Old Greek civilization comes alive at exhibition<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Modern-day Greece has always been associated
\nwith celebrities such as the late shipping magnate Aristotle
\nOnassis, opera singer Maria Callas and the flamboyant Andreas
\nPapandareou.<\/p>\n
Forget these names. Jakartans will likely learn more about
\nthe country's centuries-old civilization through a rare
\nexhibition at the National Museum.<\/p>\n
Constatinos Drakakis, charge d'affairs of the Greek Embassy to
\nIndonesia, said the exhibition, to be opened by Indonesian
\nMinister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro tomorrow,
\nis a cultural exchange between Greece and several Asian
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, we had a close relationship with a large number
\nof Asian countries. Now we want to boost those ties through
\ncultural activities,\" said Drakakis.<\/p>\n
To realize this, the Greek Ministry of Culture, Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs, and a number of private companies have jointly
\norganized a touring exhibition in seven Asian cities including
\nNew Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing.<\/p>\n
\"We want to introduce Asian people to our history and culture.
\nIn return, we want to learn more about Asian civilization.
\nKnowing more about each other's cultures can enhance our
\nfriendship,\" added Drakakis.<\/p>\n
The exhibition focuses on the history of Greek civilization.<\/p>\n
Titled \"The Greek Spirit: 9,000 years of Civilization\", it is
\naimed at depicting the role played by Greek civilization in
\nuniting Eastern and Western civilization.<\/p>\n
Bessy Drounga, the exhibition's curator, said the objects on
\ndisplay attempt to cover the entire spectrum of Greek history,
\nfrom its Neolithic period to the present day.<\/p>\n
Casts of statues and reliefs, together with teraccota
\nfigurines and pottery, maps, comparative historical tables,
\narchitectural drawings, photographs and wall texts analyzing and
\ndescribing each period of Greek history are on view at the
\nexhibition.<\/p>\n
The exhibited items are divided into units to emphasize what
\neach particular period has offered to Greek society.<\/p>\n
In addition, each item on display has been selected to
\ndemonstrate the fundamental reason for its creation.<\/p>\n
The first period represented through the exhibited items is
\nthe Bronze period.<\/p>\n
This is followed by the second period, which focuses on the
\nMinoan civilization. The civilization, which originated on the
\nisland of Crete, was regarded as the earliest European culture.<\/p>\n
The Minoans first built their palaces in Crete between 2000
\nand 1700 BC. According to Greek folk tradition, Minos -- the
\nlegendary king of Knossos -- had a powerful ocean fleet, enabling
\nthe Minoans to spread their civilization to Egypt and other
\nEastern Mediterranean countries.<\/p>\n
\"The major achievements of this age were reflected in their
\nsocial and political lives and in every manifestation of large-
\nscale arts, including fine arts and architecture,\" explained the
\ncurator.<\/p>\n
Bronze age<\/p>\n
In the exhibition, the Bronze age culture of Crete is
\nrepresented by, among other things, a wall painting titled La
\nParisienne from the Minoan palace at Knossos (about 1500 BC), and
\na limestone sarcophagus featuring a painting depicting a scene of
\na religious ceremony from Ayia Triada in the late Minoan III
\nperiod (1400 BC). The displayed items from this period are on
\nloan from the Herakleion Archaeological Museum in Crete.<\/p>\n
In the last stage of the Bronze Age (between 1600 and 1100
\nBC), the Minoan ruler in Crete was replaced by a Mycenaen ruler
\non the Greek mainland. During that period, Greece's ocean fleet
\ndominated the Mediterranean seas. Its civilization spread
\nthroughout Europe, Africa and Asia.<\/p>\n
During the Mycenaean Period, trade as well as the arts and
\nliterature developed significantly. It was in that period that
\npoet Homer wrote the famous poem titled the Illiad and the
\nOdyssey describing the greatness of the Mycenaen kingdom. Several
\nitems from this period, including a reconstruction of the
\nMycenaen palace at Eglianos and a female figure resembling an
\nEgyptian Sphinx, are on display.<\/p>\n
The Mycenaean kingdom ended at the end of the Bronze Age (1100
\nBC) and Greece was plunged into the \"Dark Age\" of its history.
\nThe arrival of the Metal Age brought important changes to the
\nGreek Mycenaean social, economic and political system.<\/p>\n
Between the 7th and 6th centuries BC, Greece entered the
\nArchaic period. This was the period, according to Homeric epic,
\nwhen Greece experienced the development of philosophy, science,
\nart, historiography and geography. The period also witnessed the
\ngrowth of a democratic society.<\/p>\n
This was the transition period toward the Greek Classical
\nperiod. The Archaic Period is represented in the exhibition by a
\nBronze head of griffin from Delphi and the Treasury of the
\nSiphians from the Sanctuary of Apollo.<\/p>\n
The Classical Period in Greece began around 490 BC, when
\nGreece defeated the mighty Asiatic power Persia in the famous
\nbattles of Marathon and Plataea.<\/p>\n
In the Classical Period, democracy became firmly consolidated.
\nIntellectuals and artists produced great, pioneering works in
\ntheir own fields. Literature, science and philosophy developed
\nrapidly.<\/p>\n
The period is portrayed in the exhibition through a number of
\nartwork such as a marble statue called the Kritian Boy, a marble
\nrelief Nike tying her sandal, and The Relief of the Gods.<\/p>\n
In the Hellenistic Period (4th century BC), Greece was
\ndominated by Macedonia. The king of Macedonia, Philip II, gave
\nthe Greek World unity. His son, Alexander the Great, with his
\nbold vision, formed the great and new Greek world through his
\nconquest of Asia and Africa. The period is depicted in the
\nexhibition through a series of excellent art pieces, including a
\nmarble head of Alexander the Great and a manuscript of Alexander
\nthe Great and Seven Wise Men.<\/p>\n
Roman<\/p>\n
The exhibition also explores the period of Roman domination
\nover Greece between 200 and 30 BC. This was the critical period
\nin Greek history. During these years, the Greeks lost their
\npolitical independence, but their cultural and artistic creations
\nwere still paramount. Their glorious artistic example displayed
\nin the exhibit is a mosaic floor of late Roman period, on loan
\nfrom the Argos and Argos archaeological museum.<\/p>\n
The Roman occupation lasted for several centuries. The Roman
\nempire was divided into two huge sections -- the western and the
\neastern section, which became the Greek empire of Byzantium.<\/p>\n
During this period, Constantinople, the empire's capital, with
\nits Holy Wisdom's Church, became the center of Orthodox
\nChristianity. Examples from this period were a series of pictures
\nand manuscripts.<\/p>\n
The exhibition, which will last until Feb. 5, concludes with
\nthe display of art pieces from the period of the Ottoman empire's
\ndomination over Greece.<\/p>\n
What can ordinary people expect from this exhibition?<\/p>\n
Suwati Kartiwa, director of the National Museum, said it is
\nimportant for people to learn about another country's history.<\/p>\n
\"The exhibition may increase people's appreciation of world
\nhistory. Indonesia is going to exhibit its ancient kingdoms'
\nheritages in Japan, and the Japanese are enthusiastic about it,\"
\nSuwati said.<\/p>\n
The Greek cultural exhibition will certainly provide local
\npeople with a thorough history of a nation, she said.<\/p>",
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