IT’s an interesting week for Wellington knowledge-seekers. Clearly Wellington citizens are thirsting for knowledge as well as coffee. We looked at five independent lectures and seminars happening around the city.
Games in Greece
On Wednesday the Olympic Museum and Senior Lecturer in Classics at Victoria University Matthew Trundle present Panegyreis and Agones: The Origins of Athletic Games in Ancient Greece.
The development of ritualized and highly competitive games like the Olympics have their roots in the Greek World.
Trundle will talk about Greek panegyreis (athletic festivals) and agones (games), which have their beginning in hunting, war and sacrifice with reference to wider political and religious contexts.
Class and Kinship
Also on Wednesday, the seventh of a series of talks hosted by the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society looking at Class in New Zealand Life and Literature. Otago University History lecturer Dr Angela Wanhalla will look at the settlers who intermarried with Maori families in Southern New Zealand, and the families who’ve descended from them, with a focus on themes and issues surrounding class.  
India and China Shining
On Thursday, Professor Emeritus of Political Economy from the University College London Dr Deepak Lal will present India & China Shining: Will we see an eclipse of the West? Professor Lal will discuss how the Western world has coped with the global financial crisis and will examine how the two Asian giants may have coped differently.
Former head of TVNZ Ian Fraser will interview Professor Lal.
Origins of Language
Also on Thursday, a talk for those passionate about the origins of language is happening at Turnbull House. Trevor Lloyd is not a professor, nor has he studied linguistics at University.
“But I have long had an interest in language and done a huge amount of research in the area,” he says.
A decade of research has culminated in the invention of his own alphabet, not one of letters, but one of meaning.  
Lloyd explains it best, but at its basis is the theory that sounds carry their own meanings that are common to all the words that use them. For example, take a look at many indispensable or common ‘L’ words – look, listen, laugh, light, learn and large are a few examples. According to Lloyd’s “Alphabet of Meaning” the common theme here is “Display or conspicuous visibility.”
Evolution of Ideas
On Friday, the Victoria University of Wellington Psychology department’s Colloquium series looks at Evolution. Senior lecturer Dr Marc Wilson’s talk takes its title from a quote from American actor and comedian Milton Berle - If Evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?
How many New Zealanders believe people evolved from earlier species and God had nothing to do with it? How many believe God created humans in their present form thousands, or even millions of years ago? Wilson will shed some light on these questions by presenting research on attitudes towards evolution as a way of explaining how humans have come to be as they are.

Panegyreis and Agones: The Origins of Athletic Games in Ancient Greece. Rutherford House, Ground floor, 23 Lambton Quay. 6:30pm, Wednesday October 27.
Race, Class and Kinship in Colonial New Zealand, Wellington Bridge Club, Tonakori Road, 12:30pm, Wednesday October 27.
India and China Shining: Will we see an eclipse of the West? Academy Galleries, 1 Queens Wharf, 6pm, Thursday October 28.
The Alphabet of Meaning, Turnbull House, 11 Bowen Street, 6pm, Thursday October 28.
If Evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? Victoria University of Wellington, Easterfield Building, EA407, 12pm, Friday
October 29.