"Weeping Caryatids": An impressive mural by the artist INO in Monastiraki
A new
impressive mural by the artist INO adorns a building in Ermou in Monastiraki,
entitled: "Weeping Caryatids".
Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts
Monday, 29 January 2024
"Weeping Caryatids": An impressive mural by the artist INO in Monastiraki
Thursday, 16 November 2023
The progress of the works in the church of Saint George in Kurbinovo - 16.11.2023
The progress of the works in the church of Saint George in Kurbinovo
On-site
visit by the ECBPBM delegation
Original Greek title: "Η πορεία των εργασιών στο ναό του Αγ. Γεωργίου στο Κουρμπίνοβο", Αρχαιολογία, 07.11.2023.
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| View of the interior of the church of Agios Georgios in Kurbinovo. Image source: ECBPBM. |
In the
context of the memorandum of cooperation, which was signed by the President of
the Board of Directors of the European Center for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine
Monuments, Professor of Byzantine Archeology at Aristoteleian Univeristy of
Thessalonike, Natalia Poulos, and the former Minister of North Macedonia Irena
Stefoska in 2021, the ECBPBM undertook the preparation of a conservation study
of the frescoes of the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios in Kurbinovo (1191)
and its implementation with funding from the Greek Ministry of Culture.
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| Snapshot from the visit of the ECBPBM delegation to the church of Agios Georgios in Kurbinovo. Image source: ECBPBM. |
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| View of the interior of the church of Agios Georgios in Kurbinovo. Image source: ECBPBM. |
First, the
mission visited the Institute of Monuments and Museums in Bitola and discussed
with the director, Meri Stoyanova, about the progress of the work. Afterwards,
the mission carried out an autopsy in the church of Saint Georgios in
Kurbinovo, where it found the impressive results of the conservation works,
which aim to preserve and highlight the frescoes of the monument with absolute
respect for their historical and aesthetic testimony and with a main guideline
based on the principle of minimal intervention.
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| View of the interior of the church of Agios Georgios in Kurbinovo. Image source: ECBPBM. |
Throughout the visit, the mission was accompanied by the Consul of Greece in the city of Bitola, Alexandros Vidouris. As pointed out in the relevant announcement of the ECBPBM, "at the meeting a very good atmosphere of cordial and very effective cooperation between the two sides was established and the will of both was confirmed for the continuation of cooperation for the benefit of the preservation and promotion of this great Byzantine monument".
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| Snapshot from the visit of the ECBPBM delegation to the church of Agios Georgios in Kurbinovo. Image source: ECBPBM. |
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
The Other Macedonian Tombs of Ampipolis
The Macedonian type tombs of Amphipolis, although more than fifty years have passed since their discovery, remain unknown to the wider public.
By Aris Mendizis
Source: Χρονόμετρο, 26.10.2014 (Translated by A.M.)
Accross from the eastern side of the ancient city of Amphipolis, on the first slopes of the sacred mountain of antiquity, mount Pangeum, another six Macedonian tombs of excellent quality were discovered and excavated by Demetrios Lazaridis, giving much and useful information about this great urban centre of antiquity.
These Macedonian type tombs are six in number and are situated just south of the Hellenistic cemetery, where the same archaeologist excavated over 400 tombs, and North-West of the ancient walls. In his book on Aphipolis, the excavator Demetios Lazaridis, gives much information about six of these funerary constructions, showing that they were special at the time of their creation.
Macedonian Tomb 1
Concerning the "Macedonian Tomb 1", as it was named , it was discovered in 1960 and is covered by an artificial mound. It is comprised of an arched corridor 5.30 m in length and 1.60 m wide, an antechamber and a main chamber Unfortunately in this tomb the ceiling has caved in over the antechamber and the main chamber. It is worth noting that the total length of this tomb is 11.30 m and, up to the discovery of the funerary construction in the "Kastas" hill, it was the largest known tomb of Amphipolis. On the right hand side of the antechamber there is a funerary litter built of limestone blocks. In the main chamber a further two such beds were found at a right angle to each other. These two litters were covered in lime stucco decorated in bright colours. On the legs of the bed and on its upper part, according to D. Lazaridis, Dionysian figures are depicted, seated on rocks or reclining on the ground holding thyrsoi, small lions, altars etc. Rosettes and various other geometric, for the most part, shapes cover the legs of the beds.
The offerings that accompanied the dead woman in this tomb were rich. They included two large gold rings with coloured stones that bear engraved figures, a gold wreath of olive-leaves, flowers and leaves made of gold-leaf, a pair of golden ear-rings that end in lionheads, a golden obol [sic] bearing the head of Hercules in a lion skin, a silver mirror, various pots and a pyxis. The paintings on the beds were recorded and then transported to the Museum of Kavala, where they were exhibited until a few years ago, in a representation of a funerary chamber in the Amphipolis hall. This important tomb, according to its excavator, is dated to the 3rd century B.C.
Macedonian Tomb 2
Close to the previous tomb, to the south-east another Macedonian Tomb was discovered in 1961, below a tumulus. This tomb is built with lime blocks and comprises of a corridor of 6.28 m length and 1.36 m. width and of a funerary chamber measuring 3.06 m X 3.08 m covered with an arched ceiling. Part of the corridor is also covered with limestone slabs.
In the funerary chamber one can enter via an entrance 1.25 m wide. On the western and the northern side there are funerary litters forming a right angle, made of limestone blocks. Unfortunately the were partially destroyed by grave-diggers who violated the tomb. From the few ceramic finds that were discovered on the floor of the chamber, the tomb is probably to be dated to the second half of the 3rd century BC.
Macedonian Tomb 3
Yet another especially important tomb of the Macedonian type, which is situated on the "Kastas" Hill, which has lately come into the limelight. Despite all the interest however, few know that on this hill a second, albeit smaller, Macedonian tomb is to be found.
This tomb was discovered in 1960, during extensive research carried out by D. Lazaridis on the hill, but unfortunately it had been opened and partially destroyed. This tomb comprises of an antechaber and a funerary chhaber and is 9m long and 3.07 m wide. It is dated to the 3rd century BC.
It was carved into the lining rock and its walls are covered with limestone blocks, of which only the lower row is preserved. The lower parts of the walls are covered in plaster mimicking marble slabs.
It is interesting that the floor of the antechamber was covered with a mosaic decorated with multicolour lozenges, while the floor of the main chamber was separeted into three zones of deep red and yellow colour. On the northern part the floor had been broken to create a second tomb apart from the first tomb which was situated on the far wall of the main chamber. The walls of the two tombs were covered in brightly coloured plaster, such as red, yellow, black, white etc, while in one of them there was a decoration of flowers, plants, birds, vases etc. The mosaic and the wall-paintings were removed to be preserved.
Macedonian Tomb 4
It is worth noting the near this tomb yet another Macedonian type tomb was discovered, in which many pyxis were discovered, as well as two ceramic statuettes, various bronze and glass objects and a gold ring.
