Acropolis Museum Unveils “Aquatic Routes” Gallery Talk Exploring Water in Ancient Greece

 The Acropolis Museum invites visitors to dive into the significance of water in ancient Greek culture with its new gallery talk, Aquatic Routes: Water from Nature to Myth and the Polis, guided by expert archaeologists. This engaging presentation, part of the museum’s ongoing exploration of its permanent collections, highlights water’s vital role in health, well-being, and the life of the ancient city (polis).

A centerpiece of the talk is a striking 5th-century BC relief depicting a trireme, a powerful Athenian warship, with its crew of naked oarsmen rowing vigorously. The relief features a young man, likely the hero Paralos, the mythical inventor of navigation, standing in the upper right corner. The ship is believed to represent the Paralos, a renowned state trireme used for urgent sacred and public missions.

Through carefully selected artifacts from the museum’s main building and excavation site, the talk explores how ancient Greeks perceived water, connecting it to divine and human realms, as well as individual and collective well-being. Visitors will gain insight into the cultural and historical significance of water in the Aegean world.

Event Details:

• What: Aquatic Routes: Water from Nature to Myth and the Polis Gallery Talk
• Where: Acropolis Museum, Athens
• Tickets and Reservations: Visit https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/gallery-talks/aquatic-routes
• Photo Credit: © Acropolis Museum Photo Archive (Photo: Yiannis Koulelis)

Join the Acropolis Museum to explore this fascinating journey through ancient Greece’s relationship with water, navigation, and cultural heritage.

Source: greek city times–Bill Giannopoulos