A digital/interactive and contemporary educational space, Aylon Lyceum’s House of Greek Ideas at the Athens Conservatory, was inaugurated today by the Minister of Culture L. Mendoni. It is an interactive digital experience, innovative not only for Greece, but also for abroad, which showcases ancient Greek philosophy using cutting-edge technologies.

These intangible ideas will be “hosted”, “exposed” and “projected” with the help of new technologies, through exhibitions, educational programs for schools, speeches, special cultural actions and experimental artistic events. The name of Aylon Lyceum is inspired by the nature of ideas and the Lyceum of Aristotle, which it is adjacent to.

“Get ready, your journey is about to begin.” With these words, in the first space of the Aylon Lyceum, an imposing acoustic spectacle begins that is projected on the walls, making the visitor a shareholder of a digital experience centered on the ideas of the philosophical thought of antiquity.

“Does everyone participate equally in a democracy?” One of the sections of Aylon’s first exhibition, entitled “Democracy and Well-Being”, poses questions that are still relevant today. The visitor chooses the appropriate contacts so that the question can be further analyzed, answers from ancient philosophers can be given and, above all, dialogue can be created. “The visits are group and we want that because that is the issue. Let there be a discussion, let people talk to each other, exchange arguments”, it was said during the tour of the Minister of Culture L. Mendoni that preceded the opening, which was attended by, among others, Christos Dimas, Deputy Minister of Culture, George Nunesis, President Board of Directors and Director of EKEFE “Demokritos”, Gerasimos Zoras, Vice-President of the Athens Conservatory, Alexandra Mitsotakis, Co-Founder and President of the World Human Forum and John Tasioulas, Professor of Ethics and Legal Philosophy, University of Oxford.

“From its contractual obligation, the Conservatory offers spaces to the Ministry of Culture. In this logic, the Ministry of Education chose the Conservatory and because of its proximity to the Lyceum. But also for many other reasons”, said the Minister of Culture during the tour, who also referred to the chosen name. “For me it is something much bigger than the Lyceum of Aristotle. That’s why I personally use Stegi Ideon. High school limits it. Here you have the opportunity to develop all the intellectual achievements of the ancient Greek world. In High School some of these were worked on along with physical exercise, dialogue, etc., but that limits it. Aylon Lyceum’s Shelter of Greek Ideas is something much broader”, L. Mendoni pointed out.

“We made two exhibitions with the same exhibits. The first, ‘Democracy and Life’, is for adults, while the second is aimed at primary school children. And this is something that can be continued, i.e. topics will be added continuously. We see this space as a shell, we have the equipment, the technology, we can constantly create new exhibitions”, said Vangelis Karkaletsis, director of the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications of the National Center for Natural Sciences Research (EKEFE) “Demokritos”.

Another action unfolding on a large interactive central table concerns the dialogue between two orators, Aspasia (chosen to include women from antiquity) and Cleisthenes. The arguments presented have to do with the question ‘how should MPs be chosen, by lot or by vote?’ “There have been very nice discussions here, both with tensions and with passion”, emphasized Dimitris Petakos, post-doctoral researcher at the “Demokritos” EKEFE, curator of the exhibitions (together with Leda Arnellou), regarding the reactions that students had, during the Aylon pilot.

The final action takes place in a small amphitheater, a space of “reflection” as it has been called, where a question is raised based on the exhibits that have gone before (e.g. on justice, law, etc.) and the visitors have all the appropriate tools to answer it. “Everyone responds in their own way. This means there is a dilemma. But in the end they will have to choose which exit to leave – the left or the right exit. So the answer is given with the body. Their choice is literally embodied,” said the two curators.

The action is a collaboration between the services of the Ministry of Culture, i.e. the Directorate of Younger Greek Culture (DINEPOK) and the Staff Structure of the Greek National Agency for Culture (EDEPOL), with the National Center for Natural Sciences Research (EKEFE) “Demokritos” and resulted from the implementation of the Act ” Planning, Organization and Operation of the Shelter of Greek Ideas” which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union and by national resources through the E.P. Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship & Innovation (EPANEK) 2014 – 2020 where he joined on 5.9.2019.

The project, with a budget of 2.215 million euros, ends tomorrow, 31/10/23. After its end, the “Demokritos” Foundation undertakes the management of the project in collaboration with the Conservatory for a period of five years with the aim of continuously creating new actions. “Technology allows us to do new things, new themes, not only for different ages, but to enrich it with exhibits,” added Mr. Karkaletsis, who also referred to the choice of space.

“An important factor in choosing this space, apart from the fact that it is an iconic building – Despotopoulos’ vision was to build an intellectual center and I think we somewhat support that – is that the Aristotle High School is next door and we are working on all this together with the YPPO as something bigger“, he emphasized.

The exhibits have subtitles in Greek and English for the hearing impaired, while the space is accessible for people with mobility disabilities. For the general public, days (Open Days) with free entry will be set so that they can visit the exhibition. More information on the website https://aylonlyceum.gr/