by Dr Elena Korka Director Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports
Οι μουσειακές πρακτικές έχουν διαχρονικά διαμορφωθεί ανάλογα με την ιστορική, κοινωνική και ηθική εξέλιξη του ανθρώπου. Οι εκάστοτε εφαρμοσμένες μουσειακές πρακτικές, θα μπορούσε να πει κανείς ότι αποτελούν την ακτινογραφία της κοινωνίας .
Η δημιουργία των πρώτων συλλογών συνδέεται από την εποχή του Ασσουρμπανιμπάλ με τη διαρπαγή καλλιτεχνημάτων κατά τη διάρκεια πολέμων, αλλά και τη τυμβωρυχία (1) , η οποία διαπράτονταν καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της αρχαιότητας και συνεχίζει μέχρι και σήμερα.
Στη ρωμαϊκή περίοδο, εντοπίζονται οι απαρχές της συστηματικής αγοραπωλησίας τέχνεργων (2) . Σύμφωνα με τον Στράβωνα (3) , ο Καίσαρας εγκατέστησε στην περιοχή της Κορίνθου απελεύθερους, οι οποίοι μετακινώντας ερείπια και ανασκάπτοντας τάφους, ανακάλυψαν πλουσιότατα ευρήματα, τα λεγόμενα «νεκροκορίνθια». Άπειρα έργα τέχνης από τις κατακτημένες περιοχές πλημμύρισαν τη ρωμαϊκή αγορά και μετέτρεψαν τη Ρώμη σε ένα ανοιχτό ιμπεριαλιστικό μουσείο.
Ένα άλλο χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα συστηματικής λεηλασίας αποτελεί η άλωση της Κωνσταντινούπολης από τους Σταυροφόρους το 1204.Πολλά κλεμμένα καλλιτεχνήματα κοσμούν σήμερα Ευρωπαϊκές πρωτεύουσες και μουσεία. Άλλες τόσο εκτεταμένες αρπαγές καταγράφονται κατά τη διάρκεια των ναπολεόντειων πολέμων και πιο πρόσφατα πραγματοποιήθηκαν κατά την περίοδο των δυο παγκοσμίων πολέμων και μάλιστα με το χειρότερο τρόπο.
by Sofia Karouni Archaeologist Postgraduate student in Museum Studies National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Good evening,
This presentation attempts to emerge the importance of collecting objects from other civilizations. First of all, let’s see the two basic definitions: collection and Other.
Philologist MSc in Education and Culture & Zoe Pelekanou Theatrical Education with a specialization in culture
The program MUSEUM: THE ACTINOGRAPHY OF EUROPEAN PEOPLE : YOUTH IN ACTION was a valuable experience for the young participants but also for us , the speakers. This Experiential seminar aimed at young people from 13-17 years, and was designed for interaction, acquaintance and cooperation of the participants.
While browsing in museums throughout the world, the concept of equality of cultures and the opportunity to develop creativity and imagination through such activities , were cultivated. Young people understood the role of the museum, grouped its categories, watched its evolution during the years, identified its differences with the school and saw the training methods it uses.
At the end the participants were asked to create their own “strange museum” .
Their interest and their mood really surprised us- in a great way! So many and so strange new museums were created, such as the museum of chair, the museum of wigs, the playmobil museum, the museum of the Unknown God, the museum of Greek food, the museum of war and peace, the museum of phones, the money museum for children , the friendship museum of peoples, the museum of Roman life etc. For us, it was a surprisingly revealing experience we are looking forward to having again!
In my turn, I would also like to welcome you in today’s lectures. My name is Christina Birmpilopoulou, I am an archaeologist – museologist, and we will talk about the historical progress of the European Museum, as well as its multiple role which it plays in our days. Shall we begin?
The notion of the Museum inextricably intertwined with the natural need of man to gather ancient artifacts.
In 325 BC Alexander the Great entrusted Denocrates the Rhode with the planning and founding of a new town which was aspired to be the center of trade and the gathering spot of people and valuable goods of the known world. According to tradition, Alexander removed his cloak and as he placed it on the sand, he defined the shape that the new town would adorn including it’s borders. Denocrates had to overcome the two challenges that follows:
First, he had to build a port-town unlike any other; since that period the ships were sailing on Nile to be lead towards the refuge the river provided, safeguarding themselves from the strong currents and the brewing storms of Mediterranean.
Second, in addition he had to ensure that the port-town would become a trade center in which trade goods and people would be gathered. At the same time the town was destined to be the starting point of a large transfer network, who’s ends would be the major and known ports of that historical period.
The mindset and the pattern and also the development of the project and it’s prosperity, announced the town a prototype based on which, many similar port-towns were founded. One should mention that towns which followed the same archetype did not only belong to the era that the prototype port-town was founded, but they also appear in later historical periods.
