'Edina/Athena: The Greek Revolution and the Athens of the North, 1821–2021'

Two hundred years ago, at a time when Edinburgh was popularly called ‘The Athens of the North’, Greece rose in revolution against the Ottoman Empire. These two contexts, at first glance quite distinct, were connected by visions of an idealized classical past and by international networks of support for Greek independence. The exhibition Edina/Athena, generously funded by the A. G. Leventis Foundation, sets these stories side-by-side for the first time. In addition to showcasing Edinburgh-based collections (National Library of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, University of Edinburgh) the exhibition features loans from the Royal Collection Trust; the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, Athens; the British School at Athens; the Bodleian Library, Oxford; and the University of Aberdeen.

The exhibition will be open to the public Mondays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm (last admission at 3:15pm), from 29 October 2021 to 29 January 2022. Admission is free. Masks to be worn unless exempt.

Festive period opening hours

From 24 December 2021 to 4 January 2022 the gallery and exhibition will be closed. The gallery will reopen on 5 January at 10am with opening hours as usual thereafter.

The capacity of the gallery is limited to 25 people at any one time. Any enquiries regarding large groups wishing to visit should be addressed to the curator, Alasdair Grant (alasdair.grant@ed.ac.uk).

For further information, please visit the exhibition website