Thursday, 28 March 2024
Kasos
18
03
2024
Since 2019, the National Research Foundation’s research team, in collaboration with the Culture Ministry, has conducted four research missions on the island, using archaeological and historical evidence, sources, and references ranging from Homer’s Iliad to recent years. The shipwrecks date from 3000 BC, the Classical period (460 BC), the Hellenistic period (100 BC – AD 100) and the Roman years (200 BC – AD 300) and the Byzantine period (AD 800-900).
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Valley of the Temples
10
03
2024
The 8-meter-high representation of the mythological giant Telamon once supported the temple of Zeus, one of the famed Doric constructions on the site that art historians consider the principal ancient Greek historical record outside Greece itself. “Telamon will become … the new international ambassador of an archaeological site with no equals worldwide,” said Sicily’s cultural heritage councilor Francesco Paolo Scarpinato. The stone statue returned to guard the temple on Thursday, following 20 years of restoration work. In ancient times the giant was one of numerous Telamon statues that were part of the temple’s structure. It was reassembled from 90 fragments from the fifth century BC and dug up by archaeologists over a century ago, Sicily’s regional government said in a statement. The Temple of Zeus was built to celebrate Agrigento’s victory over the Carthaginians and was irreparably damaged by an earthquake in 1401. Raiders looted the site in the 18th century and some remaining building blocks were used to build a pier at the nearby coastal town of Porto Empedocle. Since the 1800s, when experts first stumbled upon the remains of the Telamon statues, the temple has attracted the interest of scholars determined to unearth its buried secrets. The 1,300-hectare Valley of the Temples was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and is now a mass tourism destination which Scarpinato said drew over a million visitors in 2023. The Temple of Zeus will receive extensive restoration work ahead of Agrigento becoming Italy’s culture capital for 2025, said Sicily’s regional president Renato Schifani. The Telamon would be a centerpiece of the city’s year in the spotlight, promising “an augmented reality project and even special lighting to encourage nighttime visits … to promote this impressive work internationally,” Scarpinato said.
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Athens
29
02
2024
According to a ministry statement, the goal is to upgrade the current system and showcase the monument and its immediate surroundings without interventions or alterations to its character. The new lighting will make the  monument's size and design more perceptible and be environmentally friendly, offering significant energy savings. Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: "Twenty years after the installation of the existing lighting at the Temple of Poseidon during the Olympic Games, the physical wear and tear of time, failures and alterations in the light fixtures that resulted in the alteration of the lighting, require the installation of a modern lighting system." According to the same announcement, the study for the lighting system installation will be carried out in two phases. The study has been drafted by the office of internationally acclaimed lighting expert Eleftheria Deko and her associates, sponsored by Mytilineos company in collaboration with the ministry. Deko is responsible for the new lighting of the Parthenon.
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Athens
07
02
2024
Speaking to lawmakers in Parliament, Lina Mendoni said that “upgrades of all services,” such as a new electronic ticket system, have driven a “constant increase” in the iconic historical site’s revenues. Responding to objections at a decision to increase the cost of admission, which opposition lawmakers say will go up as much as 300%, Mendoni said that the monument’s new pricing falls in line with policies established in other European Union member states, and that it will be implemented come April of 2025.  
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Athens
03
02
2024
According to a ministry statement, 2 antiquities that had been illegally removed from Greek territory at an unknown time were repatriated from Bern. These are: - A fragment of a stone inscription (0.186m x 0.169m x 0.086m) from which five verses with main names are partially preserved. The inscription dates to the Hellenistic era (late 3rd - early 2nd century BCE) and is said to originate from the island of Kos. - A fragment of a marble Ionic capital (0.228m x 0.228m x 0.17m), dating to the Roman era (1st - 2nd century CE), with its provenance stated as the Ancient Agora of Corinth. According to Ministry of Culture, "The objects were delivered by Swiss citizens in the autumn of 2022 and spring of 2023, respectively, to the Archaeological Service of the Canton of the Grisons (Canton des Grisons), which documented their Greek origin. In implementation of the bilateral agreement between the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation and the Government of the Hellenic Republic on the import, transit, and repatriation of cultural goods, ratified by Law 3915/2011, the Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland informed appropriately the Embassy of Greece in Bern and the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property, as the competent authority of the Greek Ministry of Culture." The repatriation of these 2 ancient artifacts, the ministry said, “demonstrates the effectiveness of bilateral agreements for preventing and addressing the illegal trafficking of cultural goods that Greece has entered into with many countries, in line with the relevant recommendation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. It also serves as evidence of the impact of various initiatives implemented both nationally and internationally to raise awareness among citizens about the issue of antiquities trafficking and the need to protect cultural heritage”.
