The unique exhibition, The Antikythera Shipwreck: the Ship, the Treasures, the Mechanism, which had been running at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens since April has moved to the Athens International Airport to give travelers a chance to admire the amazing findings.
The Antikythera Shipwreck has turned out to be an object of interdisciplinary research. Its finds date from the fourth to the first century B.C. Its cargo attests to the existence of trade in art, then new in the western world. The ongoing study of the Mechanism continues to offer surprises to experts in ancient technology and astronomy. The 378 exhibits are presented in carefully selected sections.
The bronze and marble statues, glassware, bronze vessels and the golden jewelry represent only a part of the cargo, whose remainder still lies at the bottom of the sea, possibly located at deeper levels. These works bear witness to the aesthetic tastes of those who ordered them or of potential buyers but, above all, reflect the then novel practice in the history of western civilization of trading in artworks, the exhibitors stated.
One-third of the exhibition is dedicated to the mechanism, an exquisite, unique device of mathematical and astronomical genius, which has created worldwide interest. All 82 surviving fragments, including the three best-known large pieces, will be displayed. The exhibition will be open to the public 24 hours a day and is expected to attract a great number of visitors.