Last night I attended the opening of The Greeks, an exhibit that provides a look at ancient Greece, from Agamemnon to Alexander the Great. There are over 500 artifacts on display, gathered from 21 Greek museums, spanning over 5,000 years, and there are some amazing artifacts in this exhibit, such as the supposed golden death mask of Agamemnon, as well as some very well preserved swords, helmets and jewelry.
The exhibit is divided into time periods, as you move through and explore you are provided with bits of information about ancient Greece at that time. There are digital images behind certain artifacts to give you a better idea of how they looked when they were first designed. Every artifact has a tale to tell, and I will admit, some are more interesting than others.
For those of you that know the works of Homer, there is a section that focuses on The Illiad, and The Odyssey. Pottery and other artifacts depict elements of Homers works, taking you through scenes of the Trojan war. There are also sections that talk about the ancient fictional heroes, such as Herakles and Theseus. One piece of pottery depicts Theseus' battle with the Minotaur.
I also saw the IMAX production: "Greece: Secrets of the Past", which gave an amazing condensed version of what it was like in ancient Greece and what happened on the island of Santorini. The panoramic views are spectacular and you get a birds-eye view of the ruins that scatter this historic country. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys history or Greek culture, or just anyone who longs to visit Greece.
This walk through ancient Greece is spectacular and very well done. The exhibit is a must see, but if you're unsure of whether you want to pay to see this exhibit, then don't worry, the Canadian Museum of History, along with most other museums and the National Art Gallery, are free on Thursdays after 4 pm.
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