Exhibition on shipbuilding underway at the Museum Herakleidon

The Museum Herakleidon presents the history of maritime voyages, achievements in naval architecture, exchange of ideas and technological developments, presented through about 40 handmade wooden models of Greek ships, which date from prehistoric times to the middle of the 20th century. The exhibits, of remarkable size (0,60 m. to 1,50 m) and excellent, detailed construction, combined with the well-designed presentation, offer the visitors the possibility to study the models at their leisure and in depth, and thus better understand the development of shipbuilding from antiquity to the beginning of the 20th century. The creator of these models is Dimitris Maras, M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and model shipbuilder, who has studied in depth the shipbuilding history of Greece, as well as the construction of ship models.

The painter-printmaker Mary Schina, Associate Professor of the Printmaking department of the Athens School of Fine Arts, is also participating in this exhibition with selected works from her series “Aegaeis”, “Aegean Sea Odes” and “Aegean Odes honour the Ancient Treasures of Antikythera”, inspired by the Aegean Sea. The perpetual movement of the sea, in a dialogue with Ancient Greek Writing and the Ancient Treasures of Antikythera continue the awe-inspiring adventure of the artist with the magical and mystifying Aegean Sea, which began in 2001.

Navigational instruments are also be exhibited, as well as a full-size replica of the Antikythera mechanism. In addition, there will be an interactive model of the mechanism, so visitors will be able to experiment with all the functions that are known today, based on international research (Scientific Review: Xenophon Moussas, Professor of Space Physics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Constructed by Dionysis Kriaris, mathematician).

Maps, video projections, explanatory drawings by the archaeologist Yiannis Nakas, and other material further complement the exhibition, aiming to help the visitors understand the subject and goal of the exhibition by creating the appropriate museum environment.

The goal of the exhibition is to present to the visitors, in a coherent and comprehensible manner, the history of Greek seafaring and shipbuilding, giving them a chance to take a mental trip back in time to discover the close and timeless relationship of the Greek people with the sea.

Creator of the woden ship-models
Dimitris Maras, M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and model shipbuilder
“Aegaeis”, “Aegean Sea Odes”, “Aegean Odes honour the Ancient Treasures of Antikythera”

Mary Schina, Associate Professor of A’ Printmaking Studio, Athens Athens School of Fine Arts

Exhibition Designer and Curator
Nikoleta Xydea, Archaeology-Museology MA

The exhibition takes place under the auspices  of the Hellenic Navy General Staff

Special lectures to take place:
Friday, November 25,2016, 18:00, 16, Herakleidon street, Thisio
Friday, November 25,2016, 16:00 & Sunday November 27, 16, Herakleidon street, Thisio
Saturday, November 26, 16:30, 16, Herakleidon street, Thisio
For more information visit the Museum Herakleidon dedicated web page.