What can modern folks learn about dealing with trauma, getting a higher perspective of problems and Internet trolls from Greece’s ancient philosophers? In this episode Alexia Amvrazi takes a sunset walk on the ancient Athenian Pnyx hill near the Acropolis with Donald Robertson, an acclaimed world expert and author on the association between modern psychotherapy – particularly CBT – and Greek and Roman Stoic philosophy, to discover his own sensory experience of Athens and how he believes the Stoics would sense Athens today.
Donald Robertson is the author of six books including ‘How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius’ and is currently working on the exciting graphic novel ‘Verissimus: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius’. More…
Since 2011 Donald joined a multi-disciplinary team of psychologists, therapists, academic philosophers and classicists who created Stoic Week which has grown into an annual international event with thousands of participants. Stoic Week involves an online course that teaches how to apply ideas from ancient Stoic philosophy in combination with modern psychology techniques. Donald also runs a more intensive spin-off course online each year, for four weeks at a time, called Stoic Mindfulness and Resilience Training (SMRT)
We started our meeting at the controversial (yet according to Donald “the fake”) ‘Prison of Socrates’ as it’s often called
We walked to Pnyx hill, where the democratic process in Athens began and evolved and where up to 16,000 men attended to hear talks.
For photos and videos taken during our walk, check out our Instagram page
Alexia Amvrazi first interviewed Donald three years ago during his first visit to Athens. Here is the video link.
Donald mentions the view of the Philoppapou Monument
We came upon a startling view of the Arios Pagos upon many people clamber and gather to play music, chat and observe the city views
From where we stood, we also looked upon Lycabettus Hill and the Acropolis, and Donald mentioned the Temple of Athena Nike.
Donald mentions that he asked people what they think Stoicism smells like. Read the stream of 280 intriguing answers on his page Stoicism Group.
Stoicism, combined with modern psychotherapy, can offer invaluable help for dealing with today’s stresses and anxiety. In this article, in the wellness blog I’m Very Well Thank You, Donald offers his most effective techniques.
We ended our meeting by returning to the hustle and bustle of Dionissiou Aeropagitou Street where the Acropolis Museum stands and that leads to the Acropolis metro station.