With the conclusion of the first two summer series — one within the halls of the National Archaeological Museum and the other at Hadrian’s Library — “The Stones Speak” project recommences, with new performances of poetic narratives from Friday, 8th of September.
The Stones Speakers, a group of young thespians, will present their poetic texts at the Ancient Agora, specifically within the Stoa of Attalos, one of the city’s paramount archaeological sanctuaries. Here, they will seek to infuse the city’s visitors with the awe-inspiring depth of ancient Greek literature. These narrated pieces are scheduled to be presented on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th of September, and the 1st of October, between the tranquil hours of 11:00 and 13:00.
The Ancient Agora was once as the administrative, philosophical, educational, societal, cultural, and predominantly, economic heart of the vibrant city. The Stoa of Attalos was decidedly one of the inaugural and most grandiose “commercial centres” (in the contemporary sense of the term) of antiquity. Its assembly commenced in 159 BC and finalised 11 years later in 148 BC. The edifice that graces the city today stands as a meticulous recreation of its ancient predecessor, resurrected between 1953 and 1956 by the American School of Classical Studies, now sheltering the treasures of the Archaeological Museum of the Ancient Agora.
For the fourth year, the cultural initiative bridges antiquity with the present
This year marks the fourth iteration of the cultural initiative “The Stones Speak”, organized by the Union of Hotel Owners of Athens-Attica and Saronic. In this immersive experience, the profound words of revered poets, philosophers, and historians — figures such as Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, Aristophanes, and Thucydides — find a new resonance in the voices of a youthful ensemble of actors. The youths breathe life into them via a series of theatrical events, crafted with great care and an eye for the unique demands of each venue, under the astute directorship of the distinguished Efi Theodorou.
Thus, through a marriage of the capital’s unique historic monuments and the timeless classic texts, a fertile ground is cultivated where the enrichment of cultural tourism is realised with vividness and potency. These performances are carried out in modern Greek, English, and French, whilst escorted by the living pulse of live music.
The venture steadfastly maintains its non-commercial spirit, welcoming all to partake freely without the requirement of tickets or any obligations. Its sole yield is the cultural enhancement and touristic flowering of Athens, elevating the city to a pinnacle where past meets present, fostering a vivid and enriching dialogue that transcends language and time.
A selective choice of ancient passages
Drawing deeply from the wellspring of Grecian antiquity, selected passages bring forth an engaging mosaic of narratives and philosophies, elegantly brought to life for the contemplative traveller. One can expect to be enthralled by Pericles’ Funeral Oration, as rendered by Thucydides, offering a profound insight into the spirit and ideals of the ancient Athenians, in a city where democracy first bloomed in a halcyon age long past.
Plato lavishes upon us one of the most poetic delineations of the nature of Love, a meditation that seems almost celestial in its grace. While Aristotle, with piercing perception, explores the youth’s psyche that harbours an intrinsic love for excellence. Sophocles crafts Antigone, a beacon of love and resistance, as steadfast as the marbles around which you tread.
Be prepared to be ensnared by the Homeric hymn “To Aphrodite”, where the transcendent beauty and power of the goddess of love reign supreme, her essence intertwining with the very atmosphere. The “Apology of Socrates” finds the Greek philosopher bidding adieu to life, imparting poignant lessons in morality that resonate across millennia.
In a grand finale, the prologue of the Odyssey is beautifully rendered in song, reverberating in the ancient Greek tongue, a melodious tribute that seems to weave the golden threads of antiquity into the very fabric of the present moment.
Turning to the creators of this venture, the events are a collaboration between the Higher Drama School “Delos” directed by Dimitra Chatoupi with director Efi Theodorou, the artistic director of the Regional Theatre of Crete, supported by the melodious compositions and songs crafted by Nikos Platanos.