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Athens
07
01
2024
Adjusted prices will be introduced in two phases, the first one starting on April 1st, 2024 and the second one on April 1st, 2025. The 5 new categories of ticketing are as follows: A. Acropolis of Athens, 30 euros B. Archaeological sites and museums (over 200,000 visitors), 20 euros C. Archaeological sites and museums (75,000-200,000 visitors), 15 euros D. Archaeological sites and museums (15,000-75,000 visitors), 10 euros E. Archaeological sites and museums (under 15,000 visitors), 5 euros These ticket prices will be in effect regardless of season, as lower winter prices are abolished. The 5 major Greek museums that were turned into independent entities of public interest, will establish their own pricing policy. These include the National Archaeological Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklio, the Byzantine & Christian Museum (Athens), and the Museum of Byzantine Culture (Thessaloniki). Single tickets for multiple sites will be abolished except for the following sites: Ancient Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae, and Aegae, or where necessary due to spatial considerations. Free entrance will continue to be offered for EU citizens up to age 25, and for non-EU citizens up to age 25, and reduced ticket prices for EU citizens aged 65+ (October 1-May 31st). A Culture Card will be issued through gov.gr or the local Citizen Service Centers (KEP) for Greek taxpayers, under specific categories.  
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Vergina
06
01
2024
Mitsotakis stressed that the site is testimony to the, “timeless Greek identity of Macedonia through the ages.” Attending the inauguration of the recently restored Palace of Aigai, the PM noted the “great honor” he feels as premier to associate his name and that of his government with the emblematic restoration work at one of the country’s most important archaeological site. He emphasized the global significance of the recently restored structure in northern Greece, declaring it a heritage for the entire world while emphasizing the necessity of transforming such historical treasures into catalysts for economic development. “The significance of such monuments becomes the heritage of the entire world. We must highlight it, promote it, and expand the horizons revealed by each new facet,” Mitsotakis said during the inauguration ceremony on Friday. Mitsotakis emphasized that the monument should serve as an invitation to knowledge and participation, enhancing a sense of belonging and acting as a lever for development. He pledged a political effort to increase the number of visitors to the site, stating, “The more visitors, the more the economy will be stimulated, and the more dynamically this unique cradle of culture will radiate its influence to every corner of the world.” Accompanied by dignitaries and local officials, the prime minister received a guided tour from Angeliki Kottaridi, the head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Imathia. “Aigai” comes from the same root as the ancient Greek word aiga (goat). With an area of approximately 15,000 square meters, it was the largest building in classical Greece. The project to maintain and restore the Palace of the Goats lasted 16 years and was completed in 2023 with a total budget of 20.3 million Euros. The city of Aigai (Vergina) was the first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, and was upgraded with an extensive building program by Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great.  More specifically, Vergina is a village in Northern Greece in the foothills of Mt. Pieria some 75 km from Thessaloniki. It is the location of the ancient capital of the Macedonians, called Aigai which had its heydays during the Archaic and Classic Periods 7th through 4th Centuries B.C. The Palace of Philip II at Aigai is the largest and (together with the Parthenon) the most important building of Classical Greece. You can also visit the site of the Royal Tombs, considered to be one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the last century in the country. In related news, the new museum of Aigai on opened to the public just last year in the town of Vergina, which incorporates the entire archaeological site, the center of ancient Macedonian culture. The new museum unites the Palace of Philip, the royal tombs cluster, and the Museum of the Royal Tombs. It is designed as a conceptual gateway to the archaeological site and to the history of Aigai and of Macedonian culture, as well as of the Hellenistic World, as it will also serve as the site of the Digital Museum “Alexander the Great: from Aigai to the World.”
