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A minifigure portrait of the late former director of the Museum, Dimitris , has gone on permanent display at the museum in Athens, honoring the scholar widely credited with shaping the institution and championing the return of the sculptures to Greece, The Greek Herald reported.

The miniature tribute was created by Australian LEGO classicist, pop artist and historical archivist Liam D. Jensen and installed inside the museum’s LEGO model of the Acropolis in the Kids Corner on the second floor.

Museum officials contacted Jensen shortly after Pandermalis’ death in 2022, requesting an additional minifigure portrait to be placed within the model as a memorial to his legacy.

The large-scale LEGO Acropolis was designed by Australian LEGO Certified Professional Ryan McNaught, widely known as “The Brickman.” Built with about 120,000 bricks, the model was donated to the museum in 2014 by the University of Sydney’s University Museums.

Pandermalis, a prominent archaeologist, played a pivotal role in establishing the Acropolis Museum and was a leading advocate in Greece’s long-running campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum in London.

Jensen had previously created a minifigure portrait of Pandermalis in 2019 as part of his Brick Classicists Empire (BCE) project, which recreates historical figures using LEGO minifigures. That portrait was sent to Pandermalis and, according to museum staff, was warmly received by him and his family, who still have it.

After Pandermalis’ death, museum staff asked Jensen to create another portrait specifically for display in the LEGO Acropolis model.

Jensen said he felt honored to contribute to the tribute.

“I was very honored and touched to make and donate the special minifigure portrait to the Acropolis Museum,” he told The Greek Herald.

“As always with these BCE minifigure portraits, I try to keep the design simple yet characteristic of the person who is being portrayed in the medium of a LEGO minifigure. With professor Pandermalis, I wanted it to have straightforward dignity with a hint of joyful enthusiasm, reflecting great and astonishing work over his lifetime.”

Source: https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1298187/australian-artist-creates-lego-tribute-to-late-director-of-acropolis-museum/

The nearly 1,900-year-old Odeon of Herodes Atticus under the Acropolis, which is used for an annual summer music festival, will close for at least three years for an extensive facelift that will include conservation and restoration.

The Culture Ministry said in a statement that the project that will start this summer would include overhauling facilities for the public and artists taking part in the highly popular shows held in the remains of the Roman building. A new, less intrusive lighting system will also be installed.

More: https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1296082/hit-pause-herodes-atticus-odeon-to-close-for-three-year-facelift/

A new Greek Ministry of Culture initiative introduces an electronic system that expands the number of archaeological sites and museums it covers from the current 30 to 108, and reality (AR/VR) experiences, digital tours and specialized services for universal .

Titled Hellenic Heritage, this new suite of cultural services was unveiled recently by the ministry’s Organization of Cultural Resources Management and Development.

The project, which aims to digitally upgrade the visitor experience at over 350 monuments and museums nationwide, is scheduled to launch in April. At its core is the new www.hh.gr platform, now the official gateway to the country’s cultural heritage. By bringing together archaeological sites, museums and monuments under a unified logo and integrating with other ministry platforms, hh.gr is set to become the definitive point of reference for visitors.

More: https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1293508/scientists-recover-the-oldest-wooden-tools-from-a-site-in-greece/

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