The Archaeological Museum of Thebes has issued the following announcement inviting everyone interested to create short stories, poems, fairy tales, letters, or theatrical plays inspired by objects exhibited in the museum.
How many times have you visited a museum and stood in front of a statue or a vase more than other exhibits? How many times have you stood and dreamed of an alternative story than the one written in the caption? How many times have you wondered why a painter chose that specific representation? How many stories can be created through a fun game? Would you like to share the stories you have thought of with us?
Our proposal, on the occasion of the upcoming four-year celebration from the inauguration of the New Archaeological Museum of Thebes on June 07, 2020, is simple: to create short stories, poems, fairy tales, letters, or theatrical plays.
Our suggestion –invitation is addressed to everyone; those of you who want to try your penmanship; those of you who still believe in the power of the written word.
Every object can be the trigger, the occasion for the creation of an idea, a thought, an emotion. Its interpretation, its understanding, the restoration of its image in its original environment, and the reconstruction of its story have always been fascinating, thus challenging the imagination. We archaeologists live it every day, and we thought of giving all of you the opportunity to tell the story of the objects in your own words, through your own approach and your own imagination.
All the objects exhibited in the Archaeological Museums and Archaeological Collections of Boeotia may carry many human stories since their creator is after all the human mind.
Do you want to test your skills as storytellers, historians, or poets, regardless of your age?
Our action “Archaeo-writing” is addressed to pupils, students, as well as adults. A list of finds from all over Boeotia has been created for each age group. We give you a photo, a short caption with the necessary information for each find, and, only for our younger friends, keywords that they should use in their creations.
Each participant in this action of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia can select only one find and one literary category. Your text should not exceed 2,000 words, and should not be less than 200 words.
All creations must mention the name of the author, the number of the selected find (select only one find from the attached catalogues), the category – literary genre, and your contact details (preferably email).
Your works must be submitted in Word format by May 29, 2020, as attachments to the email created exclusively for this action ([email protected]). As a subject of the email, you should state the action title “Archaeo-writing” and your last name.
Our action aims in learning and joyful creativity. So, texts that contain inappropriate and offensive content will be returned to the authors with relevant information. We are sure that we can all create works of any kind of art without offending anyone. As the proverb goes, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” In case a writer wishes to send a text and maintain his/her anonymity in the upcoming publication, please let us know about the use of a pseudonym.
The archaeologists of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia invite you to a small fantasy game, a search through the centuries, one of the many ways to dream something different and magical. Imagine what it would be like if the ancient finds really spoke to us and what it would be like if we knew the secrets behind the material?
The steps for your participation are simple:
- Select an item from the list that fits your age.
- Read the short caption and learn where each object derives and what material it is made of.
- Choose a literary category.
- “Archaeo-write” your creation.
- Finally, fill in your first and last name, the class you go to, if you belong to our younger friends or your profession if you are an adult.
- Then send it to the impatient archaeologists of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia via email to [email protected].
- You will receive a confirmation email for your participation in our action.
Our younger and adult writers will be announced after May 29, 2020. Your stories will be collected and published in a digital edition of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia, which will be posted on the website of the Archaeological Museum of Thebes. Those who will send a text will receive an email with details before the final publication, of course, with your signature.
We are waiting for your creations, and we expect you to respect the texts of other authors. We do not copy. We createusing different types of brushes and colours, the colours of our imagination, and the brushes of our dreams.