The Opening of the Exhibition Mystery_29 Elefsina. Raw Museum was completed with great success on Tuesday, December 13, at the Old City Hall of Elefsina, following the official presentation of the Programme of 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture. Following its first successful presentation at the Benaki Museum / 138 Pireos Str., the emblematic Exhibition showcasing the mysteries and uniqueness of Elefsina, is now hosted in the title city. Until February 19, 2023, city residents and visitors will have the unique opportunity to embark on a rare journey into the Mysteries and uniqueness of this historic city.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Elefsina, Argyris Economou, the President of METRON Energy Applications S.A., Nikos Papoutsis, Deputy Mayors of the Municipality of Elefsina, local and municipal councilors, the Head of the Department of Prehistoric & Classical Antiquities of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Western Attica, Kalliopi Papageli, institutional actors, representatives of the local community, artists and a multitude of visitors.
The event was introduced by the CEO of 2023 Eleusis Despoina Geroulanou, who, after welcoming the attendees, referred to the great success of the Exhibition, in the context of its two-month hosting at the Benaki Museum, with more than 5,000 visitors. She then stressed that “the Exhibition Mystery_29 Elefsina. Raw Museum, hosted at the restored Old Town Hall of Elefsina thanks to the kind sponsorship of METRON S.A., is an emblematic project, both for the ECoC and for the city itself. It is a special meeting, combining personal narratives with the city’s collective memory; a project that can be considered a harbinger of the ECoC’s programme about the city’s contemporary and unknown history; a rare journey into the Mysteries and the uniqueness of a city that is a timeless reference point for the entire history of Greece.”
The CEO of METRON S.A., Nikos Papoutsis, took the floor immediately afterwards, who mentioned the following, among other things: “Just as back then, when we actively contributed to the preparation of the dossier for the candidacy of Elefsina for the title of European Capital of Culture, so now, with the optimal social footprint of our region in mind, at the call of our local government, we accepted and undertook the restoration of the building, giving it the form you see today, which is deserving of the city of Elefsina.” He then stressed that “a city with less than 30,000 inhabitants, but with such a rich cultural and historical heritage, is deservedly awarded the title of Cultural Capital. It is our deep conviction that the team of Eleusis 2023, through its plethora of events and social actions in the field of culture, will manage to highlight the history, traditions, customs and traditions of this city.”
This was followed by a greeting from the Mayor of Elefsina, Argyris Economou, who said: “The successful Exhibition Raw Museum, which was hosted at the Benaki Museum and touched those who had the opportunity to visit it, is now in our city. The stories, experiences and the personal collections of Eleusinian collectors created this great exhibition which is now hosted in the Old Town Hall, an emblematic space in the city center that was reconstructed with the valuable and decisive contribution of METRON S.A., which we thank warmly, not only for this action but also for its constant contribution to the needs of Elefsina.”
Finally, the curator of the exhibition, architect and museologist Erato Koutsoudaki took the floor, and said the following: “The purpose of the exhibition Mystery 29 Elefsina – Raw Museum was, on the one hand, to introduce a wide audience to the history and micro-history of Elefsina through a first stop in the center of Athens, at the Benaki Museum, while by hosting it in the title city, and specifically in an emblematic city building, the Old Town Hall, the goal was to introduce or remind Eleusinians of the known and unknown aspects of the city.”
Parallel Event
“The daughter of Lepsina, the adventure of an ancient myth”
Design, adaptation and implementation of narrative: Elena Mengreli, actor, Evi Andrianou, educator, actor
Dates: Thursday 29/12/2022 & 5/1/2023 at 17.00 & Sunday 15/1/2023 & 19/2/2023 at 13.00
Learn more about the exhibition here
