One of the things that would sound really strange to today’s Greeks would be to expect to see in the countryside elephants, hippos, and bison, but things were not always this way according to current research – wild mammals found today in Africa and in Asia were once roaming in …
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First underwater archaeological museum inaugurated off Alonisos (video)
The first underwater museum in Greece was inaugurated off coast of the island of Alonisos, Sporades, on Saturday. Shipwreck Peristera is now the oldest marine archaeological site that can be visited. The inauguration ribbon was cut in the clear blue waters of the Aegean Sea at a depth of 25 …
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Metro extension works unearth the Hellenistic past of Piraeus
The works to extend the Athens metro Line 3 towards Piraeus have included large-scale salvage excavations by archaeologists to depths unusual for such projects, with associated finds that include rare wooden remains from homes and even tree branches of antiquity. The excavations have brought to light more details in the …
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First water museum opens in Alonissos: Ancient Shipwreck of Peristera
The water museum of Alonissos with the famous amphorae shipwreck of 5th century BC opens for amateur divers and free diving divers from August to September 2020. The water museum is located on the site of the ancient shipwreck off the islet of Peristera, off its rocky shore on the …
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Mycenae Excavations: Cambridge Digital Library opens archives
Archives relating to the British excavations of one of the most celebrated and famous cities of the ancient world, Mycenae in Greece, have been digitised on the Cambridge Digital Library to celebrate the centenary of the British archaeological dig. Exploration of the ancient Greek city of Mycenae in now available …
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“All of Greece, One Culture” new summer festival July 18-Sept 30
Greece’s Culture Ministry has presented a new summer festival cultural events program, the “All of Greece, one Culture.” Cultural events will be performed in archaeological sites and open spaces around museums.There will be no extra charge for the events other than the ticket to enter the archaeological sites. The first …
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CAS rules: Hotels around Acropolis no higher than 21m, no pools on roofs
Hotels and other buildings at the foot of the Acropolis will not be allowed to be higher that 21 meters, neither will be allowed to have swimming pools on their roof tops. Members of the Central Archaeological Council (KAS) have unanimously approved on Tuesday, the “Special Presidential Decree for determining …
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Over 200 archaeological sites across Greece opened their gates again
The Acropolis, the Ancient Olympia and another 200 archaeological sites across Greece opened their gates to public on May 18, 2020, after two months of being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Archeological sites are the first category of cultural sites to return to normal operation, followed by open-air …
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Greece opens again archaeological sites, museums, events (schedule)
Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni announced on Thursday the country’s plan for the opening of archaeological sites and the possibility of holding cultural events in open spaces. The Acropolis and Ancient Olympia will open to the public again on May 18, 2020, along with all other archaeological sites. Rehearsals and …
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CAS: Multi-storey hotel must demolish two floors to allow view to Acropolis
The Central Archaeological Council (CAS) has decided that the multi-storey hotel at the foot of the Acropolis will have to demolish two of its upper floors as they hinder the view to the jewel of Athens. The hotel will have to be deprived of its roof bar and the swimming …
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Clause in EU-UK trade deal is not linked to Return of Parthenon Marbles
Greece managed to add a clause for the return of Parthenon Marbles into the EU-UK deal? That was a premature joy and a big disappointment two days later. Not only the clause has nothing to do with the Greek antiquities stolen by Lord Elgin, Greece distanced itself from the issue …
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Parthenon Marbles Return clause added in EU-UK trade deal
Greece has apparently managed to get a clause for the return of the Parthenon Marbles in the draft Brexit bill prepared by the European Union. The clause is included in a revised version of the negotiating mandate that Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Head of Task Force for Relations with …
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The Dragon House: The Unknown Oldest Construction in Attica (video)
Well hidden on the slopes of Mountain Hymettus is probably the oldest construction of Attica: the Dragon House. A quirky but impressive architecture made of huge stone blocks, some of which weigh several tons. Around this dragon house, one can find remains of many other “dragon houses,” a sign that …
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Short glimpse in history: Ancient Athens in 3D virtual tours
A short glimpse into the ancient history of Athens? The city with more than 3000 years of history has been reconstructed with the help of 3D modelling technology. “Ancient Athens” is only a part of a project featuring in 3D the city and its monuments in many different periods, from …
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Protests in British Museum: Greek students for the Return of Parthenon Marbles
High school students from Crete and Corinth held peaceful protests in the British Museum demanding the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. The students opened Greek flags in front of the Parthenon sculptures and shouted the slogans and sang popular songs. They handed letters to the Musuem Director and …
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Dozens of curse tablets discovered in 2,500-year-old Athens well
Dozens of curse tablets have been discovered in a 2,500 year-old water well in the ancient Greek cemetery of Kerameikos in downtown Athens. The 30 small lead tablets were found engraved with ancient curses and hexes at the bottom of the well. Curse against the newlywed Glykera, focusing on her …
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“For these we fought: Antiquities and the Greek Revolution 1821” in National Museum
An exhibition juxtaposing Greek antiquities with 18th and 19th century works will open at the National Archaeological Museum on February 11 as part of the events celebrating the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. The exhibition is named after a quote attributed to General Yiannis Makrygiannis, a …
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Vandals destroy 3,000-year-old rock carvings in Northern Greece
Archaeologists and historians are lamenting the destruction of several 3,000-year-old rock carvings on the Pangaion Hills near Kavala in northern Greece and calling for measures to protect the remaining samples of this ancient art. According to state-run news agency amna, unknown vandals have scraped several carvings depicting human figures, animals, …
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Greece’s Bar Associations form Committee to reclaim Parthenon Marbles
Presidents of all Bar Associations in Greece have formed a National Committee to Reclaim the Parthenon Sculptures, the Athens Bar Association said on Friday. In their statement, the group said that in recognition of the national nature of the effort and the need for the greatest possible contribution to the …
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Acropolis to be illuminated blue to honor UN Children Rights Charta
The Acropolis in Athens will be illuminated blue on Wednesday night to mark the 30th anniversary since the signature of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989. Blue is the official color of UNICEF. According to a Culture Ministry statement, Greece’s Central Archaeological …
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