The Gift of Dionysos. Mythology of wine in central Italy (Molise) and northern Greece (Macedonia)

13 Jul 2011 - 30 Sep 2012

The exhibition was a cooperation of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki with the Italian Cultural Institute of Thessaloniki and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Molise.

Dionysos, one of the oldest gods of the Greek pantheon, traced back to the Mycenaean era, expresses the duality, the overcoming of limits and the merging of differences. He is a god that offers joy, happiness, but also fear, panic and chaos. Greek civilisation circles around his many symbolisms. Dionysos is also associated with wine and vines and through them, the various aspects of Mediterranean culture, religion, symposium, theatre, war, burial practices, economy, trade.

The exhibition, dedicated to Dionysos and his gift, the wine, presents selected snapshots of this multifaceted story. Antiquities from the archaeologically rich region of Molise in central Italy and from Macedonia in northern Greece, converse with each other and iterate the mythology of wine in the ancient Mediterranean.

The exhibition is accompanied by a scientific catalogue.