Macedonian Tomb 5, aka "Tomb of the Doctor"
On the eastern outer side of the walls of Amphipolis, near the little church of Agios Nikolaos, another cemetery of the late Hellenistic and Roman period was located in 1959. In it another tomb of the Macedonian Type was unearthed, dating to the Roman period.
It comprises of a corridor 3 m long and a funerary chamber measuring 2.55 m X 3.55 m, in the three walls of which five alcoves are to be found. On the lintel of the tomb an inscription was discovered mentionaing that it was the tomb of the doctor Sextus Iulius Haritonos (Σέξτου Ιουλίου Χαρίτωνος) and is dated to 74 AD.
Macedonian Tomb 6
In the cemetery to the North-West of ancient Amphipolis D. Lazaridis discovered yet another Macedonian Type tomb in 1960, which comprises of a corridor 5.30 m in length and 1.58 m wide, and a funerary chamber measuring 2.90 m X 3.08 m. Its entrance was sealed with a rough wall of limestone blocks.
In the floor of the corridor, at a distance of 2.15 m from the entrance, a circular hole of unknown use was discovered, having a diameter of 55 cm and a depth of 40 cm. In the tomb six burials were discovered. The four where on the floor and two in alcoves that had been made for this purpose. Among the finds were vases; two strigils, a pair of gold ear-rings, a gold ring, a glass multicoloured vase, a bronze mirror etc. The tomb is dated by the excavator to the middle Hellenistic period.
Sources of teh Photographs:
By Aris Mendizis
Source: Χρονόμετρο, 26.10.2014 (Translated by A.M.)
Accross from the eastern side of the ancient city of Amphipolis, on the first slopes of the sacred mountain of antiquity, mount Pangeum, another six Macedonian tombs of excellent quality were discovered and excavated by Demetrios Lazaridis, giving much and useful information about this great urban centre of antiquity.
These Macedonian type tombs are six in number and are situated just south of the Hellenistic cemetery, where the same archaeologist excavated over 400 tombs, and North-West of the ancient walls. In his book on Aphipolis, the excavator Demetios Lazaridis, gives much information about six of these funerary constructions, showing that they were special at the time of their creation.
 |
| The arched corridor of the Tomb no 1 |
Macedonian Tomb 1
Concerning the "Macedonian Tomb 1", as it was named , it was discovered in 1960 and is covered by an artificial mound. It is comprised of an arched corridor 5.30 m in length and 1.60 m wide, an antechamber and a main chamber Unfortunately in this tomb the ceiling has caved in over the antechamber and the main chamber. It is worth noting that the total length of this tomb is 11.30 m and, up to the discovery of the funerary construction in the "Kastas" hill, it was the largest known tomb of Amphipolis. On the right hand side of the antechamber there is a funerary litter built of limestone blocks. In the main chamber a further two such beds were found at a right angle to each other. These two litters were covered in lime stucco decorated in bright colours. On the legs of the bed and on its upper part, according to D. Lazaridis, Dionysian figures are depicted, seated on rocks or reclining on the ground holding thyrsoi, small lions, altars etc. Rosettes and various other geometric, for the most part, shapes cover the legs of the beds.
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| The funerary biers of Macedonian Tomb 1, as they were exhibited in the Kavala Museum. |
Macedonian Tomb 2
Close to the previous tomb, to the south-east another Macedonian Tomb was discovered in 1961, below a tumulus. This tomb is built with lime blocks and comprises of a corridor of 6.28 m length and 1.36 m. width and of a funerary chamber measuring 3.06 m X 3.08 m covered with an arched ceiling. Part of the corridor is also covered with limestone slabs.
In the funerary chamber one can enter via an entrance 1.25 m wide. On the western and the northern side there are funerary litters forming a right angle, made of limestone blocks. Unfortunately the were partially destroyed by grave-diggers who violated the tomb. From the few ceramic finds that were discovered on the floor of the chamber, the tomb is probably to be dated to the second half of the 3rd century BC.
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| The entrance and corridor of Macedonian Tomb 2 |
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| The covered corridor and the entrance to the funerary chamber of Macedonian Tomb 2. |
Yet another especially important tomb of the Macedonian type, which is situated on the "Kastas" Hill, which has lately come into the limelight. Despite all the interest however, few know that on this hill a second, albeit smaller, Macedonian tomb is to be found.
This tomb was discovered in 1960, during extensive research carried out by D. Lazaridis on the hill, but unfortunately it had been opened and partially destroyed. This tomb comprises of an antechaber and a funerary chhaber and is 9m long and 3.07 m wide. It is dated to the 3rd century BC.
It was carved into the lining rock and its walls are covered with limestone blocks, of which only the lower row is preserved. The lower parts of the walls are covered in plaster mimicking marble slabs.
It is interesting that the floor of the antechamber was covered with a mosaic decorated with multicolour lozenges, while the floor of the main chamber was separeted into three zones of deep red and yellow colour. On the northern part the floor had been broken to create a second tomb apart from the first tomb which was situated on the far wall of the main chamber. The walls of the two tombs were covered in brightly coloured plaster, such as red, yellow, black, white etc, while in one of them there was a decoration of flowers, plants, birds, vases etc. The mosaic and the wall-paintings were removed to be preserved.
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| The Mosaic Floor of Macedonian Tomb 3 |
It is worth noting the near this tomb yet another Macedonian type tomb was discovered, in which many pyxis were discovered, as well as two ceramic statuettes, various bronze and glass objects and a gold ring.
Macedonian Tomb 5, aka "Tomb of the Doctor"
On the eastern outer side of the walls of Amphipolis, near the little church of Agios Nikolaos, another cemetery of the late Hellenistic and Roman period was located in 1959. In it another tomb of the Macedonian Type was unearthed, dating to the Roman period.
It comprises of a corridor 3 m long and a funerary chamber measuring 2.55 m X 3.55 m, in the three walls of which five alcoves are to be found. On the lintel of the tomb an inscription was discovered mentionaing that it was the tomb of the doctor Sextus Iulius Haritonos (Σέξτου Ιουλίου Χαρίτωνος) and is dated to 74 AD.
Macedonian Tomb 6
In the cemetery to the North-West of ancient Amphipolis D. Lazaridis discovered yet another Macedonian Type tomb in 1960, which comprises of a corridor 5.30 m in length and 1.58 m wide, and a funerary chamber measuring 2.90 m X 3.08 m. Its entrance was sealed with a rough wall of limestone blocks.
In the floor of the corridor, at a distance of 2.15 m from the entrance, a circular hole of unknown use was discovered, having a diameter of 55 cm and a depth of 40 cm. In the tomb six burials were discovered. The four where on the floor and two in alcoves that had been made for this purpose. Among the finds were vases; two strigils, a pair of gold ear-rings, a gold ring, a glass multicoloured vase, a bronze mirror etc. The tomb is dated by the excavator to the middle Hellenistic period.
