An exhibition has opened where visitors can see ancient Greek relics, including the original text of the ancient Greek epic Odyssey, the source material for the movie "Odyssey." A large number of Greece's national treasures are included. Among the items is a "ram," a symbol of the naval power of ancient Athens. This is the first time a ram has been displayed outside Greece.
The National Incheon Maritime Museum is hosting the international exchange exhibition "Greece, a great civilization shaped by the sea" jointly with the Greek Ministry of Culture through Dec. 6. A total of 348 relics on display from 15 national and public museums in Greece are being unveiled. The total estimated asset value of the relics is said to be in the hundreds of billions of won.
How did Greece's rare relics make it to Korea? On the 11th, the first day of the exhibition, we asked Ko Mi-kyong, head of exhibition planning, at the Incheon Maritime Museum. Ko oversaw the process of bringing the Greek relics into Korea.
The exhibition came about at the suggestion of the Greek side. As national institutions such as the Greek Embassy led the exhibition, preparations moved swiftly starting with agreements between museums. The museum focused on securing relics that align with its identity as "maritime."
The standout item is the "ram." The ram is a symbol of the naval power of ancient Athens. Mounted on the bow of a trireme—known for speed and superb maneuverability—it was used to ram enemy hulls and sink them. It was a strategic ancient weapon that led Greece to victory in major naval battles, including the Battle of Salamis.
There was considerable opposition in Greece to sending the ram abroad. The relics export review committee deliberated the ram's export until the last minute. Director General Ko kept persuading officials on the ground. Ko even sent an email to the Greek Ministry of Culture laying out why the ram should be exhibited, and ultimately secured the ram's trip to Korea.
The aftermath of the Middle East war also posed hurdles for shipping the relics. Because of the war, the shortest routes transiting the Middle East, including Dubai, could not be used. Director General Ko said, "We had to move the relics by land from Greece to nearby parts of Europe before transporting them," adding, "It took a day or two longer than originally planned. I broke out in a cold sweat having to reschedule the dates." As shipping times lengthened, the exhibition's opening was pushed back by about a week. The museum also had to shoulder higher transport costs due to rising international oil prices.
Greece's maritime relics arrived in Incheon in two batches. After landing at Incheon Airport, the relics were moved to the museum in vibration-free vehicles. Director General Ko said, "Relics also need an adjustment period," and added, "We don't open them immediately upon arrival at the destination; we store them in repositories with controlled temperature and humidity." The 348 relics were then uncrated and assigned to their respective places.
The delayed opening turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With director Christopher Nolan's new film "Odyssey" opening domestically on the 5th of this month, the exhibition began drawing attention alongside it. Odyssey surpassed 1 million cumulative viewers on the 9th, its fourth day in theaters, and topped 2 million on the 10th. For this exhibition, the museum also purchased and is displaying an edition of the ancient Greek epic Odyssey, the source material for the film.
The exhibition is organized into five parts: ▲ Aegean Sea, "mobility" and the birth of the Greek world ▲ Myths across the sea ▲ War and democracy ▲ Olympia and the Panhellenic sanctuaries ▲ Beyond the sea and the continent. Among them, the ram, which the museum prioritized most, can be seen in Part 3. Director General Ko said, "It's a chance to view in one place at the Incheon Maritime Museum relics that, even in Greece, could only be seen by moving among several museums."