Aroma of Greece in Australia: The exhibition “Open Horizons-Ancient Greek Travel and Contacts” was launched

The exhibition “Open Horizons-Ancient Greek Travels and Contacts” was inaugurated in Melbourne, as a result of cooperation between the National Archaeological Museum and the Melbourne Museum.

The inauguration was attended by the Prime Minister of the State of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, the Archbishop of Australia, Makarios, the Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoniof Ministers Danny Pearson and Ros Spence, expatriate MPs and crowds of people, as informed by a relevant announcement of the Ministry of Culture.

The exhibition includes 44 iconic works from the collection of the largest museum in the country, covering a period of four millennia, many of which travel for the first time outside Greece. The exhibits illustrate the Greek commercial diaspora but also the war turmoil, the prosperous Greek colonies but also the colonies of foreigners in Greece, the domestic religious perceptions and the incorporation of new cult elements.

The exhibition will last until August 14, 2022.

Mendoni: The Greeks of the Diaspora carried within them the fertile Greek spirit

“From early antiquity, the Greeks turned their gaze to the open horizons of the sea and became seafarers, travelers, settlers and merchants following the naval paths of the Mediterranean, and not only exchanging goods but also ideas,” he said, among other things. , in her greeting Mrs. Mendoni.

The exhibition “Open Horizons” is an expression of recognition and tribute to the Greeks who have lived for many decades in this country, in Australia -following the open horizons of the sea- which created over the centuries an extensive Diaspora, almost equal to the Greek community of the homeland. The Greeks of the Diaspora, no matter how far from their homeland they were, carried within them the fertile Greek spirit and transmitted it to every corner of the universe. Today Australia hosts one of the largest Greek communities in the world. Victoria and Melbourne are at the heart of the thriving Greek-Australian community, which contributes significantly to Australia’s multicultural and cosmopolitan society. An open and hospitable society, which welcomed and welcomed the Greeks generously and allowed them to make this land a new homeland “, the minister noted.

Ms Mendoni thanked Prime Minister Daniel Andrews and the Government of Victoria, the expatriate MPs, the President and members of the Greek community for their decisive contribution and generous support, as well as the staff and responsible groups of the Museums of Victoria. and the National Archaeological Museum, and respectively the directors, Linda Sproul and Anna Karapanagiotou.

“We all have a common bond, Ancient Greece”

In his very warm greeting, Mr. Andrews referred extensively to the role played by the Greek community in the development of Melbourne and the whole of Australia, but also the culture of Greece throughout the world Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.

“We all have a common bond, the Ancient Greece, the wonderful gifts he has given to each of us and to the whole world. We often say that there are three great Greek cities on the planet, Athens, Thessaloniki and Melbourne. It is impossible to imagine the State of Victoria without the Greeks “, stressed Mr. Andrews, who closed his speech in Greek by saying:” You can not talk about History, Philosophy, Democracy, without mentioning the Greeks ” .