MK sport on April 14, 2025. Photo: cnsphoto" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-04-14/8e2eb528-e898-4af5-bb5b-dbe1b1edc9dc.jpeg" />

A visitor examines relics on display at the Daedalus: Legends of Crete exhibition at the Palace Museum in Beijing, on April 14, 2025. Photo: cnsphoto

An archaeological exhibition titled Daedalus: Legends of Cretewith 172 ancient artifacts originating from the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Greece and 13 from the Palace Museum in Beijing kicked off at the Palace Museum on Monday.

In Greek culture, Daedalus is often associated with wisdom, knowledge, and power. He was a skilled Greek mythologist, craftsman, architect, and inventor. In one of the four ancient legends, Daedalus was renowned for creating the Labyrinth and wings for his son Icarus. 

Greek ambassador to China, Evgenios Kalpyris, explained at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on Monday that Daedalus is a universal symbol. "In Chinese tradition there are rough equivalents to Daedalus, such as Lu Ban - the inventor of the wooden bird, or Zhuge Liang - the maker of the wooden ox. They all represent creativity," the ambassador noted.

Bo Haikun, research fellow at the Exhibition Department of the Palace Museum, told the Global Times that they have made a dedicated effort to reinterpret ancient Greek myths and historical realities from a Chinese perspective. 

By subtly adjusting the narrative structure and logic, enriching the foundational knowledge, and decoding the nuances of cultural translation to evoke emotional resonance, the aim is to introduce the moving myth of Daedalus and the brilliance of the Minoan civilization to a broader Chinese audience. It is hoped that more Chinese visitors will develop an interest in Crete, said Bo.

As the cradle of the Mediterranean civilization, Crete gave birth to the Minoan culture, and the magnificent architecture, exquisite frescoes, masterful goldware, intricately decorated pottery, and dreamlike stone artifacts shine brilliantly in the constellation of human history.

The exhibition will run from April 15 to July 27. 

Enthusiasm for heritages

Addressing the opening ceremony, Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said that "over the past years, we have witnessed an increasing number of Greek antiquities exhibitions hosted by prestigious Chinese museums."

"Hundreds of thousands have visited these exhibitions in Shanghai, Changsha, Nanjing, and Beijing. There are more cities to follow and more exhibitions to come," the ambassador said.

The ambassador also told the Global Times that there will be more exhibitions coming to China, and from China to Greece as well. "This is a relationship that doesn't have a beginning and an end. This is a bridge of understanding between our peoples, and when people understand each other, it will lay the foundation of a relationship with mutual trust and respect."

Kong Degang, a professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday that far from just top-tier cities, the Greek cultural relics exhibitions have become increasingly popular in China. The trend is aligned with Chinese people's enthusiasm for cultural heritages. 

"We can see that with the booming number of audiences, Chinese visitors expect to see more high-level exhibitions with more precious cultural relics. In return, Chinese people's interest in other cultures and the sense of responsibility for history is also enhanced," said Kong. 

The heyday of ancient Greek civilization was almost the same as China's Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC) and Warring States Period (475BC-221BC) in ancient China. Both were axial periods when thought and culture flourished and laid the foundation for Eastern and Western civilizations. Therefore, such exhibitions have broken through the general level of international friendship.

The filming of movies and TV shows such as Divine Encounter - Dialogue between Confucius and Socrates, has helped narrow the distance between the two countries, promoting empathy between the people, and reminding the two great peoples that they share a common understanding of history, tradition, and culture, Kong said. 

Centennial anniversary

As it celebrates its centennial in 2025, the Palace Museum has positioned itself as a venue to showcase the world's various civilizations to Chinese people.  

Co-organized with the Art Institute of Chicago, the Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey through Garden Culturesin China and the Wider World exhibition is also underway to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Stella Chryssoulaki, director of the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, told the Global Times that some of the archaeological discoveries are exhibited for the first time in Beijing as a tribute to the centennial anniversary of the Palace Museum.

"It is an honor for us to be here for the 100th anniversary. We are giving the honor back by offering items at the exhibition that nobody has ever seen," said Chryssoulaki.

As one of the major exhibitions celebrating the centennial of the museum, a series of academic lectures and educational activities will be held alongside the exhibition. 

The efforts aim to further inspire public understanding and interest in ancient civilizations, promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Greece in cultural heritage preservation and academic research, and explore new avenues for international cultural exchange, opening a new chapter in the dialogue between civilizations. 

Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, noted that the museum has reached a strategic cooperative agreement with the Greek Ministry of Culture, and the two sides agreed to deepen collaboration in exhibitions, cultural heritage conservation, academic research, and more. "We look forward to building a more profound mechanism for civilizational dialogue between the seafaring spirit of the Minoans and the pioneering courage of Zheng He's voyages, so that cultural heritage may thrive with renewed vitality in the modern era," Wang said.
 

Relics from the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion on display Photo: Dong Feng/GT

Relics from the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion on display Photo: Dong Feng/GT