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| The sealed entrance of the Macedonian Tomb 6, as found during excavation |
Sources of teh Photographs:
Photographs 1,2,3,4 : Δ. Λαζαρίδη, Αμφίπολις, Εκδόσεις Ταμείου Αρχαιολογικών Πόρων και Απαλλοτριώσεων, Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού, Αθήνα 1993 [D. Lazaridis, Amphipolis, Ministry of Culture, Athens 1993.]
Photographs 5,6 : Δ. Λαζαρίδη, «Ανασκαφαί και έρευναι Αμφιπόλεως», Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρίας, Απόσπασμα του έτους 1960, Αθήνα 1965 [D. Lazaridis, "Excavations and Researches of Amphipolis", Praktika of the Archaeological School in Athens, 1960, Athens 1965.]
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Mosaics from Amphipolis (Kastas Toumba)
Although not yet fully uncovered - and the excavators not having released their thoughts on the find - we believe the image is another "Rape of Persephone". Remember the wall-painting in Tomb A of the Great Tumulus of Vergina, with the same imagery: Hermes running in front of the horses pulling Hades' chariot...
So probably here we have another rendering - in mosaic this time - of the famous lost work of Nikomachus of Thebes.
On a side note: the geometric sceme around the central composition is closely comparable to that of the rape of Helen by Theseus on the mosaic in the house at Pella. It is interesting that this last is dated to 325-300 BC.
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| The Pella mosaic. |
Proto Thema, 12/10/2014
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Part of the Skeleton of Philip II sent to the Research Centre Dimokritios
To be
photographed and investigated.
Source: Kathimerini, 05.12.2012
A small part of the skeletal material of Philip II, that was found in
the golden larnax, one of the most
precious items of the ancient world, will be transported to the EKEFE
Dimokritos and to the
The purpose of this action is to permit the microscopic photographing
and investigation of the unknown material that has settled on the bones, which
were discovered in the larnax in the main chamber of the tomb II of the Great
Tumulus of Vergina.
This material has been observed in other burials in Macedonia, but it
is the first time that an exhaustive research is being carried out concerning
its mineral and chemical composition, and the results will give us important
information concerning the procedure of oxidation of the larnax and concerning the ceremonial materials used at
the time.
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Source: Αthenian-Macedonian Press Agency |
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
The Eclosure of a tumulus comes to light in Amphipolis.
It may be the grave of the wife and son of Alexander the
Great.
Source: To Vima, 04.10.2012 [Translated from the Greek Original]
A circular enclosure, of a height of three meteres, with a
perimeter that is calculated to be 500 meters, surrounds the toumba (the tumulus),
that is situated in an agricultural area near Amphipolis of Serres, as the head
of the 28th Ephorate of Antiquities, mrs Katerina Peristeri, declared.
The Kastas toumba, as it is called, has been known since 1965, but now for the first time its excavation was decided, without, however, having secured the necessary funding, resulting only in the partial uncovering of the verily impressive enclosure wall. There is a log way to go before the dig proceeds to a greater depth to verify the existence of burials and to explore and seek elements that will prove to whom these belong.
The Kastas toumba, as it is called, has been known since 1965, but now for the first time its excavation was decided, without, however, having secured the necessary funding, resulting only in the partial uncovering of the verily impressive enclosure wall. There is a log way to go before the dig proceeds to a greater depth to verify the existence of burials and to explore and seek elements that will prove to whom these belong.
In Amphipolis, however, it would seem that they are in a hurry, both the Ephorate of Antiquities and the local authorities, who decided in advance that it belongs to well-known persons, Roxane, the wife of Alexander the Great and their son, Alexander IV.
According to history Roxane did indeed go to Macedonia after the death of Alexander, where she and her twelve-year-old son were murdered; but whether they were buried in Amphipolis, were according to one version they had been exiled, that belongs to the sphere of myth and not science.
“This is an enclosure wall that is one of a kind, as nor
in Vergina nor elsewhere in the Hellenic area exists anything similar”,
declared mrs Peristeri and no one can deny this. But the hurry to identify it
with historical persons, as well as the
fact that this excavation does not have a foreseeable future in these
financially difficult times, can only be characterised unscientific.
A.M. Comment:
The article seems to be
biased against mrs Peristeri. Neither in the declaration published here nor in
her other public statements on the state TV does she mention specific “historical
persons”. All she does is to point out the exceptional nature of the site. What
the unnamed “local authorities” claim the site to be is of no consequence, and
it is bad journalism to amalgamate the two.
In short the unsigned article has the smell of an archaeologist’s
feud, something all too common in Greek archaeology… This should not, however,
subtract from the fact that the Kastas toumba appears to be an extremely
promising site which we hope will one day be properly explored and excavated.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
A Hoard of VenetianCoins found in Naxos
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| The coins as discovered |
Coins form the Venetian Period, of a great value, were discovered at Sagri of Naxos, as was announced by the Ministry of Culture.
A total of 54 coins were recovered (two stuck together), being Venetian grossi, as well as a closed vase (height: 0,12m) in which the coins had been kept.
A total of 54 coins were recovered (two stuck together), being Venetian grossi, as well as a closed vase (height: 0,12m) in which the coins had been kept.
The coins are believed to be Venetian grossi, including coins of the Doges Bartolomeo Gradenigo (1339-1342), Giovanni Soranzo (1329-1339), Andrea Dandolo (1343-1354) among others.
The Hoard has been transerred to the Numismatic Museum in Athens.
The Hoard has been transerred to the Numismatic Museum in Athens.
Sources:
Monday, 5 March 2012
Old Cases Re-examined
By Vicky Charisopoulou
Translated from the Greek: Ta Nea, 05.03.2012
Common elements with four cases of illegal commerce of antiquities that concerned objects of great value, have been detected with the new case in Chalkidiki. A common point of all the cases is the geographical origin of the culprits, but also of the objects that also come from the same regions of Northern Greece.
2000 The Golden Crown
An inhabitant of the village Melissourgos of Thessolonike was the worker that discovered under uncertain circumstances a gold crown of the 4th century B.C. which he handed to the authorities. The circumstances of the discovery were considered curious, especially given the past of the worker who had previously been arrested (in the Summer of 1987) for possesing ancient objects and a metal detector. It was found that the gold crown of Apollonia had been offered for sale for more than six months with an asking price of 60 mil. drachmas [t.n.: approx. 180.000 Euros].
2007 The Illegal Dig
A large-scale illegal dig of the prehistoric cemetery of Palaios Panteleimonas of Olympus was reported by the archaeologists of the 26th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Pieria in September 2007.