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Athens
26
12
2023
Starting April 1st, 2024, Greece plans to offer exclusive guided tours of its most powerful tourist magnet to handfuls of well-heeled visitors outside normal opening hours. The measure is part of an overhaul of ticketing policy for Greece’s archaeological sites and museums, which will see across-the-board increases as of April 2025. An official at Greece’s Culture Ministry said Friday that the new Acropolis service will apply to a maximum four groups of up to five people each. It will cost 5,000 euros ($5,500) per group, although individuals prepared to cover the full group fee are welcome to visit on their own. “We decided to implement (the measure) ... because there is demand, people have been asking for it” Divari-Valakou told The Associated Press. “It won’t harm the archaeological site, indeed it will contribute to its better promotion,” she added. “And the revenues will be reinvested in cultural projects and monuments.” The visits, with certified guides, will last up to two hours; from 7-9 a.m. just before the site opens, or 8-10 p.m. after it closes. Divari-Valakou said if it goes well, the program could be expanded from 2025 to include other major sites. Dominating the Athens skyline, the Acropolis and its 2,500-year-old marble monuments — including the Parthenon Temple, whose sculptures prompted a decades-old dispute with Britain — is Greece’s most-visited ancient site. Amid a surge of tourist arrivals in the country, it attracted more than 3 million people in 2022. The press of up to 23,000 daily visitors drove the Culture Ministry in September to announce caps on entry numbers and other restrictions from 2024. An advisory board of senior ministry officials decided on the private visits program amid an overhaul of ticketing policy this week. The government is expected to formally approve it in coming days. A ministry statement Wednesday said the new overall ticket policy will come into effect in April 2025. It will include a 50% increase in prices for ordinary Acropolis tickets, from 20 to 30 euros ($22-£33) — although the number of free entry days during the winter will be doubled to two a month. The cheapest tickets for Greece’s sites and museums will go up from 2 to 5 euros ($2.20-$5.51). (does ordinary prices of 20-30 euros apply to Acropolis or all sites? Confused since there are cheaper tickets.) The ministry said the prices ticket increase was deemed necessary due to the surge in post-pandemic visitor numbers, “and the fact that the current prices ... are very low compared to the European average.”  
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Athens
24
12
2023
The exhibit comes during a dispute over Greek demands for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures that are housed in the British Museum. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a planned meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London a week ago, accusing him of seeking to “grandstand” by publicly campaigning for the return of the Parthenon Marbles while visiting Britain. Sunak said his government had no intention of re-opening the issue or amending legislation that would block the artifacts’ return. Mitsotakis described the incident as “an unfortunate moment” but added that the campaign for their return had received a boost after Sunak’s cancellation drew international attention. The British Museum said it was continuing talks with Greek authorities and the Acropolis Museum, raising hopes in Athens that an arrangement could be reached to display the sculptures in Greece. On Tuesday, Acropolis Museum director Nikolaos Stampolidis said his museum maintained “excellent relations” with the British Museum and expressed confidence that the Parthenon Marbles would eventually be returned. “After all, culture is not only about art. It’s also about relationships,” he said. Excavated in southern Italy, the water jug known as Meidias Hydria, considered to be a masterpiece of the Athenian potter Meidias, became part of the British Museum collection 250 years ago and has not left the London museum until now. The jug will be displayed at the Acropolis Museum in Athens through April, when it will move to 2024 Olympics host city Paris to be included in an exhibition at the Louvre Museum. Just over 50 centimeters in height, the vessel is decorated with scenes from Greek mythology including a depiction of Heracles, the legendary Greek hero renowned for his strength. The Athens exhibition opened to the public last week. 
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Athens
24
12
2023
