Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown

Dior has just released its latest Cruise 2022 Collection campaign, celebrating Greece’s past and present, while putting the spotlight on the Ancient Greek peplos gown- the main source of inspiration for Dior’s entire range created by Maria Grazia Chiuri.

“Dior celebrates Greece by returning to the inspirational origins of the Cruise 2022 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri. In a campaign being unveiled in newspapers around the world, the House perpetuates its close links to the country from its classical past to contemporary present, which included a famous shoot held on the Acropolis in 1951 featuring models in gowns by the founding couturier,” announced Dior.

  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown

“That legacy is honored in images shot at the same location, highlighting the rapport with the marble statuary and its draped dresses, translated into myriad modern interpretations of the peplos gown, and looks in a pale palette lifted with the golden glow of ‘Dior Sea Garden’ jewels and ‘Dior Vibe’ sneakers,” added the luxury brand.

A draped, outer garment made of a single piece of cloth that was worn by women in Ancient Greece, a peplos is long, loose-fitting, and held up with pins at the shoulder, and most often featured a belt at the waist; while its top edge was folded over to create a flap. 

  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown

Revealed in the millennia-old magnificence of the Acropolis in Athens, the collection highlights the art, costume, culture, and craft of Greece’s past and present as inspiration for the collection, with the timeless femininity of reinterpreted peplos gowns and more modern separates and tailoring in a color palette drawn from marble statuary.

Dior has also released its Festive Season campaign for the Cruise 2022 collection, with Grecian inspirations exquisitely evoked in images by Elina Kechicheva.

  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown
  • Insights Greece - Dior Celebrates Ancient Greek Peplos Gown

Captured amongst Christmas inspired scenery, models are draped in modern interpretations of peplos dresses and Dior silk scarves as they display a range of timeless accessories; including classic gold jewellery (earrings, bracelets, rings), bags (totes, pouches, clutches) shoes (slides, sneakers, espadrilles) and more. 

All images courtesy of Dior

© Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports

Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens

© Ria Mort

Jean-Pierre Pedrazzini / Paris-Match / La Scoop

Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports

Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens

Dior Through the Lens of Greek Photographers

“Kallos the Ultimate Beauty” Exhibition in Athens

An exquisite exhibition exploring the concept of beauty through 300 antiquities that have been gathered from museums and collections in Greece and abroad, is currently taking place at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens.

On display are three hundred emblematic antiquities from fifty-two museums, collections, and Ephorates of Antiquities throughout Greece, as well as from Italy, and the Vatican. The majority are appearing for the first time outside of the museums of their provenance.

The exhibition named “Kallos. The Ultimate Beauty” was created by Professor Nikolaos Chr. Stampolidis, Director of the Acropolis Museum, former Director of the Museum of Cycladic Art, and Dr. Ioannis D. Fappas, Curator of Antiquities at the museum. With selected exhibits dating mainly from the seventh to the first century BC  (from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period) they are complemented by a handful of works of Roman times. 

  • Insights Greece - “Kallos the Ultimate Beauty” Exhibition in Athens
  • Insights Greece - “Kallos the Ultimate Beauty” Exhibition in Athens

“The ancient Greek word Kallos means ‘beauty’ and is associated with both females and males. We wanted to complete the concept of beauty by also including elements from the philosophical beliefs of the ancient Greeks, elements of virtue, such as wisdom, heroism, self-denial, noble rivalry, and kindness. The Ancient Greeks believed that all these virtues were an integral part of beauty,” announced  Sandra Marinopoulou, President & CEO of the Museum of Cycladic Art.

Visitors are able to see statues, vases, sherds (broken ceramics), mirrors, jewellery, perfume vases, accessories of the toilette and beautification (cosmetic unguents, pigments, and so on), objects of clay, stone metal, and terracottas of various periods, mainly Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic figurines, tools for styling the hair, such as iron scissors, little combs, and so on.

  • Insights Greece - “Kallos the Ultimate Beauty” Exhibition in Athens
  • Insights Greece - “Kallos the Ultimate Beauty” Exhibition in Athens

The exhibition also hosts a number of antiquities from Magna Graecia, enabling the visitor to understand the phenomenon of the dispersion of the notion of Kallos also to the Greek colonies in the West; with artifacts from the Vatican Museum, the Archaeological Museums of Florence, Naples, Rome, Bologna, Venice, Syracuse, Catania and the National Archaeological Park of Ostia.

