Glorious Victories: Between Myth and History

We’ll jump on any excuse to head over to the National Archaeological Museum. This often-overlooked cultural gem, built to resemble a Florentine palace, safeguards one of the world’s most precious hauls of Greek antiquities. (Some camps even prefer it over the splashier Acropolis Museum.) 

NAM’s current temporary exhibition - Glorious Victories: Between Myth and History – is that excuse.  Marking the 2.500-year anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae and the Naval Battle of Salamis, this rousing showcase gathers 105 ancient 5th century BC works from both its own collection and other prestigious Greek archaeological museums (including Thebes and Olympia).  

You can see arrowheads from the battlefield of Thermopylae; fragments of vases with traces of fire from the burning of Athens by the Persians; and a Roman replica of the bust of Themistocles. Alongside these treasures: resplendent sculptures of the gods and mythical heroes who joined forces to deliver victory, featured to amplify the historical narrative. The Persian Wars – and the eventual triumph of the Greeks – were a pivot point in the history of ancient Greece. It was the first time that Greeks defended their freedom united and fully conscious of their national identity.