“The Greeks – Agamemnon to Alexander the Great”

-by Constance Karvelas

On Wednesday, December 10, 2014, an exclusive advance preview and world premiere of a major exhibition of Greek antiquities will take place at Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal’s museum of Archaeology and History.

“The Greeks –  Agamemnon to Alexander the Great” will bring together more than 500 artifacts – brilliant examples of sculpture, painting and jewelry making – from 21 museums all across Greece.  It is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition on Ancient Greece ever presented in North America. Many of these objects have never been exhibited outside of Greece, and possibly never again.

The exhibition will take visitors on exceptional journey though 5000 years of Greek history and culture, recounting the epic adventures of heroes of Ancient Greece, from the siege of Troy by Agamemnon to the triumphs of Alexander the Great.

Among the important archaeological treasures of the ancient Greek world that are part of this exhibition are two magnificent death masks from Mycenae (16th century BC), kouroi statues of men and women dating from the 6th century BC, the iconic portrait of Alexander the Great, found near Pella and the beautiful myrtle wreath of Queen Meda from the antechamber of the tomb of Philip II of Macedonia (about 336 BC).

The Museum will also be offering a number of complementary activities related to the exhibition. Some of the highlights include a series of free lectures presented by international specialists on Ancient Greece on January 15 and 29, February 26, and March 26, 2015 and a thematic week, from March 21 to 29, with special access for members of Montreal’s Greek community on March 25, 2015, Greece’s Independence Day.

It is a great honour for Montreal to have been chosen as the launch city for this exhibition. On December 10, a group of 200 people will have the distinct privilege of being the first in North America to view this historically important collection of artifacts before it opens to the public on Friday, December 12. “The Greeks” will run at Pointe-à-Callière until April 26, 2015, and then move to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau from June 5 to October 12, 2015 before heading to Chicago and Washington DC.

The exclusive world premiere advance preview of this incredible exhibit is organized under the high patronage of the Greek Embassy in Canada. The evening’s Honorary President is Mr. Nicholas Pagonis. President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, The members of the Honorary Committee for the event include: His Excellency Mr. Nicholas Sigalas, Consul General of Greece in Montreal; Mr. John Georgoudis, Co-President and General Manager of Lanvac (also the major event sponsor); Mr. Anthony Gouvoussis, President of Tyros Biopharma, Dr. Christos Karatzios, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist; Ms. Constance Karvelas, President and Creative Director of CKameleon; Me Demetrius Manolakos, Notary and Honorary President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal; Ms. Aglaia Revalakis, Municipal Councillor for the District of Chomedey and Designated Councillor of the official opposition, City of Laval; Mr. George Tsitouras, Partner, Tax Services at Ernst & Young; and Mr.George Valsamis, Managing Director of OPA Productions.

For more information, contact Foundation Pointe-à-Callière at 514-872-4643.