Greek show sheds light on WWII efforts to salvage priceless antiquities
![Greek show sheds light on WWII efforts to salvage priceless antiquities](https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/files/athens_museum_876737535.jpg)
The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is hosting a small exhibition – running beside a big show commemorating its 150th anniversary – to acquaint the public with the efforts of archaeologists, guards, technical staff and volunteers during World War II to hide and preserve its priceless collections from widespread looting by occupying forces.
A month after Greece became embroiled in war with Italy – nixing Mussolini’s ultimatum issued on October 28, 1940 – every museum in the country received a letter from the government giving detailed instructions as to how they were to hide their treasures from the invaders. One of the proposals was to pack the exhibits in crates, hidden under sandbags. The other, which was more widely applied, involved burying the artifacts under museum floors, in courtyards and stowing them in the basements of any state institution.
The exhibition, which has just opened and runs through December 8 in the NAM’s courtyard cafe, consists of 24 photographs from the museum’s archive showing scenes from those fraught days.
“The methods used to hide the artifacts is what’s important and this is what we’re trying to showcase,” says NAM director Maria Lagogianni. “The objects were separated into three categories: gold items, which were carefully crated according to specific protocols and stored in the vaults of the Bank of Greece, smaller items that were sent to secret hideaways around Athens, and sculptures, which were wrapped in tar paper and buried in huge pits dug on the museum’s premises.”
Visitors will have the chance to tour the areas of the museum where the artifacts were hidden, while Lagogianni says that efforts to shed light on this chapter of the museum’s history will not end with the exhibition.
“We are also planning an e-book that will be enriched with new material on this topic every year,” says Lagogianni. “We want to reach out to other museums that hid their collections during the occupation too.”
When the occupation forces marched into Athens in April 1941, the NAM’s significant treasures were squirreled away safe from harm. The task had taken six months to complete and, during that time, the museum had appeared completely abandoned, as the work was usually carried out in the middle of the night.
National Archaeological Museum, 44 Patission, tel 213.214.4800. Open daily (except public holidays) 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Read more here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
- 1) Culture Minister inaugurates renovated theater at Dion in Central Macedonia
- 2) SNF extends support for the Greek National Opera in Athens with an €11 million grant
- 3) Culture minister reviews NSRF projects on the Greek island of Lesvos
- 4) National Theater to perform Aristophanes at ancient Greek theaters over the summer
04/07 23:09
Culture Minister inaugurates renovated theater at Dion in Central Macedonia
04/07 19:17
The 43rd Thessaloniki Book Festival opens at the waterfront Friday until July 21
04/07 17:20
Piraeus Port greenlights distribution of highest dividend in its history
03/07 00:24
03/07 00:02
Hotrec reveals digital trends in tourism: Hotels, Booking.com and DMA
01/07 19:28
Higher June temperatures in Greece compared to 2010–2019 average
01/07 19:13
More firefighting aircraft to reinforce firefighting efforts in Greek island of Kos
01/07 17:26
SNF extends support for the Greek National Opera in Athens with an €11 million grant
01/07 12:31
Amendment extending duration of measures against high prices tabled in Greek Parliament
28/06 19:18
Mount Pelion steam tourist train resumes daily service beginning July 1
25/06 19:08
FTI insolvency: Operational business of hotels remains unaffected
25/06 16:19
FinMin urges Greek banks to emulate European counterparts regarding commission charges
25/06 12:12
AEGEAN elected "Best Regional Airline in Europe" at the World Airline Awards 2024
25/06 10:16
Platform for Greece's 'Thessaly & Evros Pass 2024' opens on Tuesday
22/06 18:11
Greek Tourism Ministry and embassies cooperate to address sector issues
22/06 18:05
Wyndham inked deal with Oikos for the first Ramada Residences in Greece
