals, official dinner, site visits)

Application deadline: 10 March 2026

Submit your application via this Google Form: https://forms.gle/AHS9z2xrApKVTbsB9

Upload:

—CV (PDF, named LastName-FirstName-CV)

—Motivation letter (max 1,000 words, PDF, named LastName-FirstName-letter)

Contact (questions, technical issues, etc.): summerschool.classics@uoc.gr

Date: 02 February 2026