Two exhibitions concerning Alexander the Great are on display in the Netherlands. One is at the Amsterdam Hermitage and the other is at Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam. The exhibition at the Hermitage Amsterdam Museum is about “Alexander the Great – the Immortal”. The second one running at the Allard Pierson Museum in cooperation with the former, is on the subject of “Alexander the Great and His Heritage-Greeks in Egypt”.
The exhibition at the Hermitage Amsterdam Museum will be open to the public until March 18, 2011. The exhibition includes more than 350 top exhibits, including the famous Gonzaga Cameo from the State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg. It is the first time in the Netherlands that an exhibition is devoted to the historical figure of Alexander the Great, his trip to the East and his influence to Hellenism around the world.
The concurrent exhibition at the Allard Pierson Museum runs until March 20, 2011. It highlights the influence of Alexander the Great in Egypt who brought elements of Western civilization in the East. The legacy of Alexander the Great refers to these mutual influences and cultural blending of the world’s citizens.
The exhibition’s official opening at the Allard Pierson Museum included the Ambassador of Greece to the Netherlands J. Economides, Greek archaeologist Al. Balis and Director of the Allard Pierson Museum W. Hupperetz. Ambassador Economides offered a short speech while the curator of the museum Geralda Jurriaans-Gelle presented the exhibition. This was followed by Byzantine Studies professor Dr. W. J. Aerts who recited in Greek and Dutch portions of a medieval poem concerning Alexander the Great. Professor of History and Classics Dr. Anton van Hooff conducted a brief lecture on the subject of “Alexander; the blessing of a premature death.” The event was followed with a reception at the museum where guests had the opportunity to admire the exhibits.
The opening at the Amsterdam Hermitage Museum was attended by Greek Ambassador Economidis. It was followed by the presence of representatives from the political, diplomatic and business communities and the exhibition’s sponsors. As part of the inauguration, Director of the Amsterdam Hermitage Museum Ernst W. Veen and Director of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky offered a short speech.
Photo: the famous Gonzaga Cameo from the State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg.
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