What I can see

The Museum of Philhellenism (i.e. the love and admiration of Greece, its people, and its culture) highlights the evolution of Philhellenism and its contribution to national independence, while promoting classical education, contemporary Greek culture, and modern-day Philhellenism. It showcases approximately 3,000 objects -many of them rare-, acquired after twelve years of research, study, purchasing, and transport. Among the exhibits, visitors can admire a fan featuring a Philhellenic theme, personal belongings of Lord Byron, European and American press articles, paintings, the moving story behind the sculpture “The Greek Slave,” and two panels listing the names of 1,500 emblematic Philhellenes. The collections are organized by thematic section and floor. The first section, “Myths and Heroes,” focuses on the reverence for antiquity and classical education from the Renaissance until the 19th century. The section “Greece: The Land and the People” presents an idealized vision of Greece, as perceived by admirers of Greek education and ancient Greek civilization. The third section, “The Greek Revolution and Philhellenism,” examines the contribution of Philhellenes to the struggle for independence, with Greece serving as a symbol of Western civilization.

What I can't see

The museum’s collections belong to Konstantinos Velentzas who also envisioned this museum. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum hosts temporary ones (e.g., “American Philhellenism”). Each year, it awards the Lord Byron Medal to individuals and organizations that have promoted Hellenism and Greek studies, as well as to descendants of Philhellenes who supported the Greek War of Independence. More than 1,500 Europeans alone came to Greece to fight alongside the Greeks, and many of them lost their lives. They used to say, “We are all Greeks,” and felt that the cause concerned Western civilization as a whole.

Info

• Address: 12 Zissimopoulou St.
• Postal Code : 11524
• Phone: +30 2108094750, + 30 6974750361
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Website: https://phmus.org/

Bibliography