“Horse, The Horse in Ancient Athens”: The increased attendance brought an extension of the exhibition
After the great demand and the increased attendance of the visitors, the fascinating art and science exhibition “HORSE: The horse in ancient Athens» organized by the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, in the Ioannis Makrygiannis Wing is extended until Sunday, June 5 2022.
The exhibition, curated by the professor Jennifer Niles, dDirector of the American School of Classical Studies in Athensincludes more than 50 ancient objectsmany of which are presented to the public for the first time.
The central exhibit is one of the very well preserved skeletons of ancient horses found in recent excavations in the ancient cemetery in Faliro. Women are familiar with objects and works of art depicting the multiple roles played by horses in ancient Athens: sports, war, mythology, and religion.
From burial offerings to tributes to the Acropolis of Athens, these objects highlight the symbolic significance of the horse in a city characterized by horse mania. In this exhibition, art and science are mobilized to present the new results of archaeological, zooarchaeological and historical research in order to better understand the importance of the horse in ancient Athenian society.
The exhibits come from the collections of the National Archaeological Museum, the Acropolis Museum, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens (Ancient Agora, Kerameikos, etc.), the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eastern Attica (Arch. Museum of Vravrona), the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens National Museum Florence, the State Museum of Baden (Karlsruhe) and the Alpha Bank Coin Collection.
The report is structured in six thematic sections: the burial of the horse from Faliro, the horse breeding or otherwise the breeding and training of horses, horse racing and chariot races, the Athenian cavalry, mythology and religion.
The important exhibits include a vase with the first painting depicting a horse in the art of Ancient Athens. dating to about 900 BC, a bronze bridle, probably looted by the Persians dedicated to the Acropolis, a marble relief depicting a dramatic scene with a warrior jumping from a chariot, a large burial monument in honor of a hipparch. battle and a rare silver coin with the sea god Poseidon on top of another. In addition, an amphora from the rescue excavation in Glyfada that contained the burial of a child, is exposed to the public for the first time. The vase, attributed to the painter Lydos, one of the most important painters of the Attic black-and-white style, depicts a young horseman riding a horse while riding a second one.
One of the most impressive discoveries of this century is the extensive cemetery of ancient Faliro, the first port of Athens. The excavations carried out there from 2012 to 2016 by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands under the direction of Dr. Stellas Chrysoulaki, brought to light more than 1900 simple human burials. Scattered in the cemetery were also found 18 horse burials. The osteological material from these horse burials was preserved and studied at the Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory of Archaeological Sciences at the American School. The zoo archaeologist, Dr. Flint Dibble, studied the age, sex, fitness and burial ensembles of eight horses. Although the condition of the skeletons does not indicate how they died, one theory holds that they were sacrifices in honor of the god Poseidon, also known by his last name.ππιος.
The exhibition is framed by educational programs for school groups carried out by the scholarship holder of the School, Eleni Giza. There are also captions specially designed for young men, who have the opportunity to browse the exhibition and find various items: children’s toys, vases decorated with fascinating chariot racing scenes, but also mythological creatures, such as horseradish, which was half a horse and half a rooster.
In addition, the children’s book of prof. Jennifer Niles entitled “AVRA, an Amazing Greek Horse” inspired by the true story of an ancient horse, Aura, is published by Melissa Publications which is available at the exhibition.
Finally, the municipalities are welcomed at the entrance of the School by the sculpture “Horse” by Alexandra Athanasiadis.
The setting and the scenography of the exhibition are signed by Paraskevi Gerolymatou and Andreas Georgiadis from Mikri Arktos.
Exhibition ID
American School of Classical Studies in Athens
Malcolm X. Sausage Laboratory of Archaeological Sciences
Curator: Jennifer Neils
Scientific Advisors: Stella Chrysoulaki, Flint Dibble, Jane Buikstra
Document Manager – Coordination: Ioanna Damanaki
Digital Support: Konstantinos Tzortzinis
Educational Programs: Eleni Giza
Exhibition Design: Little Bear, Andreas Georgiadis, Vivi Gerolymatou
Information
American School of Classical Studies, I. Makrygianni Wing, 61 Sweden
Free entrance
Duration until Sunday 5 June 2022