Classicism and Europe: The destiny of Greece and Italy

An exhibition exploring the birth of Classicism and the legacy of Greece and Italy to Europe was inaugurated at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens on Wednesday evening at 19:30, opening its doors to the public on Thursday.

"It is an impressive exhibition that through 25 exhibits spans an incredible journey through time, from the prehistoric era to the modern age. In reality, we are talking about Greco-Italian civilisation and for this reason one could not easily separate them," Greek Culture and Sports Minister Constantinos Tasoulas said in a press conference at the museum.

Entitled "Classicism and Europe: The destiny of Greece and Italy," the exhibition began in Rome while Greece still held the presidency of the European Union, and comes to Athens now that the EU presidency has been taken over by Italy. It will remain at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens until October 31.

It features 25 works of art spanning a period of 4,500 years, from the early prehistoric civilisations of the Aegean (Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenean) passing through the Archaic era of the 6th century BC - including the Acropolis Kore and the relief of the 'Pensive Athena' - to sculptures representing the rise of democracy in ancient Greece. It continues with the rise of Christianity through Byzantine art and a replica of the Rossano Bible, the oldest illustrated Bible in the world, the Renaissance, featuring works by El Greco and Mattia Preti and continues right up to the 20th century, with works by Giani, Cadorin, Moralis and Parthenis.

The exhibition is organised with the collaboration of the Italian EU presidency and Greece, via the foreign and culture ministries in both countries. The works of art were contributed by the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the New Acropolis Museum, the Iraklio Archaeological Museum, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Greek National Gallery, the Capitoline Museums-Centrale Montemartini, the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, the Naples National Archaeological Museum and other archaeological museums in Italy.

It is taking place under the auspices of the Greek and Italian presidents and had more than 85,000 visitors while on show in Italy.