Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] "Magic and Religion: Gods, saints and demons" exhibition

[01] "Magic and Religion: Gods, saints and demons" exhibition

The exhibition will run through November 30.

A selection of related objects from the Museum's permanent collections will be on display in a special thematic exhibit between Hall 7 and 8 of the museum.

"Magic and religion are concepts as old as humanity itself," exhibition curator Nikos Bonovas told ANA-MPA, adding that "the exhibition presents these two concepts as interdependent, since both have a common root, which is the human being's fear and hope".

The objects include an 18th century bead talisman that wards off the 'evil eye', which was found in excavations at Vlatadon Monastery in Thessaloniki, other talismans such as copper lamina inscribed with curses placed in lead cylinders found in tombs, a mid-19th century copper engraving depicting St. Haralambos with an anthropomorphic demon as a footrest, a 17th century icon of the Second Coming, and a 19th century Russian copper engraving depicting the "Demons of the soul", in other worlds the passions of the soul personified as winged demons. Also on display are other talismans and icons, reliquaries and copper engravings.

In the context of the European Cultural Days, a series of events will be held from Friday to Sunday, including a role-playing game for adults and teenagers aged 15 and up titled "Magic and Faith", in which participants will be called on to imagine how specific exhibits such as talismans, crosses, vials of myrrh, religious icons and engravings were used in their time.

An event for younger children will also be organised, including readings of folk tales, accompanied by live music.

The Museum of Byzantine Culture aims to present the various aspects of life during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods: art, ideology, social structure and religion, as well as how historical changes and the political situation affected the everyday life of the people.

At the same time, the activities of the Department of Educational Programmes, the good structure and function of the conservation laboratories and of the archaeological material storerooms, the provision of scientific know-how to Balkan countries, the organisation of scientific meetings and conferences, as well as the editing and publishing work, have rendered the Museum an exceptionally important centre for the preservation, research and promotion of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine culture. Since the Museum's inauguration in 1994, an annual bulletin is published, the first of its kind by a Greek public museum./ ANA-MPA

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