21/06 17:57
Event organized to present 'The Ilisian' - the new name of the former Athens Hilton
19/06 23:47
Greek state ten-year bond auction concluded with yield at 3.56%
19/06 23:41
Shipping Minister: Greece supports EU's efforts to modernise maritime safety rules
19/06 22:32
Culture minister reviews NSRF projects on the Greek island of Lesvos
19/06 19:41
US Ambassador to Athens applauds Greece’s comeback and investors interest
19/06 11:44
Minister: Reforms must follow investments to boost regional competitiveness
18/06 18:15
ARF 2024: US Ambassador to Athens on Greece's economic miracle
18/06 16:33
Capital Region AHEPA organizes 5th Annual Golf Outing in New York
18/06 14:58
18/06 14:24
Greek Minister refers to multiple benefits from the restoration of the Athens Riviera
18/06 13:35
Regional Governor of Attica: Greeks living abroad are the most important ambassadors
17/06 19:02
Conference focuses on Sifnos and sustainable development on Greek islands
17/06 18:56
Council of State discusses relocation of Mount Parnitha casino to Marousi again
17/06 18:56
Ministers and Super League chief talk digital tickets for upcoming soccer matches
17/06 15:59
Forecast: Very high risk of fire in two Greek regions including Attica
17/06 13:42
Passenger traffic in Greek ports records an increase of 11.1% during Q4 2023
14/06 22:58
14/06 22:03
14/06 17:58
Athens and Thessaloniki added 250 new electric buses to their urban transport networks
13/06 22:43
National Theater to perform Aristophanes at ancient Greek theaters over the summer
12/06 11:48
Athens Acropolis site closed down from 12:00 to 17:00 due to high temperatures
12/06 00:01
'Poor Things' costumes exhbition at Benaki Museum in downtown Athens
11/06 15:53
Schools in Athens to stay closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to heatwave
11/06 00:10
Greek Port Authority to acquire 11 boats for transfer of patients from remote islands
11/06 00:03
Greece's Interior Ministry issues directions for remote work during heatwave
10/06 23:45
Digital app for travellers to Greece 'mAIGreece' goes live on Monday
10/06 22:28
Greek Interior Ministry issues directions for remote work during heatwave on Tuesday-Thursday
10/06 19:38
Traffic restored on new Greek national highway leading to Corinth after truck explosion
10/06 14:42
09/06 22:47
High prices of consumer goods in Greek supermarkets are on a downward trend
09/06 11:18
UK Tourism 2024: Greece named top destination in the world with best value for money
08/06 00:22
Insolvency: FTI Touristik GmbH cancels all trips up to and including 05 July 2024
07/06 02:54
ERTFLIX International takes part in the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival
07/06 02:42
NBG: Greek tourism to break record in 2024 with 35 million arrivals and €22 billion in revenue
06/06 20:50
Greece elected to UN Security Council for 2025-26 in a 'historic day'
06/06 13:57
Hellenic National Archaeological Museum presents "The last Aphrodites" exhibition
05/06 22:00
FTI provisional insolvency admin strives for fastest possible solutions for clients
05/06 00:13
Turkey denies allowing Lord Elgin take Parthenon Marbles off Athens Acropolis
04/06 20:04
Migration & Asylum Ministry greenlights extra funding for 5 Greek island municipalities
04/06 14:55
Greek wine promotion event in London held under the auspices of GNTO
04/06 09:33
01/06 23:59
Regalia of King Otto on display in the Greek parliament in Athens until 2073
30/05 22:04
Eight groups submit expression of interest for Greek port of Lavrio
30/05 21:01
Traffic restrictions in Athens on Sunday morning for Cancer Survivors Day event
30/05 20:19
Conference and Summit of Global Archons conclides with dinner at Zappeion
30/05 18:15
Posidonia 2024: Minister wants more ships and related firms registered in Greece
30/05 15:23
Greek government spokesperson announces launch of new Entrepreneurship Fund
29/05 23:31
National Opera adds fifth performance of 'Tosca' due to high demand in Athens
29/05 21:24
Japan's Princess Kako tours Greece and visits National Foundation for the Deaf in Corfu
29/05 19:20
Attica Region governor talks synergies with firms, agencies at Shanghai conference
29/05 18:16
ATTICA GREEN EXPO 2024: Deputy Tourism Minister promotes sustainable tourism
29/05 15:11
Greek Prime Minister meets Emir of Qatar and two bilateral agreements are signed
29/05 14:47
28/05 22:58
