Show on ‘first Europeans’ opens at National Archaeological Museum in Athens

The story of the classical-era city of Europos, whose residents were the first people to be called Europeans according to ancient inscriptions, takes centre stage in a new exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Europos, located in the ancient Bottiaea district of Macedonia, was 18 kilometers from Pella, between the Axios River and Goumenissa. The exhibition, titled “The City of Europeans,” comprises five sections that illuminate the lives of its citizens through 17 unique artifacts, photographs and audiovisual material.

It also includes two short films, one exploring the ancient city and its archaeological site and the other focusing on the life of Seleucus I Nicator. Seleucus, born in Europos, was one of the most significant successors of Alexander the Great and the founder of the illustrious Seleucid dynasty.

According to the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kilkis, the earliest evidence of Europos lies at the heart of the modern village in the form of a prehistoric settlement. 

“During the classical era, Europos was among the most developed towns in the region. This prominence led King Sitalces of Thrace to attempt its conquest in the 5th century BCE. The large pithoi (storage jars) discovered in homes highlight its economic prosperity and the abundance of agricultural products,” the ephorate notes.

The region was also inhabited during Hellenistic times, with evidence pointing to the presence of Macedonian aristocracy, as well as during the Roman and Early Christian periods. Tombs from both eras have been unearthed. 

“Among the most impressive findings are the monumental vaulted underground single-chamber or double-chamber family tombs,” says the ephorate. 

Remains from the Late Roman period include a kiln featuring a combustion chamber, a stoking channel, and four pairs of cross-walls supporting a perforated floor.

The exhibition runs through March 16, 2025.

For more information, visit namuseum.gr