Philhellenism and the Greek Revolution: The Monastery of Daphni through the Eyes of Travellers

In November 2021, within the framework of the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, the exhibition titled “Philhellenism and the Greek Revolution: The Monastery of Daphni through the Eyes of Travellers” was inaugurated in the Post-Byzantine Refectory of the Monastery of Daphni.
The core of the exhibition consisted of Philhellenic objects from the Thanasis and Marina Martinos Collection, most of which were presented to the public for the first time. These were complemented by a small number of maps from the local collector Giannis Ynglesis and contemporary depictions of heroes of the Greek Revolution by the archaeologist and visual artist Mantou Papaioannou.
The fortunate occasion of the first use of the renovated refectory—within a space of exceptional historical and symbolic significance—contributed to the success of the exhibition, which was visited by hundreds of students and thousands of visitors. With the financial and scholarly support of AIGEAS AMKE, the seemingly unlikely space of the monument was transformed into a welcoming setting for presenting the history of the Monastery during the pre-revolutionary years and the period of the Greek War of Independence.
The objects from the Collection—busts, porcelains, paintings, Philhellenic clocks, jewelry, and everyday items—revealed the influence of the Philhellenic movement in Europe. The fruitful collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica was also a natural outcome of the continuous support offered by AIGEAS AMKE to the Ministry of Culture and its services.
The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue/guide edited by Dr. Kalliopi Florou, archaeologist and Head of the Department of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Antiquities and Museums of the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, and Maria Mersinia, Head of the Department of Cultural Activities and Publications of AIGEAS AMKE and curator of the Thanasis and Marina Martinos Collection.