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Athena visits the ancient theater in Bergina (Vergina). It was excavated in 1981 and has been dated to the fourth century, B.C.
It was on this very site that Philip II, father of Alexander, was assassinated while partcipating in a festival celebrating the marriage of his daughter, Cleopatra, to the king of the Mollosians. Athena was confused by the complexities of Philip's family life, his multiple strategic marriages and numerous legitimate and illegitimate children. She was not surprised by the resultant domestic carnage.
Athena turned to a question that, to her, was of far greater spiritual concern. Why was an olive tree planted in the middle of the orchestra of the theater? Was it more than a prop? Was it intended to provide shade for actors or musicians performing on hot summer days?
Athena thinks not! She has concluded that Philip II, in addition to being one of the greatest military innovators of ancient times, was an early supporter of Orthodoggies! Unlike those nasty monks at Agias Triados, whose days of dominance are numbered, Philip provided his contemporary canine companions with a perfect place to find relief during what, to them, must have been excruciatingly long performances of ancient drama and music.
Back from the village.
The road was long but the potatoes, as usual, made the trip worthwhile.
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