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Chaeronea, 2 August 338 BC (Back)
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Chaeronea, 2 August 338 BC (Back)

Chaeronea, 2 August 338 BC

Athens, Greece, 2023

Curated by

Dr Panagiotis Iossif
Dr Ioannis Fappas
Museographical Design by Despoina Tsafou
Lighting Design by ASlight
Visual Identity by BEND
Sound installation by Giorgos Axiotis
Photography by Paris Tavitian

“Chaeronea, 2 August, 338 BC: A day that changed the world” is an exhibition that walks visitors through one of the most important historical events in Greek antiquity; the Battle of Chaeronea. The Macedonian army, led by Philip II fights the allied Greek cities of southern Greece. It is the first time that Alexander is brought up as a strategic force to be reckoned. Amongst the allied Greeks- the Sacred Band of Thebes.
The battle of Chaeronea laid the foundations for the creation of the modern world.

The exhibition takes place on both the ground and first floor of the Stathatos Mansion, as well as the Neophytou Douka Wing of the Cycladic Museum in Athens.

On the lower floor of Stathatos Mansion, the visitors are greeted in the entrance hall by the marble busts of Philip II, Demosthenes and Alexander the Great. Behind them one can see a reproduction of the Tumulus of the Macedonians. Interventions in the main hall were kept to a minimum, in an effort to bring to the forefront the exceptional archeological artifacts. Only the plinths were painted brown, a color symbolic of earth and rust metal which will appear again on the upper floor. Two additional rooms were used on the ground floor; one displays the aftermath of the war, the other a sarcophagus. Special attention to lighting was placed on these ground floor rooms, with a large drawing of the Parthenon projected on a large white veil.

On the upper floor of Stathatos Mansion, the visitors walk through a series of rooms which first reveal the preparation of both armies preceding the conflict, then a room dedicated to the battle and finally the respective burial rites of both the Macedonians and the Sacred Band of Thebes.
The preparatory rooms display ancient armors and weapons, which contrast the Macedonian wealth and military expertise to the modesty of the Sacred Band’s own weaponry. Both rooms are bathed in a dark brown hue; the color of rust metal and earth, which immerses the visitors in the atmosphere of the few days leading up to the battle.
The small circular battle room was painted a deep red hue; the color of blood, which was enhanced by a red pulsating light. An uncomfortable low frequency sound rises through the walls. There is only one display which demonstrates the violence and mercilessness of the battle.
The two funeral practices rooms are adjacent to one another. Both of the rooms were treated as sacred spaces and painted a blinding white. The contrast in luminosity and color transports the visitors to an allegorical afterlife after a difficult passage through the somber brown and red rooms. Two low display cases were designed to contain the remains of soldiers lost at battle. Additionally, old sketches of the burial sites were enlarged and displayed on the walls of the white rooms. To exit, the visitors must pass through a white curtain which brings them back to reality.

The Neophytou Douka Wing of the museum was used to display additional paintings and illustrations of how the battle was perceived the centuries. The story of the battle is also recounted here through several mediums; Playmobil figurines on the battle field, two short animated films by UBISOFT and a comic book.