2009 VerginaThe case of an important case of illegal commerce of antiquities from the Vergina archaeological site in September 2009, was filed just a year and a half later under the heading "unknown culprits". Unknown persons had entered before the dawn of the 16th August into the interior of the tombs (the time of entry was recorded by the temperature detectors) broke of the arms of the throne of Eurydice and removed six small sculptures (Korai and Sphinxes of the 4th century B.C.). No-one knew anything about the case, the theft was discovered 20 days later (9 September 2009), but the investigation was fruitless.
2011 11 million loot [see here]
An inhabitant of Gerakarou of Thessalonike (on the border with Chalkidiki) was one of the three
persons arested last October during a large scale operation of the police, when objects worth a total of 11 million Euros were confiscated.The 44 arrests carried out the day before yesterday, in the region between Phthiotis to Kavala, are considered by archaeologists and the police to be the tail end of this case. Apart from the large quantity of coins (9.200), as in the case of October, the accused had in their possetion golden mouth-pieces (from graves of the 6th century) and other grave good of the same period, which are thought to come from illegal digs in Archondiko of Giannitsa.
It is noteworthy that during the last archaeological congress on the work in Macedonia last year, last Thursday, the head of excavations at Archondiko of Pella, Pavlos Chrysostomou reported
that last summer alone he discovered more than 10 illegal excavation trenches in the unguarded, because of lack of funds to pay guards, region of the ancient graveyard of Archontiko of Pella.Photos of the objects confiscated by the police during all the cases mentioned. Source: Ta Nea, 05.03.2012
See also:
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A.M. Note
Sunday, 4 March 2012
44 arrested in Greece for illegal comerce of antiquities
Investigations continue in the regions of Macedonia, Thessaly, and Central Greece concerning a large illegal antiquities commerce circuit.
Up to now 44 people have been arrested, and more than 8000 gold and silver ancient coins that were in the possetion of these people have been confiscated.
Those arrested had metal detectors and numismatic books in their possetion, as well as large sums of cash.
Source: Kathimerini, 04.03.2012.
See also:
Up to now 44 people have been arrested, and more than 8000 gold and silver ancient coins that were in the possetion of these people have been confiscated.
Those arrested had metal detectors and numismatic books in their possetion, as well as large sums of cash.
Source: Kathimerini, 04.03.2012.
See also:
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Marble lion confiscated in Central Greece
Three Greeks tries to sell a marble lion of the 5th-4th c. B.C. for 500.000 Euros. The three smuglers were arrested in Itea (Phokis, Central Greece) by officers of the Deparment against antiques smuggling, shortly before their appointment with a would-be buyer. The marble lion was 110 cm long and 30-35 cm wide and had probably served as a grave-marker in antiquity. According to an achaeologist of the Ministry of Culture, it is an object of great value that is subject to the law "on protection of antiquities and generally of cultural heritage".
Source: Ta Nea, 16.01.2012.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Mosses tristatrer. Return to Greece?
A Swiss court has decided that the excavation and sale of a rare coin of Mosses were illegal. The court ruled that is should be considered the product of illegal activities and that it was illegally exported from Greece and sold abroad, exlains the attorney that represented the Greek side to Associated Press.
The decision that dates to last October opens the way for the return of the coins, he added.
The coin, a silver octadrachm found in Northern Greece, is assumed to have been struck around 480 B.C. by a Thracian ruler.
According to the Greek side, the octadrachm changed hands through a number of off-shore companies and was finally sold in 2009 for the sum of 100.000 swiss francs (about 82.000 Euros).
The coin was confiscated by the Swiss authorities after a demand issued by the Greek side, following which the case was submitted to the Swiss courts.
The name of the seller as well as that of the buyer have not been disclosed.
The Swiss authorities are now awaiting a binding disicion concerning the circumstances of the discovery of the coin, notes Associated Press.
Ta Nea, 12.01.2012.
See also:
- Eleutherotypia, 28.01.2011
- Aggelioforos.gr, 28.01.2011
- 24H.gr, 14.01.2012
- Alfavita, 14.01.2012
- Ta Nea, 16.01.2012
-------------------------------------------------------
A.M. Comments
1. The coins is the unique tristater (29,32 g) of Mosses, sold in Numismatica Ars Classica 52 (07.10.2009), lot 110.
2. According to older publications, the Greek case rests on the fact that some photographs of the coins circulated in Greece (Thessalonike and Athens) before the coins was finally sold...
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Restoration of Thorikon Theatre, Laurion, Attica
The ancient Theatre of Thorikos, at Lavrion, is probably the most ancient surviving theatre in Greece. It is dated between 525 and 480 B.C.
Its most apparent phase dates to 450 B.C., while a third phase, dated to 425 B.C., showed that certain additions were of great importance. It is obvious even today that, being one of the first to be built, it faced a number of problems that seem to have been solved in later theatres.
For example it did not have a drainage pipe for the koilon (called an euripos according to the director of restorations of the Central Archaeological Council, Athanasios Nakasis). During antiquity a hidden supporting wall supported the supporting wall of the koilon. The necessity for this extra support was due to the weight of the earth that was increaced because of inadequate drainage for the oblong orchestra. A second supporting wall was added in the '50ies for the same reason.
The direction of restoration and the 2nd Ephorate of antiquities of Attica decided to solve the problem, using thin metal rods, which will be invisible, as they will be planted in the ground.
They will be 12 cm thick and 38 of them will be placed along 24 meters, so as to carry the weight, offerig a solution to the problem.
Adapted from Ethnos.gr, 06.11.2011
Saturday, 8 October 2011
An Important Case of Antiquities Smuggling (Thessalonike, Greece)
by Kostas Onisenko
Ancient objects similar to those that were confiscated by the Department of Illegal Antiquities Trade of the Greek Police last Thursday will be admired by visitors of the large exhibition at the Louvre in Paris "Ancient Macedonia - The Kingdom of Alexander the Great". The antiquities that were located by the police are similar to those that have been discovered in various localities of Central Macedonia, such as Sindos, Archondiko of Pella and elsewhere. "It is certain that these come from an illegal dig, certainly in Central Macedonia" commented a source in the Ministry of Culture. They total 70 objects of great archaeological importance, probably of the 6th century BC. The police handed over to archaeologists four helmets, golden masks, golden mouth-pieces, clay and metal vessels, pieces of an iron sword, various gold pieces and more. The archaeologists have not et determined their exact provenance.
The antiquities were handed over to the Archaeological Museum on the day that they wer e confiscated, in the presence of the Minister of Culture, P. Geroulanos, and the heads of Greek Police.
A source from the Ministry of Citizen Protection speaking to "Kathimerini" spoke of the great interest and the dimensions that this operations took on, and are related not only to the importance of the finding and saving such an important archaeological treasure: 'The geographic provenance of the objects and the fact that they seem to be related to the culture of Alexander the Great's Macedonia is of special importance, as it was imperative that they were not exported. In that case it would have been possible that they be "rediscovered" in an official "excavation" of one of our neighbouring countries. We have indications that such "discoveries of archaeological treasures" had in fact earlier been sold by illegal antiquity merchants from Greece. However this is something extremely difficult to prove", according to the same source.
