Title: Ek Themelíon [Ex Fundamentis]
Author: Cleopatra Papaevangelou-Genakou
Publisher: Bank of Greece (Centre for Culture, Research and Documentation)
Year of publication: 2020
Number of pages: 391
Dimensions: 29 x 24 cm.
Book type: Album
ISBN: 978-618-5536-03-9
Central Distribution
a. National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation (ΜΙΕΤ) in Athens (13 Amerikis Str., tel.: +30 210 3614143) and Thessaloniki (11 Tsimiski Str., tel.: +30 2310 288036)
b. Ι. Nikolópoulos & Co. SA – Ekdósis tou Eikostoù Prótou (9 Ζaloggou Str., Athens, tel.: +30 210 3800520).
About the book
A multipage and illustrated luxury album divided into two parts: The first part, entitled “Antiquities ex fundamentis”, contains detailed descriptions of the 43 ancient artefacts that were discovered in 1932, during the foundation excavations for the central building of the Bank of Greece in Panepistimiou Street; ones that revealed ancient tombs with grave offerings. These random findings ―mainly vessels, terracota figurines, oil lamps and loom weights―, which did not come as a result of archaeological excavation, today form part of the Bank of Greece Collections. The author introduces the reader to ancient funeral rituals and practices for the care and burial of the dead, to give a commentary of the artefacts, which date back to the mid-9th century B.C. and stretch all the way to the early Roman period (1nd-2nd centuries A.D.). Notable among the items in the collection, is the white- red- and black-figured lekythoi, as well as a calyx-krater with scenes from the sacred wedding of god Dionysus.
The second part of the album, entitled “The space within time”, refers to land planning aspects of the building lot of the Bank, which is bordered by Panepistimiou, Omirou, Stadiou and Edouardou Lo Streets. Documentation draws from data of the excavation, old maps and photographs, illustrations and newspaper or magazine articles. The author extends her research beyond the building lot of the Bank, to the lower western slopes of Mt Lycabettus and to the northeast of the ancient city of Athens, reconstructing the ways in which the once necropolis was transformed over time, but also the history of buildings and landmarks in the wider area. She thus invites the reader to a mental journey through time and to a virtual tour of the centre of Athens from the mid-19th to the mid 20th century.