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Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Partners with Greece to Introduce 6,000-Year Maritime Civilization on a Large Scale for the First Time in Korea
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Date
2026.08.21.
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Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Partners with Greece to Introduce 6,000-Year Maritime Civilization on a Large Scale for the First Time in Korea
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) and the Incheon National Maritime Museum (INMM; Director Woo Dong-sik) announced that they would be holding an international exchange exhibition titled "Greece, A Great Civilization Shaped by the Sea" in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Greece at the Incheon National Maritime Museum in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Culture from August 11 (Tue.) to December 6 (Sun.).
As the largest special exhibition of Greece in Korea, this exhibition features 348 artifacts from 15 Greek national and public museums. It seeks to shed light on ancient Greek civilization spanning approximately 6,000 years from the Neolithic Age to the era of Alexander the Great from the perspective of a “civilization shaped by the sea.” The Greek Deputy Minister of Culture will attend the opening ceremony to be held on Monday, August 10.
The exhibition consists of five parts. Part 1, “The Aegean Sea, Mobility, and Birth of the Greek World,” examines how maritime exchange in the Aegean Sea led to the birth of Greek civilization through representative artifacts of the Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean civilizations. Part 2, "Myths of Crossing the Sea," and Part 4, "Olympia and the Panhellenic Sanctuary," shed light on the maritime worldview inherent in Greek mythology and the Olympics, with Part 5—"Beyond the Sea and Continent"—showcasing Alexander the Great's expeditions and the maritime trade networks of the Hellenistic world.
In particular, Part 3, “War and Democracy,” focuses on the naval power and naval battles of ancient Athens, Greece. It will unveil for the first time in Korea two bronze rams mounted on the bows of triremes and used to ram enemy ships, as well as the Lenormand Dedication Stele engraved with a ship believed to be a state ceremonial trireme.
Also on display are the golden myrtle wreath—a symbol of immortality dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite—and artifacts recovered from the Antikythera shipwreck, which show the maritime trade network and cultural exchange of the Hellenistic period.
This exhibition can be viewed for free at the INMM special exhibition hall. Visitors can also view "Odyssey, The Great Adventure of Odysseus in Greek Mythology"—which was previewed last May—and the pop-up exhibition "The First Wave," which introduces the history of shipbuilding cooperation between Korea and Greece.
“Greece is a leading maritime nation that spread democracy, the Olympic tradition, and Hellenistic civilization across the world through the Aegean Sea. I hope this exhibition will remind us of the friendship Korea and Greece have built through the sea and help expand our cooperation in maritime cultural heritage,” MOF Vice Minister Nam Jae-heon said.
- Hosting the international exchange exhibition “Greece, A Great Civilization Shaped by the Sea” in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Greece
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) and the Incheon National Maritime Museum (INMM; Director Woo Dong-sik) announced that they would be holding an international exchange exhibition titled "Greece, A Great Civilization Shaped by the Sea" in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Greece at the Incheon National Maritime Museum in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Culture from August 11 (Tue.) to December 6 (Sun.).
As the largest special exhibition of Greece in Korea, this exhibition features 348 artifacts from 15 Greek national and public museums. It seeks to shed light on ancient Greek civilization spanning approximately 6,000 years from the Neolithic Age to the era of Alexander the Great from the perspective of a “civilization shaped by the sea.” The Greek Deputy Minister of Culture will attend the opening ceremony to be held on Monday, August 10.
The exhibition consists of five parts. Part 1, “The Aegean Sea, Mobility, and Birth of the Greek World,” examines how maritime exchange in the Aegean Sea led to the birth of Greek civilization through representative artifacts of the Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean civilizations. Part 2, "Myths of Crossing the Sea," and Part 4, "Olympia and the Panhellenic Sanctuary," shed light on the maritime worldview inherent in Greek mythology and the Olympics, with Part 5—"Beyond the Sea and Continent"—showcasing Alexander the Great's expeditions and the maritime trade networks of the Hellenistic world.
In particular, Part 3, “War and Democracy,” focuses on the naval power and naval battles of ancient Athens, Greece. It will unveil for the first time in Korea two bronze rams mounted on the bows of triremes and used to ram enemy ships, as well as the Lenormand Dedication Stele engraved with a ship believed to be a state ceremonial trireme.
Also on display are the golden myrtle wreath—a symbol of immortality dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite—and artifacts recovered from the Antikythera shipwreck, which show the maritime trade network and cultural exchange of the Hellenistic period.
This exhibition can be viewed for free at the INMM special exhibition hall. Visitors can also view "Odyssey, The Great Adventure of Odysseus in Greek Mythology"—which was previewed last May—and the pop-up exhibition "The First Wave," which introduces the history of shipbuilding cooperation between Korea and Greece.
“Greece is a leading maritime nation that spread democracy, the Olympic tradition, and Hellenistic civilization across the world through the Aegean Sea. I hope this exhibition will remind us of the friendship Korea and Greece have built through the sea and help expand our cooperation in maritime cultural heritage,” MOF Vice Minister Nam Jae-heon said.
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