Greece will make a double dynamic visit to America on 2013 and 2014 with two major exhibitions. The temporary title of the first is "Byzantium. Masterpieces from Greek collections" («Byzantium. Masterpieces from Greek Collections). The second will present Greek antiquities and will be organized in collaboration with "National Geographic".

About 300 masterpieces of Greek museums, public and private, monasteries, but also findings of recent excavations, they will travel in the fall 2013 to the US to be shown first at the National Gallery in Washington and then at the Getty Museum in Malibu, California. The exhibition aims to introduce Americans to Greek culture, which runs through Byzantium from its beginning to its end (330 A.D. up to 1453). It was approved yesterday by the Central Archaeological Council and has the parallel goal of filling a gap, "responding" to the corresponding exhibitions that have been held in recent years by Turkey in the USA and elsewhere.

It is organized by the general directorate of antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the Benaki Museum. It will consist of five sections, with temporary titles "From the ancient to the Byzantine world", "The Christian World", "The Intellectuals", "The joys of life" and "Byzantium at a crossroads".

However, the cost of the exhibition is a thorn in Greece's side, since it amounts to 3,6 million. euro, a fact that has already created an issue due to bad times, although, as the Minister of Culture has stated, Pavlos Geroulanos, last November, it is to be covered by grants with the assistance of OPAP. The exhibition is organized by a twelve-member committee, in which Emilia Geroulanou also participates, president of the Benaki Museum, as well as service executives and teachers. Only for the insurance of valuable items are required approx 2,5 million. euro.

The visitor will be able to see among others: the coexistence of Christianity and paganism in important cities of the ancient world such as Athens, Corinth and Sparta. The gradual Christianization of the empire through the appropriation of the pagan pictorial repertoire in the formation of a new code of symbols and the emergence of Christian ideas of eternal life. The close dependence of state and Church. The domestic artistic expression etc

"The intellectuals" is an extremely interesting section of the exhibition since it presents aspects of the intellectual life of the empire with an emphasis on the dominance of the Greek language in the administration, in cultural life, in the medieval copies of ancient Greek texts by Byzantine scribes and the important role these texts played in the education of the Byzantines.

There is also "The joys of life" which present daily life in Byzantium with sub-sections dedicated to the private sphere (with an emphasis on home decoration, in tableware and in general household equipment) but also in personal grooming, where, among other things, an important collection of Byzantine jewelry is exhibited. "Byzantium at a crossroads", end, analyzes the continuous dialogue of the Byzantine Empire with other political powers and peoples, either through military conflicts or through diplomatic approaches.

An equally important report is being prepared in parallel by the ministry, in collaboration with "National Geographic" magazine. It will concern the ancient Greeks and their presence throughout the centuries, from prehistoric times to the beginning of Hellenistic times. Its aim is to coincide with the exhibition on Byzantium, thereby erasing a strong cultural presence of our country in American cities.