National Hellenic Museum Co-Presents The Greeks at The Field Museum

The National Hellenic Museum, America’s preeminent location for Greek American heritage and culture, is proud to announce the opening of an historic exhibition and partnership with The Field Museum in Chicago.

The Greeks—Agamemnon to Alexander the Great presents more than 500 artifacts from 22 Greek museums, most of which have never been outside Greece. During The Greeks, the National Hellenic Museum presents a companion exhibition and programs on Greek history and culture in Chicago’s Greek Town.

Open through April 10, 2016, The Greeks was made possible by the generous support of the John Calamos, Sr. Foundation. John Calamos, Sr. is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Hellenic Museum. “This is not just a Greek story; this is an American story, and one which is important to share with younger generations,” remarked John Calamos, Sr. at the exclusive press opening of The Greeks. “The values, philosophy, democracy, science and artistry of ancient Greeks can be directly translated to the language of America today. The companion programs at the NHM are in line with our museum’s overall mission, and illustrate how the principals and contributions of the ancient Greeks are alive and well. ”

Opening at NHM just days before, Aegean: Creation of an Archipelago, is an immersive exhibition, rich with audiovisual material and tangible artifacts, including underwater findings, ancient fossils, and a massive petrified tree trunk, that explores the ways in which the Aegean Sea and its dazzling islands have been shaped by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tectonic shifts, and violent weather phenomena over 20 million years. Viewers can explore the tumultuous history and evolution of the beautiful sea and dazzling islands that were home to Sappho, Homer, Pythagoras, and Hippocrates and inspired fantastic mythical creatures, such as the Cyclops, Circe, and the Sirens.

Aegean: Creation of an Archipelago was developed in Greece and is an original initiative of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest. It is presented in cooperation with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki’s Geology and Paleontology Museum and the University of Crete’s Natural History Museum and will be open through August 2016.

In addition to the Aegean exhibition, cultural programs at the National Hellenic Museum include:

· Little Homer Story Hour: December 19, 2015 and January 2, 2016 is bilingual story time where children act out a Greek myth and participate in a craft.

· Winter Break with The Greeks: Storytelling December 19 and 26, 2015 and January 2, 2016 where students learn and act out famous Greek legends; and Loot the Afterlife December 20 and 27, 2015 and January 3, 2016 where students learn about the burials of the elite and working classes by comparing artifacts.

· Winter Family Days: December 22 and 29, 2015 where visitors get a tour of the Aegean exhibition, participate in a craft, enjoy a Greek dance class and cookie demonstration.

· Greek Philosophers, Founding Fathers and American Law: January 28, 2016 when U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Richard Allen Posner discusses the influence of Greek philosophers.

· Antiquities in Peril – Heritage at Risk: February 18, 2016 is a discussion of recent destruction of antiquities in the Middle East and how to protect historical heritage.

· The Trial of Antigone: Heroine or Enemy of the State: March 10, 2016 where some of the country’s most accomplished lawyers take on the case of Antigone, the Greek princess who defied the law and paid the ultimate price.

· Democracy and Knowledge: Lessons from Classical Athens: April 10, 2016 is a reexamination of democracy’s origins and how it limits contemporary politics by Stanford University classicist and political scientist Josiah Ober.

For additional details on programs visit https://www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/calendar/upcoming-programs/

Located in Chicago’s Greektown, the sleek 40,000-square-foot National Hellenic Museum at 333. S. Halsted St. is both contemporary and timeless, connecting all generations—past, present and future—to the rich heritage of Greek history, culture, art and the Greek American experience. The National Hellenic Museum, previously known as the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, has been fulfilling this mission since 1983.