Key Facts
- Rituals: Gifts for the Gods presented by the Hellenic Museum (Australia) and Hellenic Ministry of Culture (Greece) opens Friday 30 May in Melbourne CBD
- Significant collection of ancient artefacts from some of Greece’s most beloved museums – Acropolis Museum, Hellenic National Archaeological Museum and more
- Exhibition explores rituals in ancient Greece and their echoes in the modern world
- Kids go free – thanks to support from the Victorian State Government, visitors under 18 years receive free general entry to the Hellenic Museum for the duration of this exhibition
- Media invited to contact Hellenic Museum for exhibition visits and interviews
The ancient gods are alive and well in Melbourne, with the global exclusive exhibition Rituals: Gifts for the Gods opening on Friday 30 May. The first outcome of a landmark partnership between the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Greece, and Hellenic Museum, Australia, this original exhibition explores humanity’s shared desire to connect with the divine by tracing the history of religious and cultic rituals in the ancient Greek world.
Rituals brings an exquisite collection of 119 ancient artefacts to Australia from over a dozen of Greece’s most revered museums and ephorates of antiquities, with the Acropolis Museum, Hellenic National Archaeological Museum, and the Archaeological Museums of Delphi, Olympia and Heraklion among them.
For many of these objects, it is the very first time they will be exhibited outside of Greece.
Together, the collection embodies the hopes, fears and desires of ages past, and reveals a story of mortal longing for divine connection. Beginning with the earliest cults and sanctuaries of the ancient Aegean, the exhibition carries visitors through the Neolithic, Minoan and Mycenaean periods before delving into the adoption of Olympian gods and mythologies. From here, horizons expand to explore ancient games, festivals, health and healing, divination, and more.
Particular highlights include:
- the oldest object in the collection, a Neolithic figurine dating to 5800 BCE
- archetypal examples of Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenaean figurines
- a 3,000-year-old tablet inscribed with the earliest known Greek language, Linear B
- artefacts relating to the ancient Olympic Games, including an iconic statuette of Zeus
- marble statuary from the Acropolis
- offerings from the Sanctuary of Delphi
- and minutely detailed lead figurines from Sparta, a votive type not found in any other region
This remarkable collection is complemented by digital reconstructions of several archaeological sites, allowing visitors to experience the sacred grounds of Mycenae, the Acropolis, Olympia, Delphi, Epidaurus and Sounion; archival material exploring the archaeological history of the collection and its various sites; as well as an interactive experience where visitors can consult the Oracle of Delphi through the power of artificial intelligence.
Together, this experience captures the changing landscape of the ancient world and its ritual practices, from sacred caves and soaring peak sanctuaries, to the collective festivals and personal dedications of Olympian worship. In a rapidly changing world, Rituals is not just an exhibition, but an invitation to reflect on what unites us across cultures and centuries—the enduring need to find meaning, to belong, and to reach towards something greater than ourselves.
Rituals: Gifts for the Gods opens Friday 30 May at the Hellenic Museum, 10AM–4PM daily at 280 William Street, Melbourne CBD. Entry is included with general admission.
This exhibition is presented by the Hellenic Museum in partnership with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and is generously supported by the Australian Government International Exhibitions Insurance Program and the Victorian State Government.
Kids go free!
Thanks to the support of the Victorian State Government, all visitors under the age of 18 will receive free general admission to the Hellenic Museum for the lifetime of Rituals: Gifts for the Gods.
Media — Exhibition Access & Interviews
Media are now invited to experience Rituals: Gifts for the Gods. To organise your complimentary visit or to arrange an interview with Hellenic Museum Director Sarah Craig, please contact Marketing & Communications Manager, Lily Hawkins, at [email protected] or +61 408 449 365.
About the Hellenic Museum
The Hellenic Museum is Australia’s only museum dedicated to showcasing the transformational power of Greek art, history and culture. With ten exhibitions spanning almost 8,000 years of Hellenic history, from the ancient to the contemporary, we shape the past and its impacts; interpret and respond to history in new and exciting ways; and inspire visitors to act for a better tomorrow. 10AM–4PM daily at 280 William Street, Melbourne CBD. Entry $16 general and $10 concession; members, carers and children visit free. For more information, visit hellenic.org.au.
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