The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is one of the most-visited museums in Athens. It occupies four floors of a beautiful neoclassical building in central Athens, near the Greek Parliament buildings and National Gardens. The museum houses artifacts and comprehensive works of art “representing all eras of Greek history from prehistoric to modern times“.
History
“The Benaki building was offered to Ethnos, a Greek newspaper, for the creation of a museum to host the collections of Antonis Benakis and his sisters, Argini, Alexandra, and Penelope. It houses unique exhibitions of Greek culture.”
Antonis Benakis founded the Museum in memory of Emmanuel Benakis, his father a Greek merchant, politician, and national benefactor. Benaki is the oldest major museum operating in Greece.
Antonis’ original collections form the core of the museum. They include ancient Byzantine, Post-Byzantine, and Islamic objects and works of art. Born in Alexandria Egypt, Antonis began compiling his collection in Egypt during 1928. After returning to Greece, he donated his collections to the Greek state, and they’re now part of the Benaki Museum. Over the years, a continual increase in the museum’s collections has necessitated the expansion of the building and creation of annexes.
Collections
The Benaki Museum currently exhibits the following collections:
Ground Floor – Neolithic, Bronze, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman Periods, late antiquity, Byzantium, Greek Icons 15 to 17 c.
First Floor – 17 to 19 c. vernacular art, including pottery, sculpture, costumes, jewellery, and paintings
Second Floor – 1821, the feast Christos Bokoros
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The Benaki Museum houses artifacts and works of art representing all eras of Greek history from prehistoric to modern times.
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Third Floor – Greek War of Independence, reign of Othon, first Greek Constitution of 1822, reign of George I, era of Eleftherios Venizelos – former Greek Prime Minister, Greco-Turkish War 1919-1923 (a.k.a. Asia Minor Catastrophe), Greek Interwar, and World War II
The collections are all impressive, but I thought the religious icons from the 15 to 17 century and 1821: The Collectors Choice – were the most fascinating. Photos of some of the beautiful icons and paintings are attached. Each has a compelling story.
Christos Bokoros 1821, the feast
Christos Bokoros is considered one of the most important artists of his generation. His interesting exhibit – 1821, the feast – was illuminated in a dark hall.
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During the 90s, Christos Bokoros “attempted to depict shared memory and temptations of the invisible, light, and dark”.
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Bokoros’ work takes place under the “1821-2021 Initiative”. The initiative is a result of the “cooperation of 15 Institutions and the National Bank of Greece for celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821”.
Icons of the Cretan School 15th – 17th Century
The breathtaking Greek icons on display are mesmerizing! My photos don’t come close to depicting the rich, vivid colors and images. Their historical significance is immense. The exquisite icons are a testament to the “quality and aesthetic value of the Byzantine art tradition”.
Cretan Renaissance
Constantinople and Venetian domination of the island of Crete from 1204 are said to have created the “explosive phenomenon of the Cretan Renaissance“. The “Cretan School” epitomizes the art of post-Byzantine icon painting that “flourished during Venetian and Ottoman rule”.
This form of art became the “central force in Greek painting during the 15th to 17th centuries”. Cretan artists “developed a style under the influence of Eastern and Western artistic traditions and movements”.
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“The Battle of Lala (9–13 June 1821) was one of the first major skirmishes of the Greek War of Independence between the Greek rebels and the combined Ottoman and Muslim-Albanian forces. The outcome of the battle lay the foundation to the liberation struggle in the Peloponnese against Ottoman rule.” hellenicaworld.com
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1821: The Collectors’ Choice
“In continuation of the tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, inaugurated with the exhibition 1821 Before and After,” the Benaki Museum presents the exhibition 1821: The Collectors’ Choice. The exhibition contains works from four important private collections.”
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“The year 2021 marks the bicentenary of the pivotal year in modern Greek history, 1821, when the revolution which resulted in Greece’s independence was declared.” Benaki.org
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During my tour, this exhibition was a favorite, I especially enjoyed the paintings, including over 300 objects related to the 1821 Revolution and the Philhellenism movement in Europe and America.
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