Scattered treasures of Rhodes gathered together at the Louvre

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An exhibition showcasing Rhodian archaeology through the ages is running at the Louvre Museum in Paris until  10 February 2015, shedding light on the vibrant history of this stunning Grecian region.

Rhodes was once home to the Colossus of Rhodes  (one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World) - a statue of the Greek god Helios, which was reputedly over 30 metres high and stood on a 15-metre-high pedestal. Today Rhodes is famed for its rich archaeological and cultural treasures. The exhibition at the Louvre, entitled ‘Rhodes: A Greek Island and Gateway to the East’, brings together artefacts that have previously been scattered in museums across the world, from Copenhagen Museum to the British Museum.

Including pieces from the Late Bronze Age (c.1550 to 1200BC) to the Archaic Period (c.800 to 450BC), spanning over eight centuries, the exhibition gives visitors a rare opportunity to see the findings of historical excavations by French, English, Danish, Italian and Greek archaeologists first-hand. It also gives an insight into the Orientalist history of some of the artworks.

The Vice-governor of Tourism, Mrs Marieta Vakiani-Papavasileiou, stated that the Louvre museum has chosen the island of Rhodes in order to present a land that is home to invaluable treasures, and added that the region of the South Aegean as a whole includes over 50 islands, each with its own unique characteristics. 

The exhibition is organized by Anne Coulie from the Louvre Museum and Melina Filimonos-Tsopotou, 22nd Ephorate of Antiquities of Rhodes. It was also made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the primary donor, supported by Ipsen.

Following the initiative of Mr George Hatzimarkos, the Governor of the region of South Aegean and a discussion with Mr Martinez, director of the Louvre Museum yesterday, it has now been mutually agreed that the exhibition will move to Rhodes in Spring 2015.

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