Edina/Athena 1821-2021 : the Greek Revolution & the Athens of the North - Grant, Alasdair (University of Edinburgh, 2021)
Two hundred years ago, at a time when Edinburgh was popularly called ‘The Athens of the North’, Greece rose in revolution against the Ottoman Empire. These two contexts, at first glance quite distinct, were connected by visions of an idealized classical past and by international networks of support for Greek independence. The exhibition Edina/Athena, generously funded by the A. G. Leventis Foundation, sets these stories side-by-side for the first time. In addition to showcasing Edinburgh-based collections (National Library of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, University of Edinburgh) the exhibition features loans from the Royal Collection Trust; the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, Athens; the British School at Athens; the Bodleian Library, Oxford; and the University of Aberdeen.