Between chaos and cosmos. Nature in Ancient Greece
The National Archaeological Museum, with the support of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), is organizing an exhibition from October 31st to March 30th that explores the profound connection the ancient Greeks had with Nature. From lush gardens to cosmic forces, nature was far more than just a setting for the Greeks; it was the stage for their myths, a reflection of their beliefs, and the driving force behind their daily lives.
Nature has always been a cornerstone of ancient Greek culture, but it has never been the subject of an exhibition of this magnitude in Spain. Curated by Margarita Moreno, Ángeles Castellano (MAN), and Xavier Aquilué (MAC), and organized by the Ministry of Culture/MAN and Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) in collaboration with the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia (MAC), this exhibition offers a journey through their vast mythical imagination through images, supported by the voice of classical texts.
The exhibition brings together over a hundred works from the MAN's collections, with significant loans from national and European institutions. These works showcase the importance of the Mediterranean triad of wheat, vine, and olive, as well as the sea. It delves into gardens as spaces for recreation and contemplation, beliefs about medicinal plants, and the Greek vision of the afterlife as a fertile and fecund place; as well as Eros as the eternal and generative impulse of Nature.