Guided tours of the new exhibition "Meanings. Personifications and Allegories from Antiquity to Today" The archaeologists of the Museum offer guided tours of the new periodical exhibition NoIMATA. Personifications and Allegories from Antiquity to the Present, every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00, and every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 and 12:00. With them you will browse among masterpieces of art that personify concepts, capture allegories, highlight human passions and emotions, raise thought and soul and masterfully unfold the thread that connects Antiquity with Byzantium, the Renaissance and our time. Reserve a seat here: events.theacropolismuseum.gr Festive program for children "Give shape and form ... to a unique celebration!" This Christmas our little friends will take paper, paints, scissors and paints, use all their imaginations and give face, shape and form to a beloved concept: the Holiday. And not only that... Together with the archaeologists they will discover how and why the ancient Athenians gave human characteristics to other concepts as well, such as the seasons, love, the sun, victory and many more. If you have children aged 4 to 10, we are waiting for you on Saturday 23/12, Sunday 24/12, Thursday 28/12, Friday 29/12 and Sunday 31/12 at 11:00 & at 13:00. Reserve a seat here: events.theacropolismuseum.gr (Reservations start on 12/18) The program is carried out by the Department of Education Programs of the Museum and its Information & Education Sector Acropolis Monuments Maintenance Service.   Christmas tunes Every Friday you can extend your visit to the exhibition grounds until 22:00 and every Friday and Saturday until midnight you can enjoy a festive dinner with a view of the illuminated Acropolis (restaurant reservations by phone: 210 9000915). On the other days and times, you can combine your visit with coffee, sweets and festive musical events on the ground floor of the Museum. On Friday, December 22 at 6 p.m. the Orchestra and Choir of the Center for Greek Music "Phoivos Anogianakis" in collaboration with the Department of Music Studies of EKPA will present traditional carols and songs from various regions of Greece, under the supervision of teachers Eleni Bailis and Evangelia Chaldaiaki respectively. On Saturday, December 23, at 12 noon, the Rethymno Coats and Jackets Club of Crete will present traditional dances and Cretan carols, while to close the year, on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at 12 noon, the Museum will host the contemporary music group Music Odyssey of the Department of Music Studies of EKPA which will play well-known Christmas and other popular songs, under the supervision of their teacher, Yiannis Malafi. Gifts for the holidays Before you leave the Museum, we are waiting for you in the store on the ground floor where you will find beautiful souvenirs inspired by the NoIMATA exhibition. Personifications and Allegories from Antiquity to Today, but also decorative items for your Christmas gifts. Among them is the Museum's charm for 2024, inspired by a small bronze wheel, dedicated to the sanctuary of the Acropolis around 480–470 BC. The wheel is considered a symbol of fortune and its unpredictable turns, instability and fickleness in human life.
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New York
16
12
2023
The pieces were returned to Greek authorities during a repatriation ceremony attended by Greek Consul General Konstantinos Konstantinou, Secretary General of Culture Georgios Didaskalou, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Thomas Acocella. Nineteen of the pieces were voluntarily surrendered from New York gallery owner Michael Ward, while three of the pieces were seized from British art dealer Robin Symes. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, Chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit & Senior Trial Counsel, supervised the investigations, among others, while investigative support was provided by Elena Vlachogianni and Vasiliki Papageorgiou of the Department of Documentation & Protection of Cultural Goods of Greece’s Ministry of Culture. "Cultural heritage is an integral part of our identity as people and nations. It is therefore essential and nowadays crucial to protect and preserve cultural heritage for future generations. I express my gratitude for the ongoing and fruitful cooperation with the New York District Attorney’s Office, and for the return of the 30 antiquities to Greece,” said Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni. Some of the key pieces being returned include: - Marble Aphrodite: this marble statue is based on the famous Aphrodite of Knidos and was recovered from a storage unit that belonged to the convicted trafficker Robin Symes, where it had been hidden since at least 1999. - Cycladic Marble Figure: originally illegally excavated from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea, this four-thousand-year-old marble figurine was seized from a storage unit belonging to a New York-based private collector by the ATU earlier this year. - Corinthian Helmet: this bronze Corinthian helmet is an example of popular helmet style for Ancient Greek warriors, particularly in the Archaic and Classical periods (c. 700 B.C.E-350 B.C.E). It was smuggled out of Greece, given false provenance in Germany, and put on consignment with the New York-based art dealer Michael Ward who pled guilty to Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree and admitted to purchasing stolen antiquities on consignment through his gallery as part of money-laundering scheme allegedly orchestrated by Eugene Alexander.
