EPIGRAPHIC MUSEUM | INSCRIPTIONS OF ANCIENT GREECE

INSCRIPTIONS OF ANCIENT GREECE

EPIGRAPHIC MUSEUM

Epigraphic Museum of Athens houses the largest collection of ancient inscriptions, the primary historical sources that provide valuable information for all aspects of public and private life of antiquity. Most of the inscriptions derive from Attica, the birth place of democracy, but also from other areas of the ancient Greek world. Dating from the 8th cent. B.C. until Byzantine, Post Byzantine and later times, the 14078 inscriptions on stone are written mainly in ancient Greek language. A smaller number of inscriptions are written in Latin as well as in other languages (Phoenician, Hebrew and Ottoman).

/ 1 Tositsa St. - Athens / T: +30 210 82 32 950 / E-mail: ema@culture.gr / Fb: Epigraphical Museum Athens / Wp: epigraphicmuseum.gr

850 m / VICTORIA METRO LINE 1

THE BEST MUSEUM OF ALL IS...

...ATHENS!

Can you imagine a museum in which the entrance is free? In which you can speak as loudly as you want, drink and eat whatever you want? A museum that never closes its doors? Oh, that would be awesome if it was real… And, hopefully, it is.

This magical museum is the city of Athens. Even if you have no time to spend in an official museum, you can smell the history in every street of this city.

Ancient walls and big stones, where a great philosopher may standed one day, streets that have been walked by warriors or famous politicians, such as Periklis or Eleftherios Venizelos. Try to understand that Athenian history didn’t end with the ancient Greeks. The continuation is even more fascinating: Romans, Byzantine Empire and of course modern greek history.

In addition, during all those years many artists lived and created in Athens, such as famous architects, poets and musicians. Can you discover their masterpieces spread all over the city? Can you recognize some statues? Are you familiar with names such as Kostis Palamas, Alekos Fasianos, Dimitris Fotiadis, Melina Merkouri? Can you see the signs that lead to the most strategic points of Athens? Religion has played an important role in the evolution of our history.

Beautiful Christian orthodox churches are located everywhere and they are so different from the catholic ones, which also exist in Athens but they aren’t so many. What about mosques? Our city is the only European capital in which there aren’t official mosques and the ones in function are… illegal and/or unofficial.

Regarding the modern, political and social history of Athens, this can be read on the walls. Mottos and graffiti show the difficult economic situation of our country or shout for freedom, equality and love. History in Athens, and to be honest in every city as vivid as the capital of Greece, is written every day!