The Acropolis Museum celebrates International Museum Day on Wednesday 18 May 2016. On this day, the Museum will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with free entry for its visitors.

Τhe International Museum Day at the Acropolis Museum includes the following events and activities:

Video projection and gallery talks

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the adventures of the Parthenon sculptures from a new video at the atrium of the Parthenon Gallery on the third floor of the Museum. There, visitors will be able to meet Archaeologist-Hosts and attend the gallery talk about ‘The history of the Parthenon sculptures in recent years’. Gallery talks will take place in English at 10 a.m. and in Greek at 12 noon, at 5 p.m. and at 7 p.m.

Participation is limited to 40 visitors per session on a first-in first-served basis. Registrations on the same day at the Information Desk at the Museum entrance on the same day.

Children and school groups

Children up to 12 years old and their parents, or children visiting as part of a school group will have the opportunity to learn about the relationship of the ancient people with lions and other felines in the workshop ‘Tracing the lion’ through stories, games and art activities. Workshops will take place in both Greek and English from 12 noon to 7 p.m. on the balcony overlooking the Archaic Gallery on the second floor of the Museum.

Shops

On the occasion of this year’s International Museum Day, the Acropolis Museum produced, in collaboration with the Hellenic Mint, commemorative medals dedicated to the lion. At the Acropolis of Athens, huge lions dominated the pediments of the Hekatompedon Temple of Athena, while miniature lions adorned bronze vessels of the sanctuary. Additionally, the Museum Shops will make available a special casket which will include the five commemorative medals that have been released so far, dedicated to the attic tetradrachm of the archaic period, the rooster, the hare, the raven of the Acropolis and the lion.