The magnificent sculptures of the Stoa of Attalos in the Ancient Agora in central Athens will be showcased in the upper floor of the two-storey 159 BC structure, which will reopen to the public after remaining closed for three decades.
Dozens of stone antiquities will be put back on display, together with a plethora of antiquities that have not been previously exhibited.
The 1,440 square meter upper floor has up to now served as a storage space for artifacts, archives and offices of the American School of Classical Studies that is conducting excavations in the area.
The Finance Ministry has approved a joint proposal by the School and the First Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities for showcasing the rich antiquities of the site in a more 'museum-like' concept, which was also endorsed by the Council of Museums.
A total of 56 stone-made antiquities will be on display again, while the exhibition will also be enriched with ancient findings never exhibited before.
The study for the rearrangement of the exhibits takes place within the framework of the project called "Reviving the Ancient Agora, the place where Democracy was born".
The proposal suggested that the presentation of sculptures takes place in thematic sections and chronological succession allowing the visitors to witness the evolution of sculptural art during the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman Times highlighting the course from the Ancient Greek idealism to the Roman realism.
The Stoa of Attalos houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. Its exhibits are mostly connected with the Athenian democracy.
Source: ANA-MPA [December 02, 2010]
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