The Greek Prime Minister Georgos Papandreou and the Minister of Culture Pavlos Geroulanos examine the antiquities.
"People of the Night"
According to information it was about three months ago that the police received the first information pertaining to the case. They contacted the illegal antiquities merchants in the guise of potential buyers and agreed to "buy" the treasure for the sum of 10 mil. euros. During the deal two people were arrested and two more are now wanted. According to police sources the were "people of the night" (mafia).
Source: Kathimerini, 08.10.2011
Supplementary information, taken from the article by Aggeliki Kopi, Ta Nea.
It appears that the finds come from four or maybe five separate graves. Given that there are four helmets and some objects related to a woman's burial there must be at least five separate graves. It appears that they come from a hitherto unknown burial site.
The objects include: Four helmets, two golden masks with the features of the dead person, gold mouth-pieces, gold plates and jewellery that was attached to the clothes (tainies, circular pieces with the Macedonian star and more), gold rings, pins, and a small silver spoon are amongst the most important of the 70 antiquities recovered. We must also mention a miniature glass amphora with beautiful colours and designs, a phiale bearing the well known ray-decoration (star), an exceptional oinochoe, whose handle ends near the lip in the form of three lion heads, silver vessels, the upper part of a large bronze oinochoe, small clay figurines and a large selection of gold leaf decorated with Macedonian motifs.
According to the report of Aggeliaforos, 25.10.2011 one of those accused in this case disclosed information about the whereabouts of the unknown cemetery: it is said to be located in the larger area of Gerakarou. The archeologists where guided to the spot by the accused, but no announcement has yet officially been made.
Aggeliki Kopi, Ta Nea, 08.10.2011
See also:
Ancient objects similar to those that were confiscated by the Department of Illegal Antiquities Trade of the Greek Police last Thursday will be admired by visitors of the large exhibition at the Louvre in Paris "Ancient Macedonia - The Kingdom of Alexander the Great". The antiquities that were located by the police are similar to those that have been discovered in various localities of Central Macedonia, such as Sindos, Archondiko of Pella and elsewhere. "It is certain that these come from an illegal dig, certainly in Central Macedonia" commented a source in the Ministry of Culture. They total 70 objects of great archaeological importance, probably of the 6th century BC. The police handed over to archaeologists four helmets, golden masks, golden mouth-pieces, clay and metal vessels, pieces of an iron sword, various gold pieces and more. The archaeologists have not et determined their exact provenance.
The antiquities were handed over to the Archaeological Museum on the day that they wer e confiscated, in the presence of the Minister of Culture, P. Geroulanos, and the heads of Greek Police.
A source from the Ministry of Citizen Protection speaking to "Kathimerini" spoke of the great interest and the dimensions that this operations took on, and are related not only to the importance of the finding and saving such an important archaeological treasure: 'The geographic provenance of the objects and the fact that they seem to be related to the culture of Alexander the Great's Macedonia is of special importance, as it was imperative that they were not exported. In that case it would have been possible that they be "rediscovered" in an official "excavation" of one of our neighbouring countries. We have indications that such "discoveries of archaeological treasures" had in fact earlier been sold by illegal antiquity merchants from Greece. However this is something extremely difficult to prove", according to the same source.
The Greek Prime Minister Georgos Papandreou and the Minister of Culture Pavlos Geroulanos examine the antiquities."People of the Night"
According to information it was about three months ago that the police received the first information pertaining to the case. They contacted the illegal antiquities merchants in the guise of potential buyers and agreed to "buy" the treasure for the sum of 10 mil. euros. During the deal two people were arrested and two more are now wanted. According to police sources the were "people of the night" (mafia).
Source: Kathimerini, 08.10.2011
Supplementary information, taken from the article by Aggeliki Kopi, Ta Nea.
It appears that the finds come from four or maybe five separate graves. Given that there are four helmets and some objects related to a woman's burial there must be at least five separate graves. It appears that they come from a hitherto unknown burial site.
The objects include: Four helmets, two golden masks with the features of the dead person, gold mouth-pieces, gold plates and jewellery that was attached to the clothes (tainies, circular pieces with the Macedonian star and more), gold rings, pins, and a small silver spoon are amongst the most important of the 70 antiquities recovered. We must also mention a miniature glass amphora with beautiful colours and designs, a phiale bearing the well known ray-decoration (star), an exceptional oinochoe, whose handle ends near the lip in the form of three lion heads, silver vessels, the upper part of a large bronze oinochoe, small clay figurines and a large selection of gold leaf decorated with Macedonian motifs.
According to the report of Aggeliaforos, 25.10.2011 one of those accused in this case disclosed information about the whereabouts of the unknown cemetery: it is said to be located in the larger area of Gerakarou. The archeologists where guided to the spot by the accused, but no announcement has yet officially been made.
Aggeliki Kopi, Ta Nea, 08.10.2011
See also:
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Mycenean Cemetery reveals itself!
A Mycenaean cemetery of the 14th c. B.C. revealed itself after a heavy rainfall in the Peloponnese, 10 km NW of Leonidion, near the village of Vaskina (Βασκίνα). It contained five graves.
When the archaeologists of the 38th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities proceeded with an excavation of the site they found the five cist-shaped graves, in which more than one dead had been buried.
According to a declaration made by the head of the Ephorate, mrs Karapanagiotou, the locals discovered the outlines of the graves that had been uncovered by the rain and immediately informed the Archaeological service.
Ceramic banqueting vessels of the kind usually found in graves, stone weaving weights and a bronze pin were among the offerings that accompanied the dead.
However a cemetery signifies a settlement, which has yet to be discovered, but was obviously one of the many that flourished in the Peloponnese during the Mycenaean period.
Sources:
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Two men arrested for smuggling in Larissa, Greece.
Two men were arrested in Larissa for smuggling antiquities. The 70-year old owner of an enterprise specialised in the construction of metallic builidngs and a 58-year old head-worker in the same buissness, situated on the 60th km of the Larissa-Kozani highway were arrested, charged with breaking the law on protection of antiquities.
While searching the building police found and confiscated a portion of a grave stele, part of an ionian capital, part of a demi-column, a small corinthian capital, all dating to the 4th-4rd centuries, and three portions of smoking pipes of the othoman period.
Source: Ethnos, 05.08.2011.
While searching the building police found and confiscated a portion of a grave stele, part of an ionian capital, part of a demi-column, a small corinthian capital, all dating to the 4th-4rd centuries, and three portions of smoking pipes of the othoman period.
Source: Ethnos, 05.08.2011.
