‘Flora Graeca’  Exhibition

Opening of the exhibition "Flora Graeca" in the Gennadius Library

‘Flora Graeca’ Exhibition from ASCSA on Vimeo.

On view: March 8 to June 30, 2016

Explore the exhibition with a new app by Clio Muse: http://bit.ly/FloraGraeca-en

A monumental work for the natural riches of Greece

The Flora Graeca, a book about the hidden treasures of Greek flora, reflects the richness and diversity of the natural world of the Mediterranean. In the late 18th century the often forgotten beauty of the natural environment that surrounds us, prompted John Sithorp, young professor of botany at the University of Oxford, to explore Greece in order to create a monumental botanical “Bible.” The majestic ten volumes of the "Flora Graeca" contain 966 watercolors drawn by the superb Austrian artist Ferdinand Bauer.

Often called the rarest and most precious scientific book of botany, the Flora Graeca was the product of travels through Ottoman Greece. In his expedition through Ottoman Greece, a region still remote for Western Europeans, Sibthorp explored for the first time in a scientific way unknown plant species or plants recorded only in the ancient narratives of Homer, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Dioscorides and others. The project not only claimed the life of Sibthorp himself, owing to the hardships and infectious diseases of the Greek countryside, but also the entire estate of this wealthy English botanist, as its publication took 34 years to complete (1806-1840).

The exhibition “reveals” the Flora Graeca to the general public

How many people know this charming story? How many of us realize the great importance of a region’s flora for our country, the Mediterranean, and the entire world?

The exhibition is dedicated to John Sibthorp, the Flora Graeca and the richness of the Greek flora with the purpose of disseminating the fascinating history of Sibthorp’s travels, imparting to viewers his love for the natural beauty that surrounds us and his understanding of the delicate balance between man and nature. Based on the majestic images that Ferdinand Bauer designed for the Flora Graeca, the show also showcases the intricacies of botanical painting, which combines scientific accuracy and artistic merit with complex aesthetic preoccupations.

The historical evolution of botanical studies from the ancient texts of Theophrastus and Dioscorides and medieval conceptions about the magical power of herbs to the exploration of Greece by naturalists and herbalists in the early modern period is presented through rare editions of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The expeditions of Sibthorp, based on the scientific innovations of his forefathers, Tournefort and Linnaeus (who were responsible for the collection of specimens, taxonomy, and description of plants), and the flood of new plants into herbaria and botanical gardens of Holland, England and France, had an enormous impact on the European landscape. The role played by Greek flora deserves to be better known. The development of natural history and botany in Greece during the period of the Greek Enlightenment and the 19th century science is highlighted by unique treasures of the Gennadius Library such as a manuscript collection of remedies (iatrosophia) and a wonderful album with depictions of the flora of Corfu.

The material from the natural history collections of the Gennadius Library is juxtaposed with plant specimens from the herbaria of the Goulandris Museum of Natural History and of the University of Athens, works of art by Niki Goulandris and Ilias Lalaounis, an Hermès silk scarf, as well as material from the historical archive of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation.

Events such as tours, lectures, roundtable discussions as well as multiple initiatives in the media and social networks will raise public awareness and promote a responsible and active attitude of respect towards and protection of our natural environment.

The exhibition will be on view from March 8 to June 30, 2016.

The days and hours are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9.00am-5.00pm
Thursday: 9.00am-8.00pm
Saturday: 9.00am-2.00pm

Saturday March 19, 11:00-13:00 and Thursday April 21, 11:00-13:00:
See the plants of the Flora Graeca at Sparoza, the Mediterranean Garden Society’s demonstration garden in Peania. Visitors will have a chance to tour the garden led by volunteer guides speaking in Greek or English and learn about the history of Sparoza, the values of the Mediterranean Garden Society and most importantly, enjoy the plants that contribute to a beautiful low water garden. Guests will meet Sparoza volunteers and learn about work in the garden. Guests may also purchase plants through donation at the nursery. Refreshments will be served at noon.

Please indicate interest to MGSGreekBH@gmail.com. For more information on the Mediterranean Garden Society visit the website, www.mediterraneangardensociety.org. The Mediterranean Garden Society (MGS) is a non-profit making association founded in Greece in 1994 which acts as a forum for everyone who has a special interest in the plants and gardens of Mediterranean climate regions.

