Tag: Cultural Heritage

Significant statuettes discovered at archaeological site of Aptera

First estimates date the statuettes to the late 1st – early 2nd century AD

Archaeological excavations unearthed significant finds at Aptera, Chania on the island of Crete.

Two small sized sculptures of about 0.54cm height were discovered, οne of Artemis is made of copper and the second of her brother Apollo was made of marble.

The statue of Artemis, guardian goddess of Aptera, is in excellent condition and was standing on a square copper base. She is wearing a short tunic and is ready to shoot her arrow, while extremely spectacular is the preservation of the white material used for the iris of her eyes.

Apollo’s statuette is simpler and contradicts with the emphatic depiction of Artemis.

However, the sculpture is of excellent artistic execution the preservation of the red colour is great.

The statuettes were probably imported from artistic centers outside Crete to decorate the altar of a Roman luxury residence.

First estimates date the statuettes to the late 1st – early 2nd century AD.

(en.protothema.gr)

January 27, 2016
National Archaeological Museum celebrates 150 years of its foundation

The National Archaeological Museum is celebrating 150 years of its foundation. The anniversary is on 3 October 2016 but various and interesting exhibitions will be held, however, throughout the year, as stated by the director, Maria Lagogiannis during the presentations of the impressive 2016 panorama.

Among the news that stood out was the proclamation, on 18 May (International Museum Day), as the honored museum for 2016 from the Greek section of ICOMOS (International Council of Museums), an honour that is due to its contribution to culture, and the nationwide character of its collections, representing universal values.

The new year is marked by old and new exhibitions that evolve, such as the “unseen Museum”, that today launched another exciting exhibit, which will remain in the Hall of the Altar for two months, it is the Attic red-figure calyx krater, an eminently banquet vase, dating between 390 and 385 b.C. and depicts Dionysus besides Victory, an unusual presence that probably symbolizes the happy life and the victory over death.

From the new exhibitions scheduled we singled out the “Open Museum”, which is centered on openness and dialogue with society, and the involvement of the Museum with the social partners.

“In response to the guests’ request, the museum opens its doors in the spaces behind the stage, in the maintenance workshops and archaeological research areas, where our staff is preparing all the exhibits you watch in brilliant exhibition halls,” said Maria Lagogiannis.

Also, special thematic presentations by archeologists and specially designed familiarization workshops by maintainers will be offered at regular dates throughout the course of 2016, enriching the museum experience and deepening the relationship with the guests.

Meanwhile, from January and throughout the year the museum will feature innovative actions in collaborations with educational institutions, art organizations, unions and social organizations such as the Association of Sculptors, School of Antiquities Conservation and Athens School of Art, Museum of Herakleidon, the Athens State Orchestra, the National Tokyo Western Art Museum, Metropolitan Museum in New York, the National Theatre, the School of Architecture of the NTUA, the National Gallery, the Library of the Hellenic Parliament and National Television.

The final action will join the festive atmosphere of the anniversary exhibition entitled “Odysseys”, which through the unique collections of the museum, that start from the Neolithic period and end in late antiquity will highlight the timeless struggle of human survival, development, acquisition of knowledge and happiness.

At the same time, great modern poets, Cavafy, Seferis, Elytis and Ritsos will hold the thread that will bridge the multiple symbolisms of Homer’s Odyssey and nowadays.

As reported by the Director, the museum in 2015 erved 103 research projects, Greek and international, innovative maintenance methods were applied, such as the analysis of the composition of the metal alloy of the Adolescent of Antikythera by spectroscopy X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and physicochemical investigation of the sculptures of the Antikythera shipwreck with GPR.

(www.ellines.com)

January 12, 2016
Disappearing Greece: Bye bye kastana man, send my regards to the laterna player

Poverty gave rise to traditional professions, but is now sweeping them away in post-bailout Greece. Catch them before they disappear altogether.

Desperate for revenue, the Greek government is clamping down on the poorest professions in Greece. The story of the elderly kastana (chestnut vendor) who was rendered unconscious by over-zealous policemen caught fire on social media. The vendor could not afford a license, and became one of the latest victims of the economic crisis. Here are some traditional professions struck by the crisis in Greece.

Kastanas – Chestnut vendor

As the weather cools down, chestnut vendors appear on street corners offering the roasted treat. Unfortunately, with less people buying them there are less vendors selling.

Salepi vendor

The chilly Salepi is a thick and frothy winter drink that is just right to warm up on your insides. Not only does the drink offer steamy warmth on a cold winter day, but thanks to its semen-like texture it has been considered for centuries to be an aphrodisiac.

Koulouras – Koulouri bread vendor

Greece’s tastier response to the U.S. bagel, street koulouria are sold almost everywhere for just 40-60 cents. A bargain!

Peripteras – Kiosk owner

The kiosk (periptero) is an important part of Greek daily life as you can found anything here – newspapers, cigarettes, gums, beer, etc. The periptero owners are something like a mini-market/neighborhood watch/info stand in their area, but have fallen victim to the economic crisis with the institutions demanding their closure as part of the prior actions Greece has pledged to.

Laterna (piano barrel) player

Laterna (piano barrels) players once walked up and down the streets with their instruments. Made popular by the film, “Laterna, poverty and goodwill” (Laterna, Ftohia ke filotimo) and its sequel, the laterna players survived on the kindness of passers-by. Now, they need to cut receipts for their donations.

(en.protothema.gr)

January 8, 2016
“Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin”

The Resolution on “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin” was unanimously adopted yesterday by the Plenary of the UN General Assembly, following a Greek initiative. The Resolution is submitted by our country every three years, and the final text was formulated through systematic consultation under the mediation of Greece, pursuant to relevant instructions from Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

The Resolution enjoyed wide acceptance, as it was co-sponsored by a total of 74 states, including many member states of the European Union, a significant number of Latin American states, as well as a number of Arab and African states.

This initiative bolsters the return of cultural property to countries of origin, as well as the effort to protect cultural heritage. These two dimensions of the Resolution are seen as particularly timely, given that the Middle East daily suffers destruction of works and monuments of world cultural heritage, while the link between trafficking in cultural property and funding of terrorism is well known.

Special mention is made in the Resolution to the “Ancient Olympia Recommendation,” which calls on member states to mobilize for the return of stolen cultural treasures, with express reference to the return of the Parthenon Marbles. Another, equally important, dimension of the Resolution is the condemnation of the destruction of monuments of world cultural heritage in areas of armed conflict, including in occupied territories, and of illegal trafficking of cultural property by armed terrorist groups, such as ISIS.

As a cradle of knowledge and culture, Greece will always be in the vanguard for protection of world cultural heritage and will continue to promote similar initiatives.

December 19, 2015