The Tomb of Aeneia (Nea Michaniona, Thessalonike, Macedonia, Greece)
The Tomb of Aeneia
By Vicky Charisopoulou
Source: Ta Nea, 05.08.2011
In the centre of the great hall of the permanent exhibitions of the Archaeological Musem of Thessalonike an entire tomb has been placed. It is well worth the effort to climb the two steps to 
The your aristocrat (judging by the finds) rested for 2300 years accompanied by her entire boudoir. The visitor can immerse himself into the exploration of the symbols that decorate the multy-coloured decoration that runs around the entire tomb. The burial symbols - doves, pine-combs and flowers - and the objects of everyday life (crown, ribbons, bust of a woman, case for toiletry goods) provide an excellent ensemble for painting of the 4th century B.C., one of the earliest in Macedonia. The are indicative of the luxurious life style and of the religious beliefs of the young aristocrat.
The town of Aeneia (modern Nea Michaniona) was named after its founder Aeneas, the legendary hero of Troy, son of the goddess Aphrodite and of Anchises. When, after the ten-year siege Troy was conquered by the Greeks, Aeneas smuggled his old father out of the city, carrying his on his shoulders. His left his home followed by his wife Creousa (daughter of the king of Troy Priam and of Hecuba) and their children, including his daughter Anthemone, after whom the town of Anthemous (Anthemusias) was named.
The final destination of the journey was Latium, in modern Italy, but Aeneas was forced to stop on modern Megalo Karabourbnou. Here, having buried his father who did not survive the journey, he built the city of Aeneia. Since then what is now know as Megalo Karanournou (t.n.: Karabournou is its Turkish name) was named Aeneia Akra and Ainaion Akroterion (t.n. Peninsula of Aenea).
Aeneas continued his journey to Italy, but his wife Creousa with their son Askanius and their daughters remained in the newly-founded city, where she reigned until her death.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Athens & Epidaurus Festival
Athens & Epidaurus Festival
The larger modern Greek cities often strike the arriving visitor as an inhuman monstrosities, sweltering masses of ugliness and chaos. Yet, as is sometimes the case, first impressions can be mistaken, and islands of beauty can be discovered by the discerning eye, carefully hidden from those too sloth to seek them.
This is inevitably the case of Athens, whose millennia of history guarantee that there are hidden treasures to satisfy all.
Yet today I shall speak of a thing of beauty that should not be considered a secret or a mystery, as it is an official festival of the Greek state, and thus should be widely publicised. Indeed for many locals it is an event eagerly awaited each year, yet few foreigners ever get to hear about it.
I refer to the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, which takes place each year from July to early September. Its programme includes performances of music, dance, theatre and exhibitions of visual arts, with the participants often being the most illustrious companies from around the world.
The Herodus Atticus Odeon at the foot of the Acropolis.
And yet it is not the performers - who usually range from excellent to superb - that make this festival unique. It is the venues that make the experience unique both for those on the stage as for those watching. My first experience of this was at the age of four, when I was taken to the Ancient Odeon of Herodus Atticus at the foot of the Acropolis, to listen to a magnificent Carmina Burana. Despite my age and the late hour at which the performance ended I was so enchanted that I wanted to stay on after its ending, not wishing to leave the magic which I felt all around me...
The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Since then I have eagerly gone to performances both in the Herodus Atticus Odeon -especially for classical music - and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, where modern productions of both ancient dramas and modern theatre in a truly unique setting, allow for the added experience of feeling how the ancients must have experienced theatre.
Maybe it is because I am not going to Greece this summer that I wanted to share this, hoping for a dreamy echo of some mystical magic...
If you want to fit in a performance or two while in Greece, the best place to start is the official site of the festival with information on venues and the full programme and offers the possibility to buy tickets online. Although many people do not respect this, it should be remembered that the two sites mentioned are archaeological sites and should be respected as such. Please do not litter and do not wear high heals!
The larger modern Greek cities often strike the arriving visitor as an inhuman monstrosities, sweltering masses of ugliness and chaos. Yet, as is sometimes the case, first impressions can be mistaken, and islands of beauty can be discovered by the discerning eye, carefully hidden from those too sloth to seek them.
This is inevitably the case of Athens, whose millennia of history guarantee that there are hidden treasures to satisfy all.
Yet today I shall speak of a thing of beauty that should not be considered a secret or a mystery, as it is an official festival of the Greek state, and thus should be widely publicised. Indeed for many locals it is an event eagerly awaited each year, yet few foreigners ever get to hear about it.
I refer to the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, which takes place each year from July to early September. Its programme includes performances of music, dance, theatre and exhibitions of visual arts, with the participants often being the most illustrious companies from around the world.
The Herodus Atticus Odeon at the foot of the Acropolis.
The Ancient Theatre of EpidaurusSince then I have eagerly gone to performances both in the Herodus Atticus Odeon -especially for classical music - and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, where modern productions of both ancient dramas and modern theatre in a truly unique setting, allow for the added experience of feeling how the ancients must have experienced theatre.
Maybe it is because I am not going to Greece this summer that I wanted to share this, hoping for a dreamy echo of some mystical magic...
If you want to fit in a performance or two while in Greece, the best place to start is the official site of the festival with information on venues and the full programme and offers the possibility to buy tickets online. Although many people do not respect this, it should be remembered that the two sites mentioned are archaeological sites and should be respected as such. Please do not litter and do not wear high heals!
Friday, 22 July 2011
A Coin Hoard from Abdera returned to Greece
Return of a Coin Hoard to Greece
Source: Eleutherotypia, 21.07.2011.
By N. Kontrarou-Rassia
A rich American collector bought from a coin auction in New York in 2000 an Archaïc hoard of coins from ancient Abdera.
The hoard bought by 54-year old Jonathan Kagan was made up of 22 silver coins, which he delivered last year in September to the Consulate of Greece in New York, having previously studies them and published his conclusions in a volume dedicated to the great American numismatist John H. Kroll.
His desire was that the hoard enrich the collection of the Numismatic Museum of Athens, in honour of the professor of the University of Texas J. H. Kroll, whose work in a landmark in the study of the coinage of Athens.
How much did the acquisition cost?
The hoard is made up of three didrachms, a drachm, a hemidrachm, two obols and fifteen hemiobols. The coins first appeared in commerce in London in 2000 and were divided. Some appeared in auction catalogues. Greece did not claim them, evidently because it had no evidence of illegal exportation from the country.
Mr Kagan is a director of a company that is active in hi-tech products in New York; he has a degree from Harvard and completed his post-graduate studies in Oxford. He obtained the greater part of the hoard in 2000. He is a collector himself, and in the past has offered pieces from his collection to various American museums. He admires ancient art and his wife is Ute Wartenberg-Kagan, head of the American Numismatic Society, prolific writer on ancient Greek numismatics.
Octadrachm (28,12 gr, 28 mm) of Abdera (c. 500-475 B.C.?). CNG eAuction 256 (25.05.2011), 4. NOT part of the hoard.