The following events are planned around the exhibition (if the title appears in Greek, the talks are in Greek):

Τετάρτη, 16 Μαρτίου 2016, 7:00μμ   Σύλλογος Φίλων Γενναδείου, Cotsen Hall
Ιόλη Καλαβρέζου, Καθηγήτρια Ιστορίας της Τέχνης, Πανεπιστήμιο Harvard: «Βυζαντινοί κήποι: πραγματικοί, συμβολικοί, φανταστικοί»

Πέμπτη, 17 Μαρτίου 2016, 5:30μμ   Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Δημήτρης Μητουλάκης, Ιστορικός, Υποψήφιος Διδάκτωρ:  «Τα φαρμακευτικά φυτά: από τον μύθο στην ιστορία»

Πέμπτη, 31 Μαρτίου 2016, 5:30μμ    Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Βάσω Σειρηνίδου, Επ. Καθηγήτρια Ιστορίας Νέου Ελληνισμού, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ: «Ανακαλύπτοντας την ελληνική φύση τον 18ο αιώνα»

Τρίτη, 5 Απριλίου 2016, 4:00μμ   Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Ευγένιος Λαδόπουλος, Οικονομολόγος: «Τα λουλούδια της Πρωτομαγιάς στους ελαιώνες του Μυστρά»

Τρίτη, 12 Απριλίου 2016, 7:00μμ   Cotsen Hall
Dr. Stephen Harris, Druce Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria: “Making the Flora Graeca”

Πέμπτη, 14 Απριλίου 2016, 5:30μμ   Cotsen Hall
Σπύρος Κοσμετάτος, Πρόεδρος Ιδρύματος Φωκά-Κοσμετάτου: «Από τον βοτανόκηπο στο βοτανικό κήπο. Βοτανικός κήπος Κεφαλονιάς»

Τρίτη, 19 Απριλίου 2016, 7:00 μμ   Cotsen Hall
Arne Strid, Professor emeritus, former Director of the Göteborg Botanical Garden: “Flora Graeca Sibthorpiana and the botanical exploration of Greece”

Thursday April 21, 11:00-13:00: See the plants of the Flora Graeca at Sparoza, the Mediterranean Garden Society’s demonstration garden in Peania. Visitors will have a chance to tour the garden led by volunteer guides speaking in Greek or English and learn about the history of Sparoza, the values of the Mediterranean Garden Society and most importantly, enjoy the plants that contribute to a beautiful low water garden. Guests will meet Sparoza volunteers and learn about work in the garden. Guests may also purchase plants through donation at the nursery. Refreshments will be served at noon.

Please indicate interest to MGSGreekBH@gmail.com. For more information on the Mediterranean Garden Society visit the website, www.mediterraneangardensociety.org. The Mediterranean Garden Society (MGS) is a non-profit making association founded in Greece in 1994 which acts as a forum for everyone who has a special interest in the plants and gardens of Mediterranean climate regions.

Πέμπτη, 21 Απριλίου 2016, 5:30μμ   Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Πόπη Σεριάτου: «Θεραπευτικά φυτά: τα φάρμακα που ταξιδεύουν»

Τρίτη, 10 Μαΐου 2016, 7:00 μμ     Cotsen Hall
Harriet Blitzer, Professor of Art History, Buffalo State College: “An Earthly Paradise. Μπαξές, Περιβόλι and Ύπαιθρος in the Aegean”

Τρίτη, 17 Μαΐου 2016, 4:00 μμ   Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Σόφη Παπαγεωργίου, Emerita Librarian of the Gennadius Library: “Florae Graecae Prodromus”

Πέμπτη, 19 Μαΐου 2016, 5:30 μμ   Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Δρ. Ελένη Μαλούπα, Ινστιτούτο Γενετικής Βελτίωσης και Φυτογενετικών Πόρων ΕΛΓΟ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΑ: «Προστασία και αξιοποίηση των Ελληνικών αρωματικών φυτών σε Βοτανικούς Κήπους»

Πέμπτη, 26 Μαΐου 2016, 5:30μμ    Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Ειρήνη Σολομωνίδη, Επικεφαλής Βιβλιοθηκάριος Γενναδείου Βιβλιοθήκης: «Έκφρασις πανεξαίρετος του κήπου». Κήποι στο βυζαντινό μυθιστόρημα

Σάββατο, 28 Μαΐου 2016, 10:00 πμ-1:00 μμ Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Maggie Niagassas, DipAD, DipSBA: “The Magic of Botanical Art.” Σεμινάριο βοτανικής ζωγραφικής (Greek and English).

Πέμπτη, 2 Ιουνίου 2016, 5:30μμ   Cotsen Hall
Σοφία Ριζοπούλου, Αν. Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Βιολογίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών: «Τα χρώματα της άνθισης των φυτών της Flora Graeca»

Πέμπτη, 16 Ιουνίου 2016, 5:30μμ   Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Μαρία Ντίνου, Δρ. Μαρία Ντίνου, Αρχαιοβοτανολόγος, Senior Fellow M. H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science: "Φυτά και αρχαιολογία, φυτά και άνθρωποι. Η αρχαιοβοτανική"

Πέμπτη, 23 Ιουνίου 2016, 5:30μμ   Αίθουσα Μανδύλα
Σταυρούλα Κατσογιάννη, Γεωπόνος, Αρχιτέκτων Τοπίου Msc
«Οι κήποι της Αθήνας χθες, σήμερα… αύριο»

Πέμπτη, 30 Ιουνίου 2016, 7:00μμ   Cotsen Hall
Dr. Alain Touwaide, Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions
“The Flora Graeca before Sibthorp”