Greek Treasures_8000 Glorious Years_at Immigration Museum

Thursday, 04 May 2006 10:49

Melbourne, AU - An unrivalled collection of art and artifacts, bringing visitors face to face with 8,000 years of Greek history, is currently on show in Melbourne for the first time at the Immigration Museum. Greek treasures: from the Benaki Museum in Athens presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view a stunning exhibition of 160 precious objects from the world-famous collection of the Benakis family, spanning the period from 6,000 BC to the 1820s Greek War of Independence.

“Greek treasures provides an important moment to reflect on the many contributions of the Greek world to Western society as a whole,” says Dr Patrick Greene, CEO of Museum Victoria. “The exhibition showcases the brilliance of Greek domestic, political and artistic life – from prehistoric times, through the glory of the Classical period, to the splendor of the Byzantine era and the following centuries.”

“The Ancient Greeks left us a magnificent legacy – the model for modern democratic states, written history, the Olympic Games, theatre, design systems used in architecture for centuries, as well as vast achievements in science and mathematics. Greek treasures is an unmissable event that captures the brilliance of the Greek contribution to our world.”

Highlights of Greek treasures include:

· 4,500-year-old marble sculptures from the Cycladic Islands, which were a later influence on 20th-century artists, particularly the British sculptor Henry Moore

· an exquisitely made gold ivy wreath from 1st century BC Macedonia · ancient pottery painted with scenes from mythology – gods, nymphs, the mighty Herakles, and the battle of the Gods and the Giants

· a delicate marble head from a statue of Paris, the Trojan prince whose wooing of Helen was the legendary cause of the Trojan War

· a child’s toy, sandals and hooded tunic from Byzantine times

· intricate embroidery and costumes, including 18th and 19th century traditional bridal gowns

· magnificent gold earrings, serpent bracelets and necklaces

· stunning Byzantine manuscripts and icons

· a painting of Lord Byron’s arrival in Greece, when he supported the struggle for Greek independence

· elaborately decorated pistols, sabres and other metalwork

Greek treasures is divided into four key time periods, which reflect the major historical influences on Greek culture and society: the Greek and Roman Period (6th millennium BC to 4th century AD), the Byzantine Period (4th to 15th centuries), the Post-Byzantine Period (15th-18th centuries) and the Neohellenic Period (19th century).

Founded in the early 20th century by prominent member of the Greek Diaspora, Antonis Benakis, the Benaki Museum’s diverse collections number more than 50,000 objects, plus more than 200,000 archival items. Although born in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, Benakis was an enthusiastic Greek patriot, and his avid collecting reflected his love and close understanding of Greece and its magnificent legacy.

Illustrating the longevity of Greek culture and its contributions to the wider world, the Benaki collection is one of the most extensive of its kind internationally – spanning eight millennia of history across five museum and archive sites in Athens.

The exhibition closes 28 May.

Visit The Immigration Museum at : http://immigration.museum.vic.gov.au/