How much did the acquisition of the 22 rare coins of Abdera cost? "I do not know. But whether he bought them for a cent or for five millions, what is important is the gesture, which shows that the world is now sensitive and responds to our calls for the return of antiquities", Despoina Evgenidou, director of the Numismatic Museum of Athens told us yesterday. She is already working on the exhibition of the hoard, which will be ready during the second half of November.
The scientific value of the coins is great. They prove that in this early time, the 6th century B.C., people used coins and, what is more, small silver fractions of the drachma, which a few years later were replaced by bronze coins. These coins were not destined to pay taxes or to buy grain from other regions. They were the means to cover everyday needs (food, household objects). "The larger exchanges, as the payment of taxes and long-distance commerce, where largely covered by the silver series, meaning the octadrachms and the tetradrachms", claims the director of the Numismatic Museum. The existence of this treasure shows that moneyed societies existed in very early times. It also tells us what the coinage of Abdera at the end of the 6th century was.
Apollo and Gryffin
"It is a very important donation, because not only does it enrich the numismatic series of Abdera that we have in the Numismatic Museum, but it adds to a very important section of our collections, that of coin hoards", underlines mrs Evgenidou.
Abdera was founded, according to myth, by Hercules, to honour the memory of his comrade Abderus, who had been killed by the mares of Diomedes. The first founder was the Klazomenian Timesios in 654 B.C. The city was refounded in 545 B.C., when migrants from the ionian town of Teos arrived, escaping enslavement by the Persians. The coins of the new inhabitants were similar to those of their old home. On the reverse they bore the head of Apollo and on the obverse a Griffin, the monster of myth that was considered to guard gold and silver mines. This is the type to be found on the coins offered by mr Kagan. The most important ones are those almost invisible to the eye: the small silver fractions that circulated for a few years before being replaced by larger bronze coins.
..................................................................................................
A.M. Notes:
1. The image that illustrates the original article (not reproduced here) has nothing to do with the hoard under discussion. It is an image from the Hoard Northern Syria, Manbij (?), 2010 (see here), comprised of tertradrachms and drachms of Philip II and Alexander III.
2. The complete title of the publication mentioned is: Jonathan H. Kagan, "Small Coinage and the Beginning of Coinage at Abdera", Agoranomia: Studies in Money and Exchange presented to John H. Kroll, New York 2006, 49-59.
3. The complete composition, as presented by Kagan: 5 Didrachms, 2 Drachms, 2 Hemidrachms (first known), 2 Obols, 18 Hemiobols. Total 29.
4. The early coins of Abdera did not have the Apollo type. They bore the Griffin on the obverse and an incuse square on the reverse (see photo, above). These are the types that the coins from this hoard bore.
5. For the coinage of Abdera see: J.M.F. May, The Coinage of Abdera, London 1966.
.......................................
On the same subject:
Source: Eleutherotypia, 21.07.2011.
By N. Kontrarou-Rassia
A rich American collector bought from a coin auction in New York in 2000 an Archaïc hoard of coins from ancient Abdera.
The hoard bought by 54-year old Jonathan Kagan was made up of 22 silver coins, which he delivered last year in September to the Consulate of Greece in New York, having previously studies them and published his conclusions in a volume dedicated to the great American numismatist John H. Kroll.
His desire was that the hoard enrich the collection of the Numismatic Museum of Athens, in honour of the professor of the University of Texas J. H. Kroll, whose work in a landmark in the study of the coinage of Athens.
How much did the acquisition cost?
The hoard is made up of three didrachms, a drachm, a hemidrachm, two obols and fifteen hemiobols. The coins first appeared in commerce in London in 2000 and were divided. Some appeared in auction catalogues. Greece did not claim them, evidently because it had no evidence of illegal exportation from the country.
Mr Kagan is a director of a company that is active in hi-tech products in New York; he has a degree from Harvard and completed his post-graduate studies in Oxford. He obtained the greater part of the hoard in 2000. He is a collector himself, and in the past has offered pieces from his collection to various American museums. He admires ancient art and his wife is Ute Wartenberg-Kagan, head of the American Numismatic Society, prolific writer on ancient Greek numismatics.
Octadrachm (28,12 gr, 28 mm) of Abdera (c. 500-475 B.C.?). CNG eAuction 256 (25.05.2011), 4. NOT part of the hoard.
How much did the acquisition of the 22 rare coins of Abdera cost? "I do not know. But whether he bought them for a cent or for five millions, what is important is the gesture, which shows that the world is now sensitive and responds to our calls for the return of antiquities", Despoina Evgenidou, director of the Numismatic Museum of Athens told us yesterday. She is already working on the exhibition of the hoard, which will be ready during the second half of November.
The scientific value of the coins is great. They prove that in this early time, the 6th century B.C., people used coins and, what is more, small silver fractions of the drachma, which a few years later were replaced by bronze coins. These coins were not destined to pay taxes or to buy grain from other regions. They were the means to cover everyday needs (food, household objects). "The larger exchanges, as the payment of taxes and long-distance commerce, where largely covered by the silver series, meaning the octadrachms and the tetradrachms", claims the director of the Numismatic Museum. The existence of this treasure shows that moneyed societies existed in very early times. It also tells us what the coinage of Abdera at the end of the 6th century was.
Apollo and Gryffin
"It is a very important donation, because not only does it enrich the numismatic series of Abdera that we have in the Numismatic Museum, but it adds to a very important section of our collections, that of coin hoards", underlines mrs Evgenidou.
Abdera was founded, according to myth, by Hercules, to honour the memory of his comrade Abderus, who had been killed by the mares of Diomedes. The first founder was the Klazomenian Timesios in 654 B.C. The city was refounded in 545 B.C., when migrants from the ionian town of Teos arrived, escaping enslavement by the Persians. The coins of the new inhabitants were similar to those of their old home. On the reverse they bore the head of Apollo and on the obverse a Griffin, the monster of myth that was considered to guard gold and silver mines. This is the type to be found on the coins offered by mr Kagan. The most important ones are those almost invisible to the eye: the small silver fractions that circulated for a few years before being replaced by larger bronze coins.
..................................................................................................
A.M. Notes:
1. The image that illustrates the original article (not reproduced here) has nothing to do with the hoard under discussion. It is an image from the Hoard Northern Syria, Manbij (?), 2010 (see here), comprised of tertradrachms and drachms of Philip II and Alexander III.
2. The complete title of the publication mentioned is: Jonathan H. Kagan, "Small Coinage and the Beginning of Coinage at Abdera", Agoranomia: Studies in Money and Exchange presented to John H. Kroll, New York 2006, 49-59.
3. The complete composition, as presented by Kagan: 5 Didrachms, 2 Drachms, 2 Hemidrachms (first known), 2 Obols, 18 Hemiobols. Total 29.
4. The early coins of Abdera did not have the Apollo type. They bore the Griffin on the obverse and an incuse square on the reverse (see photo, above). These are the types that the coins from this hoard bore.
5. For the coinage of Abdera see: J.M.F. May, The Coinage of Abdera, London 1966.
.......................................
