From 23 to 28 April 2024, the festival for children and teenage school pupils – Days of Classical Antiquity 2024 – will be running in the Hermitage. The aim of the festival is to show that the legacy of the Greco-Roman world is not merely matter for museums but can also become a striking part of modern-day life and a source of inspiration.
The festival line-up includes creative master classes, online quests, educational videos and guided tours, as well as an inclusive programme.
The main event of the festival will be a children’s art competition, which will be held in two formats: offline in the halls of Classical Antiquity between 23 and 28 April, and online in the museum’s social networks from 23 April to 23 May.
The theme of this year’s competition is “The Greek Feast”. Feasting occupied a special place for the Ancient Greeks: during a feast they would hold philosophical conversations, debate about life and the structure of the world. The Greeks feasted reclining by low tables on which stood various kinds of vessel – kylikes, skyphoi, amphorae and olpae. Music would accompany the meal, played on flutes and citharas, while the room itself was adorned with flowers and garlands of foliage.
We invite young creative spirits aged 3 to 16 to participate in the competition and produce a work on the topic of the Ancient Greek feast. In preparation for the competition, we suggest looking at the masterpieces of ancient vase-painting on display in the museums (Halls 118 and 130). The subjects on the vases can tell you a lot about Greek festivities and feasts, as well as about the Classical gods and heroes.
Keep up with the festival news (in Russian) through the Hermitage’s official page in the VKontakte social network, as well as the special Days of Classical Antiquity group. Information about events can be accessed with the hashtag #ДниКлассики2024