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Athens
14
12
2023
The exhibition highlights the importance the Battle of Chaeronea had in ancient times, at the transition from the Classical to the Hellenistic period. "The latter became an era in which Greek civilization was dominant for centuries and laid the foundations of what we call the Western world," the MCA notes. "The theme is the battle that opposed the Macedonian army of Philip II against that of the allied Greek cities of southern Greece - and in particular the Sacred Band of Thebes and the army of Athens - a conflict that for the first time brought the eighteen-year-old Alexander to the front line of history: Alexander who was soon to conquer the world with his great campaigns in Asia." The exhibition was presented at a press conference on Wednesday by the Museum's antiquity curators Panagiotis Iossif (professor, University of Radboud, Holland) and Ioannis Fappas (assistant professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). Several of the objects are on public view for the first time, with archaeological evidence originating in excavations of the Polyandrion of the Thebans and the Tumulus of the Macedonians, both sites of multiple burials. Some have not been fully published, while several were studied in detail during preparations for the exhibition. One of the outstanding exhibitions is that of the tomb of the warrior from Igoumenitsa wearing unique battle gear, the historical Macedonian shield inscribed with the name of King Alexander, golden staters (coins) issued by Philip, Alexander, and his successors, and the bones of the Sacred Band of Thebes soldiers. Relating to today Andy Warhol's 'Alexander the Great' (1981) portrait from MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art, one version of his iconic work that was commissioned by Greek collector Alexandros Iolas, is also on show. The show also honors Greece's early archaeologists at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th, including reports of their excavations (Panagiotis Stamatakis, Georgios Sotiriadis, respectively). In addition, it includes information on how the modern Greek state handled the battle and its monuments in its narrative, and how the newspapers of those times saw it. Slowly forgotten, the Battle of Chaeronea rekindled the public's interest from the end of the 18th century, when the marble pieces of the fallen Lion of Chaeronia attracted visitors, academics, and locals. The exhibition is divided into nine units. The last one, "The Battle of Chaeronea today" looks at how the battle can be reconstructed for younger generations that might not be familiar with museums. It includes a diorama of the battle with Playmobil figurines especially made by collectors for the show, with the help of Playmobil Hellas, and descriptions through comics. "We examine the event itself, what follows, we see what this famed Hellenistic world that opens up after the battle of Chaeronea is, and we experience its consequences to this day. All the gold that the Western world used up to 1492 is the gold that Alexander brought in his campaign. In other words, objects that had very long-term consequences and that we are still experiencing today," Iossif said. Fappas, whose professional interest in Boeotia is long term, said that "the exhibition is unique because the objects are unique. If the specific objects did not exist, the exhibition could not have been done." He especially thanked his colleagues at the Boeotia Ephorate of Antiquities and the Antiquities Ephorate of Thesprotia prefecture, "for trusting us with immovable objects for the exhibition." He also thanked the Ministry of Culture's conservation laboratory and the National Monuments Archive directorate, "which guards treasures and archival material of unbelievable significance for our homeland's modern history." MCA president and CEO Sandra Marinopoulos said that the Museum wanted to provide a platform to new archaeologists, who can bring new thinking, creativity, and enthusiasm. She also announced that in April 2024 the museum would host the first museum exhibition in Greece of 100 photographs by Cindy Sherman, whose work continues to inspire and influence modern art today. The show will be part of the Museum's contemporary art program. INFO: Museum of Cycladic Art Stathatos Mansion, Vasilissis Sofias & 1 Irodotou Street (Kolonaki) December 14, 2023 - March 31, 2024 Relating to today Andy Warhol's 'Alexander the Great' (1981) portrait from MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art, one version of his iconic work that was commissioned by Greek collector Alexandros Iolas, is also on show. The show also honors Greece's early archaeologists at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th, including reports of their excavations (Panagiotis Stamatakis, Georgios Sotiriadis, respectively). In addition, it includes information on how the modern Greek state handled the battle and its monuments in its narrative, and how the newspapers of those times saw it. Slowly forgotten, the Battle of Chaeronea rekindled the public's interest from the end of the 18th century, when the marble pieces of the fallen Lion of Chaeronia attracted visitors, academics, and locals. The exhibition is divided into nine units. The last one, "The Battle of Chaeronea today" looks at how the battle can be reconstructed for younger generations that might not be familiar with museums. It includes a diorama of the battle with Playmobil figurines especially made by collectors for the show, with the help of Playmobil Hellas, and descriptions through comics. "We examine the event itself, what follows, we see what this famed Hellenistic world that opens up after the battle of Chaeronea is, and we experience its consequences to this day. All the gold that the Western world used up to 1492 is the gold that Alexander brought in his campaign. In other words, objects that had very long-term consequences and that we are still experiencing today," Iossif said. Fappas, whose professional interest in Boeotia is long term, said that "the exhibition is unique because the objects are unique. If the specific objects did not exist, the exhibition could not have been done." He especially thanked his colleagues at the Boeotia Ephorate of Antiquities and the Antiquities Ephorate of Thesprotia prefecture, "for trusting us with immovable objects for the exhibition." He also thanked the Ministry of Culture's conservation laboratory and the National Monuments Archive directorate, "which guards treasures and archival material of unbelievable significance for our homeland's modern history." MCA president and CEO Sandra Marinopoulossaid that the Museum wanted to provide a platform to new archaeologists, who can bring new thinking, creativity, and enthusiasm. She also announced that in April 2024 the museum would host the first museum exhibition in Greece of 100 photographs by Cindy Sherman, whose work continues to inspire and influence modern art today. The show will be part of the Museum's contemporary art program.
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