On the same subject:
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Memorandum against Illegal Commerce of Antiquities
Memorandum against Illegal Commerce of Antiquities
Foteine Mparka, Eleutherotypia, 18.07.2011
Finally a memorandum that protects us (t.n.: the reference is to the economic memorandum). Since yesterday afternoon Greece has a strong ally in the battle against illegal exportation of its antiquities.
The American Foreign Minister and her Greek counterpart Stavros Lambinides, sign the memorandum in the Parthenon room.For almost 10 years high ranking officials from the Greek ministry of Culture tried insistently to convince the United States to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the limiting of importation of cultural goods of greek origin.
Yesterday afternoon , in the Parthenon room of the new Museum of Acropolis, the foreign affairs minister, Hillary Clinton, signed the text with her Greek counterpart, Stavros Lambrinides; they even went a step further. It is the most extensive text of collaboration that the USA has signed with another country and includes works of art dated from the Upper Palaiolothic (c. 20000 B.C.) to the end of the Byzantine period (15th c. A.D.).
Legal documentation
But what does this collaboration between the two countries mean? No object unearthed in Greece will be imported to the US unless accompanied by relevant legal documentation of origin. This makes illegal commerce of greek antiquities more difficult, but also makes the procedure of return of antiquities to the country. Will the interstate agreement have retroactive character? What shall be the fate of antiquities that have already been illegally exported to the US? Before examining the actual text, no conclusions can be drawn.
Whatever the case it will by activated immediately. The next move of the ministry of Culture will be to send the catalogue of categories of antiquities (analytically described) that has already been compiled, so that it be published in the Federal Protocol of the US, so as to block their importation to the country.
Satisfaction was apparent yesterday on the faces of the officials of the Ministry of Culture. The effort had started during the term of Evangellos Venizelos as Minister in 2002. It was then that a special scientific committee to prepare the dossier. The procedure entered its final phase during this last year, when a group of Greek specialists was invited by the special committee of the US State Department in Washington to support the Greek request. Before sending its official request, the Ministry of Culture compiled a dossier that showed how the cultural heritage of the country was in danger from illegal digs and commerce. The General Secretary of the Ministry, then as today, was Lina Mendoni, who was present at the signing ceremony, as was the current Minister of Culture, Pavlos Geroulanos.
"This agreement that we are signing today will protect Greece’s culturally significant objects even further from looting and sale on the international market... We know from experience that measures like this work. This will be our 15th cultural property agreement. And in countries from Cambodia to Cyprus, we have seen real results.", underlined Hillary Clinton during her short speech.
Profitable Business
The commerce of Greek antiquities in the US continues to be an especially lucrative business, with a turnover of millions of dollars. For example, in only the six months of 2010 Sotheby's and Christies of New York, auctioned more vases that the total of the years 2005, 2006 and 2009. What is more, Internet's ebay has helped create a rapidly developing uncontrolled commerce.
The Memorandum of Understanding, know by its initials MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), was instituted in 1983 by the American Congress. The central part of each memorandum is the interdiction of importation of antiquities without proper documentation. In order to sign and apply the Memorandum, a Committee was formed, called the Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC).
See also:
US-Cyprus Memorandum
US-Italy Memorandum
Yesterday afternoon , in the Parthenon room of the new Museum of Acropolis, the foreign affairs minister, Hillary Clinton, signed the text with her Greek counterpart, Stavros Lambrinides; they even went a step further. It is the most extensive text of collaboration that the USA has signed with another country and includes works of art dated from the Upper Palaiolothic (c. 20000 B.C.) to the end of the Byzantine period (15th c. A.D.).
Legal documentation
But what does this collaboration between the two countries mean? No object unearthed in Greece will be imported to the US unless accompanied by relevant legal documentation of origin. This makes illegal commerce of greek antiquities more difficult, but also makes the procedure of return of antiquities to the country. Will the interstate agreement have retroactive character? What shall be the fate of antiquities that have already been illegally exported to the US? Before examining the actual text, no conclusions can be drawn.
Whatever the case it will by activated immediately. The next move of the ministry of Culture will be to send the catalogue of categories of antiquities (analytically described) that has already been compiled, so that it be published in the Federal Protocol of the US, so as to block their importation to the country.
Satisfaction was apparent yesterday on the faces of the officials of the Ministry of Culture. The effort had started during the term of Evangellos Venizelos as Minister in 2002. It was then that a special scientific committee to prepare the dossier. The procedure entered its final phase during this last year, when a group of Greek specialists was invited by the special committee of the US State Department in Washington to support the Greek request. Before sending its official request, the Ministry of Culture compiled a dossier that showed how the cultural heritage of the country was in danger from illegal digs and commerce. The General Secretary of the Ministry, then as today, was Lina Mendoni, who was present at the signing ceremony, as was the current Minister of Culture, Pavlos Geroulanos.
"This agreement that we are signing today will protect Greece’s culturally significant objects even further from looting and sale on the international market... We know from experience that measures like this work. This will be our 15th cultural property agreement. And in countries from Cambodia to Cyprus, we have seen real results.", underlined Hillary Clinton during her short speech.
Profitable Business
The commerce of Greek antiquities in the US continues to be an especially lucrative business, with a turnover of millions of dollars. For example, in only the six months of 2010 Sotheby's and Christies of New York, auctioned more vases that the total of the years 2005, 2006 and 2009. What is more, Internet's ebay has helped create a rapidly developing uncontrolled commerce.
The Memorandum of Understanding, know by its initials MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), was instituted in 1983 by the American Congress. The central part of each memorandum is the interdiction of importation of antiquities without proper documentation. In order to sign and apply the Memorandum, a Committee was formed, called the Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC).
See also:
- Looting Matters, 18.07.2011
- State Dpt Press Release, 17.07.2011.
- Texts of Speeches, 17.07.2011.
- LTC News, 18.07.2011 (in Greek)
US-Cyprus Memorandum
US-Italy Memorandum
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Antiquities smuggler arrested (Kastoria & Florina, Greece)
17.07.2011: Antiquities smuggler arrested
ANA-MPA/A 48-year-old man from Florina, northwestern Greece was arrested on Thursday charged with antiquity smuggling.
ANA-MPA/A 48-year-old man from Florina, northwestern Greece was arrested on Thursday charged with antiquity smuggling.
The suspect, while driving his car near Vassiliada village in Kastoria prefecture, was stopped by a police roadblock. A search of his car and later of his house in Florina revealed a large number of Roman and Byzantine era coins, other antiquities and photos believed to indicate locations where antiquities are buried.
Specifically, police found and confiscated 81 ancient coins, two marble statues from the Hellenistic period, the head from a female statuette, two copper rings, a lecythus, a medal, six clay seals, four copper brooches, two metal detectors, one perfume container, two USB flash drives and eight photographs of probable sites of antiquities.
From ana-mpa
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