Following the definition of museums - adopted by the International Council of Museums during the 21st General Conference in Vienna ( Austria ) in 2007 - : « a museum is a non – profit permanent institution in the service of society and its development - open to the public - which acquires , conserves, researches , communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment – for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment » .
That definition represents – in the most appropriate way - the spirit , the philosophy and the purpose of a model of a new museum which developed dynamically in the era of the 21st century, in the era of postmodernism , multiculturalism and values' polytheism , leaving behind the old model of the modernist museum - which constituted however- the base for its birth. That new museum model is called '' post – museum'' .
The modernist museum – a creation of the 19th century - , was a European museum model which in contrast to earlier princely cabinets and royal collections , aimed to play a public role as an important part of the nation's , setting the mass education as a main purpose of its function . The modernist museum used the power of the display of the objects as a method of communication with the audience – usually in an architectural environment of classical form or more unusual and imaginative in recent years – such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao .
During the multi-day conferenses organized by the Greek team , many professors as well as young scientintis presented many interesting aspects over museums and culture:
Thursday, October 3, 2013
- Dr. Elena Korka , PhD in Archaeology, Athens National University, MA in History and Archaeology, University of La Verne ,Director of the SERVICE FOR ANTIQUARIES AND PRIVATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE GREEK MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS The role of museums from past to future. Synergies and benefits in regard to the return of cultural goods
- Dr. Emmanuel Mikrogiannakis , Professor of Ancient History, University of Athens and former Dean of School of Philosophy The importance of museums for the future of people
- Dr. Marios Stamatakis , President of the Municipal Center for Social Policy of Korinthos , Orthopedic Doctor, University of Ioannina
- Nikos Lois , President of the BoD of the Municipal Agency “O PROMITHEAS” for Culture , Sports and Environment , of Loutraki How the local authority can highlights the wealth of museums within the area of municipal.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
- Aggeliki Taratsa-Kazana , Health manager Asclipia – space of medicine and culture
-Dr. Panagiotis Kazanas , President Cancer Society – Dentist
The Mediterranean diet
- Giorgos Keramitzoglou , Environmental Journalist of SKAI TV The role of media for promotion of the museums
- Dr. Katsaros Nikos , President of Union of Greek Chemists, Scientific Collaborator in Democritus Technology at the service of museums
- Anastasia Zografou , Epistemologist , postgraduate student in history and philosophy , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Maria Gerolymatou , Social Anthropologist , Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences From traditional to contemporary policy for the museums , the role of the European Union
- Dora Skouteri , Marketing Consultant through Art Graphic artist, Interior decorator , Director of Fine Arts for Unesco club Pireaus & Islands The colors of Ancient Greece and today Sunday, October 6, 2013
- Dr.Maria Kekropoulou , PhD in History, Professor in Experimental School of the University of Athens The promotion and the role of the Museum from ancient times to present
- Christina Birmpilopoulou , Archaeologist – Museologist , MSc in Museum Studies , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens A glimpse to the historical progress of European Museum
- Sofia Karouni , Archaeologist, Postgraduate student in Museum Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens The Other through the history of museum
- Sofia Papaspyrou , Archaeologist, Postgraduate student in Museum Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Museums: agents of equality and unity
- Nikolena Kalaitzaki , Archaeologist , BA National and Kapodistrian University of Athens From the modernist museums to the post-modern museums of the 21st century.
- Ioannis Zervas , Social Anthropologist , Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences
Intercultural Education. Principles, aims and relationship with today's museum
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
- Dr.Athanasios Nakasis , Architecture , PhD in History of Architecture National Technical University, President of ICOMOS , Secretary of Greek and world federation Pancratium Sport
- Sofia Spyropoulou The educational role of archaeological sites and museums principles , standards and best practises
Today Friday, October 4, 2013, after photo presentation of Romanian Museums and Culture , and the traditional costumes and photo exhibition workshops , the romanian team organized an interesting conference about Museums and Culture with the following speakers :
- Dr. Mihai Ionescu , History Ph.D. – Curator The heritage of Callatis Archaeological Museum
- Tatiana Odobescu, Director of Museum complex "CALLATIS" Mangalia Artistic and cultural sights in the city of Mangalia
- Ovidiu Rosca , President of A.C.C.S.A.L.P.A Constanta
“About culture among people.”
- Dr. Constantine Chera , History Ph.D ,Chief of Monuments of History and Archaeology Museum of Constanta, Underwater culture
- Octavian Eugeniu , Historical Danais, history at Danube`s shore. History and mythology of Dobrogea
- Ana Olivia Rotaru , Museum Director "AXIOPOLIS" in Cernavoda.
PHOTOS OF THE ROMANIAN CONFERENCE & PHOTO PRESENTATION