A: Neophytou Douka 4, Athens

Dates: Until the 16th of January, 2022 

Opening hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10 am  to 5 pm 
Thursday, Friday: 10 am  to 8 pm 
Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm 
Tuesday: Closed 

Images courtesy of Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art

Visiting the Ancient Greek Temples in Sicily 

Just outside Agrigento, on the beautiful southern coast of Sicily, you will find a large archaeological area where monumental Greek temples were built in the 4th and 5th centuries BC. They are some of the largest and best-preserved Greek temples outside of Greece.

In 1997, the Valley of the Temples was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and this archaeological park is now a national monument of Italy. If you are heading to Sicily (1.5-hour direct flight from Athens), we highly recommend you visit. 

History of Agrigento 

This wonderful ancient city was built by the Greeks who colonized parts of Sicily in the 6th century BC. Although today it is known as Agrigento, this ancient Greek town was originally called Akragas, named after the Akragas River. At one time Agrigento was one of the richest and most important cities of the Greek empire.

Centuries later the Romans took the territory and renamed it “Agrigentum”. The city prospered again right up until the fall of the Roman Empire. While the modern city was severely damaged during WWII, the Valley of the Temples was preserved.

  • Insights Greece - Visiting the Ancient Greek Temples in Sicily 
  • Insights Greece - Visiting the Ancient Greek Temples in Sicily 

Valley of the Temples 

Today, the Valley of the Temples features the remains of 7 temples. Six of these sit along the hill while one, the Temple of Asclepius, is located next to the Akragas River. 

Along with ancient temples, the park also features ancient houses, tombs, and other historic monuments. Much of the ancient city of Agrigento remains unexcavated but the size and splendour of the temples allow visitors to realise just how majestic Agrigento was in the ancient Mediterranean world. 

Discover the ruins  

Visits to the site begin from the entrance at the eastern end, just down the hill from the centre of town. Walking along, you will come across three main ruins- the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia (reminiscent of the Acropolis in Athens), and the Temple of Hercules (the site’s oldest temple). Roman tombs and Greek walls run along the pathway and as you walk through you will also come across remains of the ancient Agora, which are located near the parking lot.

Insights Greece - Visiting the Ancient Greek Temples in Sicily 

What else you’ll find in the area 

Beyond the ancient ruins, nearby attractions include the Kolymbithra Garden (an ancient olive and citrus garden), and The Regional Archaeological Museum ‘Pietro Griffo’, which is one of the most important and visited archaeological museums in Sicily; the museum displays over 5688 artifacts illustrating the history of the Agrigentan territory from prehistoric times to the end of the Greek-Roman period. Across the street from the museum, you will find remains of the Hellenistic and Roman quarters.  

Tips for visiting 

-If you are visiting during summer, we suggest getting there very early, or late in the afternoon. During the peak of the day is extremely hot and keep in mind there is not a lot of shade. 

-Wear comfortable shoes and if you are here during the warmer months make sure you take a hat and have a bottle of water with you. Although there are a couple of shops on-site, it’s a large area to walk so it’s best you are prepared.

-To explore the site well, you will need around three to four hours. 

-At the entrance of the park you’ll find the ticket office, souvenir stands, a shop, and restrooms.

  • Insights Greece - Visiting the Ancient Greek Temples in Sicily 
  • Insights Greece - Visiting the Ancient Greek Temples in Sicily 

Location of Agrigento

Agrigento is in southwestern Sicily. It’s just off the main road that runs along Sicily’s south coast; approximately 140km south of Palermo and 200km west of Catania and Syracuse. We stayed in Cefalù, and the drive from there to Agrigento was roughly two hours. 

Getting there 

The archaeological site can be reached by car or bus and it’s 6.5 kilometres from Agrigento. Local buses run regularly from Agrigento, and there are also many organised day tours that run from pretty much anywhere in Sicily. 

All images by IN+SIGHTS GREECE © (Copyright) 

Dior’s Cruise ’22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 

Dior’s highly-anticipated Cruise 2022 presentation in the Greek Capital was nothing short of a high-end fashion extravaganza, as Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri created a stylish spectacle that took place overnight at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

Insights Greece - Dior’s Cruise '22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 

The famous stadium, which is home to the modern Olympics served as the stunning backdrop to showcase a modern collection inspired by Ancient Greece. 