Greek PM: We will continue to work hard to curb rising prices
28/05 22:54
Greek FinMin utilizes Recovery Fund, NSRF to be in vanguard of green transition
28/05 19:46
'The Enigma of Keros' clinches Audience Favorite prize at International Festival in Oregon
28/05 17:49
Former US Secretary of State Pompeo addresses Archon Conference in Athens
28/05 17:41
European report confirms 95.8% of bathing waters in Greece have 'excellent quality'
27/05 23:05
Türkiye's Ambassador to Athens on boosting economic, commercial, and cultural relations
27/05 21:11
4th International Conference on Religious Freedom of Archons commences in Athens
27/05 20:19
Delegation from the Saudi Arabia visits ONEX shipyards in Elefsis near Athens
27/05 18:15
Princess Kako takes part in 125th anniversary of Greek-Japanese diplomatic relations
27/05 14:07
National Opera offers free tickets to the dress rehearsal of 'Tosca' for the jobless
23/05 23:30
New Evinos bridge in Central Greece inaugurated by Transport Minister
23/05 21:34
Greece hosting meeting of International Organization of Securities Commissions May 26-29
23/05 20:37
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister highlights efforts to counter brain drain
23/05 20:24
Greek government to improve ties with Diaspora and consular services by AI
23/05 13:15
Climate Perception: Greece most resilient to global warming among Med destinations
22/05 23:17
Commander of French land forces visits Greece to promote military ties
22/05 20:06
Greek presence at 77th Cannes Film Festival includes Lanthimos film
22/05 18:55
Greece's Kalamata Dance Festival opens July 12 featuring 19 productions
22/05 18:11
Over 630 schools participate in 'Greek PISA' assessment tests on Wednesday
22/05 16:52
22/05 12:32
Porto Carras Pro-Am Aegean Mini Tour with participants from 12 countries
21/05 18:30
The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Florence in Italy on May 23
21/05 17:24
'Greece through the Art of the Tourist Poster' exhibition in Chengdu of China
21/05 17:21
American Hellenic Institute honors Anniversary of the Pontic Greek Genocide
21/05 15:17
Arrivals and nights in Greek tourist accommodation rise 3.5% and 4.9% in March
21/05 14:12
Greek Tourism Minister receives ambassadors of Iraq and Slovakia
20/05 01:51
First Ramada by Wyndham Hotel in Fethiye opens in Ölüdeniz of Turkey
17/05 01:25
Mayors of Athens and Rome discuss city challenges and cooperation
16/05 23:20
Tsakopoulos Collection & Hellenic Studies Program marked their 20th anniversary
16/05 21:17
Greek Culture Minister hosts Turkish counterpart for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ premiere
16/05 20:12
Greek Finance Minister advocates green transition and Recovery Fund II
Hotrec reveals digital trends in tourism: Hotels, Booking.com and DMA
The 43rd Thessaloniki Book Festival opens at the waterfront Friday until July 21
Piraeus Port greenlights distribution of highest dividend in its history
Amendment extending duration of measures against high prices tabled in Greek Parliament
Culture Minister inaugurates renovated theater at Dion in Central Macedonia
More firefighting aircraft to reinforce firefighting efforts in Greek island of Kos
SNF extends support for the Greek National Opera in Athens with an €11 million grant
Higher June temperatures in Greece compared to 2010–2019 average
Mount Pelion steam tourist train resumes daily service beginning July 1
Greece doubles Golden Visa threshold for foreign investors wanting passport
'Greece through the Art of the Tourist Poster' exhibition in Chengdu of China
Cyprus and Greece sign deal on mutual academic recognition of university degrees
Attica Region governor talks synergies with firms, agencies at Shanghai conference
Tourism's potential for mountain ecosystems outlined in new UNWTO report
Greece and China to ink cooperation protocols in the fisheries sector
Missing climber found unconscious in gorge on Mount Olympus of Greece
Athens metro stations to close on selected dates this summer
NBG: Greek tourism to break record in 2024 with 35 million arrivals and €22 billion in revenue
Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation presents lecture with US University President
AEGEAN elected "Best Regional Airline in Europe" at the World Airline Awards 2024
Greek Environment Minister meets Chinese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources