Documented event · Galatsi · 3 April 2019
Alexander the Great Through Persian Eyes.
Ο Μέγας Αλέξανδρος μέσα από τα μάτια των Περσών
A public intercultural evening that approached Alexander through Persian history, epic poetry, Nowruz traditions, food, music, art and the material presence of a reconstructed suit of armour.
Official event poster · Municipality of Galatsi / Archaeopolis project archive. The central artwork reproduces Charles Le Brun’s The Queens of Persia at the Feet of Alexander, also known as The Tent of Darius (1660).
The concept
A meeting of perspectives.
The event invited the public to encounter Alexander the Great through material and cultural perspectives connected with Persia. Its programme deliberately moved beyond a single historical narrative: scholarship and epic poetry were placed alongside New Year ritual, food, live music, artworks and reconstructed armour.
Visitors were invited to see, hear, taste and touch. The evening included Persian and ancient Greek flavours, the presentation of a Nowruz table, a physical replica of Alexander’s armour and artworks depicting the Macedonian king. The armour also created an immediate, human-scale point of contact with the past, with visitors invited to be photographed beside it.
- 01
The Nowruz table
A presentation of the symbolic table of the Persian New Year, celebrated from 21 March to 3 April, introduced the seasonal, domestic and cultural meanings of Nowruz.
- 02
Persian food and drink
Thirty dishes and drinks from Persian cuisine were presented by Anahita restaurant, creating an extensive tasting dimension within the evening.
- 03
Ancient Greek food culture
Ancient Greek food joined the Persian menu, allowing the two culinary traditions to form part of the event’s historical and intercultural conversation.
- 04
Alexander’s armour
A physical reconstruction of the armour of Alexander the Great was exhibited and discussed as an object of art, craft and economy.
- 05
Art and live music
Artworks centred on Alexander were shown alongside Persian piano music performed by Shahrouz, extending the programme from historical interpretation into a shared visual and musical atmosphere.
Talks and contributors
The evening in full.
PhD in Philosophy, University of Athens, and researcher; contributor to the evening’s scholarly programme.
Presentation of the book Alexander the Great in Persian Epic Poetry.
Talk: The Power of Nowruz, the Table of the Persian New Year.
Talk: The Armour of Alexander the Great: Art and Economy.
Persian music performed on piano.
Presentation of the event in his capacity as Deputy Mayor for Education, Lifelong Learning, Culture, Sports and Youth of the Municipality of Galatsi.
The event was held within the cultural programme of the Municipality of Galatsi, whose mayor at the time was Georgios Markopoulos, at the Kamini Cultural Centre.