Around 500 guests, including many celebrities, artists, and designers, witnessed a runway show that “blended the power of heritage and contemporary inventiveness,” Dior announced to the fashion press. 

One of the key inspirations of the collection was the peplos robe worn by ancient Greek women. “The peplos also is an element that allows the body to move freely, that evokes women in movement, and no one more than an athlete moves their body in a really active way,” says Chiuri. 

Leading up to last night’s event, Chiuri spent time visiting numerous spots around Greece for research and inspiration; including the expansive Bronze Age ruins of the palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archeological Museum on Crete. “Here, in a place so often associated with the myth of the Minotaur,
she uncovered the importance of women in religion, venerated as representations of animals and nature,” Dior announced. 

She also headed to Santorini to the ruins of Akrotiri and on the third leg of her journey, Chiuri also spent time on the archaeological site of Delphi. 

  • Insights Greece - Dior’s Cruise '22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 
  • Insights Greece - Dior’s Cruise '22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 
  • Insights Greece - Dior’s Cruise '22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 
  • Insights Greece - Dior’s Cruise '22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 
  • Insights Greece - Dior’s Cruise '22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 
  • Insights Greece - Dior’s Cruise '22 Show Pays Homage to Ancient Greece 

According to Dior, the choice of venue, “creating a prodigious bridge between sport and culture, ancient heritage and contemporary youth, is highly symbolic for Grazia Chiuri, notably through its connections to the body and the freedom of movement she cherishes, but also through the motifs that inform the collection and its sportswear spirit.”

The Panathenaic Stadium was adorned with flags specially created by Italian artist Pietro Ruffo; the illuminated scenography also paid tribute to the architectural lines of the site.

All images Courtesy of Dior 

Exploring the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor

If you would like to explore the most well-preserved Mycenaean Palace in Greece, you should visit the Palace of Nestor, which reveals so much about the Mycenaean world and the royals that lived here during the 13th Century BC. 

Location

Nestors Palace is found on a hill known as Ano Englianos, overlooking the Bay of Navarino, in the Peloponnese. It is found 6km inland and its set on the hill offers wonderful clear views of the coastline whichever way you look. It is located in Pylia, 4 kilometers south of the village of Chora on the hill of Epano Eglianos, which is about 14 km from Pylos.

History Behind the Palace

This extraordinary palace was built in the 13th Century BC by King Nestor, son of Neleus, who holds an important position in the Homeric epics. Nestor led Pylos to the Trojan War with 90 ships and is presented by Homer as a wise old man, whose opinion was always respected by the Achaeans. The palace was almost completely destroyed in the 12th century, by fire, however baked ceramic tablets were still found after the flames with rare information on them. 

  • Insights Greece - Exploring the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor
    The Throne Room
  • Insights Greece - Exploring the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor
    Bath in Bathroom

The Buildings 

With a brand-new construction, including a new protective shelter, the Palace of Nestor permits visitors to truly experience the rich Mycenaean history. It is a complex made up of various buildings and consists of 105 ground floor apartments. It has four main buildings (central ones, wine store) and some smaller ones. The large rectangular “throne room” is considered to be the most important.

What You Will Find Here

Discover the walls of the palace, which were decorated with fine wall paintings. Very close to the palace, you will find the most impressive, largest excavated Mycenaean vaulted tomb of the area. It was built in c.1550-1500 BC. The Palace’s four buildings feature 2 levels arranged around a courtyard, including reception rooms, bedrooms, warehouses, a wine cellar, workshops, rooms for domestic servants, sewers and more.

  • Insights Greece - Exploring the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor
    Plan of the Palace
  • Insights Greece - Exploring the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor
    Findings on display at Archaeological Museum of Chora

Interesting Remains

You can explore the beautifully decorated round fireplace, the throne room, and a bathroom with a bathtub, as well as seeing numerous shelves with inscriptions. As you walk through the bi-level building you will come across abundant storage spaces, private apartments, stairwells, and skylights. The halls were decorated with remarkable wall paintings, while pictorial representations also decorated the palatial floors. The approximately 1000 clay tablets in Linear B script, which were brought to light during excavations in the wider area, confirm the site’s function as a financial, administrative, political, and religious centre.

