The new temporary exhibition of the A.M.Th. "Rhaidestos - Thessaloniki. Antiquities in a refugee journey", was inaugurated on Friday, 29 January 2016, in the "Julia Vokotopoulou" hall.

The exhibition presents the "Rhaidestos Collection" of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki for the first time.

Through the exhibits, the history and memories of the Greeks who used to live in Eastern Thrace unfold. The antiquities gathered since 1871 onwards by the Thracian Educational Society in Rhaidestos serve as a medium that tell the story. A large number of marble monuments of the collection were brought to Thessaloniki in 1922 by the refugees and was handed over to the Museum.

A kouros and a kore, funerary stelae,
reliefs dedicated to the gods,
table supports, architectural members, inscriptions...

These monuments outline the multifaceted aspects of life in northern Propontis from the 6th c. BC to the 4th c. AD. They show the worries, the values, the needs of the people in modern times. In the course of history, the ancient past changes its meaning constantly. Hence, in the late 19th century, the archaeological collection of Rhaidestos signified the attempts of prominent Thracian Greeks to associate themselves to the glorious past. In the 20th century, the monuments themselves became mementos of a lost homeland. In the 21st century, these antiquities give us the opportunity to ponder about the timeless and always current issue of refugees.

A tribute to the Thracian refugees who, in turbulent times, did not forget the ancient monuments.

Duration of the exhibition: until 31 January 2017

The exhibition is accompanied by a relevant exhibition catalogue