National Archaeological Museum Athens Events & Workshops

Recent events at the National Archaeological Museum Athens

Shadows of Fire

By: Andreas Nikolaidis
On display from: 14 May 2024 to 5 June 2024
Where: Museum cafe

Using fire imagery and lighting techniques, the artist aimed to invoke feelings of nostalgia among its spectators. Nikolaidis’ innovative approach also highlights how fire flames would have illuminated the colossal statues and vases in those times, making for a dynamic viewing experience.

Amen for What is Not

By: Maria Methimaki
On display from: 16 January 2024 to 20 February 2024
Where: Museum cafe

Maria Methimaki delved into the concept of presence and absence with these art pieces. This collection also included a series of abstract paintings and minimalist sculptures, inviting spectators to think about the transient nature of life and how historical remains impact modern-day visitors.

Synthespian

By: Cleopatra Hatzigiosi
On display from: 6 September 2023 to 4 November 2023
Where: Museum cafe

Through mixed media elements, plastic, and digital projections, the artist reimagined Greek myths and characters. She interpreted the Classical myths to highlight the importance of Greek mythology in contemporary pop culture.

Mesogeios

By: Anna Achilleos Staeubli
On display from: 5 August 2023 to 4 September 2023
Where: Museum cafe

Anna Achilleos focused on the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean, drawing on maritime trading routes to highlight the importance of the seas in helping the ancient Greek civilization prosper. The collection includes a variety of exhibits, from artworks, and images, to sculptures, and interactive digital displays.

Ephemeral Beauty or Timeless Emotion? A Long Journey of Search

By: Mina Semerjian
On display from: 5 July 2023 to 4 August 2023
Where: Museum cafe

By placing contemporary artworks alongside ancient artifacts, Semerjian aimed to make visitors think about whether art can transcend the passage of time. The exhibit highlighted how certain pieces lose their relevance over time, while certain artifacts stay in the cultural repository for centuries.

Lost Memorabilities

By: Emilia Kougia with sculptors Orestis Karalis, Lazaros-Fillippos Papadopoulos, Panos Prohetis, and others
On display from: 8 June 2023 to 4 July 2023
Where: Museum cafe

This mixed-media exhibition explored how memories are altered, preserved, and lost over time. In other words, the collection was centered on the fragility of memory and prompted visitors to think about its unreliable nature. Each artist brought their unique experiences, making for a collective record of loss and remembrance.

Digital exhibitions

Parallel Time: Meet the Clay Army in Greece

Terracotta figurines collection: This digital and physical exhibition is centered on a collection of terracotta figurines from the Hellenistic period, a time when Greek culture spread across Asia and the Mediterranean after the conquests of Alexander the Great.
Cultural exchanges of the past: It is suggested that the Chinese Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang had inspired their Greek counterparts to make such figurines. The exhibition also draws parallels and differences between their sculpting styles.
Digital reconstructions: The exhibition includes engaging displays where visitors can reconstruct a figurine to see what it might have looked like in that period. You can also use AR applications and view the terracotta pieces from multiple angles.

National Archaeological Museum Athens collection

The Countless Aspects of the Beautiful

The Greek understanding of beauty: This exhibition focuses on highlighting the Greek standards of beauty, also referred to as ‘kallos’, which included physical attractiveness and moral virtue.
A variety of sculptures: The exhibition features several exemplary sculptures of the Classical period when ancient Greeks were at the pinnacle of their pursuit of the idealized human form. Look out for the Venus de Milo, Doryphoros, and Discobolus.
Pottery, jewelry, and decorative arts: This section also includes red-figure and black-figure vases depicting scenes from Greek mythology and jewelry pieces. These painted pottery pieces were most likely used for decorative purposes.

Antiquities and the Greek Revolution

Classical inspirations: These artifacts and objects were used to legitimize the Greek’s struggle for independence from Ottoman rule in the War of Independence, between 1821 and 1830. This section also explores how the remnants of the Classical period ruins inspired a sense of national feeling among those citizens.
Historical artifacts from the Revolution: The collection includes weapons, armor, clothing, and daily objects, that were used by the Greek fighters. It will help you get an idea of how they carried on their struggle for several years until the independent Greek state came into being.

Odysseys

Interactive storytelling: This digital exhibition uses AR simulations to bring Homer’s epics to life. Visitors can take audio-guided tours, play around with digital displays, and experience key moments from the Odyssey epic.
Literal legacy: This collection examines the influence of Homer’s epics on literature and art. The displays include a variety of ancient manuscripts, Renaissance paintings, and modern adaptations, which highlight the lasting influence of the epic tradition.

Tips to note when visiting the museum

Arrive around the afternoon or late evening: To escape the morning rush, reach the Athens Archaeology Museum late in the evening, after 6pm, or around the afternoon. Popular exhibits like the Mycenean Collection and Cycladic Collection are always crowded no matter whenever you visit. Head to the lesser-known exhibits at first to save time.
Engage with the AR simulations: The museum offers a number of interactive visual reality installations, which are designed to transport you to a mythical world. The Odysseus’ visual exhibit takes you through the rough Aegean Seas and shows you the Cyclops and sirens that Odysseus battled to return to Athens.
Wear comfortable shoes: The museum has over 11,000 exhibits spread across 8000 square meters, coupled with a garden and a cafe. Keep around 4 to 5 hours on hand and wear your most comfortable, closed shoes to make the most of your visit.
Visit the garden: The museum cafe overlooks the garden. It has a wide variety of pine trees along with colorful flower beds on display. After exploring the collections, take a stroll through the garden.
Use the side entrance: The Athens National Archaeological Museum has a side entrance on Vasileos Irakliou to admit visitors in wheelchairs and pregnant women. If you are traveling on a weekend or during the peak season, between June and August, you can enter through this entrance.

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Frequently asked questions about National Archaeological Museum Athens events

What kind of events are hosted at the museum?

The Athens National Archaeological Museum hosts various events like talks and workshops related to the museum’s collections, guided tours led by experienced personnel, film screenings, and limited exhibitions like the ‘Shadows of Fire’ by Andreas Nikolaidis, whose artworks delve into nostalgic themes.

Do I need separate tickets for these events?

Most of the museum’s exhibitions are held at the cafe, overlooking the garden. You do not need separate National Archaeological Museum Athens tickets to enter the limited exhibitions. Some talks and workshops by historians and scholars may require you to pay a minimal fee. Upon entering the museum, enquire at the information desk if the events you plan to attend require any charges.

Which events are a must-visit?

The ‘Shadows of Fire’ by Andreas Nikolaidis, on display from 14th May to 5th June 2024, is a must-see exhibition at the Archaeological Museum in Athens. The artist uses fire motifs to bring out feelings of nostalgia among the spectators. The artworks also depict a connection between the past and the present and the real and the imaginary.

Are these events suitable for children?

Most of the limited exhibitions are related to the collections. Children, particularly fans of the Percy Jackson series would enjoy the educational workshops, packed with information about ancient Greek history and mythology. The digital displays and VR simulations are designed to engage visitors of all ages.

Are these events accessible to visitors in wheelchairs?

The museum’s main entrance is equipped with ramps and accessible stairways to ensure visitors in wheelchairs can enter the premises. They have another dedicated entrance on Vasileos Irakliou for visitors with limited mobility. Most of the limited exhibitions are held at the museum cafe. There are elevators connecting the first floor and the basement. You can navigate through museum floors and stroll in and out of the galleries comfortably.