Greek Cultural Heritage Travels to Museums in China

Exquisite ancient treasures from Greece including sculptures, gold jewelry and rare bronze artifacts, are on display at the Hunan Museum in Changsha City, China, as part of the exhibition “The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great”.

The exhibition, which opened at the museum in December, is part of a collaboration of the Greek Culture Ministry with three leading museums in China and includes more than 270 artefacts of ancient Greece from fourteen Greek museums and collections. Hunan Museum is the exhibition’s “first stop” as after May 18 it will open at the Nanjing Museum in Nanjing and then at the Capital Museum in Beijing.

Source: Hunan Museum

“This is a valuable trip to the Greek world,” Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said, adding that the “journey” starts from 6000 BC. and unfolds until the 2nd century BC, from the prehistoric era to the Hellenistic years.

According to the minister, the exhibition is not “a simple listing of exhibits from each period”, but a demonstration of the essential consistency of the periods between them and the monuments.

Aiming to develop cultural diplomacy with China, the minister highlighted that the exhibition sheds light on Greek history by showing artefacts from the prehistoric to Hellenistic times.

“Presenting Greek culture through unique works of art will contribute to the further development of cultural diplomacy as well as to the cultivation of dialogue and communication with Chinese culture,” she added.

Ostracon of Themistocles, Ancient Agora Museum.

The structure of the exhibition  “The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great” demonstrates the everyday life of the Cycladic merchants, the officials of Minoan Crete and the Mycenaean rulers.

At the same time, the achievements of the heroes and athletes of the first Olympic Games and the everyday life of citizens in Ancient Athens and Macedonia are highlighted, leading to the Hellenistic Empire of Alexander the Great.

Asclepius, the god of medicine.

Kore, Acropolis Museum.

Kouros from Mount Ptoon.

“Presenting the exhibition in China, a nation with one of the oldest cultures, highlights the strengthening, deepening and cooperation of relations between the two countries in the field of culture,” Minister Mendoni said.

The exhibition will be showing at Hunan Museum until May 18 and then travel to Nanjing Museum in Nanjing until November. The “The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great” exhibition will make its last stop at the Capital Museum in Beijing (December 2024- May 2025).

The Hunan Museum’s opening hours are 9:00-17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday).