The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni He inaugurated, at the Palace Museum of Beijing, the exhibition entitled “Daedalus, Legends of Crete – Daedalus: Myths of Crete”, organized by the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in collaboration with the Chinese Museum and the Ministry of Culture. The exhibition is a leading event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Palace Museum. There are 172 ancient artifacts from the collections of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum – many of which had not been exposed and others have not traveled outside the borders – covering a wide -ranging spectrum from prehistoric times to the historical periods of Crete.
Lina Mendoni at the inauguration ceremony, in her address, noted that this exhibition “is a proof of the timeless and ever -growing cultural bonds between Greece and China. Our two countries are pillars of world culture, with a glorious past characterized by brilliant achievements in philosophy, art, science and technology. In the great historical time, our cultures have been determined by the constant search for knowledge, the spirit of research and the deep appreciation of creative genius, which generates innovation … In recent years an ever -increasing and increasing number of Greek antiquities have been hosted in recent years. These exhibitions offer the Chinese people a unique opportunity to get to know the craftsmanship, the scientific achievements and the philosophical ideas that shaped ancient Greek culture … The exhibition we are launching today, continues this important tradition, inviting visitors to discover it. The name of Daedalus is synonymous with inventiveness. In Greek mythology, Daedalus was an Aristotle, an innovative whose intelligence and craftsmanship exceeded the limits of his time. He designed the complex and chaotic labyrinth for King Minos, a miracle of engineering, which symbolized creativity and complexity. The legacy of Daedalus is deeply rooted in the technological achievements of Minoan and Mycenaean Crete. “
As the Minister pointed out, “the 172 unique exhibits presented, prove the excellent technological abilities of ancient Cretan society. From advanced metallurgy techniques and architectural miracles, to elaborate tools and innovative shipbuilding methods, the ingenuity of these early engineers is truly amazing. These innovations not only laid the foundations for future technological progress in Greece, but also influenced other ancient cultures, highlighting the interconnection of human development. “
Concluding her speech, Lina Mendoni stressed that “the Palace Museum, in the forbidden city, proves to be the ideal space for Daedalus’ exhibition, reinforcing its power to inspire scientists, students and visitors to explore the enormous contribution of the great creation of its great creation.”
Following the inauguration ceremony, in the context of the cycle of scientific seminars organized by the Palace Museum for cultural management experts, a lecture was followed by a lecture by the Minister of Culture on “The Role of Magazines and Tourist Reports in Cultural Diplomacy”. Lina Mendoni analyzed how museum exhibitions help enhance foreign cultural policy, noting that “reports are not only aesthetic approaches, but tools for enhancing international relations that promote the values of diversity, respect and reciprocity”.
A lecture was followed by a lecture by the Director General of the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and curator of the “Daedalus” exhibition at the Palace Museum, Dr. Stellas Chrysoulakis on “In the Labyrinth Country. Minoan Palace of 2nd BC. Millennium ”, where the Minoan civilization was presented, its achievements its cultural contacts with the Mediterranean world and in particular Egypt and the East.
The inauguration ceremony ended with a guided tour of Lina Mendoni at the exhibition on “Chinese Gardens – Western Gardens” at the Palace Museum. The Minister of Culture was accompanied by the Greek Ambassador to Beijing Eugenios Kalpiris and the Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage Olympia Vikatou.
Workshop with Palace Museum manager
On the sidelines of the inauguration of the exhibition, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni had a working meeting with the director of the Wang Xudong Museum. Lina Mendoni expressed the special honor attributed to Greece by the Palace Museum’s decision to celebrate its centuries -olds with an exhibition dedicated to ancient Greek culture. Wang Xudong said he was impressed by the exhibition and pointed out that it confirms the deep and meaningful collaboration of Greece-China in the field of culture. He thanked Lina Mendoni for the existing cooperation and expressed his intention for further joint actions, proposing specific exhibitions of unique objects from the museum’s valuable collections in Greek museums.