IT'S WAR: We visited the War Museum in Athens, and saw many interesting things
For a genuine glimpse of the storied and turbulent Greek past, defined by epic battles courageously fought, look no further.
The War Museum in Athens isn’t exactly beautiful, but then, why should it be? We’re talking about war here, not chocolate mousse and roses. And there would be no modern Greece without the war that preceded its formation.
Let there be no confusion: the War Museum in Athens is not the same thing as the National Historical Museum in Athens. The latter is better known because of its central location in theOld Parliament Building at Stadiou Street (Kolokotronis Square) in downtown Athens. What it does is “narrate the history of Modern Greece: the period of Ottoman and Latin rule, the Greek War of Independence (1821), the liberation struggles” and :the creation of an independent state.” It does a superb job of that, and is well worth a visit.
And, as its website explains, The War Museum is “located in one of the most central locations of Athens, and more specifically, at the intersection of Vasilissis Sofias and Rizari streets. The wider area of its location had been selected since 1959 to be the so-called “Cultural Center of Athens”, a large public area, capable to create a hub of cultural activities to include libraries, museums, galleries, theaters, concert buildings, a conservatory, educational institutions and much more. The initial suggested plan did not go ahead as has been scheduled, due to the political facts and juncture of that period.”
We love this museum because of the unpretentiousness of it and because of the countless stories, many untold, that it contains. There are exhibits on all aspects of war in Greece, from obsidian tools that are older than Cher to authentic armaments of the heroic fighters of the Greek Revolution, also known as the Greek War of Independence, which started in 1821, plus everything in between and after, too.
There is a lot to unpack here and if you thought that American history was complicated, you literally have no idea what complicated is until you try to untangle not just centuries but millennia of Greek history.
There is a room that presents the struggle of the few Greek forces and their allies in facing the German Army Invasion in Greece in April 1941. There is a special tribute to the battle of the Fortress and the battle of Crete.
There are also exhibits focusing on the period of the occupation of Greece by the German, Italian and Bulgarian forces are presented in this space. Through the photographs and the evidence of the time, the hardships and the heavy price paid by the Greek people is extensively presented. Objects, archives, manifestations and armament of the various Greek resistance organizations during the occupation are also presented in the same space. The tribute to this period concludes with photographs from the country’s liberation in the autumn of 1944.
This isn’t the kind of museum that has a gift shop, in case you were wondering. (There is a small spot for coffee by the entrance, though — this is Greece, after all.)
But this is a museum that has plenty of fusty charm, few tourists, and an awful lot of soul. The Greek people have endured much and fought hard for what they have achieved. The War Museum does Greece proud, so have a look around — afterward, there are plenty of spots for a snack or late lunch in Kolonaki (across the street) or Pagrati (two blocks). The museum is open Monday to Sunday from 9AM to 5PM, admission for adults costs six euros.
