Producing a movie about Greece (Delphi) in the Ancient World

Isabella Charpentier

Research Mentor: Yaron Eliav
Mentor Department: Middle Eastern Studies, LSA
Author(s): Isabella Charpentier, Yaron Eliav
Session: Session 1 (9:00 AM – 9:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 100

Abstract

Delphi, Ancient Greece: Delphi has long been seen as the religious center of Ancient Greece, famed for the Oracle of Apollo and imagined as the symbolic “navel of the world”. While research has extensively examined its role in shaping Greek religious and political authority, far less attention has been given to Delphi as a site of everyday social life, including the presence of Jewish individuals and enslaved populations. This project supports the production of an academic documentary-style film centered on Delphi, focusing on the story of a Jewish enslaved individual and the process of manumission at its sanctuary. While Delphi is most often studied as the site of the Oracle and the Temple of Apollo, this project foregrounds the lived experiences of marginalized individuals, situating Jewish presence within the broader religious, geographic, and social networks of the ancient Mediterranean. The project combines historical research with visual storytelling to make complex ancient spaces and identities accessible to student audiences. As Production Manager, I have been involved in the work from its early stages, contributing sustained research on Delphi’s physical landscape, social organization, and compiling visual and archaeological references to inform historically grounded film representation. This included researching inscriptions, site imagery, and material culture, and assembling visual materials that will later support AI-assisted image generation and animation. In addition, I assist with collaborator outreach, team building, and production planning. Scheduled for completion in late summer of 2026, the film aims to present Delphi as a dynamic religious and cultural crossroads, using digital tools to illuminate the reality of slavery, freedom, and Jewish presence in the ancient Greek World. By integrating humanities research with creative digital methodologies, the project demonstrates how documentary film can expand access to classical scholarship while offering new perspectives on ancient social history.