Major geopolitical restructuring of Europe began in the early 90s following the collapse of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. Did these processes coincide with a cultural transformation of Europe? Using survey data from the European Values Survey and the World Values Study from 1990 to 2014, I assess in what direction European nations have changed their cultural values, in terms of Welzel’s (2013) emancipative and secular value indices. The former Iron Curtain has faded away as a cultural boundary in Europe as the former communist states that joined the European Union have converged culturally with the West. A new, and steeply growing, cultural gap has emerged between the EU and its eastern neighbors. In particular, the two competing geopolitical formations at the west and east of Europe—the European and the Eurasian Unions respectively—have polarized in their fundamental values in recent decades. This may be explained by clashing supranational identities and distinctive roles of political actors and mass media as their tools for influencing public opinion.

Jerusalem and Mecca are probably the most famous pilgrimage destinations of the Near East. But how one can recognize the pilgrimage in the archaeological record? In the past, archaeologists laid a stress on small findings that testify to the pilgrimage movement: cultic artifacts, pilgrims' souvenirs, foreign coins and imported pottery vessels that were brought to the sites. Nevertheless, it seems that there are more recognizable landmarks in the Holy Cities. The analysis which is offered here is based on Jerusalem of the Late Second Temple period, and Mecca of the 19th century, i.e., before the introduction of modern technology. We suggest to recognize a more obvious trace of pilgrimage movement: an anomaly in the water systems. More precisely, it resolves that big unroofed water pools signal for the function of the site as a pilgrimage destination.

As one of the most important poets in English Romantic period, Wordsworth created a great many poems. In his poetic creation he often paid special attention to the sound effect, the visual images and the poetic structure, which make the idea of the poem and the poetic form harmoniously combined and the beauty of poem fully revealed.

近年来，中国与希腊在“一带一路”倡议框架下不断推进双边合作，8月27日，两国签署“一带一路”合作谅解备忘录，希腊成为与中方签订此类备忘录的首个欧洲发达国家。希腊语人才培养工作也因此受到党和国家的格外重视。作为全国首个希腊语专业，上海外国语大学希腊语专业热诚希望联合全国各高校希腊语专业，共同努力培养高层次希腊语人才，服务国家战略方针。为此，上海外国语大学和希腊语言中心开展合作，举办全国首届“希腊语教学高级研修班”，围绕希腊语教学与实践，促进学科交流与发展。