Athens News

An exhibition titled "Eleutherna: Polis-Acropolis-Necropolis,” featuring around 500 ancient Cretan archaeological artifacts, is currently held at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens.

One of the largest such display ever held, the exhibition contained items never before seen by the general public such as the Kore of Eleutherna, that is the ancient statue of a woman. The around 500 articles on display at the exhibition include sculptures, vases, jewelry, weapons, tools, items of clay, metal, ivory and glazed earthenware. They were selected among the 15,000 or so items found in the course of two-decade long ongoing excavations being carried out by the University of Crete.

The exhibition is a tribute to the 4,000-year history of the Cretan city-state of Eleutherna and also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the launching of the excavations which have continually provided new findings and knowledge.

The investigations by the archaeologists of the University of Crete can be divided into three spheres: the polis (city-state), the acropolis (high citadel of the city), and the necropolis (large burial place. The 2004 exhibition highlights everyday public and private life of the citizens, including funerary customs as well as the beginning, zenith, and decline of Eleutherna.

The second floor of the Stathatos Mansion (which houses the Cyccladic Art Museum) displayed artifacts that illustrate the relations of Eleutherna with other Cretan city-states, other Aegean islands, Cyprus, Asia Minor, the coasts of Syria and Palestine, Egypt and Italy.