February 25 to March 31, 2008

The people of Peking will soon have the opportunity to see the new Museum that has been constructed in the city of Athens in Greece to house the famous exhibits from the site of the Athenian Acropolis. An exhibition to be held at the Hellenic House at between 25 February 2008 and 31 March 2008, will display cast copies of the west frieze of the most famous monument on the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and a photographic presentation of the New Acropolis Museum. Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to see a to-scale model of the Museum’s ‘Parthenon Gallery’ - the Gallery in which the original blocks of the frieze and other elements of the architectural decoration of the Parthenon will displayed in the new Museum. The exhibition is organized under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture by the Organization for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum.

The New Acropolis Museum will fully open to the public in late 2008 and will present the unique human achievements of the Archaic (6th century B.C.) and the Classical Period of (5th century B.C.) of ancient Greece. This Museum, specifically designed for the needs of the exhibits of the Acropolis, is designed to world standards. In addition to its 14,000 square feet of exhibition areas, the Museum offers all the modern amenities for visitors including a multimedia centre and virtual reality screen, auditorium, temporary exhibition spaces, café and restaurant and museum stores.

The Parthenon is the Temple the Goddess Athena, the Protectress of the city of Athens in the 5th century B.C. The frieze is the sculptural ornamentation of the cella of the Temple that presents the city of Athens’ major feast – the Panathenaia. The western frieze in particular presents over 360 human figures and figures of gods, associated with the Panathenaia.

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The Cultural Year of Greece in China, to be held from September 2007 to September 2008, will present the modern and also diachronic character of Hellenic Culture and Greece. Theatrical performances, cinema tributes, dance, archaeological and modern art exhibitions, opera, folk concerts, modern and popular music, conferences and book exhibitions are among the diverse activities taking place during the Cultural Year of Greece in China.

For more information, please contact:
Embassy of Greece – Cultural Section

Ms. Susan Gao
Ms. Lina Mao
Tel：010-65324513/65324713
Fax：010-65324426
E-Mail: grculture.pek@mfa.gr

Embassy of Greece – Press Office
Stelios Korkidis, Press Counselor
Euthymios Athanasiadis, Press Attaché
Tel：010-58696755
Fax：010-58696757
E-Mail: grpress@sohu.net

Upstream Asia Beijing Office
Ms. Cathy Fu
Ms. Cynthia Guan
Tel: 010-65307200-204/217
Fax: 010-65307340
E-Mail:cathy.fu@upstreamasia.com
cynthia.guan@upstreamasia.com