Archaeological Museum of Chora 

The numerous archaeological findings from the site of the Palace of Nestor are kept at the Archaeological Museum of Chora, as well as the Archaeological Museum of Messenia. Here you will find collections that focus on the Mycenaean civilization. Some permanent exhibits at the museum include old jewellery from the vaulted tombs of Peristeria of Trifylia and there are also fascinating murals with amazing battle scenes. Mycenaeans were known for their trade of perfumed oils and big jars for storing oil, which you can also view.  

A: Ethniki Odos Kiparissias Pilou, Nestor 

Cover image by Maria Theofanopoulou 

Follow the Footsteps of Ancient Greek Philosophers

If you aren’t already aware of it, you will very soon come across it. Greeks and their knowledge.

Whether it’s regarding their ancient Greek ancestors, modern history, politics, or literature, they are walking encyclopedias of everything they have contributed to the world. It can be overwhelming finding yourself on the receiving end of a flurry of facts and figures. To make sure you know a thing or two about Ancient Greek philosophy, and be able to hold your own in conversation, here is a crash course on the most famous Greek philosophers- making it easier for you to discover more about the birthplace of modern philosophy during your next visit to Greece.

Aristotle

Insights Greece - Follow the Footsteps of Ancient Greek Philosophers
Artistotle in Aristotle Square Thessaloniki

Considered the father of Western philosophy, Aristotle was born in 384 BC Stagira, Halkidiki in Northern Greece and was the founder of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic School of Philosophy and the Aristotelian tradition. Taught by Plato, he became Alexander the Great’s teacher and was the first to develop a formal system for reasoning. He observed that the deductive validity of any argument can be determined by its structure rather than its content.

Famous quote–“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Visit- The Statue of Aristotle in Aristotle Square. Located in Thessaloniki, the central square is named on honour of Aristotle. The statue appears to be holding a pergamine paper in his left hand while his right hand rests with serenity on a higher marble base.

Socrates

Insights Greece - Follow the Footsteps of Ancient Greek Philosophers
Socrates at the Academy of Athens

Born in Athens in 399 BC, Socrates is considered to be the father of Western philosophy, and being the first moral philosopher of the Western ethical tradition of thought. Plato was his most famous student. Unlike many philosophers of his time, Socrates focused on ethics and how people should behave rather than on the physical world. He said that happiness came from leading a moral life rather than material possessions and encouraged people to pursue justice and goodness rather than wealth and power.

Famous quote- “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

Visit – The Academy of Athens is Greece’s national academy and the highest research establishment in the country. The Academy’s main building is one of the major landmarks of Athens and features the Statue of Socrates.

Plato

Insights Greece - Follow the Footsteps of Ancient Greek Philosophers
Plato at the Academy of Athens

Born in 428 BC, Plato founded the first institute of higher learning in the Western World, the Academy in Athens. He believed that ruling a state must not be based on persuasion but on wisdom. Giving his theories a metaphysical aspect, Plato believed that two parallel worlds exist, the real world and the world we live in, which is a reflection of the real world. Like this dualism of reality, Plato also believed that humans are of a dual nature: body and mind.

Famous quote- “Love is a serious mental disease.”

Visit- The Statue of Plato in front of the Academy of Athens

Hippocrates

Not quite a philosopher, this physician features on our list because of  the impact his medical philosophies made on the world. Regarded as the father of medicine, Hippocrates

was born in 460 BC on the island of Kos. He based his medical practice on observations and on the study of the human body. He held the belief that illness had a physical and a rational explanation and believed that the human body has the power to heal itself. According to Hippocrates, all is a matter of balance between the four elements of the body and people become ill when the balance was disrupted. To restore this balance, he didn’t use drugs, except for natural extracts and soothing balms.

Famous quote- the Hippocratic Oath. A modern version of the Hippocratic oath is still taken by medical students today and begins with “I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant. One of the promises within that oath is “first, do no harm.”

Visit- The Tree of Hippocrates in Kos is the plane tree under which, according to legend, Hippocrates taught his pupils the art of medicine. With a crown diameter of about 12 metres it is said to be the largest plane trewme in Europe.