The festival of the RGS «Ancient Heritage of Russia» was held in Greece from December 12 to 14. The Russian House in Athens served as the venue for the celebrations. The forum, which recalled the centuries-old ties between the two countries and the importance of a friendly dialogue between their cultures, was supported by the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
As part of the festival, an exhibition was opened, which presented the archaeological sites of the ancient Bosporan Kingdom. The guests of the exhibition got acquainted with the unique finds stored in the museums of the Krasnodar Territory, the Rostov Region, the Republic of Crimea, and Sevastopol.
The forum participants also saw the popular science film «Journey through the Golden Ring of the Bosporan Kingdom,» which was specially translated into Greek for the occasion. The film tells about trade and wars in the Northern Black Sea region, about the art of winemaking, as well as about modern tourist sites and cities that inherit the traditions of the Bosporus. Now they are united by a special route through four southern regions of Russia.
The bright accent of the program was the theatrical production «The Gorgippian Oracle» by the artists of the theater «Rodina» from Anapa. It immersed the audience in the atmosphere of the ancient city. The festive mood was also given to the festival guests by musicians and dancers of the ensemble of the Greek cultural center «Romiosini».
The program of the festival at the Russian House in Athens included the international scientific and practical conference «World Ancient Heritage: The Connection of Times and Peoples». It brought together scientists, public figures, representatives of cultural and tourism organizations from Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and Turkey. During the discussion, the participants discussed the role of ancient civilization in shaping the cultural, political, and economic space of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea region, as well as its impact on the development of modern societies. The issues of studying, preserving, and popularizing ancient monuments of the Northern Black Sea region were discussed at the plenary session «From the Ancient Heritage of Russia to the Golden Ring of the Bosporan Kingdom.»
«This festival unites the heirs of the ancient civilization from Anapa to Athens. It provides an opportunity to travel through time and space, to feel a sense of belonging to history and culture. By preserving and studying the common ancient heritage, we strengthen mutual understanding between peoples and create a solid foundation for dialogue in the present and the future. And this festival will become another bridge of friendship between our countries. We are grateful to the Russian Embassy in Greece and the Russian House in Athens for their help in organizing and holding the events,» Ivan Chaika, Chairman of the Krasnodar Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, said at the opening ceremony of the festival.
The festival of the Russian Geographical Society «Ancient Heritage of Russia: The Link between Times and Peoples», dedicated to the 180th anniversary of the RGS, is being held in Russia, Greece, and Cyprus as part of «The Golden Ring of the Bosporan Kingdom» project. It united 14 cities in the south of Russia, about 40 museums, more than 100 scientific research, educational, and tourism organizations. The project positions the south of Russia as one of the centers of ancient culture and civilization. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society in April 2019, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin noted the Russian tourist route «The Golden Ring of the Bosporan Kingdom» as one of the most important tourist projects capable of showing Russia to the world in all its diversity. In 2024, almost 2 million people visited the locations of «The Golden Ring of the Bosporan Kingdom.»
More information about the festival can be found on the page of the Krasnodar Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.